Chapter 6
Startled, Emily instinctively hid the puzzle behind her back.
Victor stopped in front of her, his expression eager.
"Don't be afraid. It just looks interesting, that's all."
He couldn't take his eyes off it.
Frank's face darkened.
"It's just a useless piece of wood. What's there to look at?"
He snapped at Emily, "Get back to the pigsty. Don't stand here and embarrass us."
Linda chimed in, "Exactly. Victor, don't mind her. She's not right in the head."
Sophia looked annoyed, clearly worried Emily might ruin her prospects.
Victor waved them off.
"That's not fair to say."
He crouched down, softening his tone.
"Miss, could you let me see it? I used to play with something like this when I was young, though not nearly this well-made."
Emily hesitated, then looked at me for help.
I gave her a small nod.
Only then did she carefully hand over the burr puzzle.
Victor took it like it was something precious.
He examined it closely, his fingers tracing along the joints of the wooden pieces.
"Exquisite work, truly exquisite."
He couldn't stop praising it.
"The wood itself is nothing special, just scrap. But the craftsmanship is something else.
"Every joint fits perfectly. A hair tighter and it wouldn't go in, a hair looser and it would fall apart. This is just right."
He looked up at Frank.
"Frank, who made this? You've got someone this skilled hiding in your house?"
Frank froze.
He never imagined that what he saw as a pile of junk would earn such high praise from Victor.
His eyes drifted toward me without thinking.
Sophia jumped in before he could speak.
"Victor, James made it." She pointed at me.
"He's an idiot, always wasting time, messing around with useless things."
She meant to put me down, but it had the opposite effect.
Victor's gaze snapped to me.
He looked me up and down, curiosity and surprise written all over his face.
"You made this?"
I nodded.
"Just something I put together to pass the time."
"Pass the time?" Victor laughed. "James, this is far beyond that."
Holding the burr puzzle, he walked over to me.
"I've got an eight-year-old son. He's at that restless age, glued to the TV all day watching cartoons. His eyes are going to give out at this rate.
"I wanted to get him some educational toys, but I checked every general store in town. It's all the same stuff, building blocks and tin guns, nothing interesting."
He looked at me, hope in his eyes.
"I really like this. Will you sell it? I'll give you five dollars."
Five dollars.
Everyone in the yard gasped.
Frank and Linda's eyes nearly popped out.
To them, it was just worthless scraps of wood thrown together, and somehow it could sell for five dollars.
It felt like making money out of thin air.
Sophia's mouth fell open, stunned.
I was excited too, but I kept my face calm.
I shook my head.
Victor paused.
"Not enough? Then ten dollars. I can't go any higher."
He gritted his teeth, as if it took real effort to say it.
Ten dollars was enough to cover half a month's expenses for a family in the village.
Frank's breathing grew heavy.
But I still shook my head.
"Victor, I'm not selling it," I said.
"Why not?" Victor asked, growing impatient.
"This is the first gift I made for my wife. It's not for sale."
I looked at Emily. She was staring at me, her eyes misting over.
Victor followed my gaze, then seemed to understand.
A look of approval spread across his face.
"Good, good. You've got heart."
He handed the burr puzzle back to Emily.
"If it's a token of love, then it shouldn't be sold."
Then he changed his tone.
"But James, could you make another one for me?
"We'll keep the price at ten dollars.
"And not just this. What else can you make? As long as my son likes it, I'll take it."
His words hit the Warren family like a thunderclap.
Frank's expression changed instantly.
When he looked at me now, he no longer saw a fool or a free laborer.
His eyes were full of greed and calculation, like he'd just spotted a goose that could lay golden eggs.
I let out a silent scoff.
From this moment on, I knew my life wouldn't be so "peaceful" anymore.
But I didn't agree to Victor right away.
I paused, then said, "I can make it, sure. But I don't have any tools or wood."
I glanced at Frank.
"I'm out working in the fields during the day. I only have a little time at night."
Victor was a sharp man. He caught my meaning at once.
He turned to Frank, the smile on his face fading a little.
"Frank, don't you think it's time we talked about Sophia's marriage?"
Frank immediately began groveling.
"Yes, yes, of course, Victor. Please, go ahead."
"I like Sophia," Victor said. "But I'm someone who prefers to celebrate two good things at once."
He continued, his tone steady. "Your eldest son-in-law is talented. He's a real asset.
"If you keep him living in a pigsty and working him to the bone, and he ends up too worn out to make toys for my son, I won't be happy.
"And if that happens, I might have to rethink this marriage."
Sweat broke out across Frank's forehead.