New Project

Elaina's farmwork is done and Julia is done with her task of converting the herbs into potions.

"Sis! Should I go and prepare to collect more forage in the forest?"

"Not this time. We will head to the Woodworks and inquire about the service of a carpenter."

"Eh? A carpenter?" Julia tilted her head.

"Yes. Thanks to the money we earned the other day due to the harvest we have from the parsnips and potatoes, we gained a decent amount of money. Although I am not sure if this is enough, I wanted to inquire how much it is for the carpenter to create a barn. With a barn, we can raise some livestock for milk and other resources like wool."

"Then it's a plan. Besides, I would like to raise some sheep for their wool as well."

"Wool, huh? I admit that is indeed a good animal to have aside from cows. Perhaps we should also ask for the price of the chicken coop as well. With chickens, we can get fresh eggs daily once the chickens grow."

With the two imagining all of the possibilities, the two prepared to head out and check the carpenter. For Elaina, if the money is enough, perhaps even an upgrade for the house might be a viable one as well.

...

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...

Following the directions that Marigold told her the other day, Elaina and Julia soon arrived at the Woodworks where countless items made of wood are displayed. There are chairs, tables, and even some cabinets as well. Everything looks fancy and they are also high quality as well that Elaina can tell that these creations are something that she would like and she might even have some plans to buy a few furniture as well.

"This area smells like fresh woodcuts, I am not used to it, but I also don't hate it," Julia is looking around with her eyes wandering around the displays.

"These handiworks on the tables are quite good. Even the designs are quite amazing as well," Elaina was about to touch the table when someone opened the door.

"Eh? Customers?" a young man who seemed to be around the same age as Julia went out of the door and met the two of them.

"Hello. Is the store open?" Elaina asked.

"Oh, yes. Come in, come in," the young man then escorted both of them inside the store.

Inside, the two immediately was greeted with the smell of fresh wood and the sight of things made of wood. Statues, cabinets, dressers, and many things are pretty much created by hand. The young man entered the counter and decided to receive their reason for being there.

"This is the Woodworks ladies, anything related to wood or construction, we deal in here and provide services. My name is Jacob and I am the one who handles all the requests and jobs related to all of those. I accept commissions as well depending on what you want me to do as long as it is not hard or impossible to create," the guy named Jacob said with a smile.

"I see. So even though this is the Woodworks, you don't only handle the wood, you also handle other materials like stone and steel as well?"

"Yes. However, steel is not yet part of my repertoire, simple iron works though, I can do some stuff, but steel is nowhere I can do anything just yet."

"Hmm, that's fine. It's not like I want you to make something from steel anyways. But do you make buildings made of wood and stone?" Elaina asked.

"That is part of the things I offer in my services. Whatever you want me to make, I can do it as long as it is not going to let me use steel and other stuff."

"That's great. Can you make a barn or perhaps a chicken coop?"

"Yes. Do you guys have any materials for the building? Wood and stone? If so, you will pay me 10,000 gold for the barn and 5,000 gold for the chicken coop. Both buildings will be done building for 4 days."

"Wah! So expensive! Can't we haggle the price? And what do you mean materials?" Julia frowned.

"Ah, this must be the first time for you. You see, compared to others who use their own materials for the building or project that they want me to work on, I ask my customers for their materials themselves and let them procure them themselves. Unless you would be willing to pay for the materials that is, then I will use the materials I have in hand in exchange for it. And don't worry about me ripping you all off, you can inspect the materials yourselves if you pay for them, if you are meticulous enough, you can choose them one by one yourself as well."

Elaina now understood what he meant. "If that is the case, how much is the total cost plus the material cost for both buildings then?"

"For the barn, since I will be making sure it will be big and spacious and with room for upgrade as well, I will only charge 7,000 gold for the material which would add up to the initial cost of the barn with a total of 17,000 gold. As for the chicken coop, since I don't need it to be that big, you only needed to pay me 4,000 gold for the materials, and with the cost of 5,000, in total for the chicken coop, you will pay me 9,000 gold."

Julia almost staggered hearing the prizes. She didn't expect things to be this expensive. As for Elaina, she is calm enough after she hears the prices.

"Guess I can only afford a chicken coop then. So, what does the chicken coop look like once it is done? Do you have any illustrations or plans for the interior and exterior?"

"If you want me to build a chicken coop, then you can choose which kind of design you would like the coop to look like once it comes out. Please choose from these designs. And you don't have to worry, these designs are all free and they are already calculated enough for the materials you paid so no shortage will happen and you won't pay extra gold as a result," Jacob then proceeded to hand them a few papers containing designs for the coop.

Although it wasn't really big, it wasn't small either. The exterior is pretty nice as well and the interior is quite spacious that based on estimates of Elaina, can keep 6 chickens inside. In short, she is very satisfied.

"Then, I would like to use this design," Elaina pointed to the second paper containing a simplistic design of the coop, with a blue roof and a little door that is small enough for chickens to enter and exit."

"Alright. Give me a second and let me grab my tools. You can pay me once I have finished all the preparations," and with that, Jacob bowed before leaving behind the back of the counter where they could hear the sound of metal and tools clanging.

"Preparations?" Julia looked at Elaina, asking for an explanation.

"He will be coming with us to measure the area we will be putting the coop in and ensure that the area he will be creating the coop is free from debris and any sort of terrain problem," Elaina explained. After all, she has dealt with this kind of service before as well.

It didn't take long for Jacob to return, this time, he was wearing his work clothes and was carrying a bunch of tools with him.

"You will start working immediately?" Elaina was surprised.

"Of course. There's no need for me to delay the work to tomorrow yes? The faster I am done, the faster you ladies can use and benefit from the coop. Now, let's go and lead the way to your farm.

"Alright, follow us."

Jacob followed Julia and Elaina on the way back home. He put signage on his store as 'closed' and left the place with the two girls.

"You close your store if you are working? You don't have assistants?" Elaina asked.

"Nope. I work alone and whenever I do work, I close my store as no one will entertain the customers. It's also a sign that I am out and busy with work which is something of a sign that they will not be able to request any work from me unless I am done."

The three arrived on the farm and Jacob nodded with an approving stance. "The farm is very big and you can place the coop anywhere you like. With how much space you have in this farm, this will be a good place for you to erect a few buildings for the farm."

"You can say that we are lucky on this purchase," Elaina is happy as well.

"Indeed. Now, where should I erect the building?"