NOVEL NEXT 32: A Merchant has Arrived
In July, as usual, we’re busy harvesting summer vegetables.
From early morning, together with Guri, Poko, and the others, I diligently gather the fresh vegetables and put them in baskets.
My vegetables grow quickly!
Early-planted cucumbers and cherry tomatoes ripen surprisingly fast.
Leafy greens are also in great shape. They’re so crisp and delicious.
In the front yard, the ever-blooming roses are starting to bloom here and there.
Summer roses are small, and they get damaged by the heat quickly.
Besides roses, various colorful summer flowers are blooming.
They’re so beautiful.
Getting up early in the summer is definitely worth it!
The breeze is refreshing and the sunlight is dazzling!
I don’t step out of the house during the day though.
It’s almost peach season, and we have gift boxes delivered from the woodworking shop.
Burton is preparing the greeting cards and planning the deliveries.
Martha is eagerly getting ready too.
Oh, the white peach trees in the garden aren’t ready yet.
Isn’t it three years for peaches and chestnuts, eight years for persimmons? For now, we’ll send peaches from my botanical garden.
For Lady Cecilia, I must include a bouquet of flowers.
As an apology for the trouble caused by Kyle, a sparkling blouse, shorts, and cute shoes were delivered. Are these for going out?
I only walk around the garden and the house.
If I wear these to the fields, I’d look really out of place.
Kids grow fast, so it feels like a waste.
“Martha says, “They’ll fit for two to three years at least.”
Really?
When I tried them on, they were a bit big.
When I showed them to the family, everyone said I looked cute!
Hehe.
One day, a merchant came to our house.
I secretly peeped through the door.
Martha scolded me for being rude, but she couldn’t help being curious too.
Is this okay for a baron’s family!?
In the reception room, Father and Victor were attending to the merchant.
“Nice to meet you, Lord. I am Benjamin, newly appointed manager of the Harud Trading Company’s Luke branch. Please remember my name.”
He was a chubby man with a gentle, round face and curly hair.
Is that a natural perm? His name is so stylish.
Benjamin said he took over from the previous manager this spring.
He wanted to review past transactions and sign an official sales contract for the vegetables and fruits we’ve been selling since last year.
But the production is still quite low, and I’ve been growing most of it by myself.
As a recluse, I don’t want it to be too public.
Father was also concerned about that.
What will he do?
“Mr. Benjamin, we appreciate your assistance in sales. It’s a favorable proposal for us too, but these are still in the early stages of production, with low yields. We hope to eventually make them a specialty of our domain, but for now, they are still experimental.”
“I understand, as I am stationed in Luke Village.”
Benjamin nodded broadly at Father’s explanation.
Does “understand” mean knowing all the details?
Oh no, what does he know?
Nervous.
“Since last spring, when you converted the meadow in front of the mansion into fields and produced wonderful vegetables, it has become a topic of conversation in the village. Moreover, your successful cultivation of rare magic-repelling herbs planted in the village and along the highways has allowed us merchants and villagers to travel safely. Additionally, the radberries sold last summer, like precious gems, the beautifully patterned melons, and the sweet, juicy watermelons were a revelation. Assisting in their sale, I was moved by the freshness and taste of the vegetables! Furthermore, providing seedlings of these rare plants to villagers for free is such a virtuous act!”
Wow, this person speaks in one breath.
With animated gestures and rich expressions.
I guess that’s typical for a merchant, right?
It seems like various things have been revealed.
What do we do?
After the discussion, we ended up with a safe and ordinary solution.
The surplus currently produced will be exclusively sold to the Harud Trading Company.
Since production volume is still low and we can’t handle large orders, sales will be limited to the Radcliffe territory and its surroundings.
These two points became the main focus of the contract.
The topic of magic-repelling herbs came up as well, but due to their specific cultivation requirements and rarity, we decided to limit transactions to processed products like ‘magic-repelling beads and powder.’
Indeed, it would be troublesome if we received complaints like, “I planted the seedlings, but they died immediately! Compensate me!” If bad rumors started spreading, it would be a disaster!
There were quite a few such complainers in my previous life too. I know from reading product reviews. Yeah, yeah.
Sorry for interrupting the story.
Oops.
It seems the decision was made to review the contract according to future production numbers.
Benjamin seemed satisfied as he left.
He probably didn’t have high expectations from the start.
Just securing an exclusive contract is a big win, right?
So, starting in August, the sales of melons and watermelons, except for a few, will be handled by the Harud Trading Company.
Of course, we asked them to use the local woodworking shop and hire local people.
We need to find new jobs for the village women’s association too.
I’ll discuss this with Martha and Burton.
Let’s have a strategy meeting!
Alright!