I Thought It Was a Healing Farming Game Chapter 23

“Through hardship, roots grow strong and stems stretch straight toward the sky. Cherish your crops as you would your own children, but do not try to bear their hardships for them.”

Farming +10

Farming +10

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Farming has reached Level 2!

By the time I came to my senses, Siad had already finished reading the entire book.

“That’s the end.”

As his audience, I gave him a hearty round of applause.

“Wow, I was so absorbed that I completely lost track of time.”

“I hope it was helpful.”

“Of course! You have no idea how intently I was listening.”

Everything About Farming, Vol. 1: Now, This Is Soil (Completed)

A cheerful chime sounded to celebrate my finishing the book, and a buff appeared at the end.

Farming Buff (1.5x): Farming speed and EXP gained from agricultural activities increase by 1.5x for 3 hours, and stamina consumption is reduced.

There was no way I could let such a precious buff go to waste.

“Then I’ll be off!”

I waved enthusiastically at Siad with a smile, grabbed my stamina potion, and dashed away.

“Let’s go! Time to raise our children to be strong!”

It was finally time to grow some precious crops that would earn me enough money for the security deposit.

 

***

 

Mini Vegetable Garden Ownership Certificate

“Your own vegetable garden? Ah, you must be the new visitor. Come this way.”

After checking my certificate, the middle-aged farmer led me toward a grassy area.

We passed a long row of vegetable plots bearing the nameplates of other residents. When we reached the edge of the forest, I began to see empty plots of farmland.

“You can use any one of these vacant plots.”

“Any of them?”

“That’s right. Just call me when you’ve made your decision.”

Following the farmer’s instructions, I began examining the empty vegetable gardens one by one.

I passed over the plots whose soil looked pale or yellowish at a glance.

There are too many small stones here. It’ll be difficult for roots to take hold.

I ruled out the rocky plots as well.

Eventually, I narrowed my choices down to a few decent-looking gardens, including one overgrown with weeds.

I chose a plot with dark brown, moist soil and scooped up a handful.

When I pressed the clump of soil between my thumb and fingers, it crumbled apart, trickling down between them.

This one looks good.

I even sniffed the soil. There was no musty smell of mold, just a pleasant, earthy fragrance.

The weeds are growing thickly, so there should be plenty of nutrients… And I can see earthworms, too. This is good soil.

I dusted off my hands, stood up, and carefully inspected the two plots I had selected.

One was a sunny plot that received plenty of sunlight, while the other was cooler and relatively shaded.

“Hmm. What are you thinking so seriously about over there?”

The farmer, who had been watching from a distance, approached with a curious expression.

Pointing at the plots I had chosen, I explained.

“I like these two… but I can’t decide whether to plant fruiting crops and root vegetables first or leafy vegetables.”

Generally, fruiting crops and root vegetables grew well in sunny areas, while leafy vegetables thrived in shaded plots.

“Have you farmed before?”

“Yes, I used to live and farm with my grandmother. Which one do you think would be better?”

Farmer’s Affection +5

At my answer, the farmer’s expression immediately turned serious.

“Well, it’s been a while since a young lady who actually knows a thing or two about farming came along. Let’s see. In that case…”

“Wouldn’t the sunny plot be better if I want to grow a variety of crops?”

“Leafy vegetables are easy to care for and grow quickly, so they’re a good choice for beginners. But when it comes to selling them, fruiting crops and root vegetables generally fetch a better price.”

The farmer spoke while looking toward the sunny plot.

I nodded in agreement.

“So it would be best to start with the sunnier plot, right?”

“But that shaded plot over there…”

There was no one else around, yet the farmer cupped a hand beside his mouth and whispered as though he were sharing a secret.

“It’s a little cheaper.”

“Oh! Really?!”

Apparently pleased with my reaction, the farmer pointed toward the shaded plots.

“So grow some crops and quickly rent one of those plots, too. Maybe it’s because they’re tucked away at the far end, but nobody even gives them a second glance. They’re actually quite good plots.”

“I’ll do that. Thank you!”

“Once you’ve decided, just write your name on the nameplate.”

Just as the farmer had said, there was a wooden nameplate planted in front of the vegetable garden I had chosen.

After receiving a thick marker, I wrote my name on the previously blank plate.

Miel

Vegetable Garden Activated!

Soon, the words [My Vegetable Garden] appeared clearly on the small map.

“It’s my land!”

Even though it was only a tiny vegetable garden, becoming the owner of a piece of land felt wonderful.

“Heh heh. You can borrow farming tools and fertilizer over there, next to the entrance, so keep that in mind.”

“Okay!”

Excited, I ran toward the entrance to collect my farming tools.

A huge pile of tools had been stacked nearby.

Tool Rental

1 gold: 1 hour of use

2 gold: 3 hours of use

A large sheet of paper listed the rental periods and their corresponding prices. The longer you rented the tools, the cheaper the hourly rate became.

“If I cut the weeds, till the soil, and add compost…?”

I counted on my fingers as I thought through everything I needed to do.

Even though the vegetable garden was small, the work would easily take four or five hours.

I rummaged through my pockets and took out three gold coins.

After putting the coins into a small container, I picked up a hoe and a rake.

“Hup!”

Time Remaining: 4 hours, 59 minutes

I stood in my vegetable garden and took a deep breath before raising the hoe high.

“Let’s get as much done as possible in five hours!”

Whack!

I brought the blade down forcefully into the ground.

Whack, thud! Whack!

I struck the weeds with the hoe, lifted their roots, and twisted them out of the soil.

I piled the weeds I had pulled up in one corner of the garden.

“Ughhh.”

Farming +15 (Bonus)

As I removed the weeds one by one, the shape of the garden gradually began to emerge.

Farming +18 (Bonus)

Time Remaining: 3 hours, 38 minutes

After finishing the weeding, I plopped down onto the ground.

“Ahh, that feels good…”

I fanned the collar of my shirt, then suddenly found myself lost in memories.

I miss it. My enormous, five-times-speed, rough-edged, razor-sharp hoe (+20 enhancement)…

The strongest hoe I had ever crafted at the blacksmith’s shop.

My masterpiece could till an entire thousand-pyeong field in just one hour.

But for now, these old farming tools are the best I can get.

Once I have a bigger vegetable garden to manage, I’m going straight to the blacksmith to upgrade all my tools.

As I rested, my eyes fell on an elegant mansion standing in the distance.

It was the mansion where the twins lived.

Didn’t they send me an invitation once I reached Affection Level 2?

Until then, I would have to build up their affection by encountering them by chance or meeting them at events like village gatherings.

That’ll take too long. Maybe I should send them a package of sweet treats sometime soon.

Thinking it over, I slowly got back to my feet.

This time, I had to turn over the soil by hand with the hoe. Moist earth rose to the surface, changing color as I worked.

As the garden gradually took shape, my stamina began dropping rapidly.

“I knew… this would happen…”

Panting, I pulled out the stamina recovery potion I had brought in advance.

Pop.

I pulled the stopper out and gulped down the potion as if it were water.

“Ahhh!”

I wiped my mouth with my forearm.

Stamina +50

Energy quickly returned to my exhausted body.

Feeling lighter, I picked up the rake again and resumed working.

By the time I finished leveling the soil, drenched in sweat, the sun was already sinking toward the horizon.

“Oh, right. Fertilizer.”

I needed to mix in some fertilizer before sowing the seeds, but it was already nearly closing time at the general store.

Can I still make it if I run there now? The timing is really tight. Even if I buy the fertilizer and come back, my tool rental time will be over…

On top of that, carrying such a heavy load all the way back here would be a problem, too.