Banished Prince Charming

Chapter 48 - To Let Them Stay Or To Let Them Go.

"Young master, I have ventured out earlier on inspecting at the trees for me to chop down soon. They were at the area near the farmlands. I think it was not being explored yet by Gwen and Kayla and I saw an abundance of bamboo plants there as well."

"The thing is that once we have chopped the trees, we would saw them off into individual 5 and a half feet in length. This would enable us to get the drags a to pull the logs over the ground."

"However, as time would pass, the logs that were pulled would somehow loosen the soil thus making it soggy and prove to be a burden for the horses. Could I implement a path to be constructed just like the ones in the middle of the residential lots?"

"At least, that lumber would be easily pulled back to the sawmill for my buddy here to produce 1' by 5' planks with a thickness of an inch. This was the requirements from Marcel, isn't that right, young master?"

"That's right... Your idea is very feasible. An extended path not only proves to be an ease for the horses but also prevents soil erosion and won't create many disturbances. Besides, there would be future expansions to the current farmlands and definitely walking on firm ground would be greatly appreciated."

"Commence the work as you deem fit along with the required manpower needed. Extend the path two-fold then."

Upon hearing the approval, Frank bowed his head and sat down while the next agenda continues. "Would Missus Chadwell stand up and please report our findings." she looked rather lost for words because she was not used to voicing her opinion before the public but her husband reassures and encourages her to speak up."

"The loom is in good condition even though some parts would need to be replaced. However, the loom would be able to perform under the current situation."

"How wide is the loom and could it be used as a machine to weave mats as well?"

"Sir, the loom is 11 feet wide and it could be used to weave mats. Just need some minor tweaks and it's ready to go. Although there would be some replacements that would be made but I can handle that myself."

"Yes, and furthermore that environment is conducive for you and your baby so it won't affect you much as the bamboo strips would be soaked first and then air fried before turned in to you. Please make the necessary adjustments needed."

"You would single-handedly be doing the 10' by 10' woven mats but these would be turned to become blinds as the method is slightly different. Those edges would be closed off by using reed stalks with 1-foot clearance on both sides, while the side edges would be closed off normally. Once you made the 10' by 10' shades, leave to the other team to complete the task."

"How long would you be able to produce a 10' by 10' shade in that manner?"

"Less than one hour per mat. If I were to be allowed to work at least 14 hours a day with 1-hour break to prepare meals for my husband and children for both their lunches and dinners, I would be able to make 8 to 12 or even more, sir.

"If she is able to make 8 per day, it would be 240 pieces every month. A shade would be sold foot by foot according to the price and this could easily fetch 48,000c per month or equivalent to 9g 6s monthly."

"Just her output alone and with the assistance of the others, our village could be a small town with the influx of more settlers and be self-sustained too."

I thought to myself as she represents a major player for making those shades excluding the ones making those woven mats. If only we have more looms, our village would be on the road to success just by concentrating on making these mats and hunting bows.

"Thank you, sir, that would be all." as she ended her findings.

"Next would be the Missus Innes the Tailor. Please stand up and report accordingly." as the Innes wife stood up and spoke up confidently. She explained about the needs required of a tailor and ended her findings.

"Very well, in this case, you could start by getting the materials from Kayla who made us our tunics and breeches as well. Listened to her instruction and of you are unsure you would refer to Kayla instead of me. By the way, you may start to mass fabricate those tunics according and make them a little bigger for the children as they are growing. These tunics would be handed down to the younger generation once the children can't fit into those clothes and start searching for a.d.u.l.t ones."

"If ever I see those teenagers running around n.a.k.e.d without single decency on them due to shortage of clothes I would go after your husband, do I make myself clear...?"

Upon hearing the end part of my speech everyone laughed because in their minds they could imagine n.a.k.e.d teenagers romping around with erect flagpoles would be a trend. Hahahahaha.

After everyone quietened down, the next person would be the Jennings and the wife was summoned to give her findings for both the Mill and oven concept.

"Sir, I personally would not put our 2 daughters together because they would argue and fight and work could not be complete. I know that both are stubborn and would not yield to one another whenever an argument broke out. I would suggest one of them to stay with me in the bakery while another would be at the mill."

"In this way, they could exchange with one another upon my instructions. Putting them at the mill together would create havoc and as what you mentioned, these teenagers would be running n.a.k.e.d due to lack of clothes and I don't want both my children to fight and start throwing flour at each other."

"Not only it would be wasteful but they would scare the whole of GraceHaven." she finished her report and hollers of protest came from the two teenaged girls.

"Actually I would like to see them fight n.a.k.e.d on a pile of flour. It would beat watching fighters doing it in mud though. After the end of the bout, they would look like a golem and there's nothing interesting to see too."

Everyone roared with laughter once again and I was punched on the c.h.e.s.t by Heather saying that she would wrestle with me and see who would emerge as winners. "You are getting naughtier already, yes? I accept your challenge, Heidi..." Heather stuck out her tongue and I reached out and pinched her nose.

"May I continue, sir?" the wife of Jennings announced and continues as she had calmed herself down after cracking the joke. She related to the concept of the oven and was totally in favour of Jack's ideas. Jack told her that the idea of the oven was mine and the Jack only contributed to the designs of the metal rack inside it. The idea was simply innovative which enabled the oven to be heated evenly.

"Alright, we had come to the end of our discussions. Respective Ministers, please pick your crew and head to the respective task to complete the tasks at hand. As for the members constructing the defensive structures, please continue your good work and prepare at least 10 such barricades and could immediately put it up on the discretion made by our Public Works Minister. Thank you. Everyone dismissed."

After I had said so, everyone returned their benches and cleared the courtyard. The ministers picked the same men and led to their respective job site and one of the engineers, the one whom unspoken with sauntered over.

"Sir, tomorrow is our third day on the windmill and would be ae to do a dry run test by midday. Do you have grains to test them out? Furthermore, we will be awaiting your further orders whether you require us to stay for the next 4 days or you would prefer to send us out."

"We would be here awaiting your further instructions. By the way, you have an acute vision and I would put high commendation for the barricade that you had improvised. Good work, sir. As we had expected from you."

He slightly bowed and left as he continues to make some final checks on the windmill before handing it over to me.

"Heidi, you see the way he addresses his words to me? Do you think it's out of the ordinary? Further instruction means he would be waiting for me to give the signal to return to Darlington and do the necessary."

"Yes, Mars... I notice that too. Furthermore, discuss with those engineers discreetly and do what you think its best for the old king, queen and sister. I don't know how to say this but these engineers do not mean any harm and I think they would stay here if you instruct them so."

"Aye... I had been thinking about it too. I will speak to them this evening before dinner at the job site. They are not what I expect them to be because it seems working with machines are a norm to them."

"Who would have thought that assembling a knocked down windmill would be this easy. The wages had been fully paid for the 7 days of work at no questions asked, and even if they finished the project in 3 days or 7 days it doesn't really matter."

"Would it be a good idea for them to help out the rest of the citizens? Of course, they would be paid for the services thereafter. Let me ask them tomorrow for their answers. We have some grains with their kernels and we would see how the mill works."

I projected my thoughts to Heather and then she excused herself as she would be teaching the children on math.

I sat down at the 'throne' and wondered why there's a drastic change within me right after I had the two visions. Does it represent anything?

Does my dream of the first death indicate that it is a stepping stone for me? If so, then the second vision that I got was truly for the GraceHaven and I am positive about it.

If not I won't be shown the second vision at all...

I put the thoughts at the back at my head and prepare the conference for tonight. Jennings would be required to take a look at the mill tomorrow. Today I need someone to make a bamboo winnowing tray.

I need to know where all the empty sacks had gone too. In the future, we would only be buying grains and kegs of ale in the future and Marcel would be supporting us more in purchasing our products and redistributing them.

It may seem unfair from the surface but this is how a business would evolve and revolve. If there nothing for him to buy, there wouldn't be any income for him to resell them. Likewise, for us, we need his service and so does he.

I went to the bamboo area and saw that 4 defensive structures had been completed. "My goodness, such speed...! Such efficiency...! How do you guys manage to work on this kind of demonic speed?"

Both Ben and Frank smiled as he explained that everyone would start to set up the base frame and once it is complete, the base would be worked on together by Ben and Frank. The third stage would be securing the triangular spikes onto the base frame.

It's a 3 stage process and they would rotate to work on it much like a production line. The 6 people working on the defensive structures project were efficient once they got the hang of it.

I commended on their good work and I proceeded to the next one where the bundles of bamboo strips were tied up on a huge bundle and tied up on several parts of it and was left submerged.

One of the ladies assigned there tole me that these would be soaked till dusk and brought up to the surface. Then the bundle would be left as it is and by tomorrow morning, it would be unbundled and hung dry.

A few simple A-frame drying poles were being set up and it would be used tomorrow to air dry the strips. Once it is dry, the production for the 10' by 10' sunshade would proceed.

After finding out the process for the bamboo strips, I proceeded to the next 'station'.