老牛舐犊 — “To dote on one's children”

During the Three Kingdoms period, Yang Xiu was a strategist under Cao Cao. Once, when Yang Xiu accompanied Cao Cao on a campaign, they failed to capture a city and set up camp. Suddenly, Yang Xiu heard Cao Cao say, "Chicken ribs, chicken ribs!" He immediately understood that Cao Cao intended to retreat, so he told the soldiers, "The Prime Minister plans to withdraw." Consequently, everyone in the camp began packing their belongings, preparing to retreat.

When Cao Cao inspected the camp and saw this, he was very surprised. He asked the soldiers for the reason and learned that Yang Xiu had divined his thoughts. While secretly admiring Yang Xiu's astuteness, Cao Cao was also jealous of his talent. So, he used the excuse of Yang Xiu disturbing military morale and had him executed.

After Yang Xiu's death, his father, Yang Biao, was heartbroken and grew increasingly emaciated from missing his son. Cao Cao asked him, "Why is Duke Yang so thin?" Yang Biao sighed and said, "I feel ashamed; I did not foresee such an outcome for my son. Now, I still have the deep affection of an old ox licking its calf!" Cao Cao was deeply moved by this and felt a twinge of guilt.