As the Dew Festival approaches, there have been more tourists in Hopelaner recently.
Many of them came to participate in the festival, and since Verga was relatively stable and wealthy, many wealthy people from the West Wind came to seek refuge.
Colorful flags began to be planted in the streets and alleys of Hopeland. Many song and dance troupes from other places were also invited to Hopeland. On the temporary stage, dances with different styles began to be performed, and the whole city gradually entered the festive atmosphere.
Happy atmosphere.
The dancer with a gauze face and shiny black skin, and small bells on her wrists and ankles, danced to the brisk drumbeats, throwing five golden hoops like hula hoops into the air one after another, and then fell.
The black-haired dancer was wearing a cool short skirt and a tube top. Her body was extremely flexible. She lifted one foot easily and freely, forming a straight line with the other foot, catching a ring, and then the ring moved in a clever way.
Under the influence, it rotates along the calf, and then flies into the sky again.
Then she put one hand on the ground, drew a graceful arc in the air with her legs, turned her body over, caught a ring again with one wrist, and danced with the music, her black eyes full of life.
Next to the high wooden platform, there are 6 copper basins set up, with flames burning in them, illuminating the stage clearly.
"good"
"good!"
“One more”
Hundreds of spectators under the stage cheered and applauded the girl's superb dancing skills, and many wealthy people even threw money at the stage.
This is the main street near the center of Hopeland. Recently, industry guild personnel have set up several stages in the streets and alleys, inviting various artists to perform and enliven the festival atmosphere.
At the same time, the large amount of tourists who come to visit has greatly boosted the local economy. Some stores may make more money this month than in the previous year.
So it’s no wonder that industry associations attach so much importance to the Dew Festival.
Lorraine Hill and Lan Lier were also standing under the stage, watching the performance. Lan Lier was holding a lot of trinkets she had just bought in her hand.
"How about it? Ling Xin is very powerful, right?"
"Well, that's very bold."
Lorraine Hill looked at the girl on the stage. The exposed purple dance skirt rotated wantonly with the body, the flexible figure, and the passionate dance, showing a kind of sunshine beauty, just like the sun.
"Ling Xin and I are good friends. We are both third-year students and in the same college. Unexpectedly, she was not idle during the holidays and came here to perform with the dance troupe." Lan Lier introduced her good friend.
"Are there still colleges within Emenas?"
"Yes, Ling Xin and I both belong to the Tower Branch. Its full name is Tower Academy Overlooking All Things. It mainly teaches magic sequences and dragon sequences."
Lan Lier explained.
"If you come to Emenas, Lacey, the first-year students will all be taught in the central school building, and they will be divided into different schools in the second year."
"Stop tempting me." Lorraine Hill looked at Lan Li'er next to her angrily. Recently, she discovered that the blond girl had accepted bribes. After beating her up, Lan Li'er began to seduce her again.
Go to Emenas.
"Go, go, Lacey, Emenas is very fun, there are many delicious food there, you can find delicacies from all over the place."
"Okay, I understand, stop shaking. The show is almost over. Do you want to go say hello to your friends?"
Lorraine Hill pointed at the girl in purple dress who bowed and bowed on the stage and was delivering the concluding remarks.
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The other side of Hopeland.
Since many Westwind residents have recently fled, it has become easier for various workshops to recruit people. The promise promised by the Nisos family has only been partially fulfilled, and the sick employees have still not been compensated.
Grete once again called on everyone to strike and boycott, and protested for several days, but unfortunately the effect was not good.
The door of the Chamber of Commerce was closed tightly, and the guards of the Chamber of Commerce inside seemed unafraid and looked at the troublemaking employees with cold eyes.
As time passed, some of them began to give up.
"Otherwise, let's do this, Gretel. The Nissos family has already made concessions and improved our treatment."
"Yes, Gretel, there are many Westwind people coming to Hopeland now. It's not difficult for them to recruit people. If the trouble continues, I'm afraid we won't have anything to eat."
Some employees were shaken and tried to persuade Gretel. Although the employees who had been sick before were pitiful, it did not fall on them after all, and they began to worry about their retreat.
Gretel looked at the people around him and saw that their hearts had changed, and he could not change their minds.
"Okay, let's disband today." He sighed and could only compromise.
Others present also breathed a sigh of relief and left one after another. Some went to watch the show, and some went home to rest and no longer cared about the matter.
Gretel watched everyone leave. In the blink of an eye, the previously crowded Chamber of Commerce doors dissipated, leaving only himself and Bud next to him.
Bud looked at Grete who was standing still, knowing that he was feeling uncomfortable, so he patted his back comfortingly.
"Gretel, let's go too."
"Um..."
Grete was a little silent, turned around and left with Bud. The autumn wind blew through the streets at night, making it somewhat desolate and chilly.
Bud wanted to say something to comfort his friend, but he was clumsy and didn't know what to say. He opened his mouth, then finally closed it and went back with his friend.
"How about, let's go get something to eat."
After standing all day, he felt a little hungry. Only then did Bud think of dinner and suggested it to the friend next to him.
"Um."
The two turned to a cheap little restaurant they frequented.
A few days later, the Nissus family's winery started working again. With the help of the Tisiphone family, they had recently obtained some orders, and the workshop was a busy scene.
"What, didn't the representative of the Chamber of Commerce say last time that wages would be raised? Why is it still less than before?"
When it was time to pay the money, some employees shouted dissatisfied.
"Why are you shouting? Don't you know what's happening now? Look at the newcomers. They work harder than you and don't get as much as you. If you don't do it, others will do it."
The steward of the chamber of commerce who distributed the money stood on a high platform to explain, and there were several guards in armor standing beside him.
Some of the employees below were still a little dissatisfied. At this time, several leaders of the previous protests stood up and tried to smooth things over.
"Everyone, calm down. There is a war in the west wind. It is also difficult for the Chamber of Commerce. It is not easy for everyone. Please persevere during this period."
The employees who were originally preparing to cause trouble saw that these leaders started to speak for the Chamber of Commerce, and they were a little discouraged. Moreover, it is indeed easy to recruit people in the workshop now, and they did not dare to be as bold as before, so they could only complain a few words.
Then walk away.
Grete looked at this strange and thought-provoking scene, and became angry, ready to question these companions who had gone on strike with him before.
A thick palm pressed on his shoulder, a wrinkled face shook his head at him, and then forcefully pulled him away.
"Gretel, I know you have good intentions."
"But some people are not as noble as you. It would be too dangerous for you to continue making trouble." The old man from the winery said dissuadingly.
"How dare they..."
Who would have thought that the companions who fought against the oppression of the Chamber of Commerce not long ago would be bribed in the blink of an eye.
Gretel clenched his fists, suppressing the anger in his heart.
"I would like to ask how much money they charged the Nissos Chamber of Commerce."