by ForestRage
"Ming take Clod into the forest tomorrow, and bring back four spears. I want you guys to keep hanging around the shack with them. Anyone asked, you're preparing for those wild beasts in winter. That should buy us some time until we can leave."
Chu wanted to make it known, that they would be armed for trouble. Of course, within the shack they had the machetes to use. He didn't want to display those on the outside, because that would just be asking for a robbing.
Returning to the shack, they found Lucy pacing around in front.
"Hey where were you? I brought someone ages ago. Wait here I'll go find her again."
Lucy quickly ran into the slums. Chu and Ming remained outside chatting, while waiting. Soon Lucy returned with a girl. The girl appeared younger than Lucy, and suffering from food deprivation. She looked like a thin stick, that seemed on the verge of toppling over. Chu fired out some questions on the spot.
He was that much afraid of her fainting.
"Can you cook?"
"Am, yes I worked at an inn before."
"What we do is dangerous. You would be risking your life with us, you still want to join?"
The girl gave a soft chuckle out of self-pity.
"What does it matter, I would be lucky to even last half the winter."
Chu opened the door to the shack, and called Sakura to take her inside.
"Make some porridge for her, but feed her only a little at a time or she will get sick."
He shut the door and shortly turned to Lucy.
"I still need one more person. Can you find a girl to help fight?"
"Yes, I have a friend. She helped us out when I was taking care of the others. Please take her in, I think some boys are starting to pick on her. I planned to ask you later about it."
"Find her then and bring her back."
Chu entered the shack and went to a corner to read. The three girls were near the fire. It was only now that Chu realized he didn't know her name. He decided to talk to her, while the porridge was being prepared.
Chu talked as she sipped some warm water Sakura poured for her.
"Hey, what's your name?"
"Sue."
"Where did you learn to cook?"
Sue worked in a farm Inn. These were normally found on the outskirts of the villages and catered to travelers. During an attack by bandits, the inn was burnt to the ground. Sue escaped with another worker. Reaching this village, the worker she had trusted tried to sell her off into slavery.
He had her tagged and was excited to have her sold. Being a drunk he ended up picking a fight with a merchant and killed by his guards. Sue escaped to a life in the slums, having no choice but to etch out a life.
"Why didn't you try working at the local tavern?"
She gave him a wry smile. Rolling up the large sleeve on her robe, a burn mark the shape of a T was imprinted on her arm.
"The worker I was with had me branded. No business would take the chance to hire a runaway slave. The penalties are severe. Although he is dead, I have been cursed forever."
Chu looked at the sniffling Sue with sympathy. To reside in the slums, meant a harsh story following behind it. With the drunken 'master' dead she had no papers, and hence considered free for all as a runaway slave. Even if she wanted to help herself, she was cursed.
"Well we are all together here. For better or for worse."
"Chu I'm back!"
"Come in."
Lucy brought in her friend, without even waiting outside. This girl had long, black hair and an Asian face. Like Lucy she could climb, and had no hesitation in spending the night in the forest. She was the easiest to question, as she and Lucy had helped each other out in the past.
She had only joined a group previously, to avoid being bullied by others. This was only to find out that her new friends, acted similarly to hungry wolves waiting for a chance to devour her. Chu listed her as a beauty hidden under the face of malnourishment.
Lucy appearing, could compare to handing out a lump of coal during winter.
Chu felt a new headache coming on. This group now consisted of mostly young girls. In all the villages and towns in the Empire, a poor gender selection like this, would have surely been avoided like a plague.
Chu had no problems with this, his world had jumped the hurdle on gender equality. In any event he, did not conform to most of these societal laws of this world.
His headache however, stemmed from the fact that he was now the proud leader of a bunch of kids, including himself. Together, they would stand out in a crowd like a sore thumb.
Besides being a target for bullying, they would have to avoid the eyes of unscrupulous people who may try to advantage them.
In a world where the strong survives, who was going to help a bunch of weaklings?
Chapter 17
Moving
For the next two days, Chu focused on self-education. Although it seemed like he was literate in front of Griz, he was merely filling in words to make his translations flow. If Griz had tried to test him, he would have been screwed.
The language in this world, seemed to be based on a picture shows a thousand words format. It was similar to those seen on Egyptian hieroglyphics, and the thousands year old Chinese writings. Such penmanship would tend to steal a creative mind.
Unfortunately, Chu did not have time for reminiscing and romanticism. One of his set requirements to leave this outlying village, was a good grasp in reading and writing. Being literate, meant double the intake of information; reading and talking. It also opened new opportunities.
On the night after he recruited Clod and the others, Chu took Lucy and Ming with him to the Trading Post to meet Griz. There the two bantered back and forth, until they reached the desired agreements. Money was passed, and services were ready to be offered.
Chu used this free time to study the basics of reading.
Clod and Ming loitered somewhere outside the shack. These past few days, they were putting up a convincing act on how they would kill any wolf, that tried to enter the slums.
Running around with the wooden spears, they probably had everyone thinking they had succumbed to madness. This was proven by the hard evidence, when Ming made single trips for firewood, and shared it out to the elderly.
Chu had Lucy take the girls during the day into the village and Trading Post. They returned with proper boots, new clothes and sleepwear. On every trip their purchases lay hidden under patched cloaks. Most of these items, cost nothing, negotiated as a bonus with Griz.
In the evening, they would all make a trip to the Trading Post and return with bundles of old clothes and rags. The best ones that required little patching, were kept, the others given to Ming to share out during his insane 'bouts of madness.'
They may be filthy rich as compared to the villagers, but Chu never risk sharing a copper. He always reminded them, that they had risked their lives for the money. If others faced death to earn a couple silvers like they did, then this village would be either rich or empty of life.
Chu made a visit to the Trading Post the night before the departure. He haggled with Griz for future equipment he wanted and new weapons. Deciding for the horse and cart, he went into the village.
Since being dumped into this world and body, Chu rarely interacted with the previous owner's family. Given the circumstances, he was not entitled to anything of worth, except maybe more debt and burdens. His routine consisted of dropping off the copper coins at home.
His family struggled to keep their home, like many others, and to stave off the descent into the slums. The hardship of paying the loans, to treat the sole breadwinner of the house had placed them in this dire situation.
Even though his father was a shadow of his former self, he still had an imposing aura. Working in the forest with a limp and ailing body, he managed to keep the family afloat. Those extra coppers that Chu handed in daily helped to alleviate the burden.
Hugging his little sister, Chu told them his intention and further plan of hunke
ring down during winter. A vague story, enough to please his worried mother.
"Come home. You shouldn't be stubborn anymore. It would be the same if you were still here."
His old man rumbled. His mother continued the pleas. No matter what, he was still her son.
"Why don't you return. Everyone knows how dangerous the slums get in winter. What about food? How would you keep warm? At least stay in the house."
Poor and struggling, nobody would throw away their family without reason. Poverty complicated matters, causing either sorrow or breeding strife.
"I have found a place that is safe. When the weather is good I will visit."
Chu felt the warmness of his family. All they wanted was for him to return. They were not heartless in expecting him to work during winter and still deliver money when the whole village bunkered down.
"I will be ok, mom. Take care of my little sister until my next visit."
"You talk different, like you have grown up."
His mother looked at him curiously. Her child was not hot-blooded like he was normally.
"Well I am off now. Father please come with me to the Trading Post. I need your help with something."
Chu paid his respects and said goodbye. He then walked down to the Trading Post with his father. He advised his old man to borrow a sled to use.
"I need help choosing some tools. Please come with me."
His father nodded as he followed him into the store.
Chu used the old man’s experience as a woodcutter to select small axes and other tools. These were place together with his other purchases, to collect in the morning.
The old man sat shocked, as his son conversed with the Master of the Trading Post as if they were equals. He nearly fainted when his son started haggling over price. When they finished Chu sat down with his father on a bench in the corner.
"Did you finish? Why do we have to wait?"
"He is bringing something over for us. It may take some time."
The two waited in silence. The old man was still in shock and in confusion. His son brought him here and shopped for tools without paying. He even argued with probably the most powerful man in the village, like they were acquaintances.
Now they remained quietly sitting in warmth of the store, waiting and soaking in the heat. Most villagers would have already been kicked out, and told to wait outside until called.
Even the most domineering of clerks, steered clear of them and nodded respectfully as they rushed past.
He stared at his little boy who was sitting on the bench, casually drumming his fingers.
A loud voice cut through his thoughts.
"Hey Brat! Your package is here, one shoulder leg. Make sure you take note."
The man had a clerk at his side carrying a large package securely wrapped in canvas. With a thud it was placed onto the counter as the clerk huffed under the weight.
"Mr Griz, trust me, a poor kid like me can only be miserly with food. Would you still rob me after getting those things free? I have the utmost trust in you."
Griz snorted and stomped off with a huff.
"Father take this with you but don't open the bag until you reach home. Take this pouch and hide it in your shirt."
Chu looked on as the man hefted the canvas bag over his shoulders. His father was still strong enough to handle a load like this. Besides he had the sled outside to aid him.
"I promise to visit during winter. Keep safe and don't forget to keep this a secret."
Chu looked on as the old man separated from him at the village entrance. Like this he had made sure that the previous owner would be able to rest in peace.
When Chu's father returned, he was blowing like an ox. Only when he rested the bag on the stout wooden table, did he sit and relax in the small kitchen.
"What is that thing?"
His wife asked as she approached.
"I have no idea. That son of mine.... I don't know what to say."
As he replied he opened the strap and unfurled the canvas.
"What the..."
"By the Nord Pass!"
This was the second time he almost fainted tonight. His wife being a noob, stifled a scream with her hands as she collapsed. She didn't experience the events at the Trading Post, to reduce her surprise. After the shock, they both stared at the cured meat covering the table and even hanging over.
"Great Horned Deer..."
The old man choked. Only a great horn deer would have a shoulder leg this big. This was meat he would never eat, even if he lived ten lifetimes. Now an entire shoulder leg of this delicacy lay in his small house.
"How..."
Was all his wife could whisper. Then her mind cleared as it jolted her into action. She gasped, as she ran to the door and blocked it. Their situation was now totally different from nearly everyone in the village.
This was like standing in the middle of a wolf pack, holding a meaty bone. If anyone knew they had this much food, not to mention the quality, it would start a riot in their part of the village. Even the mayor would not hesitate to jump in for a cut.
The man finally composed himself, and looked at his wife covering the windows.
"Your son. It came from our son."
He quickly restored the wrapping. Hoisting the meat, he then carried it to the food storeroom. Satisfied it was safely hidden he returned.
"Chu gave you this? Where did he steal it? Has our son joined the bandits?"
"Calm down, no he got it from the Trading Post, he has some dealings with the Master."
Remembering the pouch, he fished it out from his shirt. In silent anticipation, he slowly and carefully emptied the contents on the table. Copper and silver coins rolled out and settled on the surface.
His parents may not be able to count very high, but Chu had given them two hundred copper coins and two hundred silver coins. This was more than enough for them to rally out the winter in comfort until he returned. The copper and silver coins would not attract attention like a single gold coin.
Those were nearly exclusively used by merchants and high-class mercenaries in these parts.
The two parents stared in shock and disbelief, into each other’s wide eyes. Chu's mom was the first to speak after pulling her open mouth closed.
"What, what the heck kind of work does our son do?"
Chu had no idea of the shock he had caused. All he wanted was for this boy's parents, to be comfortable during winter. That was his means of sowing karma. His main priority was to make the move to the barn as efficient as possible.
The next day Chu gathered all of them into the shack and made sure they had a good breakfast. Each person had a canvas bag, with the supplies they accumulated. All clothes, pots and items were packed and ready.
Chu led all of them to the Trading Post stable, while Ming remained behind to guard the remaining bags. He had left the materials and supplies at the Trading Post, to avoid suspicion. He had no idea they had accumulated so much in the shack.
Their timing coincided with the emptying of the slums, and most of the village for last minute firewood gathering.
Chatting with Griz, Chu had Clod hitch the horses, and with a packed wagon they trundled into the grassland. He had purchased tools, weapons and even lumber for repairs.
It was all those boards and thick planks, that eventually took up the most amount of space. His plan was to secure under the barn platform, with a strong impenetrable fence and then cut a trapdoor on the platform. This was like a double defense, and allowed time to enter the cellar.
The journey proved uneventful to Chu, but to the newcomers like Miki it reeked of adventure. After overcoming the fear of leaving the village, the young children scampered around the wagon.
Scooping snow or simply gawking at the abandoned ruins, the trip opened their eyes to the world. When loading the wagon with the stored firewood, Sakura worded it the best.
“I have never travelled this far from the village.”
The wagon ended the
trip at the barn amidst oohs and aahs. Chu sent Lucy and Ming to scout if there were any signs of beast or humans, who had been around. Luckily the sands remained undisturbed, with no signs of footprints.
The cart was quickly unloaded for the return trip. Since they started early, just as everyone had left for the forest, it was still morning. Ming accompanied Clod with the two expected back, long before dark.
"Lucy get some torches lit and show Sue the cellar. Let her start sorting the foodstuff. "
Before the boys left, Chu had them carry the cured meat down to the cellar. In all their baggage, that was the heaviest.
"Sakura help Sue down there. The rest of us need to carry all the stuff into the cellar. The lumber will remain inside the barn. Miki stand guard for us outside."
With the move complete, Chu finally breathed a sigh of relief. They finished sorting and cleaning by the time the boys returned. Clod dropped to the floor sweating and blowing. That had been the longest walk, since his accident.
In the cold weather they sat on the platform, filling their stomachs with hot soup and warm cups of water.
"Ah! Good job Sue. That was the best. Remember you always have to give me more cause I'm the biggest."
Chu sent him a warning glare.
"Stop trying to fool the Cook. And if you eat like a king, you will be the first person to suck snow for lunch."
Not worrying for food, a warm bed and safe shelter. With the stress of those worries gone, the children acted their age.
At least it was a positive start.
Tonight, they would rest in their own home.
Chapter 18
The New Home
In the early morning Chu gathered them over on the upper platform. Sounds of munching and chewing filled the once lonely barn. Small hands reached for hot rock bread paved with butter or dipped their mugs into a large pot of warm water.
Beverages like milk and tea were luxuries for nobles to enjoy. Chu never joined the coffee club, so he didn’t suffer from withdrawals. He did want to enjoy something other than hot water, but he had greater priorities at the moment.