One More Step

As the last rays of sun hit the little house and mess around it two little girls held their heads.

''Let's hope they will finish with that part of the wall. The hole for the cellar is bigger than I thought, did something go wrong?'' Anna looked at the hole that covered almost all the yard they planned to have.

Kyra just shook her head. ''I have my plans for it. Luckily tomorrow the ice cellar will be made and Chief Jafar and his family can finally finish covering the yard and making the walls. Anna, I know it is bothersome, but just endure the next couple of days. Then everything will be peaceful again.''

Anna was still nervous. ''Will it be fine?''

''What do you mean?'' In Kyra's words could be heard confusion.

''How should I say that. After we finish all this, we will be more or less again without much money left.''

Kyra took Anna's small hand and sat on the chair that they ordered Chen to make for them. It was launched like a chair where the feet can be held higher and you could just lazily relax.

''So what? Anna, do we need money? We have chickens that give us eggs every day. We still will earn money with wild greens and when that finishes, do we not sell wild herbs as well. Soon, in our garden, we will have the first vegetables that we could eat. Considering other people's lives, ours could be considered quite comfortable.'' She lazily stretched on her chair and stared at the moon that shone over their heads already.

Anna chuckled. ''You are right.''

''Go to sleep, tomorrow will be quite a stressful day so we need to wake up earlier. I will come soon as well.''

After Anna fell asleep, Kyra took the seeds she already prepared before and slowly went towards the place where most of the moonlight shone upon prepared earth.

''I hope you all will grow well. Sun is good but the moon is better. Especially such a big full moon like tonight. ''It was so bright and for her, it felt like it was day time.

So she planted all the seeds at one side of the garden carefully choosing the right spot.

''Grow well. I will add some spring water whenever I can.''

She took a couple of jars filled with crystal clear water and slowly watered every little seed with a bit of it.

''Ice, earth, fire, metal, stone, tree, sun, moon and water. So many things are used for you to become great plants. To thrive well.'' She put last seed into the hole, watered it with spring water and covered with earth from the forest.

The smile she had on her lips as she stared at the moon was peculiar. ''Dear Moon. I am just a little girl so I beg you to help me with this request. Help my plants survive and grow strong to give us lots of produce. I will bow to you as my payment.'' She bowed deeply three times and then smiled again.

After her steps took her back home, she washed up and with the already sleepy face, she cuddled in the down blankets they got this day. Chen brought it to them after he came back from town in the late afternoon.

While she slowly fell into deep sleep two pairs of eyes stared at the little house with amazement. ''Paying the Moon with bows. This girl really... She wouldn't even let the Moon give anything free. Hahahahha. Strange child.'' One man chuckled.

But the other smiled gently. ''These two children really know how to survive. Should we make their life a bit harder so they have some challenges?''

''No. We can't interfere as long they don't break any rules.'' The first person got angry straight away. Is that maniac trying to punish them for having a good life?

''Don't overreact. It's been just a couple of weeks. Three years is a long time. Until then let's see how will their luck prevail. ''He turned around and grabbed unconscious man over his shoulder. ''What about two of us have some fun?''

"Bring that one away. I need to handle other things. We can enjoy moon wine another time." They just nodded at each other and disappeared.

The next morning was quite busy for the two girls.

Even before dawn, a large number of carriages approached them. Even from far could be heard the weeks on simple road.

Listening to the noises the two girls jumped off the bed and put clothes on.

Osman and Kennan were already there as well.

When carriages stopped Sassil went to greet the girls while two Jafar's sons went yo help out. Kyra called them the day before to be ready.

Even this Sassil had enough people but two extra hands were an undeniably great help.

It turned out that ice cellar was put together faster as anyone could have imagined.

Even before the morning sunlight hit the village the cellar was about to be finished completely.

Everyone heaved heavy planks and set on top of the cellar. Over the planks, they set the fat layer if... earth. It will stop any kind of water from the top coming in. Luckily they made drainage as well.

The sun has set its warm feelers over the flat ground were last night gaped big hole like moth of some monster.

Sassil got paid for the ice cellar and got extra for helping Jafar brothers in finishing the rest. After all, it would take them longer to finish up with fewer people.

As he jumped to leave he glanced one more time at the two girls and went off. He not only earned money. Chief Jafar had the wish to make the same in his and Kennan's home. It seems this summer he might just close his doors and buy himself a piece of land as well where they can plant themselves vegetables or two.

He realized that he didn't want to live poorly and his family hungry only because he had no grown food himself.

The rest of the work was done in the next five days. When the last stone plate was set and Jafar brothers left their place, the girls finally slumped and breathed freely in relief.

"Finally..." Anna felt tired.

Kyra brought her some water to wash up and pushed her into the bed. "Now go sleep. I will wake you up in the afternoon when we go gather the greens. As tomorrow is the last day and we need to make presents to all that worked for us, we were really lucky to be able to find those wild fruits the other day."

Anna was nodding off into sleep so Kyra just tucked her in and went out.

They contemplated what should they give them as a gift and realized that they should just prepare red pockets as a gift and some small personal items.

So they send Chen on his way to the city to order fragrance pouches for man. They choose the sandalwood and strong flowers for them as incense inside. And they planned to make some fruit jams and give them as a gift in small glass jars the next day.

Kyra looked at the sun and smiled lightly as her eyes looked at b.a.r.e earth. "It seems it is time we transplant those flowers around the garden. Maybe we could buy a few fruit trees. And some bamboo?"

She slowly went around the garden and mumbled while planning where she should be planted.

"After the plants recuperate after replanting, I think there will be a beautiful place to relax in the summer months and in winter months we can sit outside and just enjoy the scenery. Hmmm. If we get enough money maybe we could build a winter garden on the outer former if the house. Sitting inside would by enjoyable indeed."

She looked at the large porch and space after the storeroom. That would be the perfect place for the winter garden.

But that idea is still just dream. Glass itself is quite pricey. they had only two small glass windows in the house.

Maybe she could ask the glass store owner how much would cost 2-3 large glass windows.

The Great Dowager Empress will have a birthday in two days if Jiang family is satisfied maybe she will earn money. In that case, she just might as well make winter house already now.

She sat down in her chair under the pavilion and just, stretched like a little cat. Uhmmm this life now us not that bad.

They had food in their storage, water to drink, the roof over their heads and their life is actually leisurely as it could be.

She suddenly opened eyes. "But, too boring. I prefer walking in the forest and breathing the fresh air. Maybe if we go deeper inside we could find more healing plants. It would be good for us and we could earn some extra money. And the garden doesn't need our personal care yet."

She looked at the b.a.r.e wall and smiled. "If we could walk through the forest in hit summer days, wouldn't that be better than sitting here. We can always come back."

Then she looked at the sleeping room door. "Oh Anna, enjoy your sleep for now. I have great plans." She chuckled mischievously and stood up from the chair. "Can't sit still. Let's plant some seeds."

She opened the big gate and walked out. Looking at the garden she smiled. "Ahhh. Finally, no more people running around and bothering my peace."

Suddenly she heard scoff behind her. "You feel bothered?"

She turned around and blond woman with a long dress and big hat stood there and stared at her with despise stared at her. "Sorry about the noise these days."

"I really was thinking you girls will build a new house but made such a big noise about a bit of cellar." She looked at the tall wall and John st turned cold eyes towards Kyra.

Kyra sighed inwardly but showed weak and scared expression. "We... we just had only so much money. To build a house... we are not able."

"Of course not. Two orphans should that's why just sit quietly and not bother respectable people around. Understood?" She turned around towards the big house that was not far away from them.

Their house actually was on higher ground so even if someone stood on top of that house they wouldn't be able to see anything over the walls they made now.

Kyra knew that this woman is no other than a servant of a nearby house. She didn't know exactly who those people are, but looking at the grand house and many servants, it seems someone noble or very rich.

Having someone like that around them was both positive and negative. At least they are not interested in bothering them. Should she send something to their house as an excuse for all that noise?

She needs to talk to Anna later on.

The garden looked perfect. When the plants grow it will look even more pleasing to the eyes.

Luckily it was just spring so the sun did shine fully on her tiny back but was not hot. The seeds that she planted were this time sealed with dark earth and sun warm water.

To put cold water on warm earth would be a bad idea as the seeds could get shocked.

The garden was quite big but fortunately, she already paid the brothers to bury the potatoes, sweet potatoes, corn and sunflower seeds.

Wheat they will get from Chief Jafar, so she will have enough flour.

She looked at the small pond that was filled with cattail and felt a headache upcoming. Too small to become rice field. Maybe leaving it like that and finding some fishes for stagnating waters.

Never mind. There is time for everything...