Pull a Friend Up

Tommy listened quietly, his heart filled with mixed emotions.

He looked at Lex, who was now almost suffocating under the weight of life's burdens, a stark contrast to the lively and cheerful boy he remembered.

Comparing himself to his own near-death experience in Carnford, he ultimately survived, became stronger, gained a broader perspective, and looked forward to a brighter future. A strong sense of sympathy and an urge to lend a helping hand welled up within him.

He didn't say anything more to comfort him; those words seemed too insignificant in the face of harsh reality.

He silently untied the bag on his back, opened it, and took out a piece of dried meat, about the size of his palm, wrapped tightly in oil paper.

This is the dried meat he bought with his wages. It was marinated with salt and spices and then air-dried. Although it was hard, it provided ample energy and salt, making it an essential item for marching and fighting.

For ordinary villagers who rarely see meat, this is an absolute delicacy.

He handed the jerky to Lex, his tone leaving no room for refusal. "Here, take it. I brought it back from the north. It tastes alright, and it'll fill you up."

Lex's eyes widened instantly when he saw the thick, glistening piece of jerky. His Adam's apple bobbed involuntarily as he swallowed.

He could almost picture the rich, salty, and meaty flavor of the jerky as he chewed it. For him, who hadn't had a full meal in a long time, let alone such a large piece of meat, the temptation was immense.

A flicker of struggle and embarrassment crossed his face as he instinctively tried to refuse. "This... this is too precious... Tommy... you... you keep it for yourself..."

"Don't be so polite with me!" Tommy said without waiting for a reply, shoving the jerky into Lex's hands, which were covered in chilblains and calluses. "Take this! Look at you, you've gotten so thin! Eat something to replenish your energy, we still have to go into the mountains in this freezing weather!"

Lex's hand touched the solid, cold jerky, feeling its heavy weight, and he stopped pushing it away.

He looked up and met Tommy's sincere and unquestionable gaze. His nose tingled and his eyes welled up with tears.

He stopped refusing, clutching the piece of jerky tightly as if grasping a sliver of warmth in the cold winter. He lowered his head, his voice trembling slightly, "Thank... thank you... Tommy..."

"Eat up, while it's hot... uh, while it's hot." Tommy patted his shoulder and said in a lighthearted tone, trying to dispel the somewhat heavy atmosphere.

Lex nodded vigorously, carefully tore open a corner of the oil paper to reveal the deep red jerky inside, and then eagerly took a small bite, chewing it vigorously.

The long-lost, substantial meaty texture and savory aroma instantly filled his mouth, making his somewhat numb body feel warmer.

As he chewed, he looked up at Tommy with a complex expression—a mixture of gratitude, envy, and an indescribable longing for a different kind of life.

Tommy, seeing how ravenously he was wolfing down his food, knew the time was almost right.

He glanced around to make sure no one was watching, then lowered his voice, his expression turning serious. "Lex, stop just eating. I'm asking you, do you want... a different way of living?"

Lex was chewing the hard yet incredibly delicious jerky with gusto. The salty and savory flavor filled his mouth, bringing a touch of warmth to his body, which was somewhat numb from the cold.

Upon suddenly hearing Tommy's seemingly nonsensical yet subtly suggestive words, he froze, stopped chewing, and looked up in astonishment, Tommy eyes wide with confusion and bewilderment.

He struggled to swallow the large piece of jerky in his mouth, his throat tight from the dryness, his voice hoarse and hesitant. "Change... change the way of life? Tommy, what... what do you mean by that?"

He simply couldn't understand what other way he could "live" besides hunting, paying rent, and barely making ends meet on this barren land.

Tommy looked into Lex's eyes, which had become somewhat numb from the hardships of life but were now shining with a glimmer of light again because of doubt, and knew that the time was ripe.

He stopped beating around the bush and decided to use the most direct and impactful facts to open Lex's closed heart.

He pointed to the half-eaten piece of jerky in Lex's hand, his tone calm yet powerful. "Lex, what you're eating is just ordinary rations in our army in Carnford."

"I wouldn't say we get this kind of dried meat every day, but we can definitely have it every two or three days. On ordinary days, we have plenty of Black Bread and bean soup for three meals a day, so we're never hungry."

He paused, took a small step forward, patted his own strong, full chest, then pointed to Lex's lean and thin frame, his gaze fixed intently on the other:

"Look at me again! Lex, do you remember what I looked like the last time we met? I was so thin and small, like I could be blown away by the wind. I could barely carry a sack of grain. And look at me now!"

He slightly bent his arm, revealing the outline of muscles faintly visible beneath the fabric. "This physique, this strength, all honed in the Carnford military camp! If I hadn't been well-fed and trained hard, how could I have survived on the battlefield and even personally killed three fierce Sauron soldier?"

Then, his fingers gently traced the tattered, worn-out leather coat Lex was wearing, riddled with holes, the cotton stuffing stiffened, and as thin as paper in the cold wind, his tone carrying an undeniable certainty. "And look at what you're wearing... and look at what I'm wearing."

He tugged at his old but thick, finely stitched cotton coat, which was effective at keeping out the cold. "As long as Carnford's army and pass the test, you'll immediately be issued a winter coat like mine, as well as a summer coat."

He emphasized his words, throwing out the most crucial economic incentive. "Not only that, but every month, your military pay will be paid on time, one Silver coin for fifty copper coins! Not a single coin less!"

"One Silver coin... fifty coppers? Every month?" Lex's eyes widened instantly, his mouth gaping open so wide it could almost fit an egg.

This number was astronomical to him!

His family worked hard all year, and after paying the heavy Land rent and various taxes to Master John, the few copper coins they had left could be counted on their fingers. Often, they were even in debt.

One Silver coin and fifty copper coins a month? This was an unimaginable fortune for him!

His breathing became rapid, his face filled with extreme shock and disbelief, and his voice trembled with excitement. "Tom... Tommy! You... you're telling the truth? You really give me so much money every month? And... and such nice clothes? And I get to eat my fill every day?"