"Thud."
"Wham."
It was just noise after noise as numerous men worked with hammers and picks on the building, they were having so much fun with.
It's been over two weeks since they began rebuilding the town's famed notorious inn.
Everyone had been watching for nearly two years as this particular inn progressively faded from people's memories.
They all assumed that one day they would wake up to find the entire inn gone, demolished by a new owner or whatever, but who would have guessed that not only did the owner not demolish or sell the inn, but she began renovating it?
Who would still visit the inn following renovations, given the inn's terrible reputation in recent years?
That's what they all thought before beginning work on the inn. But once they started refurbishing the inn, they all began to doubt themselves and wonder. When did ladies start being as intelligent as that?
If she was that great, wouldn't she have thought of this before losing all of her customers in the last few years?
This was in Guche, Chipo's inn, which was now being renovated. While the inn was being refurbished, several other buildings in the back were being constructed as well.
And it was because of these structures that the construction would take at least eight weeks instead of the four weeks she had anticipated while hiring fewer workers.
Chipo, on the other hand, did not regret not hiring additional people. She couldn't afford it, and it was best if everything moved slowly.
At the very least, she will be able to think about how to entice clients to return to her inn.
Chipo had become more enlightened over the past three weeks, ever since Madam Tapiwa left for Karoba, and she had never been happier than she was right now.
What made her delighted every time she came to check on the progress of the remodeling and construction was how the builder in charge, Ba Kuda, treated her with respect.
And because he treated her so nicely, the other men who worked for her did as well.
It was already difficult for a woman to live as a woman with all the tasks imposed upon them, but now that she had several men eager to bow their heads to show her respect, she felt like all the difficulties she had encountered were worthwhile.
Chipo was busy jotting things down with the quill feather pen while sitting inside her manor's study, a little manor with just three courtyards; her own, another for all male staff, and last for the females.
She had no idea when Madam Tapiwa would arrive, but she was looking forward to it.
As she sat in her study, there was a quick knock at the door, and with only a few servants in her house, she could only imagine who the person was.
"Come inside," she murmured quietly, without raising her head.
"Creak," then the door opened with a creak and quickly closed again.
Chipo only raised her head when the door was shut, and she didn't seem surprised when she realized who her visitor was.
"Uncle, did you bring them?" she inquired as soon as she noticed who had just entered the room.
"Yes, my lady," Terrence said as he drew to a standstill, smiling at his mistress and cheerfully nodding his head, "I brought them with me, and they're all waiting for you inside the hall."
Her face lit up as she heard that.
"Then let's go," Chipo said as she placed the quill feather pen on the holder and set aside the book she was writing in on the other side before standing up, "We must not keep them waiting."
Chipo and Terrence left the study for the hall, which was conveniently located in the same courtyard, and it only took them a few moments to get there.
When Chipo entered the hall, she noticed the two guys sat on the wooden chairs inside and discreetly exclaimed, 'You can do this. Don't cower or show any fear,' she told herself as she walked.
As soon as they saw her approach, the two men who were seated rose to their feet and modestly bowed their heads to show respect to a noble lady as well as their future employer, Chipo, who despite being a woman possessed a greater position than the pair of them.
"Greetings, my lady!" exclaimed the two of them.
Chipo smiled dismissively at the two of them and returned their greetings, "Greetings to you too, uncles. Please take your seats."
After Chipo greeted them without putting pressure on them or looking down on them, the two guys returned to their seats with more relaxed faces.
Chipo sat in the center chair as well, while Terrence stood to the side.
Chipo treated him like family, but he knew and understood his place. While others might be embarrassed by his status as a slave, he was quite proud of it.
He wouldn't be alive, safe, and well without it. He didn't want to think about how difficult his life would have been if Chipo's mother hadn't bought him back then.
Chipo was excited as she looked at the two uncles she had graciously invited to her estate. Not wanting to waste anyone's time, she opened her mouth as soon as they were all seated to say her intentions.
"Uncles, thank you for coming on such short notice and consenting to come to my manor. As you may be aware, I have recently begun refurbishing the inn, which may necessitate some furniture changes. So, I'd like the two of you to work on the inn's new furniture. Do you have the time to do the job?"
The two guys didn't seem startled; after all, when their friend Terrence arrived, he informed them of the major reason Lady Chipo wanted to meet up with them.
And because it was such a large order, they had immediately agreed upon hearing about it. And with their penchant for money, there was no way they could refuse such a large order.
So, exactly as they had told Terrence before coming to the manor, they cheerfully told the woman their true feelings, "We would love to."
Hearing this, Chipo relaxed even more. It seemed that there was nothing to be concerned about, after all.