Quantum Leap - Vol. 6 Kingdom Building Garnering Wealth

C004 Oh Ma Gaa...!!!

I glanced at Hiko-sama and winked at him as the mechanic looked at the blueprint. His eyes sparkled and raised his head, and straightened up. "My name is Mesen, there is no need to use an honorific. It's a pleasure to meet you, Hiko-sama." he bowed deeply and Hiko-sama bowed back.

"I am truly honoured if your corporation wishes to engage us for a long term contract like this and I hope I would be of best service to your corporation. From what I see, it is named Seijuro Tumbler and all the description here are all marked accordingly to specification. Even right to this round crank and the cogwheel. Come, Hiko-sama, take a look at this machine."

Mesen brought us to take a look at a cement mixer but in fact, it was for a dough mixer for the confectionery shop. We looked closely at it and find the specifications somewhat similar and to be able to manufacture this machine would take a week, maybe.

"Yes... It is somewhat looked like this but the wooden drum is enclosed and is sideways. A small opening is needed at the top and covered with a rubber seal to prevent leaking. The crank would be easily operated by this young chap here and the stand would be lower than this. The crank wheel would be the same size and the cogwheel would have more teeth so it is easier to turn."

Hiko-sama was like an expert explaining the things required by the Seijuro Tumbler. Mesen looked at the blueprint and he understood everything that had been explained verbally and visually. "There are 5 fins inside the bucket something like this." Hiko-sama picked up a broken piece of plywood and placed it in his hands and showed the different angles and shapes, one end is higher than the other."

Mesen understood the moment Hiko-sama mentioned about the fins. He nodded in acknowledgement at the thought of it. "Our corporation would also need a technical person to maintain this machines at the costs by our customers, meaning that every time this machine breaks down, the technical team would fix it for the customers for free." 

"Mesen-sama, 1st year would be free for the customers to maintain it before it breaks down. Its called preventive and remedial maintenance procedures. But the parts to replace would be borne by them. Mesen-sama, do you understand this part?" I explained to the proprietor and he nodded his head as it bobbed up and down in apprehension.

"Yes... Yes... So meaning that I have to visit all the customers' place within 1 year and to maintain them for free. But changing of parts would be borne by them. So after one year, how is the contract like?"

"After a year, maintenance and labour would be borne by them. During the first year, you would be contracted by the corporation and would be paid a monthly salary to maintain these machines. After a year, you still get the salary, the labour charges would be paid to us but the parts would still be paid to you on the 1st and 2nd year."

"Are you interested to make your dream come true, Mesen-sama? If you are interested, you may work directly with the corporation and earn bonuses every 3 months depending on how many such machines would be made and sold."

"Furthermore, once you are contracted with us, it is considered as a lifetime contract and investment. Your little shop here would be shifted to a larger one or remodified to become a sales and service department." I pointed out the possibilities to upgrade and having better living conditions.

"Tell me more about this shop. Do you live upstairs?" Hiko-sama asked Mesen-sama to further understand and access the situation. "Yes, I live upstairs. I had been operating this place for almost 6 years and most times it is hard to come by. I would like to take this opportunity, Hiko-sama and young master, I would scrap all these unnecessary junk and turn this place as a workshop and showroom for your machines instead. I could already foresee what you need me to do already."

"This dough mixer, does it come with a patent?" I asked as I went near the machines.

"No, young master. It doesn't come with a patent. It's for internal use and it is not for sale to the public." Mesen-sama explained and I understood those that would be on sale and for personal use would not require such patent while the other one does.

"Ah... In that case, we would like to invite you for lunch and we would discuss your future. By the way, how long would you be able to make this machine, just by looking at the blueprints?" I inquired so that we would be able to make some estimation.

"I would take about 7 to 10 days for the 1st machine. Once your corporation is satisfied with it, then the subsequent machine would take 5 to 7 days. If I have an experienced helper, the subsequent machine can be completed between 3 to 5 days." Mesen-sama explained and we were pleased with his evaluation.

"Do you have someone in mind in order to have an experienced helper?" asked Hiko-sama as the thought of at least 5 machines per month would definitely reap a good profit. "My nephew. I will inform him to be my helper. Currently, he is helping his father from another village not far from here." explained Mesen-sama.

"Good... Good... We will let you know when we would meet for lunch and then meet the both of you. Once we sign the lifetime contract, whatever scraps that you have, please do not sell it away, you may sell it to us instead at your asking price." I offered him to buy the junk since we would be able to recycle them.

"Thank you, Hiko-sama and young Master. I hope to hear from you real soon and I am delighted to serve your corporation. My word is my honour, kind sir." Mesen bowed low and we both bowed back. I can see that Mesen was very sincere in turning his livelihood to have a good reversal. Mesen handed the blueprint back and we walked out.

"Next stop, an arrogant motherfucking old fart that happened to live in this era for too long already...!!!" I said between clenched fists and grinding of my teeth. We walked to the watch smith shop and planned to perform a short drama. I told Hiko-sama to hold on to the katana blade as I tugged his sleeve and pointed at the old fart inside. "Haa... Haa... Alright, this is going to a great face slapping experience and it would be damn fun!"

So we walked and stood in front of the glass windows and Hiko-sama was holding the handle of the katana handle and was acting very angry. As for me, I played my part as well.

"Brother...! This man bullied me earlier! He said I was a nosy kid and I'm wasting his time! I wanted to buy our dad a good looking pocket watch for his birthday but he treats me like a f*****g beggar!"

"Where's that f*****g old man!? How dare he look down on you! How dare he treat us like beggars! Does he not want to live in this world much longer? You...!!! Get that f*****g man out here so I could deal with him personally...!!!" Hiko-sama growled at the only person inside the shop and it seemed that his booming voice does shake some of the glass displays over there.

"The old man said I have never seen a gold coin before in my life! Wuwuwuwu...! That's him there, right now! He had disgraced us! Brother, look...! He wants to disguise as another salesperson. He going to bedek bedek with us...wuwuwuwu...!!!" 

We made our voice audible enough so that onlookers were within earshot and were shaking their heads at us and agreed that we were being ill-treated and pointed shamelessly at the old man. By this time, a small crowd had already gathered outside the glass window display.

The old man in the shop was very alarmed and having this kind of spectators would definitely make his business in a less reputable position especially business had been rather bad these days. He stood up and wanted to approach the main door when we both burst in order to stop us making a ruckus and also to prevent a scene.

"Brother...! There he is...! He wanted to lock us out from his shop...! Quick...! Rush in and get the pocket watch that I had seen earlier...! I saw a pocket watch I liked but he never even look at me when I asked him about the price! He even called me a scrawny little dog...!!! Wuwuwuwu...!!!" I was so good at making a scene and acting that I deserve an award. Hahaha...!

"Noo...!!! N..Nooo...!!! You are most welcome here in th...this shop...!!! I never called you names, little kid...!" stammered the old man as he looked at Hiko-sama holding to the handle of the katana as if he would cut off the former head if he spoke wrongly. Furthermore, he saw that I was still dressed in the same clothes and had some dirt smeared over my face as I never cleaned them upon seeing Hiko-sama at the house and dragged him out... Hahaha...!!!

"My Master came here and you did not even entertain him?! Why?! Because he still looks like a kid?! Do you know he is?! How dare you treat him like a nobody!" Hiko-sama growled as he held on to the handle of his katana and it seemed that the moment if he drew his katana, a lot of glass displays would be under his mercy...!

"Nn..noooo...!!! I am s...sorry Master...! I thought y...you are just joking around and wasting my time asking about the prices and all...! This is the first time a child has entered this shop and I thought he looked like a beggar since his clothes were shabby and his face was uncleaned." explained the watch smith as he bowed low and expected his head to be decapitated from the shoulders as he explained the situation to Hiko-sama.

"Brother...!!! Now, he is lying to us...! How can he say its the first time a child enters the shop...! If an Emperor is a child, would he be barred from entering this shop...!?" I played along with the whole scene and the crowd outside seemed to agree with my point of view.

"Answer my Master, old man!! Grrrr...." growled Hiko-sama as he held the handle of the katana and looked menacingly with his forever frowned look. The mention of the Emperor, made him fall to his knees and he kowtowed to the both of us.

"God bless the Emperor! If he is a kid, I will entertain him! Please Masters, do not hurt me and do not act this way. Please be calm. I would even give you a discount just like you are the first person to come at the moment I opened my shop." the old man said in a rather trembling voice. He also pointed out the taboo of offering a discount to the first customer of the day even it was already quite late in the day right now. Hahaha...!!

"Brother, he wanted to give us a discount...! Is he trying to take us like a fool...? How much can a discount cover our infamy that had been caused by this old man...! He even said I had not even seen a gold coin before, just now! Show him, Brother, that we walk on gold coins all over the castle and even use them like the pillows we place on our heads to sleep...!! This old man deserved to die early, I think..." I poked my tongue out and made a face at Hiko-sama that he nearly laughed as well since my face was too comical to describe.

The old man didn't see my expression because he was literally burying his face to the floor...! The moment he heard castle he trembled even more. Maybe we can get more discounts this way...!

By now, the onlookers were gathering outside and was jostling to see what was happening since there was an angry Samurai and a scrawny and seemingly slightly shabby young kid inside. A few patrolmen came and seeing only Hiko-sama's back, and as long as Hiko-sama never withdraw his katana, the situation is still under control. Right then, one of the patrolmen recognised Hiko-sama and he exclaimed to the rest of his buddies, "That's Hiko Seijuro, from the Samurai Shogunate. Don't worry, he knew that he shouldn't withdraw his katana in public. And he was with the young kid, most probably his adopted son. Come on guys, let's continue our patrol and disperse this crowd."

By now the patrolman had tried to disperse the crowd as it thinned out considerably soon after.

"Stand up now! Show me what our Master had asked just now!" growled Hiko-sama as the old man slowly stood up and went to the showcase and brought the two pocket watches. Hiko-sama eyes glinted when he saw those it was exactly what he wanted to buy but I had thought the idea right there and then and brought it to reality.

"Brother, he said that these costs 20 gold coins before I left since he said I'm a nosy kid. I don't think it costs even 20 gold pieces...!!! Wuwuwu...!!! I want those 2 pocket watches...!! I want to make a good present for our father and my good friend. Wuwuwu...!"

"Right... Right... Master. These 2 pocket watches together cost only 20 pieces of gold, not 20 gold pieces each. I was only joking with you earlier... I can put them in the boxes and wrap for you if you want." the watch smith quickly replied to me since he does not want to experience any more trouble than this.

"Yes... Wrap it and my Master here will pay. Next time don't belittle people entering your shop anymore, you understand?" Hiko-sama retorted and the watch smith shuddered when he heard what Hiko-sama had mentioned.

"Yehey... Good... good. Our father and his good friend can get this present from us... Yehey..." I clapped my hands like a silly little boy as the old man was seriously perspiring profusely as he handled the pocket watches and adjusted the time and wound it a bit. He then laid it inside 2 wooden ornamental boxes with a cushion in it and placed it into 2 little cute shopping paper bag with his shop name on it.

Hiko-sama handed me the bundle of gold coins secretly and I handed it to the old man. The old man then handed me the two bags and he kept the gold coins away in his drawer, not bothering to count at all.

"Thank you for your hospitality, you dirty old man." I poked fun and called the watch smith names.

"And thank you for your kind patronage, Master! Take care and be safe and have a great evening...!" The watch smith replied as he bowed low and the moment we left the store, he quickly went to lock the front door and sealed it using a horizontal piece of wood before he switched off the lights and somehow slumped behind the counter and perspiring hard and thanking the Gods above that the whole scenario had passed without an uglier incident than this. Hahaha...!

We left and the rest of the spectators all dispersed as they whispered that the old man inside the store finally got what he deserved since he was known to have a sharp tongue and was a bit of an eccentric type... We walked and we both were grinning and Hiko-sama suddenly gripped me by my neck and rubbed my head vigorously.

"I was thinking of buying these pocket watch earlier in the day and you are one step ahead and finally bought it. This one for me? Oh, Ma Gaaa... I had never even dreamed of owning a piece of luxury such as this. Its worth 2 months salary, am I right?" Hiko-sama was simply elated as he held the two paper bags containing the pocket watches hat were bought at 50% discount...!!!

"Yes, Sensei... Each pocket watch actually costs 20 gold coins. Its 4 months of a samurai salary! Come and meet the girls now, they must be waiting for us!"

"Haa...!Haa...!Haa...!" we both laughed out so loud that tears streamed down our faces. In fact, it was the tears that Hiko-sama that had been filled with admiration and appreciation that were beyond words. "You really taught that old man a lesson, kid!" I just laughed as we made our way to the watchtower clock.