Banished Prince Charming

Chapter 68 - General Report And Merry Making

Later in the evening during the conference meet after dinner, all the citizens were gathered to listen to the briefing of the accomplishments as I held a papyrus in front of me. From a third-person point of view, it was if I was holding a royal decree, telling the citizens of good tidings and news that followed that would bring their hearts to leap in excitement and joy.

The citizens before me looked expectantly as I announced the following from the top priority to the achievements of the citizens. They simply can't wait to hear the news...! Just like me as I wanted to share the good news with them...!

"First and foremost, I wish to convey the conditions of the Chadwells boy. His condition is stable and he should be up and about in a few days time. He is under care if Health Minister and his parents would be responsible to feed and attend to his other needs." the crowd nodded their heads and a wave of murmurs passed around the courtyard.

"I would now update the following progress. Our village has now been fully fended and surrounded by defensive structures, preventing wild animals and wild humans to rampage and destroy our livestock and farmlands. The four watchtowers were also completed and placed at four corners of the village." when I mentioned wild humans, they started laughing and clapped their hands to applause those men who worked fervently to make it successful.

"It had been a week since Marcel the merchant had arrived here and I wish to update that the number of clay bricks that had been produced by the children had already reached more than 1,600 pieces...! It is time now for us to set aside some of the bricks to construct our bakery...!"

"Domestic Affairs Jack, please explain about the bakery... " the citizens heard that the children had accomplished more than what they had achieved and will continue to do so for the next few days, hugged their children in joy and appreciation. Without these children, they would not be able to see a bakery in their village at all."

Jack stood up, cleared his throat as he narrates to the wide-eyed citizens that the oven would be of a certain length and it would have 4 ovens running at the same time. More whispers could be heard and some raised their hands while Jack calmly answered it.

"4 baking ovens, double-layered and each layer could bake 12 loaves of bread... How many breads can a Baker bake in each day?" a citizen spoke up to inquire and I answered for Jack. "A single pass, or a single baking session for half a foot of shadow's length, would bake 96 loaves of bread. This would be more than enough for everyone and also for sale."

"Waah...I can't imagine waking up every day to the smell of freshly baking bread. Then, how many types of bread would there be for a single pass?" another citizen raised his hands and spoke up.

"I have here a list of bread that I had compiled from Heather. And these bread are- plain wheat bread, blueberries filled bread, hawthorn berries filled bread, sweet pineapple bread, sweet corn milk bread, cheese-filled bread, seasoned potato bread, sweet potato bread with seasonings, sweet cinnamon bread, sugar-coated bread, milk bread, chewy cheesy bread, garlicky bread, seasoned game meat fillings bread, seasoned fresh fish fillings bread and last but not least mixed vegetables filled bread."

Everyone was ecstatic and was on their feet when they heard about the range of bread. Not only they were eating wheat bread like the higher classes, but they get to enjoy wonderfully fillings in the bread.

Ben sauntered over to me and passed me a clay bread mould and I showed it to them. "The future for these loaves of bread would be set in this bread mould. It weighs a quarter pound for the plain wheat bread and half a pound for those with fillings."

The citizens clapped their hands and I was able to hear that some citizens of would volunteer to work on the ovens to have it up and running in 3 days time or even shorter as the main materials for the oven had already been made by the children.

"Over the next few days, the children will continually produce those clay bricks so that it would be sold off it either stored for making other structures." I continued as I waved my hands and calmed the citizens.

"Next, I would like to update on the brooms. We now have 350 cattails brooms that had been steadily made by the team. Even if its a small figure to be sold, but a least it would be able to put food on the table. 350 broom would be able to buy 175 pounds of grains or flour...! "

The citizens clapped their hands but the ones who clapped the loudest were the ones who were making these brooms throughout the whole week.

350 brooms every week would be able to trade with sufficient grains as long as there are cattails growing abundantly at the riverbanks. At the meantime, we can mass produce but release them for sale at 100 pieces each week.

This should be able to create a buffer of stock to meet the demands. At least that's what I was thinking for that moment. If any Merchants want to get their hands on these products weekly, they are welcome to do so since the bread would be good after 3 days but those with meat would be best consumed in a day's time.

Also, we would be able to meet their demands easily since everyone had put their hands and heads together to make it possible.

"Public Works Minister Frank, please tell us about the progress for the house's structures." I gestured to Frank and he readily stood up and pointed out to everyone that they had made the wall partitions, doorways, thatched roofs, house's mainframe that could make 10 houses altogether.

The construction of the houses begins tomorrow. Everyone put their hands together and clapped triumphantly at the progress those youths and ladies had made during the whole week.

Frank explained that the new houses would not be on stilts like the current one but would be on bamboo skids. This was the request of me since it would be turned into yet another defensive tool if we were being attacked in those directions.

Since it was too early to tell, the new improved houses would easily be pushed by a single person in a position where it would be linked with the others, lit up and became a barrier for incoming marauders. Instead of loosely arranged houses, the flame would be near impassable and would be a booby trap for incoming enemies.

Furthermore, these houses would be tethered down in case of heavy winds. So we would not experience houses being blown off with its occupants along with it.

Gwen soon reported the team's progress that they had made successfully manufactured more than 120 hunting bows and more than a 36 sets of fishing poles with reels for the week and we all lauded them for their dedication. It is a job that requires a good eye and steady hands and the 3 in the team simply possesses them.

Burns' wife reported her progress as well as she was in charge of the weaving team. They had made 24 small woven mats measuring 2' by 5', 14 medium mats measuring 5' by 5' and 7 large woven mats measuring 10' by 10' for sale. The 6" by 8' meant for the covering of our residential houses had 12 pieces altogether.

On top of that, there were numerous 3' by 2' by 3' weaver baskets with a cover to be used in transporting the bread since its more convenient and cleaner that way as each basket denotes a different filling. Also, it would be more presentable and these loaves of bread would normally be a hit...!

Burns continued her report stating that with the assistance of Jennings, they had managed to perform last-minute touches to the 10' by 10' bamboo chicks. The total figure amounted to 39 pieces as I had taken one of them and had not set them up yet.

Followed by that, the weaving team had made assorted numbers of serving trays, food baskets for storage with lid, large storage c.h.e.s.ts with lid, farmer's hats, baby cots with rocker, fish traps, 3 layered steamer baskets and pillows filled with fluff.

The thin stripped woven cases made for the pillows were very soft and comfortable to lie on. It was filled with the cattails fluff, it could reduce the soreness of one's neck in the mornings. Plus, with the non-existence of kapok trees and the scarcity of cotton fields, this makes a fairly good substitute for years to come.

Since Marcel deals the trade with mainly the nobles for certain items and the commoners for the rest of the items as it was quite affordable and long-lasting, most of the woven things would be passed to him so that he would be able to ply his trade to an even wider audience.

It would definitely help him to get more sales even at a low margin of profit, but as soon as the words of his fine products procured from GraceHaven reaches other towns, it would definitely be a boon for his profession.

The evening concluded with the plans to construct the baking oven to replace the brewery as I intend to support Marcel in those kegs of ale, the following 16 houses (which made up 2 rows of 12 residential houses on each side of the lots) and the continuation of all works till the end of the following week.

The reports for the farmlands ended everyone on a high note. It had been more than 3 weeks since the last cultivation and those vegetables that were easily grown were springing in abundance. They were mainly the long beans, tapioca shoots and string beans.

The wheat and corn that was grown across the riverbanks had grown to about 2 feet in height and once it hits the flowering stage, the wheat and corn would be harvested once the wheat is heavy and golden yellow and corn which would grow to be a foot in length had golden corn silk.

Kayla pointed out that these golden corn silk could be used as a medicine as well as tea. It works both ways and I was truly appreciative at Kayla's knowledge in herbology. It could be used dry or fresh.

As a reward for their hard work, another 4 kegs of ale was brought out from the shed and by then Ben had taken out his flutes, several lutes as well. The strings of the lute were made from guts of the wild boar they had slaughtered before. As the skins of the drums need to be taut, it won't be for another few days before its ready.

When the kegs of ale and the musical instruments were brought out, everyone was overjoyed and a small celebration erupted within the small gatherings of citizens.

Although the numbers of citizens were small, the energy that flowed among them was tremendous and overwhelming. The unfateful event about the Chadwells' son was soon drowned in the merrymaking as Kayla had announced that it was just a minor bump.

After having just a cup of ale, the Chadwells a trended to their son. Jack was busy handing out sweet candies made from cattails extracts and even he himself can't help to pop one in his mouth. The children enjoyed their treats and some did ask for seconds which there were plenty to hand around.

Soon, it was time for bed as the fires from the fireplace sputtered and crackled as everyone anticipated that something would get snared in the defensive structures and they would definitely have meat for the next following days.