Chapter 176: Enjoyable

After the dumplings were cooked, Lao Wu scooped a large bowl for each person.

The bowl was so large that it was almost as big as Xiao Jie’s head.

Everyone held a big bowl, either squatting or sitting, and quietly ate their dumplings with their heads down.

Yu Xiangnian looked at Cheng Shansuo and his wife gobbling down their food and felt disdain in her heart.

It was as if they wouldn’t have another meal after this one!

After lunch, Yu Xiangnian went back to her room to continue working, and Cheng Jingmo also went back to his room to read his radio book.

Since coming home, this was the first time he had the leisure to study.

Each of them did their own thing, without disturbing each other.

Around two in the afternoon, Yu Xiangnian finished her scheduled work for the day.

Just as she was wondering if she should still go to see the hoof trimming with Cheng Jingmo at home, Cheng Jingmo put down his book and said, “Let’s go see the hoof trimming together.”

Yu Xiangnian’s almond-shaped eyes widened in surprise, “You also like watching hoof trimming?”

She thought Cheng Jingmo, having grown up here, would be tired of it.

Cheng Jingmo said, “It’s okay.”

He had seen it many times as a child, but each time it was only for a few minutes before he had to go off and work.

He had never watched it for half a day like Yu Xiangnian.

Yu Xiangnian was already eagerly standing up, “Let’s go, I’ll call Xiao Jie.”

On the way, Yu Xiangnian proudly told Cheng Jingmo, “A few days ago, a cow stepped on a stone, and it was treated with the medicine I bought!”

Cheng Jingmo’s lips curved slightly, “Really? You know how to treat livestock?”

Yu Xiangnian looked proud, “Such a minor injury, it’s simple!”

Xiao Jie rubbed his forehead at the mention of this.

That day, when his aunt saw the cow’s injured hoof, she was more excited than seeing beef boiling in the pot, her eyes shining!

She stared at the hole in the hoof, insisting that the master dig it open.

Although, when the hole was opened, there was indeed a lot of blood, but the cow mooed in pain.

That wasn’t enough, she then forced the master to dig the hole even larger, exposing the fresh red flesh inside.

At that time, Xiao Jie’s whole little face twisted in disgust.

Finally, she took out the medicine she had prepared for days and had the master apply it to the cow’s hoof.

The master was reluctant, worried that she might ruin the hoof.

Yu Xiangnian was almost ready to do it herself, and the master, annoyed by her persistence, finally applied the medicine under her repeated assurances.

That wasn’t the end; Yu Xiangnian also made the master put a pad under the injured half of the hoof.

The master’s face turned dark, almost driving the two away on the spot!

While talking, the three of them arrived outside Cheng Chaomin’s house.

At this time, he wasn’t trimming hooves but sitting on the small stool that Yu Xiangnian often sat on, smoking a dry tobacco pipe, as if waiting for something.

Seeing the three of them approach, his face didn’t look good.

However, Yu Xiangnian cheerfully greeted him, “Master, we’re here to watch you trim hooves again.”

“Mm.” He grunted from his nose.

After finishing his tobacco, he knocked the pipe clean and stood up, glancing at Cheng Jingmo.

Cheng Jingmo nodded at him.

Uncle Chaomin walked over to the cow that was tied up and said as he walked, “Jianwa’s wife, this is the cow you insisted on treating the other day. If its hoof is ruined, you’ll be responsible!”

Yu Xiangnian and Xiao Jie didn’t recognize it was the same cow; to them, all cows looked alike.

Upon hearing this, they both had the same expression.

First, they were stunned, then they ran over with shining eyes.

The master lifted the cow’s leg; the hoof was covered in mud and grass. He used a knife to clean off the mud, revealing the wound.

The master didn’t expect that the wound, which was a bloody mess just days ago, had already healed significantly, without a drop of blood.

“Hey!” The master said in surprise, “Jianwa’s wife, your medicine works quite well!”

Yu Xiangnian confidently replied, “If you listen to me and wrap its wound with a cloth strip and put a pad on it, the wound will heal even faster!”

The master thought, “…Not modest at all.”

Yu Xiangnian added, “Today, clean its wound again and change the medicine; it should be fine after that.”

The master actually followed her instructions and then asked, “Jianwa’s wife, what does the pad you mentioned look like?”

Yu Xiangnian picked up a small stick and drew a semicircle on the ground, “Like this, the size should be half of its hoof. After you apply the medicine, wrap the wound with a cloth strip, and stick the pad on the healthy side of the hoof; their wounds will heal faster.”

“Oh…” The master nodded repeatedly.

Jianwa’s wife was knowledgeable, an intellectual; listening to her couldn’t go wrong!

After doing all this, the master brought another cow and tied its nose to a wooden stake, then began trimming its hooves.

At that moment, Cheng Jingmo understood Cheng Chaomin.

Yu Xiangnian and Xiao Jie, one big and one small, sat in front of him, staring without blinking, their eyes shining with admiration.

If someone stared at him like that, he’d feel uncomfortable too.

The master had only trimmed a few times before pausing and looking at Yu Xiangnian, who looked back in confusion.

The master said, “Jianwa’s wife, why don’t you give it a try?”

Yu Xiangnian looked incredulous, then jumped up from the stool, rolled up her sleeves, “Alright, I’ll give it a try!”

She took the master’s knife without hesitation, her eagerness making Cheng Jingmo smile.

Cheng Jingmo walked over quietly, standing behind her to block the cow, afraid it might hurt her.

Trimming hooves looked simple and relaxing, but in reality, it wasn’t easy and required a lot of effort.

Yu Xiangnian used all her knowledge of hoof trimming and, under the master’s guidance, enthusiastically trimmed two hooves.

By the third hoof, her hands clearly lacked strength.

Xiao Jie stood up, “Auntie, let me do it!”

Yu Xiangnian solemnly handed the trimming knife to Xiao Jie, “Be careful, don’t cut yourself.”

The master looked at Cheng Jingmo with a resentful expression.

You didn’t mention your kid wanted to trim hooves too!

Cheng Jingmo gave an awkward but polite smile.

He had overlooked one detail!

Xiao Jie admired Yu Xiangnian more and more; whatever she did, he wanted to do too.

And Yu Xiangnian’s way of handling children was to not bother them.

As long as it wasn’t illegal or dangerous, she didn’t care what they did.

Not only trimming hooves, but even if Xiao Jie wanted to gnaw on a cow’s hoof, Yu Xiangnian wouldn’t stop him.

The master watched as the mother and son finally finished trimming the four hooves and let out a long sigh of relief.

It was more exhausting than doing it himself!

Yu Xiangnian and Xiao Jie were satisfied and happily followed Cheng Jingmo home.

Before leaving, they even left all the medicine they had bought for the master.

“Auntie, after trimming the hooves, I found that it’s not as fun as it looks!” Xiao Jie said with a hint of disappointment.

“I think so too,” Yu Xiangnian asked, “Do you still want to trim hooves in the future?”

Xiao Jie replied, “It’s alright, but I don’t want to do it for now.”

In the evening, Yu Xiangnian took a bath and returned to her room first, while Cheng Jingmo was still bathing.

Before she reached her room, Cheng Huazi called out to her, “Jianwa’s wife, wait a moment, Dad has something to tell you.”