Chapter 156 A Fruitful Meeting
"Anyway, there are many craftsmen around here, aren't there?"
"Yeah, there are over 30 workshops alone."
"Do you know of any workshops with good reputations or bad ones?"
"Of course, I do!"
'This is a great source of information!'
"So, we're relying on Ms. Cindy's workshop for glass products, but I think we'll soon need more than just that workshop. We want them to make high-quality wine bottles that don't break easily, small bottles for herbal oils and perfumes, and many other things."
"That's true, Ms. Cindy's workshop is probably the best for glass products. Many merchant guilds and trading companies have contracts with them. Ah, I remember now, there's also a workshop run by the disciple of the previous master craftsman."
"Is it around here?"
"I'm not sure. You should ask Cindy about the details."
It seems that many glass workshops are backed by different merchant guilds or trading companies. However, considering Sara's future needs, it's essential to secure as many craftsmen as possible.
"There are also craftsmen who make decorative wooden boxes and metalworkers who create intricate locks, and many more. I want to request work from them too. Oh, and I'd love to get a tea box as well."
"There are woodworkers and blacksmiths too. But when it comes to reputation... there are some blacksmiths it's better to avoid."
Sara gathered various information from the women, and in the end, confirmed which craftsmen to request work from and what kind of jobs to give them. They had information on the merchant guilds and trading companies they were affiliated with, as well as craftsmen who were not from this settlement.
Of course, she'll also gather information about craftsmen who treat women poorly, and she'll make it clear that she won't hire them, no matter how skilled they are.
"Also, I don't mean to be too demanding, but is there anyone who would be willing to work as a live-in employee at our research facility not too far from here?"
"Is it a live-in position?"
"It can be a commute, but there's a vacant employee room available."
Helen's question was answered, and Cordelia asked Sara in response.
"What kind of job are you looking for, exactly, Ms. Sophia? Are you looking for a servant or something?"
"We're actually recruiting multiple people. We need someone to do cleaning, laundry, and cooking. If possible, we'd like the cook to also handle grocery shopping, so someone who can read, write, and do simple math would be great. We also have jobs similar to a maid or Lady-in-Waiting, so someone with experience in those areas would be wonderful."
"How many people are you planning to hire?"
"We currently only have 2 commoner women working at the research facility, so laundry isn't too much of a burden. However, the facility is quite large, so we need at least 3 people for cleaning. We'd be delighted to have someone with experience as a Lady-in-Waiting or maid. Depending on experience, we might also consider hiring them through the merchant guild."
The women's eyes lit up at this response.
"Wait, is this a facility with only women?"
"We only have female full-time employees, but men do visit for data research. Part of the facility is an educational institution, so we also have male tutors and boys in their early teens visiting. Speaking of which, Mr. Fran is also commuting here for work now."
Fran was surprised by the sudden topic change.
"Are you saying you're hiring a servant for the Maiden's Tower, Ms. Sophia?! Don't the maids at the castle do that kind of work?"
"For now, we're relying on the castle's maids, but we can't keep doing that forever."
'Right now, the maids in the office are helping us out, but I'm going to get complaints from bureaucrats soon.'
However, among the office maids, working at the Maiden's Tower was secretly popular. The reason was the steam bath they could use after work. Moreover, they had heard that plans were underway to build a large bathtub, and other maids were also secretly aiming to work at the Maiden's Tower, which Sara didn't know yet.
"Is that facility the tower in the castle that Fran is talking about?"
"Yes, that's correct."
"That's like becoming a servant at Grandchester Castle! You can't just recruit people for that kind of job so casually!"
Cordelia exclaimed in surprise.
"Unfortunately, while the location is indeed within Grandchester Castle, the land and facility belong to Miss Sara, Sir Robert's adopted daughter. So, the employer would be Milady Sara, and it's not like becoming a servant at Grandchester Castle."
'Ugh, saying 'Milady Sara' myself is kinda embarrassing...'
Then, a woman with a poor complexion, thin and pale with dull hair and skin, hesitantly spoke up.
"Um, will it be just women at night?"
"For now, it's just women at night. Although the knight squad patrols the grounds and they're not allowed to enter the tower."
"I can't read or write. I can only help with laundry and cleaning, but will you hire me? To be honest, I'm not very skilled with my hands, so it's hard for me to earn a living with a desk job. But, I'm afraid of men."
'Ah, she's afraid of men, huh? That's okay! Our workplace, the Maiden's Tower, might be a good fit for her!'
"Of course, it's okay. If you're uncomfortable working with men, you can work separately from them. We might need to hire male staff or cooks in the future, but we can discuss how to make it work for you then."
Sara smiled sweetly at the woman, her face flushed. Sara was dressed in a beautiful boyish style, and the woman couldn't help but stare.
Another woman asked Sara,
"Is it okay if I have a child?"
Sara thought for a moment. The Maiden's Tower was a research facility, and having small children running around might be cute, but there were hazardous materials and equipment that could be dangerous for them. And who would take care of the child while the mother was working? It wasn't an easy question to answer.
"Is it difficult?"
Helen looked concerned.
"Yes, it is. As a research facility, there are dangerous materials that a small child might accidentally touch. We also have poisonous plants in our garden."
"I see. That's definitely a challenge for young children."
Then Cass spoke up.
"I have a 7-year-old daughter, and I can teach her to be careful. Would I be okay?"
"Ah, you're Ms. Cass, right?"
"I'm Catherine, but you can call me Cass for short."
Rebecca interrupted our conversation.
"Wait! Cass can't work at my new mansion! Bus, Ms. Sophia, I want Cass to work for me!"
"I think it's up to Cass to decide, but I'm fine with it, Miss Rebecca. However, don't you think we should wait until after the wedding before moving to the new mansion? Until then, wouldn't it be okay for her to stay at the Maiden's Tower?"
Rebecca hesitated for a moment before agreeing.
"That's true. There's no need to rush. Speaking of which, there's the issue of the women with children. Why don't we prepare a childcare facility for the servants? We have one at Grandchester Castle, but it's not like the Maiden's Tower can't have one too?"
"Will some adult take responsibility for taking care of the kids?"
"Well, the little ones are fine, but once they grow up a bit, they'll just go off and play on their own."
"Then we can't let them into the Secret Garden, or it'll be a disaster!"
But, of course, making it off-limits would only make the kids want to go on an adventure. Sara would come to realize this later on.
And so, Sara had single-handedly solved the issues of the merchant guild employee candidate, the elementary school teacher, the part-time worker, and the Maidens' Tower staff all at once. Plus, she got some bonus information about the workshop. It was definitely a great harvest.
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