I Thought It Was a Healing Farming Game Chapter 30

I accepted the cup with both hands and drained it in one go.

The moment I tasted the milk, my eyes widened.

Even though it had been kept in the refrigerator, it tasted as fresh as if it had just been milked.

Every now and then, I could feel tiny pieces of butter between my teeth, adding a rich, nutty flavor.

“It’s delicious!”

“Isn’t it?”

“There are these tiny pieces of butter in it, and it’s so rich and flavorful! It tastes so fresh!”

Watching me bounce excitedly on my feet, Mrs. Day laughed along with me, seemingly just as delighted.

“Buttermilk aged in the refrigerator tastes even better.”

“What if I end up spending my entire weekly paycheck at the ranch as soon as I get it?”

“Oh, you!”

Mrs. Day playfully smacked my arm, though her hand was surprisingly firm.

“You can flatter me some more later. Now it’s really time to make butter.”

“Yes!”

“Try removing all the butter stuck to the inside of the machine in one big lump.”

I reached into the enormous machine and peeled away the heavy, solidified mass of butter.

“Now gather the butter together and squeeze it firmly. We need to get the remaining buttermilk out.”

Following Mrs. Day’s instructions, I squeezed the lump of butter as vigorously as if I were wringing out a dishcloth.

“Next, rinse it in cold water to firm it up, then tap it with a wide, flat stick to shape it.”

Mrs. Day skillfully patted the butter into a neat square in no time.

“Finally, put it in a mold and chill it… and that’s how you make butter!”

After demonstrating the process, Mrs. Day pressed the butter firmly into the mold and added,

“Of course, the process changes a little when we receive special orders.”

“Special orders?”

“You only need to work on regular butter, so there’s no need to worry about that.”

“What kind of special orders are they?”

“Orders to add flavor to the butter. We might add salt or herbs and seasonings like thyme, lemon, or dill.”

“Wow… You take custom orders, too?”

“Occasionally, for our regular customers. Usually, though, the requests come from businesses like bakeries and taverns. I’ll show you sometime if we get the chance.”

“Yes, I’d love that!”

As I listened to her explanation, I followed Mrs. Day’s movements and finished making the butter myself.

[Day Farm Butter]

I wrapped the butter in packaging featuring a picture of Mrs. Day standing beside a cow, then attached a label with the manufacturing date.

Once the butter had hardened in the cooling room and was packaged, the part-timer’s job was complete.

“That’s about all there is to it. Do you remember everything?”

I searched my memory and carefully recited everything I had learned that day, step by step.

After I finished explaining the process of separating the buttermilk and packaging the butter, Mrs. Day gave me a thumbs-up.

“You pass! Starting tomorrow, come in every other day. From nine in the morning until one in the afternoon. Does that work for you?”

“Of course! I’ll work hard!”

I passed. My steps felt so light on the way home that I could practically float.

‘You could say this is my first real job, couldn’t you?’

The moment I flung open the door to Siad’s house, I met his eyes as he happened to be coming toward the entrance.

“Welcome home.”

“Siad! I got a part-time job at the ranch!”

I was so excited that I rushed over to him and grabbed both his hands.

“They said I passed! I can start working tomorrow!”

As I shook his hands and bounced up and down in place, Siad smiled warmly.

“Congratulations. Are you that happy?”

“Of course! It’s a regular part-time job, after all.”

After bouncing around excitedly for a while, I finally came to my senses and released his hands.

“Oh, I’m sorry. I got too excited…”

“It’s all right.”

Siad smiled without the slightest hint of displeasure.

“It’s good news. I should be happy with you.”

Feeling inexplicably embarrassed, I cleared my throat.

“Ahem, ahem. I’m starting tomorrow morning. From nine in the morning until one in the afternoon.”

“That’s wonderful. Even when you get busy, you mustn’t neglect your health.”

Siad gently smoothed my hair.

I grinned foolishly but answered with confidence.

“Yes, of course! I’ll exercise and eat lots of vegetables!”

That evening, I added a seasoned shepherd’s purse to our side dishes.

It was a little out of place among the dishes Siad usually prepared, but it wasn’t bad as a side dish, much like a salad.

Now that my life had settled down somewhat, other desires were slowly beginning to surface.

‘I want rice, too!’

The meals here were naturally luxurious and delicious.

But with a seasoned shepherd’s purse on the table, I found myself desperately craving a bowl of pure white rice.

The next day, as soon as the sun rose, I wandered around the enormous grocery store.

‘Fish, vegetables, spices…’

I passed the shelves lined with various kinds of dough and flour, and at the very end of the aisle, I spotted the rice.

“Rice!”

I hurried over faster than I ever had before.

I found a five-kilogram bag of rice and eagerly checked the price tag.

10 gold

For the first time since arriving in Node, the smile vanished completely from my face.

“Five kilograms of rice… costs 10 gold?”

It was unbelievable. Sure, this was a small island, and nobody here grew rice, but still! How could it be this expensive?

‘I can’t buy this… I’ll make rice later.’

If it had cost five gold, I might have at least considered it, but ten gold was just too much.

‘Or should I try growing rice myself next time? Maybe I could take advantage of an untapped market?’

Just as I was seriously considering the idea, a familiar, hearty voice rang out above my head.

“What’s this? You’re all grown up, little kid. Planning to buy rice?”

It was Mr. Tom from the general store, carrying goods with his muscular arms.

“Oh? Hello! You’re here, too?”

“As you can see, the store’s busy, so I’m giving them a hand. More importantly, you’re thinking of buying rice? It’s at its most expensive right now. Why not wait for the trading ship to arrive?”

“The trading ship?”

“That’s when the supply is greatest and the prices are lowest. By now, everyone who can afford to buy rice has already bought some, so the price is bound to be high.”

“I see. Thanks for the tip, Uncle!”

Following his kind advice, I decided to wait for the trading ship, which visited the island every Wednesday.

‘I can’t wait for the trading ship.’

When it arrived, a night market would open, and I’d get to try special events and games.

‘Maybe I should save up some spending money for that day?’

It wasn’t as if I could afford to spend all the money I earned as I pleased, but I’d been working hard, so surely I could treat myself a little for one day.

And in just a few more days, I’d be able to attend the village meeting, too.

Just thinking about it made my heart flutter with excitement. It meant I’d finally get to meet the twins in person.

‘All right. I’ll put the rice on hold for now and go check on my garden!’

I hurried toward my vegetable patch, partly because I wanted to see the twins’ mansion, too.

“…This is…”

I checked the name written on the wooden sign in front of the garden several times.

[Miel]

“Is this really my garden?”

I muttered to myself.

It felt like only yesterday that I’d been celebrating the first sprouts, but the young seedlings had already grown into sturdy stems.

Some of the plants even had flower buds forming.

Seeing just how quickly crops actually grew in Node was almost miraculous.

‘This is the mystery of life…’

Watching the small, delicate sprouts grow bigger day by day filled my heart with wonder.

At this rate, saving up the deposit would be no problem.

‘Just you wait, 1,000 gold!’

I renewed my determination as I gazed at my flourishing vegetable patch.

 

***

 

After checking on my garden, my steps felt even lighter as I headed toward the ranch.

‘All right! Let’s do a great job at my part-time job, too!’

With my enthusiasm running high, I arrived at the ranch about ten minutes earlier than scheduled.

People were already bustling about despite the early hour.

The moment Mrs. Day spotted me, she greeted me warmly.

“You’re here, Miel?”

“Good morning!”

“You’re full of energy first thing in the morning. I like that! Come here.”

Mrs. Day introduced me to the two employees who would be working alongside me.

“This is Miel. She’s just joined us as the new butter-making employee. She’s a beginner, so make sure you help her out.”

“Yes.”

“Nice to meet you.”

I shook hands with each of them in turn.

Neither seemed particularly uncomfortable around me or hostile toward me.

‘Looks like a good sign.’