← Previous Chapter | Chapter Index | Next Chapter →

The Reincarnated Thirty-Something Woman’s Otherworldly Reform Life

living in the moment

Translated by: ME

Treat me to a Ko-Fi to give me more motivation!!!

*****

I felt that the attitudes and looks in the eyes of the people in the slums had changed at some point. Magnolia was feeling the response to that change.

(…I can't say for sure yet because their lives aren't stable, but if things continue like this, they'll surely be fine.)

Hunger changes people. I have no intention of fully affirming the theory that human nature is fundamentally good, but it's not hard to imagine that a desolate life surely erodes the heart.

The physical and mental wounds they received will likely take a long time to heal. Perhaps they will never fully heal.

It would be good if they could live in the moment as they are, without forgetting or overcoming the past.

Thinking so, I decided to say nothing to them and watch over them quietly for a while. A heart that has just changed is very delicate. It's important not to point it out and dampen their motivation.

And I will reliably handle each thing that needs to be done.

Scrap fabrics are now being delivered from several workshops and stores within a reasonable range. Young owners, masters, and female owners have stepped up as collaborators. It seems that ambitious people who want to have connections with the lord, other stores, and workshops are participating. Large stores are likely waiting to see how things go.

I understand both positions and thoughts, so I have no intention of saying anything. It would be more troublesome if they participated forcibly and disrupted the pace.

Using the collected scrap fabrics, I'm having them make something like mats out of patchwork to serve as cushioning so that bottles don't break during transport, as part of their practice. Granny and Lily, who have improved significantly, and occasionally Magnolia, stand in for confirmation and guidance.

The people who additionally joined the handicraft team are improving rapidly, even while tilting their heads and wondering if this kind of thing is okay.

It might be okay to start making simple products like trivets little by little. If I teach them the basic patterns and they can eventually design them themselves, the range will expand further.

And Lily's recent activity is so great that her work related to the business is more central than her work as a lady's maid. I don't know if it's good or bad as a lady's maid, but... I'm relieved that she doesn't seem to dislike it.

「Gai, cotton... can we get cotton flowers in the teritoryy? Ow ith it impowted?」

「...My Lady.」

Since the aunties practicing patchwork are improving much faster than expected, I spoke up thinking about quilts, and was met with a reproachful look. ...It seems he intends to voice a complaint to the young lady who, far from working all the time, tries to pile even more mountains of work on top of the existing ones if left alone.

「Not wight away, but...」

I look away from the usually cheerful guard. ...I remember that cotton flowers were sown in spring, so I think we need to prepare early if we're going to start.

「...But, what is it? You have a face that says you're definitely going to do it, right? New things are on hold until Lord Claude returns.」

While saying so with a half-closed eye, he makes a big X with both hands. Servas also steps in to stop things that are completely bad, but his capacity is larger than other people's, or perhaps he's just soft on his granddaughter. He won't say it's bad unless it's something significant.

—If I say it's for the territory, it's true, but anyway, it's very busy. With ideas pouring out like water (as it seems to those around her), if someone doesn't stop Magnolia, work will continue to pile up without knowing how to stop.

The little servant is out today with the carriage driver to check the watermills in the four districts and deliver the bone powder. Even though he's only six years old, he's being worked hard by Magnolia.

When I look at the essential Magnolia with half-closed eyes, she seems to be thinking about something as if it were none of her business. ...She must be thinking of something new again. Gai is certain of that. And as he thought, if one thing is no good, she has begun to develop another method in her head.

(Hmm. I guess I'll have to check with Paul. I hope he knows about cotton flowers too...)

It was a plant often cultivated in hot places on Earth. If it's the same here, it might have been handled in Ignis too. Furthermore, if I ask the master of the cloth workshop, I might find out the general market price.

「...You're not listening at all...」

Gai was fed up with the young lady who was nodding to herself in agreement.

***

As the seasons progressed and spring arrived, the busyness increased further. Cabbage seedlings were planted in the fields all at once, and we were busy with various confirmations and tasks, such as the germination status of paprika seeds.

Because the social season from winter to spring is long, Claude, who returned after finishing his first half term (?), frowned greatly at the piled-up work. A magnificent canyon, the likes of which I had never seen, had formed between his eyebrows.

Servas, who had to go out for the second half... no, for the social events and meetings that Claude had reduced to about one-third, was pushed into the carriage while lamenting. Everyone thought he might think of a non-existent excuse and return early.

Sebastian seems to have given up being a calm steward lately, and is still running around the manor with many documents in his hands, rotating his invisible legs, I don't know how many he has. The other day, even Plum was running the same way.

It's no exaggeration to say that cabbage is a vegetable cultivated in each season, so it can be harvested year-round. Unless it's extremely hot or cold, it's cultivated and harvested.

On the farms, autumn-sown cabbage is reaching harvest time. Since it's starting to appear on the market, I decided to buy from the farmers if there's any surplus that would be discarded, and start making sauerkraut in advance. I will announce again to the fresh produce stores that we will buy from them if they can't handle it all.

「Pleass wass youw handth thowoughly! Don't fowget to cleanse the utenchil!」

The church kitchen and dining hall have been transformed into a workshop. To Magnolia, who appeals for thorough hand-washing and sterilization until her mouth is sore, people were smiling wryly at first. Since it can't be helped that the sense of hygiene is too different, I have no choice but to keep chanting it until it's ingrained. We can't allow rotten things to be distributed.

It's not funny to have health damage from something that's supposed to protect health, is it?

While doing so, some of the things made during practice spoiled, so I took advantage of this and had everyone check the smell and taste.

Magnolia explained that if it becomes like this, it can't be sold. If it's distributed by mistake, complaints will come. Everything will be discarded. Then the extra part of everyone's salary will continue to decrease. Above all, things that are supposed to help people will make them sick.

Everyone knows that even though she seems to be expanding her horizons, Magnolia doesn't do anything wasteful. If she says to do something, there must be a reason.

It didn't take long for them to start taking the lead in hand-washing and disinfection after the young lady's serious explanation.

「Lady Magnolia! Is there anything we can help with?」

The ones who called out from behind were the children from the orphanage. I knew it was attached to the church, but when they found out we were working, they asked to observe with interest. And at some point, they had started to volunteer to help. They want to learn the work and acquire skills.

It seems that a harsh reality awaits those who leave the orphanage for society. Even if they are taken in as someone's child and raised with care, it's heard that if they work as adults, they have many hardships due to prejudice and discrimination. It's heard that many have difficulty leading a normal life and become residents of the slums.

「Then, I want you to braid strings to make cordth. If der isg any churrpluss, pleathe alsh-o make the cardsh to attach to the bowttless. doss who want to leawn to cook, pleashe join the meal pwepawation team and help.」

When I warned them not to cut their hands, they nodded as if they understood.

The long threads collected as waste were used to make cords to tie around the mouths of the bottles. Those that are too short are put inside the patchwork mats being made for cushioning and practice. ...It won't be a substitute for cotton, but it's better than throwing it away. The same goes for cloth that's like scrap and can't even cover a hole. If there are people who want it for kindling, it's divided fairly.

The paper printed on both sides at the printing shop is cut to a fixed size and folded, making it like a small open card. A hole is made at the top with an awl, a braided cord is passed through it, and it's tied to the finished product. It's completely manual work.

There are fewer failures than pasting them on the bottles one by one with glue, and above all, there's more information. One side has the product name, production area, and workshop name, and the second and third open sides have a simple sauerkraut recipe and points to note. On the fourth side, which is the back, is a simple note on diseases and how to handle them (dietary therapy).

There were pros and cons to attaching this, but it was something Magnolia couldn't compromise on. Actions that damage profit might be impossible as a business, but preventing the loss of life is the first priority rather than profit. I will disseminate information along with products to save lives, even to people I can't meet or be involved with.

...Will it be imitated? That's great. That's exactly the goal. There's a next move for profit, and another move after that. If that's no good, I have further ideas. The materials aren't that expensive. It's okay.

The opposition was only at first, and it subsided as soon as Magnolia explained seriously. It's completely absurd, and I wonder about it as a business. Even so, they decided that if Magnolia said it, it would be fine.

Believe and do what I can to the best of my ability. Literally everyone was working as one.

***

Then, bring the finished products to Cruz. Build a simple shack... or rather, a store, in an empty space in the plaza. I took the liberty of using the lord's family privilege for that. It's only slightly better than a street stall, but it'll be easier to manage the products properly than a street stall.

If it gets on track, it's okay to make it an ordinary street stall, or I'm thinking of setting up a proper store in a slightly more recessed place.

With the several cooling magic tools that I asked (Servas) to order, the finished products will be sold and managed while being cooled to better maintain quality.

「Paul, you'we okay, wight?」

He, who nods with a stiff face, is in charge of the western district.

After mastering the flow, he returned to the west alone, prepared the store, adjusted with the relevant parties, and conducted promotion. Furthermore, several people who had difficulty working for various reasons were also hired as store clerks.

「Fow dosse who buy in buwk, pleathe tell them that it will be delivewed at a latew date. Make th-ure they let uth know the wequiwed amount in advance?」

Otherwise, the inventory will be empty soon. While it's sold after some inventory is made, how will it move? Sauerkraut is being made one after another at the church in the capital. It'll probably take a little time to be accepted... but once it's accepted, a transaction far larger than everyone thinks should come in. And a little further ahead, a large amount of cabbage sown by ourselves at the beginning of spring will be ready.

Furthermore, paprika will start to be harvested within less than a month from then. From then on, it's another push.

「...It was really from the fields, wasn't it?」

「Serr Bewliozh. Serr Ducaththe too. Pawtwowling?」

Ethan, with an indescribable tone, looked around the store with a sigh. He probably didn't think we would really start from making fields, or he only half-believed it.

「We were told you'd be here today.」 Hugo, who smiles, is as much a gentleman as ever. Though he is a bit scary-looking.

For Magnolia, Hugo, who is likely about the same age as her internal self, is very easy to talk to. He's kind, has composure, is not overbearing, and doesn't pick fights unnecessarily. It's very easy. The fact that she occasionally feels the sorrow of middle management is also appealing as it's appropriate for his age.

「Even though you'we bathy.」

「It's work, after all.」

I smile back at the narrowed amber eyes.

About a month after starting treatment, the remaining ship from the Champery Trading Company returned. Everyone reportedly recovered safely, and it seems it became a bit of a topic among the foreign merchants at the port. It seems word has spread in the port town to eat fruits and vegetables often, but it's par for the course that a game of telephone gets twisted somewhere. It seemed that both true and false things were circulating.

It seems several people have heard about it from somewhere and come to hear from Paul, who is an actual survivor.

Magnolia stands directly in front of the store, a little distance away, to see the flow of people and the movements of Paul and the others.

(…If the flow is bad, I might give out samples. If it's too good, I'll have to run to the field in a hurry.)

I've asked Dean to help with bringing out the products, and Lily to help as a salesperson and with product explanations. Claude will stand in the back of the store wearing his knight's uniform to act as a deterrent and prevention in case of emergency.

Hugo and Ethan went out to patrol the surroundings.

「...Gai, I think the cabbage hawwetht ith a little wayth off. But thewe are chome that have matuwed eawly, wight? Please handle the pwocuwement fwom the entiwe tewwitowy ath planned!」

Gai nodded, and when he blew a finger whistle, several crows flew toward us from out of nowhere. And then, lifting his eyebrows and shoulders at the same time, he confirmed with a half-smile.

「...My Lady. This is within expectations, right?」

I can see a crowd of diverse races from all over the port town heading toward the store like a swarm of insects. Is it a point to be relieved that it seems to be going well? Or is it a point to feel dread?

「...Well, to chome extent. Evewyone ith concewned about health, aftew all. I feel like the pwomonth-ion might have been a bit too effective, but I'll go back to the shwop.」

「Understood. I'll go procure the actual goods after sending the crows to each knight order.」

While saying so, he puts letters into communication tubes one after another and lets them go.

Until now, things have been done within a range relatively close to the capital, but because raw materials were purchased, it became the same as cornering the market, and we must make sure that prices in some areas don't soar too high. I don't want to do anything that puts pressure on the lives of the residents. It's necessary to supply goods (cabbage this time) from a slightly distant place... from the entire territory. Until we secure enough cabbage (our own harvest), we need a number of stopgaps.

「Yeah. Pleathe. Don't buy up to the amount the people in the tewwitowy eat. Only the th-uwpluth, okay? Fow the chowrtage, I'll have the people who can wait, wait.」

「Roger that!」

With that, Magnolia lightly slapped both her cheeks to get herself ready and started running toward the store at a trot. Literally, the new business will start running in the true sense of the word. —Also literally, with the momentum of a typhoon or a runaway train.

*****

Note: CEO Magnolia.

Thank you for reading. If you want to help my hobby please download and install LDP9 with my link down below. Just Click the small yellow LDPlayer Banner.