Chapter 35

Locke was quite happy when he was a child. He had a sister who loved him deeply and a pair of honest parents. His favorite thing was to fish in the ditch when his parents and sister were farming in the field in hot summer. Although it was only a small fish, only the earth swarthy fish with the thickness of his thumb, Locke still enjoyed it, Because this is the meat of their family's life.

However, the good days will never return under the ravage of natural disasters. When Locke was 14 years old, a large-scale drought came to the kingdom of faustan, which was not a vast territory. Three of the four provinces were caught in the food and drinking water crisis, and the Locke family in Fengye village, kaiduoqi mining town, del province was in a desperate situation.

It hasn't rained for a whole month and a half. It's the middle of June. In previous years, another month is the harvest season. Often at this time, with the reduction of field activities, parents should take themselves to the town to buy and sell some village specialties to earn some money to maintain a poor livelihood. My sister will also take a bamboo basket and wrap a headscarf, She took small things such as scarves and handkerchiefs made of leftover linen from her family for half a year and sold them to past businessmen or adventurers in the town.

Scarves and handkerchiefs made of rough linen are not comfortable to use, but they are durable, strong and can keep out the cold. They are loved by small traders and not well-off adventurers. Moreover, sister Locke's workmanship is very good. June is a rainy season. At this time in previous years, the temperature is still very low, and her sister's small things can always be sold. Little Locke's favorite thing to do is to sit on the stone next to the big maple tree at the entrance of the village in the evening and watch her return from a distance. When her sister, wrapped in a blue cloth scarf and carrying a basket, appears from a distance, Locke will rush up excitedly, hold her dusty sister and explore her pocket? In a linen basket? No, when Locke showed a disappointed look, his sister would put out her hand with a smile and a few dark yellow sweet fruits. Locke was very excited.

Locke's sister is one of the few beauties in the village. When Locke was 7 years old, Locke's sister was already slim and graceful. Although her sister was only 10 years old at that time, matchmakers almost broke the threshold of his family. After all, most people in this small village got married at the age of 15, and there were several children at the age of 17 and 8. At the age of 10, she was not small, Although a marriage can't be done yet, it can still be made. At this time, Locke is always unhappy because he thinks these people are going to take his sister. Locke makes a lot of noise and pesters in front of the suitors, and his sister's marriage is finally delayed. Outsiders always look at Locke with strange eyes when they see this situation. Then they seem to think of something, leave a few words in an uncomfortable tone and leave.

Of course, the main reason is that Locke's parents also think it's too early. There is no engagement for rural people to get married. Only aristocrats have these rules. Generally, when they reach their age, they look for young students in their village or town. If they feel the same, their daughter won't suffer, so they marry. Looking for the young people in this town is because they know the root and the bottom. Their daughter will not suffer after she is married. They can often see their daughter, and their daughter will often go home to help the family. Locke's sister, Leah, is only ten years old. Locke's parents married when Locke's father was 16 and his mother was 15. It's really too early now.

Moreover, Locke's parents also have their own careful thinking. Their daughter is so smart. They don't want to marry their daughter to an ordinary farmer's or blacksmith's child. If they can marry a son of the mayor's family or a merchant family with small assets, their daughter will be blessed. By the way, they can help their brother find a daughter-in-law in the future. Moreover, although the Locke family is a humble peasant family, it is a hardworking family. The honest old Locke, the hardworking TIA, their sensible daughter Leah and the lively little Locke form this poor but warm and happy family.

However, manpower still can't resist the natural disaster. Even if someone can, it must not be the people of the weak kingdom with small territory and barren land, nor the little Locke family can resist.

The drought has lasted for a month and a half. Most of the crops in the field have dried up. Little Locke's parents worry about turning white. Little Locke finds that only 30-year-old parents turn white in a short month. Little Locke, who pees and likes to listen to the stories of the town's bards, suddenly understands that in a continent where the average age is less than 50, his parents are about to enter their old age.

Little Locke didn't eat black bread for two weeks. Although the black bread was hard and had a mildewy smell, it was made of wheat skin and chaff, which was rich in nutrition. In the past, even if the family was poor, his parents would eat dinner made of black bread and potato soup for himself and his sister once a week. This time, my parents didn't do it. But Locke didn't ask his parents because his sister hadn't eaten for three weeks.

Or he liked to stick to his sister since childhood, and little Locke followed his sister to have a sense that his peers did not have. The neighbor's little Hans had been quarreling because he didn't eat black bread in a week, which made the old Hans and aunt Mary look more and more sad day by day. Locke didn't.

The days are still living day by day. From eating wheat porridge to cakes made of grain chestnut, to wild vegetable soup, to chewing tree roots, the days of the Lockes are getting worse and worse day by day.

Finally one day, Locke never returned. He chose to join the army. Before the age of 12, Locke and Leah slept in bed. Leah was both a sister and a mother. She took care of Locke at night. That night, although Locke was very careful, she was found by her sister Leah, who had lived together for many years. Leah did not stop Locke, but let him come back alive with tears.

It seemed that she thought of her stubborn brother that night, and Leah showed a look of love and comfort.

"I hope Locke can come back safely..." Leah sighed and whispered. Compared with the past, the family's life is better, but the parents are not more happy. Their only son is fighting outside, and they don't know his life or death. The old couple have no chance to enjoy a moment of peace.

Perhaps she thought of what her parents just said about getting married to Locke. Leah also used her brains. There are few beautiful girls in the village. Even if there are, old Locke and TIA certainly don't like it. That is, they want to marry girls in the town. Mining town is a small town, which is mainly rich in minerals and animal fur. Most of them are businessmen, and few of them are rich businessmen, But there are also many. I believe that if a team leader marries, some small businessmen will promise to marry their daughters.

When Leah sells her handicrafts in the town, she often sees some young ladies shopping in groups. She envies those young ladies. They are so carefree and do whatever they want, but Leah is just envious. She doesn't yearn for a good life, but she just wants to do something she likes, Thinking that her dear brother might marry one of the ladies in the future, she was in a panic and felt that her brother was leaving her.

Many of the messages from her brother asked her to buy Scarves or clothes. Leah was very moved, indicating that her brother didn't forget her. But the money sent back is limited. Now not only the price of food, but also the price of salt has begun to rise. Leah doesn't dare to spend money indiscriminately. In recent years, she has bought two silk scarves. She hasn't bought clothes. Poor people never buy new clothes. They all buy cloth and make them by herself. Last year, TIA pulled a foot of new cloth and made Leah a skirt. It's very beautiful. Leah didn't dare to wear it once, She is afraid of getting dirty.

On the other hand, old Locke and TIA lie on the bed board and don't sleep. Old Locke is only in his thirties and less than 40 this year, but he is too old to plough. They are all tired over the years. TIA, who is just 30, has to bear the burden of farming and household work with 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 in bed, old Locke held TIA's hand in one hand, just as old Locke held TIA's hand for the first time 20 years ago. TIA also held old Locke, and the old couple lay quietly, feeling each other's temperature.

"Locke, that child..." TIA said, "Hey, his mind is unclear. Don't we understand?"

Old Locke didn't speak. He didn't know what to say in this regard.

"Your sister entrusted Leah to you. Although the family was poor these years, she still raised Leah well. I've seen her as my own daughter for a long time. You said he..." TIA held old Locke's hand tightly and looked a little excited.

"Children and grandchildren have their own blessings. Let the children solve the problems of Locke and Leah by themselves." Old Locke said.

"That's the only way." TIA said helplessly.

Locke and Leah didn't realize that they had long been bound by each other. This may be just because they were in this mountain. Old Locke and TIA, as parents, can certainly see the difference between the message brought back by Locke and Leah's reflection. It's just twice at a time. For so many years, it's always been like this. I can't help thinking about it as their parents.

"I heard from the village head that nobles are popular. It is said that Baron kaiduoqi's second lady is his cousin..." Old Locke muttered in the dark.

"Why do you care so much about others? We are civilians. We can compare with the nobility!" TIA objected. Although old Locke and TIA are very harmonious, usually old Locke listens to TIA because he loves his wife too much and feels indebted to TIA. She has suffered a lot with herself.

"Wait until Locke comes back..." Old Locke decided to stop the topic. He was worried that they would speak too loudly for his daughter to hear.

"Yes." TIA answered, pillowed old Locke's arm and asked him, "can Locke come back?"

"Look at you and say this again..." Old Locke patted TIA on the shoulder. "Don't you know how old our son is? He's sure to come back alive. Go to bed. Go to bed. Don't think about it. I have to go to the field tomorrow and collect the vines and potatoes."

"Yes." TIA replied.

Night, deep.

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I took the time to write a chapter today. I failed this exam. Alas, sang Xin.