Raising Livestock for Twenty Years, Yet Only Walking Half a Lap on the First Day

The wooden sign for the Partner Activity Field had just been sent back to the west side of the city when another saddle arrived at the shop.

The person carrying the saddle was Zhao He, who lived in Zhao Family Village outside the city. His family had six mu of farmland, two plow oxen, and an old horse they had raised for twelve years. He had entered the city today with a vegetable cart. Hearing that the shop could help people encounter suitable Pokémon companions, he had brought along all his usual gear.

Zhao He laid out an old saddle, a soft leg-measuring rope, a stiff brush, and four new horseshoes one by one.

"Every one of these will come in handy!"

Xia Che picked up a horseshoe. "This too?"

"If it has hooves, measure them first."

"You haven't even met your partner yet."

"That's why it's called being prepared."

The vegetable cart driver who had brought him nodded from the side. "Master Zhao can tell at a glance which horse can handle a long journey. My old yellow horse limped the other day, and he was the one who picked the gravel out from its hoof crack."

Zhao He spread out his application card. The first line read: Works in the fields every day, traveling twenty li along mountain roads. The second line read: Hopes the partner can walk muddy paths and is willing to inspect the fields together. As for pulling plows, carrying grain, and riding, he had added negotiable after each one.

Hu Liena looked over the card. "You don't require it to help you work?"

"It would be best if it's willing." Zhao He was straightforward. "If not, I'll raise it first. My old horse wouldn't let strangers ride on its back during its first three