It was afternoon when Victor returned to the manor. Emma had been waiting for him at the door and rushed to greet him.
"Young Master, how did it go?"
"It was successful," Victor said. "The Baron has agreed to grant a three-month extension."
Emma's tears welled up instantly, and she hugged Victor tightly. "Thank you, Young Master! Thank you so much!"
Victor gently patted her back and said, "Don't thank me. This is the result of our joint efforts."
The next day, Victor summoned all the tenant farmers. Twelve households, thirty-six people in total. They gathered in the manor's hall, their faces tense and uneasy. In their minds, the noble young master's summons could only mean two things—either increased taxes or punishment.
"Everyone," Victor stood before the long table, his voice soft but clear, "I have gathered you all here to discuss something."
The tenant farmers looked at each other, silent. An older tenant farmer, named Old Jack, tentatively asked, "Young master, are you... are you going to raise taxes?"
"No," Victor shook his head, "I want to ask everyone for a favor."
"A favor?" The tenant farmers were stunned.
Victor took out the soap he had made yesterday and placed it on the long table: "This is soap, I made it with grease and wood ash. This stuff can be used to wash clothes, hands, and body, and it's much more effective than the soap pods you use now."
The tenant farmers gathered around, looking curiously at the several pale yellow solids.
"This... this really can wash things?" a young tenant farmer asked.
"Of course." Victor picked up a piece, walked to the bucket next to him, and demonstrated. The lather was rich, and the cleaning effect was excellent; the tenant farmers' eyes lit up.
"Young master, are you going to sell this?" Old Jack asked.
"Yes," Victor said. "I've already sold a batch in town, and the response has been very good. Now, I want to expand production and sell to more towns. But I can't do that much by myself, so I'd like to ask for your help."
The tenant farmers fell silent. They looked at each other, their eyes filled with suspicion. In their view, their young master was asking for their help to exploit their labor, just like the nobles of the past.
"What kind of help?" Old Jack asked.
"Help collect oil and wood ash, help make soap," Victor said. "As payment, I will pay you wages. One copper coin for every pound of oil collected. Half a copper coin for every pound of wood ash collected. Three copper coins for every bar of soap made."
The tenant farmers gasped. Three copper coins for a bar of soap—that was more than they earned in a day's work!
"Young master, you…you're telling the truth?" Old Jack's voice trembled.
"Of course," Viktor said. "I never lie."
The tenant farmers looked at each other, their eyes filled with excitement and disbelief. They had toiled their entire lives, barely making ends meet. The young master's proposal gave them hope for a change in their lives.
"I'm willing!" a young tenant farmer was the first to step forward. "I'm willing to help!"
"Me too!" another tenant farmer stood up.
Soon, all the tenant farmers had expressed their willingness. Their faces beamed with excitement and anticipation, as if they could already see the day they would become wealthy.
Viktor smiled and said, "Alright, let's begin. Today we'll gather the raw materials, and tomorrow we'll start making soap."
The tenant farmers cheered and got to work. Some went to collect wood ash, some went to the butcher to buy grease, and some prepared the tools for making soap. The entire plantation suddenly became lively, filled with unprecedented energy.
Viktor stood at the door, watching the busy tenant farmers, feeling a surge of satisfaction. He knew he was changing these people, changing the manor, even changing the family.
"Young Master, you...you're truly remarkable," Emma said, standing beside him.
Victor shook his head. "It's not me who's remarkable, it's everyone. Without them, I couldn't have done it."
Emma smiled. "Young Master, you've changed. The old Victor would never have worked alongside the tenant farmers, much less paid them such high wages."
Victor sighed. "The old Victor is dead. He died on that rainy night in my past life. The current me is Victor Reinhardt, a man who wants to change his destiny."
Emma looked at him, tears welling in her eyes. "Young Master, you...you will succeed."
Victor nodded, watching the busy tenant farmers. He knew this was only the first step. Next, he would build a sales network, open up markets, and earn more money.
And ultimately, he would bring the Reinhardt family back to its former glory.