Chapter 14: Taming the Beast

For the next few days, Li Mu could be seen all around the village.

“Brother Mu, it’s truly amazing. My family’s ox is notorious for its stubborn temper—once it’s in the fields, no amount of beating or scolding works; it won’t leave until it’s eaten its fill! But why does it behave so well for you? Can you teach me how?”

Beside a paddy field, a large water buffalo stood calmly under Li Mu’s soothing touch, allowing him to stroke its head while it chewed on fresh grass. A young boy, his trousers rolled up and legs caked in mud, stared open-mouthed at Li Mu, bewildered.

Li Mu smiled at his question. “I really can’t teach you. You saw what I did—I just acted as you saw, but it listens to me. I don’t know why, either.”

“Ah...”

The boy looked at Li Mu in a dazed, foolish manner, at a loss for words, and finally could only gaze at him with envy.

Li Mu let out a gentle breath and spoke softly to the water buffalo, “No more stealing grain from now on, you hear?”

The buffalo snorted and shook its head, looking remarkably docile.

Li Mu moved on, walking over to a large blue ox nearby. The blue ox obediently knelt down, and Li Mu climbed onto its broad back. Only then did the ox rise and begin to amble toward the village.

“I’ll head off now. Keep an eye on your ox; don’t let it ruin the crops again.”

With that, Li Mu tapped the ox’s belly, and it lumbered away toward the village.

The boy by the field scratched his head, still pondering why his family’s ox would listen so well to Li Mu...

Li Mu was pondering, too.

“So far, only cattle are particularly obedient. Except for the first time with the blue ox, when I heard its thoughts, I haven’t been able to hear the thoughts of the others. But it seems like all the cattle understand what I say and are willing to obey.”

“Besides cattle, donkeys, horses, and mules also seem willing to listen. They’re not as clever as cattle, though; they need more guidance before they understand.”

“But with cats and dogs, it’s completely ineffective…”

There were dogs in the village, and Li Mu tried communicating with them, but the result was a snap and a bite. If Li Mu hadn’t dodged quickly, he would have been injured.

This left Li Mu sweating cold—there were no vaccines in this world, and a dog bite would be real trouble.

After reflecting on it, a smile slowly appeared on Li Mu’s face...

The path of hoof repair...

It could work!

With that thought, he tapped the ox’s belly again; he needed to hurry back and discuss it with Aunt Ninth.

He was still a child. If he wanted to start a livelihood, he needed Aunt Ninth’s help.

...

“Hmm? Hoof repair?”

Aunt Ninth, who was hanging clothes, was taken aback by Li Mu’s words.

“Aunt Ninth, my health has recovered now, but it’s not right to keep living off you for free. I need to find a way to earn my keep. Last time, when the blue ox was injured, it gave me a good idea... You’ve seen it yourself—I understand cattle temperament pretty well. But if you want me to be a cattle veterinarian, I can’t do it. If it’s just about repairing hooves for oxen and donkeys, though, that I can manage.”

This was clearly beyond Aunt Ninth’s expectations; she looked bewildered.

“Hoof repair for oxen and donkeys... What’s the point?”

Li Mu was prepared. He smiled, “Actually, these animals are just like us. Their hooves are like our fingernails. When our nails grow too long, we have to trim them for comfort, right? Otherwise, it hurts to walk, and you can’t do work; sometimes they break, sometimes even bleed. Isn’t that so?”

Aunt Ninth nodded, unable to help herself.

“That’s true—when my nails get too long, I can’t wash clothes. Soaking them soft, they break easily with just a bit of effort, sometimes even bleeding. Broken nails hurt terribly.”

Aunt Ninth spoke from experience.

“Ten fingers connect to the heart,” Li Mu said with a smile. “It’s the same for livestock.”

“Only livestock can’t talk. When they’re uncomfortable, they act irritable, restless, and disobedient. Sometimes a donkey won’t pull the mill, an ox won’t plow the field—not because they don’t want to work, but because their hooves are hurting.”

“There’s such a thing?”

Aunt Ninth’s eyes widened.

“That’s right. So I was thinking I’d specialize in hoof repair for livestock. It’ll spare them suffering and earn me some money, as a trade. But I’m young, and people don’t pay much attention to what I say. You and Uncle Ninth know a lot of people, and the villagers trust you. I’d like to ask you to help spread the word and see whose livestock might need hoof repair...”

After hearing this, Aunt Ninth understood. But she was still a bit hesitant, and after thinking for a moment, said, “I can talk to the villagers, but... I can’t say how many will come.”

“Of course... Thank you, Aunt Ninth.”

Li Mu quickly replied.

Aunt Ninth smiled, shaking her head with a sigh. “You’re such a thoughtful child. No matter what, your Aunt Ninth can still support you. Your parents... Ah, never mind, never mind. If you really can have your own livelihood, it’ll be a good thing. I’ll ask around the village.”

As she spoke, Aunt Ninth patted Li Mu’s head.

Li Mu was already fifteen, but years of poor nutrition had left him small and thin, so she still treated him as a child.

In fact, in these times, it wasn’t uncommon for people to marry at fifteen or sixteen.

With Aunt Ninth’s support, Li Mu went to Grandpa Third’s house.

He got some herbal medicine from Grandpa Third—the same herbs he’d used to treat the blue ox’s injury before.

It turned out the herbs worked; the blue ox’s hoof had healed, and there was no more pus.

Everything was ready. Now all that remained was for business to come to him.

...

Business arrived sooner than expected.

That very afternoon, a group of people arrived at the door, led by Aunt Ninth and Aunt Sixth, with someone bringing a large black ox.

“Brother Mu’s ability to handle oxen is truly extraordinary—you’ll see for yourselves in a moment,” Aunt Sixth’s loud voice rang out. From what Li Mu heard, Aunt Ninth must have told Aunt Sixth, who was now spreading the word enthusiastically.

“Aunt Ninth, Aunt Sixth...” Li Mu went out to greet them.

Aunt Sixth beamed, “Your Aunt Ninth said you want to take hoof repair as your trade—I think it’s great! To be honest, I watched you repair hooves last time, and it was really interesting. Just so happens, your Uncle Fourth’s ox hasn’t wanted to move lately. You mentioned that livestock with long hooves don’t want to move, and now I see—they’ve grown so long... You can help your Uncle Fourth out.”

“What do you mean help me out? Help my ox out!” A middle-aged man rolled his eyes at Aunt Sixth, then looked at Li Mu and smiled.