As the long sword chopped down, the merchant's face was filled with despair. He stood frozen on the spot, his mind whirling with countless flashes of his life, like a carousel of memories.
He grew up in poverty; his parents had died early, leaving him to raise his younger brother and sister. The land they owned was insufficient for farming, and they often went hungry. In a year of poor harvest, to avoid starvation, he sold the land for money to seek a living in the city.
He had a sharp mind and found a job as a shop assistant in the city, barely making ends meet. But when the shop eventually went bankrupt, he decided to go it alone, surviving by peddling small daily necessities through the streets and alleys.
After several years, he managed to earn enough for a modest living and saved some money.
But as his siblings grew older, they needed to marry and set up their own homes, needing dowries and properties. Merely surviving wasn't enough.
