Chapter 10

Xiaoming obtained permission to go to the library up to twice a month.

"If you could do some shopping on the way, it would give your father and mother more time to work in the orchard."

"Thank you, Dad, Mom."

Today is the day to go to the library.

Before going to the library, I will work in the orchard, have breakfast, and then set off. Ethan will come with me. I decided to bring a lunch box to save money.

I made flatbreads by mixing flour with water and frying them on an iron plate, stir-fried beans and mutton with garlic, ginger, chili, and bitter pima leaves, and made a dish of thinly sliced onions sautéed and mixed with beaten eggs.

After making lunch for both of us and filling a water bottle, it was quite heavy. When I tried to put them in the backpack, Ethan stopped me.

"I'll carry it."

"It's heavy, but I can manage."

"I'll carry it because it's heavy. You're so stupid."

Is it a matter of male pride? But my body is bigger than his, even though I'm only two years older.

"Then let's split the load. That way, neither of us will find it too heavy, right?"

"Okay, but don't treat me like a baby. Alesia, you've been acting strange since you got hurt."

Oh.

Is it a child's intuition? Do you sense something different about me?

We both carried the backpack and headed for the market first. Today's errands included buying brown sugar, tobacco leaves for Dad, a bundle of white and black thread for sewing, a small bag of salt, and various spices.

After buying everything, we headed to the library. Since we came in our going-out clothes today, we didn't need to change.

The man at the reception desk seemed to remember us and greeted us warmly, "Hello, welcome back."

"Hello."

We smiled and greeted him, and both Ethan and I paid four large copper coins each.

"Are you going to look at the encyclopedias today?"

"Yeah, but I want to choose my own."

"Okay, I'll go find my own books then."

Today, I plan to read books about magic.

In my previous life, I could use water magic from a young age. I could produce water with my mind, but in this life, I can't do it at all. Inadvertently making it rain while sleeping is inconvenient and dangerous.

I read a book explaining water magic, and Ethan, who had just started learning to read, decided to look at a book about growing plants.

But the books were of no help at all. They were all general theories without practical advice. However, since we had paid the usage fee, it would be a waste not to read something. I decided to read a book about the lives of common people in various countries.

"Wow, this must be delicious."

It was a celebratory dish from a country across the sea. The dish, called 'Petit', involved boiling potatoes, mixing them with flour, mashing them well, flattening them, and wrapping minced chicken seasoned with a sweet and spicy flavor, then deep-frying them.

"We have all the ingredients for this at home."

In my previous life, I was a noble and didn't cook, but in this life, cooking is half housework and half entertainment. It uses both the mind and the body, it's delicious, and it makes people happy. It's all good.

I became interested and kept reading about unusual and easy-to-try dishes. Before I knew it, it was already afternoon.

"Ethan, let's go outside and have lunch."

"Okay, I'm hungry."

When I returned the magic-related books to the counter, the staff member asked, "Are you interested in magic?"

"I'm fascinated by magic."

"Every child dreams of magic at some point. I was obsessed with it and read a lot when I was a kid."

"Really?"

Good, I managed to deflect the question.

After returning the books, we went outside. When we tried to have lunch in the park in front of the library, a water seller boy approached us.

"Would you like some water? I drew it from the spring this morning, it's very fresh."

"Sorry, we brought a water bottle today."

"Oh, I see."

As the boy was about to leave, Ethan said, "Our water is really delicious."

What are you doing, boasting about our water to a water seller?

"Sorry, don't mind it."

As we were about to leave, the boy with light brown curly hair tilted his head and narrowed his green eyes, looking curious.

"Hey, didn't you buy my water before? Is it better than mine?"

The water seller boy asked Ethan seriously. I was trying to figure out how to stop Ethan, but he spoke first.

"I only drank the water you sold me once, but I think our water is better. Do you want to try it?"

"Can I taste it? Thank you."

Oh, Ethan...

Ethan innocently handed the water bottle to the boy. If I stopped him now, it would look strange. The boy poured the water from the bottle into a cup and took a sip, savoring it.

"Huh..."

He widened his green eyes and took another sip.

"What is this sweet water? I thought the spring water was the best, but this is definitely better."

"Right?"

Right, not a smile, Ethan. The rain I make isn't ordinary water, so it's natural that it tastes different. Why did you let a water seller taste it?

"Boy, where do you get this water?"

"At our well!"

I quickly covered Ethan's mouth, but it was a bit too late.

"From a well? Could I draw water from your well? I think I could sell it. I don't earn enough to eat, so I skip meals. We only have two meals a day, and skipping dinner is tough."

My chest tightened.

I noticed he was thin, but skipping meals? At his growing age. Skipping meals. Ugh.

I can't bear it.

"What's your name? How old are you?"

"Hakim. I'm thirteen."

"Hakim, please have some of my lunch. No, please, you must eat. A thirteen-year-old child shouldn't skip meals. I can't bear it."

I said it without thinking, and Ethan whispered to me, "You keep saying 'child.' Alesia is nine, and she's more of a child, right?"