1 JIN(Catty) = 600 gram(1.32277 pound)
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While the Earl's family was happily celebrating Christmas, Dingle Town was also welcoming the largest crowd it had ever seen.
Dingle, the small town closest to Sardinson Castle, used to require about two hours by carriage from the castle, despite the terrain being mostly flat. Poor road conditions and the layout of farmland made travel slow.
However, after the construction teams replanned the route and paved wide, smooth cement roads, the travel time shortened drastically. Now, it took just about fifty minutes by carriage, even when driving slowly to prevent horses from slipping or getting injured on the hard road surface. In urgent cases, one could ride along the dirt road beside the pavement and arrive even faster.
Normally though, everyone preferred a leisurely pace.
Today, the carriages leaving from Sardinson County were packed with people—men, women, young, and old—all bundled up in thick clothes, chatting excitedly. As they passed through the manor's main gate, the guards didn't even stop them for inspection, merely waving them through. This made the smiles on many faces grow even brighter. These were the manor's serfs, with a few slaves mixed in.
They were fortunate: the snow that had fallen the night before had finally stopped, and a rare winter sun had appeared. Although the roads were still difficult to walk on, at least they didn't have to brave a snowstorm.
Hank and Chimi were also riding in one of the carriages, surrounded by other young serfs who studied alongside them. Today, they had been given the day off—no work, no classes. The previous night, everyone had counted their saved-up coins under their blankets, dreaming of what they might buy or experience today, so excited that they barely slept.
Hank had never been to Dingle Town himself, but he had heard the older serfs talk about it. It had once been an ordinary little town, with just a few shops and not much liveliness. Now, with the increasing traffic brought by Sardinson's growth, Dingle had slowly become more bustling.
Still, Hank thought, no matter how lively, it couldn't be as grand as the royal capital. He remembered the prosperous streets of the middle and upper districts he had glimpsed when being taken to the slave market. Compared to those magnificent streets, small towns along the road to Sardinson had been much humbler. He guessed Dingle would be similar—just with a few more merchants.
It was a pity they hadn't stopped there during their journey. Otherwise, he would already know what Dingle looked like.
Nevertheless, even though he didn't expect Dingle to be particularly exciting, Hank still looked forward to this trip just like everyone else. After all, it was the first time since arriving in Sardinson County that they were allowed to leave the manor.
Along the way, Chimi chattered nonstop about all the things they would do once they arrived. Somewhere he had heard that today would be especially lively in Dingle, with lots of delicious food, and he eagerly anticipated their arrival.
Not that they normally went hungry—on the contrary, food was plentiful—but children always had a special fixation on tasty treats. Buying toys was a luxury, but sampling some cheap snacks was definitely within reach.
From afar, they could already see Dingle Town sitting quietly by the lakeside.
Hank compared the scene to what he vaguely remembered from earlier that year. Too much time had passed, and they had only hurried by back then, but somehow, perhaps because everything was now covered in snow, the little town wreathed in chimney smoke seemed subtly different, almost magical.
This feeling grew stronger as their carriage slowed to a stop due to the congestion ahead.
Their driver looked forward in surprise. The newly built road was wide enough for four carriages to travel side by side, so traffic jams had become rare. Yet here they were, stuck behind dozens of carriages, bottlenecked near the town entrance. Carriages heading out of town seemed unaffected, though.
Had there been an accident?
The driver grew anxious. Besides passengers, he was also carrying goods. He had planned to make several delivery runs today, hoping to earn extra money from the crowds. Now, stuck in traffic, he had no idea how long he would be delayed.
Leaning out, he called to a fellow driver coming from the opposite direction, someone he recognized. "Hey, Mark! What's going on up ahead? Why's it so jammed?"
The oncoming driver slowed down and shouted back, "No accident. There are just too many people heading into town. The roads are clogged with carriages. If you're not hauling goods, you might as well drop your passengers here and have them walk the rest of the way. It'll be easier to turn around too."
Originally, Dingle's streets had only been wide enough for two carriages to pass each other. As Sardinson developed, the town became more crowded and even widened roads struggled to accommodate the traffic. In the past, street vendors setting up stalls along the road had caused serious blockages. Later, they were relocated to a newly built farmer's market outside the town to restore the roads' functionality. Even so, when large merchant caravans came to buy materials or deliver goods to Earl's factories, occasional traffic jams still happened.
Today, however, the jam was even worse. Merchants, having heard that the Earl had granted his workers and serfs a day off, seized the opportunity and rushed in extra goods to capitalize on the crowds. Combined with all the townsfolk eager to join the festivities, it had caused a complete bottleneck at the town entrance.
Hearing this, the driver could only sigh helplessly. With goods on board, he couldn't easily turn around. He had no choice but to wait.
The passengers, however, didn't mind. Since they had already paid their fares upfront, they cheerfully disembarked to walk the remaining short distance.
Hank helped Chimi down from the carriage. Aside from their money, they had brought a burlap sack—currently empty—ready to fill with purchases.
Holding his brother's hand, Hank mentally reviewed their shopping list. They lived in shared dormitories now—four children in a room. Each had a single bed and a small desk with a built-in cabinet. Personal supplies were distributed uniformly. They received two sets of thin clothes and two sets of thick ones—the thin sets for year-round wear, and the thick ones for layering during winter.
However, boys were still growing fast. While the girls' growth was steadier, many boys quickly outgrew their clothes and shoes. Even though initial sizing had accounted for some future growth, it wasn't enough for kids who shot up suddenly.
Hank was one of them. In the nearly a year since arriving at Sardinson, he had gained five inches in height—around 12.7 centimeters—thanks to better nutrition. He now stood at about five foot three (roughly 160 cm). His shoe size had increased by two sizes, and his current shoes were tight and uncomfortable. He couldn't wait to buy new ones.
There were also other essentials. Hank knew the Earl's family valued cleanliness highly. Keeping himself and Chimi neat might improve their chances of being selected when the castle picks new servants.
This information had come from Chimi, who had heard it from a knight's squire who taught them swordsmanship. Chimi had shown promise with the sword, earning the squire's favor—and a few secret tidbits of information.
According to what they heard, the castle would soon select servants from among the young serfs when spring came.
Upon learning this, Hank had been thrilled. Though he no longer did physical chores after becoming a little teacher, he had heard plenty about the castle's inner workings from others who still went there. Over time, he pieced together a picture:
The castle's frequent need for new staff was because capable servants were often promoted to run factories, merchant caravans, tax offices, and other key operations for the Earl.
If he could enter the castle now, Hank figured it would be a golden opportunity. Even if he didn't rise quickly, once he reached the required age, he could still take the civil service exam later. With dual tracks available, he was bound to succeed somehow.
Thus, Hank had secretly put a lot of effort into preparing—not only studying hard but also carefully mimicking the manners and bearing of the adults around him.
Their original teacher, Miss Qin, was a castle maid whose etiquette he modeled. But knowing there were differences between male and female servants, he focused more on emulating Father Matthew's dignified behavior, sometimes even seeking his advice.
Father Matthew seemed to have noticed Hank's ambitions, often smiling knowingly at him—but he didn't rebuff him. He subtly helped Hank correct bad habits.
Through diligent practice, Hank had shed his rough, street-rat demeanor. Now, he resembled a boy raised in a decent household—still a little raw, but unmistakably well-mannered and presentable.
Chimi hadn't progressed as much, but he was improving too. According to the knight's squire, Chimi now looked like a promising future soldier.
The two brothers, one pursuing civil ambitions, the other martial, were quite proud of their complementary paths.
Thinking about all this didn't slow their steps. Before long, they reached the farmer's market set up beside the town.
They had originally wanted to visit the main streets and see the Earl's shops—even if they couldn't afford anything, just seeing them would be nice. But with the roads choked with carriages, they wisely decided not to add to the chaos.
Besides, the farmer's market was bustling enough!
Because it was Christmas, even though the locals hadn't celebrated it much in previous years, this year the town made a special effort, influenced by the Earl's family's enthusiasm. Just like at the castle, mistletoe decorations adorned every corner of Dingle Town. The red berries and green leaves stood out brilliantly against the snowy landscape, adding vivid splashes of color to the winter day.
A large team was deployed to maintain order in town.
Even though there were a lot of people, everything remained orderly. The marshals stood by the roadsides, holding megaphone-like devices, shouting for people to stay safe, not to push, and to watch out for pickpockets. Hearing these reminders, people clutched their purses protectively.
Hank deeply understood the danger. In his old life, a crowded scene like this had been a prime hunting ground for pickpockets like him.
But now, he had long left that behind.
He held tightly onto his little brother and walked proudly to a nearby food stall, where he bought a sandwich for each of them.
The sandwiches were made with black bread—coarse but without the unpleasant wheat husks or grit often found in the poorest kinds of bread. Though the texture was rough, it wasn't impossible to chew. Inside, there were pickled vegetables and a thin slice of smoked meat. The ingredients were simple, but the vendor's skill made them delicious, and judging by the line at the stall, the business was thriving.
Best of all, they were affordable.
Thanks to the year's bumper wheat harvest, grain prices had fallen, and black bread—a staple for commoners—was cheaper than ever. A sandwich cost just one copper coin, which even they could afford.
After finishing their sandwiches, the two half-grown boys were still a little unsatisfied.
As serfs, they weren't given breakfast daily; usually, they saved a bit of their food to eat in the morning, with lunch being the first proper meal of the day.
Hank wasn't in the habit of hoarding food—he preferred sharing whatever he had immediately with Chimi.
Thus, they had left home without eating much, and after the bumpy carriage ride in the cold, they were ravenous.
They weren't planning to return before noon, so lunch had to be settled outside.
However, Hank didn't want to blow all their money on food—there were important things he needed to buy.
He pulled his brother back as Chimi eagerly eyed the next food stall.
"Let's buy the important stuff first, then we can eat," Hank said.
Reluctantly, Chimi followed.
First, they bought Hank a new pair of shoes. Hank picked a pair that had a slight cosmetic flaw on the surface but were warm and sturdy. Because of the flaw, he managed to haggle and got them for just three large copper coins and two small copper coins.
Hank's entire savings amounted to two silver coins, earned through his job as a "little teacher."
Young serfs like him paid lighter taxes.
Every morning, Hank taught half a day's worth of classes, half as labor duty and half as paid work.
After deducting costs, the Earl paid little teachers four large copper coins per month. After about half a year, Hank had saved up those two silver coins.
After the shoes, they bought soap—coarse soap, cheaper than fancy perfumed soap, but still costing a large copper coin.
The biggest expense, however, was a bottle of moisturizing lotion for face care.
This lotion was developed based on a formula provided by the Countess and manufactured locally under the Earl's orders, specifically designed as an affordable product for commoners. It had a certain preventative effect against frostbite.
Even though it was inexpensive compared to noble skincare products, it was still a fortune for kids like Hank—a bottle, enough for two months, cost a whole silver coin, half his savings!
Still, Hank gritted his teeth and bought it.
Both his and Chimi's faces were already showing signs of frostbite.
If they didn't address it soon, cracks would surely follow—and if the castle came to select new staff, looking battered and frostbitten would surely hurt their chances.
Castle servants all wore proper uniforms, behaved elegantly (thanks to job training), and kept themselves immaculately clean, with flawless complexions—or so it seemed to Hank.
He believed that if he could look like that, he would have a real shot at being chosen.
Thus, after reluctantly parting with a pile of large copper coins for the lotion, he was left with only eight small copper coins.
Still, with the essentials secured, Hank felt relieved.
Even if he was almost broke, it didn't matter—after all, their food and clothing were provided for. Money wasn't needed often.
Now they could finally relax and enjoy some good food!
Instead of heading into expensive taverns or inns, they wandered the market, choosing among the food stalls.
Compared to the cost of a sit-down meal, the street food was much more attractive.
"You know, I heard a lot of the food here was made using recipes taught by the Countess herself," Chimi chattered excitedly.
"She's so beautiful and kind, just like Father Matthew said about the Virgin Mary. No—she's even better than that! I swear, someday I'm going to become the Countess's knight!"
Chimi was naturally lively, and a bit of a chatterbox.
Even in their darkest, hungriest days, he had never lost the habit of talking.
However, despite his talkativeness and love of gossip, he was excellent at keeping secrets, only telling important news to Hank and never leaking what Hank asked him to keep quiet.
"You said before you wanted to be the Earl's knight," Hank teased, holding a hot, fragrant pancake wrap—sort of like a modified "jianbing guozi."
Instead of mung bean flour, the wrap was made from pea flour mixed with whole wheat.
Inside, it could hold an egg, pea sprouts, smoked meat, and pickled vegetables, brushed with a special sauce.
It was both delicious and filling—especially warm on a cold day.
Both boys ordered the full version, packed with toppings.
Each wrap was huge—more than enough to fill a growing boy's belly.
Though pricier (five copper coins for two), they thought it was well worth it.
"The Earl already has lots of knights. One more or less won't matter.
But the Countess doesn't have her knight yet—none at all! That's why I want to protect her!" Chimi declared, still munching happily on his food.
Hank teased him again, "The Countess probably wouldn't like a knight who talks with his mouth full. And besides, the Earl protects her. All the knights obey her too."
"That's different," Chimi insisted after swallowing.
"The Earl protects her because they're married. The other knights protect her because they're loyal to the Earl. But the Countess needs someone loyal only to her.
I'll be that knight!"
In Chimi's understanding, every noble was supposed to have their knights.
He didn't yet grasp the gender disparities of their society.
After all, most of his classmates were girls, and many of them performed better academically—and even in swordsmanship—than he did.
Their teachers often praised the girls more, so Chimi didn't realize that in broader society, girls weren't usually allowed access to such training.
Still, after declaring his ambition, Chimi's mood darkened a bit.
"Those older sisters are so amazing—and they're older than me. They'll become the Countess's knights before I ever get the chance!"
Damn it!
He wouldn't get to be her first knight!
He was still too young.
He had heard that knights had to be at least in their twenties.
By the time he grew up, the Countess would already have a full retinue of her knights!
Hank didn't have the heart to tell him that women generally couldn't become knights either.
Instead, he patted his brother's shoulder.
"It's fine," he said. "You can start as her squire."
Chimi looked puzzled. "But if I become a squire, can I still become a knight?"
"As long as a knight is willing to take you on as his squire, you can," Hank assured him.
"There are lots of knights at the castle. You might find the right mentor."
Truthfully, the odds weren't great.
But Hank believed that compared to the impossibility of a serf becoming a knight through traditional means, this was a much more realistic path.
And once he rose in rank and gained some influence, he could help Chimi find a teacher.
With enough money and connections, it was possible to hire someone willing to train him.
"Alright," Hank said cheerfully, "I heard the lake by Dingle Town freezes over thickly in winter. People go skating and sledding there. Let's go check it out!"
Hearing there was fun to be had, Chimi instantly forgot his worries and happily ran off with his brother toward the lake.