The old man hit an animal.

The old gentleman refers to the zodiac chicken. This is because in ancient China, the chicken was often used to symbolize time, times, chronology and timing, so it was also called "night", "Chen Si" or "Wugeng". Because the word "old gentleman" is usually used to describe an old and learned person, linking the old gentleman with a chicken can be understood as indicating that the chicken is long and learned, or that this year is the Year of the Rooster.