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Chapter 8: Noble Maiden Anna
Chapter 8: Noble Maiden Anna
I can work at the town's blacksmith shop and gain experience for the Blacksmith Apprentice profession! However, according to the original body's memories, the blacksmith and owner of this shop, Boris, is a stingy man.
Unless you're an experienced helper, he charges a hefty fee for learning any craft, around five to ten silver coins.
There's no way Rain's family can afford that amount at this stage.
Looks like I'll have to think of another way!
"Aunt Sima, hello."
"Little Rain, hello. After a week as a page, you seem more spirited and robust!" Aunt Sima greeted Rain warmly, as she was familiar with Rain's mother.
Hmm, is that so?
Initially, Rain thought Aunt Sima was just being polite.
But when he flexed his arm and looked at his originally thin arms, he noticed a slight bulge of muscles, especially in the biceps.
Rain immediately lifted his shirt to examine his abdomen, and he could vaguely see the outlines of eight-pack abs.
It's true that skinny people tend to develop abs easily, but this body originally had no abs at all, not even a hint of them.
Now, with a bit of exercise, he might achieve noticeable abs.
The effect of this strength increase is immediate!
Rain stopped in front of a two-story house with a triangular roof. The roof was thatched, and the house was mostly wooden, except for the walls made of mud.
There were some open spaces in front and behind the house, where onions and vegetables were planted.
A woman was bending over, weeding in the open area. Sensing someone's approach, she straightened up.
"Rain, is that you back?"
Gazing at the woman's kind and dignified face, Rain's memories flooded back, and heartwarming scenes flashed through his mind like a slideshow. "Mother, it's me! I'm back!" he exclaimed.
"Let me see, you've become stronger after a few days. It seems the estate provides good food for you pages." Mother Emma smiled and hugged Rain.
For a moment, Rain felt an inexplicable warmth.
He wasn't sure if this was a natural reaction of the body or an innate human emotion.
But he knew this feeling came from deep within his heart.
She was the original body's mother, and now she was his mother too!
"Brother! Is that you?" A delicate long-haired girl suddenly ran in from the backyard, holding a bunch of chives.
Rain instantly associated the girl, named Mint, with the scene before him.
"Mint!" Rain hugged his sister and spun her around, making her giggle.
Soon, Rain's father returned, a sturdy-looking man with a square face and a forehead lined with wrinkles, suggesting he often worried.
Seeing Rain, he smiled and patted Rain's shoulder with his calloused hand. "Rain, you've grown stronger and taller!"
"Father, you've worked hard!" Rain hugged his father tightly.
Although Old Rain didn't understand why his son was suddenly so affectionate, he smiled and hugged Rain back.
In the evening, the family of four sat around a wooden table, enjoying a cozy dinner together.
The meal consisted of pickled pork, a large plate of mashed potatoes, several rye bread slices, and a bottle of milk.
For an ordinary commoner family, this was already a feast!
Apparently, this was because it was Rain's homecoming day.
Usually, Old Rain wouldn't indulge in such a luxurious meal.
But after gulping down his portion, Rain realized he was only half-full.
Currently, his body was in a rapid growth phase, and he had always been a big eater. There's an old saying, 'Skinny people can easily develop abs.'
Moreover, Rain had allocated attribute points, and since increasing his strength, he felt like he had drained his body's last reserves of nutrition. Rain felt especially hungry these days.
Additionally, the thought of eating meat kept swirling in his mind. So, after finishing his meal, Rain couldn't help swallowing his saliva and forcing his gaze away from the food.
Rain looked at her mother, who immediately sensed something: "Rain, did you not eat enough? Here, take these two pieces of pickled meat. I'm full."
"Big brother, I'm still small. I'll give you this mashed potato." Little Mint pushed a bowl of mashed potatoes towards Rain.
"Rain, I'll have this," Old Rain said.
"Oh..."
Witnessing this scene before him, Rain was deeply moved.
If Rain's previous efforts were driven by his desire as a transmigrator to change the status quo and his yearning for the extraordinary world, from this moment on, Rain's motivation would gain a new, vibrant dimension.
In the end, Rain accepted the pickled meat from his mother and mashed potatoes from Little Mint, but he refused his father's bread.
He knew that his father, being a laborer, needed more nutritional replenishment.
That night, Rain slept soundly.
The next morning, Old Rain politely declined Rain's offer to help in the fields and left early. His mother also went to work at the town's inn.
Only Rain and his sister, Mint, remained at home.
When Rain followed Mint's voice to the small courtyard, he found her planting carrots with a girl in their family's small yard.
"Big brother, you're up? I'm planting carrots with Anna," Mint greeted him with a smile.
Anna?
Oh, she's their neighbor.
A quiet and reticent girl, it was said that she came to live in Glintstone Town with her mother.
But a year ago, her mother mysteriously disappeared.
Now, she lived alone in the wooden house next door to Rain's family.
The girl turned her head, her facial features were beautiful, but her complexion was pale.
She seemed to be in a state of malnutrition, her light yellow hair was a bit dry and split, but her deep gaze revealed a kind of resolute beauty.
"Hello, Rain," the girl greeted him shyly, her head bowed.
Age-wise, Rain seemed a few months older than the girl.
In Rain's memory, she always had this fearful demeanor towards strangers.
"Hello, Anna!"
Just as Rain was about to help them, he heard his best friend George's voice from the doorway: "Rain, let's go. We're going to pick up some acorns. Come on."
"I want to go too, big brother!" Mint exclaimed excitedly when she heard Rain was going to pick acorns.
Anna, standing beside them, also seemed to have a longing in her eyes.
But after some thought, Rain still refused. After all, they were going to the forest of the Habsburg Manor, and he was only following George.
It wouldn't be appropriate for him to bring others along.
So, Rain shook his head and said, "Mint, you and Anna stay home. I'll bring back some acorns for you."
"Okay~" Mint said reluctantly, but she was very obedient.
Indeed, children from poor families grow up fast.
At such a young age, she was already so sensible!
Rain patted Little Mint's head and left with George.
After walking for a while, George suddenly said with a strange expression:
"Rain, why is your sister with Anna? Haven't you heard? She's an unlucky person."
"Unlucky person?" Rain asked, puzzled.
"I also heard it by chance from my father. It seems Anna's mother didn't just disappear; she was probably taken away. But I'm not sure about the details," George said mysteriously after looking around to ensure no one was nearby.
"You must not tell anyone about this."
"Taken away by whom?" Rain asked, perplexed.
"I really don't know!" George's answer was vague.
"By the way, Rain, did you hear that two children from two commoner families in the north of our town have gone missing? Remind Mint not to wander around."
"Huh? Is this true? Weren't the missing children from other towns, and wasn't Glintstone Town still safe? Has it spread here now?" Rain was astonished.
"I'm not sure about this," George said after some thought, as this question touched upon his knowledge blind spot.
(End of Chapter)
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