NOVEL NEXT 16: Ren has Returned
We’re promoting the sale of Radberries.
They’re strawberries larger than my palm, so when neatly packed in wooden crates, they have a striking presence. The sparkling crimson red is dazzling!
Me and Grichan Poco-chan were momentarily mesmerized.
The crates were made by the village’s woodworker. They’re simple yet beautiful white wood gift boxes with polished edges.
Inside, we laid fluffy cotton (we started growing cotton at the botanical garden!) and placed six berries. The contrast of white and red is exceptionally beautiful.
Since it’s for gifts, we tried to give the materials a sense of luxury~.
Pat pat~.
Martha and Burton efficiently handle the packing.
Despite our poverty, serving in a noble family has made them adept at such tasks!
Nevertheless, I feel sorry that Martha and Burton’s workload has increased because of me.
While thinking about that, Burton’s son and his wife are coming back.
They seem to have been serving as butlers in the Radcliffe household as part of their training.
In a large mansion, there are often multiple butlers.
It’s a waste to have only Burton at our house.
They’re also bringing a cook along.
In addition, they’re apparently hiring two part-time assistants from the village for chores like cleaning and laundry.
Father, who has been feeling guilty about leaving all the cooking, washing, and other household chores to Martha the maid, made the decision this time.
Recently, thanks to my plant cultivation skills, our lives have become more comfortable, so he decided to increase the number of servants.
A maid is actually the caretaker of noble people, right?
Martha came with my mother when she married into the family of the Margrave.
At that time, the Radcliffe family had only one elderly maid, and after she retired due to a back injury, Martha took over all the household chores.
After Mother passed away, she raised the three of us brothers.
Thank you, Martha, I love you!
I said that and hugged her, and she hugged me back with a happy look on her face.
“What are you talking about? Isn’t it because Haku has been keeping everyone busy?”
Reynard said as he watched over my studies, looking amazed.
Yes, that’s exactly right.
There’s nothing more to say in response!
But then, Reynard smiled gently.
“Thanks to Haku, life has become a little easier. With less worry about food and starting the weed removal magic, things are heading in a positive direction, and everyone is starting to have hope.”
That’s really something, huh?
He unusually gently patted my head.
“You’ve got a spelling mistake here.”
He pointed to my blackboard, smiling.
Even though it was a nice story, everything got messed up!
Radberry gifts sold incredibly well!
Hundreds of boxes with just six strawberries each were sold.
During the strawberry season, we sold as much as possible.
Above all, Cecilia, the Margravine of Ragnoad, was the top salesperson.
She really liked them and used them as gifts for tea parties. From there, word spread, and orders started coming in from surrounding noble families through the Margrave’s family.
The key is that it was through the Margrave’s family.
To prevent the weak Radcliffe family from standing out, they shielded us.
Even if information leaks out eventually, for now, we’re under the protection of the Margrave’s family.
As a service to Lady Cecilia, we keep sending more and more Radberries!
Sorry if you get strawberry overload!
So, because of all that, we couldn’t keep up with the work on our own.
We asked the village women for help, and gradually, the work left our hands.
When I took Radberries out of my skill warehouse and gave them to Martha, she delivered them to the women’s association in Luke Village for packing.
Under Martha’s guidance, the women improved their packaging skills.
We ordered wooden boxes from the Luke Village woodworker, who produced them in large quantities at full capacity.
Everyone’s pockets grew warm, and smiles spread around.
Yes, money is important!
Let’s keep this up and drive away poverty!
Oh!
This year, we mainly sold to neighboring noble families, but next year, I hope we can sell to the general public.
Of course, this is just the beginning.
In summer, we’ll have melons waiting.
We should sell the melons and watermelons we planted this year!
Although it’s probably impossible to get a high price for watermelons, melons should do well, right?
The village women are full of motivation!
By late June, we had already finished harvesting turnips. Turnips are relatively easy to grow and can be harvested quickly.
You just need to watch out for caterpillars.
The harvested turnips were medium-sized, and we sold them to villagers and merchants, pickled some for preservation, and, of course, included them in our meals.
They were sweet and delicious.
Just as the farming work settled down, Ren came back from the royal capital!
Naturally, Grandpa came along, and this time, our cousin Kyle also came.
Kyle is the third son of Margrave and a year older than Ren.
He has bright blonde hair and blue eyes and looks like a mischievous handsome boy.
He’s still a boy now, but I wonder if he’ll become muscular in the future?
It would be nice if he became lean and muscular…
Together with them, Burton’s son and his wife also returned.
Victor and Lily, a couple around the same age as Father.
Victor is a stern-looking monocle gentleman who looks like a younger version of Burton, while Lily is a calm and beautiful woman.
Both are sharp-looking and tall.
Their son, Michele, is ten years old. His freckles are his charming point.
His springy bedhead bounces from side to side, and I can’t take my eyes off it.
Is it some kind of trap?
Swaying back and forth.
Another one is a large man named Jeff, who is a cook. He looks like a dangerously cool middle-aged man.
He doesn’t look like a cook at all.
Maybe he’s a cook who fights with a knife?
My heart races.
While I was thinking such silly thoughts and staring with my mouth open, Ren suddenly tackled me.
There was a thud, and I was hugged tightly, making me go “kyu.”
“Kyu”
Huh?