Chapter 24: Brewer

After speaking, Lex walked forward.

Lynn didn’t stop him, just said calmly.

"I need a brewer."

Lex, who had just taken two steps, suddenly stopped in his tracks.

He turned back to Lynn, seriously examining him.

A tall and sturdy figure, dressed in a light blue coarse wool belted robe; beneath the dark short hair was a determined face.

Cheeks stained with dirt looked somewhat young, but those brown eyes were full of depth and steadiness.

Such attire was no different from a roadside free person.

However, Lex saw Kuisi and Red behind this young man.

Somewhat skeptical, Lex walked up to Lynn.

Lynn continued, "I need a brewer, but right now we need a few things to start brewing."

Lex blurted out, "Brewing isn’t hard; as long as there’s a medium-sized brewery, no... even a home brewery can start."

Lynn seemed troubled, "You’re quite right, but my manor hasn’t started constructing a brewery, not even any ingredients for brewing..."

Lex didn’t hesitate, "Sir... no, my lord! As long as you’re willing to hire me as a brewer, I can assist with all of that!"

Lynn shook his head, "I’ve calculated it carefully, and the time needed to start brewing is still too long, not worth it... Sorry for the bother, Mr. Brewer."

Lynn, with Kuisi and Red, walked past Lex in front of him.

Lex was stunned.

Just walked away like that?

Wasn’t the manor going to hire a brewer?

What exactly was that?

Walking ahead, Lynn glanced back with the corner of his eye.

As expected, Lex quietly followed, and the corners of Lynn’s mouth slightly curled up.

Approaching a villager with golden wheat, Lynn asked, "Madam, how are you selling wheat?"

The woman selling wheat saw the two attendants following Lynn and immediately beamed with a smile.

She said, "My lord, the winter wheat is not yet ripe; these are last year’s surplus, very fresh. Wheat is one penny per pound, and barley is five pounds for one penny."

Lynn nodded; one penny a pound for wheat was the market price.

Suddenly, Lex stepped up from behind.

The woman glared at Lex with disdain, about to speak.

Lex spoke first, "My lord, these wheat grains are full and plump, indeed good quality wheat."

"Whether for planting or brewing, they’re both excellent choices."

Hearing Lex’s praise, the disdain in the woman’s eyes instantly disappeared.

She echoed, "Yes, my lord, this gentleman knows good stuff; these are fine wheat!"

Lynn nodded, "I’d like one hundred and twenty-five pounds of barley after husks are removed."

After buying iron goods, these were the pennies left.

The smile on the woman’s face grew wider, "Alright, my lord, please wait a moment!"

A short wait.

The woman picked up a wooden spoon and started scooping the wheat; each scoop poured into the cloth bag with a rustling sound.

Shortly after, a cloth bag full of wheat lay in front of Lynn.

Without needing Lynn to speak, Red handed the bamboo basket to Kuisi, then lifted the fifty-five-pound sack of barley himself.

"Master Lynn, let me do it."

Red maintained a calm demeanor; for his physique, one hundred and twenty-five pounds was nothing.

Just as Lynn turned his gaze towards the iron goods, Lex spoke up first.

Lex said with a smile, "My lord, how can you do such coarse work yourself? Let me handle it."

Lynn’s face turned serious, "Mr. Brewer, you’re not a servant of my manor, you don’t need to do this."

Lex appeared earnest, "My lord, as you said, there’s no brewery constructed yet; that’s alright, Lex can guide on how to build one."

"Yeast is key to brewing, and I carry it with me."

"I am highly valuable, able to help you brew, and during spare time, can do some labor within my capability."

Lynn looked troubled, "But... Mr. Lex, I can’t offer you a salary..."

He was being honest.

After buying these iron goods and wheat, Lynn had spent all his pennies.

Lex spoke with determination, "My lord, as long as I can have a meal, not starve to death, I’ll be content!"

Gurgle!

As soon as Lex finished speaking, a growling sound came.

It was from beneath Lex’s clothes.

He hadn’t eaten for three days.

Penniless, if Lex didn’t find a job soon, he’d starve to death.

Lynn nodded, "If it’s just avoiding starvation, that’s manageable... But I need to know your identity."

Lex hesitated, but seeing Lynn’s direct gaze, he began to explain.

"My lord, I’m a free person," Lex said, "Because I made some mistakes, the previous lord chopped my arm, kicked me out to fend for myself... and I survived by luck."

Lex emphasized, "But rest assured, my lord, I have no complicated background. They didn’t want to hire me simply because I lack one arm, not being fit as labor."

Lynn nodded seriously, "I can take you in, and you won’t be my slave either! But I need you to follow my orders one hundred percent, as compensation, you won’t go hungry!"

Lex showed a delighted smile, "Thank you, my lord."

Lynn’s tone became stern, "However... if you betray me, I will kill you without hesitation!"

Behind Lynn, Red’s eyes slightly narrowed as he looked at Lex.

Not only that, Kuisi also fixed her gaze on Lex.

Lex earnestly said, "I understand, my lord!"

Lynn nodded, "Then follow me."

Willingly letting Lex join versus passively waiting for Lex to request joining.

The result is entirely different!

Even though there’s no brewery built yet, and the wild hops haven’t matured, Lex possesses Level 3 [Brewing] skills.

Even if hops can’t currently be added, Lex can use other ingredients for brewing.

Besides, Lex can also handle some simple farm work!

It’s enough.

As they were about to leave, Lynn saw a villager selling a mature plow ox.

He went up to inquire about the price.

Eight shillings!

Too expensive!

Penniless, Lynn stepped back.

However, to expand the planting scale, a plow ox is an essential farming tool.

Not lingering in Kent Village much longer.

Lynn, with Kuisi, Red, and Lex, walked along the forest road back.

Never noticing a figure standing at the village edge, watching them leave.

...

Lex nudged the slipping wheat sack with his knee, curiously asking Kuisi, "Ma’am, may I ask how many servants our lord has now?"

Kuisi glanced at him, "Let me count... one, two, three..."

Lex felt a bit relieved.

Seems like there’s a lot of slaves if this young woman can’t even remember them all.

Once at the lord’s manor, he’ll just need to focus on brewing.

Kuisi spoke, "Including you, there are four, oh and that includes Master Lynn."

Lex was instantly stunned.

Only four including Master Lynn?

Does that mean Master Lynn was just recently knighted?

And only has a few servants?

Lex suddenly felt a bit deceived.

Noticing Lex’s concern, Kuisi reassured him, "Don’t worry, Master Lynn is a good person."

Seeing the serene look in the young woman’s eyes, Lex’s nervousness gradually eased.

He’d never seen such a look in the eyes of other lord’s servants.