Chapter 89: Able to Raise a Colt

"Mrs. Abby, Lily and I are planning to head into town to watch the comedy performance. Would you like to join us?" Irene carried the large chunks of conch meat out to dry in the sun beyond the castle walls.

Yesterday, Hiddleston had consumed a substantial piece of the conch without any ill effects; in fact, he seemed invigorated.

This meant that the conch meat was safe to eat.

"Oh, my! Why is Master being so generous, giving you all a day off?" Mrs. Abby busied herself organizing the various seasonings on the countertop. "If you enjoy being a maid, you should stay in the kitchen obediently. There's always a mountain of work to be done."

"Lily says that Mr. Carter mentioned that Master instructed a simple lunch of grilled steak for him, while we servants can have beans and bread. It won't require much work," chimed in little Lily as she helped with the conch meat.

A single conch weighed over 250 kilograms, with its shell accounting for about 150 kilograms, leaving around 100 kilograms of meat.

"Mr. Carter is just like Master, always indulging these young servants who don't take their work seriously. That's not the kind of leniency a competent butler should show. When I was young, the kitchen was bustling with activity all day long; there was never a moment to rest. That's the attitude a kitchen maid should have," Mrs. Abby lectured.

"Cough, cough."

Carter's coughing echoed from the entrance. Unbeknownst to them, he had approached. "While I appreciate Mrs. Abby's dedication to work, it's important not to always be on edge. Take a break and stroll around town with the young ones. It's not often that a trading convoy arrives."

"Apologies, Mr. Carter. I didn't mean to offend you." Mrs. Abby felt a bit embarrassed, caught red-handed gossiping behind his back.

"No worries, in fact, I take your description of me as merciful as a compliment. Go on, join Irene and little Lily to see the town's comedy show, those clowns make me smile just thinking about them."

"That won't do, I need to prepare lunch for Master."

"Then be back by eleven, it's nine now, giving you two hours to enjoy some shopping."

"I...".

Not waiting for Mrs. Abby to decline, Carter interrupted her, "Consider it a work assignment from me, have fun for two hours."

"Haha, well done, Mr. Carter." Irene happily tugged at Abby's arm, "Come on, Mrs. Abby, I can't wait to see the clowns."

Little Lily took hold of Abby's other arm, "Yeah, yeah, let's go!"

Mrs. Abby had no choice but to half-heartedly head out, "I don't fancy shopping, but I'd better keep an eye on the both of you to ensure you don't get too carried away and forget about work... And wait a moment, I need to change my clothes. I can't leave the castle dressed like this, it would be a loss of dignity."

Carter watched the lively scene with a smile playing on his lips.

Compared to working in the Earl's country castle, this small-town castle was more bustling with tasks, but life was livelier. The energy of the young people around him injected a sense of vitality into him, making him feel younger than the previous year.

Hearing footsteps, he turned his head to see Mrs. Mo Sen. "Have Macy and the others gone to town?"

"Yes, with Tom and Thomas as well. Mr. Carter, aren't you joining them?"

"Mrs. Abby, Irene, and little Lily are getting dressed to go watch a comedy performance in town later. I think you should accompany them. As for the castle, I'll stay behind to serve Master, you know, in case he wants a drink and there's no male servant around since even Thomas has left."

"I'll stay too then. If you need anything, just call for me."

"Are you sure you don't want to join the fun?"

"At my age, I avoid excitement whenever possible. Why would I seek it out?"

"Don't say that, Mrs. Mo Sen. I feel like I'm getting younger by the day." Carter puffed out his chest to appear more energetic.

"Yes, young Mr. Carter," she replied with a hint of amusement.

...

"Anne,

Have you sold most of the tomatoes yet?" John Pole approached his stall, located in the southwestern corner of the town. A large, flat area had been cleared for visiting caravans to conduct their business and transactions.

A few wooden toilets stood outside.

The patrolmen and local clerks repeatedly announced, "By Lord's decree, no one shall relieve themselves in public. Offenders will be fined and flogged! To use the facilities, follow the arrows to the outdoor toilets. The symbol with a circle at the bottom and an arrow pointing up (♂) indicates the men's restroom, while the one with a circle on top and a cross below (♀) is for the women's. Be sure not to mix them up!"

John was already accustomed to this rule.

He hadn't relieved himself on the street in a long time. His family had prepared chamber pots for waste, which they stored until it could be used as fertilizer for their tomato fields – a farming magic taught by their noble Lord. Farmers who employed this magic soil enhancer saw their yields increase by up to thirty percent!

In the past, town officials would organize the collection of feces.

Now, however, households retained their waste for their own fields. After harvest, the benevolent and generous noble Lord levied taxes proportional to the yield, unlike the tax knights of old who sought to take every last bit from the serfs.

Since the arrival of the Lord, John sensed not only in himself but also in his neighbors, a remarkable transformation for the better.

Of course, he considered himself the luckiest among them.

"John, aren't you going to work with the construction crew today?" Anne asked her husband curiously. With not much farm work at the moment, John had been earning a copper coin a day working with the builders.

"The construction crew is on holiday. Nobody wants to work today. They're all here... in the marketplace," John pointed out, gesturing towards the nearby crowd. "Look, there's Wenger, he's even strolling around with his son."

"Alright, then let's go watch the comedy show. I'll join you after I finish selling the tomatoes. It's been so long since I last watched one."

John hesitated and said, "Actually, Anne, on my way here, I saw someone selling kittens. I thought of getting one. You know, with our stored grains, the mice population has increased. Those filthy thieves always steal our food!"

"Is that so? Someone's selling kittens? Then wait here for me. After I sell the tomatoes, we can go pick out a kitten, one that's especially good at catching mice."

After a moment's contemplation, John added, "To be honest, I was also thinking of buying a foal. I want little Jack to learn how to ride from a young age. That way, he can join Lord's Squire program sooner."

"Oh, my goodness, John, do you have any idea how much a foal costs?"

"Fifty silver coins, but Anne, it's a foal!" John explained eagerly. "If we miss this chance, who knows when we'll be able to afford one. I'm willing to tend tomatoes for Lord all my life, but little Jack isn't fond of it. He wants to become a squire."

"John, you need to understand, we can afford fifty silver coins, but a foal will require a lot to feed every day. A horse consumes enough food for several people. Can we really manage that?"

"I can!"

John said resolutely, "Our tomato field is the best and always provides us with a steady income. I can also work as a laborer. I've spoken to the foreman of the construction team, who's Assistant Isaiah. He told me that there will be more work in the village in the future. Lord Isaiah has grand plans to revitalize the town. As long as I keep working, we can afford a foal!"

"Are you serious, John?"

"Absolutely, trust me, Anne."

Seeing her husband's determined gaze, Anne couldn't bear to refuse him, "Alright then, but promise me it won't burden us, alright?"

"I promise!"