"Hey, Qiao, not planning to grab a drink today?" Qiao asked as he queued to collect his daily shilling after work. He carefully tucked it into a hidden pocket sewn into his undergarments, ensuring it was secure before turning to his friend with a shy smile. "Can't make it. Got stuff to do today."
"Joe's always got something going on!" The young men nearby began teasing him with laughter and loud whistles, joking about how beautiful the woman at home must be that he hadn't even had time for a single pint of beer in over a month.
In just over a month, this place had already changed completely.
The summer heat still hung heavy, but the mountain breeze rustled through the trees. The estate halfway up the hillside was taking shape—according to the overseer, it would likely take another half year before the main structures were completed.
But this was a blessing, especially for the laborers. It meant they would have steady work for years to come.
This vacation estate was said to be commissioned by the Black Duke. The workers, of course, had no idea what the final design would look like, but just from the blueprints alone, they could tell this estate, covering most of the mountain, would be magnificent and beautiful.
Best of all, rumors spread that the Dark Duke had arrived on this continent with several ships laden with gold coins and jewels. He truly was an exceptionally generous noble. Not only did he offer high wages paid daily without fail, but the bread served at noon each day was particularly hearty. With full bellies and money in their pockets, this place—once visited only by birds—suddenly began to thrive before their very eyes.
Of course, this prosperity was relative to what had been here before—after all, it meant little more than a tavern built from wooden shacks, women inside wearing cotton undergarments and corsets, and small merchants trekking over the mountains to sell bread... It certainly couldn't compare to the comfort and bustle of the port, let alone the opulent grandeur of the castle still under construction.
But for the mountain folk who lived here, it gradually began to feel safe and convenient.
Qiao wasn't trying to pull a fast one on these friends he'd grown close to. He had indeed made excuses before, but today he genuinely had business to attend to.
Qiao took a deep breath. After over a month of work, he had saved forty shillings. It could have been more, but when he first received the money, businessmen who had heard of his earnings came looking for deals. Qiao quickly bought bread, salt, and sugar. It was thanks to this that Tuya's once worryingly pale and gaunt complexion had slowly begun to improve.
Still, for a pregnant woman, Tuya remained far too thin.
Thinking of Tuya waiting for him in the cave, Qiao couldn't help but quicken his pace.
He descended the mountainside, heading in a different direction from his usual route home. Pushing past the vendors peddling food and sundries nearby, Joe made his way down the slope. At the foot of the mountain, he spotted a middle-aged man wearing a slightly worn hat. Spotting Joe, the man called out cheerfully, "Joe, I've been waiting for you for a while!"
"Sorry, work finished later today!" Qiao apologized quickly, urging Old John to hurry. Knowing his impatience, Old John smiled and said, "No worries, I've already made arrangements. You've really been through a lot..."
With that, Old John gave Joe a friendly pat on the shoulder. Joe smiled gratefully, his steps hurried as they made their way down to the valley, where people were beginning to settle in clusters.
Qiao was headed for the original settlement of the displaced people who had banded together. This area differed from the more distant settlements halfway up the mountain. The distant group consisted mostly of mountain dwellers living in simple, haphazardly built huts. The place Joe was heading to, however, was said to be a planned settlement. The displaced people there lived in groups and were somewhat better off than the mountain folk. Though the houses were low and dilapidated, they were at least properly constructed with stone and wood, offering far better shelter from wind and rain than the makeshift huts.
Qiao's concerns extended beyond this. Primarily, this area had taken on the shape of a small village. During the day, while he worked, Tuya, a pregnant woman, would be left alone in their hut. Qiao simply couldn't bear to leave her there.
Leaving her alone in a thatched hut without a proper door or sturdy walls... Qiao had seen the worst this world had to offer and refused to take even the slightest risk.
So while other mountain folk spent their money on drink and food, Qiao and Tuya scrimped and saved. Today, finally, Qiao seized his chance.
This chance had been mentioned by the initial official in charge: before the Black Duke's estate was fully built, the area below the planned estate—the future garden residential zone—was designated a free zone. Here, the original vagrants and mountain dwellers could build homes, but only on land already planned and in use. Any other plots not yet occupied or cultivated by vagrants would be divided or sold after unified planning.
The mountain folk and displaced people paid little heed to this stipulation. The continent was rich with surplus land. In truth, learning that knights would patrol this area, bringing it under the Black Duke's jurisdiction, was enough to send everyone into rapturous joy! After all, everyone yearned for a good night's sleep, proper rest, and the safety to pass through the night without fear of bandits robbing or murdering them.
Qiao had hesitated for a long time, but thinking of Tuya, he gritted his teeth and decided to take the hit—he desperately needed a safe place, which would also be crucial for Tuya's mental state.
In the end, Qiao brought all his possessions to the village and found the house Old John had described.
The house was extremely simple, mostly wooden construction. But thankfully, the area was full of large trees, so once built, it looked quite nice. Though small, it was lined with straw inside. Still, Qiao was already very satisfied.
It was infinitely better than the cave. At least it was dry and warm. Outside the house was open land where he could grow vegetables. Neighbors surrounded him, so he could ask for help if needed and wouldn't have to fear wild beasts.
"I really like this place, Old John. Thank you," Joe said gratefully after a quick look around. Old John blushed, however, and replied sheepishly, "This house is very old. Honestly, selling it to you was a steal for me..."
"No, you're the one who helped me!" Joe cut Old John off. Old John was a man who'd suffered his share of misfortune. Though naturally robust, he'd been gravely wounded during the battle between the displaced people and those murderous bandits. He'd narrowly escaped death, but his health had never fully recovered. While he managed through the summer, winter brought frequent bouts of coughing. The man who'd once wielded a scythe and fought fiercely was now so frail he couldn't even lift a bucket.
Because of this, everyone helped his family more, but it still wasn't the same as when he was healthy. Especially now, most able-bodied men in the village had gone to work in the mountains, and even the sturdier women had gone up too. Old John wasn't actually that old, but his strength couldn't keep up. He had no sons, only two daughters. Seeing his eldest daughter about to marry the boy she loved, Old John couldn't even afford a new outfit for her. Just as he was sinking into despair, he happened to meet Joe, who was asking around.
When Joe asked about this on the construction site, the displaced people tended to stick together, and someone immediately thought of Old John. Old John was in urgent need of money, and back in his youth, when his second daughter was born, he had built a new house. The old house was often used to store food in separate locations, a necessary precaution against looting.
Now that patrols were in place, those reckless thieves would think twice. And since Joe was a steady sort, someone put them in touch. Now Joe and Old John had struck a deal, and the two walked out of the village together, smiling.
They hadn't gone far when they encountered a man dressed entirely differently from everyone else—a shirt and jacket, leather shoes on his feet. Compared to their barefoot group, he seemed worlds apart.
"Sir..." Old John bowed his head, and together with Qiao, they nervously offered a forced smile and greeting, whispering, "Good day."
"What is it?" The man addressed as Sir appeared under thirty, with a hooked nose, dark hair, and brown eyes. He looked at Joe and Old John. Though his face bore no smile, his expression was calm, tinged with mild curiosity.
"We'd like to ask you to witness this, Sir... I'm Joe. I wish to purchase Old John's cottage for forty shillings." Joe gathered his courage to speak to this man.
Compared to the unseen higher-ups who ran things, this gentleman—who handled payroll, registered their work, and had settled early in the village by buying a house—was clearly a better choice for a witness.
This gentleman was more approachable. Unlike others who traveled between the castle and here by carriage, he had simply bought a house and put down roots right here.
Of course, Joe and Old John probably never imagined that while others might return home because they had wives and children, this gentleman simply couldn't be bothered to go back.
But it was a simple gesture. So Joe and Old John watched as the gentleman nodded, even asking with genuine interest, "Is it that old wooden cottage? It's built solidly—you made a wise purchase."
"Yes, yes! I feel incredibly fortunate!" Joe replied, his voice trembling with excitement. Old John, who had been feeling somewhat uneasy, finally relaxed upon hearing the nobleman's words. He smiled and said, "Thank you, Your Excellency. We're sorry for delaying your return home."
After exchanging these words, they bowed in respect.
The gentleman clearly needed to return for dinner. Joe and Old John agreed that Joe would pay half the deposit now, with the remainder due after moving in tomorrow. Only after settling these important matters did Joe exhale, wave goodbye to Old John, and begin his climb up the mountain.
He arrived home later than usual that night. As he neared the cave entrance, he heard Tuya's trembling voice: "Is that you, Joe?"
"It's me!" Qiao sighed inwardly. He knew Tuyah lived here in constant fear. No woman would willingly dwell in a dark, isolated cave, hearing the sounds of wild beasts passing by in the dead of night.
Not just Tuya—even Qiao occasionally felt his hair stand on end.
But... tonight was the last night. Qiao broke into a wide smile, embraced Tuya, and whispered in her ear, "Tuya, pack your things! Tomorrow we'll be living in the village!"
"What?!" Tuya froze, then covered her mouth in delighted surprise. Of course she knew about this—she'd even packed her few belongings long ago, ready to carry them out at any moment. But Tuya had always forced herself not to hope for smooth sailing. In her life, she'd learned to expect disappointment long before she ever learned to expect fulfillment.
Yet at this final moment, finally, the harsh and stingy fate granted Tuya her first glimmer of hope!
"Really? What's it like? Did you see it today?" Tuya fired off questions, ignoring Qiao's urging to eat. She kept asking, repeating her inquiries about that place over and over in the dead of night.
"You need to sleep now. Tomorrow we'll pack up the rest and move. Tomorrow—tomorrow you can look all you want!" Qiao gazed at Tuya's pale, haggard face. Though barely in her twenties, she looked like she was in her forties or fifties, her skin etched with deep furrows.
Yet hope is humanity's greatest gift. Seeing Tuya's eyes now filled with hope and anticipation reminded him of their first meeting in the mountains, amidst utter despair.
Their bond was a pillar in despair, an arm supporting each other to survive. Stronger and more profound than mere love, it held a steadfast, weighty force.
Qiao held Tuya close and whispered, "We will survive. We will survive together, with our child..."
"Yes, we must bring this child into the world safely..." Tuya murmured in response.
As they embraced, the summer night wind whipped through the mountains outside, sending shivers down their spines. Inside the cave, the fire crackled and burned. The place that had sheltered them in their darkest hour—never did they imagine they would live to walk out of it alive.
Author's Note:
Thanks to Tangyuan Nuonuo for the landmine.
After wrapping up this thread, I'll cover Edward and Tang Feiliu—then we'll be almost done!