Persson ran away with the axe on his shoulder, and the four children followed him laughing.
The boy begged to touch the axe, while the girl praised Persson's handsomeness, which made the latter very happy.
They disappeared at a distant intersection, and Sidlifa silently sat up from the muddy ground.
She didn't cry, but just pressed her red and swollen cheeks without saying a word.
"Haha, Vikings." A weathered voice sounded.
Sidlifa raised her head and looked at the person who spoke.
The village chief, Wilder, was a man in his forties. He seemed to be returning from outside the village and happened to witness the scene.
"Village leader, my mother asked me to exchange my axe for bread and pickled fish." Sidlifa stood up and said softly, "But the axe was stolen."
"I saw it." Old Wilder looked at her calmly, "Are you unwilling to accept it?"
Sidlifa looked at him in confusion.
"Resentment is the first instinct that drives humans to kill," said Old Wilder. "Humans are born unequal."
"You know what? I've had important things taken away from me before."
"What is that?" Little Sidlifa looked at him with wide eyes.
"My lover." Old Wilder said seriously, "She is the daughter of a blacksmith. She has a plump figure, white breasts and beautiful golden hair. I was an apprentice in the blacksmith shop at that time, and I fell in love with her at first sight. We fell in love with each other and secretly promised to spend our lives together."
"Later, she was taken away by someone... and became someone else's mistress. The man was the son of a local small lord. He was of noble birth, well-educated, and had a wealthy family. His conditions in every aspect were a thousand times better than mine. I went to him to argue, but I was beaten up by his guards. I only escaped by pretending to be dead."
"From then on, I knew that people are not equal. Often, the pinnacle of life that you have worked hard to reach may just be the starting point for others. Whether it is family background, wealth, or knowledge, you are no match for him."
"At this point, it will be easy for him to take away anything you value."
After saying this meaningfully, old Wilder walked forward leisurely.
Sidlifa followed him silently. She didn't know why she followed him, but she did it subconsciously.
"Is there no way?" Sidlifa finally asked, "How can I... protect my things from being stolen?"
"Oh, there is a way." Old Wilder stopped and looked at her coldly, "There is a way that can give you a chance, just a chance, to defeat those high-ranking guys."
“That’s desperate.”
"Fight like hell." Sidlifa repeated his words dully.
The two passed houses, walked through farmland, crossed the beach, and came to the simple pier on the seashore.
"Twenty years later." Old Wilder looked at the sea in the distance and showed a cruel smile of satisfaction. "I led the pirates to attack and plunder his castle. I threw his child to death in front of him, insulted his wife and mistress, and finally hanged him in front of his family's coat of arms."
“From that moment on, I truly defeated him and crushed him completely under my feet.”