Chapter 59 – Nothing To Be Upset About  

The Hungerford Meat Factory was divided into several buildings and sections.

Naturally, each section had a different manager, and Mr. Osborne was in charge of the poultry section.

What was impressive was the systematic operation, befitting a place that handled and processed various types of livestock.

It was quite different from the simple and uniform bead factory.

The biggest difference, which Eloise liked, was the necessity of collaboration.

Thanks to Mr. Osborne’s consideration, she didn’t witness the slaughtering process, but as she was guided through every corner of the meat factory, Eloise suddenly thought:

‘Wouldn’t it be more fitting to call it a large farm rather than a factory?’

It was like combining six or so animal farms in Maybury.

Of course, small farms were usually family-run, while here, due to its size, workers from various places were divided into roles.

Anyway, it was something she couldn’t help but feel awkward about.

It seemed that the current Brightnum was deeply enamored with the innovative feeling the word “factory” conveyed.

“You can relax your expression now, I think.”

That was the first thing Mr. Osborne said upon returning to the office after the tour.

He said it while handing her a hot cup of tea in a rough cup.

“……Ah, I’m sorry.”

Eloise, who took the cup, rubbed her still slightly furrowed eyebrows and bowed her head.

She knew that today’s demeanor would leave an everlasting first impression on the people here, so she tried to maintain a cheerful appearance throughout, but it seemed she lacked the vigor.

However, it was truly unavoidable that her once calm forehead twitched due to the screams of animals frequently heard throughout the factory.

No matter how you looked at it, the sound was closer to screams than cries.

Moreover, every time she discovered workers moving around covered in animal fur, excrement, and blood, she couldn’t help but feel nauseated.

‘There was even a man sitting nonchalantly on the low part of the factory wall, eating a sandwich, despite his appearance…….’

Would I soon become like that too? 

Thinking about it made her feel uneasy.

She had come here with the determination to endure any ordeal if it meant forgetting Ansel, but it seemed this was no ordinary ordeal.

‘At least the effect will be certain.’

Thinking that brought an unintended chuckle.

Mr. Osborne, who was silently watching Eloise hurriedly bring the hot cup to her lips, spoke up.

“I don’t know what brought you here, but surely there must be a reason?”

Eloise, who had just swallowed the hot tea, nodded while coughing slightly.

The boiling temperature was a problem, but the taste was truly awful.

“As you know, this place is also a desperate workplace for someone. I thought you’d run away after seeing the factory, but at least you didn’t, so you’ve successfully fastened the first button.”

“……I’ll work hard.”

“Good.”

Of course, to the manager’s eyes, her answer didn’t seem very reliable.

She was a slender woman who seemed more suited to selling flowers on the street.

‘She spoke grandly of running away and such, but maybe she came here because selling flowers doesn’t pay well.’

Naturally, there was no reason to criticize her for chasing money.

It just bothered him that she, who came from afar, was working in factories in this cold city without family.

‘Is she supporting her family alone? Maybe she didn’t like the pay at the bead factory since she suddenly disappeared. Given her age, she might easily get bored…….’

He hoped, as a father with a daughter, that this woman wouldn’t end up in a bad situation after leaving this job and wandering to find another.

‘I’m thinking too much unnecessarily. I should judge only as a manager.’

Anyway, it was true that her eyes, sparkling like they had jewels embedded in them, held a clear earnestness.

Yes. Just coming here showed she had some guts.

So, it wouldn’t hurt to trust her once, even if it meant being deceived.

“Well, work is from this time to this time.”

As Mr. Osborne lightly tapped the work schedule on the wall with his thick hand, Eloise’s gaze quickly scanned the paper.

‘From morning to evening…….’

Even though it was a long time, the hours weren’t much different from when she worked at Old Bridge.

But Eloise bit her lip as if she had something to worry about.

Then a curious voice echoed in the office.

“Why? Is there a problem?”

“Mr. Osborne, I’m really sorry to ask, but would it be alright if I left a little earlier than the set time? Instead, I’ll come in early to clean the factory.”

At the awaited response, the manager blinked.

“Well, it doesn’t matter, but why? Coming in early to clean will be much harder. Why not just start together?”

“Well…… the elderly couple I live with are very tidy.”

Eloise awkwardly smiled and continued.

“So I want to return early and wash up before dinner.”

Anyway, it was promised that she would have dinner with him while staying at Ansel’s house.

“Ah, I see. Alright. I’ll let them know.”

“Thank you, Mr. Osborne.”

Eloise quickly expressed her gratitude with a bright smile.

She didn’t feel entirely pleasant about the fact that her lies were growing thanks to someone.

* * *

At the Hungerford Meat Factory, Eloise started work an hour earlier than others.

Naturally, leaving the house an hour early wasn’t easy, but since she herself had requested it, there was no one to blame.

On her first day of work, Eloise, who arrived at the factory first, was given the task known as “factory environment beautification.”

For instance, sweeping the entrance with a broom, cleaning around the chicken coop, and organizing the manager’s office.

And fetching water with a bucket to splash on the slaughterhouse floor, essentially a collection of odd jobs.

In truth, sweeping and office cleaning weren’t difficult.

However, when she first opened the slaughterhouse door, Eloise was so startled by the mysterious red lumps gathered in the corner that she fell backward, landing on her backside.

It happened too quickly for her to even scream.

“Ouch…….”

It was futile, but she had to fetch water again, though judging by the size of the slaughterhouse, one trip wouldn’t have been enough anyway.

So, there was nothing to be upset about. Eloise tried to think that way.

‘It’s okay. That’s just meat. Only meat.’

Fortunately or unfortunately, after repeating the task of splashing water inside the slaughterhouse several times, she gradually developed the knack of not focusing on the mysterious lumps and only splashing water on the spots where the blood had dried.

After all, wasn’t this a scene she would encounter daily from now on?

Just as she was having those thoughts, people began arriving, and Eloise was finally able to head to the workshop she belonged to.

“I’m Eloise Bailey. I have many shortcomings, but please take care of me.”

“Oh, we met yesterday, right? Let’s get along well.”

There were three women working under Mr. Osborne plucking chicken feathers, and their names were Alicia, Melanie, and Pumpkin.

Though they varied in age, they got along so well that it wouldn’t be strange to call them sisters.

“What did you do before coming here? Maid work? Nanny work?”

“Oh, no. I was at a bead factory.”

“Bead factory? That work must be much easier, so why did you come here?”

“Um……. Because I like animals……?”

Wait. Was that answer a bit strange? 

Just as she had that thought, a cold sweat ran down Eloise’s back.

‘I should have said I like meat instead.’

Fortunately, the awkwardness was brief.

Listening to the women’s chatter, Eloise learned that Alicia and Melanie were both married women raising a late child and a first child, respectively.

They both said they left their children with their mothers to come to work.

Pumpkin, a newlywed who hadn’t been married for two years, lived on the outskirts of Brightnum and started working at the factory following her husband.

Unlike the bead factory, the women’s chatter continued without a break, and Eloise’s impression after finishing the morning shift was that her colleagues were kind.

Of course, that was true, but it was a response she could give to the manager, and to be more honest……

‘I feel like I’m suffocating from the chicken smell?’

Eloise left half of the lunch the maid had prepared for her.

Thanks to her friendly colleagues inviting her to eat lunch together, she had the chance to become close from the first day, but unfortunately, her nausea made it difficult to focus on the conversation.

Anyway, just from the not-so-long morning shift, Eloise realized how tough “plucking chicken feathers” was.

Even though in the morning, she had only touched a few feathers and mostly listened to explanations.

When she worked at the bead factory, she often thought, ‘I want to do something a bit more physically demanding than now,’ but it took less than an hour to realize how spoiled she had been.

‘What should I do? Even after getting some fresh air during lunch, I still feel unwell…….’

Still, it was bearable for now. Eloise sincerely thought so.

Until the veteran worker Alicia uttered words like a bolt from the blue.

“Well, shall we try it ourselves now?”