Heimarian Odyssey

Locke’s childhood was relatively happy. There was an elder sister who loved him deeply, a pair of honest parents. His favorite thing to do was in the hot summer when his parents and elder sister were working in the fields. Fish in the ditch, although it is only a small fish, only a swarthy fish with the thickness of a thumb, Locke still enjoys it, because it is one of the few meats in their family’s life.

However, the good days are gone under the ravages of natural disasters. When Locke was 14 years old, a large-scale drought struck the kingdom of Faustans, which is not a vast territory. Three out of the four provinces were caught in food and drinking water crisis. Maple Leaf Village, a mining town in Cardoj, Del Province The Locke family fell into a desperate situation.

It hasn’t rained for a whole month and a half, and the time has come to mid-June. In previous years, another month is the harvest season. Often with the decrease in field activities at this time, parents should take themselves to the town to purchase and sell some villages. A Chinese specialty product, earning a little copper thaler to maintain a poor livelihood. The elder sister will also hold a bamboo basket, wrap a headscarf, and hold the scarves, handkerchiefs and other small things she made with the linen leftover at home for half a year. The town is sold to past dealers or adventurers.

Scarves and handkerchiefs made of rough linen are not comfortable, but they are durable, strong and can keep out of the cold. They are favored by small businessmen and not wealthy advertisers. The workmanship of Locke elder sister is also very good. During the rainy season, the temperature was still very low at this time in previous years, and elder sister’s small items can always be sold. Little Locke’s favorite thing to do is to sit on the rock next to the big maple tree at the entrance of the village in the evening, and look at the return of the elder sister from a distance. When the elder sister wrapped in a blue turban and carrying a basket appears from a distance At that time, Locke would rush up excitedly, holding the elder sister who has endured the hardships of a long journey, and groping for the elder sister’s pocket? Riding a basket of linen? No, when Locke showed disappointment, the elder sister would extend the hand with a smile, a few dark yellow kangoos, Locke was very excited.

Locke’s elder sister is one of the few beauties in the village. When Locke was 7 years old, Locke’s elder sister was already slim. Although the elder sister was only ten at the time, the matchmaker was about to cross the threshold of his house. After all, most people in this small village got married when they were 15 years old. There were a few children when they were 17 and 8 years old. When they were 10 years old, they were not too young. Although a marriage can’t be done, it’s okay. Ordered. At this time, Locke is always unhappy because he feels that these people are going to snatch his elder sister. Locke makes a lot of noise and messes around in front of the proposer. The elder sister’s marriage is finally dragged down. Outsiders always look at Locke with weird eyes when seeing this situation, and then as if thinking of something, they leave a few words in an uncomfortable tone.

Of course, the most important reason is that Locke’s parents also think it’s too early. There is no such thing as an engagement for country folks. Only aristocrats have these rules. Generally, when they reach their age, they look for young children in their village or town. If it feels the same, the daughter will not endure hardship, so she will marry. I look for the youth in this town because I know my roots and know the bottom line. My daughter will not suffer after marrying, and she can often see her, and her daughter will often go home to help her home. Locke’s elder sister, Leah, was only ten years old. Locke’s parents were married when Locke’s father was 16 and his mother was 15. It is indeed too early.

And Locke’s parents also have their own careful thoughts. The daughter is so neat, they don’t want to marry their daughter to an ordinary farmer’s or blacksmith child, if they can marry a certain son of the mayor’s family or a certain small asset In the family of merchants, their daughter will be blessed, and by the way, she can help her younger brother beg a wife in the future. Moreover, although Locke’s family is a humble farmer’s family, it is a hardworking family. The honest old Locke, the hardworking and able to keep the house Tia, their sensible daughter Leia, and the lively little Locke make up this poor but warm family. Happy family.

However, manpower is still unable to withstand natural disasters. Even if someone can, they are certainly not people from Faustin, a weak kingdom with a small territory and barren land, and certainly not the little Locke family can resist.

The drought has lasted for a month and a half, and most of the crops in the fields have dried up. Little Locke’s parents have white hair. Little Locke found that only 30-year-old parents had a half of their hair turned white in just one month. . Little Locke, who likes to listen to the town’s bards telling stories, suddenly understands a truth. On this continent where the average age is less than 50 years old, his parents are about to enter their old age.

Little Locke hasn’t eaten brown bread for 2 weeks. Although brown bread is hard and has a faintly discernable musty smell, it is made from wheat husks and husks. It is rich in nutrients. Even if the family was poor, parents would give it. I and my elder sister eat a dinner of black bread and potato soup once a week. But this time, the parents did not do it. But Locke not at all asked the parents because the elder sister has not eaten for 3 weeks.

Or since he was a child, he likes to stick to the elder sister. With the elder sister, the little Locke has a sensibility that peers do not possess. Little Hans in the neighbor’s house had not eaten brown bread within a week, and the sorrow on the faces of Old Hans and Aunt Mary grew more and more day by day. Locke did not do so.

The days are still going on, from eating oatmeal porridge, to cakes made with grains of chestnut, to vegetable soup, to chewing tree roots, the days of Locke’s family are getting sad day by day.

Finally one day, Locke was gone forever, and he chose to join the army. Before the age of 12, Locke and Leah slept in separate beds. Leah was an elder sister and mother who took care of Locke at night. That night, even though Locke had been very careful, she was still living together for many years. Sister Leah found out that Leah didn’t at all stop Locke, but let him come back alive with tears.

As if thinking of the stubborn younger brother that night, Leah showed a look that was both distressed and relieved.

“I hope Locke can come back safely…” Leah sighed and said softly. This family’s life is more than a little better than before, but the father and mother are not at all happier. Their only son is fighting outside and he doesn’t know his life or death. The old two have no chance to enjoy a moment of peace.

Perhaps I remembered what my father and mother said just now for Locke Zhang Luo’s marriage, Leah also used his brains. There are very few beautiful girls in the village. Even if there are, based on the plans of the old Locke and Tia, they must be. What I don’t like is to marry a girl in the town. Mine Town is a small town, mainly rich in minerals and animal skins. There are mostly merchants. Among them, there are not many rich merchants, but there are not many. I believe that if it is a Small If Captain marries, some small businessmen will agree to marry their own daughters.

When Leah sells her own handmade work in town, she often sees young ladies shopping in droves. She admires the young ladies. They are so carefree and do whatever they want. But Leah is only envious of that’s all. She doesn’t yearn for a good life. She just wants to do something she likes that’s all. She thinks that my dear younger brother might marry one of the Young Lady as his wife in the future. I panicked, feeling that my younger brother was leaving me.

Many of the messages sent back by the younger brother were for buying silk scarves or clothes. Leah was very moved and showed that the younger brother had not forgotten her. But the money sent back is limited. Now not only the price of food has risen, but the price of salt has also started to rise. Leah didn’t dare to spend money indiscriminately. In the past few years, she bought 2 silk scarves. The clothes were not bought, and the poor people never buy The new clothes were all made of cloth by herself. Last year, Tia pulled a foot of new cloth and made a skirt for Leah. It looked very good. Leah didn’t dare to wear it after only wearing it once.

On the other hand, Old Locke and Tia are lying on the bed and not at all asleep. Old Locke is only more than 30 and less than 40 this year, but he is too old to work on the ground. They are tired all these years, and Tia is too. Tia, who is just 30 years old, has to shoulder the burden of farming and doing housework with the old Locke. His arms have been tanned over the years. I think Tia was also a beauty in Maple Leaf Village.

Old Locke was very moved by his wife’s help over the years. Lying on the bed, Old Locke held Tia’s hand in one hand, just like the first time Locke was holding Tia’s hand 20 years ago, for so many years. Just passed. Tia also held old Locke back, and the old two lay quietly, feeling each other’s temperature.

“Locke that child…” Tia said, “Hey, Leia doesn’t know his mind, don’t we two understand.”

Old Locke didn’t speak, he didn’t know what to say in this regard.

“Back then, your elder sister entrusted Leah to you for raising. Although the family is poor these years, she still raises Leah well. I have regarded her as a biological daughter. You said Locke he… Tia held Old Locke’s hand tightly, looking a little excited.

“Younger generations will do all right on their own, Locke and Leah, let the children solve it by themselves.” Old Locke said.

“It can only be this way.” Tia said helplessly.

Locke and Leah did not realize that the two of them had a bond with each other. This might be because they were only in this mountain. Old Locke and Tia are parents. The message from Locke and Leah’s reflection are of course different. One or two times is that’s all. It’s been the same for so many years, so you can’t help being the parents of two. Random thinking.

“I heard from the village chief that this is popular among nobles. It is said that Baron Cardoj’s Second Madame is his cousin…” Old Locke mumbled in the dark.

“What do you do that many people! We are common people, can we compare with the nobles!” Tia objected. Although the elder Locke and Tia are in harmony in the family, it is usually the old Locke who listens to Tia, because he loves his wife too much, and feels owed to Tia, she has suffered a lot with him.

“Let’s talk about it when Locke comes back…” Old Locke decided to stop the topic. He was worried that the two people were talking too loudly for his daughter to hear.

“En.” Tia replied, resting Locke’s arm, and asked him sideways, “Can Locke come back?”

“Look at you, and say this again…” Old Locke patted Tia on the shoulder, “How old is our son’s ability, don’t you know, he will definitely come back alive, go to sleep, go to sleep, don’t think about it. I have to go to the fields tomorrow to collect the vines and potatoes.”

“En.” Tia replied.

Late at night.

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Today, I took the time to write a chapter, and this time I failed the test, alas, Sang Xin.