Broken Sword's
Ch. 07: Small Episode

The funeral was held in the afternoon. Buwin had seen the condition of the corpse that had a bruise, now knowing what really happened. Glancing at Jini's husband who was crying not far away and was being helped to calm down by the relatives who came to serve, Buwin sighed tangledly.

Juan shook his head towards Buwin, the deceased's request was not to report her husband to the authorities. Let's respect what the dead want. After all, seeing the hysterical condition of Jini's husband, the man would live in utter regret.

Manda helped cover a piece of white cloth on Jini's stiff body. A group of men came to help with the body and were taken to the cemetery behind a hill not far from the village entrance. Gana, who was carrying the corpse, was grateful that his wife had survived when she gave birth to Fang. If what Jini's husband experienced happened to her, Gana might hit a wall and die on the spot.

Two women led in front, walking with two dark-colored cloths. On the day of the funeral children are forbidden to go out of the house, but there will be naughty and look in hiding.

At the foot of the hill, there were not many mounds of tombs. Buwin pointed to one place and two men rushed to pick up the hoe and dig. The two women who had come together stretched the cloth into the hole, slowly Jini's corpse was lowered.

"Gruel." Tell Buwin to two diggers.

"NO!!! LET GO, LET GO OF ME. JINIII, JINIII."

***

"Suami Jini is okay?" Aira who was waiting at home asked Gana who had just returned from the funeral.

"Shysterical crying. When the body was about to be buried, the man lost control and had to be carried home." Gana explained in a concerned tone.

Fang who heard the chatter clucked. The people who live here are very naive. Doesn't anyone suspect why a woman who has just miscarried suddenly dies? Why is no one suspicious about the cause of miscarriage?!

"His baby is hungry again?" Aira felt guilty. The ASI wasn't much, but Fang was still always hungry. As a mother she felt useless.

Gana rushed to change into clean clothes, "goat milk at home was exhausted. I'm going to the village chief's house"

I want to scream. I don't need milk!!! Hey, back you. Fang chattered without teeth, his cuteness being rewarded with a kiss by Aira.

That day Fang drank milk until his stomach resembled a barrel of water. Uh, Bloating.

***

Fang is one year old. His two pairs of small plump legs trembled every attempt to stand up. Who said learning to walk is easy?! Fortunately this small body has a lot of fat as a cushion every fall, does not hurt at all when knocked down.

The clothes Fang wore were the clothes Aira had sewn for her. Orange, bright and vibrant. Then on the neck was a silver bell that Gana had bought. So every time Fang falls, there'll be a ringing sound from the bell.

"Fang, sit down, son." Aira who was watching Fang unwilling to give up learning to walk asked Fang to rest for a while.

"No." Fang was stirring to refuse. The vocabulary he mastered was limited. A year of study, no more than thirty words can be mentioned.

Fang's fatty face flushed red, just about to step forward, a pair of strong hands grabbed him from behind. Gana, who had just returned from selling fish catches in the county town, carried Fang and carried him out of the house.

"No. Mum, Mum. Fang doesn't want Daddy!"

Gana's laughter resembled the laughter of the demons in Fang's ear. This old man was still unwilling to give up as well. "Moeuuu. Huaaaaa, Ibuuuu"

Aira who saw the situation deteriorate took Fang over into her arms. But as Fang grew fatter, Aira was unable to hold her baby for long.

Gana scratched the tip of her nose. This boy is very difficult to approach. "Dad just wanted to show you something. Come." Comehere."

Aira, who works as a peacekeeper, helps Fang walk outside the house. On their yard was a wooden stroller that fit Fang to sit in. Fang's eyes were wide open. His fat hands pointed to want to go up, Gana who saw the opportunity, carried Fang's stocky body and put it on the wooden stroller.

"Now any baby wanting to get out of the house can sit here and have mom or dad push. Pleased?"

Fang glanced lazily at Gana. But he can't be arrogant, "thank you dad." Fang's four white teeth were visible when he smiled.

***

Villagers will sit together in the afternoon after finishing farming work. Fang who tried the stroller took off on the street. His round eyes looked to and fro, the conditions in the village did not change much.

Villagers still live in simplicity despite having money. A real example is his own father. Gana worked as a farmer with a year's income of more than twenty gold bars per year. Where's the money? Just saved. STOWED.

Gana and Aira did not spend money on more expensive clothes, did not renovate the house with red bricks, or bought slaves. People who live in the region under Gollum do not know much about investing. The isolation of the other two regions is already a clear testament to why the people who live here are so behind.

"It's Fang, right? Well, her puffed up face is so funny." A young aunt of the same age as Aira leaned over looking into Fang's wheeled carriage.

When her naughty hands would touch Fang's face, Fang's little mouth opened and bit.

"Ohhhh!"

Aira who was watching panicked-faced. Hurriedly helped open Fang's tightly clenched mouth.

Glad to succeed in injuring a stranger, Fang acted foolishly by playing a bell hanging from his collar.

"Your son intentionally!" Said another person watching.

Aira did not dare to stay and brought Fang home. Gana who saw his wife return too soon would not want to ask, "has enough to invite Fang to play out?"

"Fang biting hand outstretched wife meat cutting. I'm afraid she's crying to complain to her husband."

***

The gossip episode about the death of Jini and Fang who liked to bite people soon passed by. The baby who used to struggle to stand on his own feet is now running around here and there.

Gana, who was afraid that Fang might fall into the ditch, had to tie Fang's body and carry him as long as he worked on the ground. Before winter arrives, rice fields can still be plowed to grow wheat or rice. The plan in addition to the two plants, Gana will also grow potatoes and cassava as food supplies later in the winter.

"Dad, I want to play."

Fang, leaning his puffed cheek over Gana's shoulder, tried to persuade her, but Gana refused firmly.

"Wait for dad to finish pulling out all the grass."