Quantum Leap - Vol. 6 Kingdom Building Garnering Wealth

C007 Shopping

"Kumbawa. My name is Eko and I am 14 years old. I arrived in Kitakata a day later than Izumi and Riko after we had escaped from the bandits that killed the slave traders. I and Fei we were running away together when we heard the bandits were trying to catch us, but we had run too far away from them."

"We followed Izumi's and Riko's footsteps in the snow and almost died due to sheer exhaustion and hunger as we managed to eat bits of snow to quench our thirst. We reached a stream and drank from it and followed the stream upwards until we reached Kitakata."

"After reaching here, both Fei and I worked at a herbalist shop where we learnt all kinds of herbs, flowers and roots to create medicine and pills and paste. However, since the herbalist owner chanced on our background, we were suddenly ill-treated and was expected to work just like who we were before, as slaves."

"When we ate at the Inn just now, that was the first hot meals that we ate for a very long time since we were sold as slaves back several years ago. Most of the meals we received were mainly dinner as we do not have breakfast or lunch."

"Most of our dinners were cold and from the leftover lunch. We had no choice but to eat them in order to survive. And working at the herbalist shop was no different."

"Kumbawa... My name is Fei and I am the same age as Gin at 12 years old. I worked the same as Eko and..." her voice drifted as she choked on her tears. Eko pulled her close and hugged her as both had suffered the same fate.

"Kumbawa, my name is Hanna and I am the same age as Izumi. I too was a slave and had been forced to work just like Izumi before. Gin and I came to Kitakata months before Izumi and had been working in forestry here since we escaped from the last place that we worked. We learnt about all types of plants and those bearing fruits or just flowers and learnt about how to plant and nurture them."

"In the forestry also, we had to chop down trees and make firewood for the residents here to buy for their daily cooking. In short, what we chop down, we need to grow them back here. We learnt also how to grow from seeds or from branches alone and even pollination of flowers."

"Both Gin and I were discovered as slaves and we do not earn a single copper when we worked for these months during last summer. Our food comes from the forest, either the roots or the fruit-bearing trees and once in a few days we got onigiri to eat and that's it. No fish or meat and other vegetables."

"Senior Master and Junior Master, we all 6 wishes to lead a better life and be treated as equals, just like everyone else. We heard the life story of young master from Izumi and Riko and at first, we do not believe, but when we saw how humble the two of you and both of you are like father and son, our hearts melted and we wished to have loving parents as well."

"We had very little affection when we were very young and the longing of calling someone like a father, mother or even brother was always aching in our hearts and we wished to, once again, call out to someone as a father, mother or brother!"

All 6 of them were crying and were burying their faces in their arms as they sat slouched over the tables while their shoulders shook when they sobbed uncontrollably.

"Sensei, could you get from us the steamer basket, please? I try to console them first and put the Karada Soap on the ground. They are not going anywhere and suddenly grow legs and run off." I smiled as I whispered to him and Hiko-sama nodded at me and went silently to fetch the steamer basket.

I knew Hiko-sama would react awkwardly in front of girls and in a situation like this. He would always avoid physical contacts such as hugs and embraces but would act out in his funny way to his affection like the way he headlocked me.

As soon as Hiko-sama arrived, I took the steamer basket and placed it in the middle of the table and took the slip of receipt that was lying on the pebble. I quickly slip it on my obi and make sure it doesn't slip off.

"Before we eat, Hiko-Dono have a few words to say as I need to go and boil water for green tea. I would be right back in a moment."

I quickly turned and nudged Hiko-sama to add in a few words as well make an introduction to the Karada Soap. I noticed that he had a small dish plate and it contained a piece of green tea soap.

I entered the house and looked at the receipt for tomorrow's lunch for 11 people and for exactly 7 days. It only cost 35 gold and the Innkeeper was generous enough to give us a discount. I boiled some water and prepared the 35 gold coins in 2 rope bundles. A 20 and a 15 roll of good coins.

Thinking back the memory banks of this kid, he too was born as an orphan and he had been adopted by a woman called Himeko who was a spinster. At least this kid had the love of a mother. Sigh... Is there a way to stop s*****y in this 19th century?

---Meanwhile, in Hiko-sama's position---

Hiko-sama began to open the steamer basket and spread it on the table. The smell of the steamed banana, sweet potatoes and sweet corn soon filled the table as their steam slowly rose from each of the three baskets.

"Ahem ladies, before you start eating this simple supper that had been prepared in the morning by the young man, here... let me show you how to wash your hands before eating."

Hiko-sama took the dipper and scooped some water and washed his left and then his right hand before taking the soap and lathering his hands. Then he places the soap back into the small dish plate and he scrubbed his hands before rinsing with the water left in the dipper. He wiped his hands on one of the hand towels and he subconsciously began to smell his hands and the green tea Essense wafted into his nostrils and energies him.

"Now, take turns and wash your hands like me and you will feel your hands will smell very nice and when you smell it, you will feel refreshed." Hiko-sama gestured to Izumi to come forth and try as he held the dipper in his hands to help them wash their hands.

He knew that the smell of the Essense would rejuvenate them and uplift their spirits.

After Izumi had washed her hands she felt her hands were much softer and she can't help but keep smelling her hands. Soon the rest 5 followed while Hiko-sama poured water from the dipper to rinse before and after washing and everyone was amazed that the soap they washed their hands in smelled great.

Everyone now was distracted away from their sad past story and was now discussing among themselves what they had washed their hands in.

"I know... I know... It is Karada Soap that Hiko-Dono and Senpai were talking about. But why Karada Soap when we washed our hands in it? It is supposed to be called Te (hands) instead." exclaimed Riko excitedly.

"Ah... You catch on fast Riko! Your right, it's Karada Soap. Not only for Te (hands), this could also be used for Kao (face). But this Karada Soap is special because just the smell alone is very refreshing, right?"

"Yes, Senior Master. I feel that my tiredness had been lifted and I feel fresh just like I had just woken up from a very peaceful sleep!" exclaimed Hanna as she cupped her hands and breathe in deep and sighed out loud.

"Yes, Senior Master. We all feel the same too and our spirits seem to be high and not low like we had for the past few months," explained Eko as she too copied Hanna actions of cupping her hands close to her face.

"Hiko-Dono, what is this smell? It's very familiar. But I like it." asked Riko curiously.

"Ah, if you all want to know, it's green tea extract! Eko and Fei know what's the uses right?" Hiko-sama gestured to them as they knew more about herbs.

"Green Tea is not only meant for drinking, but it could also be extracted to make Essense such as this. What people would call is perfume. Green tea is soothing and is also a form of detox which is removing toxins in our body through our sweat or urine." Eko explained in detail to everyone.

"You see, only the rich and famous could afford these kinds of perfumes and sweet-smelling soaps. Do you think it's fair? These Karada Soap also wanted to be treated as equals so that everyone in Kitakata would be able to afford a minimum 1 bar of this. Just like all of you to be accepted by the public, these Karada Soap also wanted to be accepted whether the user is young or old, male or female, the rich or the poor."

"This Karada Soap is you and you are this soap." Hiko-sama sama used his metaphors as closely as possible and it hit its mark perfectly.

"Come and see these 5 scented Karada Soap that you could tell me which scent it belongs to." Hiko-sama handed the wrapped bars of soap to them and told them to handle it gently.

Everyone took turns to smell it and everyone liked it very much. Some say they like the rose scent, while others argued that the lavender, lilac, jasmine, green tea were among their favourites. After everyone had smelled the soap and their eyes seemed to sparkle and had more life in it. Their faces also had a tinge of redness in their cheeks and everyone was like a huge family talking discussing and arguing with each other.

"Alright... Alright... Calm down and hand me the soaps back, thank you. Ok, you see this plot of land here? From tomorrow onwards and for the following 7 days, a group of 11 men would come here to build a living quarter and work area just like home."

"And this home would be called Fasuto Japan KabushikiGaisha! It would be a home as well as a small work area to pack and distribute these Karada Soap to everyone here in this community. And this house will belong to all 6 of you as you live here and work here and free yourself from ill-treatment by others."

"You will be your own little bosses and promote these Karada Soap. On top of that, you will have breakfast, lunch and dinner with mid-morning and mid-afternoon teas and supper if you all would like to join us here in the garden. You will get to choose 5 pairs of kimonos each, 5 pairs of hakama, 2 zori, 5 tabi, 2 obi and 2 yakata."

"On top of that, even if you live and work here, you would receive a fixed salary as well at 2 gold coins a month. There will be fund box where you can use them to buy your own niceties and food for your own breakfast and mid-morning and mid-afternoon teas. As for your lunch and dinner plus supper would be born by the young man."