The rainy weather enveloped Roseburg. A long and thorough rain spread over a wide area. While soaking the earth, it also brought a lot of inconvenience.
Fortunately, the tribe's first blast furnace, which made the contribution, was temporarily shut down due to exhaustion of raw materials. The wooden shed that covered it was quickly rebuilt, and the weatherboard made of wooden boards greatly protected it from being eroded by wind and rain.
The rain made the grass grow even more wildly, and the cool wind not only caused the temperature to drop sharply, but also really dampened the Russian people's enthusiasm for fishing.
The wind and waves in the sea are really strong, and any fishermen who have tried it know that the herring that are rich in such weather take refuge in the deep sea in large numbers. Of course, fishermen still have the opportunity to catch cod, but the risks are really deadly.
For a time, there was an obstacle to the food supply of the entire Ross tribe.
So what can be done?
The tribesmen only stock up on food when winter is approaching. In August, no one is willing to stock up on food. Far from being lazy on their part, the biggest obstacle is that people rely heavily on salt to keep their catch fresh during the warmer months.
There is no oats grown in the area of Rossburg. It has only been in the past two years that the tribesmen have been able to obtain a large amount of oats to eat at a relatively low cost.
Even Rurik had to consider the tribe's food supply problem again.
This is obviously a commonplace problem, but Roseburg itself does not produce grains. Grains such as oats only need to be provided with a dry environment and there will be no problem in storing them for two to three years.
Storing catches is really a technical job.
Maybe it will be canned or even packaged in glass bottles, and its storage time will be extended to several years. Or bake it vigorously until it becomes a "dry stick", just like smoked bonito that you can't even chew with your teeth.
"I only have some smoked fish as dry food. I had the means to eat all kinds of food during the winter, but now I can only sigh while looking at the heavy rain?!"
Something that made Rurik uneasy was that the rainy weather had been going on for a week and it showed no sign of stopping.
The whole world was cold, and Rurik could only stay at home with his family, burning some charcoal in the fireplace to try to keep his home dry and warm.
Roseburg became muddy, the cold wind whipped the sea, and the waves crashed on the sea.
The leader's family had a hard time due to the rain, and the ordinary family could only endure in the cold.
Only some families have truly received Rurik's blessings, and their living conditions have improved significantly.
A large number of families have at best added a few odd little items to their lives. However, during difficult times, such as a glass that the husband of the family spent a huge sum of money to buy mainly for showing off, has really become useless now.
Only when their stomach growled and they opened the door to face the turbulent waves again, did the family remember that with the money they finally got from defeating the enemy, they should have bought more food and stored it to deal with the current troubles.
Rurik knows that the majority of his tribe is suffering, so what can he do?
According to the experience in normal years, it is mid-August, when merchants from the south are expected to row their boats north to Roseburg to sell their goods.
The two main ways for the Russians to obtain grain were from Sorgon and the other from southern merchants.
According to the current situation, the sea waves are rough, and the merchants will never dare to let their clumsy cargo ships go through the big waves. Besides, the climate this year is indeed very abnormal. Not to mention the long rain, the sea ice only started to loosen at the end of April. At that time, people estimated that this year would be abnormal.
The team of the big leader and Sorgon are still far away, and the news from the messenger is that they will definitely return during the Novgorod grain harvest.
Food and vegetables from the south should be the first to enter Roseburg. Faced with the waves, people gave up the idea of seeing the merchant fleet at the end of August.
Everyone's most urgent hope is that the damn rain will stop, so that the moldy skin and clothes can see the sun.
If there was anything that made Rurik happy in the rainy weather, it was the birth of a child.
It was a boring afternoon. Rurik stayed at home with nothing to do. Facing the bonfire, he was forced to nestle in the arms of his biological mother Niya. Like a kitten, his head and golden ponytail were ignored by his mother. Stop stroking.
In addition, the Carlotta sisters and the Kovin girl Sepolava got together and played some stone-throwing games. Their joyful laughter made boredom more fun.
In the whole family, perhaps Rumia is the most hard-working person.
The tidy High Priest Vilia, her body was like a candle that could be extinguished at any time. She was using her last experience to order Rumia with stringent requirements to send all the items stored in the longhouse of the priest to the runes. I can memorize all the carved incantations, and I will also be asked questions afterward.
That was not just about Rumia, but also about the little Coven girl named Lumi.
The rain didn't seem to interfere with Rumia's study. She studied hard just to fulfill one promise - to be the new high priest and a good servant of Rurik.
There was a fierce sound of treading water outside, and an old man with a beard was stopped by two mercenaries who were ordered to stand guard under the eaves.
The person who came was none other than Klavason.
"Sir, the blacksmith is here."
The mercenary shouted, which instantly cheered up Rurik who was about to fall asleep. He broke away from his mother's arms and looked at the closed wooden door.
"It's the blacksmith?!"
"It's me! Klavathan."
Just from this voice, Rurik could hear the happy mood of an old guy, as if he had closed his eyes. Yes, good news should be coming to the Klavasen family in the near future.
"Open the door."
After giving an order, the loyal mercenary opened the wooden door.
Just when Klavason was about to step on the floor of the leader's house with his leather boots, he was caught by the mercenaries again.
Still, when he really stood in front of Rurik, his feet were bare, and water droplets dripped from his wet leather clothes from time to time.
"Do you have something important? Is it about iron?" Rurik actually asked knowingly.
Klavasen said with a smile on his face: "Sir, it's Lilia, her big day has finally arrived."
"It's now?!"
"Exactly now." Klavasen put on a smile that made his wet beard fluffy again. "I'm here now to tell you this. I hope you can stay by Lilia's side when the child is born. If possible, maybe the priest..."
For a moment, Rurik recalled a very familiar picture.
"You want me to be a witness? You want the priest to pray for her, and you want me to pray for her?"
"Yes. I'm afraid this is a very presumptuous request. I very much hope..."
"You don't have to say anything. I will go immediately. Not only will I go back, but my family should also go." Rurik's decisiveness was so moved that Klavasen knelt down on one knee. He imitated the image of a warrior and expressed his gratitude to the future great leader. Salute to the chief.
It was just this courtesy that made Rurik feel that Klavasen had become a stranger.
"Get up."
"As commanded."
Rurik fluttered his clothes and wanted to follow Klavasen out, but unexpectedly he was grabbed by his mother Niya.
"My dear, do you have to go?" Niya's eyes clearly told her that going out this time was optional.
"Mom, you want to stop me?"
"I...oh, you have your own ideas, and I won't stop you. It's just that the girl is the blacksmith's wife, and you are obviously the leader of the tribe."
Niya said this bluntly, even though Klavasen was still standing here.
Klavasen's wrinkled brows turned into cracks. He did not dare to refute anything, because in the entire tribe, the woman with the second most powerful voice was Otto's wife Niya. A once young and beautiful woman has now become an old woman full of wrinkles. Time has changed many things, and the girl has also become arrogant.
"Mom, are you..." Rurik noticed the coldness of the atmosphere.
"Is it worth it?" Niya said with determination, "I would rather you stay in a warm home."
"I'd better go."
"Why?! After all, Lilia is a woman from the blacksmith's family. I know you will say that she is that Svetalana's sister, but has the contract break chosen by your father for you been recognized by the priest? You are still so young , like a newly born fawn that needs to be cared for.”
For a moment, Rurik was speechless. He was quiet for a while and then asked: "Mom, do you always treat Lilia like this? I thought you treated the women of Novgorod..."
"Have you become fond of them? After all, Peravina gave birth to a son to your cousin. She is considered a woman in our family. As for the other things, it seems like forget it now! Who knew that your father was still here? Novgorod, are you fooling around with beautiful local women? If you are smart, maybe you should think carefully about whether your father will give you several brothers."
How could she say such vulgar words?
Rurik thought for a while and quickly guessed the reason.
For Niya, who she is now is everything in her life! The husband took a group of tribesmen to a distant place. The husband could have returned, but he found an excuse to stop it.
What on earth was Niya thinking? When I think of Peravina, Lilia, and other married women from Novgorod, and even the ten maids from my son's side, they all have beautiful faces. What kind of beauty is that? The legs are longer but the strength is not small. She has the ability to do farm work and housework. After all, she is a woman who grew up eating wheat. They are naturally more delicate. This is the result of many bites of fish to develop strong jaw muscles and a smoother face. The square and square native Ross woman cannot compare.
It must be the instinct of any man to pursue beautiful girls.
Of course, in Roseburg's view, as long as a good man is capable, it doesn't matter how many women he marries. Niya could not deny that she was getting older, but her husband, who was in his fifties, still had great ambitions.
Niya cannot prevent her husband from betraying her. Even if he does have an affair with another woman, she must endure it. If it's just your own problem, it doesn't matter. The crux of the problem now is that if Rurik has an extra half-brother, wouldn't it threaten Rurik's power? Even though Otto has already said that he would not do such a thing, he is a man.
She couldn't help but think about it. She was really jealous of the beauty of those young Novgorod women.
She didn't want to say anything more about what was in her heart. Looking at her son's eyes, she estimated that Rurik could guess some of her true meaning.
What did Rurik think? He thought Niya was going through menopause and was starting to become suspicious. As for her prejudice against Novgorod women, Rurik had nothing to say.
After all, if the high priest Vilia hadn't given the deer herder girl Rumia a noble status, Niya's discrimination against her would have continued.
Rurik said bluntly: "Mom, I have to be a witness. I named the child who is about to be born. Lilia is my relative, I have a reason to go."
"You! Okay, okay."
Niya curled her lips and became quiet, and finally called Rurik to leave the room after he had changed his clothes.
"Mom, they left." Carlotta asked weakly.
Niya couldn't find anyone to express her inner cry to. A sweet call of "Mom" made her feel strong warmth in her loss.
"Carlotta." Niya's face returned to smile.
"Um?"
"Come here, into my arms."
Just like that, Carlotta, who also had blond hair, snuggled into her adoptive mother's arms like a kitten, still the same as before. This beautiful blond hair was gently stroked by Niya, as if this could eliminate all boredom.
"Oh, the leader of the Ross tribe has run away now. You, the leader of the Ostara tribe, my daughter, you will never leave me."
Immersed in a strong sense of happiness, Carlotta's closed eyes tightly locked in tears, and the family love she longed for returned.
Elsewhere, Rurik was riding on the shoulders of a mercenary so that his beautiful boots wouldn't get any mud on them. In fact, the Klavason family is not so particular. Even if they live in a wooden house, the whole family follows Lilia's request and keeps the bedroom as clean as possible.
Klavason was a little surprised by Rurik's meticulousness and the fact that the mercenary had become a servile deer.
Rurik was wrapped in a piece of leather, which was well insulated from the rain. He came to Klavasen's house, and soon after he entered the door, he heard a woman's painful howl.
"Difficult childbirth?!" A terrible thought came to Rurik's mind, and he exclaimed casually.
At this moment, Klavasen frowned: "Sir, she is indeed in a bit of trouble. I am a man, how can I understand? My wife said that Lilia is in a bit of trouble now, maybe she needs a prayer."
"Damn it. Damn dystocia!" Little Rurik frowned deeply. He was afraid that something might happen to Lilia.
For a long time, women in Roseburg have often suffered tragedies in which one or two people died due to difficult childbirth. In the past two years, although there were reports of suspected dystocia among the married Novgorod women, they all gave birth successfully. Some people say this is God's favor, and some pragmatists believe that simply those women are in good health.
In terms of health, isn’t Lilia healthier?
Rurik heard the sound and broke into the bedroom, and saw Lilia with sweat on her face, and her husband Kawi who was waiting anxiously.
The Klavason family is not that particular. As the husband, Kawei not only cannot avoid her, but also has to stay by his wife's side at all times to provide her with spiritual comfort.
Lyrica, who was in pain, felt as if her savior had arrived when she saw Rurik, and she forced a smile.
"Lilia, you..."
Rurik walked over in a hurry. As soon as he sat down, his arm was tightly grasped by Lilia's right arm. "Rurik, I'm in pain. I beg you, pray for me."
"this……"
"Please, maybe I'm going to die! Ah!" The strong contraction pain forced Lilia to scream suddenly, which frightened the mother-in-law who delivered the baby and didn't know what was happening.
"I...Rumia will be here soon. Maybe she is more suitable."
"I beg you!" Lilia used her strength to squeeze out her desire from the gap between her teeth, "Is this a test from your god to me? Rurik, I beg you to pray to God, Let me end the pain now and let the child be born safely."
Rurik was panicking, fearing that Lilia would faint in pain, so he knelt beside her and clasped his hands together as if praying. After a while, Rumia finally arrived. She stepped into the bedroom barefoot and saw the owner's strange behavior at first sight.
After a while, Rumia also joined the prayer team. What was completely different from Rurik's pretentiousness was that Rumia recited the prayers vividly, which made the whole room feel more solemn.
Maybe if Lilia waited for another two years, she could avoid this crime. In Rurik's view, Lilia, who was pampered in her hometown, was still too early to become a mother.
However, Rurik made a small mistake.
The crux of the problem was not that Lilia was too young at all. After a whole day of tossing, just when Lilia was almost exhausted, the cry of the baby finally turned the tense atmosphere into a carnival of welcoming new life.
The moment she looked at her grandson, Lilia's mother-in-law finally saw the problem: "Ah! This child is too big! Oh! It is indeed a boy. Oh! What a strong boy, he is the best blacksmith !”
"A giant baby?!" Rurik immediately came over and looked at the crying baby. He was really quite big.
Lilia's pain disappeared instantly. Seeing her mother-in-law holding her son, she felt a strong maternal instinct to snatch him away from her arms and strive to take pictures of her weak body.
At this moment, Kawei sat down and gently supported his wife.
The child's umbilical cord was quickly cut, he was scrubbed clean with the hot water prepared, then wrapped in a piece of sheepskin that had been sterilized by boiling water, and delivered to the mother's arms.
All the pain turned into instant joy, Lilia hugged the child: "His name is Kuzneslav, that's the name."
"I understand." Kawei nodded deeply: "I will call him Kudya, and give him a Novgorod-style name. I don't care."
The matter finally came to a perfect end, and the Klavason family recognized that Lilia's mother and child were safe because of Rurik and Rumia's prayers.
Rurik didn't want to say much about this. They were willing to flatter them, and there was nothing wrong with them taking advantage of the situation to put gold on their faces.
But the newly born Kuzneslav was a giant baby. He was so big because Lilia still maintained a very good quality of life after marrying into Roseburg. No, not long after the child was born, breastfeeding began.
Maybe this child is really an auspicious person. On the first day after his birth, the continuous rainy weather finally showed a sign of improvement.
The rain lightened up and almost stopped by the evening.
By the evening of the third day, the haze gradually dissipated and the sea calmed down. A large number of dormant fishing boats rushed to the sea like crazy to resume fishing, while magnificent fire clouds appeared in the west. Experienced fishermen believed that in the future, No more long spells of rain.
