You were made to farm, and now you're the emperor of an empire?

Chapter 104 Focusing on the Present
But what about the punishment from the gods?
Why is it that I, who was so greedy, am now able to live in a sturdy and durable brick house and eat three meals a day?

Ge Lan and Ke Li are getting stronger and stronger.

During this time, they memorized the directions of left and right and learned to count from one to ten. One day, they will be able to pass the lord's selection and become soldiers who can receive military pay.

Meicher, Wayne, and Lana are growing up healthily.

They studied reading and writing every day at Origin Manor—an honor reserved only for the steward.

He felt restless and tossing and turning whenever he thought about it.

His fourth son, Wayne, who was the least promising and most incompetent in his eyes and who was always complaining of being hungry, was actually going to become the steward!
I hope to become a clerk like Little Jimmy someday.

Meichel had said that Wayne learned very quickly, had been praised by the lord of the manor, and had even met the lord on his own.

This is an honor that only a handful of children can receive—and his fourth son, Wayne, was one of them.

Dane was the last to leave the house.

The moldy grain upset him, but he didn't have time to care.

Dane hurried to the work site, where Glenn and Corley were waiting for him, as were the other young and strong farmers.

Rows of horse-drawn carriages were parked on the open ground. Each carriage could carry twelve or thirteen farmers, and if the farmers were lighter, twenty could pull it. The lord had arranged it specially, and it was said that he had gathered 100 draft horses from the livestock sheds specifically for transporting people from all walks of life.

The work site was chaotic, with acquaintances forming groups to board a horse-drawn carriage.

“Dane, you’re so slow,” one of the farmers said.

Dane sighed, "It's all because the food at home got moldy."

A farmer sighed, "That's right."

Other farmers sighed, "My grain has also gone moldy."

After they finished speaking, they all let out a long, unified sigh.

This is a very serious matter. Just watching the grain gradually rot is heartbreaking.

"Um... Dane, could you tell me more about little Wayne?" A farmer was itching to ask.

Ge Lan and Ke Li on the carriage remained silent, but they both straightened their backs in unison, their faces full of pride. The driver in front of them also perked up his ears.

Dane coughed lightly.

“Wayne told me that day that our esteemed lord was looking for him.”

"Wow!" they all exclaimed in surprise!
Everyone present was familiar with the old man who often taught them how to do things, but it was a public place.

This is a private meeting; the lord clearly wants to have a private conversation with young Wayne.

“Wayne said that the lord beckoned him to come closer.”

"Wow!" This is a chance to get up close and personal with the lord!
"The lord patted Wayne's head and cheeks."

"Wow!" Instead of being slapped, he was stroked, which is an honor for a lifetime.

"The lord asked him how his studies were going, had him count, and patiently corrected several of his mistakes, never once calling Wayne a fool!"

"Wow!!!" The fools, who were often insulted by the lord, exclaimed in unison with envy.

"The lord said Wayne was very clever, but too thin, and then took a piece of honey bread and a glass of milk from the table for him!"

"Wow!" "Wow!" Exclamations rose and fell.

Everyone knows that Pamela gave birth to Wayne while working in the fields. When they were found, both of them were on the verge of death. Dane found several people to help and took Pamela into the mountains overnight, which saved the mother and child.

Wayne was frail and weak from a young age, and everyone secretly mocked him, sighed openly, or watched coldly, all waiting to see what would happen to the Wayne family in the future.

As a result, little Wayne, who couldn't do farm work and couldn't even keep an eye on the chickens, actually gained the lord's favor after going to the manor.

"The lord also said that Wayne should study hard and learn to read so that he can study under Master Jimmy! Listen to that! Wayne should study under our little scribe!"

Wow! Wow! Wow!

A cacophony of exclamations erupted from the carriage, drawing the attention of farmers in other carriages.

This had happened twice before, but they never tired of hearing it and loved the story.

Encouraged, the farmer who initially asked the question secretly vowed to make sure his son performed well, gained the lord's favor, and became like Wayne.

As for Jimmy... that lucky guy who managed to fly in broad daylight is not replicable.

They arrived at the food camp by horse-drawn carriage and, as was customary, lined up to receive their meals.

I was surprised to find an extra dish in today's breakfast.

The offal soup is made by simmering scallions, ginger, garlic, and salt, with plenty of oil and meat flakes floating on top.

The morning coolness gradually faded. As the sun rose in the east, the temperature began to rise and become hot.

While Dane was eating, he saw the agricultural officer Moore standing on a high place, announcing something to all the laborers.

That is, the lord has wasted too much time and labor building brick houses for them, and they must hurry up and finish the work.

The lord has cancelled the daily task quotas.

Previously, they could finish their work for the day immediately after completing their task.

But now, I'll do as much as I can!
The lord takes this matter very seriously, and if the task is not completed within the expected timeframe, everyone will be punished by the lord.

Neither Dane nor any of the other laborers complained from beginning to end.

They had long since discovered that as long as they worked diligently and didn't slack off, they would not be punished by the lord.

Look at these savory offal soups, look at those sweet oatmeal porridges, look at those soft slices of bread and vegetable pies.

The lord has decreed a system for working meals.

As long as they work, they get three meals a day, and all they have to do is put in their own free labor. Is there anything more worthwhile?

After breakfast, everyone took a horse-drawn carriage to the place where the road was being repaired.

There is a makeshift tool shed here, filled with sharp steel farm tools.

Axe, machete, shovel, hoe.

Everyone who passed by in line took a handy tool with them.

Dane received a sharp axe.

He took his axe and, along with his two sons, headed towards the densely wooded wilderness.

A white lime line marks the work area; simply follow the white line to make repairs.

Because of the treacherous route and the extremely long construction project, Roman did not have high requirements.

You can't expect this dirt road to be perfectly smooth; as long as it looks like a road, it doesn't matter if it's a bit bumpy or uneven.

If some road conditions are really bad, then Roman will have to carry the smelted steel back by manpower.

He mobilized over 1200 able-bodied young men and women and assembled hundreds of horse-drawn carriages to save the laborers' time and energy, seeking maximum efficiency.

Everyone was assigned to different sections of the road, and the cleanup work began simultaneously.
Bucket after bucket of herbal tea was continuously delivered from the rear, and everyone was covered in a medicinal solution infused with calamus and mint to repel insects.

Although it was the last month of summer and the temperature had dropped slightly, the weather was still hot and humid, and cooling herbal teas were of great help to them.

Today, after learning of the lord's demands on them, these hardworking fellows unleashed an even more astonishing power.

They didn't know why the master wanted to build this road, nor what lay at the end of it.

Last time, at least we knew it was a salt mine, so everyone worked hard just to get salt.

This time, though they didn't know the target, and only knew the master's order, not a single person objected.

Their shortsightedness prevented them from seeing the scenery a hundred miles away.

They are focused on the present and can only see the rich and delicious work meals.

The lord promised that as long as they worked every day, their meals would continue.

We can survive even without farming!
Everyone is afraid that if they lose their jobs, they will have to go back to their old ways.
The lord also promised that he would provide them with jobs until they died.

that's enough!
As long as they can have enough to eat, they would rather this road never end.

Dane was hacking at the tree with all his might using his axe.

He was nearly forty, but still quite healthy and strong.

Ge Lan was sweating profusely, his upper body was naked, and his exposed skin was covered in green medicine.

He cut off the excess branches, leaving only the bare trunk, and then used oxen to pull it out once the road behind it was completed.

Ke Li's arms were bulging with veins.

Using the sharp head of a shovel, they leveled the tangled roots of the bushes, piling them together to make room.

One after another, the big trees collapsed with a crash.

If viewed from above, one can see a straight, long path rapidly taking shape under the onslaught of countless ants.

This was the 217th day since Roman arrived in Sig.

(End of this chapter)