Marketplace
1405 Words
A few Shadow members assisted in reimbursing the remunerations to the citizens as I informed the helpers to collect theirs as well according to the order of records.
They curtsied and went downstairs and after some time they came up after they had informed their family members to collect on their behalf.
The helpers were young ladies that had come out of age and entered their early teens after being here in Gracehaven. They had received some basic education and were able to perform simple read and write even if their handwriting was like chicken scratches.
The helpers worked in 3 fixed shifts of 8 hours each so they would be at our beck and call during times of need. Besides having 3 helpers around then clock per shift do makes work lighter around the domain.
Alright enough of the helpers and now back to the situation at the settee.
"What does the market sells there? Do you need to duplicate certain merchandise there?" Heather asked and I explained that there would be a huge general store that sells bread, biscuits and cakes. Also, there would be some freezers (huge horizontal ones that store meat, fish and poultry) and upright chillers (to store fruits and veg after the end of the day).
"There would be grains as well to be sold, all kinds of grains from soy, corn, barley, rye and beans... The ones that we grow in the crop fields." I explained but Heather had other ideas.
"Once we expanded, the citizens now have to buy their own food and cook their own as well? Then there would be a fire hazard and also there would be rubbish dumped anywhere then."
"Would the citizens be revolting since now they were cooking the food in the courtyard and shares around with the others without paying anything?"
Eagle, Marcel and Michelle scooted closer as they were also curious about what answer I would give. At least when Heather was back, they would be an exchange of ideas and there would be solutions and matters to compromise.
"Well, we need to address the community, well ahead of the expansion before we actually implement them. Let's say we announce it in the morning meeting where everyone's minds would be fresh."
"We need to prepare a half stone and wooden/bamboo model of a two-storey house first. It would be able to be taken apart complete with furnishings and little people in them."
"This, I think Eagle would be able to get some engineers to draw up some plans before we make a model. At least everyone could take a look and appreciate what we would be planning for them in the future."
"Let me sum up a simple house, so correct me if I'm wrong. The first level would consist of a cooking, dining and living area with a T&B. The upper level would have 3 bedrooms with a single T&B and a balcony as well. It would be rectangular in shape and the size would be 10 feet by 8 feet or 12 feet by 10 feet. The houses would be slightly elevated off the ground to prevent seepage and water damage."
"We make it 15 feet by 12 feet wide. The living and dining area could be integrated. But it would be best to lay out the foundation and build the 2 storey houses first before relocating the community and slide the current houses for the Immigrants later."
Someone spoke up and the idea was quite agreeable. Besides, making the 2 storey houses first would definitely spark their interest and cooperation. Furthermore, it is better to let them cook for their own and use their hard-earned coins rather than issuing rations that would once again incur problems in the future on mismanagement.
"Talking about purchasing their own provisions, what kind of prices are you looking at?"
"Cheaper than elsewhere. It is going to be back to basics. If we are growing wheat, then it would be bought at 2c per pound unlike 6c to 8c that the other towns were selling. It was like a year ago when we bought it from Marcel."
Marcel nodded his head and thought it easy a good deal. "How if others from neighbouring town folks come and steal the grains at such a price?" Marcel asked and I simply rebuked, "Every resident here would have an identification tag that they are from GraceHaven. No matter if they are early or recent inductees."
"Oh...so like a token you carry around?" Michelle asked and I once again responded, "It's going to be a cool looking bracelet with their family name on it and also their date of residency. I have their records so we would be mass producing them and engraving them."
"A shiny little steel bracelet with a raw hide as its band around their wrists. It's free for the first time and 3 silvers penalty for a replacement."
"That's pretty cool... I sure would want to have one myself as a trinket accessory. Haha." Marcel added as he thought it would be a dandy idea to have one with some precious stones on them.
"How about the workers in the Town Square? Who prepares the meals for them?" Eagle highlighted and I replied once more, "It would be handled by the workers themselves in the Town Square. We would have a proper dining and cooking area for them and food would be brought to the domain for the helpers, pioneers and us."
"Ahhh... Now I can see the whole picture. Seems feasible, Your Majesty. I think the community would agree of the changes and we would open a discussion with them by making an announcement right after the Wrestling Match tomorrow evening."
"That's great. Notify them of an important announcement that needs to be made the day after and this would keep everyone on their toes. Besides, Heather had taken the minutes down despite the interruptions that we had earlier and I could sum it up in the morning meeting day after."
"Oh yeah, before I forget I would like to add some important factors. No rearing of personal livestock, no private crops within the third cluster or beyond and lastly we would be assigning a lot of town council deputies to ensure no illegal dumping and cleanliness need to be adhered upon throughout Gracehaven."
"Now can someone help me calculate the number of feet from the borders of the Town Square here right to the second cluster and also the third cluster since the second cluster houses would be 15 feet by 12 feet and the third cluster buses would be the currently 10 feet by 8 feet."
"I need to see my twins and see how they are doing... Hehehe." I laughed gleefully as I stood up and stretched and walked gingerly and peeked inside the nursing room and saw that the twins were snug in their crib and were asleep. Guess they won't be waking up soon unless one starts to urine or poop.
Juggling work as an advisor, a leader, a daddy and husband really take its toll. Luckily I have originally grey coloured hair so no one would say I'm getting grey hairs since I am born with it. Hahaha.
"One more thing, Your Majesty. How do you control illegal Immigrants or those who made unlawful entries?" Eagle asked me and I slapped my foreheads and informed that the perimeter between each cluster was separated by a low wall, waist-high.
Then the ones surrounding the external perimeter would be made by a high 20-foot wall with towers every 20 feet walking space and embrasure for archers.
There would still be 3 main gates. So by the time, the bamboo barricades would be put forth in front of the high wall.
"No moats but if there's one, it would be like an extension from the main River Ure and made it around the perimeter. Oh yeah, the duck pond would also be encircled within our compounds."
"I would get the cartographers ready and also to make a mini-map on a 4 by 4 platform. At least the citizens would be excited to see how things would look up then." Eagle quipped as he saluted and went downstairs.
"Yup... I wonder how much the taxes would be by then." I thought inwardly as the land area of Gracehaven would be extended to 4 square miles in the future.
- Writer
