The next day. . .
I went on to the market and started to buy the things I needed for the deal I made with the merchant orc. I started to buy little stuff. A bit for me, a bit my daughter and a bit for the orc. Once I returned home, I found my restraurant entrance covered in mini pumpkins, with Ivy still having some of them on a little cart of her size.
'Good afternoon Ivy!' I let her know I have arrived. 'It seems like the pumpkins did grew in a matter of days.' I noted.
'Good Afternoon Amy! And Yeah! These pumkin' seeds were of great quality!' Ivy affirmed. 'I have taken the liberty of taking the seeds of some of the pumpkins and went on to plant them again, and once more pumpkins appeared, repeated the process.' She told me. 'The pumpkins I had set up on the entrance barely hold a quater of the first batch! As for the rest of this cart, I give them to you.' She told them showing me her cart still full of pumpkins.
'They look delightful!' I complimented as I hop off the horse and took a pumpkin. 'Here, let me open the door for you so you can take them to the warehouse.' I offered as I unlocked the door.
'Thank you kindly.' Ivy smiled and walked inside as I opened the door for her.
'Your welcome, but from then on, try to use the back door please.' I asked her. 'I do not want people coming around and think the restaurant will be open right now. For I made sure to let my workers know they can take a break the rest of the week.' I let her know.
'Oh I see!' Ivy's voice was heard all the way inside the restaurant. 'In that case I'll definetely use the back door!' Ivy promised as she walked out. 'My apologies.' She nodded to me.
'Do not worry. While you get more pumpkins I'll get the back door open for you which is far closer to the warehouse.' I promised her.
'Thank you again!' Ivy walked to her new cottage calmly and enjoying the new view full of orange and yellow trees.
I then went on to take the horse to the barn and take my babies back to our home.
Once inside, I made my way to the back door and opened it for Ivy. Since she was small she was bound to take a while, but I liked to believe that it is best to leave it open for now.
'Liam! I'll be in my office right now! Let me know if anyone outside comes knocking at the front door! Ivy the gnome should come inside through the back door!' I told him as I walked to the office.
'Yes mommy!' Liam answered me from the kids' area.
In my office, I threw myself into making ideas for either a food or game stand. What could I do? What could I do? I wondered. Hmmm. . . . I started to write on paper any ideas that I could think of. But unfortunately, nine of these ideas so far had caught my interest.
'Mooooom!' Liam's voice called out to me. 'Someone's knocking on the front door!' He let me know.
I raised an eyebrow. 'Coming sweety!' I let him know and sat up. 'Who could it be?' I wondered as I walked out of my office and made my way into the door.
I opened the door and found myself with a group of people, both human and non-human. 'Em, just to let you know, the restaurant is closed until next week. Can I help you with anything else?' I asked.
They all raised a paper each. 'We came to find a place in either the mini houses, the new houses and work.' One of them said.
'Oh! I see.' I let them pass. 'Take a seat in the restaurant tables, and I'll be right with you in a moment.' I told them.
The group divided itself between humans and non-humans, but fortunately, they seem to be able to not bother each other for now. I quickly prepared some cucumber, ham and combined sandwiches so they could eat while I put everything together.
'Thank you for coming everybody. You may call me Miss or Lady Baker, or "Amy," and before starting the interviews, please let me start with adressing the ten rules of the restaurant.' I pointed to the giant parchment that was on the wall. 'One, no fighting or killing; two, be patient; three, if your break anything you'll pay for it and no, it is not up to negotiating nor discussion; four I'll interview everyone first and, if I do not hire you immediately, I'll then send you a letter whether to accept or reject your application; and five, good luck to you all and be good to everyone inside and outside.' I took a deep breath after that. 'Any questions?'
Everyone shook their heads.
'Very well, now, please let me know your names and we'll proceed with the interviews.' I asked them with my notebook.
There were around five humans and three non-humans.
A pair of a man and a woman were married and with eight children waiting at the hunter's inn. . . Not the most safe place of all, but at the same time, they said they practically had no choice after being forced to move out; they are hoping to work for the small farm house that I've builded and move their family there. Then, there's a group of three men who are hoping to get a room in the apartment complex as well as employment.
As for the non-humans. . . There was what I could assume was a half-orc. The half-orc was way smaller than Karga who was a full-blood orc, but still had more height than male humans and pointy ears; yet unlike male orcs, he did not had bottom fangs coming out of his mouth, and his clothes were more human-like than orc-like. He was also sitting alone and being avoided by the other humans and non-humans. On another table, there was satyr with his flute pipes on the back as if it was a sword of some kind, drinking from what I can guess is a magical horn, and smiling to everyone. Last but not least, there was a. . . Dragonoid? I mean, the man had scales in his face as if they were extravagant gems, scales on their arms and shoulders like armour, a long reptile tail and two horns coming out of his forehead.
If the half-orc was being excluded, then the dragonoid was being outcasted.
'Let me read through your papers for a minutes while you guys rest and eat.' I told them. 'Once I am done with them, I'll start the interviews. Is that alright?' I asked. 'The bathroom is right outside the back door, just so you now!' I let them know as I left.
I received positive nods and a few smiles so I retreated to the office for around an hour to organized the list in alphabetical order and make the basics of each par of contracts that each individual would have to read and sign.
Once that was done, I went back to the restaurant, where everyone was finishing eating and returning from the outside bathroom and sitting down back again.
'Just to let you know, I shall call you out by your surnames alphabetically, that way there won't any "favoritism" issues or anything of the sort, any questions?' I asked.
Everyone shook their heads.
'Very well, in that case we'll start with. . .' I checked the list in alphabetical order. 'Bell, Lewin!' I called out to him.
Lewin Bell was a man in his mid-twenties, with a heavy coat and a specific hat that suites him. He stood up nodding along while taking off his hat and putting it on his chest. 'Yes, mam?'
'Please come with me.' I motioned him to follow me.
Lewin nodded once more and followed along.
We sat down and started to chat.
Lewin Bell told me about journing through the world and writing about his adventures, and How he decided that he wanted to make a stop here and raise some money as well as selling some of his stories to the capital's paper before hitting the road again. He said that, he chose this place because, as he was traveling to the capital, he heard about "Lady Baker's mini houses" being a good (and even better) choice than the hunter's inn, and how she was also looking for employees, so he decided to take his chance.
Lewin Bell offered his services as a writer and informant for me and the restaurant for the next six months or so until next spring. I agreed that we'll have him until next spring, just to make sure he can leave without the snow storms falling on top of him. In exchange, I would give him an "Employer discount" on the apartment room and we would arrange him to write about the specials, upcoming events and limited edition items that would begin or come back.
In other words, he's some sort of reporter that came to make money to the capital, and decided to settle here ause it was far cheaper. I sumarized in my head as I prepared the documents. 'Here you go. Now read them carefully so we can agree on everything before signing in.' I told him.
Lewin Bell read the contract carefully and then checked the second. 'Em. . . Why do these two contracts are for the same thing?' He asked.
'Because that way, you have one paper and I'll have the other, and the chances of being scam are reduced as long as both papers are kept intact.' I told him.
'Oooooohhhhh.' Lewin Bell. 'In short, you are safe-proofing both benefits and identity.' He summarized the contracts purpose.
'Exactly.' I told him as I pulled up another set of contracts. 'We'll shall do the same thing with the employment contract, but, not before settling on the right payment price.' I let him know.
'Okay!' Lewin Bell nodded enthusiastically as he went back to reading. 'Say, don't you think you might want to give a "cheaper" option?' He asked with curiosity.
'Well, my good sir, if you weren't becoming my employee, the rent would cost two hundred and fifty coppers which is the equivalent of a silver coin, instead of one hundred and fifty copper.' I informed him. 'Also, the keys that I am going to give has been customized so it only works with your own door and the fence door separately. . . Each key costs a silver coin each by the way.' I explained the key thing to him. 'As for being cheaper, I most certainly cannot, and especially not right now since no one can really complain about it. After all, I more than half of the houses are already filled in, which means my prices are anything but expensive.' I defended myself with formal authority.
Lewin Bell gulped down and nodded. 'Right. . . Sorry.' He apologized.
I smiled at him. 'It is fine. But let this fact be into your head, if the prices were that expensive, I would not have even have rich clients in my restaurant.' I reminded him.
Lewin Bell nodded slowly. 'Got it. No problem.' He kept reading, Although he was more shy and nervous than before.
'Thank you for understanding.' I told him as I smiled.
After a two more minutes, we then decided to sign the apartment contracts as I told him the rules for the apartment and why. Lowen Bell seemed to be a pretty understanding guy so I had high hopes for him to cooperate with the rules.
We then went to the employment contracts.
'Em, mam? I think you wrote a part wrong.' Lowen Bell pointed out and I raised my eyebrows. 'It says here that I'll be payed five hundred coppers or two silver per articule that I write. . . And you are paying more than that.'
'Yeah. . .' I confirmed. 'Is there something wrong with that?'
'I-It's just, most people only offer two hundred coppers or a silver at best. . .' Lowen Bell frowned a bit worried. 'Areyou sure you did not wrote it wrong?' He asked.
'Hmm. . . That would depend.' I thought about it. 'I usually tend to pay either per day or per hour. . .' I admitted. 'But that depends whether you are part-time or full-time employee.'
Lowen Bell raised his eyebrows in surprise.
'But, since you'll be writing for me, I do not know how much time you take on writing nor how long it takes you to finish and sell everything that you write.' I explained the issue with him. 'But again, I am aware that things like this take a lot of effort and critical thinking, which is why I am offering more than usual.'
'Oh. . .' Lowen Bell nodded understanding.
'One thing though.' I added pointing to the little letter. 'As you can read here, while you'll be paid handsomely, you'll have the obligation to at least finish one article about the restaurant per month at the start.' I then sat down and looked at him. 'If you fail to do so, or the article lacks the required quality and quantity, the deal of the employment is off, and you'll have to find other work in town to afford the rent, which, will cost more since you'll stop being my employee.'
Lowen Bell gulped down at that.
'Any other questions?' I asked.
Lowen Bell kept reading through everything and then shook his head. 'No, mam. E-Everything is fine.' He out he contract down and looked everywhere. 'Em, do you have a pen and ink?'
I gave him what he asked for and we both signed both contracts. Once we were done, I gave him his keys and asked him to sit down while I finished the other interviews.
'Calloway, Finn!' I called out after checking the list again.
A man with a big and thick beard, eyebrows so thick that literally covered his eyes, and muscles that could probably take on an orc stood up and followed me to the office.
He did not talk much, but from what he was saying, he was laid off his work in the capital and was trying to find work else where to raise money and maybe try to open his own shop. He saw that I was willing to house people, and with the winter coming mercilessly at us, he decided to try this place first before the hunter's inn.
He offers his services as a welder to repair cooking tools with a small job on the side as a lumberjack.
Right now, I do not have much use for a welder. I frowned not so sure. But, having a lumberjack close by is good, that way, I won't have to come and go too many times for wood. I nodded to myself. And who knows? Maybe in the near or long future, I will need the welder's services. I determined and started the contracts for both the stay and the employment.
Once we firmed the contracts and gave him his copies and pieces, he gave sigh of relief.
Yikes. . . The hunter's inn must be horrible for even men not wanting to go there. I determined blinking yet keeping a smile. 'Now that everything's been signed, please wait outside while I attend the rest of the newcomers.' I requested opening the door for him.
Mister Calloway nodded and exited my office and sat down with the Lewin Bell. Both of them started talking showing each other's key. They both seemed to be excited to be neighbours, which was good.
As I stand es in the middle of the restaurant, I checked the list once more to see who was next. 'Let's see. . . Ironhide, Hughard?' I asked.
The half-orc stood up a bit shyly and walked toward me while being stared at by both humans and non-human alike.
I smiled at him. 'Please follow me.' I brought him to my office where we chatted more comfortably.
Mr. Ironhide was born out of an one-nightstand of an orc warrior who fought alongside humans and a young prostitute who was offering her services at one party. Hughard never really met his father until very late in life, and he did not feel like meeting him for any longer than besides battle or fighting with and against each other (like their orc nature wants it). His mother on the other hand, while she did not loved him, she did not discarded him either, but as soon as he was eighteen years old, she left him on his own and never saw her since.
Since he was raised by human mother, he always felt closer to his human side rather than his orc side, which is why he is still trying to belong among humans. The good news is, he got married and is about to be a father. The bad news is, he got laid off from his mercenary job because he was "softer" than he was thought to be (his employer's words, not mine), and with winter close by and his wife soon popping a baby any day now, he was desperate for a job and a home.
'In that case, I think I can let you rent the farm cottage. It is not the biggest and it is not the smallest. It has two main bedrooms, one which is big enough for both you and your wife, and the other room is big enough for a nursery.' I told him.
'YES—Ehem, I mean, yes, thank you. I'll take it, thank you very much.' Hughard Ironhide nodded trying to not look over enthusiastically orc-like.
'Do you know how to read?' I asked.
'My mother taught me how to read and write.' He told me.
'In that case, please read the contracts comepletely and let me know if you have questions.' I gave him the contracts. 'Because we are closer to October, you'll be expected to start planting root and leaf vegetables like lettuce, spinach, carrots; bulb vegetables like broccoli, onion and garlic; peas; aromatic plants like barley, cilantro and chivemos etc.' I briefly explained things to him. 'Am I clear?' I asked him. 'If your wife wants to plant some flowers she can, but she needs to have the fact that winter is coming and if she wants to make flowers, those needs to be able to grow fast and possibly between October and November.'
Ironhide nodded, making sure I knew that he heard me as he read the contracts.
'And, just to be safe, please come see me as soon as you wife is in labor. I have contracts with the doctors in this town and a bit of experience. Okay?' I told him.
The half-orc looked shocked when I stated this but nodded looking grateful for this. 'Em, mam?' He asked as he looked through something. 'Why does it say that the payment says fiffteen coppers per hour?' He asked.
'Well, because that is what I tend to pay most of my employees. If you were part-time which is around from ten to twenty-five hours per week, then it would be fiffteen coppers per day, but since you'll be working full-time and possibly extra hours with the limited weather time to cultivate crops, you'll be required to work full-time, which equals to fifteen coppers per hour.' I answered his question.
His mouth was wide open and kept looking. 'W-What is this, "reduction for taxes"?' He asked.
'Well, you'll be renting the space that I am giving you. But while you rent it, I, on the hand, own it. And with owning a piece of land comes with taxes, so, I take a small portion of your pay each payment day in order to pay the taxes required each year.' I explain the issue with the solution.
The orc looked looked trouble. 'How much of that payment is?'
'Well, since you'll be working from sunrise to sundown, which is from five to eight (but that will change up to seven to five), it equals to fifteen hours per day, you'll be making about two hundred and twenty-five coppers per day. And maybe more considering the overtime.' I started to show him the process. 'If we multiply, the two hundred and ten coppers for the seven days of the week, we get one thousand, five hundred and seventy-five coppers, or six silvers and thirty coppers to simplify it.' I gave him a better estimate. 'But, if we multiply the copper alone for two weeks, which is the amount of time you have to work to receive the payment, we get three thousand, one hundred and fifty coppers, or twelve silvers and sixty coppers to simplify.' I told him and looked up to see him.
Mr. Ironhide had his eyes wide as plates and gulped down.
'The reason as to why my mini houses are way cheaper, to put it simply, is because they all are in a single building which can easily count as a "small mansion." And since technically is a small mansion where everyone is renting a space at the same time, I distribute each individual's rent so the costs are way smaller.' I explained how thigns worked. 'But you on the other hand, you'll be renting a whole place for yourself and your new family, which naturally is going to cost more rent.' I explained it to him. 'The good news is, you receive the whole payment for yourself; the bad news though, each month, you'll have to return me a small portion of that money so I can pay the taxes.' I finished explaining.
The orc looked overwhelmed. 'A-And how much would that be?' He asked.
'Around twelve percent of each payment.' I told him. 'Which would be equal to around three hundred and seventy-eight coppers, or one silver and fifty-one coppers.' I responded. 'If we multiply this for the end of the month, I would take from two silvers and eighty-two coppers to three whole silvers per month, while you still have around eleven to nine silvers and some coppers.'
Mr. Ironhide gave a sign of relief. That amount was really not that bad. He was capable of signing the contracts without any further problem whatsoever.
The contract we both signed that as he was renting the biggest cottage, he was to stay, work and rent it for the next three years, enough time to try things out here and have a safe place for his wife to give birth and for both to raise their child together safely.
'Thank you very much for this again.' Mr. Ironhide stretched my hand with a grateful smile and then we both left he office.
'Do not worry, as long as you keep the contracts of both employment and rent safely without burning them or drenching them, everything will be fine.' I assured him as we walked back to the restaurant. 'Now, please take a seat while I keep interviewing the others.' I requested.
The half-orc nodded and sat down where he sat before and looked through his contracts proudly.
'Who's next?. . . Ah! Lee, Green!' I called out.
The satyr sat up and walked with a big smile as we exchanged small talk towards my office and we closed the door behind us.
Green Lee became quite curious with my restaurant and decided to come by and eat more, and as soon as he heard that I was looking for residents for my mini houses and more employees, he decided to try things out.
I decided to hire him as a entretainer for Fridays in the evening. He could be what he wanted to be each week. A magician, a comedian, singer and dance, in short, he could be whatever he wanted as long as he respected the rules (especially the no-flirting inside the restaurant and apartments rules), and he would receive his payment accordinly.
'As you know, I do not have the need for the human money.' Green Lee reminded him. 'If you can make a profit with me in terms of human money, you can keep it and make it part of the rent money, but I would like to be paid in other ways.' He told me.
I thought about it and saw it as a good thing. Yet, it all depended on what he wanted as payment. 'That would depend in what you want as payment.' I responded to me.
'Hmmm. . . Well, you can pay me with food, excess and a certain amount of freedom for me. That should be enough for now.' The satyr responded not thinking about it too much.
Fortunately, that gave me quite an idea. 'I see. . .' I started to write quickly and then proposed some things. 'In that case, let's do this next thing: Since you'll be letting me have all the human money you make, I'll pay you with three meals each day, plus two snacks of choice per day. Breakfast will involve something hearty with a drink and a muffin of your choice; lunch will involve and appetizer, a serving of food of choice and a small dessert from the bakery plus a drink of choice; and for dinner, it would be a single portion of food of something light or heavy (depending on what you want) plus a drink of choice.' I explained my plan to him. 'Sounds fair?'
The satyr thought about it for a few seconds and looked at me. 'Can we add a few more drinks of choice?' He asked with "innocence in his voice."
'I can add from two to three drinks of choice at lunch or dinner. No more, no less.' I stated.
'I'll take it.' The satyr resigned looking less enthusiastic now.
'And besides the food and drink intake, inside the apartments, there's a small free space in which you can used it as you want it, as long as it is both legal in nature and human terms, and it does not bother the other residents.' I added. 'If you are found guilty of such things, I'll be allowed to evict you from the mini house complex and by force if necessary.'
The satyr looked more curious and smiled. 'Define "legal"?'
'Illegal drugs' making and intake, assessination, slavery, both human and non-human trafficking, kidnapping, sexual assault, rape. . .' I stated a few of the illegal things. 'Shall I continue?'
The satyr looked a bit pale but shook his head. 'Nope! All good here.' He chuckled a bit nervous here. 'Em, in what do you suggest I can use the space for?' He inquired.
'Well, Karga de orc uses it as a training space, an old librarian uses it as a small library room where he can read and smoke in peace, and ex-resident tender to use as a mini greenhouse to grow their apothecary remedies. . .' I gave a few examples. 'As long as it is not dangerous to you or others, it should be fine.' I went in to keep writing the second copies of the contracts.
The satyr went into deep thought and nodded to himself. 'In that case, I would like to use it as a small room where to invite people. . . As long as it is allowed.'
'Each apartment has the capacite to receive from three to five visitors depending on how big or how small the visitors are, because of both of the apartment's size and and the strength of the wood.' I explained how things would go for him. 'If you want to invite them for things, you can always bring the, to the restaurant bar or to the apartment gardens. BUT! Sleepovers are prohibited, AND parties are NOT allowed after the sundown.' I clarified things for him.
'Oof!' The satyr looked dramátically hurt and sighed heavily. But then, he seemed in deep thought as I finished writing the last copies of the contracts when he seemed to come up with an idea. 'How about a music room?' He proposed. 'Or rather it would be more like an "inspiration room," that would help me come up for the shows each Friday and where I could make music.'
'That sounds good. But remember to take breaks and to settle down after sundown, the countryside likes to be quiet and get ready to sleep at that hour.' I allowed it.
'Yes!' Green Lee exclaimed victoriously.
We then signed the contracts completely and I have him the keys, with the warning that, if any or both keys (apartment door and gate) were to get broken or missing, he'll have to work boring jobs to get the HUMAN MONEY to pay them back. That was enough for him to fear losing his keys.
As we left the office, I saw who was next on the list and took a deep breath. When I asked whatever deities who could hear me to send me some human guards to make things equally, a retired royal guard was not on my list of people. I exhaled feeling exhausted yet hoping for the best.