It's a day in mid-May.
Just after dawn, Pierre went down to the ground with his hoe.
It had been a while since he returned home. He refused to let his mother and sister do the farm work in the fields, and took over all the farm work.
Wolf Town is remote and isolated, and the wars between the big shots are like the fragments of words sent back from a distant foreign country.
The Second Republic, the military government, the battle of the kings' castles... People here can only hear bits and pieces of news, and it is difficult to distinguish the true from the false.
For farmers who live a boring life, a little bit of new news can make them gather together and discuss it for a long time, let alone big things like war.
But Pierre didn't care about the life or death of the big shots, he just wanted to farm and eat.
"We won't be able to grow tobacco this year." Pierre thought as he was hoeing the grass. "Fortunately, dad left some winter wheat fields. If we plant some other things on the side, we should be able to cope with it this year. I'll cut some grass in the afternoon. , Scarlett won’t have to herd the cows and horses anymore.”
Compared with riding a horse and dancing with a sword, hoeing is an unfamiliar job for Pierre.
The old callus on the handle of the knife cannot protect his hand, but fortunately new calluses will grow slowly.
Row after row, Pierre carefully and patiently weeded away the weeds.
When he first started doing farm work, he often hoeed down the vegetable seedlings.
The former Master Mitchell might have been indifferent, but now Mr. Mitchell is extremely distressed.
Because these vegetables were grown by his mother's own hands, each one bears the sweat and wounds of Ellen Mitchell's hands.
There were no hired hands at Mitchell Manor, and the men either ran away or were captured.
The Mitchell family is sparsely populated, with only his mother, sister and a few maids, both old and young, remaining at home. One old woman even needs someone to take care of her.
Ellen tied up her hair and rolled up her sleeves. In addition to housework, she also took on the work in the fields.
Nobility does not lie in how exquisite your life is when you are rich, but in how tenacious your spine is when you are in hardship.
Farmers from nearby villages also came to help, sometimes bringing a bundle of hay, sometimes a bushel of wheat, and some came quietly to plow several acres of land.
Girard and Ellen had helped them without asking for anything in return, but the Mitchell Manor in the past lacked nothing, so they silently remembered it in their hearts.
Ellen opened a vegetable garden, raised chickens, sheep, and cows; she hid Gerald's precious horses so that they were not discovered by the grain collection team.
Relying on her own hard work and the help of her neighbors, Ellen managed the Mitchell Manor well.
The chattel tax collected by Gévaudin had been paid with Scarlett's dowry a few days ago.
Pierre was working and calculating: “The family now has a vegetable garden, a cow with a calf, four goats and six hens.
The winter wheat planted last fall can be harvested as early as the end of this month, so we won't have to worry about food for the time being.
After the winter wheat is harvested, cattle and horses can be put into the wheat field to fatten, and then barley can be planted.
There are also four horses at home. A war horse I brought back, three broodmares from my father, one of which is already pregnant with a foal.
By next year, we will have five horses! "
Although the Mitchell Manor was severely damaged, it did not fall. It was still a wealthy and prosperous family.
When things get better, the manor will come back to life again.
"I want to buy a hand-operated millstone to grind flour. I also need to buy two more piglets! Feed the pigs with grass every day so that we can have meat to eat in the winter."
Pierre wiped the sweat from his forehead and thought passionately: "Two horses are enough to drag the heavy plow. When the land at home is finished, I will go to help the villagers. Those villagers who have helped my mother, I will repay you." Yes. I will also save up Scarlett’s dowry. I want to live and never let mother and Scarlett starve. When dad comes back, I’m sure to surprise him.”
Farm work was hard, but Pierre was young and strong, and he was not afraid of anything.
The only thing that gave Pierre a headache was his father's four hounds.
He had no time to hunt and no extra food to feed the dogs.
The hounds had to catch field mice and rabbits by themselves, almost becoming wild dogs.
"It would be nice if Brother Montagne was here." After becoming a deserter, Pierre no longer used the military title.
Thinking that he did not fight side by side with the blood wolf at the last moment of his life, Pierre felt like a big stone was pressing on his chest.
"Brother Montagne! I will live well!" Pierre shouted into the wilderness, thinking with a sore nose: "You will also praise me, right?"
The sound of horse hooves could be heard in the field.
Someone heard his cry and ran towards him.
"Pierre!" the visitor shouted out of breath.
Visitors came to Mitchell Manor, which was a rare occurrence.
Pierre walked out of the vegetable ridge and saw the two riding Ryzhik bareback. Angelou was in front, Samkin behind.
The two of them stopped their horses until they reached Pierre.
Angelou turned over and dismounted, and hurriedly grabbed Pierre's arm: "It's not good!"
"Don't worry." Pierre handed the kettle to Angelou: "Speak slowly."
Angelou took a big sip and shouted: "An officer came to the town, and he also brought soldiers. Samkin saw it. The officer entered Da Benting's house!"
…
Ben Ting is the eldest son of Mr. Ben Ting.
Last year when they were delivering goods to Gevaudan, Bentin and his son broke away from the convoy and wanted to get back to Wolftown first.
As a result, he was intercepted by a group of bandits named "Ivan Horseshoe" on the way. Old Benting died and his eldest son was tortured to the point of being left half disabled.
As soon as the elder Ben Ting died, his three sons divided their families, and his family's land became smaller and more scattered.
Because of the distribution of family property, the three brothers of the Benting family had a quarrel, which was very unpleasant.
Now, the people of Wolf Town call them Big Benting, Second Benting and Little Benting.
After Girard Mitchell was recruited, Big Benteen became acting mayor.
His appointment as acting mayor came in disgrace.
When news spread that the men were being recruited from above, the hired workers planned to hide. They have no permanent birth and can go anywhere if their feet grow on their bodies.
Da Benting summoned all the employees at home and said he was going to give him a farewell banquet.
It was a rare occasion for the stingy boss to be generous. The employees did not doubt his presence and happily ate and drank.
When everyone was almost drunk, Ben Ting opened the door - the men from the recruiting team were waiting outside.
After this incident passed, Ben Ting became the acting mayor of Wolf Town.
He does bad things, as if he wants to take revenge on all the people of Wolf Town.
Villagers from various villages were growing vegetables in the wasteland in the corner, and he demanded payment of land fees and taxes.
He did not recognize any of the public injury pension system established by Montagne's town official.
Life for the survivors of public injuries has become very difficult. Their families have lost their labor force and have to pay back taxes and land payments over the years.
The widow of a militiaman killed in a wolf disaster was driven to desperation and almost committed suicide with her babbling daughter.
It was Ellen who brought the mother and daughter to the Mitchell Manor and paid for their taxes, which prevented the tragedy.
But the more respected the Mitchells were, the more Bendine made things difficult for them.
When the chattel tax was levied, Big Benteen deliberately priced the land in Mitchell Manor at a high price.
In desperation, Ellen and Pierre used Scarlett's dowry money.
Scarlett was very sensible and showed no reluctance, which made Pierre even more distressed.
Dragging his tired body into bed every night and looking at the saber hanging on the wall, Pierre considered more than once whether to "talk" to Big Bendine.
But he held back. He still had his mother, sister, and Mitchell Manor, so he couldn't be impulsive.
Nowadays, when people in Wolf Town mention Big Benting, they all gnash their teeth.
Ben Ting also knew this, and he was also afraid of being shot in the dark.
I don't know what means he used, but Gévaudan sent eight soldiers for him to command.
With a group of fierce soldiers as his support, Ben Ting became more and more careless in his actions.
Those eight soldiers were also sneaking around and teasing women on weekdays. They were full of adultery and disturbed the peace in the town.
Fortunately now, Pierre did not go to talk to Big Benting, who came to him first.
…
"What do they want to do?" Pierre's eyebrows knitted together: "Do you know?"
Samujin was the first to take the lead: "It seems that they want to capture the young men again! They came with the recruitment order and the yoke. They may also come to capture us."
"Gou'er! Go and inform everyone." Pierre made a quick decision. This was definitely not a family matter.
Angelou nodded heavily, jumped on the horse and headed towards Dussa Village.
The deserters reunited at Mitchell House. Not only Dusak, but also people from the other four villages.
Old Christians, Protestants, everyone who could come came.
When everyone escaped, they each took away a horse, so they moved quickly.
"Run away now! Run away now!" Angelou shouted anxiously.
Vashika glared at him: "You're single, so it's easy to leave! We still have a family!"
…
Big Benting, the acting mayor and acting resident officer of Wolf Town, removed Angelou from his position as a guard and gave it to his stupid son.
The horses in Dusak Village were also gone, because the war horses were ridden away by the Dusaks.
The ponyboy Angelou became helpless again.
He doesn't know how to farm, and he doesn't want to live off the Mitchell family's income.
So Angelou rode Red Mane around nearby villages and towns, earning a living by treating large animals.
…
Angelou asked back: "What if you don't leave? Either arrest the men! Or catch the deserters. Do you think you can escape?"
"Catch the deserters, and I'll hide on the other side of the Bighorn River. If I insist on not going - isn't that the end?"
"They'll drag you there!"
"Tell them to try it. I'm not the calf they put on the reins."
Pierre sighed: "Let alone catching deserters, I won't even catch strong men. They killed Winters Montagne, and I won't sacrifice my life for them. You still want to sacrifice your life for them?" We have to go, the key is where to go.”
"Don't worry about so many things. If you are forced to do so, you will have to find a crack in the ground and crawl into it."
"Dang-dang-dang-dang!" Suddenly a bell sounded faintly.
The big church bell in Wolftown rang.
The bell rushed down the bell tower, spread across the square, rolled across the green wilderness and black farmland, hit the trees, broke into small pieces, and disappeared.
Then there is a continuous ringing of panic: "When... when..."
"Did you hear that?" Angelou's eyes widened: "This is a reminder!"
Pierre made up his mind: "Then let's go! If you want to go, follow me. If you don't want to go, stay."
"Let's go!" Angelou jumped excitedly.
Vashika said with difficulty: "We will walk out side by side through blood and fire. If you leave, I will leave too."
After agreeing on a gathering place and time, the deserters dispersed and went home to prepare dry food and other things.
Pierre found his mother, only to find that her mother and sister had prepared dry food, clothes and boots for him.
"Let's go, child." Ellen kissed her son's forehead gently, took off the holy symbol and hung it around his neck: "We can take care of ourselves."
Scarlett also said softly: "You go, brother, I will hide the cows and horses well so that they will not find them. When you come back, we will have a foal."
…
The deserters from Wolf Town gathered again and fled their hometown.
The soldiers who came to catch them missed, and only then did Big Benting and the officer realize that they had escaped.
At dusk, the officer and six cavalry set out from Wolf Town and followed the footsteps of the deserters to catch up.
Night fog rolled over the wasteland, swirled in the valleys, and licked the depressions and cliffs.
The mounds filled with clouds and mist seemed much brighter, and the birds were chirping in the tender grass.
The moon moved like a blooming water lily in the puddles thick with reeds and hazelnuts.
"They can't run far!" The officer turned around and urged his men: "Hurry! Hurry!"
Suddenly, a snagging rope rose up from the middle of the road.
The officer's horse tripped on the rope and fell forward suddenly, throwing the rider on its back violently.
The officer fell to pieces and rolled three or four times in the dirt before he stopped.
The other three cavalrymen who did not react in time were also knocked down. Only the three cavalrymen at the back managed to rein in their horses dangerously.
A dozen figures jumped out of the long grass on both sides of the dirt road.
They didn't shout for kill or speak, and silently subdued the four people who fell to the ground.
The other three cavalrymen were pulled off their horses before they could even draw their swords.
The saber was placed on their necks, preventing them from making any move.
The officer's shoulders were slumped, obviously broken.
He originally thought they were just a group of frightened deserters, but he never expected that the other party would dare to fight back.
The officer was extremely calm and tried to persuade the deserters: "You can stop now before it's too late. If I die, your whole family will be implicated. I will put in a good word for you."
Another sergeant was yelling angrily: "You bastards! What a courageous bitch!"
The deserter in the darkness remained silent.
In the deserted wilderness, only the trembling voices of the officers and the angry curses of the sergeants could be heard.
"Did anyone run away?" Pierre asked.
"No." Vashika confirmed.
"Drag it into the woods." Pierre's tone sounded like he was drinking water: "Don't leave any blood stains on the road."
The officer realized what these deserters were going to do. He struggled desperately and became emotionally out of control: "Aren't you afraid that your whole family will sit together? I guarantee your safety! Don't! Don't kill me! I'm..."
Vashika turned the handle of the knife upside down and hit the officer in the face hard, causing the officer to become mute.
Samu Jin followed suit, and the sergeant immediately became silent.
The pursuers were horrified to find that a hole had been dug in the woods beside the road.
"Bury it directly?" Vashika asked.
"No, give it a try," answered Pierre.
Vashika raised his hand and wiped the officer's neck. He was very careful not to let a drop of blood fall outside the pit.
Then there's Sgt.
Then there are others.
One of the cavalrymen was so frightened that he peed his pants and begged: "I am also Dusak, don't kill me."
"I am also Dussac." Pierre asked expressionlessly: "Aren't you here to kill me too? I just want to farm and eat."
The bodies of the seven pursuers were lowered into the pit.
The deserters filled back the soil, carefully spread the turf back into place, and piled up dead branches and leaves like elsewhere.
The place will soon be revitalized, and the plants will grow more vigorously due to the moisture of the fertilizer. Birds will sing here and mice will make their nests here.
"What about the implication he mentioned?" Vashika asked.
"If you don't see people alive, and you don't see dead bodies, they will only be considered missing." Pierre ordered: "Clean the traces on the road and lead the horse's hoof prints away."
Angelou came over and said regretfully: "Those four horses are useless and can only eat meat. The other three can still be used."
"Take them with you." Pierre waved, "Let's go."
The woods were quiet, as if no one had ever been there.
Angelou's sad voice could only be vaguely heard: "What a pity for those four horses."
