Mudbray Arrived at the Zhao Household, and the Old Man Hid the Wooden Rake First

Early on the third day, Zhao He brought over an empty vegetable cart.

The cart was lined with hay. A water bucket was secured in the front corner, while a tray of clean soil brought from the shop sat on the other side. An old saddle hung behind the driver's seat, far from the carriage. Even when the wind blew, only the ropes swayed; the iron rings made no noise.

Hu Liena circled the cart once. Indeedee pulled half a broken nail from between the railing slats, then pressed down the ramp twice more.

The driver asked, "Should we tie it up on the road?"

"Keep the wooden rails shut, but leave room for it to move inside," Hu Liena said. "If it refuses to get on the cart, then we won't go today."

Zhao He tucked his hands into his sleeves and stood to one side.

Mudbray first sniffed the ramp, then lifted its right forehoof to test it. Only after confirming that the boards were steady did it walk into the carriage step by step. Mud from around its four hooves pressed into the hay, leaving dark marks. That layer of mud remained pliant, never hardening into a crust even after half a journey under the sun.

Zhao He climbed in and sat down. "This time, I didn't guess."

Hu Liena nodded. "You've improved."

Rotom displayed a little face on the cart rail: [(￣▽￣)]

Zhao He looked at it twice. "Is it praising me?"

"You can keep not guessing."

They stopped twice along the twenty-li road to Zhao Family Village. The first time, Mudbray only drank water. The second time, it got down from the cart on its own, moved around on the wide road for a while, then went back up the ramp. Zhao He did not