How to Survive in the Roanoke Colony-Chapter 196: Dawn of Commerce (1)

When tractors began harvesting for them, people rejoiced that farming had become much easier.

Now that the agricultural equipment knights plowed the fields, sowed seeds, pulled weeds, and harvested the crops...

"..."

"..."

"..."

Everyone was speechless.

It wasn't a change that happened all at once. As the number of tractors gradually increased and the variety of implements attached to them diversified, it just naturally became this way.

Before they knew it, they rarely went to their fields anymore.

They would just occasionally stroll around to check if their farming was going well, and during harvest season, head to the Knight Brigade's stronghold to collect their share of wheat.

"Um... is it really okay to do nothing? Do I need to repay this debt later or..."

"Hmm? That wheat came from your land, so what is there to repay? Your gift to the community and knights has already been set aside."

"..."

Really, they didn't have to do anything?

Teran, a Welsh farmer and carpenter, was also shocked by this fact.

He had just arrived here and received land. He was too busy to pay attention to that land, but wheat, barley, and beans grew there on their own.

Since he couldn't eat all those grains, Teran set aside only what his family needed and entrusted the rest to the community to sell in England.

Then, a few months later, all that grain returned as various household items and spices he had ordered.

He truly did nothing.

"..."

In her spare time, Teran's wife, like noble ladies, obtained flower seeds from Scotland and cultivated a garden in front of their house.

In his spare time, he took his children fishing or hunting. Not so much to catch something to eat, but... to kill time.

He wondered why so many people were enthusiastic about church gatherings, why they participated so eagerly in cathedral construction without even getting paid.

It was because everyone had too much time on their hands.

Those who wanted a more luxurious life, those with skills, contributed to the community by building ships or making aluminum rings, and in return, received more and better luxury items.

But Teran was an ordinary farmer and carpenter.

He wasn't someone with exceptional abilities to create things for export to the British Isles or France. His house was a bit too far to work at the vineyard.

"Oh, Dad! I caught a salmon! A salmon!"

"That's not a salmon... Never mind. Bring it here."

So he just killed time.

Scratch. Scratch.

Sometimes, as he did back home, he carved wood in his spare time, recalling the past when making a living was difficult. Even though it was just a few years ago, it now felt very distant.

"Hey, Welsh friend. What are you doing?"

"...Just carving wood. I have nothing to do."

"Can I take a look at what you're carving? It looks quite good."

"Uh... a candlestick?"

"Oh, I've been needing a candlestick for my house. Can you give me one?"

"Uh... I was carving this as a hobby. As you can see, it has a lot of decorations... and this wood is imported..."

As Teran hesitated, his neighbor looked around. There were about a dozen similar candlesticks lined up.

"If you don't want to just give it away, can I buy all of those? I happen to have an embroidered tablecloth from France that I could trade, or..."

Saying this, Teran's English neighbor pulled out an Othello chip from his pocket.

"Would this be acceptable payment?"

"Uh, huh?"

Isn't that one 'chip' worth 100 livres?

He's just handing it to me?

"If you won't take this either..."

"Ah, no! Take them all. I'll also send you this one once it's finished!"

"Really? Then I'll also need a box to put these candlesticks in..."

"I'll provide that too! Just take them for now! I'll give you everything later! Just leave the chip!"

"Really? Alright!"

"Haha, ha... it was a good deal."

The next day, Teran took the chip across the bay and bought various woods and household items from French merchants.

Then he began selling not only candlesticks but also statues of the Virgin Mary that Spanish people loved, and statues of 'Him.'

"Oh, is that a wooden statue of Nemo? Could I have one?"

"This is a colored piece... it stands knee-high, so it would probably cost about half a chip..."

"Then put it on my tab for now! I'll come back later with a whole chip and buy some Virgin Mary statues too!"

That wasn't all.

Virginia residents mostly made their own items that were awkward to import from overseas. But when Teran started making and selling small chairs and cabinets, everyone eagerly bought them.

His business expanded day by day, and Othello chips piled up by the dozens in his house. He set up a stand in front of his house and built a new workshop next to it. Still, there wasn't enough space.

Eventually, he approached the parliamentarian in charge of the area and asked:

"Excuse me, I'd like to open a separate shop. How should I go about it?"

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"Hmm? Haven't you already opened a shop at your house?"

"I'd like to expand. I want to open a shop near the harbor where many people pass by, not just in our village."

"Hmm... that's community land... let me ask around."