Chapter 99 Wealth and honor, don’t forget each other
In theory, most manors would try to become an internally self-sufficient economy, which was possible in the Middle Ages.
After all, the old farmers in the Middle Ages were not as noble as some people in later generations. Without coffee, they would die.
The old farmers of this era, whether they were serfs or free people, were essentially different types of crops. They only needed land, sunlight, moisture, and air to survive. And every year the lord harvests their fruits with a scythe.
In the desolate world of the Middle Ages, these manors were like isolated islands, isolated from the outside world most of the time.
For the residents of these isolated islands, the concept of foreigners is actually similar to the concept of foreigners in the eyes of later generations. As for the pagans in the 12th century, to the residents of the native manors in Western Europe, they were essentially like outsiders.
As a strange outsider, Gareth naturally attracted much attention. Even with the guarantee of Charlie's family, he would still be criticized.
But this kind of pointing was actually not purely malicious. It was simply the appearance of Garris that gave their boring life more things to talk about.
Garris' identity as a survivor of the bandit disaster also gave him a sense of tragedy, and the people in the village would also worry that they would encounter a similar tragedy.
Of course, Garris did not lie in this matter. He had indeed experienced banditry, but the outcome of those Bedouin bandits... was different from what the villagers in the manor thought.
One day has passed, two days have passed...
Gareth never did anything extraordinary. He seemed to be a real farmer, doing a lot of farm work with Charlie.
Feeding livestock, grazing sheep, clearing weeds on the fields, and preparing for the upcoming autumn plowing.
Just two days passed, and Gehris became involved with the Frankish free people.
Yes, in Charles's village, the majority of the people were Frankish freedmen, with a small number of Frankish serfs. However, in the entire estate, the majority of Muslim serfs were gathered into separate villages and distributed in other places.
According to Charlie's description, Labrete Manor is a large manor, covering a relatively square area. The butler's mansion and church, as well as various production facilities such as mills, ovens and wine-pressing equipment, are located in the center of the manor. location.
There are many small villages scattered around the center of the manor. The population and number of households in these villages are quite small. But the distribution range is actually quite particular. First of all, Muslims and Christians do not mix. Secondly, the number of Frankish villages is smaller, closer to the center of the manor, and more located at road intersections.
Obviously, such a distribution is conducive to feudal lords using the power of Christians to control and suppress Muslims.
To the Franks in the village, although Geris was a foreigner, he could still be classified as "us" by them.
It was the end of another day of farm work, but the sun was still early to set. A group of people were sitting on the ridge of the field chatting.
"Are you kidding me? Is the Aurore sister's butt really that big?" Garris had a greasy and obscene smile on his face.
The young people on the side didn't take it seriously at all, or it was precisely because Gairis took over the conversation that they felt that Gairis was a good brother.
"Of course! This is still false. Let me tell you, there are people from the next village who want to come here to propose marriage, but Aurore firmly disagrees! He is afraid that his sister will suffer hardship if she marries far away."
Many people get excited when they talk about other people's gossip.
"How old is that girl?" Garris lowered his mouth and asked curiously.
"Thirteen! It's the age to get married!"
When he heard the number thirteen, Garris was still stunned. This was even younger than Isabella.
But among the people around her, getting married at the age of thirteen is a natural and natural thing, and there is nothing to question.
One of the brothers on the side noticed the expression of Garris and teased: "What, you have fallen in love with her? Let me tell you, the sister of the Aurore family seems to be a good childbearer, but in fact it is not easy to marry. The conditions of his family No, I can’t give you a dowry at all!”
"No, that's not the case." Garris denied it with a smile, and then said again: "I was thinking about my brother. Simon, that boy, has been dull since he was a child. If you don't help him think more, I'm afraid he won't be beaten. A lifelong bachelor.”
"Besides, my family's condition is not good. How can it be worse than my two brothers? Do my two brothers have the qualifications to dowry? They suffered from banditry. If Brother Charlie hadn't taken them in, I don't know how miserable it would have been!"
As soon as they heard that Garris said that he had suffered a disaster, the simple young men around him also calmed down their expressions. It was obvious that they were all good guys.
Some people even specifically changed the topic: "At this point, there is nothing to do. Is there anything fun?"
"By the way, I found a big nest!" Someone was bragging to the people around him like he was offering a treasure.
As soon as they heard this man talking about having a honeycomb, many people started drooling. White sugar is quite difficult to obtain these days, and honey is the most direct sweetener.
Just thinking about the smell of honey makes some people breathe a little heavier.
"Where?"
Seeing the reactions of the people around him, the man was so proud that he pointed to a forest not far away.
"Over there!"
Looking in the direction of the finger, many people suddenly backed down.
"Hey! That's the master's forest!"
These days, almost everything in the manor actually belongs to the lord. According to the standards of the Celestial Empire, strictly speaking, the free people are just tenants who pay very little rent.
Excluding the freemen's own houses, most of the surrounding woods, grasslands, and ponds belonged to the master.
The master's things are just things that others don't want. If they are left rotten, broken, or smelly... As long as I didn't tell you to give them to you, then you are guilty if you pick them up.
If you pick up a piece of firewood without permission, you can be tied up and whipped with a whip, let alone poking a honeycomb.
Seeing the appearance of the people around him, Garris spat on the ground and rubbed his hands.
"What are you afraid of! Is it possible that the master can still understand magic? Today, I will lead you to poke out the honeycomb, just don't tell this matter!"
"But that honeycomb is quite high, and it might be poisonous. If we bump into a ranger, we will be unlucky..."
Garris stood up directly. His height of 1.78 meters was considered outstanding even among the Franks in this era.
The man squatting on the field ridge looked up and felt that he was unusually tall.
"Where do you come from with so much talk! Why can the gentlemen taste the taste of honey water, but we mud-legged people can't taste it!"
We couldn't walk a few steps into the forest, and were some distance away from the ranger's hut. Under the branches of a tree, a honeycomb larger than a human head hung there.
Garris led a group of people and stared at the honeycomb for a long time. The bees as big as fingers were constantly coming in and out.
The taste of honey appears on their respective taste buds, but now no one dares to take a step forward. "Garris, what if, forget it...what if we are discovered, what if we get stung by a bee..."
Someone was advising Garris, and that person's eyes were very concerned, which was completely different from the previous days.
If a few days ago, Garris and them were just strangers, regarded as church members without any hesitation, then when Garris was willing to take them under this hive, it really became "we".
"What are you afraid of? The sky is falling, tall people are holding on, I'm the tallest here! You guys go further away later. If you are discovered, just pretend you don't know! As for the bee, it can't hurt me!"< br>
As he spoke, Garris strode forward, picked up a wooden stick from the ground, and went to the tree.
At this time, the people behind him looked at Garris with even more admiration.
This new brother is really not bragging! He really cares about his brothers!
At this time, don't talk about bees or bees, or lording the forest or lording the forest. Just go for this move that can poke the nest for a few brothers. Garris is not a brother, so who is a brother!
With Garris's skills, there was naturally nothing to say, and he didn't act too exaggerated. Just like a monkey, he climbed up the tree a few times, and when the stick was able to reach it, it only took two times to knock it down.
Then, with a snap, the hive fell down.
Accompanied by this, there were densely packed bees taking off.
When Garris jumped directly from the two-meter-high tree and ran all the way out of the forest, he suddenly saw that those silly boys hadn't gone far!
"No, you!" Garris didn't care what to say, and finally said: "Run quickly!"
Behind him, the densely packed bees were already flying over.
Those young men thought that walking far away like this seemed like they were unloyal, but they never thought that the main reason why Gareth let them go further was because he was afraid of bees stinging them.
On the ground, four or five teenagers were running towards the setting sun, with wild bees flying behind them.
But instead of looking gloomy, everyone's faces were full of laughter, playing a different kind of music with the bees behind them.
Since Garris came, there has been more to talk about and more joy in their lives.
The originally dark and gloomy world seemed to become more colorful because of Garris.
……
In the end, they failed to get the honey, because when Garris and his group shook the bees away, they saw that the hive seemed to have been picked up.
But it actually didn't matter. They left the field arm-in-arm and headed towards the village.
One of them suddenly felt something and said directly: "If one day, one of us becomes rich, don't forget each other!"
"Ha! How could it be our turn for such a good thing? Charlie went out to fight, but he worked as a coolie for several months before he was released! Jacques, that guy doesn't even know whether he is alive or dead!"
< br>
"Alas! How can a little sparrow understand the eagle's lofty ambitions?"
As soon as the man spoke, the people next to him slapped him twice. This man actually made fun of them as sparrows!
Garris looked at these young people, wondering what he was thinking, but a smile appeared on his lips.
"Don't worry, we won't forget each other."
In the minds of these young people, in just two days, Garris was already their fellow traveler.
But when these people returned to the village, there was no smile on their faces.
A group of people was at the head of the village not far away.
The man at the head of the list was recognized by Garris. He had been here yesterday. He was the steward of the manor. He asked Garris about his origins, but was rounded off by Charlie.
The so-called butler is actually the person who helps the lord manage the manor. After all, the lord has so many manors and it is impossible to take care of them all. Naturally, someone needs to manage them on their behalf.
The steward was dressed in clean and beautiful clothes, and he could be distinguished from the free people around him at a glance.
And judging from the respectful attitude of the people around him, he was obviously the supreme being in this manor.
"...This year's spring harvest is indeed not good. Everyone has suffered. The lord has increased taxes. I know it's hard for you, but why am I the same?" The man said with helplessness in his tone and spread his hands slightly.
"My grandfather worked here like you in the early years. As the scriptures say, "The rich work tiredly to accumulate property and enjoy peace and happiness when they retire." This is why my family does not have to worry about hunger and cold today. This is heaven. My father’s gift is the reward for my family’s charity from generation to generation.”
"We, their descendants, should abide by our family motto, be kind in our hearts, act justly, and extend grace widely, so that we can protect future generations and receive the infinite gifts from our Heavenly Father."
What the man said was very beautiful, but the more beautiful he said it, the more people around him became confused and even frightened.
The families in front of them fell to their knees on the ground, trembling all over.
After seeing the houses clearly, Garris was a little startled, then stunned. Then he came to Simon's side, pulled Simon, and signaled him not to attack yet.
"I also understand your difficulties."
"I'm afraid there won't be a war next year. The tax is so heavy. It's okay for you families to move some miscellaneous items that should be paid to next year. I'll take care of them for you. As for autumn plowing, if you are really short of it , you can come to me and borrow some seeds, just think of it as my example of imitating my grandfather’s virtues.”
When the man said that he could borrow some seeds, the people on the ground were already crying.
Obviously this is not a cry of joy, but there is an unknown secret.
Even many people on the side showed compassion.
After saying these words, the steward, who seemed to have completed a favor, turned around and left the village, stepped onto a carriage, and headed towards the distant steward's residence.
Simon felt furious, but he didn't know how to express his anger, because among the families who knelt down, there was Jacques's mother and Jacques' sister.
Although there was one thing that Simon couldn't understand. He didn't understand why the more beautiful the butler's words were, the more frightened the people around him became.
But one thing Simon noticed was that when the housekeeper looked at Jacques' sister Emma, he obviously showed his greed.
"Sir, can you tell me what's going on?" Simon turned to Garris and expressed confusion.
Second update, due to work and rest reasons, I will continue to type and see how much I can get out tonight.
(End of chapter)