You and me under the world tree

Because it used to be a frontline fortress town against the invasion of monsters, Rendal not only had watch towers one after another, but also had city walls.

Although it is not as tall and grand as Wangcheng, it can still play the most basic role.

"Watch towers, city walls, and fortresses." The butcher shop owner just sighed, "For our native Rendal residents, these are the pride of the past, so we have always maintained these facilities spontaneously, and the people stationed here The soldiers didn't completely let it go to waste, either."

"Yes, that's it. Under normal circumstances, shouldn't more people gather here?"

Because of the complete defense facilities, under the normal strategy, the surrounding villages should all be merged.

This will also help the fighters integrate their defenses.

Not to mention those grand masters who understand military strategy, even ordinary people understand this truth.

Perhaps their eyesight can't be compared with those of the grand masters who can look at the overall situation, point out the country on the map, and even fine-tune the front line by writing letters, but they at least understand the principle of "more people are more powerful".

"If there were more people in Rendal, we wouldn't even have to let the fields and pastures outside go to waste," said the owner of the butcher shop.

But soon, he smiled wryly.

At the same time, a look of loneliness flashed in his eyes.

"However, this kind of thing is impossible, young man, you really came at the wrong time, this town is already deserted."

"So why?"

"Because the defense line was invaded by monsters, in order to maintain the army's expenditure, His Majesty the Regent decided to increase the taxation of the territory. The taxation has become so high that many people can't afford it."

"..."

Upon hearing this, Howard did not speak.

This incident was obviously a helpless and painful thing for the elderly butcher shop owner, so he also lowered his head.

Because of this, the old shop owner didn't seem to notice that the young man in front of him turned his head and stared at the girl who had been standing by the side since before.

She just stood in the deserted street with her head down, and Hodder's calm gaze made her turn her head away.

"Because of avoiding the high taxes, some strong young people in the town have already started to move to other territories with their young children. The rest are old people like us."

"I see that you, the old shopkeeper, are also strong and strong. It must not be difficult to travel long distances, right?"

Hodder's vision is not bad after all.

Although the old shopkeeper was wearing loose clothes and an old apron, his tall and straight figure was obviously strong and powerful.

After all, he was born as a butcher, and he could open a shop at such a time, obviously he would not be a weak person.

At least he won't be someone who is powerless, and if he wants to leave, he can also leave with others.

"Who knows, after all, it's very difficult to leave these days. The monsters are running around outside, and it's hard to know how many people will be killed or injured along the way... What's more, I've lived here for almost half my life."

Having said that, the butcher shop owner reached out and touched the bone-chopping knife in front of him.

"Everything here has stayed with me for a long time, I have supported my family from this butcher shop, and my children have left with grandchildren, and I have nothing to worry about."

When he said this, he laughed.

"So let's just muddle along, old man, my wife is also buried here, so my old man's roots are also here."

This is the stubbornness of the older generation.

They have lived here all their lives, so they will never leave no matter what, because their souls are entrusted here.

That is the memory of their life...

They don't have the courage to start all over like young people, because this is everything to them.

"In short, young man, no matter what you and your little girlfriend are here for, leave as soon as you finish. After all, Rendal is really not a good place now."

"I know, old man."

Without refuting the old shopkeeper's words, Huo De just nodded calmly.

Immediately afterwards, he had an idea, and an idea couldn't help but pop up in his mind.

However, just before he wanted to put the thoughts in his mind into action, the old shopkeeper began to sigh again.

"To be honest, if King Dietmar is still alive, if His Royal Highness is willing to station at the border, how could such a thing happen."

Maybe it's because the old shopkeeper has put down his guard.

At this moment, he didn't even notice the emotion shown by the girl who was standing not far away when she heard his words.

It was embarrassing, helpless, intolerable.

When these emotions are mixed together, what constitutes is the complex emotion on her face.

And after glancing at her, Hodder didn't show any attitude.

At this moment, he just turned his head with a smile, and then said softly:

"Your news is outdated. It's Her Royal Highness Princess... The one who has been guarding Goth and suppressing foreign enemies with absolute power is Her Royal Highness Goth."

"Ah... just getting used to it."

In the end, the old shopkeeper just stretched out his hand and scratched his cheek.

"But to be honest, this new regent is really far worse than His Highness. I heard that he is... the younger brother of King Dietmar?"

For civilians living on the border, nobles and lords are rare and rare species.

Let alone His Majesty the King.

Just like this old shop owner, he has spent most of his life here, but he probably has never seen Dietrich who fought against Hungary on the eastern defense line.

This is the farthest distance that cannot be crossed by conventional means.

Chapter 35: The Happiness of the Ordinary

Originally, Hodder and Dietrich's primary goal should be to purchase the supplies needed in the depressed town of Rendal—because consumption and preservation are not a problem for them, so they naturally focus on purchasing meat.

But later, this kind of thing was simply left behind by them.

Hodder seemed to be indulging in the conversation, chatting with the butcher shop owner all the time.

The topic is basically inseparable from the small town of Rendal.

But when it comes to topics related to this small town, the old shop owner who has not reported his name until now seems to have been opened up.

And from it, Dietrich, who was silent, and Hodder, who was chatting, also learned about the owner's past.

There is nothing magnificent, but only a peaceful, simple but warm life.

"My family has been very poor since I was a child, and there is no way to change it. I have no chance to study on weekdays, let alone go outside, so when I grow up, I can only live in the surrounding farms. Work to supplement the family income.”

In this way, he didn't think about things including marriage at all, because in terms of the original situation, it seemed difficult for him to even subsidize his family, let alone other things.

"However, I still met the woman I love there. She is the daughter of the farmer. Among the workers, she is undoubtedly a beautiful scenery."

After hearing this, Hodder couldn't help raising his brows.

It had to be said that he was indeed a little interested at this time.

After all, he himself is quite gossipy, and still retains his interest in listening to stories.

Moreover, it may be because the reality itself is bad enough, so he still prefers to listen to those sweet stories.

It can be magnificent, ups and downs, and even experience all kinds of difficulties and dangers, but he personally likes the kind of story where lovers get married.

"So, did you fall in love at first sight?" he asked

When Hodder asked bluntly, although Dietrich didn't seem to care, her ears moved.

Then, she moved two steps slightly, getting a little closer.

The appearance of listening attentively but pretending not to care made Huo De take another look.

"It's not that easy."

Maybe it was because the topic about the past was brought up, the old shopkeeper just waved his hand casually.

He didn't notice the changes around him at all, he just sighed.

"I didn't think too much about it at the beginning. After all, she is the daughter of a farmer. For us low-level workers who can't even read and write, she is already unattainable."

But in other words, for those shepherds and milkers who work on the farm, it seems that as long as they climb up to the farmer's daughter, it is a matter of reaching the sky in one step.

So, is it that simple?

of course not……

"In fact, at the beginning, my wife had his own lovers. They seemed very loving, but later, he left the border town of Rendal and never came back. It is said that he settled in the royal city and married a local A merchant's daughter."

It is a very youthful story, but the old shopkeeper in front of him is obviously not the protagonist, he is just a bystander.

"It was this incident that made her sad for a long time, and it was at that time that she began to notice the people around her."

"Notice you?"

"It's not that easy."

Even in this case, there was no such thing as love at first sight.

"At that time, the daughter of the rancher was just looking for something to pass the time, so at that time, she started to help out on the ranch, and sometimes tried to teach the children to read and write, but in the end, she still felt It was too tiring to commute between the ranch and the town every day, so I simply gave up teaching the children in the town to read."

This is a very normal thing, not everyone has a strong love.

Being able to work tirelessly and go back and forth every day just to teach for free is something that only good people will do.

In fact, the kindness of most people is often only reflected in inadvertent little things.

"But she didn't give up, because in the end, she simply set her sights on the workers on the ranch. She began to teach us to read and write, taught us to read, started with the most basic storybooks, and began to teach us to read and sing. The writings of the poets."

In this way, the old shopkeeper remembers the past.

At first, there was a polite smile on his face, but gradually, that expression gradually relaxed.

"Later, because many people learned to read and write, they wanted to find a better job. After leaving, I stayed and started to manage the accounts for the ranch. It's not reliable to fall in love at first sight."

Although what the old shop owner said was very cryptic, Huo De understood it.

To put it bluntly, it was never love at first sight between the old shopkeeper and his dead wife, and it wasn't first love for her.

If I had to say it, it might just be the relationship I developed while working together.

"After marrying her, she began to gradually take over the work of the ranch, and I opened a butcher shop here, and later, the children went to various places, and my wife died." He said Exclaimed.

When people get old, there are not so many taboos about some things, and when they are spoken out, they are spoken out.

Moreover, for him now, the news of his wife's death may be a kind of pain, but whenever he thinks about the past, there will still be a happy smile on his face.

But later, he seemed to realize something, so he waved his hands helplessly.

"Sorry, sorry, are you here to buy meat? I, a bad old man, have delayed you for so long."

Although he said so.

But maybe it's because someone is willing to listen to his story, so he looks cheerful.

"What do you want? I can make it cheaper for you. It doesn't seem easy for you. You have suffered a lot all the way here?"

"?"

At this moment, Huo De always felt that the old shop owner had misunderstood something subtly.

However, he didn't refute too much, after all, some things are too much to say and wrong.

"It's okay, old man, we have heard an ordinary but beautiful story."

This is the happiness of ordinary people, but also a kind of helplessness.

"However... I have one thing to ask the old man." He said, "My partner and I still have some things to deal with, so I want to entrust this child to you temporarily... We will pay the corresponding price, In short, please take care of it for about three days."

"child……"

After seeing Huo De unloading the basket on his back, the old shopkeeper's eyes suddenly became subtle.

"partner?"

Then, he began to carefully look at the man in front of him.

However, because the magic of confusing cognition is still in effect, not only will he not remember the faces of Hodder and Dietrich, but he will even completely forget them in the near future.

But this did not prevent him from showing an ambiguous expression at this moment.

"Tsk tsk, you are really brave... Although I don't know what you are doing in this turbulent place, you must have your own reasons." He said, "I will help take care of your children first, and I am boring as an old man anyway. "