It's very difficult to get someone drunk with beer these days.
The village under the setting sun was bathed in the glow of the sunset.
The bonfire in the middle of the village crackled and popped, flames leaping high into the air.
It flew into the air, carrying tiny sparks with it.
Some villagers were dancing around the bonfire.
In the firelight, the indifference Ed had shown when he first arrived in the village was gone.
On the long tables next to them, steaming fish soup was being cooked. Although it didn't have many seasonings, it probably wouldn't taste too bad.
The little fish soup left in the large pots is the best proof.
The dried venison is simply roasted over a fire, and its surface becomes glossy.
When the oil droplets fell onto the fire, a sizzle and a puff of blue smoke rose up.
The man grilling the meat took a sharp sniff.
Ah! It smells so good!
The aroma wafted on the wind, attracting the children who had been waiting impatiently in the distance to keep looking this way.
And when the delicious roasted meat was placed into their eager mouths, its unique flavor filled their palates.
Both adults and children sped up their chewing, and then took a sip of ale for extra flavor.
(The feelings involved are something that outsiders like you and me can't understand.)
Ed watched all of this unfold.
He no longer felt like a noble lord, but merely a guide.
He wants to lead everyone into a new world.
He felt very happy watching everyone drinking and eating meat, laughing and chatting.
Ed's happiness is simple: it's the village right now.
Everyone has a Shangri-La in their heart, and Ed's Shangri-La is here.
"Everyone, stop for a second, I have something to say," Ed shouted to the revelers.
The noise stopped abruptly, and everyone stopped and looked at the young lord.
Ed looked at the crowd. The village used to have less than three hundred people, but now with the addition of Sugi and others, there were more than three hundred.
Ed cleared his throat and said:
"Since the start of spring planting, the territory has implemented some policy changes. Everyone has done a good job, especially since an iron mine was recently discovered in the territory, and all farm tools will be replaced with iron ones. Therefore, the territory will reclaim some wasteland."
This has made some people a little restless.
Ed looked around and continued, "The newly reclaimed land will all be used to reward those who have made contributions."
The steward mentioned this before, but everyone is still very excited to hear the lord bring it up again.
"Also, all the houses we live in now will be rebuilt after the autumn harvest. They will all have stone foundations and will be twice the size of the houses we live in now. All the livestock will be raised in the rabbit sheds from now on."
However, only the older villagers have these privileges; the fir trees and their neighbors don't receive them.
Everyone exclaimed in surprise, "Ah!" The lord is becoming more and more unpredictable; he actually wants to build new houses for everyone.
"Finally, the hunting team performed very well this time, and each person will receive a piece of venison and a small piece of newly cultivated land as a reward."
"Ah!" This time, there was not only surprise, but also envy.
Although everyone works on the lord's land, the taxes are high, and after paying the taxes, there's not much left.
In addition, crop yields were low, so each household had very little personal wealth.
Now, rewarding new land only requires paying a small tax, which means that others have more food than you.
How could anyone not envy you?
However, this also gave them a goal.
Shan Shu and others in the crowd were even more excited, even though it had nothing to do with them.
But as the lord said earlier, they will be able to live like these villagers in six months.
The nightmares of the past are over, and the good things to come are quietly approaching.
Ed looked at the villagers with their various expressions.
His thoughts drifted away again.
He seemed to hear someone reading again:
"The land was flat and spacious, the houses were neatly arranged, and there were fertile fields, beautiful ponds, mulberry trees and bamboo groves... The elderly and children alike were all enjoying themselves."
"Yes, let's call this place Peach Blossom Village from now on!"