Chapter 11
‘The church ointment sold outside the village.’
Why did Missus Anani ask for ointment so often?
“…Ella? Why aren’t you answering right away?”
Missus Anani’s voice rose in displeasure.
It was because Ella had not immediately responded with her usual, “Of course.”
“Why? Do you find me suspicious again?”
Having been struck right where it hurt, Ella waved both hands.
“O, of course not. My leg is just aching a little…”
“Then why were you running around on that leg? It’s not as though the hospital doesn’t feed you.”
“……”
“Bring me two or three jars this time. I keep asking you, so I suppose you find it bothersome too.”
“Missus, that’s not what I…”
“Oh, enough. I suppose it could be bothersome. You’re human too, aren’t you? Then I’ll see you tomorrow?”
Despite saying she understood, her sarcastic tone struck Ella hard.
‘Is it my fault?’
Had it been wrong to simply grant whatever people asked without questioning why, thinking only that she wanted to be helpful?
By the time Ella reached home, too drained to keep running and trudging along instead, Missus Basti was waiting for her.
“Why do you look so dejected?”
The words, I’ll tell you tomorrow, rose all the way to Ella’s throat. She simply wanted to be alone.
But Missus Basti had not come empty-handed.
When she lifted the lid of the pot, warm stew released a delicious aroma.
‘People really are fickle.’
By the time Ella came to her senses, she was devouring stew and bread.
Once the warm food filled her stomach, both her frayed nerves and tangled thoughts settled considerably.
Ella poured out her troubles to Missus Basti as though complaining.
“Missus Anani keeps asking me to bring her ointment, but it’s been happening so often…”
“Just leave it be.”
“…Pardon?”
“The Ananis aren’t trying to make some huge profit from it. It’s probably just a little pocket money. They’re from the same village, so you ought to turn a blind eye to that much.”
Ella was momentarily at a loss for words.
‘Doesn’t she know why that ointment works so well?’
Several medicinal herbs went into the ointment. That meant a considerable amount of effort from the person making it.
The church distributed the ointment made that way for free, but only to the people of this village.
And they were taking it and selling it?
And what was with Missus Basti’s reaction?
“Was I the only one who didn’t know? Are other people taking it outside and selling it too…”
“Don’t be ridiculous. If that were the case, do you think the head priest would keep giving it out? Everyone knows what they’re doing, but they keep quiet about it.”
No one considered what Mister and Missus Anani were doing honorable.
But because they were neighbors, everyone covered for them.
That was what she meant.
‘Can you really say that’s for the sake of your neighbors?’
Ignoring the church’s goodwill like that? Weren’t the priests their neighbors too?
Even after she finished dinner and Missus Basti went home.
Even the next day.
Even while drawing and carrying water for the herbs, Ella could think of nothing else.
“Well, if it isn’t Ella.”
Just then, the visiting merchant greeted Ella while she was taking a break to cool off.
Once every two weeks, the merchant visited the church.
After greeting him and making small talk, Ella asked as though it had merely occurred to her.
“By the way, sir. How much does our ointment sell for outside the village?”
“It contains plenty of good medicinal herbs, and the priest blesses it too, so it’s quite expensive. About five silver a jar?”
“…That’s really expensive.”
A chicken cost one silver, yet a palm-sized jar of ointment cost five silver.
What was money, anyway?
The merchant laughed heartily at Ella’s surprise.
“You didn’t know? The head priest has to make up outside the village for what he gives the villagers for free. Even so, it sells well enough that there’s hardly any stock left.”
“That’s… a relief.”
“Though lately there’s been a bit of a problem.”
“A problem?”
“Someone’s been filling these ointment jars with ointment mixed with pig fat and selling them. They’re stretching the amount.”
“Does the head priest know?”
“I was planning to tell him today. I managed to get hold of one of the counterfeits.”
I should go see him right away. The merchant dusted himself off and rose.
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