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Though they didn't live a lavish life, they were happy. Their days were spent cultivating

rice paddies, and in the evening, relaxing in front of a crackling fire, telling tales

of far-off places. In this time, people rarely ventured far from home due to the difficulty

of travel. The world was yet to see a motorized vehicle, and although there were roads, they

were difficult to create and maintain. Once a week, the mother and son would travel

to the local market to sell their wares. It was the central hub for exchange in the area.

Anders came from across the valley to trade everything from fresh fish to chopped wood.

Except for this weekly trip to the market, the mother and son had seen little beyond their

quiet home. They enjoyed this life though. It allowed them time to grow fresh fruits and

veg alongside their rice paddies. And they were able to master useful skills like bread-making.

It was hard to complain about a home that always smelt of warm bread.

But above all, the mother was especially skilled at weaving beautiful brigades.

People from neighbouring regions would travel long distances to buy them at the local market.

When the sun set, after a long day tending to their land, the mother would sit at her loom and

mend together threads of brightly coloured silk. She loved creating intricate patterns of bright flowers,

ocean waves, or red sunsets melting into yellow skies.

One day, the mother and son were set up in the market.

...