Beggars were usually found in the city, as begging in the countryside could not fill one's stomach. It was unclear why these two were here, seeming like they had slipped away from the city.
The village they walked through was called Liba Village, not a very large village, recorded in the government's documents as having only a few dozen households. Most of the people they saw were of working age, with fewer elderly, women, and children.
As soon as the two entered the village, they caught the attention of the blacksmith at the village entrance.
The blacksmith, with his strong arms bare, swung his hammer to strike the iron, beside a glowing furnace. Seeing the two pass by, he stopped his work and stared sharply at the newcomers.
