Barony of Akford, 17 degrees northwest of the village of Ekri, 35 km, Floran village.

The sun's rays are fading, and the muddy roads that are frequently trampled by people and animals during the summer service season become more and more muddy, and it becomes more and more difficult to find hard ground.

Compared to most of the rude and frizzy mud-legged men in the village, whose ancestors had been cowherds for generations, Arvis/Antoine, and his son Dean/Antoine, who were somewhat educated, stopped when they were still a dozen steps away from the master's dwelling, and stood in an orderly manner where the inferior people should stand, and did not set foot on the land where they should not have landed.

It was for this reason that Baird/Barron, the steward of the village of Floran, stood up mercifully after eating a sumptuous dinner of two bowls of mushy and three eggs that the villagers could not imagine, without having had time to fill it with a glass of dark beer that had not had time to get rancid.

"Sir."

"Sir."

The figure of the steward appeared at the door, and Jarvis and his son Dean hurriedly took off their hoods and saluted deeply.

"Well, get up...... frowning and looking at the mud-stained wooden shoes of the cowherd's father and son, the steward slowly walked to the side of the road: "Yalvis, I've been waiting for a long time...... As soon as the messenger entered the village, you came to find it. Keep an eye on it so closely, what's the matter, are you afraid that the sheep you brought over a few days ago will be given away in vain? ”

"No, no, how dare you...... Who in the village doesn't know that the lord never lies......" Jarvis looked up, and the flattery on his face was a little sincere.

As he spoke, Jarvis pulled the rope hard, and the two goats immediately bleated in protest, "I just want to send these other two beasts over as soon as possible, sir, you know, the more days go by, the two beasts will have to eat one more day of forage." ”

"Hahaha...... "all right, Alvis, you cunning miser, don't be so careful as to guess what I mean!" I've already told the farmer about you! The lord already knows! Your son ......"

At this point, Lord Baird/Barron turned his head to look at the eldest son of the cowherd in Floran's village: "Your son, little Dean! Tomorrow, when the brightest star in the sky is gone, lucky little Dean will be able to go to the village of Ackley. ”

"Ah......" This time, the surprised smile on Yalvis's face was no longer a disguise at all, and he hurriedly patted his son's back with his rough palm: "Thank you so much!" Fast...... Thank you, Master Steward! ”

"Well, it's okay......" Waving his hand to stop the cowherd and the cowherd's son from bending down to thank him, Baird suddenly sighed and pointed to the two goats that Jarvis was holding in his hand: "You can take these two goats back first." ”

"Ah...... How can this be! This...... This is our family's gratitude! Sir, you must accept it! ”

"Hey, don't think it's so good! I didn't say I didn't want to! ”

Baird sighed again: "...... Alas, Yárvis, cunning Yárvis, miserly Yárvis, this time you have really been fooled! ”

"Do you know how many people have been able to find the farmer for the work of the cowherd helpers in the village of Akri this time? Thirteen villages! That's thirteen villages! Well, I know you don't know how to count, so let me tell you, thirteen villages, which means that all the villages of Lord Akford, all the villages, every village, want their own cowherds to go to Looth/More to help! ”

"Ah......h

"What are these two sheep?" Bailders pouted, "For help...... Well, in fact, in order to get the craft of cattle control, Darsi Village didn't know where to get three jars of honey, and Bazel Village was even willing to produce a cow!

"Ah......h

"Thanks to Lord Balles...... Well, the farmer is very fair, and he knows that I usually don't lie, and he also knows that your family's work of taking care of livestock is really good, and little Dean is lucky! I'll let you go this time, but ......"

Baird pointed to the two goats again: "The farmer is fair, that is the mercy of the lord!" We can't just pretend we don't know anything! You can bring these two goats back first...... When the tax is paid in the autumn, they will be sent to the farmer's house together...... Well...... And my two remaining goats, let's also foster them with you first, so that you don't have to worry about my pasture all day long! ”

"Ah......h

"Hmm...... Jarvis, looks like you're not happy......"

"No, no, I'd love to! I'd love to! As happy as the big sun at noon! Sir, don't worry, I will feed you and the goats of the farmer lord every day! ”

"Hmm...... Jarvis, do a good job, you do things with your heart, and that's what I said to the farmer...... Well, Dean, you should do your best, and when you get to the village of Akrit, you have to listen to Looth/Moore, and the village of Flolan is counting on you......"

"Yes...... Yes, thank you, sir, you must listen to your lord's orders. Jarvis hurriedly pulled his son and bowed in thanks.

"Hmm...... So be it. Baird waved his hand, and mercifully let the inferior person in front of him go about his own work.

"Thank you, sir." Pulling his son and leading the goat, Jarvis bent deeply again, and walked out of the distance before putting his hood back on with his son.

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The sun fell behind the mountain, and the thick night covered the earth, and the tall and spacious house of the steward fell far behind him.

"The two goats of the steward, the two goats of the farmer, and the two goats that were sent over a few days ago, there are so many less livestock at home, and there will be a lot less cheese this winter." As he crossed the stream on logs, little Dean suddenly said this.

"Hmm." The father nodded and replied vaguely.

"There are still a few days left before the summer service is completed, and the autumn work is heavy, and if I leave, it will be even more difficult to do." As he walked past Cole's plot of land in the old Cole's house, little Dean spoke again.

"Hmm." The father nodded and replied vaguely.

"The wasteland on the hill has not yet had time to be leveled, and the ditch in front of the house is very deep, and father, there is still a lot of work left for you to give me......" As he crossed the carpenter's house over a few difficult thorns, little Dean had a new question.

"Hmm." The father nodded and replied vaguely.

"Does it really have to be like this?" His house was already looming, and time was tight, so Dean gave up his intention to tap on the side: "Father, I don't understand...... Why should I go to Ackley Village? Are there any benefits to being a helper? I can get back the little wheat I have saved at home......

This time, my father didn't even have an "um" answer.

Silently walked for a long time, walked through the long ridges of his own land, and stood at the fork in the way home, my father suddenly spoke: "This is the second time I have sent sheep to the steward......"

"Huh?" Dean had never heard of it.

"When I first delivered the sheep...... the father stopped and looked his son up and down, "I'm about the same age as you are now." ”