Chương 7: Veggieees!

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They gathered quite a lot of quail eggs. Of course, Kendra took only those that were not fertilized. She didn't want to catch quails as long the chicks didn't grow up. She will then gather enough for food.

But she found a rabbit with a foot stuck in bushes. What luck. She quickly killed it and gave it to Isaa. It's all meat to eat. Better than nothing.

While she carried a basket full of quail eggs, Isaa walked behind with a rabbit in her hands to take it back home. That kid looked so happy and cute. She is lucky to have such a cute sister.

When they arrived, Kendra cleaned the rabbit and put the meat to get cooked with some of the herbs she made before in a big wooden post. She let it simmer lightly and she closed with a lid.

In the time between, she used some flour and eggs to make simple noodles and let them dry on the sun. She knew that it will take longer to cook rabbit meat so she chooses to let the herbs dry on the line at the sun side of the house.

She took then the girl and tried to make some straw shoes as she saw that the kid's feet seem to get hurt from stones. Kendra tried over and over again but she didn't see in books anywhere how are they made. So she gave up. Every three days is the market day. So she will bring some produce again and buy some straw shoes for this kid. They need one more blanket as well...But for now, this one is big enough for both of them.

She took a look around and got lots of straw on the bed. She wanted to make it a bit more comfortable.

Isaa tried to help her soon, while they went there and back laughing and playing they, cleaned up a little bit their surroundings as well. She put a lot of straw to dry in front of the house for the bed inside.

Tonight they will sleep under stars, as the evenings were still warm. They had a blanket and they had each other. It will be just fine. The evening approached and Kendra went to see if there are any fishes trapped in. There were only two big ones and she let again small ones go.

She cleaned again the fish while Isaa looked at her how she did it. She explained to the kid what she was doing, as she will later help her. It is good for the kid to know as much as possible in this world to be able to survive.

They went home and Kendra put again salted fishes near the fire to bake them a bit before letting them dry on the line.

The smell of rabbit soup started rising and she tried if the meat was already soft. She took it out and put some of the dried noodles in the soup stock and put again a few waves of peace of rabbit meat back for dinner. The rest of the rabbit she put on a plate with different seasonings and let it bake for tomorrow. She had no fat, no oil no nothing to fry the meats so she used this method of preservation.

The next day she made two more traps for fishes and few for little animals in bushes and forest, not far from her home. When the evening came she caught two more rabbits that she will sell and the fishes she will check in the morning...The rabbit skin she had from the first rabbit, she will sell as well or exchange it for some fat or oil. They need that.

So many things to do and buy but she wanted first is to earn some money, just to make sure in case they need it. She needs to find out how much tax she needs to pay every year. She bought the land after all. She probably will have to pay tax like everyone else.

The next morning came and she woke up even before dawn. Isaa was sleeping wrapped around her like a koala. She slowly went out of the blanket and tucked her quickly in, so the warmth doesn't fade out so fast.

She went quickly to the stream and saw almost a dozen big fishes and a bunch of little ones in the traps. She let again the little ones go and got the big ones into the basket. She wrapped each fish into fresh leaves and straw and put the basket on her back.

She came back home when the sun started to make the sky red. She woke Isaa and got the two rabbits as they were tied up on their feet so they couldn't run away. She put one of the rabbits in Isaa's hands and another one she took herself.

They started walking slowly as Isaa had to watch out for the sharp stones. It was quite funny. This child was stronger and healthier than her but had quite sensitive feet. Kendra couldn't wait to buy her some shoes. As they progressed slowly, it took them quite some time.

When they arrived the gate just got open. The two kids arrived at the gate and got greeted by the friendly soldier. Kendra went again to the spot where she went last time and saw the two women in their places. Luckily no one stood on her spot.

''Good morning. I am sorry I didn't say goodbye last time, but I had to hurry home because my little sister was alone. This time I took her with me, so I do not worry so much.'' she excused herself as they friendly waved at her. Everyone seemed to already accept Kendra, as all the neighboring people greeted her with smiles.

She asked them to watch her bags as she quickly went to buy shoes for Isaa. Luckily they had the size for the child so she bought 3 pairs as well. She paid with coins and hurriedly went back. As Isaa had now shoes she seemed to be more comfortable.

She was a cute little kid and quite talkative. In just a short time she seemed to gather their hearts.

As Kendra got the fish out her bag and the rabbits on the side, the servants started already coming and one of them came straight to her.

''Our cook said if you have again some fish we should buy it.'' as he looked at the fresh fish he saw that it was almost a dozen of it.''Sorry I will run back home and tell the cook that you have many today. And rabbits as well. Don't sell them yet. We have guests today so this will be great.''

He runs away, while Kendra dazed out.''So simple? I guess just lucky today.'' she said aloud while looking at the fish and rabbits.

''Actually, we have sea fish at the harbor as well. But sweet water fish has a different taste. So it's quite expansive.'' Said the kind woman that had today some turnip for sale.

''May I ask how much is the turnip. I would like to buy it for us.'' Kendra asked while thinking to dry some as well for later. And leaves are edible as well. Turnip is healthy. What else do they have?

Kendra saw some carrots right across her and some squash and as well some peas.

She needs them all. She had to wait anyway. So she took as much as she could wear. Isaa will wear some carrots. In this age, carrots are food for the poor. They do not know how good is a stew with carrots. Kendra already imagined what she'll do with it and what to cook for them.

Soon the servant came back and gave her a bag with money while he winked at her. She looked at the amount astonished as he took the fishes and rabbits with him.

This was quite a wealthy day, wasn't it? She greeted kind ladies as she looked around for oil or fat.

She needed more salt as well. Then she figured it out...why to buy salt? The sea is near, she will make her own. It's not so hard.

She found some fat and some kids brought basil and rosemary with roots so it will be a good addition to her seasonings. Kendra remembered she wanted to ask about taxes so she visited that office. Unfortunately, that officer was not there, but the current officer in charge told her that taxes were per person 20 coins in the year for villages and for dwellings 10 coins. She explained her situation and he wrote to her house as a dwelling, as she has no land and no direct produce.

She chooses, after all, to use the name, Kendra. And wrote Isaa as her sister down. She paid 20 coins till next summer and saw he wrote it in the book under their name and place. This place seems to have quite a good structure. And people are quite fine so far. But trouble will come her way, but how big it is...

SUY NGHĨ CỦA NGƯỜI SÁNG TẠO
JennyS

In middle ages wealthy people didn't eat so much vegetables as they felt that is poor people food. Some used vegetable only as decoration with meat and fish.

Today to eat fresh produce that has no chemicals in is like lottery...sigh

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