BOPE 61

Chapter 61 …

– Agricultural Tips –

Land suited for farming: Look near Lord Grace’s castle (Hint: Just because it looks good doesn’t mean it is).
Edible fruit: Orange, fist-sized, bitter taste, must be cooked to eat. – I also have to blanch persimmons in boiling water to remove the astringency, then roast them to bring out the best flavor.
Making good fertilizer: Grind dried dural leaves and ferment them with moho moss. One week. Mix into the soil thoroughly.

“I still haven’t figured out where the good farmland is, but I’ve finished making the fertilizer. Ah! Maybe if I mix the fertilizer into the soil, it’ll become good farmland? Then what’s the deal with the orange fruit?”

Donghee pondered the information she had just recalled.

“Wait—I said persimmons taste best after boiling and roasting?”

But she had never seen orange fruit like that near Grace Castle. She figured she’d have to start asking around tomorrow to find out where to get some.

Just like she had quickly located the komo tree before, surely someone among the staff would know where a persimmon tree could be found.

The next morning, Farmer came by to report on the wasteland cultivation project.

Handsome mentioned that Farmer had arrived at Grace Castle before dawn and waited patiently. Donghee shook her head in disbelief—true to his name, Farmer was one diligent man.

As soon as the lord entered her office, Farmer stood up from his seat and bowed respectfully.

He looked much more confident and at ease than when he had first arrived at the castle. Donghee kept getting distracted by his broccoli-like curls sticking up from the top of his head but tried hard to focus on what he was saying.

“You didn’t skip breakfast again and wait all this time, did you?”

Raising an eyebrow, she asked, and Farmer shook his hands like windshield wipers on a rainy day.

“No, ma’am! The steward gave me warm soup and delicious bread as soon as I arrived. I ate very well.”

“Good. That’s very good.”

Donghee gave Handsome a thumbs-up. Embarrassed, he lowered his head and scratched his neck.

Although Farmer said he could report while standing, Donghee insisted he sit on the opposite couch. When Anna brought out tea, she pushed a cup toward him. Farmer’s eyes welled with tears at the thought of a noble lady sharing tea with someone like him.

He felt deeply moved and more determined than ever to give his all to the task entrusted to him.

“About a quarter of the wasteland has been cultivated so far. When we mixed the manure Helser brought into the dry soil… well, astonishingly, the land became fertile at a rapid pace.”

Even while reporting, Farmer’s voice trembled with disbelief, and his cheeks flushed red with emotion. In all his years of farming, this was the most touching experience he’d had.

“Really?”

Both Scrooge and Handsome grinned broadly, unable to hide their delight at the news.

Donghee was just as thrilled. She had expected the fertilizer to take some time to work, but it had activated immediately. It was both surprising and exciting.

“Still, let’s keep an eye on it for a few more days. We don’t know how it might change over time.”

“Yes, my lord!”

The status window could be annoying and smug, but it had never lied. That’s why Donghee fully believed the dry, dusty land would become fertile. She hadn’t even worked the soil herself, yet she felt like a master farmer.

“Do you have a family?”

“I have a wife, two sons, and two daughters.”

“They must be young.”

Recalling Scrooge had once mentioned Farmer was 31, she asked.

“Yes. The eldest just turned ten, and the youngest is a little over a hundred days old.”

“With that many kids, you must’ve had a tough time. I’m sorry for being such a negligent lord.”

“N-not at all! Please don’t say that. Just thinking about your recent kindness…”

Farmer suddenly stopped and pouted.

“What’s wrong?”

“Just thinking of your kindness… sniff!”

His lower lip jutted out, and he clamped his mouth shut. Then, with a small whimper, he began to cry, tears rolling down his cheeks.

“D-don’t cry! Why are you crying?”

Donghee fidgeted, unsure how to comfort the grown man sobbing like a child.

“This kindness… sniff… I will never… ever forget…!”

He wiped his tears with his sleeve. Seeing him cry only made Donghee realize how difficult his life must have been.

She remembered the time she couldn’t afford rent and had to beg her landlady for more time. Back then, she felt like dying. Maybe Farmer had lived through that kind of despair every day. The thought weighed heavily on her.

“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to make a scene…”

Despite trying to stop, he kept pressing his face into his arm and sobbing.

As Donghee silently waited for him to calm down, she heard another sniffle nearby.

Turning her head, she found Handsome also sniffing, trying not to cry. His nose was red, though his eyes were wide open in resistance.

Oh Chloe, you sinful woman.

Donghee vowed again that she would serve these men hearty meals of rice and beef soup every day.

After Crybaby Farmer finally left, Donghee turned to Scrooge, whose nose had also gone red.

“You’ve lived here a long time, haven’t you?”

“Yes, I’ve lived in Grace Territory since birth.”

“Because your family has served as treasurers for generations.”

She recalled the wall of old accounting books in his room—like an extension of himself.

Her gaze shifted to the new ledger he now clutched like a lifeline. Ever since the castle’s finances improved, Scrooge had gotten much busier, but he also looked far more energized.

“You wouldn’t happen to know of an orange fruit, about the size of a fist, that tastes bitter?”

Scrooge narrowed his eyes in thought, then opened them wide.

“Ah! Are you talking about Nado Persimmons?”

“Yes! That’s it!”

Delighted, Donghee jumped to her feet. Her heart fluttered with excitement.

“You mean the fruit that grows to about this size?”

He held his hands in a round shape about the size of a baseball.

“Yes, that’s it! Is it in the garden, like the komo tree?”

She asked, hoping, but Scrooge shook his head.

“There used to be some, but not anymore.”

“Why?”

“No matter how well they were tended, they always withered and died when transplanted to the garden. Even with plenty of water, it didn’t work. Nado persimmon trees start dying the moment they’re uprooted. They can’t be transplanted.”

Her hope shattered instantly.

“Then do you know where I could find one?”

Donghee prayed it wasn’t far.

“You haven’t seen them?”

“Where?”

“You walked past them yesterday.”

“I did?”

“There are dozens growing along the outer wall of Grace Castle. They’re in the village too.”

Now that he mentioned it, she vaguely remembered seeing them. But yesterday, her focus had been entirely on finding farmland, so she hadn’t paid attention to trees near the castle walls.

As Donghee recalled her steps, Scrooge calmly continued his explanation.

Handsome nodded along, as if he already knew this information.

“The fruit is inedible raw, but the bark is very useful, so the trees are quite common.”

“Really? What’s the bark used for?”

“For laundry.”

“Laundry?”

Donghee’s voice rose in surprise at the unexpected use. As she tried to imagine its potential, the blue status window suddenly popped up before her eyes.

– You’ve discovered another use for the Nado Persimmon Tree! Though it wasn’t intentional.
As a reward, you’ve earned 400 Hidden Points.

Hidden Points! Oh yeah!

As Donghee silently celebrated, the status window continued:

– The happiness index of Grace Castle’s servants has increased dramatically.
As a reward, you’ve earned 400 more Hidden Points. Because I’m generous. Heh.

Then raise my happiness index too and give me even more Hidden Points, please!

Donghee looked at the status window and prayed. But as always, the window ignored her and continued on its own agenda.

– Surprise Mission!

Use the bark of the Nado Persimmon Tree to create a new product that will help the territory prosper.
A tremendous reward awaits you. Of course, it won’t be easy!