NOVEL NEXT 40: Spring is Busy, Isn't It?
During the winter, Jeff taught me how to make jam at the village assembly hall.
It seems it was quite challenging to achieve a consistent taste and develop a recipe.
Come to think of it, I’ve heard that simply changing the ratio doesn’t yield the same taste when using a small pot versus a large one. Was that a story about a ramen shop?
My memory is mysterious!
By the time winter ended and spring arrived, it seems we succeeded in achieving uniformity in taste.
The quality also somehow reached an acceptable best. I heard the judgment of the sealing paper was extremely strict.
Jeff looked quite worn out and had a salty expression every day.
In March, the village ladies are in training to maintain the quality on their own.
They are eager to get ready in time for the radberry season.
Jeff, being a chef, understands the importance of hygiene, so he instructed them on thorough sterilization using boiling water, purification stones, and purification magic.
If we can consistently produce the same product in May and June when the field-grown radberries can be harvested, we’ll start selling it.
Everyone, work hard for a prosperous future!
Though I’m irresponsibly saying that, I’m busy in my own way.
In March, there’s rose pruning!
Just like last year, I’m diligently pruning while dripping snot.
This year, Billy is helping me, which is a huge relief!
Billy is a quiet, gentle kid despite his large size. He’s interested in garden plants, so he’s helping me manage the rose garden.
Fortunately, Billy can use purification life magic, making him well-suited for gardening.
What? Isn’t that right?
Paying attention to small details is a losing game!
The enemies of roses are not just insects but also bacteria and viruses!
Disinfection, disinfect!
Snip with the scissors!
Nya ha ha ha ha.
Noel helped out in the stables during the winter.
Tom has been gradually training him in horseback riding.
Depending on Noel, he might have a future as a driver or stable hand.
Millie is graduating from the orphanage this March.
At her request, she’s officially joining us as a farm worker.
She seems to have a knack for growing vegetables and worked diligently in the fields, regardless of sunburn or dirt, even in the height of summer. Martha vouched for her as a hardworking, serious worker.
After graduating, she’ll start living in our servants’ quarters.
In many ways, it’s springtime.
Ah, but it’s still so chilly.
Achoo!
In April, we officially hired several members of the village support group.
These include retired grandfathers, ladies who helped out in their spare time, and boys who came to help in exchange for supplies from the unmanned distribution center.
It would be unfair to only employ children from the orphanage.
As Burton said, as a lord, I must treat everyone equally.
We decided on weekly work schedules and set the pay at five small copper coins for half a day’s work.
Considering the village’s average monthly income is about three silver coins, I think that’s fair.
It would be great if they could help out once or three times a week.
It’s like a part-time job.
If they prove themselves, we’ll consider officially hiring them.
Some of the grandfathers have farming experience and help guide the younger ones, which is a great help to me.
Besides the pay, they can continue to take supplies from the unmanned distribution center as before.
Well, depending on their work, there might be raises.
That’s up to Burton’s discretion!
We added two more members from the orphanage.
Sophie, 14, and Eric, 13.
Sophie is a bit timid and wears her brown hair in braids.
Eric has fluffy wheat-colored hair and seems cheerful but a bit mischievous.
This year, I’m entrusting the field in front of the mansion to the five orphanage kids. The villagers will support them.
From turning the soil to making furrows and planting, they’ll handle everything.
It’s probably the hardest work, but I hope they’ll do their best.
They can decide what vegetables to plant.
I’ve given them a two-year planting history to ensure they avoid crop overlap.
Father said that by having the senior three guide the two newcomers, they’ll learn from each other.
Even if they fail, it’ll be a learning experience.
They can consult me if they have any problems, and the veteran grandfathers of the village support group will also help guide them.
Well, my biggest benefit is that I can take it easy!
I think the lower spirits residing in Luke Village will also secretly lend a hand.
The expansive field out back is, of course, managed by me and the spirits.
With Poko and the lower earth spirits, the work gets done quickly with magic!
Last year’s edamame field now has radberries planted in it.
In early spring, there are only leaves, though.
Some of the leaves are slightly frostbitten, but the base is strong, so they’ll likely sprout healthy flower buds once it gets warmer.
Today’s goal is to prepare for a new field.
Remember the new field we created last autumn?
It was during the horned rabbit incident. Do you recall?
The field we made then is twice the size of the radberry field, so we should divide it into two and make one part an edamame field to avoid any curses.
The grudge of edamame is terrifying!
Namnam.
The remaining part will be further divided into two, where we’ll plant purple sweet potatoes and super sweet melons.
If we plan to sell them in the future, we need to show tangible results of cultivation in the village.
In that case, we can’t miss out on high-priced sweets.
Luxury melons have high demand too!
Let’s sell them at a high price to the nobles.
Oh!
While purple sweet potatoes don’t sell for much, they can be stored as winter food and processed into tarts for sale.
Digging for sweet potatoes is surely fun!
Everyone will enjoy baking sweet potatoes over a bonfire!
In a new year, we must challenge new things!