Rodney got up early because two old friends were coming from the capital city. Hilton was his buddy in the army, serving for more than four years. They were the only ones left in their squad. Niemann was the cook in the squad and joined the army a year later than Rodney and Hilton. They had just known each other, but one time, Niemann got separated from his own troops while marching and got lost. He almost starved to death in the desert, but fortunately, Rodney and Hilton's squad passed by and saved his life. Since then, he became friends with Rodney's squad, but only Rodney and Hilton were familiar faces left in the squad.
The day had not yet dawned, and the Scott household was already bustling. The cook killed a chicken, William instructed his tenants to catch some fish in the fields, and they had leftover cabbage, potatoes, mushrooms freshly picked from the forest, wild rabbits trapped in snares, and freshly squeezed milk in the morning.
In this season of scarcity, these were probably the best side dishes available in Kulun Town. In this underdeveloped agricultural world, where there was almost no industry, even landowners could not guarantee eating meat every meal.
Norfy was a bit uncomfortable, but there was nothing he could do. It was unrealistic to expect a place with productivity similar to medieval Europe to suddenly reach modern levels. Of course, it was said that the noble lords living in the capital city had a lifestyle comparable to the nobility of oil-rich countries. After all, 60% of the resources of the entire Lance Kingdom were supplied to the capital city, serving only 5% of the population - the magicians and nobles who lived in luxury. It was no wonder that their quality of life was high.
While he was thinking about it, his father's shout suddenly came.
"My son! My son!"
Norfy pushed open the window panel and looked down at his well-dressed father, rubbing his eyes.
"What's the matter, Dad?"
Rodney kept gesturing for him to come over.
"Hurry up! Come with me to pick up your Uncle Hilton and Uncle Niemann! They'll probably arrive in town in a little while!"
Norfy yawned and looked at the faint light outside.
"But Dad, the rooster hasn't crowed yet."
Rodney, on the other hand, seemed a bit anxious and urged him.
"Wait for the rooster to crow? Hurry up!! Get your steam engine out! Let's go to town together!"
Reluctantly, Norfy climbed out of bed and slowly dressed himself.
When he walked out of the yard, the driver, Lize, was already waiting at the gate, wearing a neat black outfit that resembled a servant in a wealthy household. But he was going to make a fire later! Wouldn't his clothes get ruined?
Norfy was puzzled but saw that Rodney was already sitting in a newly painted carriage, which seemed to be a renovated version of the previous dilapidated one from their home. He stuck his head out of the carriage window and urged him.
"Hurry up and get on the carriage, my son. Let's go pick up your two uncles!"
Just as Norfy walked up to the carriage door, he suddenly noticed a flatbed cart behind the carriage, with seven or eight villagers sitting on it, and sacks piled in the middle.
He couldn't help but ask, "Dad, what's this for?"
Rodney peeked out and then explained matter-of-factly, "Oh, they're going to town to sell some mountain products like mushrooms and wild ferns. It's convenient to go together. It's tiring to carry so many things on foot. With the steam engine, we can bring more and they can make more money too."
After finishing his explanation, he urged Norfy again.
"Hurry up! Everyone is going to the morning market in town!"
Norfy nodded quickly and hesitantly climbed onto the carriage.
"Oh, sure."
Excitedly, Rodney tapped on the carriage door like a child, and Lize hurried over.
"What's the matter, sir?"
"Let's go! Don't forget to whistle first!"
While saying this, Rodney made a hand gesture as if pulling a steam whistle, and Lize quickly nodded.
"Ah! Okay!"
Then he ran to the flywheel of the steam engine and shook it hard twice, and the machine started to rotate on its own.
Accompanied by the sound of "woo-woo", the steam-powered train with three compartments slowly started, and Rodney said satisfiedly.
"My son, this thing you invented is amazing! It's faster than a carriage, stronger than an ox, and doesn't need to be fed. Just burn some wood! Let's drive to town and show it to the Derry family! What good is their son who studies magic? My son can easily make something better than his son! Can magic farm? Can magic transport goods? What's the use of magic?"Norfy couldn't help but cover his face and sigh when he heard this.
His father's favorite thing was to compare with the Deli family from the neighboring village. But the dull country life wouldn't work without even a competitor. Isn't it true that we are born from worries and die in comfort?
However, the Deli family has been here for three generations. Apart from being wealthier, having a larger population, a wider range of influence, and more cultivated land than the Scott family, and having several profitable shops in the city of Radressin, and a son studying magic, they didn't have any absolute advantages. All in all, the two families got along well. They even exchanged pork during the winter and New Year. Norfy also received a gift from the Deli family on his birthday every year. Last year, he received a pony. After all, it's not a bother to send a gift considering the Scott family only has two members. On the other hand, when it was someone's birthday in the Deli family, William always took care of it.
But when the Deli family's son becomes a full-fledged magician, their whole family will be exempted from all taxes. This is a privilege for magicians in The Lance Kingdom. By then, the Deli family will probably be even wealthier, and the magic practitioners represent another class. At that time, both in terms of wealth and status, the Deli family will surpass the Scott family by a considerable margin. Norfy's father would certainly be even more unhappy about this.
Although Norfy's father seems peaceful on the surface, he is actually very competitive and always wants to excel in everything. Perhaps this time, he can discuss with his father, invest some money, and make a profit with steel business and steam engines, so that they can establish financial dominance over the Deli family. Then, when they make big money in the future, they can also hire a magician so that they won't lag behind the neighbors in terms of status.
However, Norfy's father seems to have an inexplicable aversion to magic and magicians. He doesn't know what's going on. Maybe he can ask William in the future.
As Norfy was lost in his thoughts, he became a little sleepy and leaned against the hard wooden carriage to enter the dreamland again.
In the pale dawn sky, the red furnace of the steam engine was burning, like a beating heart. The peculiar machinery moved slowly on the country roads of the magic empire, emitting rolling white smoke, giving off a unique charm.
