Broken Sword's
Ch. 11: City District

The journey from village to city is not so far away if you take a cow cart or horse carriage. It's just that today has passed from the schedule of cow carts that used to rent transportation services. Gana fixed Fang's posture sitting on his shoulders, walking takes at least three or four hours.

The sky is cloudy, the sun peeks occasionally and the weather is not so hot. Fang wiggles his legs and sings a song with lyrics that Gana doesn't understand. "What are you singing about?"

"Either. I just opened my mouth!" Fang lied without a burden. It was not a chant but rather a magic spell that was read in a tone for easy memorization. I'm afraid that Fang forgot the basics of Matra magic!

"Singing again. I'll memorize it and sing along."

Of course Fang did not comply. It's risky if Gana is overwhelmed and heard by a talent for magic. Fang's concealment can be revealed! The witches would see incongruity and discover that the soul on this small body was the soul of the middle-aged man.

"Fang?"

"Dad, I'm thirsty. Drink up!"

Gana stopped, lowered her son and opened the lid on the bamboo tube she was carrying. Slowly helping Fang drink.

"Come on."

Fang held Gana's hand, "i'll walk with dad."

"You sure?"

Nodding like a pecking chicken, Fang walked for two hours and did not complain. Actually the heel of her leg hurts, but Fang is afraid that Gana will have her cast a spell as a chant.

The entrance of the county town guarded two big fat guards. Fang pinched the side of his stomach, would he be that big? Can it?

The guards stopped everyone who was about to enter the county town and checked the identification. Gana's turn, the man pulled out a piece of family certificate paper about his name, address, and age. The guard looked quickly and let go.

The hustle and bustle of the city was not as crowded as Fang thought. People who live in the lower regions very rarely spend their money and come to town when there are one or two things missing and less at home.

Shopping in the market for cooking needs is done before sunrise, and it is now exactly eleven o'clock at noon. Local people are either working or living at home.

Gana crouched down, peeking at Fang whose face was covered in a woven bamboo hat. Pinching Fang's cheek, Gana held her child in front. In Fang's heart of relief, his two legs already felt thirsty. So sore.

The first goal of father and son is a bank to exchange one piece of paper money for a large bag of gold coins. The attendant who served Gana was sweating nervously, afraid of making counting mistakes because it had not been long ago worked.

Counting twice and no miscalculation, Gana left the bank and headed to the farmhouse. The guard selling was a young man dressed in faded clothes but being polite. Gana immediately said the reason for her coming. "What age do you need a cow? Yesterday two heifer and one adult bull were sent to our place"

Fang shut Gana's mouth, "still young!"

Adult cows are not known to be of their original age. Sellers may lie to sell. The guard also did not take offense when Fang cut off the conversation. The father brought his son to come, most likely the reason for buying because of the child himself.

"Boiled teenage female cows are less than a year old. Come." Comehere."

Cows smaller than the other two stand still inside the enclosure, eating no fresh dried grass. But there is something strange about the young cow, when the front left leg is slightly limping.

"He's disabled!" They seem dissatisfied.

The guard hurried to explain. "No, no, no. Don't misunderstand me first. The cow accidentally tripped which sprained the front one time."

Fang can tell which one is broken or not. There was no abnormal arch on the cow's foot, the guard said honestly.

Gana half-believing and not believing, "How much?"

Dodging both hands happily, the guard reached out one of the hands and hinted a number with a finger. "Three gold pieces. The young cows are very good. You have nothing to lose."

The guard who counted the money patted Gana on the chest as if to convince her not to worry. "Of course, of course."

***

The shops that open mostly sell objects, Fang who will be invited to buy chicken at the restaurant pulled Gana's hand. "Dad, there."

Go into a shop that sells dagger blades and accessories. Gana is also interested, the dagger on display is made with a unique and beautiful handle. Fang wasn't interested in that, but his eyes accidentally saw a yellow stone that was one in series with a red stone back then!

Before his little hand touched the stone, the shopkeeper cleared his throat. "This yellow stone is sold cheaply, only fifty silver coins."

Gana's eyes are rounded. It is worth almost one gold coin! "Fang, you want to?"

"Empiring. No money." Fang touched the pouch on the pants, he only had ten silver coins.

"The father bought it. But your eating should be reduced. How's it?"

Thinking seriously. Fang chose not to buy. All valuable things are not so important when compared to food.

"Not to." Fang walked out of the store and went towards the restaurant.

Gana.

The shopkeeper was also a little annoyed. This yellow stone is one of the heirlooms in the store and not comparable to rice?!

Ashamed, Gana coughs to reduce guilt. "Buy. This is the money."

The shopkeeper nodded. Today's customers are pretty weird.

Fang who did not know that the yellow stone was purchased had already drooled at the food counter. The shopkeeper stared amusedly, "little brother, what do you want to order?"

Fang handed the entire silver coin to the waiter, "Sister, I want to know and chicken cut soy sauce!"

The shopkeeper placed Fang's order on the plate and brought Fang to the table. When Gana came, Fang had already eaten half of the cut chicken.

This child is not inexhaustible.

"You forgot what mom said? Lunch should be at home."

Fang swallowed. "Let's just calm dad. I still have room for lunch!"

Gana's anxious.pulling lightly braids Fang's hair. "Is there anything else you want to eat?"

Fang complained inwardly. His old father was always changing. It was banned, now it offers. "I want to add chicken soy sauce. three."

Dropping in front of a food counter, Gana ordered three pieces of chicken and a few snacks of pastries to take home.

"Our place also has a new cake variant. Do you want to try?"

"What flavor?"

The waiter explained. "There's a lemon flavor, a little sour but it can still be consumed by children as well as a Blueberry flavor."

The two cakes the waiter introduced looked beautiful and delicious. "Wrap five for each new variant. Then this one too."