Chapter 7
(Kyle Calendar
Year 499: Age 6)
Blessing of
the Land
Translator : PolterGlast
As expected, this year
became a bumper crop year.
And the price of the
overabundant grain plummeted.
If things had gone as
they should have, both the lord and the citizens would have walked the path to
poverty despite the good harvest.
However, my mother and
Raymond-san responded by implementing the measures they had prepared (I
proposed) in advance.
To stabilize the
income of the citizens, the baronial family proceeded to buy the grain sold by
the farmers of the territory at prices higher than the market price.
At the same time, a
dried noodle processing plant was newly established in the power watermills
that had been newly built throughout the territory. They used the waterwheels
for milling and hired the citizens whose income had decreased to manufacture
the noodles, starting mass production of preserved food.
While this happened,
my father diligently bought up the drastically plummeted wheat from other
territories at the lowest possible prices.
On the surface, his
purchases were as a measure to support the market price, but behind the scenes,
without revealing the Solis barony's name, he seemed to be buying up large
quantities of wheat cheaply and collecting it.
In addition, he was
also planning to sell the preserved food made from the processed flour to the
knights in the royal capital.
In this way, an
unexpectedly enormous amount of grain, starting with wheat, was collected
within the Estol territory.
Seriously, if this
doesn't sell, we'll go bankrupt due to excess inventory...
Even as a child
(though my mind is an adult), I became so worried that bags filled with wheat
and other grains were piled up everywhere.
I had them refrain
from putting the "Omikuji Dried Noodles" on the market or in other
territories yet.
The head chef had put
in various efforts, but I wanted to improve them a bit more.
I found out later...
that there were issues with storing the dried noodles using green bamboo that
contained moisture.
When completely dried
bamboo was used, the container itself became easily flammable when put near
fire, causing various problems.
Short-term use with
green bamboo was fine, but there were still unresolved issues that needed to be
improved before long-term storage or selling them as a product was possible.
Well, maybe they'll
see the light of day someday.
I indulged in memories
of cooking rice in bamboo tubes back in the day... and I suddenly wanted to eat
rice.
I wonder if rice
doesn't exist in this world. I'll have to look into it when things calm down.
Also, I was lucky that
there were bamboo forests within the territory, but I wonder if they eat bamboo
shoots in this world?
They go well with
Japanese and Chinese cuisine, but bamboo shoots in Western food... I've never
eaten them.
Ordinary citizens
generally don't enter the bamboo forests, which are the outer fringes of the
great forest where monsters live.
Only those who have
been commissioned for logging, soldiers who visit for training, and those who
make a living by hunting monsters enter.
There's no way we
could casually go bamboo shoot picking.
I wanted to go to the
bamboo forest, but I probably wouldn't be allowed.
Recently, my father
has been in a good mood, perhaps because something struck him.
"If we can make a
large profit from this wheat purchase and the sale of preserved food, I'll give
you (Takuhir) 10% of the profit."
He even said such a
thing.
Hmm, is that really
okay...?
"I've got your
word!"
It didn't sound cute
coming from me.
I tried imitating it a
little, but yeah, I think it should be done by a blue-haired, round-faced,
short-haired maid...
I remembered an isekai
anime I liked.
If anything, the one
we have at home right now is more like a sharp-tongued, red-haired older
sister...
Crap, Anne's gonna be
angry.
Well, next year a
great famine will come. The wheat we bought up cheaply this year should sell
for a considerably high price.
Even for a
six-year-old me, having some money on hand would allow for further preparations
(research).
It was a welcome word.
And the buying up of
wheat, the production of flour, and the production of dried noodles proceeded
more smoothly than expected.
The head chef's dried
noodle recipes became more extensive, and improvements to the manufacturing
process and research into delicious ways to eat them progressed in parallel.
Meals using dried noodles gradually appeared more frequently on the lord's
family's dining table.
They were also
preparing something like a cookbook that described the cooking methods.
Even after the harvest
season calmed down, my father was still flying around to various places for the
buying up.
Around this time, I
started going out not only with Anne but also with the steward (Raymond-san)
more often when I went out.
This was also realized
by me begging my parents...
The construction of
the granaries for famine relief was being directed mainly by the steward, and
Raymond-san often went to the construction sites.
I wanted to take this
opportunity to become closer to the steward, who was very capable and held the
key to internal affairs.
So, I said I wanted to
go see (be present at) the construction of the granaries for famine relief.
Initially, unlike my
previous requests, my parents were firm.
"It is not something
for the lord's son to go out of his way for."
I was strongly opposed
by my parents, but I persistently persuaded them.
"In the future,
to support my brother, I want to properly understand the territory and study
internal affairs firsthand."
I pleaded, and they
reluctantly allowed me to accompany them with conditions.
Well, in reality, even
moving within the territory in this world, where monsters and bandits roam,
involves a certain amount of risk.
Unlike the town of
Est, it seemed that if I were to go, they would have to increase the number of
accompanying guards.
"Make sure a
child doesn't say anything unnecessary at the site."
I was strictly warned
by my parents, but Raymond-san just smiled and let it go.
Perhaps because he had
seen my past words and actions and proposals, he treated me like an adult.
During the journey, I
also discussed various plans and consulted and debated with Raymond-san.
Now, I have received
permission to inspect the construction of the granaries for famine relief and
have come to a certain farming village near the town of Est, which is within a
day's travel.
In the end, the
permission to accompany was only for three villages and one town near the town
of Est that could be visited on a day trip.
And... I immediately
spoke out in the first village.
Because the
construction site for the granary for famine relief was on a low ground in the
middle of the village.
Seriously, if a flood
comes from the nearby river, it's a one-hit KO.
"I don't think
this location is suitable for the establishment of the granary for famine
relief. If possible, the higher ground over there..."
"For the purpose
of preventing theft, we selected a location within sight, next to the garrison
of the stationed soldiers, but is there a problem?"
The village chief,
with a dissatisfied look on his face, retorted to me.
Although he didn't say
it, I felt the pressure of "a child shouldn't interfere
unnecessarily."
Well, it's difficult
to change the location now that the foundation has already been laid, so I
reluctantly agreed.
However, I asked them
to remodel the building into a [raised floor warehouse] as a measure against
both floods and humidity.
With only supports on
the first floor and the second floor as the warehouse.
In the hot and humid
northern regions of Queensland, Australia, where Nishida had lived for a while
in his youth, there were many raised houses called Queenslanders.
And I conveyed the
image of the buildings I had seen at that time to them.
Incidentally,
recalling the Shosoin Treasure House in Nara, which I had learned about in
history class in elementary school, I also had them add rat guards.
I also asked them to
build new granaries for famine relief on higher ground in the future.
Well, it probably
won't be in time in four years...
At least, I want them
to remember that I opposed it and what I said.
As a lesson for the
future...
The steward, who had
been watching the initial exchange, seemed to have something on his mind.
From the next village
onwards, he proceeded in that manner even if I didn't say anything.
His words could not be
ignored even by the influential figures in each village.
After all, even if I
am the lord's son, what an adult, and moreover the steward, says has more
persuasive power than what a child like me says.
In this way, granaries
for famine relief were constructed one after another in various parts of the
territory, and as soon as the granaries were completed, stockpiled grain was
continuously transported into them.
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