I built a manor in the Middle Ages

Chapter 151 Audacious!

The first snow of Xueyue finally stopped after three days of falling. The valley that was once covered with green grass was now covered with white. Thick snow weighed down the branches and was shaken and scattered by the small but cold wind. Although the weather cleared up, it could not drive away the severe cold.

Little Maiman wrapped himself tightly in thick linen and quickened his pace. It was not cold when it snowed, but it was cold when the snow melted. Coming from Provence in the south, this was the first time for him to experience the cold winter in Burgundy.

He twitched his nose, carried the wooden bucket in his left hand and walked to the well. He greeted Miller, who had already returned with water for Lord Luke, walked to the wellhead, fixed the rotating shaft, and slowly lowered the wooden bucket into the bottom of the well.

That's one of the benefits of being a carpenter, he can build more furniture for himself.

The houses in the serfdom were all built in the same way, and the furnishings inside were the same: a bed, a fireplace, and a wooden box, that's all. Only Jill's family and Robert's family were better, but now I have to add my name to that list.

Relying on his good craftsmanship, little Maiman made a new set of tables and chairs for himself, including the bucket at this moment. Don't underestimate these furniture. Ordinary serfs can't afford them at all. Others drink water from pottery, but if you can get a bucket of water yourself, you don't have to run around for four or five days.

Because of this, my mother was worried that she would be punished. After all, in the old village, the knight would never allow a serf to use wood without permission.

But little Maiman was not worried. Although he was also afraid of Luc, he believed that the master was not the stingy, mean and cowardly knight he thought he was.

"He can give out free winter clothes and defeat bandits. How can that guy who eats like a pig compare to Lord Luke?"

Little Maiman muttered to himself, and when he felt the wooden barrel become heavier, he immediately came to his senses and began to turn the bearing with force.

Being a carpenter requires great strength, so a bucket of water is nothing. He carefully lifted the bucket, held the handle, and staggered back to the hut.

Today was a rare day when no work was done in the manor, and everyone was still huddled in the house by the fire. However, little Maiman couldn't stop, as he needed to go to the carpentry shop and work with Mr. Ryan to fix the details of the city gate.

The city gate had been built a few days ago, and all that was needed was the mortise and tenon joints. Every time Mr. Ryan mentioned this magical craft that did not require any nails, he would solemnly make the sign of the cross on his chest, and then solemnly tell him that this was a secret skill given to the master by God, including everything in the manor.

Stepping on the creaking snow, little Maiman pushed open the door while breathing out the cold air.

"Oh, child, come and warm yourself by the fire. It's very cold today, isn't it?"

"Luckily, the sun is shining outside, but the wind is giving me a headache. Oh, by the way, Mother, I brought back some water. Let's make some vegetable soup first. Remember to put the eggs in. I need to take it to Jenny later."

As little Maiman spoke, he took out pottery. He had a good relationship with Miller and had several vessels of different sizes at home. He took out the largest one, filled it with cold water using a wooden ladle, placed it on the fireplace that was still not extinguished, and added a few more woods in the hope of boiling the freezing well water as soon as possible.

"Kid, there are only two eggs left. Are you sure you want to put them both in?"

Everyone's food was distributed uniformly, but it was all rye and a small amount of vegetables. These eggs were rewards from Ryan to their family, and they always treated them as treasures.

Little Maiman's mother put it all in with a bit of heartache.

"Uncle Geller was transferred by the master. I heard he went to work in the north. He hasn't returned since the snowy months. Although the master gives them extra food every week, you know Jenny has always been in poor health and recently caught a cold because of the snow. Uncle Geller has always taken good care of our family, and now I can't just ignore them."

Even though there were only forty people in the manor, as long as there were people, there would be people coming and going. After hearing this, little Maiman's mother chose to remain silent and put all the eggs in honestly.

Little Maiman added some parsnips and frozen black bread, and after a while, regardless of the boiling heat, he divided the vegetable soup into three portions.

Little Maiman picked up the only bowl without eggs and gobbled it up without waiting for his mother to dissuade him. As he ate, he muttered, "Mom, you are too thin. You should eat more."

Little Maiman's mother has always been in poor health and is one of two women working in a textile factory.

"It would be better if I could eat like Aunt Mary!"

Ignoring his mother's half-crying and half-laughing gaze, little Maiman quickly finished his meal, said hello, picked up the still steaming soup and rushed out of the room, handing it forcefully to a blonde woman, then rushed to the carpentry workshop without stopping.

"The city gate needs to be stronger. If nothing else, it should not be opened by a siege vehicle. So, the city gate is divided into two layers. The outermost layer is made of charcoal-roasted oak and rammed earth on the back, leaving only a small door wide enough for two people to pass through on horseback. The back is the real city gate, and the rammed earth in the middle is supported by pine wood to stabilize it." When little Maiman arrived, Luke had already put forward the idea with Ryan, Old Eike and others in front of a pile of wood. He did not interrupt, but walked forward silently and listened to Luke's words quietly.

"The second wooden door can be of normal size, secured with bolts and pillars. Leave about five steps between the two doors, and reserve a murder hole at the top of the gate!"

Murder holes are small holes left at the top of the doorway so that the defenders can extend their spears and stab the enemy to death.

"It's a reasonable arrangement. So, sir, shall we start now?"

"Let's get started. Oh, and don't forget to do the fireproofing and anti-corrosion treatment as well."

"Yes!"

Luc, who seldom did manual labor except when needed for demonstration, waved his hand and let Ryan and others work. Ryan was quick and agile, and he and little Maiman, who had arrived, chiseled holes over and over again. He found a tree stump, slowly sat down and began to read a letter from Cluny.

"Hmm, did you successfully enter Cluny Abbey? It seems this monastery is pretty good. Oh? I shared my story with other monks, and they also praised me as a devout and brave believer."

Luc shook his head in amusement. The fact that Hugo replied as soon as he arrived in Cluny showed that he really regarded him as a friend. He just didn't expect that Hugo would really start to help him become famous, and had not yet revealed his position.

"It seems that when I go on a long journey in the future, maybe I can stop some disputes by stating my name."

"Please keep an eye on the news from Upper Lorraine."

Skipping over a lot of small talk and daily trivialities, Luc focused on the last sentence and fell into a brief silence.

He did not forget who his original identity was.

"I wonder if there is anyone still alive who knew Henry," Luc thought silently, with murderous intent unconsciously in his eyes.

"Better not."

After all, if there is, my hands will be stained with blood again, although they are already stained a lot.

Time passed quickly. After reading the letter and thinking of a reply, Luc inspected the progress again to see if there were any mistakes. When they were about to go back to eat at noon, Luc suddenly called out to little Maiman, "Here, this is the reward for your hard work. Don't worry, I won't be harsh on anyone who works hard for me."

Looking at the five eggs and half a piece of cheese in front of him, little Maiman was surprised and happy, and the following words almost made little Maiman cry.

"Your mother's name is Sharon, right? My wife often praises her for her skillful hands. This salted fish is a special gift from her for your mother. Don't mind it being too small. Take it all back."

Du Si, who managed the textile factory, actually gave each of the two female workers a salted fish, only the size of a finger, but little Maiman didn't know that. He took the salted fish and said with tears in his eyes, "Thank you, Master and Madam. You are the most kind lords I have ever met!"

Luc had heard this kind of flattery many times before, so he smiled and waved his hand to let him leave.

Little Maiman almost skipped back home on the snow, and as soon as he opened the wooden door, he couldn't help sharing his joy with his mother.

"Oh God! May the master and his wife live long~"

Sharon was also surprised and happy. She hugged her son happily and kept saying "bless her lord"
……

In the same heavy snow, unlike the tenderness between little Maiman and his mother, at the Telf Bridge, the man with the hideous scar on his face could not help but point at the smiling George in front of him and cried out in horror:
"Damn it, did you really steal the horse from Cooper Castle?!"

(End of this chapter)