Work Prophet
Chapter 436 - 54: The Harvest of the Estate Depends on You

Chapter 436: Chapter 54: The Harvest of the Estate Depends on You

About two days ago, the Judgement Court received a report that the serfs on a certain farm had already labored fourteen days for the farm’s master this month, but only ten days were reported to the Double Rest Sect in preparation for future compensation and rest days.

Furthermore, because they have been constantly working for the farm master, the serfs also had no time to harvest their own crops.

The Judgement Court took this situation very seriously and immediately arranged for personnel to investigate upon receiving the report. It is now confirmed that this is indeed the case, and so Golden Eyes and a colleague are on their way to address it.

No sooner had they arrived at the outskirts of the farm than they were spotted by the militiamen there, who reported to the farm’s steward, and the slightly overweight steward quickly came out to meet them.

"The weather is hot, esteemed judges, please come in for a bowl of radish water," he said.

Marco, the young judge who joined the Judgement Court just last month, standing beside Golden Eyes, directly said, "Are you in charge here? We have received a report that this farm is engaging in mandatory overtime and unpaid overtime. There’s no need for radish water; please come with us."

The fat steward’s face changed slightly upon hearing this, and then he protested, "We have always, like other farms, strictly adhered to the precepts of the Double Rest Sect. There’s no such thing as forced or unpaid overtime happening here."

"Don’t make excuses; we have already investigated and cleared things up," Marco, although somewhat contemptuous of the fat steward’s poor acting, still followed the regulations strictly and initiated negotiations with the other party.

"We’ve looked into it, and the serfs here have worked fourteen days this month, but you have only reported ten days. Moreover, you did not follow the rules by letting them go back every three days for four days to harvest their own crops."

"You cannot be deceived by those serfs; I withheld their time intentionally," the fat steward said. " Those crafty fellows, when they harvest their own fields, they do so earnestly and meticulously, but when it comes to working for the farm, they all just know how to cheat and slack off, making a perfunctory effort."

"You didn’t see the fields they have harvested. Oh my, it’s just unbearable to look at. Good crops, just wasted like that by them. What they have harvested is even worse than what has gone to spoil."

"In the past, overseers could beat and scold them in such situations. Those guys would then be scared into doing their work properly. But now everyone believes in the Sabbath, and our Lord is compassionate and does not wish to see people suffer below. But these lazybones, if you don’t beat them, they just won’t work properly."

"They are truly like a lump of mud that infuriates you when you pick it up. It’s rare to have a good harvest, and we can’t afford to let them hold us back. I am also a follower of the Double Rest Sect, and of course, I would not violate the Church’s precepts, nor would I engage in such unconscionable and bad deeds like unpaid overtime, for that is to incur divine punishment."

"The ten days I have reported honestly, not concealing a thing. As for the additional four days, it’s punishment, a punishment for not working properly. Hence, the farm punished them by having them make up for the unfinished portion."

"To tell you the truth, we also don’t wish to hold on to them; keeping them means I have to arrange for someone to supervise them as well. This way, no one gets to rest, and who wouldn’t want to finish things off neatly? It is really because they are too lazy. It’s truly not our fault."

The young judge was somewhat uncertain after hearing his speech, feeling there might also be some truth in it.

He thus cast a look of appeal toward his colleague, only to see the man with the golden pupils leisurely gazing at the wheat field in the distance, seemingly distracted.

"Gerard," Marco called his Christian name.

"Hmm?" Golden Eyes refocused his gaze, looking at the fat steward in front of him, "You haven’t arrested him yet?"

Marco was somewhat dissatisfied with Golden Eyes’s casual demeanor, but he also knew that Golden Eyes was quite a loner even within the Judgement Court, renowned for its eccentrics.

He might as well have had the words "Don’t bother me" written across his face and hardly seemed close to anyone.

But in front of outsiders, the Judgement Court had to display unity, so Marco suppressed his dissatisfaction and explained,

"Just now this fellow..."

"Barnes," the fat steward introduced himself.

"The steward Barnes said..."

"I heard his words," Golden Eyes interrupted Marco, "What are you trying to say?"

Marco took a deep breath, "I think we should investigate this matter further. If those serfs really were loafing on the job..."

"That’s easy." Golden Eyes said, and then he turned his head to look at Barnes, pointing with his riding crop at the wheat fields in the distance.

"Is this your manor’s land?"

Barnes nodded.

"Find a sickle for your steward," Golden Eyes instructed a supervisor within the manor, "have him harvest the crops with the serfs, from now until sunset, half a day’s time. We will supervise together right here to see who harvests the most."

Upon hearing this, Barnes’s face changed dramatically, "Judge, this isn’t fair, I don’t know how to harvest wheat at all!"

"No problem, I’ll give you some time to learn on the spot. It’s not difficult. And considering you’re a beginner, I’ll count any wheat you do harvest as double. From now on, the serfs of your manor can work according to this quota," Golden Eyes said lazily.

Barnes became anxious, "No, that... that won’t work, I, I cannot do such lowly labor."

"Talent may vary, but labor knows no class." Marco stated seriously, "The Prophet himself said this."

"Do you know whose manor this is?"

"Of course, we looked into it beforehand. It belongs to Sir Thomas."

"Sir Thomas is none other than the Guard Captain before Lady Ireya, one of the few people she trusts the most," Barnes emphasized.

"We are aware. We will also seek him out later," Marco said, "If he is also aware of this situation, then it constitutes a violation of the sacred oath he previously made to our lord."

"According to the precepts of the Double Rest Sect, he too shall receive appropriate punishment."

Barnes was rendered speechless.

Golden Eyes then patted his shoulder, "Steward Barnes, you have only half a day. The longer you dally here, the less time you’ll have to harvest wheat.

"Whether or not your master’s manor has a good harvest this year all depends on your performance in the next while. You’ve got to put in more effort. You can’t let those slackers outdo you."

Despite the steward’s diligent effort, he greatly underestimated the difficulty of harvesting wheat, and in the end, he couldn’t even manage a quarter of the workload of the serfs.

Even with the double portion that Golden Eyes granted him, he was still far from the passing mark.

Marco was now thoroughly impressed with his colleague, who seemed difficult to get along with, and excitedly said.

"Gerard, you’re amazing. How did you come up with such a brilliant idea, exposing Barnes’s lie so effortlessly?"

"It’s nothing," Golden Eyes maintained his nonchalant demeanor, "and that fat man didn’t completely lie, those serfs certainly didn’t put as much effort into working for the manor as they would for their own homes."