The origin of the official who was allowed to ride only a cow to supervise the Shehuo festival goes like this:The Emperor once had an imperial physician named Lei, who happened to be from a village fond of performing Shehuo. One day, the Emperor asked about the Shehuo activities in his hometown. Physician Lei replied, “The performances are wonderful, but the order is often chaotic. Villagers do not easily submit to one another.”The Emperor then said, “In that case, I will appoint an official specifically to manage your village’s Shehuo.”There were particular rules for this Shehuo Official.First, he was granted the attire of a county magistrate, but he had to wear one official boot on one foot and a straw sandal on the other, symbolizing that he was half-official and half-commoner.Second, he could serve as an official for only two days, yet during those two days, he would outrank any official who came to the Shehuo grounds. This ensured that, during the festival, the cow-riding lord held the highest authority. His ceremonial setup matched that of a county magistrate, including thirteen attendants carrying official gear who could obey his orders and punish stubborn villagers who refused to cooperate.Third, he had to be elected by the villagers.Fourth, he was allowed to ride only a cow.This imperial appointment created difficulties for the villagers. Riding a cow was not easy; cows are stubborn, their backs are flat and uncomfortable, and riding them is unsafe. Moreover, since the position lasted only two days, offending someone while in office could cause trouble afterward. The candidate also had to look dignified and imposing, which limited the pool even further. Some villagers even claimed that becoming the cow-riding lord would bring misfortune, saying it would diminish a family’s “official aura” for generations — a belief rooted in jealousy. Yet others were superstitious enough to believe it.As a result, electing the cow-riding official was never a smooth process.