Li Xiang only fenced in his backyard, not his front yard. It wasn't the type of courtyard that completely encloses the house, because he was only trying to keep out wild boars and other dangerous animals that might come down from the back mountain.
Although most of the wild boars had been dealt with this year, they reproduced at an astonishing rate and had few natural predators. He estimated their numbers would surge again next year.
This meant his front yard remained open. If a wild boar showed up, he could simply get inside and shut the door.
In rural areas, it wasn't a good idea to fence in the front. If you did, no one would come by to visit. Li Xiang's house was already remote and far from the village center. If he fenced it in and closed the gate, who would come over for a chat? His grandmother would only get lonelier.
As it was, people still dropped by every now and then.
