"...that's the first time I sent livestock to the manager, and...and then, I became a cowherd."

"Ah..." When I suddenly heard this answer, my son didn't know what to say to express his feelings.

Why did my father never protect himself when he was beaten by his cousins ​​when he was a child?

Why did my aunts never point out that they never paid back the wheat every time they came to borrow wheat?

Why did my father often lead the plowing ox to the fields of several uncles’ houses to weed and put fertilizer, but he never saw the uncles’ smiling faces?

At this moment, all the many questions accumulated over the years, the questions that my father was always unwilling to answer before, had answers.

"At that time... you didn't know how to walk, and your brother was just born..."

The father continued to tell, "Then...and...then...ever since I sent livestock to the manager and became a cowherd, I have only had two children for so many years, you and your brother."

"Your uncles, huh, and the people in the village all whispered that this was the punishment given to me by the master... But I always felt that this was the blessing given to me by the master! When you and your brother were away, I often told your mother how good it would be to have two children. When I get old, or... when I die like my father did back then..."

"No..."

"Dion, no one knows what will happen tomorrow. My father doesn't know, I don't know, you don't know..."

Raising his hand to stop his son's consolation, Alves continued, "Think about it, when I die, only you and your brother, you two can be separated. You can live together and be a cowherd together, and life can still be as good as it is now... Even if you have children in a few years, you will have more mouths to eat, and life may be a little harder, but you will definitely be able to live, at least... at least you will be much better than your uncles' house..."

"…so…so…so…so…” Speaking of this, Alves turned around unnaturally, blocked his son's view, quietly raised his elbow and wiped his eyes: "You two brothers, no one has to run to deliver livestock to the master in the middle of the night."

After saying this, Alves didn't say anything for a while, and Dean's eyes were red beside him.

"Dion, I didn't want to tell you these things...but now it's different. You and your brother have a new way out...Dion, would you let your brother live your uncle's house?"

"Of course I don't want to!" Dean replied without any hesitation.

"...Okay, I know you definitely don't want it... The manager said that as long as you go to Akeli to help, no matter how I do in the future, your brother will definitely be Froland's cowherd... The pastor also said that when Akelito comes, he thinks of a way. As long as you learn how to cure cows, you will definitely arrange a relaxing job for you when you come back... Even if you don't learn it, you will be a cowherd with your brother."

"Father, of course I want to learn the craftsmanship of cattle... But I was just a helper in the past, and no one was willing to teach the craftsmanship to the helper unless it was an apprentice..."

"Then you just think you are an apprentice!"

"Treat yourself as an apprentice..." In the hot summer, just thinking about this thought made Dean feel cold all over.

Apprentice!

How scary is it to be an apprentice?

Dean remembers clearly that the cooper in the village and the old widower Boris took two apprentices.

From the first day, the two apprentices have been living in the livestock shed. Even in the middle of winter, they can only ask people to ask for more handfuls of wheat straw everywhere, and then they hold the livestock and shiver.

In the middle of the night, I had to get up and serve the livestock at the cooper's house to eat grass and drink water. After serving the livestock, I didn't even have time to take a break, so I had to get into the dark forest. I picked up some firewood branches while listening to the call of the wild wolf. When I came back, I should make water and cook it. I could only get some leftover food when the cooper's house was full. The next thing was the work that was busy all day long. The moon rose to mid-air before I could go back to the cattle shed to rest.

I just got up early and went to bed late, busy with the commons, the coopers' homes, and occasionally the various tasks in my own homes. After three years, I could really start to learn some craftsmanship.

And for the past three years and in the future, the apprentices will not be able to offend the coopers directly. Even if they are slower when working on weekdays, they will definitely be covered in scars on their faces the next day.

Last prayer day, after the church preached, another father, holding his son, asked the villagers and the pastor to testify, impressed Dean and remembered it to this day:

"I, April/Arnold, this is my son, Cindy/Arnold. My family's harvest is not good, and I can't raise this son anymore. I am willing to let him go to the Plower Style and Duke/Eden's family to be an apprentice for four years. During these four years, all the work in the Plower Style and all the work in the field will be said by the Plower Style, and my son is not allowed to do it. When being an apprentice, the Plower Style let my son eat whatever he wants, and beat whatever he wants, without telling me. If my son quits or runs home, I will compensate the Plower Style for two bundles of wheat. When being an apprentice, if my son is sick or dead, it has nothing to do with the Plower Style. In the holy residence of the Lord, please remember and ask the minister for the witness."

"Don't worry, don't be so scared..."

As if he heard Dean’s thoughts, Alves comforted: “I’ve asked the pastor for inquiries. The whole family of Los/More has only served two or three oxen. I definitely don’t know how to take care of the large group of oxen. There are many places to rely on your help, and you have to learn how to build a real cowherd family from you. In addition, our pastor will also bring a message to the pastor of Akerry Village and ask him to take care of you. In this way, your life will not be very sad..."

"But even so, you must treat yourself as an apprentice in your heart. Follow Los/More's instructions in everything. You must remember it! Never take Los seriously because Los is still young! Do whatever you want to do and eat whatever you want to eat! Even if you hit you, you have to hold back! How painful it would be for a child to hit you..."

"...No, no! If he hits you, don't let him hit you! I'm not afraid of you, but I'm afraid of his hand hurting you!... Um... This way! If he wants to hit you, you should kneel down and rub your face against his wooden shoes and rub it hard! Until he is happy! Do you understand!"

When he said this, Alves' tone was extremely harsh.

Deen couldn't help but nodded vigorously: "Okay, father, I will definitely remember!"

"Hmm..." After looking up and down, Alves nodded with satisfaction: "I went to Akeli Village, do you know how to teach cowherds' craftsmanship?"

"I know, when I get there, I will teach Los/More immediately how to take care of the herd of cattle. Los/More will teach whatever he wants. If you know, tell him what tricks he wants, and don't hide it at all..."

"No, no, don't do this..." Alves shook his head slowly, "Unless Los/More wants to learn, you should be your helper honestly, and don't just come to Los with you if you're fine-

I also asked the pastor for inquiries. Loss has three brothers and will have their own children in the future - you, a cowherd helper from Florent Village, stay with the people who can cure cattle in Akerley Village all day long. What do you want to do? Do you want to become another cowherd in Akerley Village? Do you want to grab the job of the brothers of the Loss?"

"Then...what should I do?" Dean felt that his head was a little too short.

"It's easy to do. I want to learn the skills of Ross to cure cattle..." Alves unconsciously lowered his voice: "The way is to the brothers of the Loss family. When you get there, you should not come to Ross and teach his brothers to take care of livestock. When teaching, you must tell them that you will return to Florent Village soon, you will definitely come back to Florent Village, and you will definitely not steal their cowherd's place..."

"At that time, you can see which brother is less sensible, so I will secretly tell him a few more tips. If you do this a few more times, then ask that brother about how to cure cattle. Will he be embarrassed to tell you?"

"Oh..." Deen suddenly realized and looked at his father suspiciously. For the first time, he realized that his father, who looked stupid, had so many in his belly...what.

"Well... Actually..." The son's strange gaze made Alves a little embarrassed. "This is not the solution I thought of... This is the pastor of ours. I am worried that the pastor of Akerrie would not be happy with Los/More taught you how to cure cattle. I thought about it all night and only told me the next day."

"Oh..." Dean took it for granted.

No wonder my father wanted to do helpers so much, no wonder the cowherds in every village in Akford wanted to do helpers.

What the master wants, how can it be a good thing?

The pastor has to spend time to learn the skills, so how can you not learn it yourself?

"Also, besides you, I heard that there will be another village cowherds who will also help Los/More. At that time, he will eat a few more bites and do less work. Don't quarrel with others, don't cause trouble for Los's family. If the other cowherd is easy to deal with, you can also exchange tips for caring for animals with him. Anyway, it is different villages, and he will not be able to come to us as cowherds..."

"Also, the Los family has a sister and two little kids who are crawling around. Take care of them when you are free..."

"Also, tomorrow the sender will take you to Akerri's village, and you will listen to his instructions on the way..."

"besides……"

What I thought of, what the manager reminded, what the pastor suggested, and what my father told me one by one.

For the sake of children and for the future of the cowherd family.

Standing at the fork in the road not far from home, standing under the big tree where my father, myself, and the children had played, it seemed as if I had forgotten that the heavy summer service the next day had to continue. That night, my father said a lot.

Many, many.

———
Chapter completed!