When Jill was carried back, it was the middle of the night, and his leg was lame.

At this time, Elune's engagement ball was less than a day away. Tomorrow afternoon, Elune and Uhru's engagement ball will be held at the largest Sakura Hotel in Suno. Since the engagement involved the Kujiit people, it was particularly important. The Suno bureaucracy unanimously saw it as an opportunity to promote Swadia's rapprochement with its neighbors, so they gave great support to the banquet---- although it might seem worthless in other countries.

Six days ago, Jill approached her grandfather and asked for money to buy Howl's controlled bonds. He felt that this would put him and Uhru back on the same starting line. But he didn't expect that the power shown by this simple bond method was only the tip of the iceberg of the Uhru family's strength.

He thought that everyone had given their all to love, and that Ukhru had no more energy left. So he thought that with 100,000 dinars, he would be able to catch up with Uhru. But what Jill doesn't know is that what he might have to pay for his whole life is sometimes just a gift from a father to his child.

Grandfather listened to Jill's narration.

Jill stammered about her situation. It was only then that the grandfather learned that Jill had a crush on the daughter of a merchant--- the girl who had risen to fame at the ball.

In the days after his father's troubles, my grandfather met with a variety of people in the city: some taxes paid at the Ministry of Finance, royal grants as an obligation of the nobility--- which were usually small and used only to show recognition and support for the royal family. At the same time, now is a good opportunity, all kinds of raw materials flood the market, so that the price of various materials continues to fall, and my grandfather saw a business opportunity in this. Herbs that used to cost 300 dinars and seeds of various high-yielding vegetables can now be bought for less than 250 dinars; The price of all kinds of poultry meat has fallen even more dramatically, and if these cheap meats are to be hoarded, they must be salted and dried, which has caused the price of salt to rise, and even the price of low-quality Vicia well salt has become comparable to the price of North Sea salt in the past. His grandfather's "drought is a boat, water is a car" way of buying and selling at this time showed its value--- he bought 4,000 catties of Beihai salt when the price of salt was at its lowest in spring and summer. At this time, in addition to using 1,500 catties to marinate a large number of cheap meat, my grandfather put all the remaining 2,000 catties of salt into the market at a high price, bringing the price of salt back to normal in just a few days. ”

This behavior of my grandfather was often criticized by the old aristocracy, and these unruly families were reluctant to argue with the merchants about prices even if they starved to death. They have always speculated that "my grandfather was a carpenter, who betrayed his countrymen and came to the north to become a nobleman", and they often preached the words, "You see, he has not been able to maintain his dignity like a nobleman, he is more like a speculative merchant, and the art of ruling is not an art that can be learned in a generation." ”

Many days ago, my grandfather had just heard about my father's abduction. At that time, he was about to enter the city of Suno, and sell the furniture, toys, accessories, fine cheese and refined salt of the valley. After hearing the news, he called in old Pianwen - he heard about the farmer's former occupation from the mouth of the Nord woman. He asked Bianwen to select twenty capable farmers to transport the mountain of goods in the warehouse to Suno. His grandfather told the elder Bi Anwen that he could dispatch the cows, horses, mules and nine wagons in the valley at will, and that the rations were arranged according to 2 catties of wheat per person a day and 1 pot of feed a day for each head of livestock.

Listening to his grandfather's detailed explanation of these things, old Bi Anwen knew that his grandfather was testing him. Indeed, it was not a simple matter to bring a small group of twenty people to a town more than a hundred miles away, which involved such tedious matters such as accommodation, food, routes, and travel speed. These seemingly simple things often make inexperienced team leaders scramble. But Lao Bi Anwen is an old bone who has led dozens of people to climb thousands of kilometers to deliver goods to others safely and steadily. He didn't take this little thing to heart, and he agreed to let his grandfather go first, and he would arrive later.

When Grandfather and Jill Starry Night rushed to Suno, the elder Pianwen competently sorted and registered all kinds of supplies, and then led the wagon out of the valley early the next morning, only a day and a half later than his grandfather. At this time, my grandfather was waiting for news from my father, and he was busy with business with old Bianwen. As time passed, the situation became clearer and clearer, until one day, the father returned with a little girl and a young man.

My grandfather rented a store in the new district and handed it over to the old Pi Anwen to take care of, and he was impressed by the ability of the old Bi Anwen these days, and this proficiency in the business was almost comparable to that of the old housekeeper who had died. My grandfather felt that his family business had greater sustenance, and at the same time blamed himself for not discovering that he had such talents around him earlier.

Grandfather was in the store that day listening to the rest of the stock and the total amount of money they had earned these days, which was a lot of money. If you take into account the materials purchased at extremely low prices, the financial surplus of the White Dove Valley this year is really too rich. As already mentioned, this year's huge grain harvest has caused grain prices to fall to an unprecedented level, and when the old Pianwen sold all the contents of the store, he began to buy high-quality wheat, rye and various agricultural products from the Suno Plain in the warehouse. In the words of the elder Pianwen: "Cheap is like giving it away for free." "These things will be hoarded and used to harvest the difference when the price of food rises.

Earlier in the day, my grandfather sent six of the largest smoked pork legs, two large vats of flavored pork cured with garlic and peppercorns and salt, 14 cans of apple and strawberry preserves from the Valley of the White Pigeon, nine bundles of tanned mink, four baskets of the freshest fruits and vegetables.

There were also two plants called tomatoes, which the Nords had brought back from the warm continent at the end of the sea, and the fruit of this plant was so beautiful and bright that the pharmacists judged the fruit to be highly poisonous. Because of the beauty of the plant, it is considered poisonous, but it is still used for ornamental purposes. At one point, the price of tomato seedlings surpassed that of the rarest tulip stems. This gift from my grandfather is extremely precious.

The servant returned at noon, and brought with him a thank you from the tax collector, and at the same time a message from Jill: Gil wished to see him.

This was a bit of a surprise to his grandfather, because he couldn't think of anything that would make Jill look for him in such a hurry. He didn't tell the old man Bi Anwen, afraid that this old man would be too careful.

After a brief explanation of some inconsequential things, my grandfather set off for Tassel Street in the Golden Rose District. It was getting late at that time, and Su Nuo was as peaceful as the shiny brass handle on an ancient wooden door shaded by trees; At that time, my grandfather listened to Gil tell him about his love, and listened to Gil ask him to borrow 100,000 dinars.

Faced with Jill's full expectation, the grandfather thought for a long time and said softly, "No." ”

Jill was stunned, he didn't know why he had been beloved by Ho. Master Arcadio would reject him with such desperation, not even a comfort, or even a reason.

The grandfather added: "Young man, you know, these things can't be changed by 100,000 dinars. I've heard little Arcadio say that it was a noble house in Kugit, and his parents were ambassadors. You need more than 100,000 dinars. ”

"Sir," begged Gil, "you don't understand how much that girl means to me. Maybe I couldn't do anything, but she told me that if she didn't have the money, she would be engaged to someone else. If I can stabilize this time and work day and night, sir, I recently studied my bachelor's thesis and made a music box, sir, I?? Sir, that music box contains a magnet, the magic stone of the Salanders. Can drive a small iron man to dance on it??? Sir, it's going to be very profitable. I can earn it back. After this time, I can make money to propose. Please. ”

Grandfather looked at the messy young man and sighed softly. I remembered a love that I had been robbed of when I was in Djerkhara. "Jill", said the grandfather with a smile, "go to your father and ask him to give you the barrel of spices, and in it what you need." ”

Jill didn't know why the old man still asked him to go to the groceries at this time, he wanted to open his mouth, but he couldn't speak. Is your happiness really not important to the old man?

"Is the lord's family really the most important in the valley?"

"Nope! You are the son of a servant. ”

"If you don't go home, won't your Nord mom beat you?"

"You shouldn't have been born at all!"

All kinds of painful memories came flooding back to Jill's mind at once.

"Go," said grandfather, "go and open the bucket." ”

Jill stood by the window dejectedly, the fingers of both hands wrung together. Grandfather patted him on the shoulder and walked out.

Looking at the twilight scenery, my grandfather sighed softly: "I hope it's still too late." ”

That night, Jill disappeared. Grandfather knew that Jill hadn't opened the barrel, and he blamed himself a little for not making it clear. caused Jill not to do what he said.

A few days later, Jill was sent back with a crippled leg. The servant of the Hal family shouted angrily: "This kid actually wants to kidnap our young lady, this is a lesson for him!" Your house had better take care of your servants. ”

Old Bi Anwen glared at these little beasts who didn't know what to do, and wanted to go up and clean them up. But when he heard Jill's moan, the anger that old Pianwen was full of suddenly fermented into double sadness, and he went limp, "My poor son", old Pianwen hugged Jill who was sweating bloodily on the ground.

The tax collector came out and asked what had happened to the servants of the Hal family, and why they had tormented the young man so much.

In fact, only Jill himself knows.

After his grandfather refused to help him that day, Gilton felt a sense of despair. After his grandfather left, he pondered in his room for half an hour, and then staggered to the cellar of the tax officer's wine. He found an open-mouthed wooden cup in the corner. He used an auger to drill a hole in the barrel where the wine was kept, and after pulling out the drill bit, he swirled a tap, and then he unscrewed the tap, and drank a full stomach of ale, and he hid in the cellar and gnawed his fingers.

The small skylight let in the dim moonlight, and the cellar was neatly stacked with oak barrels, and on one side of the wooden shelf were 1,000 bottles of various liquors. Jill had heard of a liquor called "wolf hair shearing", which could be seen after drinking it. He staggered over and found a few bottles of dusty "wolf shear", and back in the moonlight, Jill tried to bite the stopper, but could not bite. He looked left and right, but he didn't see the tool to open the wine bottle, and a slight sense of failure made him numb again: "I can't even open the wine bottle." ”

It is not that those who endure are not without anger, but that anger is hidden too deeply. But once the endurance reaches a critical point, anger will erupt. It is like the earth's fire, which is suppressed by the earth's crust, once released, has the appearance of ten thousand powers.

Gil's gentle character is slighted at the last minute by this stubborn little wooden stopper, and Jill feels a deep sense of frustration.

Disillusionment in the darkness either brings about complete numbness, or, it brings about a complete revolution of oneself, complete transcendence and radical remodeling.

With a 'snap', Jill knocked the glass bottleneck on the wall and began to baptize himself with "shearing wolf hair".

For a person, there is no better reflection than to look directly at one's own wounds, repeatedly poke open one's bloody scars, until the strongest soul is forged in the heart-rending pain. At this time, people can throw away the burden they once had and travel lightly.

Wine, accompanied by moonlight.

Jill took a sip of his wine and felt a rush of power rush over his brain, blurring his vision.

The figure of the father appears, "You are the son of a servant", surrounded by the surprised and reproachful eyes of Wright and the tax collector; Jill chuckled and took a second sip of wine.

The image of the grandfather appeared: "No, you lack more." Far from being solved by 100,000 dinars. ”

Jill said, "You only had a lame horse?? Belch?? of horses and a handful?? Sword isn't it?? Huh??"

The image of Uhru appeared: "Miss Elune is my perfect dance partner. ”

"Someday, she will be the mother of my children", Jill took another sip of wine.

Finally, Jill's mother appeared: "You, you shouldn't have been born at all. ”

Silence, the harshest test comes from the dearest ones.

Jill looked up and drank this Sabel's favorite liquor.

"Mom?? You won't regret giving birth to me. ”

Having drunk all the wine, the moonlight was still drowsy, and Jill sat in the shadow of the moon, like a lonely night watchman, watching over his wounds. At that moment, Jill stood up, and a new Jill was born in the moonlight. Elune, who is as beautiful as the moon, did you know that Jill has died in the moonlight, and now Jill will be a newborn warrior.

Jill ran away overnight. Instead of following his grandfather's advice and going to old Pianwen to open a barrel, he took a few dozen dinars of his own and quietly left the tax collector's residence on Tassel Street.

Jill no longer accepted fate's arrangement, and he staggered all the way, walking through the already somewhat bleak Suno. When he felt nauseous, he leaned against a door, his stomach churning. He felt a large amount of saliva rush into his mouth, and he opened his mouth and spat out the wine and food that was churning up in his stomach.

A voice came from upstairs: "Sabel! Don't play with my binoculars, someone downstairs seems to have vomited at my door, it's really unlucky. I hear that drunkard spitting sound, just like the time you came home. ”

"Why don't you go yourself?" , another voice came.

"I'm correcting typos, the guy who wrote the lord's novel is full of typos, and if it weren't for the idea of a good story, I wouldn't have done this thankless job myself! You go. ”

This place once fell to a Kugit man and his daughter, and now Jill is here drunk and despises fate.

After a while, a man in flip-flops scratching the back of his head walked out, looking at Jill at the door, and the man's eyes shone brightly.

Jill straightened up and said proudly, "I'm sorry. ”

"Tsk, shear the wolf's hair," Sabel said, leaning over to sniff the strong smell of alcohol on Jill's body.

Jill laughed, "Yes, bluffing wine??" Oh, a juggling wine. ”

"Not necessarily," said Sabel, "is the wine of fate." There was a man upstairs who could be honored as a vindication that he had successfully returned to his ancestors with this wine. ”

"Fate? Haha, I don't believe in fate. ”

"I'll see?? Let me see. Well, you have two paths now, each unique in its own way, which one do you want to listen to? Sabel said as he studied Jill's palmistry.

"No, there is no destiny in the world. Just as the movement of the stars and the sea is inseparable from the laws of physics, and the chemical changes are indispensable for alchemy and winemaking, everything is traceable. As long as people can ???? Belch???? Hold yourself," Jill's eyes were sharper than ever: "Man will conquer the sky." ”

Sabel whistled with admiration on his face: "I admire you, it seems that you have chosen your own path of destiny." Let me tell you this, if you go the other way, your life will be very happy and stable. But it's not like the one you choose to appreciate life. ”

"Oh?" , Jill looked mocking: "Tell me, go the other way, I??" Belch? What should I do? ”

"Listen to your elders once." Sabel said seriously.

“???? Divine stick", Jill turned away with a disdainful face, trembling, leaning left and right. Sabel looked at him with a smile, as if he were watching an eagle that had been used to being among the pigeons, and finally fluttered its wings and plunged into the clouds.

He went back upstairs, and the goblin said without looking up, "What's the matter?" ”

"Oh, a drunken man. Haha, who knows if he will be a lord in the future. ”