Chapter 269 Saying Goodbye to the Old and Welcoming the New

On the morning of December 31st, Harvest Church in the south area of ​​the bridge.

Emlyn White was wearing a priest's robe, standing in the kitchen, throwing different herbs into the large iron pot from time to time, and supplemented by a certain amount of stirring.

After all the materials prepared in advance were put away, he waited patiently for another ten minutes before scooping up the black liquid inside with an iron spoon and pouring them into the glass bottles and glasses next to them.

48, 49, 50... Emlyn glanced at the empty iron pot and counted the prepared potions.

After confirming the quantity, he picked up the large tray and sent the bottles of dark green liquid to the hall.

In the hall, most of the prayer seats were removed, and the floor was covered with tattered quilts, in which were lying sleeping or groaning plague-infected people.

Emlyn cooperated with Father Utravsky, each holding some potions, and started distributing them from two directions.

The first in line was a middle-aged man with a sallow complexion. He got up halfway, took the potion, and gulped it down.

Handing back the bottle, he gratefully said to Emlyn:

"Father White, thank you so much, I feel much better and have some strength again!"

Emlyn raised his chin and replied disdainfully:

"It's just a very small thing that doesn't deserve thanks, you guys are so uninformed."

After speaking, he accelerated the speed of distributing the medicine.

After about ten minutes, he returned to the altar of the Mother Earth and complained to Father Utravsky:

"You should find two more volunteers!"

Father Utravsky did not respond, looked at the patients, and smiled gently:

"In two or three days, they should be healed."

"How do you know?" Emlyn tilted his head in surprise.

Father Utravsky lowered his head benevolently, looked at him and said:

"Herbal medicine is one of the domains of the mother god. As a believer in her, although she is not in the 'earth' pathway, she still needs to understand basic common sense."

Emlyn clicked his tongue:

"I'm not interested in religion,

Not much is known about it. "

Although I have often copied the sacred scriptures of the Mother Earth in recent months... He added a little resentment in his heart, so he said casually:

"Father, I didn't expect you to accept heretics, and only two or three of them are followers of the Mother God."

Father Utravsky smiled indifferently:

"They are also life, innocent life."

Emlyn stayed for a few seconds, exhaled, and then said:

"Father, I have found a solution to the psychological suggestion, and I may leave here soon."

Wait, why am I bringing this up? I was touched by him, what if he locked me in the basement again? Emlyn suddenly became nervous.

Father Utravsky's expression remained unchanged, he looked down at Emlyn and said:

"Actually, you don't need to find a way. After a while, the psychological suggestion will be lifted naturally, and you can freely choose whether to come to church or not."

"Wait a little longer, and I'll become a Mother Goddess, no, a devout believer of the Earth Mother Goddess!" Emlyn blurted out.

Father Utravsky raised his eyebrows and said in a little surprise:

"I'm not forcing you to convert.

"The psychological hint I left is just to let you go back to the church every day, hoping that you can fully appreciate the preciousness of life and the joy of harvest."

"The only function of the psychological suggestion is to get me back to the church?" Emlyn's expression was dull.

Father Utravsky nodded frankly:

"Yes."

"..." Emlyn opened his mouth halfway, and slowly and mechanically turned his head to look at the altar and the holy emblem of life of the "Mother Earth Goddess", as if he had turned into a puppet in an instant.

…………

In the evening of December 31, Tingen, 2 Daffodil Street.

Benson entered the house, took off his hat and coat, and said with a smile:

"I've already booked a second-class seat for the steam train to Backlund on January 3."

Melissa, who was sitting in the dining room with a few newspapers spread out in front of her, said worriedly:

"Benson, the air in Backlund is too bad. Just a few days ago, tens of thousands of people died because of the poisoning and disease caused by the heavy smog..."

"This is really a regrettable and sad thing." Benson walked towards the restaurant and said with a sigh, "But the upper and lower houses have passed the report of the Air Pollution Investigation Committee, and there will be corresponding legislation to regulate the discharge of smog and waste water. We will be greeted by a new Backlund, you don't need to worry too much."

Having said that, he smiled sarcastically:

"When I came back from Iron Cross Street just now, I found that many factory owners from Backlund or their employees were recruiting there, saying that because of the smog and plague, the factories there were understaffed, so, They are willing to commit to working hours and minimum wages, which will be much better than the current prevailing standards, hehe."

"You think it's impossible?" Melissa asked sharply.

"When more and more people flock to Backlund, it is doomed to be impossible, unless the upper and lower houses can pass corresponding bills and directly make regulations." Benson spread his hands, pointed at the dining table, and said, "Okay Now, it's time for us to welcome the new year."

There were three sets of knives and forks, three empty china plates, and three cups on the dining table.

Of the three glasses, one is beer and the other two are ginger beers.

…………

December 31, night.

Dressed up, Audrey stood in the lounge, waiting for the start of the New Year's party, but from her expression, it was impossible to see the excitement, excitement and joy of the coming-of-age ceremony.

In front of her was a newspaper that read:

"...According to preliminary statistics, a total of more than 21,000 people died directly in the smog, and the subsequent plague took away nearly 40,000 people. There are many young children, healthy young men and women..."

Phew, Audrey couldn't help closing her eyes.

At this moment, her father, Earl Hall, and mother, Lady Caitlin, knocked on the door and came in, praising in unison:

"You are more beautiful than everyone tonight, baby, it's time to go out, the queen is waiting for you."

Audrey exhaled slowly, showing an elegant and bright smile, and accompanied by her father and mother, she walked out of the lounge and entered the party hall.

She walked all the way to the frontmost high platform, and in the astonishing eyes, she handed the hand of the elbow-length gauze glove to the queen.

The queen led her to the edge of the high platform, facing all the guests.

After a slight pause, the queen smiled and said:

"Although this is a dark period in Backlund's history, we still have a gem that can illuminate the entire city. Her wisdom, beauty, character, and etiquette are all impeccable.

"Today, I will officially introduce her to you.

"Miss Audrey Hall."

boom! boom! boom!

Outside the floor-to-ceiling windows, fireworks blasted into the sky, blasting out pieces of dreamy light one after another.

On the evening of the last day of 1349, Audrey officially came of age in a social sense.

…………

Afternoon of January 3, 1350.

On the outskirts of the Eastern District, in a newly opened cemetery,

Klein used divination to find the graves of the old Kohler and Liv's mother and daughter.

This is not a grave in the true sense, but a cabinet for storing urns, one after another, row after row, overlapping one after another.

Standing there, Klein saw that not only was there no photo and epitaph on the old Kohler's cabinet, but even his name was missing.

Similar situations are not uncommon. There are too many unowned ashes here whose relatives and friends cannot be found. No one knows what they were called, what they looked like, and what kind of experience they had. Interest, only the number on the cabinet can distinguish them.

Klein closed his eyes, took out a piece of post-it note, shook it into pieces of iron, and carved a word on the cabinet door:

"Kohler."

Then, he added the epitaph:

"He is a good worker. He once had a wife and a pair of children. He worked hard to live."

Withdrawing his wrist and flicking it, the black-haired, brown-eyed Klein with a thin face made the paper burn in his hand, as if paying homage to all the souls here.

For Daisy who lost her mother and sister, he did not directly help, but wrote to reporter Mike Joseph anonymously, describing the plight of the girl in detail, so as not to implicate the other party in his own affairs.

Reporter Mike has met Daisy, knows about her, and has enthusiastically promoted the establishment of the corresponding charity fund. Therefore, Klein believes that he will help Daisy get more assistance so that she can complete her basic studies and find enough A stable job to support yourself.

Taking two steps back, Klein looked around, and saw only the names and photos of the victims, and even the victims who didn't have these.

He raised his head, exhaled slowly, turned around, and left the cemetery.

On the steam train bound for Backlund, Melissa read the textbook intently, while Benson quickly chatted with the passengers around him.

"It's too expensive, it's too expensive, 10 soli, half a pound!" A man in his thirties sighed from the bottom of his heart, "If it wasn't for the fact that I couldn't buy a third-class seat and a boat ticket recently, I wouldn't have I won’t spend this money, it’s equivalent to most of my weekly salary!”

"Indeed, too many people go to Backlund after the New Year." Benson echoed.

The middle-aged man put away his distressed expression and said expectantly:

"Because they promised 21 soli a week and promised to work no more than 12 hours a day, we signed the contract!

"After I rent a house and get my first salary, let my wife also go to Backlund. She should also be able to find a good job. There are 12 or 13 soli a week. Backlund is said to be very short of people. ! At that time, ah, we will have a salary of more than 1.5 pounds a week, and we can often eat meat!"

"Your wish will definitely come true. The king has signed an order to allow the implementation of the bill stipulating minimum wages and working hours." Benson sincerely blessed him, and then smiled, "It's the 'Land of Hope'."

Woo!

The steam train arrived in Backlund with countless people full of hope. At this time, the sky was still bright, and the fog in the mid-air had thinned a lot, and the gas lamps hanging above the platform were no longer lit early.

Benson was very experienced in protecting his sister and wallet, carrying a suitcase, and walked out of the station along the crowd.

Suddenly, they felt a line of sight sweeping across at the same time.

Looking around, Benson and Melissa saw a young gentleman with neat black hair and dark brown eyes.

The gentleman wearing gold-rimmed glasses pressed his top hat, looked past them and into the distance.

Benson and Melissa also looked away, looking at the smoke-spraying pillars in the garden in the middle of the street, expecting to see Backlund's underground transportation.

Carrying his suitcase, Klein passed them straight and expressionless, and entered the departure station in the face of the large crowds pouring into the "Land of Hope" and the people with good expectations in their apprehension.

It was the worst of times, it was the best of times.

(End of the second part) Please use the latest domain name to read books on this site