Marissa's New Life
At dawn, the newly built residential area at the foot of Carnford Mountain awoke to the crowing of roosters.
Marissa pushed open her brand-new wooden door and came out carrying a wooden toilet.
A stray dog that was looking for food at the door was startled and ran away with its tail between its legs.
She looked up at the sky; the cool morning breeze carried the fresh scent of earth and grass.
The neighbors around also opened their doors one after another, mostly women, doing the same thing—emptying the chamber pots, and then preparing to start their busy day.
Although the living area was simple, it was neatly and orderly planned, with gravel paths connecting each household and shallow drainage ditches dug along the roadside.
While it couldn't compare to the luxury of the Franklin Manor, it was a world of difference from the semi-subterranean huts they used to live in.
"Marissa!" a clear voice called out.
Marissa turned her head and saw her neighbor Erica also coming out carrying a wooden bucket.
Erica was originally a slave, but because of her skillful hands, especially in sewing and weaving, she made a large number of clothes and tents for the territory, and was granted a pardon by Karl and promoted to Freemen.
Later, she fell in love with Elliot, a skilled young carpenter who had just arrived in the territory, married him, and was allocated this newly built stone house, becoming the envy of the residents.
"Erica, good morning," Marissa greeted with a smile. The two walked together towards the stream that ran down from the mountain at the edge of the living area, a place where everyone had agreed to wash their toilets and clothes.
The stream water was clear and cool, flowing gurglingly as the two carefully scrubbed the toilet clean in it.
Erica, scrubbing the wooden tub vigorously, couldn't help but complain to her friend, "Ugh, honestly, my Elliot's been practically living on the construction site lately! First, he went with Master Hans to reinforce that terrifying cliff platform at the Flint Mine. He finally got back for a few days, and then he was reassigned to the castle to repair some internal staircases and furniture. And before he'd even had a couple of days of peace, he came back yesterday and told me that the Lord has issued a new order to gather everyone who knows carpentry and construction to go to that Amber Bay in the south to build a dock! Who knows how many days he'll be back..."
She pouted, a hint of grievance on her face. "When I got home, I was so tired I didn't even want to talk. After dinner, I just lay on that pile of tattered blueprints, scribbling and drawing, saying I was designing something... Pontoon Bridge? Or a crane? I don't understand any of it! He barely responded when I talked to him, it's infuriating!"
Marissa listened, sighing with empathy, and gently touched her slightly protruding belly. "My Otto is pretty much the same. He goes to work in the fields before dawn every day, and then goes to militia training in the afternoon. He doesn't come home until dark. When he comes back, he's covered in sweat and has a strange smell of gunpowder, which is very pungent. He falls asleep as soon as his head hits the pillow and snores loudly."
The two looked at each other and couldn't help but burst out laughing, their previous complaints seemingly dissipating considerably.
After laughing, Erica's eyes softened, and she said softly, "But... despite the complaints, I'm actually happy. It's good to be busy. Being busy means that Carnford is getting better and better, with endless work and something to look forward to. If everyone were idle and had nothing to do, that would be truly frightening."
She glanced at Marissa's belly, a hint of envy in her eyes. "That's wonderful, Marissa, you have a baby now."
Marissa blushed with happiness and looked at Erica: "You and Elliot have been married for almost two months now, right? How's it going? Any news?"
Erica's face flushed instantly. She shook her head shyly, her voice even lower. "No... no reaction. He... he's always busy with his wood and blueprints, and when he comes home at night he's exhausted and just collapses into bed... I... sometimes I don't even know how to talk to him about it..."
Marissa, having been through it all, couldn't help but chuckle and whisper advice, "Oh dear, Elliot, that kind of technical craftsman, is completely absorbed in his work. Sometimes he can be quite dull. You have to be more proactive! Make him a bowl of hot soup tonight, and keep him company while he's drawing, don't let him work alone in silence... Men, sometimes they're like blocks of wood, you have to light a fire for them."
Erica's face flushed even more, and she shyly nudged Marissa gently. "Oh dear, what are you saying... How embarrassing..."
But her eyes flickered, as if she were genuinely considering her friend's suggestion.
After cleaning, the two carried the clean toilet back home.