Saturday morning, Berna was invited to the backyard which is quite spacious. In this backyard planted a lot of vegetables and fruits. And there is also a farm shed for raising livestock. There were several men who worked watering the plants. And a few more men work taking care of the livestock. Including the horse-drawn carriage.
"Would you like to go around, sir?" asked Remin.
Berna nodded. Remin then asked Berna to follow him. While walking around the backyard, Remin explained that the Rombepayung family had always enjoyed farming and raising livestock. They prefer to grow their own for their kitchen needs rather than having to buy them. When he reached the orange tree, Remin picked one fruit and gave it to Berna.
"Try it, sir," said Remin.
Berna happily took the orange then peeled it and ate it. Nothing special but Berna admitted it was really sweet and fresh.
"Let me show you the livestock belonging to the Rombepayung family." Remin walked to the farm barn with double doors made of wood.
Several men working immediately opened the door. It is seen that there are several livestock animals, each of which is separated like a room so that their habitat is not mixed with other livestock. The Rombepayung family raises chickens, cows, and sheep. There are also two horses whose job is to pull the carriage.
Berna walked closer to the two horses that were eating. It turns out that if you look closely, these two horses are so dashing with shiny black fur.
"Uncle, can these horses be ridden?" asked Berna.
"Don't call me uncle. Of course this can be done if you are good at riding a horse," replied Remin.
Berna's hand then stroked the cheek of one of the horses on the right. The horse just kept quiet and continued to eat. Immediately Berna imagined if he could ride a horse, he would want to take Ellie around the village on horseback. Even though he will meet tomorrow but it feels like time is running so slowly.
"Remin, tomorrow I want to meet my friend at the village park," said Berna as he turned and looked at Remin.
"I have been informed by the Madam," Remin replied.
"But I have a request of you."
"What is it sir?"
"Before arriving at the village park, you just drop me off on the street. Let me go there on foot. I don't want to stand out in front of people."
"You don't have to worry about that, sir. I will drop you off at a tavern not far from the village park. I'll wait for you at the tavern."
"Thank You."
Remin just smiled while bowing slightly.
After that, Berna was invited to see a pond next to the farm shed. Here the Rombepayung family raises fish for consumption. There are many kinds of fish here. Even Remin herself didn't know any fish.
"So the fish I ate yesterday came from here?" said Berna.
Remin nodded then said, "The water in this pond is always changing. So the fish meat will taste more savory and tender."
After going around the backyard, Remin invited Berna to sit under an apple tree while enjoying a cup of hot tea and some biscuits.
"Remin, how long have you worked in this family?" Berna asked after he took a bite of the biscuit.
"It feels like almost a lifetime," Remin replied with a smile.
"You don't want to retire?"
"I'd rather work than sit back at home."
"You have a wife?"
"He died two years ago."
"Sorry I did not mean to...,"
"No problem. I still have two sons. Even though they now have their own families."
Berna just nodded.
"How about you sir?"
"Who knows. I don't know who my parents are. What is clear is that I grew up in that orphanage."
They both fell silent.
"Remin, may I say that I don't want to live like this? I mean, I never wanted to be adopted by a noble family," said Berna breaking the silence.
"Sometimes, life isn't always the way we want it to be. Everything we love we will not necessarily get, sir."
"Luckily I now have a friend."
"And you will meet your friend tomorrow?"
"Yes. But I want to give her a present."
"How old is yoru friend?"
"Same with me."
"I suggest you better give her a fleece sweater."
"I have no money."
"No need for money. All you need to do is walk to the brown building over there and ask the tailor to make a sweater in sheep's clothing." Remin pointed to a brown building two to the south of the house.
Apart from food, the Rombepayung family also produces their own clothes. They rarely buy clothes outside if there is no need to buy them. So they have their own tailor.
Berna then walked into the brown building that looked like a small house. When he opened the door, he saw a thin man with almost white hair and wearing glasses measuring cloth on a table. A measuring tape he tied around his neck. Every now and then he would use the tape measure on top of the cloth and then mark the results with sewing chalk. The man then looked at Berna who had just closed the door.
"Ah, Mr Berna. Welcome. Introducing, my name is Jonan. Would you like some clothes to be made?" said Jonan.
"Y...yes," Berna was even nervous.
"What kind of clothes would you like to make?" Jonan approached Berna then he pulled the measuring tape around his neck.
"Not for me, but for my friend," Berna raised his hands.
"Hem, you'd better get your friend to come here. Let me measure."
"She just happens to live far away. I just wanted to give her a present."
"How tall is she, sir?"
"I do not know. But she's the same height as me."
"Body size?"
"I think it's ideal. Neither fat nor skinny."
"Ah, I see," Jonan nodded then continued, "So what kind of clothes do you want to give your friend?"
"I think a fleece sweater."
"Ah, good choice," Jonan snapped his fingers with a wink.
Jonan then measured Berna. Starting from the chest circle, waist, shoulder length, arm and body length from shoulder to waist. After that Jonan took some patterns of clothes made of thick cardboard.
"This is the pattern of the dress sir. In a moment I will take the cloth from the fleece," Jonan then entered a room.
While Jonan went to get cloth, Berna looked around the room, which was filled with patterns of hanging clothes on the walls. A large table for cutting fabrics, and there are four sewing machines that move manually by foot. About five minutes Jonan came out carrying a roll of pink material.
"Sir, I found the remnants of a cloth made of fleece. The color is pink, so it's suitable for your friend," said Jonan while spreading the rest of the cloth on the table.
"Can you finish it in a day? Because tomorrow morning I will meet her. But if you can't, don't force it," Berna smiled broadly while scratching his head.
"This afternoon will be finished, sir," Jonan replied with a smile.
"Please make the best sweater possible," Berna bowed slightly.
"There's no need to bow like that, sir," Jonan even felt bad seeing Berna bowing.
Towards evening, Berna was busy reading his old book. Even in certain parts, he repeated reading to better understand. Several times he practiced the alchemy he had learned. In fact, with his intelligence, he managed to master a technique that was not taught in the old book.
Not long after, someone knocked on the door. Berna quickly hid his old book under the bed and opened the door. Turns out it was Jonan who knocked. He smiled as he handed his a pink sweater that had been neatly folded.
"Here's the sweater you ordered, sir," said Jonan.
Berna took the sweater and unfolded it. His eyes lit up because this sweater turned out to be much better than he expected.
"Jonan, this is cool. Thank you," Berna suddenly hugged Jonan.
"That's my job, sir. Making the best clothes for the Rombepayung family."
Immediately Berna felt grateful that fate had brought her to a very good family. Although not a biological family, but he began to love everyone in this house. He would tell Ellie everything tomorrow. He couldn't wait to meet and see Ellie's face again after a few days of not seeing each other. His cheeks even turned red when he imagined Ellie's smiling face.
"Ellie, I have a perfect gift for you," he said to his heart.
To be continued...