With Old Man Elva, who had considerable standing in the village, present.
The replacent of the carriage’s axle went smoothly and was fully adjusted in less than half an hour.
Of course.
This also had a lot to do with Thomson’s generous paynt:
A typical axle like this originally cost a bit over one pound, but Thomson directly doubled it, purchasing it for two pounds and one shilling.
Bear in mind.
In 1840, the inco of an ordinary worker in the United Kingdom was about 15-20 shilling a week, with a monthly salary amounting to just a bit over Three Heroes List.
Sterling, as a carpenter, earned barely over four pounds in peak season, let alone now during the off-season.
However, Thomson was not purely a spendthrift — this ti, he left London with a mission, and the funds were fully provided by Cambridge.
It wasn’t his own money.
Thus, he didn’t scrimp and save when spending it.
Unfortunately, they spent too much ti on the way here, and now entering Whiteco Mountain, they couldn’t travel much further and couldn’t exit the mountain before dark.
So, Thomson and Xu Yun had to stay overnight in ndisolo Village and resu their journey early the next morning.
Fortunately, although Elva looked short, he inherited the Celtic’s generosity.
He specifically arranged three guest rooms for Thomson and Xu Yun, fully equipped with bedding, hot water, hot food, and more.
It was an uneventful night.
....
Early the next morning.
The three of Xu Yun woke up as usual, packed their luggage, and prepared to set off.
At this ti, Elva was already waiting outside.
Seeing Thomson and Xu Yun arrive, he first asked others to open the village gate to let the carriage smoothly exit.
Then he walked up to Thomson, smiling and asked:
"Mr. Thomson, how did you sleep last night?"
Thomson rubbed his neck, nodded heavily, and said:
"The room was very comfortable, thank you, Mr. Elva."
"It was nothing."
Elva casually waved his hand, a hint of reminiscence flashing in his eyes as he looked outside the village:
"Scotland is vast and sparsely populated, it’s easy to get lost or encounter difficulties when going out alone, especially in late autumn when it’s dangerous outdoors."
"I was once injured hunting out in the wilderness in my younger days, and it was only with the help of another village that I survived."
"So since then, if travelers co to ask for help, I try my best to assist them."
Thomson nodded in agreent.
Although he was Irish, he moved to Scotland when he was seven.
During those critical formative years, he was imrsed in Scottish culture, now resembling the Scots.
Therefore, he understood well.
Though Scots and English fight fiercely against each other, internally, their relationships are very friendly.
Or it could be said, this is a kind of human clustering instinct.
Of course.
Excluding Xiaoxiba and Little Baka.
Then Elva raised his head and looked at the sky.
Compared to yesterday’s clear and sunny weather, today’s sky was a bit gloomy and gray.
Such an environnt could easily fetch five points on a language comprehension exam, questioning the purpose of the weather’s description.
Upon seeing this.
Elva couldn’t help but look at Thomson, concerned, and said:
"Mr. Thomson, today’s weather seems a bit bad. Would you like to stay in the village for another day?"
Thomson was silent for a mont and then shook his head.
If not for the mission, he might be willing to stay for an extra day or two, but clearly now was not the ti to make friends:
"Sorry, Mr. Elva, we are pressed for ti and must leave."
"When I return from the United Kingdom, I will definitely co back to visit you and bring you so good wine!"
Seeing this, Elva no longer insisted and sent Thomson and the others a few pots of wine and so dried at strips, bidding them farewell after walking a few hundred ters.
And just as Elva returned to the village entrance, he suddenly encountered soone head-on.
This was a burly man with a gray-brown scar on his forehead, looking quite fierce.
This man was nad McCall, and he and his brother Kurz were known hunters in the village, having once hunted grizzly bears.
However, a few years ago, the brothers, discontented with the unstable inco from hunting, borrowed a lot of money to purchase so goods and went to Glasgow to start a fur business.
But the local woolen rchants set them up, and the brothers ended up losing everything, now having to reluctantly return to hunting to repay debts.
Seeing McCall in a hurried state, Elva quickly stopped him and asked:
"McCall, where are you heading out so early?"
Elva, elected by the village council, had the authority to question those entering and leaving the village, so McCall had to stop, raise the crossbow arrow in his hand, and say:
"Hmm, I’m planning to see if there are any prey in the mountains."
"Hunting?"
Elva repeated in surprise, thinking of sothing, and continued asking:
"Then what about Kurz? I rember seeing him by the gambling table yesterday noon, but he was nowhere to be found in the afternoon."
Hearing this, McCall’s face stiffened slightly, and he said hesitantly:
"My brother went scouting in the mountains yesterday; we agreed to et this morning. No more ti to chat, Old Man Elva, I must go!"
After McCall left.
Elva glanced at the gray sky, the doubt in his eyes growing stronger.
In this weather, hunting?
Since when did these brothers beco so diligent?
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