Iron Harvest: When Farming Becomes Conquest
Chapter 114 - 18: Focus on the Present

Chapter 114: Chapter 18: Focus on the Present

But what of the punishment from All Gods?

Why could someone as greedy as himself now live in a sturdy and durable brick house, able to eat three meals a day?

Glen and Keli grew stronger and stronger by the day.

During this time, they had learned their left from their right and how to count from one to ten. Someday, they could pass the Lord’s selection and become a soldier earning military pay.

Meiqie’er, Wayne, and Lana were flourishing.

They learned to read and write every day at Origin Manor— a privilege only the Steward enjoyed.

He tossed and turned whenever he thought of this.

His least promising son, Wayne, who could never work properly and was always complaining of hunger, was going to become a Steward!

One day he could become a clerk like Jimmy.

Meiqie’er had said that Wayne learned quickly, had received praise from the Lord of the manor, and he had even met the Lord alone.

This was a distinguished honor that only a handful of children could boast of— and his fourth son, Wayne, was one of them.

Dane was the last to leave the house.

The moldy grain sickened him, but he had no time to care about it.

Dane walked briskly to the worksite where Glen and Keli were waiting for him, along with other able-bodied farmers.

Rows of carts were parked in the clearing. A cart could carry twelve or thirteen farmers, or even twenty if they were light enough. The Lord had specially arranged this, having supposedly gathered 100 draft horses from the livestock pens to transport workers from all professions.

The worksite was chaotic, with familiar people teaming up to board a cart.

"Dane, you’re really slow," a farmer said.

Dane sighed, "What can you do if the grain at home is moldy?"

Another farmer sighed, "That’s right."

Other farmers also chimed in, "My grain is moldy too."

After saying this, they all gave a coordinated, long sigh.

That was a serious matter: just watching the grain rot away was heart-wrenching.

"That... Dane, can you talk about little Wayne again?" One of the farmers couldn’t hide his curiosity.

Glen and Keli on the cart didn’t speak, but they straightened their backs in unison, faces beaming with pride. The driver in front also pricked up his ears.

Dane cleared his throat.

"Wayne told me that our esteemed Lord had summoned him."

"Wow!" came the collective gasp!

Everyone present was familiar with the Lord who often instructed them in their work, but that was in public settings.

Now it was a private audience, and it was clear the Lord wanted to have a quiet word with little Wayne.

"Wayne said the Lord waved him closer."

"Wow!" This was a chance for close contact with the Lord!

"The Lord patted Wayne’s head and cheek."

"Wow!" Not a slap, but a caress, which was an honor for a lifetime.

"The Lord asked him how his studies were and had him count, even patiently correcting a few mistakes. He didn’t call Wayne stupid even once from beginning to end!"

"Wow!!!" Those who were often subject to the Lord’s scolding as fools let out a unanimous envious sound.

"The Lord said Wayne was very clever, just too skinny, and then he took a piece of honey bread and a glass of milk from the table for him!"

"Wow!" "Wow!" The exclamations rose and fell.

Who didn’t know that Pamela had given birth to Wayne while working in the fields, and by the time they were found, both were on their last breath? Dane had to call several people to help, taking Pamela into the mountains overnight, and that was how the mother and son survived.

Wayne had been frail since he was young; everyone sneered in secret, sighed openly, or watched indifferently, all waiting to see what drama would unfold in the Dane family.

But Wayne, who couldn’t do farm work and couldn’t even look after chicks, had gained the Lord’s favor after going to the manor.

"The Lord also said for Wayne to study hard and learn to read, then follow Mr. Jimmy to learn! Listen to this, everyone! Let Wayne learn from our own little clerk!"

"Wow!" "Wow!" "Wow!"

The various vociferous exclamations arose on this cart, drawing the attention of the farmers on the other carts.

This had happened twice now, but they never tired of it and loved the story.

The farmer who had initially asked the question, feeling inspired, silently vowed to ensure his own children performed well and gained the Lord’s favor, just like Wayne.

As for Jimmy... that lucky one who soared in broad daylight had no replicable qualities.

They rode the carts to the mess area and, as usual, lined up for their meals.

To their surprise, they found an additional dish in today’s breakfast.

The offal salt soup, made with scallions, ginger, garlic, and salt, was covered with a layer of fat and flecks of meat.

The coolness of the early morning gradually passed.

As the sun rose in the east, the temperature began to grow hot and dry.

While Dane was eating, he saw the Agricultural Officer Moor stand on high ground, announcing something to all the laborers.

It was that Lord had delayed too much time in building them brick houses and also consumed too much labor, so they must work faster now.

Lord had cancelled the daily work targets.

Before, they could stop working for the day as soon as they finished their tasks.

But now, do as much as possible!

Lord attached great importance to this matter, and if the work was not finished within the expected time, then everyone would suffer the punishment of Lord.

Whether it was Dane or any other laborer, there was no complaint from beginning to end.

They had long since discovered that as long as they worked diligently and did not slack, they wouldn’t face any punishment from Lord.

Just look at this offal salt soup, look at that sweet oatmeal porridge, look at those soft slices of bread and vegetable pies.

Lord had established a system for work meals.

As long as you work, three meals a day were provided, and all they had to offer in return was simply their free labor. Could there be a better deal?

After breakfast, everyone boarded the wagons to the road construction site.

There was a temporary tool shed there, filled with sharp steel farm instruments.

Axes, cleavers, iron spades, hoes.

Everyone picked up a suitable tool as they passed in line.

Dane got a sharp axe.

He carried the axe and took his two sons with him to the densely wooded wilderness.

On the way, a white lime line marked the working area, just follow the white line to build the road.

Because the road was dangerous, and the project very long, Roman’s requirements were not high.

This kind of earthen road couldn’t be expected to be very smooth. As long as it looked like a road, it was fine, even if it was rough and bumpy.

If some stretches were truly terrible, Roman would have to carry back the smelted steel by human power.

He had invested in more than 1,200 able-bodied laborers, assembled over a hundred carts, saving the workers’ time and energy, and sought efficiency.

Everyone was distributed on different sections of the road and started clearing work at the same time,

With cool tea being delivered continuously from behind, everyone’s body was coated with medicine soaked in acorus and mint to repel insects.

Although it was the last month of summer, and the temperature had dropped slightly, the weather remained hot and stuffy, and the cool tea was a great help to them.

Today, after hearing about Lord’s demands on them, these hardworking folks burst out with even more astonishing strength.

They didn’t know why Lord wanted to build this road, or what was at the end of it.

Last time, at least they knew it was to reach the Salt Mine, so everyone worked energetically just for the sake of salt.

But this time, without knowing the goal, just knowing Lord’s command, there was not a single objection.

Their short-sightedness prevented them from seeing what lay a hundred miles away.

They were focused on the present, able to only see those rich and tasty work meals.

Lord had promised that as long as they worked every day, the supply of work meals would not cease.

They could survive even without farming!

Everyone was also afraid—what if they lost their jobs, would they have to return to their old ways?

Lord had also promised that the jobs he provided would last them until death.

That was enough!

As long as they could eat their fill, they would prefer the road to never end.

Dane wielded his axe vigorously, chopping down the large trees.

Nearing forty, he was still robust and quite strong.

Glen was drenched in sweat, his upper body bare, and his exposed skin completely green with the herbal medicine.

He chopped off the excess branches, only leaving the bare trunk, which would be pulled out later once the road behind them took shape, using oxen.

Keli’s arms bulged with veins.

With the sharp edge of his iron spade, he leveled the entangled shrubs, piled them up, and cleared the space.

One by one, the great trees fell with a crash.

If one looked down from high above, they would see a straight, long road rapidly taking shape under the relentless work of countless ants.

That day was Roman’s 217th day in Sige Town.