Banished Prince Charming

Chapter 46 - A Case Of Husband-Beating.

As I went out, I had grabbed the census records and the writing materials with me and I settled down at my study desk, meanwhile Heather knew what I would be doing soon after.

"Is it too early for you to start working? Tsk Tsk... You should take care of yourself, you know. There is no one else that would take care of you if you fall sick." Heather advised me but I just turned my head, look at her and smiled while I mouthed that I loved her.

"You loathe me...? Hmm... Nevermind... See what I will do to you tonight..." she pretended to throw her face and body away from me and put up her chin high as she went to the seating area and asked for the first family to come forward and meet me to complete my census.

I wanted to thank Heather as I looked at her but she showed her fist and put it to her nose and then threw her head sideways and chatted with the ladies. "What got into her...? Even if she is joking, she looked awfully serious." I pondered on this but soon dismissed it.

The first family that went ahead was the Innes Household. The miner sat there on a long bench since I requested it to be replaced from a stool. He and his family that made up of a teenage girl and son sat in both sides while he sat with his wife. Both husband and wife were holding their hands as if they were going through an auspicious matter.

"Thank you for your support within our growing community. This is a census population record and I would like to note down some useful information for our own records."

"Don't be too serious, this is not a marriage registrar, however, I would like to congratulate you and I pronounce you man and wife. Hahaha." I laughed and the Innes household also roared with laughter.

After filling in the data, I discovered that the wife used to be a tailor in a small shop, making clothes alterations and also some repairs et cetera. I noted of it and found out that both their teenage daughter and son had no work experience and would be suited to assigned as a permanent worker rotational with the rest of the ministers instead.

"Would both of you like to learn new things and contribute what you had learnt for future development?" I asked the teenagers and I got a positive response. Tomorrow after breakfast you may report to Industry Minister Ben so he would be able to deploy your tasks accordingly."

After that, I asked him to call for the next family.

Next to come forward would be the Edinburgh Household. After taking down the records, I discovered that the wife was a farmer. This would be beneficial for both Crystal and Kayla.

"How do you find the classroom of Sister Heather so far?" I queried the son about 10 years of age and he replied that he find the class interesting and would like to be a farmer like his mother and learn how to grow all kinds of fruits and vegetables.

I later learnt that the wife was in charge of a vegetable farm and handles an orchard as well. This would put her as together under the wing of the Agriculture Minister.

After chatted for a while, I called for the next family.

The next family to come forth is the Hereford Household. The 7-year-old girl that I had chatted with her smiled and waved her hand and introduced me as the Big Brother to her parents. She was as chatty as a parrot.

After taking down the necessary, I discovered that the wife had no work experience and was holding to the infant. "Did you worked somewhere just now?" I asked since she was still nursing and we do not want her infant and her be exposed to the bamboo sawdust because of allergic matters.

"I was working at the bamboo area and was stripping the bark off," she replied while she cradled her baby that was slung with a cloth baby carrier over her shoulders.

"Hang on a minute" I motioned to her. "Industry Minister Ben, could I see you for a minute?" I called out and Frank quickly scrambled to me. "Don't deploy this missus to handle bamboo. She's still nursing and we don't want her baby and her to get some kind of allergic reaction to the exposure of bamboo. Check with Kayla whether reed, cattails or jute would be OK. If not deploy her anywhere else but no heavy labour. Loads under 10 pounds would be OK."

I explained to Ben and he immediately went to get Kayla and she was surprised that I knew about this allergic matters among people especially nursing mothers and young infants.

"Study hard little Miss Hereford alright? Make your parents proud. Same goes to you little Mister Hereford." both the kids smiled at me and I accept that as a sign of gratitude.

The next family was called and it was the Chadwell household. She too was nursing but didn't work together at the bamboo area but went with Kayla and carrying the infant along with her 3-year-old son to collect fruits and find some edibles and berries.

She worked the loom before making intricate colours and design. "Why don't you let your son join the class instead? You have a baby with you so it's a bit troublesome. By the way, could you and Missus Innes go and take a look at the shop that had a loom and see if there's anything missing or broken that need attention?"

"I'm sorry sir, but my son is 'Mutt an' Jeff an' mute'. He had been like this since birth. But he is able to read lips and understand what we said to him even though he can't respond."

"My apologies, Chadwells... Please accept my apologies." I sincerely didn't know that her son was deaf and mute and I wished he could mix around and play with some friends. But people with disabilities have special abilities, such as this young boy."

"Even if he can't hear and speak, but he can lip read. I am sure he is good with his hands too, especially on handicraft. Maybe I could entice him with some children project." I wondered.

The very moment she heard about the loom her eyes sparkled as she didn't realise that this village... Just imagine a village having its own loom. Only a town of 2000 citizens would be able to afford one...!"

"Indus....."

"I am right here beside you, young master... I heard every word you say and will lead the two ladies to inspect the shop right after this." My words stopped in midair as Ben tapped my shoulder who was standing slightly behind me and I never noticed as I was jotting on the data. The wife sat there and let out a delightful laugh.

The next family was Kensington household. From the family name, it sounded so royal-ish.

His wife is unskilled and they have a 9-year-old daughter. She had earlier worked at the bamboo area and had seen how I was doing some improvements on the defensive structures and was very impressed.

"How do you find the work stripping the bark of those bamboos. Do you know what they are used for?"

"Yes sir, I was told by the Industry Minister Ben that these stripes of bamboo could be made into 15 other products."

"That's great... But would you be able to devout yourself to learn other new skills being a bakery, a weaver, a farmer or even as a miller?"

"Yes sir, I would love to." her husband smiled at her and patted her hand in approval.

Last but not least, was the Jennings. The wife was a baker and even as a Baker, she had never tasted the bread that we had served last night.

"Ohh... Wait till you taste the peaches bread, I am sure you would love it. Tell me what kind of bread do you usually bake in the bakery for sale to the masses?"

"The Lords would have the Manchet, Cheat or wheaten bread, Ravelled Bread, Brown or Black bread. The lower class would have bread made by oats, barley or millet. We also made biscuits too."

"Do you serve bread like yesterday and today? How about steam buns? How much do you sell your bread anyway and lastly, how many loaves of bread can a pound of flour make?"

"No sir, we don't have the kind of bread that we ate here. I also have not tried the steamed buns. The bread for the royals was sold at 3c while the commoners' range of bread were sold at 1c. One pound of flour would be able to make 6 loaves of bread, the same size as we ate here."

"If you are a royal and were to buy the bread that you had eaten here, how much would you pay for a loaf?"

"Between 5c to 10c. If its meat, it would be 10c. If its fruits or vegetables, it would as low as 5c and as high as 8c. Once they tasted the bread from here, they would be willing through their noses...!"

I laughed at her and made a mental note to let Marcel know how much to sell to the nobles. It's high time for the commoners to afford eating what the nobles were eating all this while.

"I have plans for a bakery. Our windmill is also nearing completion. I would require 2 persons to work on the milling and winnowing, then I also would require 3 bakers on the bakery including yourself. At the meantime, I would require you to learn from Kayla of the various recipes. The building of the bakery would be underway soon once the defensive structures are completed."

I glanced over my shoulders and found Ben standing beside and slightly behind me.

"Industry Minister Ben, could you kindly bring Missus Jennings to Domestic Affairs Jack and share their point of view about the design and concept of the oven? I had earlier discussed with Jack and see if she had a better concept that would benefit everyone."

Frank nodded his head in apprehension.

"Would you girls like to learn new skills such as baking, milling or weaving?" and I got the anticipated answer as the 2 girls, aged 17 and 15 whooped with joy as they replied that the duo would like to learn how to mill and bake.

"Alright, that concludes for today. You may proceed to see Jack and both of you discuss the oven because your idea would be better than as my kitchen's oven was as tall as a person and half a body could go in and bake himself or herself."

"Alright, off you go then. Once you had done with Jack, inform him to share his views if any, alright? Thank you for your sharing and thank you for being a family on GraceHaven."

As they went to meet Jack, I made a last check and made sure I did not miss anyone. I stacked the papyrus together and kept everything inside the house first before I made my way and sit on the 'throne' and gestured Heather to join me.

She still continued her acting as she shook her fist at me and looked away but I knew she was just looking at me from the sides of her eyes. When she finally went up to me, she sat with a snort and then "BAAAM..." another fist landed in my c.h.e.s.t but was on her flat part of her fist and not the knuckle part.

"Hmmph..."

"You love Sir Blackie more than me...Hmmph"

"I only tied him next to Sir Hope but you were frantically looking for him and not me... Hmmph."

"You dared to faint when you didn't see Sir Blackie at all... Hmmph."

"The moment you open your eyes, all you think was Sir Blackie...and both of you look so loving together..."

"Maybe if I do this, wiggle my b.u.t.t.o.c.k.s and places my hands like this then you would be running after me, petting my head and telling my hair... Hmmph Hmmph Hmmph..."

Heather snorted and tried to keep a straight face as she wiggles her b.u.t.t.o.c.k.s on the seat, raised her c.o.c.ked arms on her c.h.e.s.t level and dropped her hands like how Sir Blackie would do if it sat on his haunches while she panted and stuck her tongue out."

"Err... Are you thirsty or something? Would you like to have a drink from a cup or from a bowl? Maybe I should send you to meet Crystal for a medical checkup..." I joked while maintaining a straight face.

"BAAAM BAAAM BAAAM BAAAM BAAAM BAAAM..." every word she enunciated a thump would land and I pretended to be in severe pain as Heather teasingly bawled, "Not... Fair... You... Always... Bully... Me..."

"Justice Minister... Where are you... Help me... This is the third time that I am being abused... Husband-beating... Help..." I cried out and everyone who witnessed the scene laughed their heads off while the children were in shock at first but soon shrieked with laughter.

The pioneer ladies whispered to each other and then peals of laughter erupted again while the ladies from the new families laughed while covering their mouths with two hands.