Mountain Looting: Targeted by a Leopard at the Start
Chapter 448 - 446: The Loose Horseshoe, The Bustling Farm!

Chapter 448: Chapter 446: The Loose Horseshoe, The Bustling Farm!

The lively Spring Festival has passed, and the ice and snow begin to melt

The mountain village sheds its white veil and starts to brim with vitality again.

The farm’s employees all returned from their holidays on the sixteenth day of the first lunar month.

It’s really the farm’s treatment that’s unbeatable; besides those on rotating shifts who must come to the farm, others get a straight fifteen days off.

Adding in the weekends and whatnot, that’s easily twenty days off.

After all, during winter, there isn’t much heavy work at the farm, just feeding the pigs and sweeping snow.

"Brother Ma is here, happy new year!"

Wang Wu saw Ma Wen coming and greeted him.

"Happy New Year!"

Ma Wen was smiling too.

Everyone was quite happy.

The farm is currently doing very well, and the farm’s employee treatment even made it onto the trending searches, with quite a few people wanting to work here.

These days, genuine bosses are really rare.

Since it’s the first day back at work, Xu Yang, as the farm owner, certainly had to show up.

We had a lively banquet at noon.

In the employees’ eyes, Xu Yang is definitely a big boss figure.

The farm now has quite a modern flair.

Both the greenhouse area and living area have had their roads paved and hardened, and they are completely smooth with cement.

Over in the planting area, there are also ridges and fences.

At a glance, it has both an urban feel and a pastoral charm.

There are a few more employees too, all handpicked and interviewed carefully by Xu Yang.

Xu Yang’s farm is quite famous in the surrounding villages and towns.

More famous than the resorts owned by those big bosses.

The farm occasionally has some jobs, and will hire some of the villagers left behind, such as packing potatoes or picking apple pears and the like.

It also provides some income for everyone.

That afternoon.

Xu Yang was grooming Black Horse Jingzhe in the horse area.

This horse is Xu Yang’s prized jewel.

Though purchased from the prairie, it has particularly good innate genes.

Completely jet-black, handsome and dashing.

This guy also has quite a unique personality.

A bit "snobbish," in that it shows different attitudes to different people.

For instance, when Ma Wen comes to feed it, it always has an air of reluctance.

Conveniently, Ma Wen came in holding a bundle of grass.

Seeing Ma Wen, Jingzhe’s eyes revealed a hint of contempt.

Ma Wen saw Jingzhe’s look and said, "Farm Director, you should talk to Jingzhe. Every time I feed it, it always looks at me like that."

"I feel despised."

Xu Yang looked at Jingzhe, and seeing its expression, couldn’t help but laugh, "It’s rather cold to others; this is already considered acceptance of you."

"Just feed it."

Hearing Xu Yang say this, Ma Wen could only nod, clearing out the leftover grass in the trough, then refilling it with fresh grass.

He just stood there watching.

"I contacted a horseshoer today; we need to fix a horseshoe for Jingzhe."

"It’s spring now, time to take it out for a stroll."

Xu Yang spoke.

"Okay, Farm Director, when he comes I’ll take him to the horse area."

Ma Wen responded sensibly.

Xu Yang continued combing Jingzhe’s hair.

It wasn’t long before the horseshoer, Master Chen, arrived.

Seeing Jingzhe, he also stood by the side for a moment.

"Mr. Xu, you better watch over this horse; it’s strong, if it kicks me, I’d be in a bad way."

Master Chen said.

"First, we need to secure it properly so it can lift its foot easily."

Xu Yang laughed, "Don’t worry, I’m holding it, it won’t kick randomly."

Hearing Xu Yang say this, Master Chen also somewhat relaxed.

Following that, he prepared to nail a horseshoe for Black Horse Jingzhe.

Just as Master Chen approached Jingzhe, at that moment, Jingzhe suddenly shuddered.

It made a feigned attack motion.

Master Chen got startled and quickly stepped back.

Looking at Jingzhe again, it suddenly let out a neigh that sounded almost like laughter.

Turned out it was deliberately causing a stir.

"Jingzhe!"

Seeing it being so mischievous, Xu Yang quickly reprimanded it.

Master Chen said, "Mr. Xu, this horse is too smart. I’ve shoed many horses, but rarely have I seen one this clever."

"You have to talk to it properly."

"If it lands a kick, you’ll have to take care of me from now on at your farm."

Upon hearing this, Xu Yang hurriedly said, "Don’t worry, it won’t happen."

Xu Yang tugged at the reins.

The next second, Jingzhe obediently lowered its head.

Seeing Jingzhe calm down, Master Chen moved behind it and bent Jingzhe’s hind hoof backward.

This step was quite frightening.

If Jingzhe were to suddenly stand on its front hooves and powerfully kick back with its hind legs...

If kicked in the head, the force could be lethal.

Fortunately, Jingzhe bent one leg backward without a trace of movement.

Seeing this, Master Chen let go of his worries, gripped its hind legs between his own legs, and started removing the horseshoe.

After taking off the horseshoe, the keratin on the hoof was somewhat messy and uneven.

It’s because Jingzhe hadn’t been out and about much during the winter.

So its nails had grown quite long.

Xu Yang stood by watching and even took out his phone to record.

Master Chen skillfully pulled out a hoof knife and began to scrape downwards.

Soon, the black keratin was scraped off, revealing the fresh and light white hooves.

It’s the same principle as trimming human nails.

Horses don’t feel pain as long as the flesh isn’t cut.

After the keratin was cleaned, Master Chen took out the horseshoe again, sized it up to ensure a perfect fit with the hoof later.

Then, he put the horseshoe into the forge for high-temperature burning.

Once glowing red hot, he used tongs to pick it up and hammered it on the anvil, comparing it with the hoof occasionally.

When the shape was nearly right, he placed it directly onto the hoof.

"Sssss—"

With a burst of steam, this was caused by the horseshoe melting the keratin, making the surface smoother.

Xu Yang had seen horseshoe repairs before, so he knew it had no adverse effects on the horse. Watching Black Horse Jingzhe, it seemed rather indifferent, even leisurely nibbling on grass.

It was more accustomed to it.

After nailing the tight-fitting horseshoe in place, the nails were then hammered through the side of the keratin to secure it.

One horseshoe was successfully attached.

Xu Yang looked carefully and saw that the horseshoe was exactly the same size as the hoof – it wasn’t sticking out nor sunken in.

A perfect match.

"Master Chen, your craftsmanship is really good."

Xu Yang complimented.

Shoeing a horse is a skillful job, and without some craftsmanship, no one would hire you.

"I’ve been doing this for many years now. I also do it for those racetracks."

Master Chen waved his hand.

Then, he continued to clean the next hoof of Black Horse Jingzhe.

The service was spot on, with each horseshoe nailed on, Black Horse Jingzhe immediately felt different.

On setting the fourth hoof down, Jingzhe started to step around in place.

"Mr. Xu, let’s walk Jingzhe around after nailing the new shoes to see if they fit properly and to check if any nails are not secured tightly."

Master Chen told Xu Yang.

"Alright, I was just thinking of trying it out."

Xu Yang led Black Horse out, and at this moment, Jingzhe felt exceptionally majestic, lifting its legs high as it walked.

When they got outside, the horseshoes clapped crisply against the concrete with a "clack clack" sound.

The dogs all ran over to watch the commotion.

Xu Yang didn’t ride on Jingzhe’s back just yet but led it around for a few laps.

To see the effect of the horseshoes.

After a few laps, Master Chen checked Jingzhe’s horseshoes one by one.

"No issues, they’re all very firmly fixed."

"Very sturdy."

Master Chen nodded with a smile.

Xu Yang thanked him. The bill had been settled in advance, so Xu Yang didn’t stay any longer.

He mounted Jingzhe’s back, immediately starting to trot along the farm’s paths.

In this moment, Jingzhe was excited, lifting its legs high even just trotting.

Little Black and Yuanbao followed behind, looking somewhat curious.

Little Black even imitated Jingzhe’s movements, trotting with high leg lifts.

Yuanbao, seeing this, grinned broadly.

The farm’s dogs were quite mischievous too.

Jingzhe even deliberately showed off in front of other animals, like the dogs, the foolish roe deer.

Seeing it like this, the little ones were also quite happy.

Only Tabby Cat Sang Biao, lying on the top of the wall watching Jingzhe, showed an indifferent expression.

Cats have no interest in wearing shoes.

Jingzhe happily hopping around, Xu Yang rode it, traveling quite stably.

A good horse indeed.

Very stable.

Spring has arrived, and the farm suddenly filled with vitality.

The hoofbeats of Black Horse Jingzhe woke up many of the animals.

In the planting area, foxes and wild rabbits were also awakened by Jingzhe’s hoofbeats.

They crawled out of their burrows, watched Xu Yang and Jingzhe, and then ran out to the meadows outside.

Jingzhe was smart, knowing the location of the other animals, it intentionally ran towards them.

This scene was also quite enjoyable.

Xu Yang took the opportunity to check the farm’s planting area, planning what to plant this year.

After all, it’s his land.

"The potato area, grasslands in collaboration with the Agricultural University; we could plant some sunflowers as well, but need to decide what else."

Xu Yang pondered.

As he was thinking, he suddenly saw a large expanse of giant cabbages not far away.

Each cabbage was about the height of a thigh.

Only then did he remember he had planted cabbages.

Completely forgotten.

The employees didn’t dare to touch them, so they just kept growing.