Locke's childhood was relatively happy. He had a sister who loved him deeply and a pair of honest parents. What he liked to do the most was to catch fish in the ditch while his parents and sister worked in the fields in the hot summer. Although they were just small fish that were only as thick as a thumb, Locke still enjoyed it because it was one of the few meats his family had in their lives.
However, the beautiful days were gone forever due to the ravages of natural disasters. When he was 14 years old, a large-scale drought befell the small Faustian Kingdom. Three out of four provinces fell into a food and water crisis. Locke's family, who lived in Maple Village in Cardoj's territory in Derl, was in a desperate situation.
It hadn't rained for a month and a half and it was already the middle of June. In previous years, harvest season would be in a month's time. Usually, with the reduction of activities in the fields, his parents would bring him to town to buy and sell some of the village's specialties to earn some copper derahls to make ends meet. His sister would also carry a bamboo basket and a headscarf. She would carry the scarves, handkerchiefs and other small things that she had made with the leftover linen at home in the past six months to sell to passing merchants and adventurers.
Rough linen scarves and handkerchiefs weren't comfortable to use, but they were durable and could keep out the cold. They were popular among small traders and adventurers who weren't well-off. Locke's sister's craftsmanship was also very good. June was the rainy season, and the temperature at this time of the year was still very low in the past. His sister's small things could always be sold. Locke's favourite thing to do was to sit on a rock next to the big maple tree at the entrance of the village in the evening and watch his sister's return from afar. When his sister, wrapped in a blue headscarf and carrying a basket, appeared from afar, he would excitedly rush up to her, hug her, and search her pockets. Would he ride the linen basket? No. Whenever he showed a disappointed expression, his sister would smile and stretch out her hand to give him a few dark yellow fruits. Locke was very excited.
Locke's sister was one of the few beauties in the village. When Locke was seven years old, she had already grown into a slender and elegant woman. Although she was only ten years old at that time, matchmakers almost broke the door of their house. After all, in this small village, most people got married at the age of fifteen. By the age of seventeen or eighteen, they already had a few children. Although ten years old was not that young, it was still possible to arrange a marriage. Although it was still too early to arrange a marriage, it was still possible. Every time this happened, Locke would always be unhappy because he felt that these people were trying to snatch his sister away. He made a big fuss and pestered them endlessly in front of the marriage proposal, but in the end, his sister's marriage was still delayed. When this happened, outsiders would always look at him strangely. Then, they seemed to think of something and left in an uncomfortable tone.
Of course, the main reason was that Locke's parents also felt that it was too early. There was no such thing as an engagement for rural people. Only nobles had such a rule. Usually, when they reached a certain age, they would look for a young man from the village or town. If they felt that their daughter would not suffer, they would get married. They looked for a young man from the town because they knew that their daughter would not suffer after getting married. They could also see their daughter often, and their daughter would often come home to help out the family. Locke's sister, Lia, was only ten years old. Even Locke's parents got married when his father was sixteen and his mother was fifteen. It was indeed too early for them to get married.
Locke's parents also had their own plans. Their daughter was so pretty, and they didn't want her to marry an ordinary farmer or blacksmith. If she could marry the mayor's son or a merchant's family with a small fortune, then their daughter would be able to enjoy a good life. At the same time, she could also help their brother find a wife in the future. Moreover, although Locke's family was a humble farmer's family, they were a hardworking family. The honest Locke Senior, the hardworking Tia, their sensible daughter Lia, and the lively Locke Junior formed a poor but warm and happy family.
However, human strength could not stop natural disasters. Even if someone could, it was certainly not someone from a small, barren, and weak kingdom like Faustian. It was certainly not someone Locke Junior's family could resist.
The drought had been going on for a month and a half. Most of the crops in the fields had dried up. Locke Junior's parents were so worried that their hair had turned white. Locke Junior found that half of his parents' hair had turned white in just a month. Locke Junior, who liked to listen to the bards' stories since he was a child, suddenly understood something. On this continent, where the average age was less than fifty years old, his parents were about to enter their old age.
Locke Junior hadn't eaten rye bread for two weeks in a row. Although it was hard and had a faint musty smell, it was still made of wheat skin and chaff and was rich in nutrients. In the past, even if their family was poor, his parents would still give him and his sister dinner with rye bread and potato soup once a week. But this time, his parents didn't do it. However, Locke didn't ask his parents because his sister hadn't eaten for three weeks.
Perhaps because he liked to stick to his sister since he was young, Locke Junior became more sensible than his peers. Their neighbor, Hans Junior, had not eaten rye bread for a week. Hans Senior and Aunt Mary were getting more and more worried every day. Locke Junior didn't do it.
Life went on day by day. From eating oatmeal to cakes made of chestnuts, to eating wild vegetable soup and chewing tree roots, life became more and more difficult for Locke Junior's family.
Finally, one day, Locke decided to join the army, never to return. Before the age of 12, Locke and Lia slept in the same bed. Lia took care of Locke at night as both an older sister and a mother. That night, although Locke was very careful, he was still discovered by Lia, who had lived with him for many years. Lia didn't stop Locke. Instead, she tearfully let him come back alive.
As if remembering the stubborn brother from that night, Leah showed an expression of heartache and relief.
"I hope Locke can come back safely …" Lia sighed and said softly. Life in this family was much better than before, but Locke Senior and Tia weren't happier. Their only son was fighting in the war and they didn't know if he was dead or alive. They didn't have a chance to enjoy a moment of peace.
Lia thought about what her parents said about finding a marriage for Locke. There were very few beautiful girls in the village. Even if there were, Locke Senior and Tia wouldn't be interested in any of them. Their plan was to marry a girl from the town. Quarryton was a small town that mainly produced ores and animal furs. Most of them were merchants. Not many of them were rich, but there were still quite a few of them. She believed that if a squad leader were to marry a girl, some of the small merchants would agree to marry off their daughters.
When Lia sold her handicrafts in town, she would often see some girls shopping in groups. She was very envious of them. They were so carefree and could do whatever they wanted. However, Lia was just envious. She didn't yearn for a luxurious life. She just wanted to do what she liked. The thought of her beloved brother marrying one of the girls made her anxious. She felt that her brother was going to leave her.
Many of the messages that Locke sent back were asking her to buy some scarves or clothes. Lia was very touched that her brother hadn't forgotten about her. However, the money he sent back was limited. Not only had the price of food increased, but salt had also increased. Lia didn't dare to spend money recklessly. She only bought two scarves over the years and didn't buy any clothes. Poor people never bought new clothes. They bought cloth to make their own. Last year, Tia pulled out a foot of new cloth to make a dress for Lia. It was very pretty, but Lia only wore it once. She didn't dare to wear it anymore because she was afraid of dirtying it.
On the other hand, Locke Senior and Tia were lying on the bed, still awake. Locke Senior was only in his thirties, but he was so old that he could barely plough the fields anymore. It was the same for Tia. She had just turned thirty, but she had to shoulder the heavy burden of ploughing the fields and doing housework with Locke Senior. Her arms were tanned after all these years. Tia was a beauty back in Maple Village.
Locke Senior was very touched by his wife's help all these years. Lying on the bed, he held Tia's hand with one hand, just like the first time he held her hand twenty years ago. So many years had passed in the blink of an eye. Tia held Locke Senior's hand as well. The two of them lay quietly, feeling each other's warmth.
"Locke, that child …" Tia said, "She doesn't know what he's thinking, but we do."
Locke Senior didn't say anything. He didn't know what to say in this regard.
"Your sister entrusted Lia to you back then. Although we've been poor all these years, you've still raised her well. I've long treated her like my own daughter. Do you think Locke …" Tia held Locke Senior's hand tightly, clearly agitated.
"The children have their own lives. Let the children solve the matter between Locke and Lia," said Locke Senior.
"That's the only way," said Tia helplessly.
Locke and Lia didn't realize that they were bound to each other. Perhaps it was because they were born in the mountains. As parents, Locke Senior and Tia could obviously tell the difference from the message Locke brought back and Lia's reaction. It was fine if it was only once or twice, but it had been like this for so many years. As parents, they couldn't help but think too much.
"I heard from the village chief that this is popular among the nobles. It's said that Cardoj's second wife is his cousin …" Locke Senior mumbled in the dark.
"Why do you care so much about them? We're commoners. How can we compare to the nobles? "Tia objected. Although Locke Senior and Tia got along well, he usually listened to Tia because he loved his wife too much. He also felt that he owed Tia a lot as she had suffered a lot with him.
"Let's talk about it when Locke comes back …" Locke Senior decided to stop the topic. He was worried that his daughter would hear them if they spoke too loudly.
"Okay," Tia replied. She rested her head on Locke Senior's arm and turned sideways to ask, "Can Locke come back?"
"Look at you, talking about this again …" Locke Senior patted Tia's shoulder. "Don't you know how capable our son is? He'll definitely come back alive. Go to sleep, don't think too much. We still have to go to the field tomorrow to harvest the vine potatoes."
"Okay," Tia replied.
It was late at night.
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