Chapter 9

"Father, I have a request."

Marianne looked up at her father David with a serious expression. It was unusual for her, a daughter who rarely asked for anything.

"Hmm. What do you want?"

"Chickens."

"Chickens? Wouldn't a smaller bird be better for a pet?"

"These aren't for pets. They are for food, or rather, for research on their utility."

"Research on their utility, huh."

"I plan to start with five hens and one rooster since it's my first time raising them."

"Alright. Can I hear about your research?"

Marianne then explained to her father why she wanted to raise chickens.

She had noticed the physical differences between noble children and town children, especially orphans, and had spent her afternoons with the butler, asking everyone about their diets.

The results suggested that while genetics played a role, the type of food one ate had a greater impact on physical development.

Particularly, the difference in meat consumption during the growth period seemed to be a significant factor in the physical differences.

She believed that in the future, raising chickens in rural households could improve the food situation and health of the people.

Selling excess chicken meat and eggs could also improve their economic situation.

"I considered fish farming, but it requires a lot of space and water management, so I decided on chickens. The time and effort required to raise them for food, and the use of chicken manure in agriculture or for sale, made them the better choice."

And now, here she was.

"Tom, do you know where I can buy chickens?"

"Chickens? They are sold at the market, but you might also be able to get them from a farmer."

"Could you take me to a farmer, then?"

Tom, the gardener, had long realized that this young lady was not an ordinary girl. She never forgot anything she heard and had a keen eye for observation. Now, she wanted to buy chickens.

"May I ask what your purpose is?"

"Ultimately, I want to improve the food situation for the people. If there are specialized chicken farmers, it would be efficient, but I want to encourage each household to raise chickens first. As the daughter of a noble, my words alone won't be convincing, so I plan to demonstrate it practically and then provide initial funding to the farmers to encourage them."

But to raise chickens on the estate of an earl...

The wise Tom decided to check with the lord.

"Though it will require effort, help Marianne with her request. I want to see what she will learn from this."

Tom thought that the studious young lady might show something interesting. However, he had yet to realize the depth of Marianne's planning.

The next day, six chickens purchased from a farmer were placed in a small shed built at the northern end of the estate. The shed, located in a spacious backyard, had good sunlight and was surrounded by a fence to protect the chickens from cats and stray dogs.

"So, Miss, what are these for?"

"They are for taking care of the chickens, Tom."

"Will you be taking care of them, Miss?"

"Tom, this is both a research project and a way to create jobs. Of course, I will help with the care as well."

In front of the shed stood five thin children, orphans that Marianne and the butler had recruited from the streets of the capital. The maids had thoroughly washed and dressed them in simple work clothes, and their hair had been neatly cut.

"Everyone, listen carefully. Every morning, when the first bell rings, you will feed and water the chickens and clean the shed. I will join you in the morning. In the afternoon, when the second bell rings, you will feed and water them again.

After the afternoon work, you will be provided with a meal. You will earn one small silver coin per day.

We plan to collect eggs and gradually increase the number of breeding birds to sell the meat."

The orphans, who had never set foot on a noble's estate, were tense, but their eyes lit up when they heard about the meals and wages.

"Five people for one small silver coin? Just for working in the morning and evening?"

"No, one small silver coin per person."

"Wow!""Yay!"

"However, to prevent bad adults from taking your money, I will pay you in large copper coins."

"Ugh. They are heavy and take up a lot of space."

"Exactly! Here, I have these bottles for you."

Tom placed five glass bottles on a small table used for record-keeping. One of the bottles was filled with copper coins.

"?"

"Each bottle has your name on it and comes with a key. You will put ten large copper coins, equivalent to one small silver coin, in here every day.

You can take out and use what you need. This is your money, so I won't interfere with how you spend it."

These children usually worked in construction, carrying heavy loads for a quarter of the wage an adult would earn. They deeply appreciated the value of ten large copper coins.

When Marianne first approached them in the city, some had suspected they might be tricked and sold, but now they felt reassured.

They happily looked at the small name tags hanging from their necks, attached to the keys with colorful ribbons.

The children, who had previously only thought about spending their wages on immediate pleasures, now began to imagine the glass bottles filling up with copper coins.