Chapter 23: Envy

Compared to the previous days, the place was bustling with activity—ox carts, donkey carts, horse-drawn carriages lined up at the entrance, people from neighboring villages gathered to chat idly. It was quite lively. But today, not a single soul could be seen.

"Isn't Old Ninth's wife here either?"

Everyone looked puzzled, and naturally, someone went to inquire.

Then Old Ninth's neighbor spoke, "Old Ninth's wife went to cut pigweed. As for Mu, he has left the village."

"Left the village?"

"Yes, Mu said that although those people are from other villages, they're still neighbors from the same countryside. It's not good to have people running back and forth every day, so he decided to visit each village in turn, going door to door to trim hooves. That way, the animals won't suffer, and their owners won't be delayed in their work... That child, he's truly a good one."

Neighbor Li Mu called her Third Granny—a title, though she wasn't much older than Aunt Ninth, but seniority dictated it.

Third Granny sighed with genuine admiration.

Hearing this, the crowd exchanged glances.

Then someone else praised, "Indeed, Mu is an exemplary young man. He used to trim the village's livestock hooves for free. He's grateful and kind. If Li Sanquan could see this from below, he could rest his eyes in peace."

"The neighboring villages truly are like family, and Mu's visits make things much more convenient."

"Just that we can't get our hooves trimmed now... Well, never mind, let's go home and sleep, then get back to work this afternoon. Let's finish fixing up Mu's house as soon as possible."

The villagers were sorely disappointed, coming with high hopes and leaving empty-handed.

But not one uttered a word against Li Mu.

On the contrary, they all praised him as a fine, grateful person.

Thus, the crowd gradually dispersed.

Behind them, two more men hurried over, witnessing the scene. Both paused, exchanged a glance.

They were villagers too, but hadn't joined in repairing Li Mu's house. Instead, they'd just woken up, had breakfast, and come to see the excitement.

Now that there was nothing to see—

But...

"He's gone out of the village?"

Their eyes lit up.

They glanced at the dispersing crowd, then quickly slipped away to a secluded corner.

"What do you think?" Li Thirty-Eight asked Li Twenty-Seven, barely containing his excitement.

Li Twenty-Seven's small eyes darted rapidly, a sly smile curling his lips. "Everyone says Li Mu is grateful and kind, but I know better. He's afraid of flaunting his wealth—if people keep coming to his door every day, everyone will know he's making big money. Now he's visiting other villages, fewer will know how much he earns... Hmph, grateful and kind? More like shrewd and cunning."

"So now..." Li Thirty-Eight looked at him.

"Now?" Li Twenty-Seven chuckled, his large mole flushed with excitement. "When he's in the village, staying at Old Ninth's, it's hard to act against him because of Old Ninth. But since he's gone out... it's no one's fault but his own."

"Heh, touring the villages—he'll probably earn even more than before!"

"Come on, let's find out which village he went to." Li Thirty-Eight's sparse eyebrows bristled, his gaze dark and murderous. "Are we doing it today?"

"Today? At best, we'd get what he's made these past couple of days. There are plenty of villages nearby, his house has collapsed, so he's likely carrying all his earnings with him!... Let's gather information first, then decide." Li Twenty-Seven wore a calculating expression, sneering coldly.

Greed flickered in his eyes.

By his estimate, Li Mu had been earning several taels of silver each day.

If he included the money earned while visiting other villages...

Who could say how much it was—possibly dozens of taels!

Dozens of taels! Just the thought made Li Twenty-Seven tremble all over.

Such a large sum, earned by a mere boy...

Better it end up in his own hands!

"Let's go," Li Twenty-Seven finally said to Li Thirty-Eight. The two slunk away, glancing about furtively before slipping out of the village...

...

...

Li Mu, of course, knew nothing of this.

He set out to visit the villages.

As he'd imagined, after the groundwork of the previous four days, when he arrived at each village, those needing hoof trimming were already waiting.

In other villages, people welcomed him warmly, calling him "Brother Mu," just as in Li Family Village, with little difference in attitude.

Some villages even had daughters married from Li Family Village—various aunts, sisters, and cousins, who, though previously strangers, greeted him with warmth and closeness when he arrived.

Such was the advantage of possessing a unique skill in rural times.

Not only in this world reminiscent of ancient times—even in his previous life, those with specialized skills were highly sought after in the countryside.

Take the butcher, for instance: during the New Year, he was so busy he couldn't catch his breath. Every household with a pig to slaughter would invite the butcher to butcher pigs and sheep. When business was good, the family didn't even light the stove for a whole month.

Now, Li Mu's hoof-trimming skill was even more sought after than the butcher's.

Why? In this world, who could afford to raise pigs?

Large livestock consisted of cattle, donkeys, mules, or draft horses—animals that could directly contribute to household income.

Pigs, raised solely for consumption, were a luxury only well-off families could afford.

Take Aunt Ninth's family, for example.

In such circumstances, any profession related to livestock was in high demand.

For example, the county's cattle doctor, dedicated to treating such animals, could establish a business, even recruit a host of apprentices...

That's the reason.

Li Mu wasn't a cattle doctor, but his work was similar enough, and naturally he earned the villagers' respect and affection.

He followed his plan, visiting each village one by one.

He left at dawn, returning only when night fell.

Through this work, he became familiar with the neighboring villages and their people.

This was a good thing.

Though he was now enjoying the first wave of success, he would soon focus on martial training.

But that didn't mean he would abandon hoof trimming.

Martial training wasn't a matter of days; it wasn't as if, after earning a sum, he wouldn't need money again.

It was a long-term pursuit.

Even in his previous life, there was the saying "Train in the cold of winter and the heat of summer."

How much more in this world?

He needed a steady income to support his martial training.

Before his martial skills reached a certain level, none of his other business ideas were as effective as hoof trimming.

So, hoof trimming would remain his main occupation—not necessarily forever, but certainly for quite some time.

Now, as the other villagers grew more familiar with him, when others began to imitate his work, the impact on him would be lessened.

This was a "brand effect" of sorts.

By then, after enjoying the initial rush of business, he could stay home and let customers come to him...

Like the county's cattle doctor.

Only those with hoof-trimming needs would seek him out.

Most would likely come with injured animals—after all, soothing agitated livestock was now what he was most famous for.

Those who tried to imitate him could only manage ordinary hoof trimming.

To treat injuries would be beyond them for some time.

...

...

In the blink of an eye, eight days passed.