The priests gritted their teeth and stirred the soap just right. Everything was the same as last night, and all thirty-five wooden boxes were filled with soap.
At this point, the priests dragged their almost broken bodies to rest, and it was time for Rurik to fulfill his promise and go home.
He changed into thick clothes, and with Bo Na seeing each other off, walked through the snow to his door.
Tucked into the linen pocket of the leather coat, the silver coins inside were jingling.
"Hey, Rurik, we made a new soap, can the leader sell it quickly?" Bona asked.
"Want more silver coins?"
"Of course, we all want to be rich."
"Then try your best to make them, my father It’s easy to sell what you made. Don’t work too hard and take a break after working for a few days. You don’t have to worry about grazing, Rumia, my servants won’t be stupid enough to run away.”
Rurik spoke a lot of things that worried Pona with a small mouth, and reassured her.
Suddenly, he stopped again.
"What's wrong with you? Rurik?" Bona stopped and asked.
"I'll give you a little gift, please extend your hand."
Bona didn't think much. She watched the child put his hand into the leather jacket and soon took out a silver coin.
"Ah? Is this... consistent with the contract you signed with us?" Reason told Poona that she probably shouldn't take the money alone.
"Just accept it, it's a personal gift from me to you. I care about soap more than the rest of you, I can see clearly."
Rurik thought about many long-term things. The longevity of his father and the high priest was probably coming to an end. By that time, Bona would succeed the high priest, and he should naturally become the leader.
The alliance between priests and chiefs needs to continue.
Rurik heard some unfavorable remarks about Bona, including the high priest Vilia’s criticism of her not studying her lessons well, and other people’s criticism of her.
Is there something wrong with her? Of course there is.
Rurik could feel that all the lower-level priests were very sensitive to money, and this Bona was the most sensitive.
She loves money, and the problem becomes very easy. This woman has no relatives. Maybe she feels that her future backer is either the new leader or the wealth she controls.
Use money to bribe the future high priest Bona, and the relationship will deepen from now on, and then continue to give her some coins. So after doing this for a few years, when I grow up, I will naturally be able to express my gratitude to the priesthood. Take full control.
Maybe this matter is very important. If you can't control the priest, you might be controlled by the priest.
"Just hold on to it. We can be very good friends. In the future, I hope that if you do more things, you will also get more silver coins. I will never treat you badly."
Listen, is this what a seven-year-old child can say?
Bo Na couldn’t control so much, so she readily agreed after receiving the money.
In this way, the alliance between the future leader and the future high priest began to be initially concluded. For both parties, this alliance is an obvious win-win.
"Rurik, let's stop here." Bona said finally.
"Please go back, too. You all have a good rest tomorrow, and you can continue making soap when your arms are no longer sore."
In an era without industrial machines, all steps of making soap are dependent on Human physical strength. Even if we use existing technology to make a windmill and waterwheel, its working efficiency is not that outstanding.
Modern society is based on large-scale production of modern science and technology. The Ross tribe cannot expect that at all, and they are not aware of it at all.
What’s more, the tribe’s current soap production is initially monopolized by the priests.
If you recruit a group of strong men with bulging arm muscles due to frequent rowing to be workers who stir the soap, the work efficiency will naturally increase, and even the priests will not be able to obtain considerable profits.
"That's it for now. We will consider the development of soap in the future." Rurik thought for a while and then entered the house.
"I'm back." He opened the wooden door and pushed open the leather curtain for warmth.
"Come in quickly and sit here with me." Seeing her son, Niya quickly patted the animal skin sitting under her.
Rurik walked over naturally and snuggled into his biological mother's arms, showing his warmth.
How precious this warm scene is!
Rumia followed Otto back, and Niya’s attitude towards the little girl really changed. Since the priest said that she had Odin's permission to become a member of the Ross tribe, this did not mean that she got rid of her status as a slave.
Niya doesn’t want to project the image of a bad old woman in front of her husband and son, and it’s impossible for her to really care for you like a daughter.
Servants have to work.
Rurik was forced to lie in his mother's arms for a while to please her.
As soon as he entered the house, he was actually looking for Rumia at first sight, for fear that her parents would treat her badly. Unexpectedly, the situation is not bad, Rumia now looks like a professional tailor.
"Mom, do you want Rumia to sew? You gave her our steel needle. It seems that you are relieved about her."
Niya nodded, "I asked her to mend your father's leather hat. She can sew, and her craftsmanship is not bad."
Rumia kept her head down here, being cautious and didn't want to say anything.
Rurik could understand her restraint, as she had been so submissive in the past few times she stayed in his family's longhouse.
It was Rurik who felt very strange today. He suddenly asked: "Rumia, when did you learn to tailor? Maybe you... you can make clothes yourself."
< p> "I..." Lumia raised her head slightly. The question was asked by her master, and she was very happy to answer, "I learned before that we all do it ourselves.clothing. We use deerskin, we use linen. ”Rumia’s “we” refers to her family when she was a former Sami. Rurik thought for a while, and she, a ten-year-old girl, should indeed learn this.
Because she can only learn this first, and then how to raise deer and herd herd. After that, Rumia lowered her head and continued her work. Rurik watched for a while. , Judging from her skillful movements, you can tell that this girl has sewn clothes before.
In the past, she probably used bone needles to sew. The material is not good, and the harder leather requires a lot of strength and skill. Broken. If steel needles are used, there will be no problem in this regard. Although steel needles are small, selling them to a nation that cannot make them will be a huge profit.
Niya still holds her son in her arms, for fear that this magical brat will appear again. She ran back to the longhouse of the priest and asked: "My child, you have earned a lot of silver coins this time. Do you want to keep the money at home? Do you still need a wooden box?"
" certainly! "When his mother mentioned this, Rurik quickly took out his pocket full of silver coins. "That's it, you must keep it for me. "
"As my child, we will only help you until now. When you grow up, you must keep your own money. ”
“Of course. Haha, I need to take good care of my mountains of silver coins! "Rurik deliberately started to laugh.
"Bad boy, do you still want a silver mountain?" Niya smiled and pinched her son's little face affectionately, as if stroking a little baby. Cat, it feels so good on my hands
Otto suddenly muttered: "Maybe it's possible. "
"A mountain of silver?" Niya asked.
"Why not?" Otto stretched out his right hand and pointed at a bag of silver, "He is a born businessman. His silver coins were increasing. I'm afraid that if we don't get out this year, we won't be able to fit the boxes in our house. "
"Is this...really?" Niya opened her eyes wide.
As a wife, Niya has to manage her husband's property, because that is all her family's property, a large amount The silver coins and a small amount of gold coins prove the wealth.
Otto continued: "I also need to find a carpenter to make a big box for Rurik to put his silver mountain. He also needs to find a beautiful woman for him to take care of the silver mountain for him. "
Rurik suddenly cheered up when his father said something very sensitive.
He suddenly said: "Dad, do I really need a woman to take care of my money?"
“Of course, this is tradition. ”
“That’s good. A smile appeared on Rurik's lips, and he stared at Rumia, who was still sewing clothes. "As for a woman, I choose Rumia." "
Children's words are unbridled? As soon as these words came out, Rurik's parents were stunned on the spot, and the scene instantly became stiff. Along with Rumia, the movements of her hands also stopped.
"What...what's going on? There's something wrong with my decision?"
"You! "Niya pinched her son's chin again, her big eyes andHer stiff face fully showed her surprise, "My child, are you in love with this woman? Do you really plan to marry her?"
The mother's words were so abrupt. Now, it was the turn of Liu. Rick was shocked.
Rumia was also shocked. Her hands were trembling. Thinking about how kind Rurik had been to her these days, a master cared too much for a servant. Didn't he have any other requirements?
Is the so-called request just a marriage contract?
Rumia did not dare to say a word, she knew that she had no right to speak.
"Me? How could I marry her!?" Faced with the sharp eyes of his parents, Rurik quickly explained, "Does it mean that I want her to take care of my property because I want to marry her?"
p>"Isn't it? Even if you are the leader, your wife will take care of your property. This is how we are, that is the wife's obligation." Niya explained seriously.
Rurik thought about it carefully and found that the residents of the tribe seemed to live this way, but this concept was too simple and original.
If the tribe needs to develop further, the leader must consider hiring people to take care of his wealth. A big family will have a professional butler, and a company will have a professional accountant, let alone a gradually developing political entity.
Now, there are some big things that I have to make a solemn statement about.
Rurik said loudly: "I don't want to marry her, but she is my servant and someone I trust. I will marry a wife in the future, but before that, I need her for my money." Help take care of it."
"But wouldn't this be appropriate?" Niya asked doubtfully, "This has never happened before."
Rurik had an idea. "Now we have it. No child could earn a lot of money before, but I did it. The money is mine, and there will be more and more money!"
He became more and more excited as he spoke, "I also promised Give her a gift, what do you think I should give her?"
"Is it her promise to take care of your money?" Otto suddenly asked.
"No, but it has something to do with money. Rumia, don't be nervous anymore, raise your head and look at me."
Rumia is not nervous? How is that possible! She had just speculated that Rurik had special feelings for her.
Because even in the ancient Sami community, the age of marriage is very early. It is said that the ancients did not have puberty. The situation in this time and space is similar all over the world.
Rumia is not an idiot, she understands this.
She originally thought that she would marry into another family of deer farmers, have some children, and live a peaceful life in an extremely cold place. She never thought that she would be kidnapped by the Varyags and become a servant.
Could I have a chance to become the future leader’s wife? That’s crazy. What if that becomes a fact?
Obviously it is unrealistic, but it is reasonable to take care of the owner's property? Isn't it also incredible?
In full view of everyone Next, Rurik put his little hand into his pocket and took out a stack of silver coins at random.Coin looked into Rumia's eyes and said solemnly: "Rumia, you have contributed a lot to making soap. Maybe you feel that you are a servant and cannot be paid like those priests. Now I will give You deserve these silver coins."
"What? You!" Otto was shocked. The so-called servant, this Rumia, is the property of his son, but he has property for the servant. reason.
It is indeed difficult for Otto to accept his son's shocking decision.
Niya also advised, "My child, that's enough. You don't need to give her any money, she is just a servant."
The reason for the parents' objection is too ridiculous. Doesn't a servant count? Human?
Yes, Rurik guessed that this is what his parents thought, and this concept spread throughout the tribal alliance.
It is impossible for a child to speak some big principles with his mouth and change this backward concept instantly. The tribe needs time to become civilized.
He cannot change everyone for the time being, at least start with his own family.
Rurik suddenly stood up, walked straight into Rumia, and stood in front of her.
He held the money bag in his right hand and held the girl's arm in his left hand.
This move seems to indicate that the two are in an alliance.
"I just want to give her something. The first fifteen bars of soap were the last work she did. She was almost so tired that she vomited blood. According to the standard of silver coins given to priests, she had to get at least three. Since Mom and Dad, you think this is incredible, then change it."
Rurik also had an idea, because silver is silver, and it can be made into various things by melting it, such as silver bowls. The value of silver. There is no obvious change. At most, a processing fee will be added?
Pure silver has a low melting point, so it is easy to smelt and cast silverware. The only consideration is how to obtain a large amount of silver.
"Dad." He looked at his father Otto, "I want to give her a gift. I want to make a silver ornament for her. I will melt it with the silver coins in my hand and make a necklace for her. What do you think?"
"This..." Looking at his son's determined eyes, Otto didn't want to be overbearing. Because the son has made a concession.
Silver is silver, but when it is melted and made into jewelry, the situation becomes a little different. Because once jewelry is made, basically no one uses it as a medium of transaction unless it can be easily minted into Chen He silver coins.
The problem is that the recast silver coins need to have a Roman seal, and the textiles must be highly similar. Otherwise, ordinary businessmen will be very suspicious that lead is deliberately added to the recast silver coins to pass them off as inferior.
Otto shrugged, and he pulled his wife to signal that she should stop objecting.
Besides, Otto suddenly remembered something that he needed to take his son Rurik to complete in the next few days.
"Then make her a silver jewelry." Otto sighed, "Rurik, as long as you don't regret your decision."
"I have absolutely no regrets. "Rurik said firmly.
"Well, I can find a good blacksmith to make her a good pendant inlaid with amber, and I can also engrave some inscriptions on it to show that she is your servant. . "
"Ah? Blacksmiths can also make jewelry?" Rurik was very happy about the change in his parents' attitude. Now he feels fresh about blacksmithing.
"It's not surprising. . "Otto deliberately showed his son the ruby on the hilt of his precious sword. "Look at this, the gem is inlaid with silver. I'll take you and your servant to the blacksmith tomorrow, it's settled! "
"Ah! So fast. "Rurik was overjoyed.
"Not just this, the main thing is to order an iron sword for you. You have to understand that since you have the money, you have to pay the iron sword's deposit and final payment. As a father, I will give you a chance to be independent today. "
Rurik nodded deeply.
"There is also the pendant of your servant. You also paid for the cost of making it. You can even ask the blacksmith to decorate it with gemstones, but it will cost more. I think you are happy to dress your servants. Your child is indeed different. ”
Listen, Rurik, the blacksmiths of the tribe are really complex talents. Can a blacksmith also be a silversmith, a jeweler, and a gem expert?
What kind of talents are these? ! Such people exist in the tribe?
Rurik didn’t care about this at all before, but now he has to pay close attention to it.
If he comes into contact with these magical blacksmiths, in the future. The custom is to ask them to do more for themselves.