"There's an icehouse in Willowridge County Town?" Clara asked, intrigued.
Just the mention of ice reminded her of all those iced drinks from the pre-apocalypse days. She couldn't help but secretly swallow a mouthful of saliva.
Having a chunk of ice in the blazing summer heat… That feeling was simply unmatched.
Lester Liew nodded. "Sure, just outside the city walls. It's run by the government. Every winter, once the river freezes over, they send men to cut ice blocks and store them in the icehouse. The ice stored last year can last until this year's autumn."
Then in winter, they'd store another batch, to be used again—over and over.
But seeing how excited Clara looked, Lester felt obliged to douse her hopes with a bucket of reality.
"That icehouse belongs to the county, and the ice is reserved for the nobles in town. Common folk like us? Forget it. If you're feeling generous, you can treat me to a bowl of chilled drink from one of the sugar water shops. That's about the best we can hope for."
Even as he spoke, his mouth betrayed him by salivating just a little. Clara shot him a look and snorted, "Dream on."
She'd just seen the prices posted outside those drink shops—anything with the word "ice" in it started at fifty copper coins per bowl. That was enough to buy the three catties of pork in her bag.
Lester, clearly expecting that response, turned his back and made a cutting motion in the air. When he turned back around, Clara had already brought Old Yeller out.
The couple exchanged glances… and suddenly remembered an awkward question.
Two people. One horse. Who rides?
Worried about the possibility forming in his head, Lester quickly stepped forward and grabbed the reins. "Darling… you're not going to make me run behind the horse, are you?"
Clara didn't bother entertaining the idea. "Can you ride?"
Lester shook his head honestly. Oh, he wanted to learn, sure—but that would require a family with the means.
"Get on. You're riding in front."
"Huh?" Lester blinked and instinctively compared their heights. Clara was a head shorter than he was. If he sat in front… would she even be able to see?
He raised his hand to demonstrate, only for Clara to smack it away. The sting made him suck in a sharp breath. Turns out—she could see just fine!
Because the moment they took off at speed, he was too terrified to care about anything but clinging to the horse's neck for dear life.
The wind whooshed past his ears, he opened his mouth to speak and swallowed a mouthful of dust. His butt was being jolted to the point it felt like it was splitting in four.
He tried to shift into a more comfortable position, only to feel a warm body press up behind him. A faint scent of soap drifted into his nose…
And Lester froze entirely. Later… he couldn't remember exactly how he got back to Liew Clan Village.
He only remembered one thing: her voice behind him saying, "We're here. Off you go."
Then he was ruthlessly shoved off the horse, left standing there dumbfounded, staring at the blazing sunset. The sky was pink and red like fire—breathtaking.
Ahead of him, a figure on horseback moved with the light behind her. Her back was straight, her figure rising and falling with the horse's gait, her high ponytail swaying with the rhythm—so free, as if there was nothing in the world that could tie her down.
Without realizing it, Lester reached out, trying to grasp something—but caught nothing.
All he could do was watch as her silhouette faded into the distance.
Gurgle~
He swallowed hard, then shook his head fiercely. When he looked up again… he could've sworn she was glowing pink with the light of the setting sun.
He slapped himself lightly on the cheek.
Poof. The glow was gone.
Clara paused briefly at the village square. The kids weren't there. Maybe the wild bayberry drink business hadn't worked out, and they'd come home early.
She chuckled to herself and called back, "Lester! Pick up the pace, will you?"
Lester came jogging up, panting. "You've got four legs, I've only got two! And you're still rushing me like you're trying to take my soul."
Clara raised an eyebrow. Why did it sound like this useless man was being… coy?
Ugh, never mind.
She grabbed the pack from his back, threw it on the horse, and set off for home.
Without the baggage, Lester didn't get much faster—he stopped to chat with every single villager along the way.
Whenever someone praised him and called him "Scholar Liew," he shamelessly accepted the compliment with pride.
By the time Clara had fed the horse and taken off the saddle, he finally arrived home.
Judging from his grinning face, the way back must've been full of praise. The former village loafer had somehow become everyone's pet scholar. Life was good.
"Huh?" Lester dipped water to wash up and glanced into the kitchen and all the rooms—empty. "Where'd Adam and the kids go?"
Clara had just tossed some fresh hay into the stable and came in from the backyard. Also no sign of the kids.
"Maybe they went out to play," she guessed.
Lester saw her come over and instinctively lifted the basin for her. "Here, darling, have a wash."
Then immediately regretted it and slapped his own hand. You fool!
Clara caught the subtle gesture and laughed softly. She wrung out a cloth and wiped her face and neck.
Then she peeled off her outer robe and hung it on the drying pole in the yard, standing under the porch breeze in just a thin linen underlayer. The casual boldness left Lester wide-eyed.
Clara gave him a sideways glance. "What are you gawking at? It's almost dark—go find the kids."
The familiar oppressive aura returned. He hadn't even had fifteen minutes of peace since getting home.
Grumbling silently, he forced a smile and replied obediently, "Aye, I'll go look."
Just as he was stepping out, excited chatter floated up from the path below.
Moments later, four familiar little figures ran up to the gate.
Seeing their parents, the twins paused, then ran forward, eager to share their news.
Chad exclaimed, "Dad! Ben sold plenty of bayberry drink!"
Deb added, "Mom, we sold out! Adam and Ben went back up the mountain to pick more berries. We're making another batch tonight!"
Lester was baffled but played along. "Great, great. Adam, Ben, come here, let Dad see if you've grown taller!"
Ben rolled his eyes. "It's only been ten days. You think I'm spring onion?"
Adam, being a good eldest son, gave face. He hefted the basket full of tart-smelling wild bayberries for comparison.
Clara hadn't expected the bayberry drink to be such a hit—sold out and needing a second batch!
She made no effort to hide her delight. "How much did you sell it for?"
"Two coins a bowl," Ben answered, setting down his basket, heavy with more bayberries.
He then proudly added, "You wouldn't believe how much people loved our drink, Mom. It's autumn harvest season—they're willing to splurge a bit."
Right after Clara left this morning, Adam and Ben took the clay jars of bayberry drink, while Chad and Deb carried bowls and spoons. They'd set out together.
Adam stayed near the village square, while Ben took his goods straight to the fields and started hawking along the ridges. Before he even opened the jar, people had come sniffing out the aroma.
When Adam nervously said, "Two coins a bowl," someone bought two immediately.
Said it was too hot, and the harvest was rough—an occasional treat was worth it.
That was the magic phrase. The siblings walked past acre after acre, delivering bowls by hand, letting folks drink first, then collecting the coins at their homes.
By noon, their jars were empty before they even realized it.
Ben tugged Clara into the main hall, eyes full of anticipation. He reached into his tunic and pulled out a little cloth pouch.
Clink! He overturned it onto the table.
Dozens of copper coins spilled out with a cheerful jingle.
They'd sold thirty bowls of bayberry tea—sixty coins in total.
(End of Chapter)
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