Chapter 7: The Furnace

Upon hearing these words, Gao Wen fell silent, placing the plate in his hand down. He did not know how to express himself or comment, and he found it somewhat difficult to look directly at the food in the plate, which he had previously considered coarse. The things that you take for granted a thousand years later are all gifts from those who came before, born from pain and the remains of the dead. Even something as trivial as a stove—these villagers, day after day, year after year, consume food as cold as iron, engage in the most arduous labor, and endure the exploitation of the emperor's tax collectors. To even light a stove for a hot meal, they must sacrifice one or even two months' worth of labor wages. Yet, it is all a gift from those who came before, born from pain and the remains of the dead. Even something as trivial as a stove—these villagers, day after day, year after year, consume food as cold as iron, engage in the most arduous labor, and endure the exploitation of the emperor's tax collectors. To even light a stove for a hot meal, they must sacrifice one or even two months' worth of labor wages.

On the plate were some berries, acorns, and chestnuts, while the jar contained some goat's milk. Gawain took a couple of sips, only to vomit it back out through his mouth and nose. He felt as if several pieces of black iron had been stuffed into his entire abdomen, causing his whole body to tremble from the pressure and agitation. He leaned against the porch column, his feet still resting in the snow, and his hand holding the plate and food trembled incessantly. The surrounding villagers were murmuring among themselves, though he could not discern what they were saying.

Peter bent down, looking at him as if he could see right through him, "Continue eating, eat until it's all gone. We owe it to the villagers. I have already mentioned that we will paint murals for the small church in the village, and we will also create some wooden panels to be used as icons for the celebrations."

This area is a border line where various forces intertwine, and it is possible to encounter patrols from the Kingdom of Rome, Byzantine Roman soldiers, troops from Zahas, and even more likely, bandits and robbers

Who is that character

Two individuals stand in the snow, facing a dilapidated and desolate village, a common sight in Asia Minor. The farmers once gathered around fertile orchards and wheat fields, forming settlements. However, twenty years ago, the border defenses of the Byzantine Roman Empire completely collapsed, and the Turks and Turkmen surged in like sand, transforming the land into their pastures. Warfare, plunder, and slaughter obliterated the once scattered rural life in this area. Many farmers fled across the strait in search of a livelihood, while those who remained endured a life of extreme misery.

What can I do

The elder, as if having obtained a treasure, held the key and hurried back to the assembly hall, repeatedly exclaiming, "Now we can have hot food." Peter also wore a joyful expression. They walked to a house beside the hall, used the key to unlock the door, and entered. Then, Gavin smelled the aroma of hot food and made an effort to open his eyes, seeing the curling smoke rising from the tall chimney of the house.

The elder then called out, and along with several villagers, they prepared some soup and meat, placing them into a clay urn. They then walked to a more imposing house at the village entrance, which had a tiled roof. They knocked on the door, and soon a well-dressed individual emerged, standing arrogantly in the snow, looking at Gao Wen, who was shivering under the eaves, his eyes beginning to redden. The individual disdainfully exchanged a few words with the elder, after which the elder and the villagers half-knelt, kissing the hem of the individual's garment and his boots, and produced a few coins from their pockets, handing them to the man. He counted the coins and then sneered again, before taking out a key and placing it in the elder's hand.

Thus, the subsequent matters are quite simple. Although they are still several dozen miles away from the city of Prusa, they can no longer endure and can only resort to begging for alms. This is equally feasible for monks throughout history and across cultures.

After the song at the beginning of the picture book was finished, if they had not eaten, they would have collapsed from hunger. Gao Wen thought, feeling as if a storm was raging in his stomach, in excruciating pain like being cut by a knife

Before long, the two sat in place, directly grabbing the broth, mushrooms, and wheat rice from the plate, eating heartily, with hot tears, sweat, and mucus streaming down their faces.

However, Peter and Gavin were in a more dire situation. The meager food they had scavenged from the corpses had long been consumed, and Peter had never taken out the half loaf of bread he had hidden in his bundle, thinking it should be saved for a critical moment when it might save his life

Please be sure to find some hot food, please be sure to find some hot food! In return, I can paint a complete set of biblical scenes on the easel in the small church in the village!" Peter continuously bowed and pleaded with the villagers.

In the past, whenever Gao Wen went skiing, swimming, climbing, or hiking, he was always accompanied by beautiful women, enjoying boundless scenery and pleasures. However, now before him stands a tattered old man.

The stove and firewood are both very expensive, and this village has only this one place, which belongs to the emperor.

Fortunately, several ragged villagers emerged, holding rough plates and jars, inviting them to stand under the eaves of the village hall to shelter from the rain and snow, and to enjoy some "meager but also the best they could procure" food

Peter looked at him with a very strange expression, "Because cooking hot food requires a stove"

A few children followed behind Gao Wen, throwing small stones and clapping their hands while singing, "Oh, the tall Varangian, crossing seven treacherous rapids, has come here to make a living. He has no shoes, no clothes, not even a scabbard for his rusty sword."

It seems that neither of the two can communicate, and Gao Wen is even more perplexed, "Isn't there a stove here?"

At this point, Gao Wen's digestive system had gradually revived, restoring its joyful and comfortable peristalsis, the warmth throughout his body had returned, and he had the strength to explore this world that felt unfamiliar to him. "Why is it so difficult to heat up a meal?"

Thus, Peter and Gavin mutually agreed that Gavin would wear the common headscarf of the Crescent Moon followers, leading the black mare, while Peter walked behind with a cane—if they encountered the Turks, they would say that Peter was a pilgrim captured as a slave by Gavin; but if they met the Byzantines, they would say that Gavin was a convert to Christianity, escorting the hermit Peter.

Go buy paint, and also cut out appropriately sized square or round wooden boards

The tax officials appointed by the emperor in various villages, who are in charge of the ledgers, records, and stoves, require us to pay in order to receive the hot food cooked on the stove, and they then remit this tax to the emperor

Peter looked around, understood, and then stood up to address the villagers, saying, "My friend here hopes to have a hot meal; otherwise, his body cannot withstand it"

After Gao Wen agreed, he lowered his head and continued to eat until the plate was completely clean

"I have heard that the Varangians can eat anything raw; they simply mix raw meat and raw fish with honey to make a dish," said an elder from the village, looking strangely at the retching and trembling Gavin.

Peter sang the "Hymn to Saint Eulalia," which was truly melodious and grand, while Gawain also opened his mouth, following along in a mixed manner.

Fortunately, the snow has sealed the mountains, and the continuous inclement weather has dampened the spirits of the patrol teams. They encountered no significant dangers along the way and arrived at the mountainous area near the city of Prusa, which is temporarily under the control of the Byzantine Roman Emperor