Chapter 24: The Dark Tide of Guge, the Elves, and the Shrewish Maggie and Her Family...
The little Delraston beast, with its smooth, dark fur, attracted the attention of the entire village as soon as it entered.
The villagers looked on with envy as they watched Lai lead the dog home.
Neil was extremely proud of himself. Whenever the other children in the village saw him and asked if his family had bought the child, little Neil would proudly raise his chin and nod slightly.
Buying large livestock is a major event in the village. If a family in the village owns cattle or horses, everyone within a few miles is considered to have lived during the Ming and Qing dynasties. It's normal that this small animal has attracted so much attention.
If a child wants to touch it, Lai will never refuse.
The little Delraston wasn't afraid at all seeing so many people surrounding it; instead, it acted like a crazy person, hopping and skipping around. It looked a lot like the silly kid from the next village.
The villagers followed Lai into the yard and watched him tie the small animal to the newly built shed.
The neat and clean shed once again attracted the attention and discussion of the villagers.
"This shed is really well-built. But why is there a hole in the wall?"
A kind-looking middle-aged man asked, and Lai explained the reason for keeping it. The man was overjoyed. The other onlookers nodded in agreement.
.
"This method is good. I will build my house this way in the future."
"No wonder he studied abroad, his thinking is just different."
Lei looked embarrassed.
"They've all arrived?"
Hagrid got off the oxcart and went to Rye's house, followed by Brian and Lamb.
"That's right, the village has finally bought another Delraston beast, so everyone came to take a look."
"This little male beast must have cost a lot of money, right?"
Someone was subtly trying to find out the price, but Lai pretended not to understand what he was saying and just laughed it off without giving a direct answer.
"There are quite a few."
"And how much is that?"
The man, oblivious to the situation, continued asking.
This is actually not something that can be directly exposed.
If you talk too much, the fact that the two of them are orphans with so much money left behind will inevitably attract malicious people who might try to take advantage of them; if you talk too little, people will immediately realize that the price is not what it seems, and they will say you are stingy behind your back.
Hagrid didn't tolerate these people and directly retorted.
"What? You want to buy one too? If you do, I'll help you with the setup."
They're all the pillars of their families; who among them doesn't have connections outside? Hagrid's statement was purely meant to annoy people.
"Just asking, just asking."
The person didn't ask any further questions.
But this matter couldn't be brushed aside so easily. Hagrid first stated that he had helped buy it, and then continued as he had previously agreed with Rye.
"The child wants to start a small business. As elders, we should help as much as we can. It's a way of honoring our deceased brother."
The implication was clear: Ray had borrowed the money from him. The group's lively speculations finally subsided for the time being.
Lamb touched and looked the little beast around, then grabbed a handful of alfalfa and fed it.
Brian was also very fond of the lively little creature.
After the excitement subsided, everyone stood outside Lai's house, chatting as they walked. A while later, another group arrived, all there to see the little Delraston and gather information.
After seeing off the two groups of people, the house finally quieted down.
Just as I finished adding water to the little beast and was about to rest, an elderly man with gray hair came to Lai's house carrying a basket of things.
It's my neighbor, Old Guge.
Guge handed the items to Laiyi, who lifted the leaves covering them and found that they were freshly picked grapes and dates.
"Adding livestock to the family is a big deal, so don't be careless. Remember to pray to the goddess of harvest. The grapes are growing very well this year, so I'll send you some to eat."
"Thank you, Grandpa Guge."
Lei thanked him politely and took Gug to see the little Delraston.
Guge stroked its mane lovingly, his eyes full of affection.
“Not bad, not bad at all. My family used to have one like that. But it got too old to drive, so I sold it. When I was young, I used to ride my Delraston all over the country.”
Old people like to reminisce about the past, and seeing that Lai and Neil were interested, Gug began to tell them stories from the past.
“That was when I was young and unmarried. I would often drive my cart and go on adventures in the Eton Forest with my brothers. Back then, there were many such expedition teams in the village and town, all hoping to find something in the forest and earn some bounty.”
"Once, I got lost on an expedition and became separated from the main group. I wandered in the forest for two days and two nights. I thought I was going to die there, but unexpectedly, I was saved by an elf."
"I traded the spices I had with them for a map, and I earned food and water through my labor. The kind elves taught me how to grow delicious fruit. After leaving the forest, I supported my family by growing fruit, getting married, and having children."
"Now I am old, and my children have all left."
Gu Ge spoke calmly and casually, showing no sign of sadness.
The hardships of fate did not diminish Guge's optimistic attitude towards life; he always faced the suffering life brought him with a smile.
Through his interactions with him, Lai learned that Gug was a very respectable old man.
The topic of elves excited Neil.
"Grandpa Guge, what do elves look like?"
“Elves,” Gugge said, lost in memories. “They have pointed ears, fair skin, and outstanding appearance.”
"If they can't build houses in the forest, where do they live?"
Neil then asked.
"They live in treehouses."
“I heard they only drink dew.”
Gug smiled kindly when he heard Neil's words.
"Who told you that you can't survive on dew alone? They also eat vegetables and go hunting. And their archery skills are exceptional; they can shoot an arrow hundreds of meters away."
"Wow!"
Neil exclaimed in surprise.
Lai poured tea for the old man and the child, then turned to prepare dinner.
He planned to steam a batch of flower rolls, stir-fry a plate of cured pork, and a plate of hot and sour shredded potatoes.
The chili peppers have been dried and are ready to be eaten.
Once he found out where he could grind chili peppers, he went and ground two bundles of dried chili peppers into chili powder and chili flakes for later use.
"Grandpa Guge, please stay for dinner tonight. I still have some wine to drink."
Guge repeatedly refused and prepared to get up and leave.
With just a glance from Ray, Neil understood his meaning, grabbing Gug's arm and shaking it, insisting that he stay. Gug ultimately had no choice but to give in.
Gug has been quietly taking care of Lai and Neil all along, providing them with plenty of fruit over the past few months. He can definitely afford to feed them a meal.
The cured meat was made from the venison from last time. It was first soaked in seasonings and salt for half a day before being smoked with fruitwood.
Cut the meat and put it in the pot; the juicy cured pork belly releases a unique aroma.
It's better for older people to eat less oily food, as it aids digestion. Lai made a refreshing salad with quail eggs, cucumbers, cabbage, and tomatoes.
Then I drew some cool well water and soaked two bunches of grapes in it, which I'll save for dinner.
Guge had never seen meat prepared this way before.
After the autumn harvest, the village organizes hunting activities. The game caught is sold cheaply to each household and is usually made into sausages to be eaten in the winter.
Making sausages is a local tradition in Rosen. The local sausages are quite famous in the surrounding towns.
Different places have different customs, and the sausages made in each village also have their own unique characteristics.
Lai's smoked bacon is a bit different from others, but not enough to arouse suspicion, since smoked bacon is also a dish here.
Gu Ge really liked the stir-fried cured pork, and the hot and sour shredded potatoes also received his praise.
After the meal, Neil drove Gug home.
After cleaning up the dishes, Lai first fed the big yellow dog, then added grass and water for the small animals. Finally, he brought the red-billed tarantula that had been digging in the grass outside back into the shed.
While Lai lived a peaceful and stable life, some people were talking about him behind his back.
"Look at Ray, his parents died and he's raising a minor brother, but he's still doing really well. Now he's even bought a Delraston Beast!"
"I've been married to you for so many years, and I haven't even seen a single hair of a Delraston beast, let alone one! And look at you two good-for-nothings, all you do is eat all day!"
Maggie loudly berated her husband and two sons.
The husband and eldest son kept their heads down and ate without saying a word.
The younger son rolled his eyes and argued with Maggie.
"Of course they live well because they have a capable uncle helping them out. What do we have? An uncle who's a drunkard?"
Maggie was furious and reached out to hit her youngest son.
He was quick-witted; seeing his mother about to hit him, he grabbed a piece of bread and rushed out of the room.
"Stop right there!"
Maggie grabbed a broom and chased after them.
The remaining people at the table continued eating their dinner as usual, and no one tried to stop them. This scene played out several times a day at the dinner table.
"Anna, eat meat."
"Thank you, brother."
Anna ate the meat in her bowl in small bites. Her older brother worked on the other side of the tunnel to supplement the family income, and he had only just received his wages a few days ago, so he bought a few pounds of meat in town to satisfy his craving.
"Boss, you're not getting any younger. What do you think of your mother's cousin?"
Mark stopped chewing.
His cousin, like his mother, was hot-tempered and unreasonable. She'd already been jilted twice and was a notorious old maid. Mark really wanted to refuse.
But living under constant pressure from his parents had made him timid and resilient, and he didn't know what to do.
The first younger sister was married off by her parents to a wealthy family, and they received a generous dowry.
She was having a very difficult time. She had given birth to three children, all daughters, in just a few years. Her mother would also come to her from time to time asking for money, which made her feel ashamed in her husband's family. She also had endless housework to do every day.
Mark also had a childhood sweetheart, a gentle and kind girl, but his mother didn't like her.
He mustered up his courage and told his family that he wanted to marry her. His mother refused to his face because he was too young, but behind his back she went to the girl's house and gave her a good scolding.
Later, the girl married someone from another village, and he never mentioned getting married again. Now, his mother has set her sights on him again.
Mark lowered his head and remained silent.
Anna looked at her eldest brother, then at her father. She was the youngest child in the family, well-behaved and intelligent, and her father loved her the most. She could still hold her own in front of the adults.
She acted coquettishly towards her father.
"Dad, I don't like my cousin. She's so mean! I'm afraid she'll hit me when she's angry."
"Don't be willful. Your older brother will eventually get married. It doesn't matter who he marries, marrying your cousin would be even better, wouldn't it?"
Mark felt a deep sense of desolation and disappointment.
The mother's yelling outside was like superfluous background noise in a silent film.
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Author's Note: Elves—the most sacred race in the world.
One of the eight major races. They have fair skin, pointed ears, mostly silver hair and blue eyes, and are born with magic.
Faith in the Mother Tree of Spirits.
They are close to nature, skilled in planting, and adept at horsemanship and archery. Their winemaking techniques are superb.
They often establish their tribes around the mother tree and live in seclusion in various locations on the continent (mostly forests).
They rarely lived among other ethnic groups and mostly carried out missions alone.
Editor's Note: If I could catch a glimpse of the Queen's splendor, I would die without regret!
—Excerpt from "Vagura on Anecdotes of Race"
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