Chapter 25: Busy Life
Night fell.
The City Hall allocated very little lamp oil to them, and many were reluctant to light oil lamps. In the darkness, women were washing clothes by the water. After nursing her nephew, the sister coaxed him to sleep. The little guy was quite clever and rarely cried. George returned with a bucket of water from the outside well and, seeing his sister motioning for him to strip down and wash his clothes, simply found a corner to rinse off a bit. Daily living supplies were shared among four or five people, making things somewhat inconvenient. George still had a little money and planned to buy some daily necessities in a couple of days.
A clamor came from the neighboring courtyard.
George glanced at his sister, who had just put his nephew to sleep, stretched a bit, and decided to quietly sneak over to take a look.
Modo enforced a curfew, but people were allowed to walk around the alleys of the dormitory area; they had been informed about this when they arrived.
He could hear prayers and praises nearby; those were the devout believers of the church.
Although the first day in Modo was very busy, for many civilians recently escaped from war, this busy but peaceful life was something to be grateful for.
They never expected to gain without toil; they only hoped to live well through their own hands.
“Congratulations, congratulations!”
“Old Peter! Congratulations on your new home!”
“Come, let’s drink!”
“Wishing you swift success!”
George heard many voices around him; the neighboring courtyard was lively, and occasional patrols from the guard squad passed by, just glancing and then moving on.
There were many people in the courtyard, some of whom George even recognized.
Standing amidst the crowd was Old Peter, a blacksmith in his forties; George had seen him in Leaffall City, and he had even repaired gear for him.
What was going on?
George saw a table set up in the courtyard. There were drinks, meat, and some daily necessities. Old Peter was thanking those congratulating him, and upon spotting George, he immediately pulled him over, insisting on treating him to a drink while boasting about his strength, claiming he had personally witnessed Peter take down a fierce wolf mount. George did not hesitate. He accepted the cup and took a sip, soon understanding the situation.
Old Peter was a blacksmith and had decent skills.
He had been forging iron for decades, learning the trade since childhood; his ancestors were all blacksmiths. Just on his first day in Modo, he was favored by the armory and allocated a house. He also received a relocation fee. Today was his farewell to others; tomorrow he would move with his family to an independent courtyard three streets away. From now on, he would be the armorer for the armory, and his status would likely be much higher than those around him. He probably could exchange contributions for a piece of land in a couple of years.
A blacksmith.
A hint of envy appeared on George’s face; it seemed that people with a good skill would not suffer wherever they go.
From their conversations, George learned that there were quite a few people like Old Peter; those with good skills were relocated elsewhere—some to the armory, some to the brick yard. Others with literacy and education were placed elsewhere. Those selected due to their skills immediately found themselves in a superior position; they could settle into their new courtyards the next day and earned much more than others. This made George envious, as he wanted to provide a better life for his sister and nephew.
Before long, people scattered.
After a hard day’s work, many fell asleep as soon as they hit the bed.
George quickly returned to rest; his sister was reluctant to light the oil lamps. She was using needles and thread to mend his clothes in the small courtyard and occasionally chatted with a woman from the neighboring room.
The night gradually darkened.
The May weather was quite nice. George chose to sleep directly in the small courtyard, and what was most different from before was that he slept particularly soundly that night.
Because for him, the terrifying war had finally ended.
The night passed quickly.
The next day, as soon as he got up, George hurried to work. Upon arriving, he had nothing; although the City Hall distributed some relief supplies, they would not last long. No one thought the City Hall distributed too little; on the contrary, many were very grateful. For George, as long as he had work, he could feed himself and his family, and many shared this mindset.
Three days passed in the blink of an eye.
In just three days, George’s small courtyard had changed significantly; pots and pans were all set, and he bought some fabric to make a new outfit for his nephew. Now what he most wanted was to own a small courtyard of his own; the rooms housing the displaced were far too crowded, leaving no private space. His sister had to hide in a room to take a bath. Earning a house through hard labor was clearly difficult; George still intended to find a way to join the army, as he considered his personal strength not much inferior to those guards.
Humans have strong adaptability.
In just a few days, many had adapted to life in Modo, rising with the sun and resting at sunset. Their lives were very orderly and regular. Anyone working was provided two meals a day, generally enough to eat and often with meat. Initially, people exchanged work points for food, but gradually many began saving like the city’s natives, hoping one day to save enough to exchange for a house or a bit of land.
It was said that exchanging for the outside wasteland was much cheaper, and many planned to reclaim the land for themselves once they obtained it.
George, originally born a civilian, had no issues with farming, and as an advanced warrior, he was strong enough. If possible, he hoped to have some land by next year.
Though he had nothing now, he was full of confidence for the future!
…
A week passed in the blink of an eye.
George seemed to be getting used to the busy and fulfilling life in Modo. The city continuously expanded, and every day there were new changes to be seen.
The road in the east had been constructed for hundreds of meters, some flowers had been planted near the square, and several acres of land had been cultivated in the south. The ditches had been dug to certain spots, and most of the timber had been cut down in the southwest; now they had to walk further to transport the wood. These were all trivial matters, yet everyone here seemed busy, even the officials and foremen ran around all day. The laws and regulations here were strict; even officials would be punished for failing to complete tasks. Occasionally, he saw some slaves, whose living conditions were much worse than theirs. Compared to them, many felt a sense of satisfaction and gratitude.
It was said that yesterday another slave had gained the status of a freeman; such events were still quite rare to hear about.
Because in the outside world, slaves were forever slaves.
From time to time, George could see the bipedal wyverns soaring above Modo City. They flew towards the sea every day before returning before dark.
Perhaps having gotten used to it, people no longer felt afraid.
There had been no reports of that wyvern attacking anyone; after the initial fear, many were delighted upon seeing it, considering it a symbol of good luck. Nevertheless, no one was allowed to approach it. George heard from the guards that it was the pet of Modo City’s “little princess.” No one had seen this little princess yet, but it was said she was a powerful spellcaster. Occasionally, a mysterious witch could be seen in Modo City; she was the mistress of the city, appearing briefly just to assign new expansion tasks to the officials of City Hall.
From its establishment, Modo had never ceased expanding.
George had the fortune to briefly see the mysterious witch, a beautiful and noble lady seldom seen by common people.
The core of George’s life still revolved around his sister and his one-year-old nephew.
As the only man in the family, he had the responsibility and duty to make sure his only sister lived a little better in this strange environment. As an advanced warrior, his strength far surpassed that of ordinary people, finally garnering the attention of others. He earned an opportunity to take a test to join the city guard. George decided to seize this chance, so after work each day, he honed his skills. Modo had many who appeared strong, but George had his own advantages; he was only twenty years old, leaving plenty of room for growth in the future.
In the evening.
George returned home with a piece of linen; his sister should make a new outfit too. The one he wore had been torn from work, so it was best to make a replacement for washing.
From the heights of Modo, the bustling harbour could be seen.
It felt like two different worlds compared to Modo City. Some longed for the harbour’s wealth and prosperity, but George preferred Modo City’s orderly and tranquil life.
The next day.
Another new half-elf had been brought here; George encountered them in the morning. From their eyes, he sensed a hint of unease, which made him smile. Perhaps when he and his sister had just arrived, they were just like these people before him?
However, they would likely adapt to the life here soon.
Because they were all civilians.
They were born relying on hard work to support themselves, and in Modo City, hard work could lead to an increasingly better life.
George planned to buy some meat after finishing his work today to supplement his sister’s diet. Perhaps due to recent hardships, his sister’s milk was not enough for his little nephew.
Thinking of that one-year-old with big, dark eyes, a smile crept onto his lips.
He looked over at the houses on the other side of the street.
Compared to the crowded environment on this side, that place appeared much cleaner and tidier. George could not help but clench his fists; if he could pass the test and join the army, it wouldn’t be long before he could bring his sister to an independent courtyard.
Although it would not be a large brick house.
For them, it would be a new home, a symbol of hope.
This was Modo City.
A place full of vitality, energy, and hope. Though he had just arrived, George felt a sense of belonging to it.
This was the power of order!
…(To be continued ~^~)
