Chapter 444: The goal is 5 million. No, it is to punish evil and promote good.
Rhodes never expected that after all the fun of the performances, the next part of the festival would be... hard labor.
The stars of this segment? The children of the village.
Every child between the ages of six and fourteen, regardless of gender, was gathered in the open fields. Each of them was handed a specially made hoe, sized according to their age. Older children received sturdier tools, while the younger ones wielded lighter versions that they could manage.
Excited at first, the kids swung their hoes with energy, enjoying the rare chance to work outdoors together in such a big group. It felt like a game.
But after a while, the novelty wore off. The effort set in. Some of the younger kids began to whimper and cry.
Yet surprisingly, even the most doting parents made no move to coddle them. Only a handful of stricter adults stepped forward, correcting postures, giving advice, and firmly telling them what they were doing wrong.
After crying for a bit and realizing no hugs were coming, the little ones sniffled and wiped their faces, then picked their tools back up and kept going, tears and all.
Once the plot was fully tilled, the grown-ups began teaching the next steps: how to sow seeds, how to turn the soil gently, and how to care for the new crops.
This season, they were planting winter wheat. And everything from weeding and pest control to fertilizing, harvesting, drying, and grinding, all of it would be the responsibility of these children.
Bill, one of the village elders, explained the custom to Rhodes and Mira. "It’s a tradition in our village. Every child must learn how to grow at least one or two crops. After they reach adulthood, they’re exempt, they’ll either be working in the family fields or starting their own lives after marriage. But this rite of passage is important."
"That’s a wonderful custom," Rhodes said with admiration.