Chapter 49 - 49. Taking A Stroll And Doing Some PR Work

I sat down with children with 'Mummy Patricia' on my lap as I calculated the exact ingredients and measurement that I need. They were giggling at us since every time, Patricia wiggled, I let out a soft moan as I could feel her firm cheekbutts planted directly at my nether regions.

"God, it is hard to concentrate with her wriggling about." I thought to myself as I pored myself over the foolscap and makes numerous mistakes here and there until I got everything right, finally.

I need the conversions right for this:

1/2 cup coconut oil equals 170g

3 tablespoon of baking soda equals 43 grams

20 drops of Essense equals 1ml

This would produce an approximate 213 nett weight in grams.

For a 10 litre barrel of coconut oil, the rest of the ingredients should be 58.8 times the amount which means I would need 2.5kg of baking soda and 60 ml of Essense. Luckily I had used an electronic scale and borrowed Ingles calculator, if not I would be in hell trying to figure out the exact measurements to embark on the next project.

100-litre coconut oil (everything is x10)

25 kg of baking soda

600 ml of Essense

I decided that the contents would be based on 250 grams and each of the processes would produce 500 single Scented toothpaste. Each of these would sell for 35 credits and the taste would be peppermint, citrus, green apple, strawberry and green tea.

I went to the baker's shop and supplies and bought 6 piping bags with a straight nozzle and 25kg of baking soda, as I smiled when they asked me whether I was planning to bake a cake. Hehehe. Only I have the answer to that.

Unknown to the ever-curious readers out there, I had bought another 5 solar-powered electronic scale that also runs on a 3V button rechargeable battery. How would these kids know if they had poured in 250 grams of homemade toothpaste, right?

I showed everyone how to reset the scale after putting the porcelain container on it before using the piping bag to insert the toothpaste later on tomorrow.

Once they understood how to operate it accordingly, they cleared the tables as they had completed the 10 scents for the 'Head To Toe' Shampoo. The same cauldron was used and had been cleaned and dried before I poured 10 barrels of coconut oil, 25 kg of baking soda which Adam West was slowly scooping them out while Ingles was stirring the contents with a stirring paddle.

At first, the process was smooth as the solution was not thickening but as Adam West nearly completes halfway, Ingles asked for help as the solution had become thick and difficult to stir. I helped out as I told Adam to pour all of the baking soda and I slowly stirred it while Patricia helped out by using a ladle.

I measured 600 ml of peppermint and poured the Essense into it and immediately the mixture seems a bit easier to stir. I made a figure 8 stirring movement from the top and I stirred it until I was satisfied that the mixture had been formed well.

I dabbed a bit of the solution and used it to run abit on my teeth and I can feel the grittiness and I gargle and spit it out at the washbasin. I could taste the peppermint and I could feel my teeth to be utterly fresh.

I took a spoonful and asked everyone to try and they loved the taste. "Daddy, can't we use the shampoo to brush like this? It's the same powder we put inside right?" asked Kayla as she thought the lye was the same as baking soda.

"Of course we can't, my dear. That's a totally different product. The idea is to have the same scent but different uses. This is called toothpaste and in this form, you would use this piping bag which Mummy will fill up for you and then slowly insert it inside the container. You don't have to be perfect and a margin of +5/10 grams would be alright."

I explained and the children nodded. I closed the lid of the cauldron tightly so air would not enter it and harden the mixture and we all left to the Great Hall for our dinner.

Before we left, I had the chance to plant the 4 tea tree shrubs that I had halved in 2 new plots and the hibiscus plant were halved and now I have 8 hibiscus plants and were planted in a single plot and would then be halved again and planted into the other plot. So this makes 16 hibiscus plants whose twigs can be used as a toothbrush.

I inserted 3 drops of Psi Energy Healing Spheres into 2 barrels of water each and the children helped to water the plants and I told them to 'shower' the plants from the top so it would also make them refresh. They never saw me dropping the Psi Energy Healing Spheres so it would at least shuts them up from asking some questions that I find it hard to answer to them.

After all the plants around Beauty World had been 'showered', we head to the Great Hall where the children washed their hands and faces with the 10 variety of shampoo scents while Patricia and I were tinkering in the kitchen to preheat dinner for every one us.

Oh yeah... Since these few days, Prius had received a scroll and had travelled South to pay a visit to Aermagh, the city where I was summoned to be in their Legion. It takes 2 days and 2 days to return so he would be missed within the next few days.

Since Prius was not around, Patricia practically shared the bed with me in my room as we played the role of Mummy and Daddy during their off-hours. Hah Hah Hah Hah... What else could you heat except for "Piak! Piak! Piak! Piak! Piak!" Hahahahaha.

After we had dinner that I had prepared beforehand before leaving for Beauty World and the Council Chambers earlier, I grouped them together and made a small announcement.

"You know that you had already completed making 4000 porcelain bottles of 10 different scents of 400 bottles each, and we would embark on the next project that would bring about 2500 porcelain containers that would be filled with 5 flavoured kinds of toothpaste in the next 5 days."

"I won't want to count the eggs before the hens lay them but this would bring motivation to all of you. This is key here... It opens up to another opportunity for you in maybe 6 months to a year down the road."

"This key would open to a door filled with opportunities and I would now be shown you where it leads okay? Is everyone done with your meals so far?" I asked and they were intrigued with the key that was held in my hands and was tied with a red coloured ribbon.

They knew it looked like a key to a house but so far they knew that I had not mentioned about a house before. Furthermore, it was the end of the month and as promised, I would be giving them a full month's pay despite working for 10 days till the end of the month.

I handed the children 600 credits each in a pouch and their eyes said it all, from tears of joy and appreciation as they had never held so many credits in their hands before.

"Come, let's go for some shopping. Trish, you follow us too okay? This is a big step for both of us, and I wished Prius was with us right now too." I said and pulled Patricia's hands just like she did when the first time I asked her to follow me to the orphanage.

Since the dishes at the Great Hall and the kitchen was cleared, and the mention of shopping, greatly made the children enthusiastic towards their shopping trip that evening.

So we made our way out of the Great Hall and savoured in the evening with the 6 of us walking as Ingles and Jane held both of my hands while Adam and Kayla held on to both of Patricia's.

We walked out and passed the marketplace and soon entered the busy business district where everyone was milling around after work hours, entering the taverns or meeting the working ladies. Some passerby bowed to Patricia while others smiled and gave a thumbs up to me.

Maybe they thought I was a bit industrious at night and able to produce these children out of thin air. Hahahahaha. We met Rebecca on the way and she whispered something to Patricia and both ends up laughing. Rebecca is Prius sweetheart and she knew that Prius had left to attend some matters and would be back in town in a few more days.

Patricia asked Rebecca about the 'Head To Toe' Shampoo and was complimented and told that she had spent a long time in the bath and also bathed once daily in the morning. She showed some scars that the hoodlums had left on her and it was disappearing.

"Mister Audemars, I would be visiting Beauty World to get another bottle if you may." Rebecca said and Ingles told her, "We have 10 other scents to choose from. Feel free to drop by, yes?" Ingles smiled happily as she held my arm and hugged it.

This was the first time she felt that she was treated as a citizen and not just a human being parentless for so long in her life.

Soon we passed Joan's and when she saw me she waved madly and said that the 'Head To Toe' Shampoo was terrific... She knew of the magic imbued inside and didn't mention it out loud.

"Ma'am Joan, please inform your customers to come and get it from us. We have 10 other scents as well and in the next 5 days we are going to have a new product soon." Jane called out to Joan from a distance because she too was afraid of the dark stories revolving around Joan the Madcap Alchemist.