17. His sudden appearance

Mina woke up and just stared at the sealing. The rice will arrive in a few days, the meat she needs to pick soon as well... She felt tired.

As she went out she still saw rice all over the garden and started gathering it. Every single grain was important. She gathered all rice in one of the big empty pots outside and sighed. "I can feed the chicken with this."

Looking at the pots filled with oil, lard, a honey mixture she sighed. "I didn't plan to make soaps soon, but I guess I will have to do it today."

The way her mother taught her she started cooking and adding this and that. While it was cooking she made few soap forms and started making more.

As the soap cooled in forms she made few bigger forms that she planned to just cut the soap in smaller pieces.

Looking at empty pot she took her outer clothing and added water into the pot. With the leftover soap inside the pot, she washed her dress and let it get dry on Sun. Then she took the bunch if cut cloth and just put inside the pot and washed the pot thoroughly until there was not even tiny bit if soap left.

Suddenly a rumbling sound came from her stomach and she just calmly went back to the kitchen, left the soap pot on the side for other uses and used the cooking pot on fire to make a quick dish.

After food, she sat on the porch and drank the tea calmly. Few birds chirped around the garden and even few butterflies were flying around the garden making it calm and serene.

"Should I stay? Should I go? I just want to be alone..." Just then she could hear outside the gate two female voices.

"You knock..."

"No, you knock.."

They were both pushing each other and suddenly noticed open gate and Mina standing there and staring at them.

"Miss Mina, we came... we came..." But didn't know what to say after they found out what their brother did to her.

"I said yesterday I don't want anyone to see. If there is no life and death threat do not come to me." Mina was about to close the door when the two girls started crying.

"Mother said we have to be sold as servants to pay back what brother did to you. Please, we don't want to be servants." They cried and shed huge tears.

Mina sighed. "Your mother loves you so much that she spoiled you. Even I was considering working in someone's household if there was no other choice. You will have food to eat, dress to wear and will be paid. What is wrong with that?"

The girls shook their heads. "We heard those nobles in city rape their servants and kick them out after they get them pregnant. If its just work we font mind, but being sullied would kill us."

Mina paled. "They what? Listen, if that story is true I will consider your family just paying off as you work stuff I give you. It will take a long time to pay back but you won't have to be sold. Tell your mother to go to the forest and gather as much Salkmo as she can. You two as well. But she can not destroy the plant, just bring me the fat root."

The girls happily jumped from the floor and nodded. "The little ones are not little anymore. They can carry mushrooms."

Mina shrugged. ''That is only one part of work. After that, you and your family will have to fill my pots with water from Unpredicted river. And wash Salkmo in her water before binging it here.''

She had no plan to go easy on them.

The girls nodded and rushed away leaving her sighing. Actually, she had enough food to feed the whole village but she didn't want anyone to know that fact. Now that she will get more rice in a few days of time...

She sighed and just gave up. ''I will stay this year here and see if these ridiculous things will keep happening to me. How bothersome.''

In Elder Kang's house sat noticeable young that smiled at her. ''Mother, I am finally back. You sent me so many messages about this girl and after many questionings, I found her background. Just like you assumed, her life was really ridiculous. No wonder she wanted to go so far away. Could you believe...''

All five children she adopted sat in front fo her and shook their heads as they heard Mina's story. ''No wonder she would get inraged. She just gathered a few silvers from the things she brought and now everything is... Mother, what will we do about the boy?''

Elder Kang stood up and suddenly a noble aura emanated from her body. ''Send him to your uncle in the army. It seems he needs some training as his head only some ridiculous stuff in it. If he can't straighten him up, no one will be able. About the girl, Minho, what do you think about her?''

Minho sprawled his long legs and nodded. ''As you said, she and I will fit well together. But it will a long road for both of us. There is inner turmoil around borders. It seems some tribes are getting angry as the Che Emire is spreading their fingers into their lands. Unfortunately, this place is on the border and some tribes might make troubles along the way with our people as well. For now, the two of us have no chance of knowing each other better. In future, when this passes I will do my best to calm her heart and become someone she can finally trust.''

''Oh, you like her?'' The only sister among them smiled at him brightly. ''I like her as well. But how is she so unlucky?''

Minho shook his head. ''It's not that she is unlucky. I think she just feels sorry and tries to help people that do not appreciate her good will. She is to good for her own good. You are right, mother. She is someone who deserves our protection."

Elder Kang could see him determined. "What do you plan to do?"

Minho stood up and moved to the door. "I need to talk to her. In this situation it's better if she stay here."

With swift steps he walked out and soon disappeared in front of their eyes. Elder Kang smiled. "I wonder..."