Chapter 31: The Wolf's Uproar

Leaving the village, he followed the dirt road, uncertain if it could even be called an official path.

When he reached a fork where three roads met, Li Mu suddenly halted and gazed toward one of the branches.

One led back to Li Family Village, another to the county town, and the last… to Luo Family Village.

According to his original plan, he was supposed to make a trip to Luo Family Village today—there were still a few households with livestock whose hooves needed trimming, a job already agreed upon the previous day.

But now his arms were both useless, drained of strength. There was no way he could trim hooves.

Of course, that wasn’t the main issue.

The real problem was… he didn’t know if the bodies of those two men had been discovered yet.

After hesitating for a moment, Li Mu decided he ought to take a look.

At the same time, he needed to find a way to send word to Luo Family Village—though he couldn’t go himself, he should at least let them know. Since he’d chosen to make his living in the short term by trimming hooves, reputation and trustworthiness were essential.

With that thought, he gave his ox a gentle prod and headed in the direction where the two men had fallen…

…

Unexpectedly, before he even reached the spot, Li Mu already knew the answer.

The bodies had been found.

He overheard it clearly from a few men carrying firewood, who were approaching and talking loudly.

“It’s too horrific—must have been wolves. But who knows which village those two were from…”

Li Mu’s heart skipped a beat. Seeing the men approaching on foot, he quickly called out, “Uncles!”

The firewood carriers, deep in conversation, looked up instinctively at Li Mu atop his ox, puzzled.

Then one of them suddenly recognized him and laughed, “Aren’t you… Mu from Li Family Village?”

Li Mu paused and looked at the man uncertainly. “That’s me. And you are…?”

“I’m from Luo Family Village. You came yesterday to trim hooves, remember? I watched you for quite a while. I’m an old acquaintance of your father’s—just call me Sixth Uncle Luo.”

The man was cheerful and hearty, grinning as he spoke.

“Uncle Luo Six?” Li Mu asked, still uncertain.

The man nodded with a smile.

The others clearly didn’t know Li Mu and turned curiously to their companion.

He explained with a laugh, “This is Mu from Li Family Village—a cattle doctor. Remember all those people trimming hooves yesterday? This is the young man who did it.”

“Oh? So this is the famous Mu, the one everyone says has an uncanny gift for taming livestock?” The others exchanged glances, now looking at Li Mu with interest.

Clearly, his reputation had already spread among the neighboring villages. His skill in taming animals was indeed extraordinary, and hoof trimming was a novel craft—news of it spread quickly in a place where little else happened.

After the introductions, Uncle Luo Six smiled and asked, “Mu, are you heading to our village?”

Having watched Li Mu trim hooves for half a day yesterday, he naturally knew Li Mu’s plan was to return today.

Li Mu replied vaguely, then feigned curiosity and asked, “I overheard you mention wolves. Has something happened?”

Uncle Luo Six’s expression grew serious. “Something has happened. Wolves must have come down from the hills nearby. Two people just ahead met a tragic end—their bodies were nearly devoured, only scraps left. No one knows who they are, but likely from a nearby village. I hear you’ve been going from village to village lately, leaving early and returning late—best be careful and head home before dark. Wolves usually roam at night.”

He warned Li Mu earnestly.

Li Mu’s heart skipped again. Could those wounds he’d inflicted as he left truly have had an effect? Did their blood lure the wolves?

All the better—it would keep suspicion far from himself.

Relieved, Li Mu thanked Uncle Luo Six warmly. After a few more words, the firewood carriers continued on their way.

Li Mu sat astride his ox for a while, pondering, then pressed onward.

Soon he reached the scene of last night’s incident. The bodies were gone, but the bloodstains were still visible if one looked closely.

The corpses had been found; since they were no longer here, they’d most likely been collected by people from Luo Family Village.

Villagers were generally honest folk. When faced with such a situation, if the family could not be found, they would lay the bodies to rest themselves.

Li Erqi, Li Sanba…

“In the next life, don’t be so greedy,” Li Mu thought silently.

If only Li Erqi and Li Sanba had accepted his offer yesterday, instead of coveting his ox and plotting his death, they would still be alive—and would even have shared the seven or eight taels of silver he’d earned.

Now, though…

He withdrew his gaze and looked toward Luo Family Village. After a moment’s thought, Li Mu took a deep breath, turned, and headed back toward Li Family Village.

Before long, he reached the northern slope outside the village.

From afar, he saw a big black ox grazing on the hillside, with a young cowherd napping in the shade beneath a tree.

“Er Niu, Er Niu!”

Li Mu rode closer and called out.

The boy under the tree stirred, rubbed his eyes, and, seeing Li Mu, yawned, “Mu, you’re here.”

This was the same youth whose black ox had trampled the fields some days ago, and whom Li Mu had helped. The boy had even asked Li Mu to teach him how to tame livestock.

His name was Er Niu—his formal name unknown. In the village, boys rarely called each other by their full names. For example, everyone called Li Mu simply Mu.

They all herded cattle, and the northern slope was the only suitable pasture, so Li Mu and Er Niu naturally knew each other.

“Er Niu, I need your help with something,” Li Mu said without preamble.

Er Niu looked at him curiously.

“You know our Third Sister—the one married to Luo Family Village?”

“The Third Sister who married to Luo Family Village?” Er Niu was still a bit drowsy, but after rubbing his eyes, he remembered and nodded. “I know.”

“Do you know the way to her house?”

“Sure do—I was there for her wedding,” Er Niu replied honestly.

“Then do me a favor. Go to her house and tell her that something’s come up and I won’t be coming to Luo Family Village for a few days. Ask her to apologize to the households whose livestock’s hooves I haven’t trimmed yet.”

“Uh…” Er Niu hadn’t expected this request. He paused, but before he could answer, Li Mu pulled out a handful of copper coins and handed them over. “Just deliver the message and these coins are yours.”

Er Niu’s eyes lit up, but he quickly shook his head and scratched his hair with a sheepish grin. “Mu, after you taught my black ox the other day, it’s been well-behaved and hasn’t ruined the fields again. Luo Family Village isn’t far. I’ll deliver the message for you—it’s nothing, I don’t need money.”

He got up, brushing the dirt from his pants.

Li Mu was momentarily taken aback, but then his smile softened. “Take it, you’ve earned it. Go on.”

He pressed the coins into Er Niu’s hand. Embarrassed but unable to refuse under Li Mu’s insistence, Er Niu finally accepted them.

Er Niu was about Li Mu’s age—around fourteen or fifteen. Normally, he had no way to earn his own money.

After giving him a few more instructions, clarifying exactly what to say, Er Niu listened carefully, then climbed onto his black ox and rode off toward Luo Family Village.

Li Mu let out a long breath.

Everything was now properly settled. Exhaustion pressed heavier upon him—he needed to reach the county town and rest.

With that thought, he mounted his blue ox once more and set off, this time toward the county town.