The morning mist had not completely dissipated, and the faint light of dawn could not penetrate the misty sky, so it could not warm Eric, who had already gotten up early.
As a Serf of Grey Castle Territory, getting up before sunrise is a basic requirement of a Serf.
Eric's family consists of five people, all living in a small mud-brick and thatched house.
The house was dark and damp, with cracked walls and moldy straw mats, yet they looked so harmonious.
Eric's wife Martha and their three children also got up early.
The wife went to tend to the sheep that had "woke up" with them, while the three children went to gather some firewood.
Eric went out of the house, grabbed his tools, and prepared to plow the land.
Yesterday, the village chief said that everyone should go to the open space in the middle of the village this afternoon, because Butler Marcus has something important to announce.
So everyone was planning to get everything done this morning, but that's highly unlikely.
Eric was a very strong man; while others were still working hard, he had already finished his morning's work.
It must be said that Eric is exceptionally talented; he was able to be so brave in an era of scarcity.
After finishing his work, Eric walked to the side and took out some slightly sour-smelling black bread and some somewhat cloudy ale.
If you were to ask him what happiness is at this moment, he would answer without hesitation that happiness is eating delicious black bread and drinking a refreshing drink after finishing work.
Eric's happiness was short-lived; he brought only a small amount of food because he still had his wife and three children.
The thought of his wife and children, coupled with the sudden downpour that night, deeply affected him. He had to repair the thatched roof before the rain started again.
" Martha, bring me some more dry straw," Eric called to his wife downstairs.
Martha rolled up her sleeves, revealing her rough hands, etched from years of hard work. She deftly climbed the ladder and handed Eric a bundle of fresh thatch.
The two worked together seamlessly, one handing out the food and the other laying it out, occasionally exchanging simple words.
" Eric, press that tighter over there, that's where it leaked last time," his wife Martha said, pointing.
Eric quickly pressed the thatch down with his hands.
Time always flies when you're working, looking at the brand-new roof.
Martha, the wife, said with relief, "Now I can finally get a good night's sleep."
After saying that, he gave Eric a look that seemed to be one of praise.
" Eric, hurry to the open space in the middle of the village. Butler Marcus is already there." The calls of others in the distance reached his ears.
On the way there, Eric saw a strange thing standing in the open space in the distance. Two wooden sticks were buried in the ground at a distance, with a wooden plank in the middle and a roof-like wooden plank on top.
Upon closer inspection, a square Parchment covered with writing was pasted on the wooden board in the middle.
Eric couldn't read, but the red circle in the bottom right corner of the Parchment was very eye-catching.
The ferocious creature exudes great majesty. Two other, unidentified, special runes adorn its sides. The entire design is truly awe-inspiring.
Eric swore that this was the most unforgettable thing he had ever seen in his life.
The whispers of the other villagers confirmed Eric's suspicions.
"Ah! Do you know what that red thing is?"
"I don't know, but it looks really strange!"
"Yes, that's amazing."
Roderick, the castle's carpenter, stood proudly to the side.
Eric was somewhat worried as he listened to the butler Marcus explain the division of the territory.
Dividing the land into three plots will mean less land for spring planting, which will also mean a reduction in pea production. Furthermore, peas will have to be planted together with barley or oats, even though the lord later said that with the reduced production, no pea tax would be levied.
But if the pea yield decreases too much, there won't be much left after saving the seeds...
Something is better than nothing, Eric could only console himself with that thought.
Eric wasn't worried about anything else; he just needed to do as the lord instructed.
Marcus, the butler, has left, but his last words still linger in Eric's mind.
"From now on, all notices from the territory will be posted on this wooden board. The red circle in the lower right corner will be the symbol of the territory."
When Eric got home, he only saw a small amount of firewood. He still needed to chop some more because the children's abilities were limited.
The sun's radiance had completely faded, and darkness enveloped the earth. Eric returned home.
The children were already curled up asleep on the straw mats. His wife, Martha, was mending tattered clothes by the fire, the firelight illuminating her tired but gentle face.