Chapter 105: Coo, Coo, Coo
After a brief pause, Playa asked again, “Aren’t you afraid of getting stung if you put it out in the field?”
“I’m not afraid…”
I have all the proper protective gear! And soon, I’ll be completely free from frontline manual labor!
Wu Qingchen shook his head vigorously. “If it weren’t for the lord teaching me how to care for the cattle, how would I even need herbs… The lord’s honey shouldn’t be wasted.”
“Alright, if you’re not afraid…” Playa was slightly moved but didn’t relent. “Even if you’re not afraid, what about your father and your brothers?”
“About that…” Wu Qingchen gave a little shake to his hood and broad cloak. “We can tie the hood and sleeves up tightly with thin vines!”
“What about the owners of the surrounding fields, the neighbors passing by, and the other villagers?”
“Uh… the other fields… neighbors and other villagers…” Wu Qingchen’s voice dropped considerably.
“That’s no problem!” Seeing Wu Qingchen at a loss for words, young André jumped in, “Everyone usually talks things through, right? If the teacher hadn’t taught Los how to care for cattle, they’d be in big trouble by now, with no time to worry about the work in the fields!”
“Besides, even if you get stung by bees, so what? This is the lord’s honey, the church’s treasure! Let them feel the pain—that’s the sovereign’s test, a blessing from the gods!”
Standing nearby, listening to young André’s impassioned speech, Wu Qingchen couldn’t help but admire the strong class consciousness instilled by both lordly and church education from an early age.
Wu Qingchen was not surprised by André’s words. From the intelligence models integrated from Earth, he already knew that this seemingly easygoing child harbored a strong ruling-class self-awareness—otherwise, Earth wouldn’t have planned him as an important part of future operations.
“Alright, alright…” Playa didn’t want to argue with two children, especially since their intentions were to protect the interests of the church—or rather, of Lord Playa himself.
Let them be!
After all, honey never spoils no matter how long it stays in the comb; at worst, it doesn’t increase, but it certainly doesn’t decrease…
With this thought, Lord Playa looked at Wu Qingchen again. “You really want to try?”
“Yes!” Wu Qingchen’s expression was convincingly hopeful.
Seeing that look, Pastor Playa sighed quietly to himself: this kid probably never tasted anything sweet in his life…
“Then go ahead!” Playa hesitated slightly. “If you really manage to keep the honeycomb in the field, the honey inside… well, I’ll give you some when the time comes!”
“Ah!”
Honey!
Originally indifferent André instantly began to drool.
“Yes, my lord! Thank you, my lord!”
Wu Qingchen bowed deeply and, upon reaching the church door, glanced back and gave André a knowing look.
——
Night fell.
At the foot of the cliff, the chirping of crickets, croaking of frogs, and hooting of owls rose and fell in chorus.
A gust of wind swept through, causing the roughly constructed thatch shack made of straw and dry branches to creak repeatedly.
As if startled by the noise, a series of soft clucking sounds came from inside the shack.
In the corner of the shack lay several disordered bundles of wheat straw—some yellowed and dry, most already blackened. On top of the musty straw, Tamara curled up, clutching her stomach tightly, struggling for a long time to calm the fierce protests of her hunger.
With the hunger easing just a bit, Tamara ignored the dirt and straw stuck to the corner of her mouth and quickly settled herself back down, suppressing the rhythm of her breathing.
This was the wisdom of survival.
The fewer movements, the fewer breaths taken, the longer the hunger would delay.
Oh wind… why are you so gentle… why not stronger… why not blow this place down… why not let me…
Her uncontrolled thoughts drifted off, and Tamara shivered violently.
How could she think such things? Such guilt…
Ignoring the need to conserve energy, Tamara struggled to sit up, knelt on the straw, and prayed silently.
Merciful Sovereign, may you not have heard my sinful thoughts just now. I will live on until you mercifully call me to die, then I will gladly enter your paradise.
But, Merciful Sovereign… I am so hungry…
Merciful Sovereign… I am so tired… so miserable…
“Rustle… rustle, rustle…”
A few fresh branches making a “door” were pushed aside, and a thin figure slipped into the shack.
“Mother…” By the moonlight streaming through the “door,” the newcomer saw the scene in the corner and was startled. “What are you doing…”
“Nothing, nothing!” Tamara hurriedly sat back on the straw and looked at her son. “York, why did you come here? Did something happen near the lord’s livestock pen?”
“No…”
York shook his head, signaling his mother to be quiet, then turned to scan outside the shack. After carefully replacing the twig “door” and securing it, he leaned against the wall and listened intently.
After a long while, sure that nothing was outside, York exhaled softly, cautiously reached into his clothes, and pulled out a small pouch.
“Mother…” Holding the pouch, York approached Tamara and slowly unfolded the cloth corners. “Look…”
Inside were plump, yellow beans, giving off a faint, pleasant aroma…
“Beans! So many beans!” Tamara’s eyes widened instantly, her face flushed with nervousness. “York, what did you do? You took grain from the livestock pen… oh my! Did anyone see?”
“No, I didn’t take it…” York waved his hand. “This isn’t…”
“Oh my! Oh my!” Tamara didn’t hear the rest and looked helplessly at the beans before her. Anxiously, she shook her head and glanced around aimlessly. “What if someone saw? Do you know who might have been nearby? Can you still go find them? Yes, yes, go now, hurry!”
“No one saw! Mother!” York had to shout, “No one saw!”
“Really no one saw?” Tamara’s eyes were still filled with suspicion but held a flicker of hope.
“Re-ally! No! One! Saw!” With a renewed sense of reason, Tamara relaxed somewhat. York spoke earnestly, “Don’t worry, mother, this isn’t stolen beans. This is the dinner Los gave us tonight!”
“Dinner? Beans?” Tamara’s gaze was once again filled with doubt…