Chapter 13 (1/2)
Seri Village’s Village Head is called Tutuman……It is a very tongue-twisting name but as a name given by parents, it is not good for Village Head to change it and after being called for tens of years, he has already gradually gotten used to it.
As a village head too, Tutuman always had some hostility towards old village head Reed. Although the former is a old man stuck in the village like him, he is still a n.o.ble’s descendant after all. In the past when spring came, every time the two of them brought villagers into the city, the other party always could have a few words with the n.o.bles in the city and he could only stayed at the side lowly. As time pa.s.sed, a recalcitrant feeling stuck in Tutuman’s heart. Both of them are village heads, why is the other party higher than him. He just had a good ancestor who left a n.o.ble t.i.tle for him. If it came to abilities, he is definitely more outstanding that village head Reed.
Because of loathe, Tutuman is always unwilling to have contact with village head Reed but village head Reed actually took the initiative to find him.
Sitting behind an old table, Tutuman let his wife pour a cup of spring water for the guest and says expressionlessly: “Village head Reed, how rare, you actually grace our poor village with your presence. Tch tch, you aren’t afraid this will damage your measly n.o.ble’s honour.”
“Old fellow, your words are as awful as ever.” Reed shakes his hands without minding: “I know you don’t like me so much although I don’t know the reason. But I’m here this time is to talk about a very important matter with you, something that is very important to both our villages and I hope you can hear me out.”
Although he dislike the other party, Tutuman is a very qualified village head, he says indifferently: “Say it quickly, I’m in a hurry to go on a hunt.”
Tutuman is an old hunter and also the best hunter among the nearby villagers. In this house, it is filled with beast skins, tiger skin, leopard skin, mink skin……Many minor n.o.bles do not even have so many fine beast skins in their houses. However, no matter how good he is, he is only an ordinary man. He can hunt normal animals but has no way to deal with those magical beasts that can use magic. He once challenged to hunt a magical beast when he was young but was seriously injured and almost died. It is a good that he was young, vigorous and had a good body so he made it through. Ever since then, he dropped the idea of hunting a magical beast but this does not stop him from being the best hunter around here.
“Yesterday, a Lord Priest came to our house, he is an ascetic believer.” Village head Reed says lightly.
Tutuman’s eyebrows twitch, he says with sarcasm “Are you flaunting your contacts to me?”
“Let me finish, you’re still as impatient as when you’re young.” Village head Reed drinks a mouthful of the sweet spring water and continues: “Lord Priest has said, he intends to build a small temple in our village to spread the ideals of G.o.ddess Waukeen to our village.”
The two old man present are quite knowledgeable of they cannot raise to the position of village head. They are very clear what it means if there is a formal temple built near the village. Tutuman says jealously: “Truthfully speaking, I really dislike you. All the good things happen to you. You’re a jinx who virtually sucked away all the luck from our Seri Village. If this continues, I intends to mobilize the villagers to move to other places to live.”
“Don’t say it like this, this matter has something to do with Seri Village too.” Village head Reed says smilingly: “Lord Priest plans to build a stone temple and must be finished in 6 months. You’re also clear that this matter cannot be done with just our village so I intends to request your Seri Village to build the temple with us.”
“Don’t even think about it!” Tutuman slaps heavily on the table and says while panting heavily: “The temple is built in your village and not our village, why do we have to help you? Reed, do want to take all the advantages in the world? You’re too thick-skinned.”
Reed disregards Tutuman’s anger and says slowly: “All the households that partic.i.p.ated in building the temple can pick a child and Lord Priest will teach them words. We help Lord Priest build the temple within 6 months and in these 6 months, Lord Priest will teach the children 3 words every day. If we can finish in 6 months, Lord Priest will teach the children 540 words in 6 months. Do you think this is considered a good news or not.”
“For real?” Tutuman calms down.
“There is no need for me to come all the way here to cheat you.” Reed smiles.
“All the prime-age adults of our village will help you build the temple, old folks will help too. There’s no need for you to provide food and drinks, we will settle it ourselves.” Tutuman says: “However, I need all the children below 18 and above 8 to be able to listen to Lord Priest’s teachings.”
Reed shakes his head: “Impossible……1 child every household is the unyielding regulation, you’re already taking a big advantage, are you still not satisfied? If you’re unwilling, the Veblen Village further again, I know their village head too, Kane－Wiblin. I think they will be very willing to build this temple with us.”
Tutuman stands up and almost flings the cup on the table onto Reed’s face. He hit the ceiling, takes a while to calm down and says: “So be it, we’ll accept this task but if you’re fooling me, don’t blame my hunting bow for not recognizing you. It can not only shoot beasts, it can shoot a certain old fellow too.”
“Hehe, bring your men over tomorrow, the faster the better.” Reed stands up and gets ready to leave. Before he exits the door, he suddenly turns his head and says: “Tutuman, you owe me a favor for this. During spring next year, the gains from entering the city, I want you to give up a portion to us.”