Chapter 57 Fifty-Seven Merchant Guild
After a few days, the foundation stone of Olivia's house was laid, and they began to build the walls and beams one circle at a time. At the same time, they built the fireplace on the first floor and prepared to connect the chimney.
Winters in the north are cold, and every two adjacent bedrooms share a fireplace flue for heating, which is the same principle as the big kang in the previous life.
Usually the flue of the fireplace on the first floor is connected to the fireplace on the second floor, and there is a chimney from the top of the building, for a total of six chimneys.
Having so many fireplaces is indeed a luxury for city dwellers, as they have to pay for firewood and charcoal.
But these things were not much expense for the manor. The fiefdom had nine hectares of forest, or nine hundred acres.
Of the nine hundred acres, there were several hundred acres of fast-growing trees along the river bank, and there were also several hundred acres of century-old trees that required several people to hug together. There was so much wood that it would never be burned out.
Olivia's house was originally planned to be built with wood, but the architect persuaded her to do it in one go and instead used hundreds of wooden beams and long rock slabs to build the floor, which is more fireproof and theft-proof.
There's nothing else to it except adding a few days to the construction period.
Olivia saw that the architect wanted to earn an extra week's salary, but since he had enough money, he agreed.
If he does his job well, I will give him more. If he does his job poorly, I won't pay him a penny more.
Laying the foundation, digging the cellar, and digging the well are all difficult tasks. You have to build stone walls while digging downwards, and if you are not careful, sand will easily flow.
Now that we have reached this step smoothly, we can start building the house, and there will be no difficult tasks later.
Both the house repair and the workshop tasks will take more than half a month to complete.
Olivia has been training horses more diligently recently and goes to Renault Manor every day.
Playing with my old mother, younger sister, and cousin, and planning three meals a day.
My uncle, who had been running a caravan for Baron Fores, quit his job there nearly a week ago.
Originally, she couldn't make much money working for Baron Fores. Now, seeing that her aunt had taken refuge with relatives in Lavosen and had recently established herself, her uncle planned to move the business and family assets to Lavosen.
Business people naturally prefer to stay in places where they have deeper ties with local forces.
Old Renault is doing well now. As his brother-in-law, my uncle has no psychological barriers at all and just comes here to take advantage of the local boss to enjoy the coolness.
Because they had to move, my aunt had to run back and forth, planning to rent both a house and a shop in town.
So I had to entrust my cousin Hill to Theresa.
Therefore, Olivia had more contact with her cousin.
This cousin is young, only about ten years old, and doesn't know anything. She follows Olivia in eating and drinking, and is very obedient.
The temperature is still warm now, almost reaching 20 degrees Celsius. Theresa specially invited a tailor from the town to live at home and make summer clothes for the whole family.
So Olivia took two hundred yards of cloth processed from Little Brussels' house to Renault Manor and had the tailor dye and make it.
Dyeing cloth and making clothes is an interesting thing.
The tailor was also well-known in the town, earning three silver coins a week, but he had two assistants.
They first cut various fabrics into lengths of one and a half yards, and then dyed them separately, using woad, madder, yellow mignonette, yarrow, and onion peels that are now available on the market as raw materials.
It can be dyed in five colors: blue, red, yellow, green and brown. You can also mix several colors to dye light purple, light red and dark green.
Fabrics of various colors were used to make several pieces for each person.
However, the patterns of these tailors are very ordinary, the most common in the north, without any fancy styles, and not as trendy as those in the south.
Olivia asked the tailor to make her one lavender skirt, two madder skirts, two woad skirts, and three light green skirts.
I also brought back dozens of yards of dyed cloth.
The clothes were distributed to the people in the manor according to their rank and color.
For example, madder red was not produced locally and had to be brought back by caravans. It was a relatively expensive plant dye, so she only gave five yards to each of the two priests.
The second-best quality was woad, of which only five yards were given to the housekeeper and Graya respectively.
Lucy, Ethan, Adam, and George were each given five yards of mignonette-colored cloth.
Like Jagbu later, the two regular helpers in Vanshi's kitchen, and the regular helpers in the livestock area, all received five yards of green or brown cloth each.
This fabric is a ramie and wool blend woven by the little Brussels family. It is very expensive in the market and is not affordable for ordinary people.
It cost one or two silver coins to make a set of clothes. An ordinary servant only had two silver coins in pocket money every week, and it would take several months to save up enough to buy a set.
Therefore, providing materials for making clothes to all official servants was indeed a very generous act.
Only small business owners in town can afford such clothes.
So even though the quantity was small, only enough to make one set of clothes, the servants were very happy.
In the kitchen and livestock area, those who are not formal helpers are now trying their best to stay.
I also want to get such benefits.
At Reno Manor, my aunt and her family finally rented a house and a shop in town. They returned to the manor and invited Olivia and the others to have dinner in town to warm up their new home.
So, on May 23rd, Olivia took a car to town with her old mother and sister.
The shop that my aunt rented was found with the help of Letilen, a local expert.
Because my uncle had saved some capital before and planned to specialize in trading live sheep in the future, he rented a shop in Ophiuchus, which is in a good location in the middle of the alley.
It is a small two-story building with three rooms, and there is a walled yard at the back where a warehouse can be built to house dozens of sheep.
As for my aunt's house, it was on Parnessen Street, north of the church, adjacent to the wall of the Baronial Palace.
This is not a market, but a more expensive and quiet residential area in the town, close to luxury streets such as Silver Street.
There are more than 30 houses in the entire block, each of which is a single-family brown-walled, black-tiled house with a small garden and stable.
The monthly rent was four silver coins.
Sheriffs, knights of the guard, and private residences of big merchants, such as Letilen's father-in-law and his family, all built their houses here.
Living here is not very cost-effective, but the circles you come into contact with are completely different.
Olivia, her mother and her sister came to visit her aunt's house. Her aunt took them around. This small house has only five bedrooms, three halls, a small living room, a kitchen and two servants' rooms.
However, on the first day that my uncle's family moved in, the neighbors came to inquire about their home. When they learned that she was Theresa's sister, everyone recognized her.
After Olivia and Theresa finished shopping, they had lunch at her aunt's house, and Letilan was there too.
After lunch, families in the town who had heard the news sent small gifts from all directions.
In the afternoon, Olivia personally helped her aunt direct the servants and tidy up the storage room in the kitchen.
Then I saw the servants who ran errands for my aunt coming in, one moment carrying candles sent by Mrs. Baskin, and the next moment carrying two buckets of wheat flour sent by Mrs. Bordel.
Servants from neighbors everywhere, such as the Baroness's maid, Funa's family, and the maid Catherine's family, would bring a box of preserved fruit or a bunch of mutton.
The merchants living nearby, seeing that this family was of great importance, also gave them some valuable gifts, such as spices, cloth, and wine.
When my uncle finished his work in the shop and came home, he knew he had made the right choice to move to this house.
He decided to accept all the gifts, and then return the gifts when these people had family problems. It was only when there was give and take that business could be done.
At night, old Renault rode out of the Baron's mansion on horseback with a proud look on his face and came to his brother-in-law's new home.
Olivia sat at the table next to her, eating preserved fruit and cheese and drinking a glass of fine wine.
Her father was sitting at the top table, talking animatedly with her uncle.
Her uncle's last name is rather difficult to pronounce, and Olivia can't pronounce it because of the many tongue twisters.
However, my uncle's name is Buddel. His ancestors have been doing business in the territory of Baron Fleurs for generations, and his family has quite a lot of money.
Bourdelle was a good man. Every year, like the previous year, he would send rare goods worth a few gold coins to his brother-in-law's home. He was also good at talking and would praise old Renault.
Old Renault knew that he had to rely on his family's influence in Lavoisin and be supported by him.
"...If you ask me, it's too late for you to come now. Baron Lavossen has almost already purchased all the salt, iron, and horses he wanted to purchase."
Buddle shook his head, took a sip of wine, and smacked his lips.
"Guess why I came to Lavossen? It was Baron Caron who asked me to do something for him, but he didn't give me a penny.
This time, in order to purchase horses for military supplies, they also want to raise money from us merchants. The name sounds nice, saying that it is to pay taxes for city defense.
Who knows how much he stuffed into his own pocket?
I came to La Watson because I couldn't stand it anymore. Here, I don't care how much money I can make, as long as I don't have to pay exorbitant taxes. "
Old Renault stroked his beard and said, "So that's how it is." "Don't worry, Baron and Lady Lavossen are fine in this regard."
The couple made money mainly from estates with mineral resources, such as the Real family.
Ever since the Real family discovered a large-scale iron ore vein and opened a smelting workshop, they have to give half of their profits to the Baron's Mansion every year in order to run the business smoothly.
For businessmen, less tax is collected. The business environment is good, so more people will do business. By collecting more taxes with less tax, the reputation is also good.
The two old men were so engrossed in eating meat and drinking that they almost forgot everything else.
Seeing that her aunt and her mother were silent, Olivia asked the two old men to drink less so as not to delay tomorrow's work.
The two old men then stopped talking and asked her how the house was being repaired and whether she needed help.
Olivia shook her head. "Caesar's at home keeping an eye on it, and the neighbors are helping with the patrols lately."
The two old men said "Oh" again and whispered about their son-in-law's character.
After a few words, they started talking about the differences between the ways Baron Lavossen and Baron Caron did things.
This title is baron, and the official usage is to use the name of the fiefdom.
You are the baron of a territory you rule.
However, the barony of many fiefdoms is not inherited by people with the same surname. If there is no heir, the title will be inherited by cousins.
For example, a female baroness who has been the only daughter of a family for three generations can remain single throughout her life, but she needs to establish a male heir to help with military service and pass the title to her maternal cousin.
Therefore, many people simply call the current baron's surname suffix "Sir" to distinguish who they are talking about.
After the dinner, the craftsmen in the manor rested, and Caesar came to his aunt's house to pick them up and take them back to the manor.
The next day, Olivia planned to ride to Renault Manor as usual, and asked the servants to bring her some fresh fish to make soup.
But by chance, before she left the house, she met Mrs. Real's servant who came to invite her.
The maid looked like a housekeeper, not young at all, and was riding in a mule cart with a driver, both of them dressed very casually.
When she was invited in, Olivia recognized her and asked her to sit down, but she refused.
"Madam, the Chamber of Commerce will hold a banquet at the Qiao Yifan Hotel the evening after tomorrow. My family specially sent me to invite you to attend."
Olivia was a little confused and asked her what the merchant guild held the banquet for.
The servant then explained that this was an annual event held by the Lavosen Merchant Guild.
"Hasn't Madam heard of this before?"
Olivia neither shook her head nor nodded.
"I understand. I'll go."
After the servant left, Olivia sent someone to the town to ask Letilan about the details of the matter.
She still took the fish to Reno Manor, intending to ask Theresa.
At Renault Manor, Theresa was watching the tailor make clothes.
Olivia brought the more than 100 yards of cloth and the dyes, and she paid for the tailor.
However, even though the cloth was free, Theresa still kept a close eye on it, fearing that the tailor would not do a good job.
When she heard Olivia coming outside, she stopped staring and asked the servant to make salty lemon mint water.
As soon as Olivia sat down in the house, she asked about the guild gathering.
After hearing this, Theresa nodded and said she knew about it.
"The Lavosen Merchants Guild has twelve members."
Among the ladies of the Knights, there was only one, Lady Real, who was an iron ore merchant.
Of the remaining eleven, five were relatives of the baron.
They opened blacksmith shops, weaving workshops, salt mines, mills, and breweries.
The remaining six are businessmen with relatively large businesses in Lavosen.
These six companies opened shelling workshops, dyeing workshops, tanning workshops, dairy workshops, livestock products merchants, and hotels in the town.
It can be said that these businessmen are the best in all walks of life in Lavosen.
Either he has the support of the Baron's Mansion, or he has his own abilities.
In addition to these main members, the Merchants Guild has fifty-six honorary members in the town, from all walks of life.
Each time, the main members of the guild and the Baron's Mansion jointly formulate the trading rules in the town, and the fifty-six honorary members abide by and maintain them together.
These fifty-six honorary members have all kinds of identities, including knights' wives whose families are in business, middle-class businessmen, and even church stewards.
This includes when and what markets will be opened, the quality standards of goods, and price control.
Theresa waved a folding fan and said with disdain:
"This guild has a lot of rules. It's just a bunch of people helping each other make money for the Baron. Your father and I never pay any attention to them."
Theresa's tone was a little complicated when she said this.
Twenty years ago, she and old Renault looked down on merchant families and were obsessed with producing heirs. If they continued to stay in the knight class, they would be able to firmly suppress this group of people.
But because she had three daughters, she and old Renault had to accept their fate and start looking for solutions.
I managed the real estate and engaged in breeding to earn some money for my dowry. I don’t know how much loss I suffered from businessmen. After so many years of hard work, my family finally had its own way.
For example, the two businessmen who were close enough to help secretly stockpile goods.
However, in recent years, things have taken a turn for the better, and her eldest daughter has become a knight's wife, so she will definitely have an heir in the future.
So Theresa and old Renault, one of them lay down and relaxed, while the other started to get active again.
She and old Renault have been spending money lavishly this year.
One is starting to enjoy life, and the other is smelling opportunity again.
Olivia roughly understood the situation. She thought that the news of her sending the caravan out must have spread, and Mrs. Real thought that she might be willing to participate, so she came to invite her.
However, a business organization like this is bound to be exclusive. If a businessman from outside the town wants to get a piece of the pie, it will definitely not go smoothly from the start.
But as she was one of the local tyrants, they couldn't exclude her, so they chose to win her over.
That afternoon, Adam, who was sent to Letilen's house, also came to Renault Manor and told Olivia the news he had heard from Letilen.
"Ma'am, Letilen said that his father-in-law's family is also an honorary member of the Chamber of Commerce. There's a gathering that day, and he has to attend the meeting on his father-in-law's behalf this year. Please go with him then."
Olivia nodded and said she understood.
Adam added to what Letilen had explained.
It turned out that the Chamber of Commerce organized this banquet to promote a new business model.
Because we don’t know what the situation will be like if a war breaks out next year, in order to stabilize trade, the Chamber of Commerce plans to raise money, team leaders, goods, and escorts.
From June to December, a caravan is organized every month to go to the south to do business.
The purpose of this gathering is to listen to the opinions of honorary members and to let them prepare to register.
Olivia thought about it and asked Theresa how to become an honorary member.
Theresa explained, "You can become an honorary member by paying a few gold coins in membership dues each year, and if your store pays ten gold coins in tax each year."
According to the town's trade tax of one-tenth, a store that can trade goods worth one hundred gold coins per year can become an honorary member.
Olivia thought about it and sent Adam to ask her aunt's family.
Adam was quick and arrived at his aunt's house in the afternoon. After he was asked some questions, he was invited to stay for dinner. When he came back after dinner, it was just getting dark.
Olivia and Caesar had just returned home from a meal at Renault Manor.
Adam replied that her aunt and her family had also been invited by the guild, and that her uncle had to go out to collect sheep that day, so her aunt planned to go and see what was going on.
Their family was invited because they had relatives in Lavossen, and since they were willing to go into the livestock business and rent expensively, they must have money on hand.
Olivia thought about it and thought that the Baroness probably came up with this idea to ensure that the caravan could move south safely during the war and that she would not run out of extra income.
However, Olivia still needs to see how deep this guild is. If the threshold is too high and she cannot reach it, then she will not participate.
If it doesn’t cost much, you can still try it.
On the day of the wedding, Olivia didn't dress up much. She just wore casual clothes and took a bus to the Joeyvan Hotel in town.
The Joyvan Hotel, the largest hotel in La Vossen, is a long house, two stories high, with six windows across the front, right on the main street.
When they arrived, Olivia saw her aunt and Letilan at the door. The three of them walked in together and were led to the first floor by the waiter.
The entire first floor is a party hall with four rows of long tables that can accommodate dozens or even hundreds of people.
Olivia and her aunt, Letilan, were led to different seats by different waiters.
…
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