blenderwars Chapter 302: Varden 4
Chapter 302: Varden 4
But before that, they still needed to press on and find a suitable village to live in.
Back in their room, Evelyn Ford took out a pen and paper and started making a chart. If she was going to open a grocery store, she needed to list out all the items she would trade.
Salt, sugar, alcohol, clothes, shoes... These were all hard currency.
Thinking of the livestock in the backyard, Evelyn suddenly looked at Ronan Kendrick.
"How do you think we should handle the animals out back?"
Ronan Kendrick sat down beside her, looking down at her chart.
"Since you’re opening a grocery store, why not open a farm too? It would be a better way to manage the livestock out back."
Evelyn narrowed her eyes at him. "Do you have the Mind Reading Technique or something? How do you always know what I’m thinking?"
Ronan Kendrick smiled. "The moment you said you wanted to open a grocery store, I guessed your true intentions."
’Opening a farm was her ultimate goal. Expand the livestock operation, expand their supplies... Evelyn had always been convinced the mini ice age would last for many years.’
The next day, Officer Graham took Peter Owens and Miles Vaughn into the mountains to cut branches, while Evelyn Ford and Ronan Kendrick went to chisel ice. The pond was vast, and many villagers were already there, hacking at the ice with cleavers. It was clear that everyone was having a hard time. Some people were even heading into the mountains with knives and baskets to scrape bark and pick leaves.
Evelyn was about to head back to the inn with two full buckets of ice when a middle-aged man stepped in front of them.
"You’re the refugees staying at Lenny’s Inn?"
The man was dressed warmly, but his clothes were ragged. He gave Ronan Kendrick a sidelong glance, then pointed at the ice in the buckets.
"This ice belongs to our village. You can’t take it. Well, you can, but you have to pay the village in supplies. One sheep a day. And the branches in the mountains—you can’t just go and cut them. They belong to our village too. If you want to chop wood, you have to pay up."
’Evelyn recalled Langley saying they could gather firewood freely, as it wasn’t regulated. The ice was indeed the village’s, but guests at the inn were allowed to take it as they pleased.’
The man was clearly trying to extort them. Evelyn smiled and set the buckets down.
"I hear there are patrolmen in the village. We’re new here and don’t know the rules. Why don’t you take us to them so we can ask?"
"So you’re refusing to pay?"
The man kicked one of the buckets. But the ice inside was too heavy and the metal was thick. Not only did the bucket not tip over, but he slipped on the ice and fell flat on his back.
Several nearby villagers crowded around. One woman helped the man to his feet, glaring at Evelyn and Ronan.
"You two refugees show up in our village and immediately start bullying people? Let me tell you, that’s the rule here. Any refugee who wants to stay has to give supplies to all the villagers. I heard you started taking ice yesterday, and today some of your people went to cut firewood. You have to pay for what you’ve taken."
"Fine. I’m willing to pay. But I’ll only do it in front of the patrolmen."
Evelyn brushed the ice chips from her clothes. "Let’s go. Take us to the patrolmen. I’ll give you whatever they say I owe. If that’s not enough, I can always slice off the flesh from my palm to make up the difference."
The villagers exchanged glances. In the past, just hearing the word ’patrolmen’ was enough to scare refugees stiff. They never expected this woman to actively seek them out to argue her case.
"The patrolmen are busy people. They don’t have time for this nonsense. Village matters are decided by the villagers. Besides, you’re causing a conflict with the original residents. That’s considered provoking trouble. You’ll face three months in jail for it, and they’ll send you off to the coal mines."
Even after the woman’s tirade, Evelyn’s expression remained calm.
"What a shame. In that case, I can’t give you any supplies. Not unless you can prove that the trees in the mountains belong to your village, and that the ice in this pond belongs to your village."
The woman was infuriated by Evelyn’s nonchalant tone. "I’m a villager here! Of course the ice and trees belong to the village!"
Evelyn smiled. "Is your name written on the pond? Is it carved on the trees? Do they agree that they belong to you? I’ll give you back the ice when you can make them speak up and say they’re yours."
"You’re just being a scoundrel! This is our village, and you’re trying to steal from us! Believe it or not, we can have you thrown out!"
Evelyn shrugged. "It’s not like the ground is stuck to your feet. How can you prove this is your village? Since you can’t prove your identity, I’ll take all the water and chop all the wood I want. If you’ve got a problem with it, show me some proof."
The woman clutched her chest and turned to the onlookers behind her. "They’re trying to steal the village’s ice! You all have to stop them! This is our property!"
Some, not wanting to get involved, quickly backed away. An older woman tried to reason with her.
"Langley’s brother and sister-in-law give free medical treatment to everyone in the village. His inn’s guests are allowed to take ice and cut wood. Stop making a scene, or the patrolmen will come deal with you."
The woman snorted. "Langley took a whole sheep, and he didn’t even share the wool with us. I haven’t needed their medical help this year. It’s not fair."
"Wasn’t it Langley’s sister-in-law who treated you when you broke your leg last year?"
The woman sneered. "That was last year. I haven’t gotten any handouts from his family this year, so if their guests want to take ice, they have to pay. This pond is communal property, and I have a right to my share."
"The young lady has a point. How do you prove you’re from this village? Shelly Warren, I seem to recall you moved here from Brindleburg."
"That’s right! We’re the original residents here, and we haven’t said a thing. But you, a refugee from Brindleburg, are throwing your weight around. Last time your husband stole our pheasant, we should’ve kicked your whole family out then and there."
The villagers started to turn on the pair, leaving Shelly Warren and the man beside her completely stunned.
"You two teamed up to extort people today. Are you two having an affair or something?"
Shelly Warren was so furious she looked ready to start a fight. "You’re slandering me! Blind Miller is hideous! Who’d have an affair with him?"
One of Blind Miller’s eyes was turned outward, which was how he’d gotten the nickname.
When he heard Shelly Warren call him ugly, he got angry too.
"If you hadn’t told me these two refugees were taking ice, would I have come all the way out here in this cold? Shelly Warren, how dare you call me ugly! I never told anyone about the time you were making eyes at Chloe Scott’s husband."
Chloe Scott happened to be standing nearby. When she heard this, she flew into a rage, rushed over, and started beating Shelly Warren senseless.
"Shelly Warren, I’m going to get my dad to kick your whole family out of here!"
Chloe Scott’s father was the village chief, and her brother traded for supplies outside the village. Other than Langley, her family was the most well-off in the village.
Shelly Warren never imagined that not only would she fail to get any supplies, but she would also get a beating and be threatened with exile from the village.
Meanwhile, Evelyn and Ronan had already carried their buckets of ice back to the inn.
"What took you so long?"
Evelyn smiled. "We stopped to watch a good show, so it took a little longer. This afternoon, let’s all go into the mountains for firewood. We should gather extra."