After the news spread, the entire North Wind Territory erupted with excitement. Aisha's posted notice drew many residents, who gathered before the bulletin board and surrounded her to ask about the details of opening shops. Carpenters, blacksmiths, weavers, cooks... people with all kinds of skills began considering it. As they listened carefully to Aisha's explanations, they calculated whether they were capable of running a shop themselves.
"The territory has really changed! We can actually open shops now—something we never would have dared imagine before!" a middle-aged carpenter said with deep emotion.
"I heard the territory even provides materials and space, and the costs are clearly calculated at cost price. With conditions this good, it would be such a shame to miss out," a young weaver beside him agreed.
Aisha stood among the crowd, patiently answering questions and listening earnestly to every person. Ang had long instructed her that opening shops was not only an important step in developing the territory's economy, but also a way to bring the lord and the residents closer together.
A few days later, construction began one after another on basic shops at the eastern and western ends of the territory. The craftsmen were full of energy, working from dawn until nightfall, and completed the new buildings in just one week. Stone walls paired with wooden roofs gave the shops a simple yet sturdy appearance. The first bakery and tailor shop opened at the eastern and western ends respectively, their bright signs drawing every villager who passed by.
On opening day, the villagers gathered outside the shops early, creating a lively scene. The bakery was filled with the rich scent of wheat as the territory's cooks bustled around the ovens, deftly turning freshly baked wheat cakes and loaves of bread with nimble fingers. In the tailor