SC1 7.3 – Yuko is A Nut
As soon as I entered the front yard, Kazuyori immediately walked over to me with dagger glare.
“Where are you last night?”
“I was trying a night hunt.” I showed the harvest in my hands as I continued, “And the result is pretty good.”
“Are you hunting the whole night?”
“Yeah.”
“You didn’t fooling around waste money, did you?”
“As if I have money to waste,” I sourly protested.
“Put the harvest and the firewood on the ground,” Kazuyori firmly said. “Let me search you.”
In an instant I let out a sigh, didn’t argue. Then, Kazuyori sniffed my clothes. Once she was sure I had no trace of alcohol or perfume, she meticulously searched my body. Of course, she found nothing. Even so, her suspicious eyes didn’t demise in the slightest.
“Sanno, tell me honestly, did you received tips from Warrior Deitoro?”
“I didn’t,” I calmly replied. “I recommended Yunno and Yui to Warrior Deitoro because I knew he would treat them well, not because I want some tips.”
“This is not like you at all,” Kazuyori said as deep frown appeared in her wrinkled forehead. “Last time I tried to sell Yunno and Yui, you were so angry, to the point I believed you would kill me if I truly sold Yunno and Yui.”
“If it can lead them into a better life, I don’t mind to let Yunno and Yui go.” I heaved a deep sigh before coldly added, “But I will still hate you for let them go.”
“You just a fool who know nothing about the way of the world,” Kazuyori grumbly said. “Someday, when Manno graduate and elevate our household’s status, you will thank me.”
“I truly hope Third Brother graduate soon.”
“He will and it will be followed by prosperity of our household. That’s why we have to support him by any means necessary.”
“I will do my best.” I didn’t want talking with Kazuyori more than I had to, so I didn’t argue and went to other direction. “And starting today I will hunt at night to increase the harvest.”
“What about the firewood? Winter will arrive soon but we don’t have enough firewood.”
“I will collect some in the morning like today, but you should send other kids in the household to collect it too.”
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“They are still too young to collect firewood.”
“Yunno and Yui are younger than them when they start collecting firewood.”
“Yunno and Yui are not member of the household. It’s normal for them to work harder than other kids.”
“Mother,” I coldly said. “Right now I don’t have Yunno and Yui to help me. You have to consider other option other than just adding my burden.”
“Fine. I will send other kids to collect firewood too.” Kazuyori said in a sharp tone, but at least she didn’t push me further. “But today you have to deliver our chickens and purchase paper of Yunno and Yui to Warrior Deitoro.”
“When will the purchase paper be ready?”
“Village Chief promised me it will be ready at noon.”
“I will deliver it as soon as it’s ready.” Then, I pointed at the harvest on the ground. “Can you hand over them to First Brother and Second Brother before they go to check their snares?”
Without word Kazuyori took the harvest and hung it in the terrace. As for me, I went to put the firewood to firewood stash and then washed my body. It was only a few minutes before breakfast, so I immediately went to dining hall.
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Today breakfast was as same as usual, smelly bean curd and steamed vegetable. The only different was that Yuko gave me a dagger glare the whole time. I tried my best to ignore it but it made her glare became sharper. Fortunately, breakfast in Tadaoka Household was always quick.
I then went to check Bonnie-01 and her sisters. As I suspected, they didn’t get enough breakfast. Their gizzard was far from full. Wasting no time, I took some grass worm from my spatial storage and feed them to Bonnie-01 and her sisters. After that I prepared the cage to transport them. If I tied their legs and wing, three cages that I stacked together would be enough to carry Bonnie-01 and her sisters in one trip.
Then, while I tied and stacked the cages I heard Tanno and Manno complained to Kazuyori because their kids had to collect firewood starting tomorrow. However, Kazuyori chewed them without spiting a bone and ended the fight in a few minutes. Well, I didn’t give a damn about it so I just ignored it.
However, suddenly I felt a chill in my back. I immediately checked my surrounding and could only sigh as I found Yuko walked straight to me. Her sharp glares clearly told me that she wanted to beat me up into a pulp.
Honestly, Yuko’s attitude was annoying and would waste my time, but I couldn’t blame her. She just had big love and care for Yunno and Yui. And so, I braced myself to withstand her wrath.
As soon as she arrived in front of me Yuko angrily said, “Fourth Brother, why did you recommend Yunno and Yui to a weird warrior?”
“Because it will give them better life,” I calmly replied.
“Bullshit!”
“Well,” I calmly said. “Can you tell me what had worried you, specifically?”
“We have no guarantee that Warrior Deitoro will treat Yunno and Yui kindly.”
“I guarantee Warrior Deitoro and his wife will treat Yunno and Yui like their own daughters.”
“How could you so sure?” Yuko asked while looking at me straight to the eyes.
“Warrior Deitoro and his wife are not stranger to me. I know them since three years ago,” I explained as I continued stacking the chicken cages.
“Fourth Brother, can you tell me other people in Sendai or Rokube who also know them since three years ago?”
“Nope, for three years they stayed reclusively while healing their internal injury, and I was the only person who helped them search medicinal herb.”
“Then, to whom I can confirm your words that you know Warrior Deitoro since three years ago?”
‘What a smart chick.’
I complained while inwardly doing my best to arrange a believable bullshit, but in the end I couldn’t find irrefutable excuse. Not to mention, the stubbornness in Yuko’s eyes told me that she won’t believe my explanation even if it was reasonable enough.
So, my only option was to take Yuko to meet and talk with Kato. I had a hunch that Kato would be able to handle Yuko’s worry. But if it’s not the case and the two went into a fierce argument, at least it would be a chick versus another chick and spared me from a headache of handling Yuko’s stubbornness.
After taking a deep breath I said, “How about this, in a few days I will take you to visit Yunno and Yui to check their condition.”
“Take me to visit them today,” Yuko said in domineering tone.
“In a few days or never,” I firmly replied.
“Fine,” Yuko agreed, but her sharp glare didn’t demise at all.
Then, I got up to my feet and put forward Yuko’s hair pin and money. “Warrior Deitoro’s wife asks me to return it to you.”
“I already gave it to Yunno,” Yuko coldly said.
“Don’t be stubborn and reckless,” I firmly said. “Warrior Deitoro and his wife will ensure Yunno and Yui have enough food, roof, clothes, and education.
On the other side, if mother knows they have your hairpin and money, she will definitely accuse them of stealing it and make a fuss to get interest.”
“Fine,” Yuko grumbly said, but she took the hairpin and money back at least.
“Yuko, listen to me,” I gently said. “I understand if you don’t trust Warrior Deitoro, but unlike Warrior Hisami who would bring Yunno to a faraway place, Warrior Deitoro and his wife are staying in South Ridge. Therefore, I can check Yunno and Yui situation whenever I want.”
“Fourth Brother, just make sure you take me to visit Yunno and Yui in a few days, or I will stab your calf when you are sleeping.”
‘This chick is a nut,’ I inwardly complained before saying, “You have my words.”
Yuko then left while I continued my work peacefully. After that, while waiting for the purchase document I spent my time preparing study material for Yunno and Yui.
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