BXBX NOVEL Chapter 19 - Thousand-Person Dining Hall
Some used small water jars to fetch clean water, balancing them on their shoulders as they walked.
Others wielded kitchen knives, chopping ingredients quickly on cutting boards with loud clanks.
There were also those bringing bundles of dry branches over here.
They were indeed busy, bustling with activity.
These women were selected by the secretary specifically to prepare dinner for the thousands of people.
As for the source of the food, it naturally came from the homes of these commoners.
No commoner dared to resist this.
These people’s minds had been tamed as if they were pigs, not daring to provoke their master’s anger again.
They had already realized that their own actions had offended the lord, their own dirtiness and sloppiness had displeased him, and their stupidity had infringed upon his dignity.
It was only right that they were punished.
It was also justified for the lord to take away their food.
The source of filth and waste was because they ate, which led to excretion, so the lord naturally punished them by depriving them of food.
Now they could only pray that they could endure for a few more days and go hungry a little longer.
“Our women were taken by the lord to cook. I really envy them. I wish I were a woman!”
“What a fantasy! They’re worse off than us; they can only smell it and can’t eat it. What do you think those guards are for? They’re definitely there to prevent them from sneaking bites.”
“That’s really unfortunate. If they couldn’t smell it, it might be better, but to smell it and not be able to eat? That’s even more painful.”
“I feel so hungry. I don’t know how many days I can last. Maybe I’ll see if there are any grasshoppers or mantises around; that might help me get by.”
“Earthworms are also edible. I’ve eaten them before when my family was short on food. Back then, I roasted them over a fire, but I’m not sure how they would taste raw.”
“I just saw a few; I put them in my pocket. I’ll save them for later. It’s better to wait until they die of drought. Eating them alive is too scary; I can’t bring myself to do it.”
The workers exchanged hushed conversations as they worked.
They were afraid their voices would be heard by the patrolling knights and also worried about exhausting their energy.
At that moment, a mounted knight servant galloped over, waving his whip and startling some commoners who were talking quietly, thinking they had been overheard.
However, the knight servant did not stop before them but shouted while riding:
“Everyone, stop what you’re doing! Get ready to eat!”
What?
Everyone looked at each other, all stunned.
“What did the knight just say? Did I hear wrong?”
“It seems he’s calling us to eat?”
“I must be imagining things; I definitely misheard.”
They couldn’t believe it—would the lord really allow them to eat?
So, some of the women going to cook were originally thought to be preparing meals for the lord’s subordinates; now it seemed they were actually cooking for them?
No one moved, fearing they had misheard.
Until the knight servant’s voice continued to ring out, they finally understood this was real.
“Go to the east and line up for food! The lord is waiting for you over there. Anyone who arrives late and misses the food will have to go hungry!”
“All of you follow the arrangements of the leaders and line up! All leaders, fulfill your responsibilities immediately!”
As these words were spoken, everyone erupted into excitement, their faces lighting up with joy.
“Quick! Quick! Let’s get to the front of the line!”
“Where’s our leader?”
Everyone was in a frenzy. Due to the chaotic crowd, people from different groups mixed together, and since they had just formed this leadership system, they weren’t used to it and failed to form an effective queue.
Some people got anxious and directly ran toward the assembly point in the east.
With one person leading, many quickly followed.
After all, food was the ultimate attraction for them!
Seeing the commoners rushing over, Richard immediately ordered his knight servants to set up a barrier to prevent them from trampling the food.
A few shorter individuals crawled under the knights’ legs and dashed toward the food.
Many others saw this and followed suit.
The knight servants’ barrier could not stop so many irrational people.
Having labored for a long time, they were already famished and couldn’t resist the aroma of the food; at this moment, they had no sense of reason and just wanted to rush in and eat.
Richard rode over, wielding his whip to strike those at the front, knocking them down and causing them to roll on the ground, screaming.
Yet this scene did not awaken everyone. In their eyes, there was only food; they paid no attention to their lord.
Suddenly, a deafening battle cry echoed throughout the scene, causing even the wind chimes hanging outside the castle to ring without wind, buzzing incessantly.
Everyone was stunned by the sound wave, their minds blank; the next moment, they finally regained their senses and looked toward their lord.
Richard’s long hair flew in the wind, and as the residual force faded, the surroundings fell silent.
He casually knocked down someone who had rushed too close to him and said:
“Pigs! Have you forgotten my previous orders? If you want to die, come and sign up with me; I can help you with that.”
“For those who don’t want to die, I’m giving you one last chance.”
“Everyone, line up according to the divisions established earlier to receive food. Otherwise, today will be your last day!”
The crowd turned pale and hurried to comply.
“Group 3, come over here! I’m the leader of Group 3!”
“Where are the members of Groups 5 and 6? Your leaders are here; hurry up!”
Everyone acted obediently.
Householders took their families to find their leaders, and the leaders brought their ten households to find the overseer.
Soon, they formed a queue.
The knight servants who had been ordered by Richard to set up the barrier came to Richard, half-kneeling in submission.
“Please punish us, lord, for our negligence in our duties!”
Richard raised an eyebrow; if these people hadn’t voluntarily come to confess, he wouldn’t have thought to punish them.
Mainly, he didn’t see the need.
After all, at that moment, if he hadn’t unleashed his battle cry, not even he could have stopped everyone.
This was an open area; it wasn’t a strategic position that one man could hold against thousands.
However, since they had come forward, Richard seized the opportunity to scold them:
“I won’t pursue this matter with you for now, but you better improve yourselves. The Long Eagle territory never raises useless people. Do you understand?”
“Thank you, lord!”
“Now hurry up and maintain order; they are about to line up. Remember, next time you come to apologize, make sure you finish what needs to be done first!”
“Yes!”
They quickly turned around and ran off.