My emporium in another world

Same routine as yesterday, except that we spotted Marianne coming here a lot more happy and she told us that she was was able to "reason" with her mother when it came to the dowry.

We were happy for her and then I told her that she could go to the sheep and then Elizabeth and I rode to the mainstreet.

. . . .

At mainstreet. . .

We soon found a boutique and quickly found a stable where I could rent a stay for Jam.

Elizabeth and I entered and found ourselves in a beautiful boutique. . . But with horrible price tags.

I could almost see Elizabeth having a heart attack and her soul almost ascending to heaven.

'Don't worry, I got this.' I clicked on the bell and a you g lady came running through the workshop door to greet us. 'Hi, My name is Amelia and this is Elizabeth.' I presented us.

The girl gasped for air and smiled too. 'Howdy—ejem, I mean, hello young ladies, my name is

Stella Stratworth, I will be you assistant for today, is there anything you are interested or anything you need?' She asked quickly but nicely.

'Well, yeah, but unfortunately we don't have that much money for any offers in sight.' I smiled with a bit of sadness.

'I see, well, customized clothing is more cheaper than the offers you are seeing right now, so if I could take the measures. . .' Stella started to measuring tape.

'Oh no, don't worry, I just wanted to ask for a clothing that's better suited for winter.' I clarified. 'It doesn't have to look that good, I want to be able to buy something for a need rather than a want.'

Stella looked at me and then at Elizabeth and without blinking, she put away her measuring tape and went to her workshop door. 'Follow me ladies.' She opened the door for us.

I took Elizabeth's hand and we walked inside the workshop.

Stella followed behind to close the door behind us and then walked in front of and started to bring out some pretty yet very warm winter clothing. 'Do you have any business in particular?' She asked looking back at us.

'I'm a farmer, so if you have some good gloves as well as heavy winter dresses I'll take it.' I nodded to her. 'Oh! And maybe a baking apron if you have any, please?' I asked smiling.

Stella nodded to me back and then to Elizabeth.

Elizabeth blushed and looked away. 'Th-The same with her, b-but my apron would be mostly use to take care of sheep and gloves to deal with wool.' She murmured yet it was loudly enough for me and Stella to hear.

Stella nodded to Eli and started to arrange some clothing.

After a few minutes, Elizabeth and I saw very beautiful yet very practical dresses.

These dresses were similar to my winter dress, but some of them didn't have puffy edges and others seem for different days and activities.

There were four dresses, two for me and two for Elizabeth.

My two dresses seemed for different things. The first dress had a huge and heavy skirt with puffy-fluffly black edge around the dark blue skirt which fell all the down to the ankles. The upper part of the dress was of a llightly lighter shade of blue with light blue bell sleeves and puffy shoulders. The first dress also had a cloak with fluffy edges and it was clear that both cloak and fluffy edges were made of animal skin, which would help me under extreme cold weather. The second dress on the other hand, it was cherry red with a green square pattern from the edge of the skirt up to the hip; and from up the hip to the neck it was plan but it had buttons from the chest to where the belly button would be and the sleeves were plain and tight with black lines of the edges of the sleeves. The second dress had a Black apron that also had pockets (which was a huge bonus for me!).

Elizabeth's dresses were similar but different at the same time. Her first dress was tight but if you looked under it, it had layers for the since and cold and went down to the ankle as well, the color was white with gray fluffy sleeves and puffy shoulder and it was combined with a coat that had a hood that was both fluffy edges in the sleeves and in the hood. Her other dress was deep forest green green, the skirt was plain and tight but the fabric truly seemed be able to resist the cold weather and as well hide the dirt that would come up with the animals; the sleeves were also plain and without black edges but it had button on the sleeves and puffy shoulders too.

'As you can see, I have divided the dresses into what you both seem to need right now.' Stella told us. 'Any objections?' She asked.

'Yes, how much for each dress?' I asked outting my "business mode" on.

Seeing the dresses, they were very beautiful, but they were also costly.

'Well, since they're the last bit and you both will do me a HUGE favour in helping me getting more space for new dresses, I would like to make a offer of. . . 60% off?' Stella offered.

I smiled along with Elizabeth who by this point had stars in her eyes.

'How much for each dress in general?' I asked her.

'Well, I usually tend to import sheep wool to make the clothes, this town is still pretty young unlike Sapphire Village or the Capital, so sheep wool is essential right now.' Stella explained.

I smiled. 'How about this then, you add another 15% off and I will give you 64 pieces of wool that weight 100 grams each for half the total price?' I offered.

Stella gasped in shock. 'You have THAT much?!' She asked surprised.

'Why yes, I have 12 sheep at home and Elizabeth helped me shear the sheep to get enough wool to sell, so, what do you say?' I explained while offering my hand to shake the deal.

Stella thought about it. 'I can only add 10% more off of discount.' She clarified shaking my hand.

'70% off it is.' I declared happily. 'Now, how much in total?' I asked her again.

'Oh! Right. Well, each dress was made by hand, from transforming the fleece into wool, to yarn to fabric up to coloring and customizing, therefore, the original prices is up to 130.30 copper each dress.' Stella explained.

Elizabeth had to hold on to the wall after hearing the price while my eyebrows raised in surprised.

Even more expensive than the "old fashioned" clothes from Ms. Cottonwood. I recalled.

'But with the 70% off, we get 91.21 for each clothing.' Stella explained giving a quick calculation with her head.

Elizabeth sighed of relief. I did it internally and started to take out my pouch. 'What about the cloak and apron?' I asked to verify.

'Take it as a gift for giving the wool half the price.' Stella declared.

I smiled.

Elizabeth got closer a bit shyly. 'Em, can I also choose an accesory for my second dress?' She asked.

'Sure! Let me take out some boxes and you can choose one of them, does that sound good?' Stella asked Elizabeth. 'By the way, how much for each gram of wool?' She asked.

Elizabeth nodded enthusiastically while I thought about her question. 'Well, I would have sold it for 216 copper per piece, but since you asked for half a price, then it would be about 108 per piece.' I answered.

Stella didn't even blinked and nodded to the price, after that, she showed Eli all the accesorios that one could come up with.

I myself was counting the money for both dresses and the wool.

"Each dress is 91.21 copper. Therefore, 91.21 x 2 = 182.42 for both dresses. Therefore, Elizabeth will pay 182.42 for her dresses and I will pay that much for my dresses.

As for the wool. Each 100 grams will be sold by piece for 108 copper. Since I will sell about 64 pieces then: 108 per piece x 64 pieces = 6, 480 copper in total!

Let's not celebrate just yet. I still need to divide it between Elizabeth and me.

6, 480 copper ➗ 2 people = 3, 240 copper for each of us."

I smiled to myself as I closed my diary and put it in my bag and went back to girls. It seemed that Elizabeth couldn't decide whether she wanted an apron too or a fanny pack.

I helped decide, and she went with the fanny pack, after all, she needed her tools at hand to handle the sheep.

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A few minutes later. . .

We went back to the house to collect the wool and bring it to Stella so she could pay us as soon as possible.

But before exiting the mainstreet, I saw a young woman with a small toddler selling what it seemed to be handmade baskets. She didn't seemed to be selling much though.

I had a few words to her and I brought them with me on the horse while I walked the horse to the House.

. . . .

Having reached the house, we went inside and saw Marianne eating with Grover and Oaken the lunch I left with them and we presented the girl.

'Hey guys, this is Dorothy Cranland, and her little boy Joseph Cranland.' I presented them. 'She is going to help me in the kitchen with an idea that I had.' I took Dorothy's hand and turned to Elizabeth. 'Eli, start getting the wool pieces in the cart while I get things done in the kitchen please.' I ordered politely.

Elizabeth nodded. 'Yes mam!' Exclaimed with enthusiasm and went back to work.

Dorothy, still quite confused and with a huge bag full of handmade baskets in her back, decided to just go with it since her toddler was laughing about everything in her arms.

The trio of workers just looked at each other and just shrugged it off and went back with eating.

I gave Dorothy a cheese sanwhich and her son a full oatmeal raspberry muffin for himself, and then I explained what I wanted her to do.

'First, how big and how small are the handmade bags?' I asked her.

'Well,' Dorothy swallowed her bite after a bit of munching, 'I can make them as big as a 30 cm ruler in diameter and as tall as a tower of 3 apples in height, and a small as 10 cm in diameter and half and as tall as 1 apple in height.' She explained.

I smiled confidently. 'Perfect. How much for each have you made and for how much do you sell them?' I asked her.

She put her toddler who was eating on the kitchen counter, took of her huge bag, and took out 10 big handmade baskets and 12 small handmade baskets.

'Wow, you do a very good job.' I complimented her.

She blushed. 'Thanks, but it doesn't make much. Especially with that bastard. . .' She murmured.

I looked at her. 'What bastard?' I asked. 'Does you husband drink?'

Dorothy blushed of embarrassment and looked away while nodding. 'He also cheats.' She added crossing her arms. 'He spends his money and mine on so much alcohol and prostitutes that there is not much left to take care for us.' She explained exhausted.

'Hmm. . . I'll see what I can do to help, but you need to help me first.' I told her.

Dorothy nodded.

'Now, let me get my goods.' I went to a huge cabinet and brought out my muffins, cookies, loafs of bread. 'Wait here for a bit.' I told her going to the back yard. I dug out a snow hole and brought out packages of goat cheese and milk. 'Here we go. Now, help me arrange things.' I asked her.

Dorothy nodded and we went to work.

. . .

After about an hour, we made beautiful goodie baskets, but there still something missing.

'Oh! Wait here.' I told her and ran to the basement. I gave the chickens a snack, took some more eggs and brought them upstairs and then want out to the snow fridge to get even more eggs. After that, we then rearrange the baskets.

Now, in the big baskets, about 8 the eggs were at the center, on top of a dozen cookies, half of the big basket eggs were protected by 10 small muffins arranged in a half circule while the other half protected the eggs by a loaf of bread, and on the edges of the basket, there were either four plain packages of goat cheese (two on each side) or two jars of goat milk (one on each side).

On the small baskets, there were about 4 eggs in the center, on top of a 5 cookie package, and were protected by muffins arranged on the circle with two packages of goat cheese (on on each side).

'So, how do they look?' I asked Dorothy.

Dorothy looked at everything with stars on her eyes. Her kid took a look and said, 'Pretty and yummy.'

Dorothy and I laughed heartedly.

'Amelia! The wool is ready!' Elizabeth exclaimed coming through the kitchen door.

'Alright! You two, now help me taking these baskets to the cart while I come up with the full price both big and small basket.' I ordered and each of them were glad to help me.

I took out the diary and started to make calculations. But then I remembered a small detailed. 'Em by the way Dorothy, just to know, how much time does it take you to make a basket?' I asked.

Dorothy thought about it for a moment. 'Well, around 2 hours the big ones and an hour and a half for the small ones.' She answered.

'Okay, thank you!' Nodded and went to make calculations.

"Since the handmade baskets tend to take hot blood and tears to make, the baskets must be pricey, but that pricey thing must look invisible.

In total, there 22 baskets. 10 big ones and 12 small ones.

The bigs ones have 8 eggs each, therefore that makes 80 eggs, which are about 6.7 dozens. That means the eggs value would add up to 30.42 copper, but if divided for the 10 big baskets equals to 3.04 copper for each group of 8 eggs in the 10 baskets. The 10 muffins in each basket made it up to 100 muffins, which made 8.3 dozens, 15.30 for each dozen which made: 8.3 x 15.30 = 126.99 copper in total, but if divided by the 10 baskets it equals to about 12.70 copper for each muffin group of 10. The loaf of bread in each basket are 12.34 copper each, 12.34 copper for each loaf of bread in each basket. The cookies in each basket are 10 copper per dozen. The 2 jars of goat milk were about 500 ml each, therefore I would sell them for about 7.5 copper each jar, which multiplying it by 2 jars would make 15 copper for each basket. The packages of goat cheese tend to be about 100 grams each, therefore I would sell them for 15 copper each package; multiplying 15 x 4 packages in each basket = 60 copper in each basket.

Now adding up 3.04 + 12.70 + 12.34 +10 +15 + 60 = 60 + 10 + 10 + 10 + 10 + 2 + 2+ 5 + 3 + 0.04 + 0.70 + 0.34 = 100 + 12 + 1.08 = 113.08 for the total of groups inside the basket.

Adding that to the 15 copper per hour and the fact that Dorothy takes about 2 hours to make each basket, it would be 30 copper per basket.

113.08 + 30 = 143.30 copper per basket.

Now by adding a small tax, since, we must try to make more money, I will add a 12% tax which would be 143.30 x 0.12 = 17.196 copper, would would be fixed to 17.20 copper per basket.

Adding the 143.30 + 17. 20 = 100 + 40 + 3 + 10 + 7 + 0.30 + 0.20 = 100 + 50 + 10 + 0.50 = 160.50 per basket.

Now, since the small baskets are about half the size of the big ones, I'll cut the price of 143.30 for in half and that would make 71.65 copper per basket. By adding a 6% tax on them would make:

71.65 x 0.06 = 4.299 which can be fixed to 4.30 per basket.

71.65 + 4.30 = 75 + 0.60 + 0.30 + 0.05 = 75.95 per basket.

If the clients were to add trading to compensate the money then I will get rid of the tax and possibly some more depending on the agreement we will get."

I closed the book and put it in the bag and immediately went to help the girls to get in the cart and go to town again.

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About and hour after. . .

We made it to Stella's boutique with the wool and she payed us the amount we agreed on with both silver and copper.

After a few minutes of diving the money between Elizabeth and I, we went inside the "Great Forks."

The Great Forks was the place where the market re-established since winter and we decided to bring the baskets to sell.

'By the way, how do you name these baskets?' Elizabeth asked while I made it through with horse, cart and everything.

'What do you mean?' I asked her.

'I mean, what nickname should they receive? We can't called them simply baskets since they are not hollow anymore.' Elizabeth remarked.

I went into deep thought and then took a station in the near corner where a farmer was selling his veggies.

'Hello fair ladies! What are you going to sell? You don't seem to have much.' The farmer asked noticing the fact almost immediately.

'Well, we just want to get rid of some leftovers from our businesses.' I said hopping out of my horse and taking a big basket to show him. 'Here it is.'

The farmer looked shocked. 'Wow! Very tasty and good looking! How much for the basket?' He asked.

I thought about it. 'Well my good sir, this "Family size" basket is sold for about 160.50 coppers.' I declared.

Dorothy and Elizabeth looked at each other and nodded. It was a pretty good name but they were also worried about the price set upon the baskets.

'Hmm, everything looks good, but, do you have a smaller version of it?' The farmer asked.

'Why yes sir. Dorothy bring the small basket!' I called for her.

Dorothy hopped off the cart and came to us with the smaller version.

'Wow! It does seem much better for me!' The farmer gave me the big basket back and took the small basket and inspect it. 'How much?' He asked.

'This "Winter weekend" basket is 75.95 copper.' I declared out loud. 'But if you are still skeptical, I can reduced the price for the small basket if you are willing to add veggies to the trade.' I offered in advance.

The farmer noddedin agreement, he was getting convinced.

'How about we start from 71.65?' I asked. 'To reduce it to that amount you would have to give me half a sack of veggies.' I declared out loud.

The farmer thought about it. 'If I gave you two bags of veggies house much would you reduce it?' He asked.

I smiled. 'Let me think. . .' I made quick calculations in my head. 'I would reduce it to. . . 58.75 copper.' I declared.

'Deal!' The farmer said and we shook hands. 'Let me get the sacks of vegetables.' He told me bringing th basket with him to his market stand and brought to full sacks of vegetables. 'Here you go! Wait till I get the money.' He brought out his own pouch and gave me the 58.75 copper. 'There, 58.70 copper. Thank you for the deal!' He bowed taking his farmer had briefly and went back to his market stand-

I turned to see the girls who looked at me with stars in their eyes.

I smiled to them. 'You don't bring the price down unless they give trade. For the big baskets you reduce it by 17.20 copper and the small baskets by 4.30 copper. Let's sale!' I encourage them.

They both took a big basket in one hand and a small basket on the other hand went from stand to stand offering the deals while I waited for some person of family with their own goods.

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A few hours later. . .

We almost sold out, two big baskets and a small basket were left but it was all good.

"5 big baskets were sold in full price, 2 were reduced by taking the tax out but compensated with 4 big bars of butter, and 1 was reduced up to half the price but we were given deer meat, specifically the loin and a leg plus a small amount of pelt.

160.50 per basket x 5 baskets sold = 802.50

143.30 per basket x 2 = 286.60

160.50 ➗ 2= 80.25

802.50 + 286.60 + 80.25= 800 + 2 + 0.50 + 200 + 80 + 6 + 0.60 + 80 + 0.25 = 1,000 + 160 + 8 + 1.35 = 1,169.36 copper in total for the big baskets.

As for the small baskets, 6 were sold in full price, and 2 were reduced by tax one one was sold down to 58.70 copper.

75.95 per basket x 6 baskets sold = 455.70

71.65 per basket x 2 baskets sold = 143.30

The last basket was sold by 58.70 copper.

455.70 + 143.30 + 58.70 = 400 + 50 +5 + 0.70+ 100 + 40 + 3 + 0.30 + 50 + 8 + 0.70 = 500 + 140 + 16 + 1.70 = 657.70 copper in total for the small baskets.

1,169.36 + 657.70 = 1,000 + 100 + 60 + 9 + 0.36 + 600 + 50 + 7 + 0.70 = 1,000 + 700 + 110 + 16 + 1.06 = 1, 827.06 copper in total!!

Now the baskets were made by Dorothy, 10 big baskets x 15: 150 x 2= 300; 12 x 22.5 = 270 copper. In total, Dorothy will receive 570 copper as payment, one of the big baskets along a bag of veggies and a bar of butter since she and her son are struggling to eat.

Elizabeth will receive the last small basket left, half a basket of veggies, a bar of butter and since she helped us sell for about 3 hours, she will receive: 15 x 3 = 30 + 15 = 45 coppers."

I ended writing and put everything in my bag and the girls went on the cart and then we rode back home.

'Ex-Excuse me!' A couple barely catch up with us. I stopped the horse and looked at them while they catched their breath. 'A-Are there any baskets left?' They asked.

I looked at the goods briefly and then looked at them. 'There's still a Family size basket for 160.50 copper.' I told them.

They looked at each other and the. Whispered to one another. Then the man went to me. 'A-Are you willing to trade some things to reduce the price?' He asked.

'That depends on what you have and whether we can get into an agreement.' I answered hopping out of the horse.

'W-Wait here for a moment.' The man said to run to what it seemed his own cart and horse.

A few seconds later, he then came back with a bag of flour and—'IS THAT A PUPPY?!' I asked shocked.

The girls who were talking and playing with Joseph suddenly went to take a look and gasped with stars in their eyes, Joseph's eyes were even brighter.

'Y-Yes, our shepherd dog suddenly went into labour, and gave birth to 10 puppies, this little guy is one the last 3 of them.' The man came to me and let me hold the puppy. 'You can have him along with this bag of flour.' He offered.

Animals are costly, so he probably wanted to get rid of them since they don't have much. Since they want the family size basket, it must be their desperation. I noticed while taking a look at their physics and noted that they getting painfully dinner. 'How about this, bring the other two puppies along with the one that you have right now, the snack of flour, and if the puppies are in good condition I'll give the basket with no money to pay.' I offered.

The couple gasped with tears of joy. 'We-We'll bring them right away, don't worry!' The couple have the fluir and the first puppies and then went to their cart and brought the puppies as I put the first puppy and the flour on the cart. 'H-Here ya go!' The woman said with the man giving me the puppies. 'They're about 6 weeks old, old enough to eat other things besides milk. Two males and one female.' They told me.

I nodded and I inspected them. The y are in excelente condition despiste the poderte conditions their were probable raised in. I nodded as I put the puppies in the cart and extended my hands to the girls expected the basket. Dorothy and Eli gave lend me the basket carefully. Then I walked to them and before giving it to them I decided to give them adviced. 'Before sealing the deal, I must recommend eating the muffins and bread first since they can get mold faster, as for the eggs, cheese, milk, they can last longer if you dig a hole in the soil and put enough snow to keep them cold. As for the cookies, well, they can get eaten last since they are hard and last longer.' I gave them the basket.

'Thank you so much!' The man took the basket and hugged his wife. 'You just saved us and our upcoming baby for a little while longer.' He turned to see his wife's womb.

I looked to that part of the woman and actually saw a very heavy belly. In other words, she was bound to go into labour any time soon, which can be dangerous with little food and even more so during winter.

I frowned worried. 'If there's any emergency, Elizabeth and I live close to the Holt wood-workshop. You are welcome any time.' I offered.

They both nodded and went to take they family size basket to their cart and go home.

I went to my horse and started to go home.

The girls and Joseph were playing with the puppies for a while. Then Dorothy said, 'This is my stop.' Her eyes looked gloomy while looking at her house.

The house was basically in shackles and bound to becomes ruins. The worst part is, that the only window in the house showed that there was someone inside.

'Is it your husband?' I asked her feeling uneasy.

Dorothy nodded. 'Most probably.' She murmured annoyed with a trembling voice. 'I curse myself into letting that man seduce me and making me his wife.' She buried herself in her hands.

Joseph buried himself in a puppy's back that he had in his hands trembling while looking to the house.

It's clear that he's not only a cheater but also a financial, alcoholic and physical abuser. I noted. 'What would happen if you were not to show up?' I asked.

'He would go ballistic, accuse me of cheating and even beat me.' Dorothy answered while drying her upcoming tears. 'I can't divorce him because there's no voice for a woman in this world. I-I. . . I'm just so tired.' She wept.

Elizabeth hugged her and Joseph. Eli then looked at me with tears on her own.

I nodded and took Dorothy back with us.

'Eh, what are you doing?' Dorothy asked.

'I'm going to ask you something Dorothy and I want you to answer with full honesty.' I told her while looking at her seriously. 'What would you prefer? Becoming a runaway, or becoming a widow?' I asked her.

Dorothy looked at me confused. 'A-a widow. . .' She answered.

'Why?' I asked her.

'Be-Because, I-I have tried to runaway before, but I as heavy pregnant and he easily caught up to me. With child it would still be hard for me to run far because he's still very little.' Dorothy answered. 'I would prefer to be Joseph's only hero than for Joseph to start imitating a wannabe hero.' She declared looking at me seriously,

I nodded and started to speed off to my house. I was NOT going to let another woman suffer what I endured both in my last and present life.

Not on my watch. I declared to myself already planning a dreadful master plan with an awful smile coming across my lips.