Chapter 26: HAD SHE ALWAYS BEEN SO INTELLIGENTLY METICULOUS?
"Papa." She began as she took a sip of the tea. "Could you tell me more about the farmers in Amberale? Do the nobles plant crops— I mean, hire people to do so?"
Wilson wondered why she'd want to know that but nevertheless, he still provided information.
"The majority of farmers in Amberale are the commoners who grow crops and sell them for a living. And no, the nobles do not hire people to grow crops as they mostly bring in food from other kingdoms. But why do you need this information, Tia?" Wilson asked curiously, putting down the file in his hand to give her his full attention.
"That means much of the commoners are dependent on agriculture, as many peasant farmers rely on their production to feed their families. Others depend on farming for their source of income, so a famine could have catastrophic effects on the livelihood of peasant farmers and the entire region's food supply." Aristia explained.
"A famine?" Wilson asked perplexed at what his five year old daughter had said. "We haven't had a famine for more than fifty years. I don't see why a famine would arise now, especially with the constant rain."
"Yes, we haven't had a famine in fifty years, but what about fifty plus one?" She reasoned and Wilson stared at her amusedly.
"Anyway," Aristia shook her head. "In a situation where locust swarms invade from another region, it could could cause famine even with the presence of rain."
A look of contemplation passed through Wilson's face on hearing that. "That's true. But there hasn't been any incidence of locust swarms in a long time." Wilson said, waiting to see how she'd reply to this.
Judging from her expression, he knew she had a proposition to make and couldn't wait to hear it but he was having fun watching her counter his questions.
"Again, does that mean there won't be any incidences in a 'long time' plus one? Isn't it better that we prepare just in case it happens?" Aristia asked with a sly smile and raised eyebrows.
The people who produced crops in Amberale were farmers who planted crops and sold them for a living. Others worked as merchants, opened businesses, or as maids and servants for well-to-do families. But the nobles of the kingdom rarely employed farmers.