The Master of the Strange Realm

In other words, there are still a few hours left... Jenkins blinked, did not offer an opinion, and started talking to the paper boy.

"This rain is really good. We need some rain this season, otherwise more people will suffer from lung disease. But isn't this a good thing for you? I see that the rest of your newspapers are really good. Quite a few.”

Jenkins started the conversation with these words, and although the boy was a little nervous, his words were at least coherent. He is a native of Nolan, and although his accent is a bit thick, Jenkins can understand him completely:

"Yes, sir, I'm really unlucky today. But there are always times of bad luck a year. At least it's just a light rain now, so it's not like we can't sell a single newspaper."

"So, this isn't your first year selling newspapers?"

Jenkins asked again, and the boy answered with some embarrassment:

"Yes sir, I have been selling for two years."

From the outside, the boy looks like he is only eleven or twelve years old, but considering that children from poor backgrounds are generally malnourished, his actual age is probably older.

"Since it's raining, why not sell newspapers in front of the church, or at the street corners where the clubs are? Or go to the street where the coachmen are waiting for customers. I think there are more opportunities in those places."

He kindly suggested that this was a process of getting closer.

"But that's someone else's territory. It's not easy for me to get this location near the city hall to sell newspapers. I can't go to other people's areas to sell newspapers."

There are thousands of children who want to make money by selling newspapers, but the number of customers who will buy newspapers in a certain area will not increase with the children's wishes, so the newspaper boys rely on default rules or the size of their fists to simply divide their respective areas. , but it is a very smart approach.

"But selling newspapers is not a long-term business. Have you never thought about reading and literacy? The Church of the Sage has open night classes every week. Even if you are not a believer of the Sage, as long as you are willing to pray to the Sage, the church's priests will Would you mind if kids like you attend the class?”

The boy scratched his head:

"Oh, sir, you are definitely a very devout believer, and thank you for your kindness, but I have to take care of my brother and sister at night so that my father and mother can go out and do odd jobs."

A big city like Nolan needs a lot of odd jobs at night, not just some jobs that are inconvenient to tell children, but also the cargo ships arriving at the dock at night, the backpackers at the train station, the night shift workers in the factories, and the aristocratic estates. Hiring temporary kitchen help for banquets is a job that can make money.

"That's really a pity."

Jenkins said tactfully, and then said:

"Although I shouldn't say this, since the topic has come to this, I'm curious, what are your plans for your future life?"

Normally even children would not talk about these things to strangers, not even if Jenkins paid an extra twopence. But in this strange situation, his character is easy to be trusted by people. As long as he doesn't do anything extraordinary, and with appropriate inducement, the target won't mind talking about some personal topics.

Of course, Jenkins' kind appearance and cute cat on his shoulder are also one of the reasons why he wins trust.

"planning?"

The boy muttered the word, obviously trying to figure out how to use the uncommon word:

"It's okay. My father has already made an agreement with the old widower next door. In a few years, I will learn to drive a carriage and load goods with him, and then run a few times with him. When he can no longer do what he is doing, it will be up to me. "But I will also be responsible for arranging the funeral after his death."

This is equivalent to finding a job as an apprentice. Although it is not comparable to that of a serious craftsman's apprentice, at least it can support oneself, and it is a relatively stable life plan.

But this kind of life plan almost confines the remaining thirty or forty years of my life. There will be no glory in my future life, but there will be no interest.

Jenkins doesn't think boys should have too many ambitions, and a stable life is fine for him. But at least you should not be so immature at your current age. You should look higher, think more, and think at a youthful age. In this way, even if he does become a handlebar in the future, he can at least have an impact on the next generation instead of letting his descendants fall into the same cycle forever.

This is also beneficial to the entire society and even the times. The development of production requires more high-quality talents, and illiterate people need to be quickly transformed into skilled workers with a certain basic educational background, instead of just letting people lower their heads and just search in the dirt. Rice grains. Jenkins hopes that everyone can raise their heads. Even if they can't change their lives or get outstanding, they can at least know how wonderful this world is.

This is the expression of "vigor" in youth. Therefore, Jenkins felt that he had the responsibility to say something. Of course, if this was not a fantasy but reality, he would probably use another strategy:

"Are you satisfied with this arrangement?"

"Of course I am satisfied. My father can arrange such a good thing for me, but my two younger brothers may not be so lucky. They may have to work as porters at the dock in the future, or be forced to leave their hometown and go to other cities. But my father said Now that he has helped me find support for my future life, it is fair that I have to take care of my younger brothers and sisters.”

Chapter 2195 Jenkins’ Persuasion

While talking to Jenkins, the boy searched for possible customers on the street. But on such a rainy day, except for guys like Jenkins with ulterior motives, not many people were willing to walk in the rain with a newspaper. The impact of the weather on business was obvious.

"Haven't you ever thought about other possible lives?"

Jenkins asked again, hoping that his question would not arouse the boy's suspicion.

"Other possibilities?"

The boy's eyes followed a passing two-wheeled carriage, so he spoke a little carelessly. He probably hoped that the distinguished guests in the carriage would stick their heads out to look at him and buy a newspaper, but unfortunately this hope was naturally dashed.

"What other possibilities are there, better than letting me inherit the carriage of the old widower?"

The boy was obviously not polite to the teacher of his future apprenticeship.

"For example, learn to read and then find a decent clerk job. Or learn arithmetic. You can count coins accurately, and you must have a certain mathematical foundation. As long as you learn more, it should not be difficult to become an accountant in the future. Your life has just begun, and there are countless possibilities waiting for you."

Jenkins said.

"But those possibilities are not stable. Learning knowledge requires money and time, but this kind of spending may not be rewarded. After all, learning may not be 100% learned, and learning may not be 100% able to get a job. But as long as I am willing to follow him, I will definitely be able to inherit the business of driving a horse carriage, and maybe I can pass it on to my son."

The newspaper boy, who is not old, has a lot of thoughts. He is not simple. A boy who is mixed on the streets at this age and can grab a place to sell newspapers in such a position is certainly not simple.

"Are you satisfied with this arrangement? Do you have any other ideas?"

Jenkins asked again, and the boy answered quickly:

"Yes."

After speaking, he hurriedly left the eaves with his bag and hurried to an old gentleman who was walking slowly with an umbrella, as if he was enjoying the rain. He has exquisite clothes and his goatee is also trimmed very neatly. At first glance, he is a nobleman of good origin.

"Sir, do you need a newspaper?"

The boy selling newspapers asked on the side. The old gentleman turned his head and looked at him. He seemed very interested, but still shook his head slowly. The boy did not continue to pester him, and returned to the eaves of the silver shop with a frustrated expression.

Jenkins took out another copper coin from the small cloth bag:

"How about talking to me for another penny?"

The conversation just now made Jenkins gain more trust. This time the boy did not refuse, and happily took the coin, and did not forget to thank Jenkins for his generosity.

Jenkins decided to change the direction of the conversation. Since he could not inspire the boy's "ambition" for a better life, he would tempt him in other ways.

"Do you read knight novels?"

Boys all like knight novels, not the colored parts, but they are attracted by the unrealistic plots in the book, just like the original owner Jenkins. Because they know that they can't have the exciting experience in the novel, they like it and imagine it.

The newsboy looked at Jenkins in confusion:

"Sir, why do you think I know how to read?"

This is Jenkins's carelessness. Although there are books that are mainly painted, most of those books are illegal publications with colors. He wants to use the plots in knight novels to make the boy realize the wonderfulness of life, but serious knight novels are very challenging to literacy.

"You don't know a single word?"

"I know a few, after all, I sell newspapers."

He patted his bag proudly:

"If you don't know a single word, then you can't even shout the news. Sir, I'm the best news boy around here!"

Speaking of this, the boy's eyes were a little bright:

"Sir, why don't I shout for you?"

He was still thinking that he couldn't take Jenkins' money for nothing.

"Okay."

Jenkins said with a smile, so the boy cleared his throat and shouted loudly:

"Queen Isabella announced an amnesty! The notorious political criminal Old Porter is about to be released from prison!"

His voice was heard in the rain, and people nearby looked over. Although no one still wanted to sell newspapers, the boy was still very happy:

"Sir, how do you feel?"

"Very good, you are the best news boy I have ever seen."

The boy had a big smile on his face, and only then could Jenkins feel that he was just a child.

"Since you like this job so much, why can't you keep doing it?"

Jenkins thought he had found the right direction.

"Because selling newspapers doesn't make much money. It's not enough to support myself. At most, it can supplement the family income. Besides, have you seen older children selling newspapers on the street? Only children who can't work are willing to make such insignificant money, and people are more accepting of children selling newspapers.

Even if I can't find a job driving a cart with an old widower, I can't keep selling newspapers here. Although I like this job very much, I like the smell of fresh ink."

He lifted the bag slightly, put his nose next to the remaining newspapers, took a deep breath and showed an intoxicated expression.

"If you really like newspapers, there are other jobs you can do."

The newspaper boy who claimed that he only liked a stable life did not refuse immediately this time, so Jenkins asked:

"In fact, as long as you are literate, you will have more possibilities in the future. Do you like newspapers? It is easier to work as a porter in a newspaper office. Of course, you will not earn as much as pulling a carriage. But have you ever thought about it? You can also be a journalist?"

"reporter?"

The boy knew what a reporter was, but he didn’t believe that he could become that person. That was a profession for those who had gone to school:

"Sir, are you kidding?"

"A joke? Of course not. You know, you can actually do the job of a reporter right now. Newspaper offices need news, but obviously they can't know everything that's happening in the city at all times. After all, we are all ordinary people."

Jenkins winked at the boy:

"So, how do you think you learned about the news?"

"Someone told them!"

The boy replied immediately, his eyes no longer looking at the street looking for customers buying newspapers, he stared at Jenkins closely.

"Yes, the newspaper has its own informants...that is, intelligence personnel, who provide them with fresh information. So, why can't you become an informant for the newspaper? In addition to selling newspapers and taking care of your younger siblings, is there anything else you can do? Don’t you have a lot of time to waste on the streets?”

Chapter 2196 The Problem of Gear Man (Additional Update 1/2)

When he said this, Jenkins felt like a devil tempting others:

"Try it, walk around the street, and if you see a certain house surrounded by police or find something interesting, go to the newspaper office and ask if anyone needs fresh news."

"But......"

The boy was a little timid.

"Does it cost money to give it a try? If it doesn't succeed, it won't affect your life. If it succeeds... what will happen?"

The point of the conversation was not what Jenkins said, but what he wanted the boy to think he realized:

"If I succeed, I can establish contact with the newspaper and provide fresh news, which will give me an extra income!"

"Yes, editors and reporters will definitely not be stingy with smart children and are willing to collect information for them."

Jenkins smiled and nodded, and the cat on his shoulder swept the back of Jenkins' head with the tip of its tail in low spirits, wondering why it hadn't started fighting yet.

"And not only that, if you can maintain this relationship and learn more words, or even go to a certain school..."

Jenkins didn't continue, and the boy didn't ask. They both looked at each other. Jenkins saw the boy's eyes light up. In the other man's face, he saw hope, fire, and the dreams of a young boy.

Of course what he said is difficult. It is incredible in itself to ask poor families to spend a sum of money to send their children to school. But in this era, anything is possible, and there will be cottage-style schools in the slums. With luck, boys can do what Jenkins said.

Of course, only if you are very lucky. But the boy was still young, and his future was full of possibilities. Jenkins just proposed one of them, maybe the boy will succeed, maybe he will fail, but he at least looked up, which will be good for his life and the next generation.

"gentlemen......"

After looking at each other for a long time, the boy spoke, but his voice was already hoarse:

"Is this really possible?"

"This is your future, I can't give you a definite answer, you should ask yourself."

Jenkins patted the boy's shoulder gently:

"Are you really willing to be a carriage driver carrying goods all your life? Or do you want to be truly exposed to the smell of these inks?"

His voice was very soft, but it had an inexplicable power to confuse people. The boy swallowed hard and subconsciously took two steps back. He was frightened by the future described by Jenkins. He never knew that he could have such a future.

"Thank you, sir."

The boy did not give an exact answer, but thanked him very seriously. Jenkins said nothing after that, and the boy just lowered his head as if in deep thought, instead of continuing to look for customers.

In the silent state, the boy could not see Jenkins by default, but he would not forget the conversation just now.

"Look, I did a good job, right?"

Jenkins turned to ask the gear man standing in front of the sealed window, who blew out a stream of steam from his mouth:

"But you haven't got that heart yet."