Bernard was obviously stunned when he heard that Gervais would also pay silver coins in advance.

"Thank you Lord Gervais for your generosity. I will start forging it for you tomorrow. It can be completed within a month."

It is normal for poor people to come to the blacksmith shop and pay some wages in advance. After all, it is common for the blacksmith to build something and no one comes to pick it up. Paying some wages in advance can save a lot of losses.

The wages paid by the nobles in advance were very small. This was the first time that Bernard had met him after so many years of blacksmithing, especially when Gervais took the initiative to pay.

Nobles generally pride themselves on being noble. If a blacksmith asks a noble to pay wages in advance, it is an insult to the noble master, and he will most certainly be dragged out and given dozens of whips.

Another reason is that as long as they are nobles, it is absolutely easy to find them locally, and there is no such thing as finding someone to receive the goods once they are made.

Unless something is built, the noble lord doesn't want to pay, which happens from time to time.

"No need to thank me, just guarantee the quality." Gervais also knew that nobles did not need to pay wages in advance. They would have to pay them sooner or later anyway, so they might as well pay them quickly. After all, the iron used to make his own batch of swords and bucklers was

It also requires a lot of materials, which saves the construction period from being delayed due to financial problems.

It is urgent to recruit soldiers by yourself. The sooner the long sword is forged, the sooner you can equip them and train them.

"By the way, Bernard, can you make leather armor?" Suddenly, Gervais thought of another question and asked Bernard.

The production of leather armor seems very simple, but there are many tricks involved. The most important thing is the processing of the leather. If it is not handled well, it will not only have no defensive effect, but will rot in a few months.

Gervais suddenly remembered that there was a mountain boar skin in his castle, so he asked about it by the way.

Leather armor in this world is generally made of boar skin or cowhide, and the effects of both are similar. The defensive power of leather armor mainly relies on the iron sheets inlaid on the leather armor.

The defensive function of leather armor is generally to defend against slashes. If it is stabbed directly, it will have the same effect as Ik's day, which is better than nothing.

However, leather armor is the most economical type of defensive armor. Many nobles, big and small, equip their soldiers with leather armor. Only a few elites can equip chain mail or other types of armor.

"Lord Gervais, if you can provide the leather, I can make it for you. A piece of leather armor costs 4 silver coins."

Weapons and protective gear are all matching. Since Bernard can forge long swords, he must also forge armor. Leather armor is also a type of protective gear, so Gervais received a positive answer from Bernard.

"Very good, you gave me a big surprise, Mr. Bernard." Gervais glanced at Bernard again. Although weapons and protective gear are indeed indistinguishable, there are many blacksmiths who can't even make weapons.

Well, an all-rounder like Bernard is indeed rare.

"I also want to make 20 pieces of leather armor, but there is only one mountain boar skin in my castle. I will send someone to deliver it later. You can help me make two pieces first, and you can help me with the rest after I find the leather.

Let's do it." Gervais thought for a while, since Bernard can do it, he doesn't have to look far away. As for the leather, Gervais is going to mobilize the people to see if he can catch a few more wild boars.

A mountain boar skin weighing three to four hundred pounds can probably be used to make two pieces of leather armor. All you need to do is catch nine more. The wild resources in this world have not been over-exploited, so it is easy to catch a few if you want.

"No problem, Lord Gervais."

"Very well, Mr. Bernard, it's settled. I'm looking forward to your craftsmanship. See you next time."

After the matter was finalized, Gervais did not stay any longer. There was nothing else to do if he continued to stay here. Moreover, he also felt a little uncomfortable because he stayed in the hot and stuffy environment of the blacksmith shop for too long.

"You will definitely be satisfied by then. Just go slowly." Bernard bowed and said goodbye.

…

"Anna, are you really not going to participate?"

In a small town, in a dilapidated thatched hut, a girl was squatting on the ground, adding firewood to the mud stove from time to time. The small clay pot on the stove had a broken corner, and there was a puff of steam.

It came straight out from the gap, and the smell mixed with herbs filled the entire thatched shed.

"I'm not going, Yura, go quickly, leave me alone, or you will miss it." Anna squatted on the ground to add firewood, looking at the stove with a pair of big eyes, a little distracted, the strong firelight in the stove was imprinted on the girl's fair skin.

There was light and dark on her face, but the girl didn't know what she was thinking.

"But if you don't go, your mother won't get well, and you also learned writing from Brian. As long as the housekeeper knows, he will definitely choose you to be a maid in the castle. This is a rare opportunity. You

We can't miss it like this." Standing behind Anna was a girl about the same age as her. The girl's skin was slightly darker. Seeing Anna unmoved at this moment, she looked very anxious.

"If I become a maid in the castle, no one will take care of my mother!" Anna remained unmoved. Only when she thought of her mother did she turn her face sideways and look to the side, which was made of stones and broken wooden boards.

On the bed, a pale woman was lying on the bed. Although the woman had fallen asleep, she still coughed from time to time.

Yura and Anna are very good friends. Yesterday, when he heard that the castle was going to choose a maid, he was very happy. Although she may not be able to choose it, Yura felt that Anna would definitely be chosen, because Anna is

The only literate girl in the town.

When she couldn't wait to tell Anna the good news, Anna was not ready to go to the square to participate in the maid selection. She had to take care of her only relative, her mother who had been ill in bed for more than three months.

"Anna, as long as you become a maid, you can use your salary to find someone to take care of your mother, and you can also save money to go to other towns to buy medicine to treat your mother." As time passed, Yura became more and more anxious.

, the tone of speaking also began to improve.

"If you look like this, you and your mother will be hungry in a few days."

After Yura said these words, Anna, who had been absent-minded, finally had a slight reaction and asked with a slight hesitation: "But it will take at least a month to get the salary. If I become a maid, I will not get it within this month."

Someone took care of my mother."

"Idiot Anna, as long as you become a maid in the castle, will people worry that you have no money to give her? You can just owe her money first, and then give it to others after you are paid!"

Seeing that Anna finally made some changes, Yura immediately became happy. Although the life of Yura's family was also very difficult, she had a capable father and an adult brother, and she could barely make ends meet.

But Anna's family is different. Anna has no father. Her mother is a woman after all, and the harvest from farming is not high. Although the well-behaved Anna also found a job in the small town to support the family, her family's life is still difficult.

.

Three months ago, Anna's mother fell ill. Anna quit her job to take care of her mother. It can be said that Anna's family has fallen into despair.

Yura knew that the castle's choice of maid this time was the last straw for Anna's family, but Anna was too concerned and confused and didn't think about it.

"Na Yura, you go first. I'll give the medicine to my mother first, and I'll be here soon." Anna was finally persuaded. Ever since she heard the news about the castle's selection of maids yesterday, she had also fantasized about becoming a maid, dressed in

Nice new clothes and a job in the castle with a good salary.

It's just that her mother needs to be taken care of, so Anna has to give up. This matter has made Anna feel lost for a day and a night, but for the sake of her mother, she has no complaints.

"I'm here to help you. After giving the medicine, we'll go together." Yura didn't really go alone first, but quickly brought a wooden bowl and spoon to help Anna.

…

…
Chapter completed!