Just like that, as though they found a jewel worth a city.
Juan was given a job to assist the village chief in his work of governance directly.
Of course, that was after he was tested and passed them all perfectly.
Because of that, the way Garu looked at him became even more strange, which prompted Juan to increase his vigilance toward the latter.
After all, he didn't want to suddenly wake up, and he found himself feeling pain in his buttocks.
That would be a tragedy that could never be forgotten in a second lifetime.
It was currently afternoon, and Juan just had his lunch at the village chief's house since he had no money yet to provide his own.
The Village Chief was kind enough to invite him in just as he was about to leave knowing his situation.
Around the table, the ones that remain are Juan and Garu. Ceth and her mother were cleaning the dishes in the kitchen.
"Um, thank you for the hospitality, Village Chief." Slightly embarrassed, Juan bowed in gratitude towards Garu opposite him.
"Nah, don't mention it. The village doesn't lack food to eat; instead, we lack people who can eat," Garu joked.
"Hmm." Juan won't force it, but he remembers everything in his heart.
In the future, if he can. He will repay this gratitude at least ten times, or maybe fifteen times.
"Then can I ask a question?" Juan asked after now that they are resting.
Garu nodded. "Go ahead.".
"Where are we going to work?"
This has been on his mind lately. To work in a village, there's naturally a place for governmental affairs.
"I had already toured the whole village with Ceth, but I haven't seen a building or place where governmental affairs should be handled."
This might be his guess, but Juan thought this village might not even have one.
Garu laughed suddenly, one of his fingers pointing at the table below.
"Of course I work here. Ha ha ha."
Juan smiled helplessly and said, "I thought so...".
Since there's no building for that, the village chief would naturally work in his own home.
For a village, this should be normal.
But in the long term, it will surely raise many issues that should be tackled as early as possible.
Garu calmed down a while later.
"I know what you mean. I'm also thinking of constructing a building for this kind of work. It's just that I haven't really done it yet because I'm the only one at work."
There's no need to waste time and money on a building or office where one person can only work.
It's better to just do it at home and accompany one's family in the process.
This should be his meaning right? Juan thought.
"However, things are different now. I can't let you possibly work with me even in my home every day, right?"
Juan smiled helplessly. "You didn't have to say it outright.".
"Then it's decided; I'll build the village a new building. Juan will help me with the planning first."
"There's many things to do, so let's go and call some people first to prepare tomorrow. Don't worry, your work starts today with me."
Garu stood up and left to say some things first to his family for a while before he returned.
"Alright, let's go and find some carpenters right now."
After saying that, Garu led the way while Juan stood up and was about to follow.
When suddenly, he saw something that attracted his attention in the kitchen.
Ceth, who was helping her mother with the plates, was now looking at him calmly with her right hand raised, the palm facing him—she's waving?
"Is that a..."
Juan looked at her dazedly. He understands what waving means. It can be interpreted in many ways, but she did it when he was about to leave.
There's only one truth he can think of. And that she was waving him 'goodbye, take care.' along the way.
What does that mean? Could she still want to continue the honey traps? Or is this one a real deal?
Juan felt confused, feeling complicated inside. He didn't know what to believe or think more about.
But for now, he better reply to avoid an awkward meeting later.
Juan waved her back with a faint smile before he followed the village chief away.
"Oh my...Ceth~"
Ceth's mother saw it all, and she started to tease her daughter while they were washing the dishes in the sink.
"..."
There was a joy hidden in Ceth's eyes, despite her calm attitude. What exposed her shyness was the faint redness on her ears and neck.
...
Juan followed Garu to the well-known carpenter in the village.
Carpenters are a lucrative job in this village that requires both skills and a strong body.
They built houses, structures, cut trees, and made furniture.
"The one we're about to meet is Menmo, the most skilled carpenter in our village. He's the one who built most houses and structures in our village."
Apparently, this Menmo man is a big shot in his own craft. It made Juan recall and observe the houses and buildings around him again.
Indeed, modern people shouldn't underestimate the people of this era at all.
From what he could tell, there are many techniques and hidden logics behind how each building has been constructed.
This can't just be learned easily and put to work immediately.
All of this knowledge and experience needed generations upon generations to accumulate before it was compiled and applied to what it looks like today.
"Were here." Garu stepped near the door and knocked on them rather hard.
Thud! Thud! Thud!
"Menmo!! We have a job for you!"
Creak—!
Soon the door opened, and a man walked out from inside with a stern-looking face.
He first looked at Garu and then Juan before he opened his mouth and said,.
"Job? Come in."
Menmo stepped back inside the house as he cleaned up some space before his table and stools.
The room was basically full of planks, pieces of wood, dust, other sticks, and irregular furniture.
Tools such as hammers, nails, and other things were spread around like junk.
"How about you clean up first and then we wait outside for a while?"
No matter who, no one would like to stay in a place that is both hot and painful to the skin.
Its like being in an oven while dust flew around inside.
Menmo looked around him for a second before he nodded in agreement.
"Alright, wait for me outside first."
Juan and Garu soon returned outside the door as they waited and observed what Menmo was doing through the opened door.
The latter moved around, opening the windows to let the wind outside push the dust inside out.
The materials, on the other hand, and other tools were piled hurriedly on the side to make more space for people to walk to.
A few minutes later, Menmo's voice came out, calling them in.
"So? What kind of building do you want me to build?"
The three sat on the stool around the round table before Menmo went first and spoke out.
It's finally here.
With the start of the planning stage, Juan, who was now involved in this project, was feeling nervous inside.
"I want to build a building where I'm going to handle village matters from now on. Do you have any ideas in mind?"
Garu said his intention directly, like Menmo asked what building it would be.
It seems the former has already thought the latter will accept his request without question.
And that indeed happened in front of Juan as the only witness.
Menmo shook his head.
"I don't know how you work, so I don't know what kind of building I should build for you. For the time being, how about looking at my drawings first?"
He stood up and walked over a cabinet full of parchment paper made of goat skin before he picked some and opened it before he returned to the table after choosing some with him.
After placing the parchment on the table, Menmo opened it for Garu to look at the drawings inside.
"First is people, second is the rooms, and third is the design."
Menmo looked at Garu before he continued.
"How many people will work and stay there? How many people do you want a building to accommodate? That's for the first one."
Garu nodded in understanding. Then he spoke out his thoughts.
"Hmm, it's only me that will be working. People may come for help or ask something."
Suddenly, Juan slowly raised his hand. Garu was stunned, then his eyes widened in his sudden realization that he had forgotten.
"Ugh, I totally forgot about you, Juan. Sorry, hahaha."
Facepalming, Garu laughed awkwardly.
"And here I just said a while ago for you to assist me. I immediately forgot about you."
Calming down, he left some space for Juan to join in the discussion.
"It's okay, Village Chief. It's me who is disrespectful just now. It's just that I have some suggestions I just want to make."
Juan humbled himself before saying this. This is his etiquette for surviving without trouble in this village.
"Forget about that. I'm more interested in your suggestions instead."
"Menmo, what do you think?" Garu said as he waited for Menmo's answer.
"I can't possibly deny the carpenter's feeling, right? Hahaha."