Chapter 160: Planting

Ethan looked at him in confusion.

Zharok shrugged and said, "I have no use for poison."

"Alright." Ethan took the bead and placed it in his pocket.

"But when will I ever have a use for this thing?"

"Who knows? An opportunity might arise."

"True."

...

Early the next morning, bored out of her mind, Mirelle came running over to join the fun again.

Seeing that the paddy fields were fully flooded, Ethan signaled Zharok to close the sluice gate. "The water level is about right. Let’s get started."

He used a rope to mark out lines, then began transplanting the seedlings.

Watching his movements, Zharok asked, "Do we have to plant them one by one?"

"Yeah."

"Wow, that’s way too much trouble."

"Nothing we can do, it’s the only way." There were many seedlings in the trays, if they had to transplant all of them into the paddy fields, even working the entire day, they might not be able to finish.

Thinking of the workload for the day, everyone couldn’t help but sigh.

Just then, a booming voice suddenly rang out from the distance. "We’re here to help."

Draugor appeared before the group, leading a herd of Minotaurs, seeing them, Zharok’s eyes instantly lit up. "Wonderful, you’re just in time."

"Ethan said he needed our help, so here we are, what do you need us to do?"

"As long as you have strength, you’re good."

"Although it doesn’t require much strength, it is very strenuous." Ethan smiled and explained the method of transplanting rice seedlings to them.

The Minotaurs looked at the paddy fields, looked at the seedling trays, then looked at each other in dismay.

"Alright, everyone — let’s do our best."

They had been transplanting seedlings since morning, it wasn’t until the sun was directly overhead that they had completed half the work, because it was their first time transplanting seedlings, everyone was rather clumsy, furthermore, constantly bending over was extremely tiring.

"Why is this so exhausting?" Mirelle complained.

Zharok deeply agreed, thinking to himself that going into battle would be better than this, at least he wouldn’t have to stay bent over the whole time, however, seeing that Ethan and Liora were still working hard with their heads down, he felt too embarrassed to say he was tired.

"If you’re worn out, take a break," Ethan said.

"Aren’t you guys tired?"

"Hmm..." Ethan straightened his back and looked around, they had already finished about half the work.

He clapped his hands and announced, "Everyone — let’s take a break."

"Alright."

"I can finally straighten my back."

It seemed everyone was exhausted, they all waded out of the paddy fields and lay down on the ground to rest.

Ethan returned to the cabin to prepare lunch.

"What are you making, meow?"

"I’m going to make some porridge and a few other things to eat." Minotaurs liked to eat porridge. Zharok, Liora, Mirelle, and Pearl could eat other things.

Ethan prepared lunch and brought it to the edge of the paddy fields. "Time for lunch."

"Wow, it’s porridge." Seeing the porridge, the Minotaurs instantly cheered and swarmed over.

"We’ll have these." Ethan brought out Elven Wine, spicy roasted meat, bread with jam, and Flame Fruit pie.

"Wow, this is way too delicious, isn’t it?"

"First time trying it? It’s very tasty." Mirelle took a bite of the Flame Fruit pie, her eyes lighting up, it seemed she had found a new culinary favorite alongside the strawberry cake.

Zharok drank fruit wine while eating bread, he then picked up a piece of roasted meat, put it in his mouth, and asked, "Will we be able to finish today?"

"If we keep working hard after we eat, we should be able to, right?" Ethan looked at the expansive paddy fields and smiled.

"Working this hard, we’ll definitely be able to grow excellent rice."

The winter wheat planted last winter had finally reached harvest season, in the fields, golden waves of wheat swayed with the wind like a sea of gold.

"It’s truly beautiful."

"Yeah." Zharok had toiled in the flooded paddy fields for a long time to plant the rice, seeing this winter wheat growing so lushly with almost no effort left him deeply gratified.

He plucked a grain of wheat, popped it into his mouth, chewed it, and smiled. "Tastes pretty good."

"Wait until they’re husked before eating them."

"Fair enough, when do we start harvesting?"

Ethan had been casting Growth Acceleration and Soil Fortification on the winter wheat frequently, so it had grown exceptionally well, he looked at the plump grains and nodded. "Tomorrow."

"So suddenly, meow?"

"Can’t be helped, we’re almost out of flour." The flour milled from last year’s wheat harvest was nearly depleted.

"Do you need our help with the harvest, meow?"

"No need, we can handle it ourselves."

"Alright then, let’s head back."

After inspecting the wheat fields, Ethan and the others returned to the cabin, at the table outside, Walter and Liora were deep in a game of chess.

Over this period, Liora had been learning chess from Walter and Zharok, and her skills had improved by a lot, in the past, Walter and Zharok could only play against each other, now that they finally had another evenly matched opponent, they were both thrilled.

Seeing Ethan return, Liora raised her hand and declared, "I won."

"Oh? That’s amazing." Liora’s chess skills had improved greatly, but she still fell a bit short compared to Walter and Zharok, she rarely won, so beating Walter this time was no small feat.

Ethan smiled, walked over to her, and held out his hand, Liora placed her hand against his palm.

The two high-fived in celebration.

Walter smiled and asked, "What do you want to eat for lunch?"

"Pancakes."

"Alright." Today’s lunch was going to be a carb-heavy feast, Ethan walked into the storehouse to fetch some flour.

Just then, Pearl called out, "Ethan, Leon sent a message, meow~"

The crystal ball on the table was flashing with light. ’What does Leon need me for?’

They still had plenty of the mutton, sheep’s cheese, and other supplies Leon had delivered last time.

"Haha, long time no see, how have you been lately?"

"I’m doing well, what’s the occasion? Do you need something, or..."

"No, it’s Miss Elara who is looking for you."

"Miss Elara? What does she need me for..."

"Just get in touch with her and you’ll know." Following Leon’s instructions, Ethan cut the connection with him and contacted Elara, he channeled his mana into the crystal, and shortly after, Elara’s voice rang out.

"Hello, Mr. Ethan, how have you been?!"

Hearing Elara’s energetic voice, Ethan couldn’t help but chuckle, this elf was full of energy, before he could even speak, Elara couldn’t contain herself. "I was doing business with the dwarves recently and heard about something called a Soil Tree, do you know about it?"

’Soil Tree?’ This was the first time Ethan had ever heard of such a tree.

"The dwarves have a special kind of tree called the Soil Tree, it’s said that only certain special dwarves can cultivate it, it looks as if it’s made entirely of soil — incredibly magical."

"Perhaps that’s exactly what I’ve been looking for, did you manage to get any seeds or saplings?"

"I’m sorry, I couldn’t get any, word is, if you want to see the Soil Tree, you have to visit the dwarven territory in person, the Soil Tree grows right inside the Dwarven City, if you have time, you could go take a look."

’The Dwarven City.’ It seemed he would have to make a trip there this winter, Ethan smiled and nodded.

"By the way, I asked around about the koji you mentioned last time, but it seems nowhere sells it."

"Looks like I’ll just have to make it myself." He didn’t know if it would succeed, but there was no harm in trying.

"I understand, see you next time."

"Alright, take care." Elara cut the connection.

Ethan crossed his arms and fell deep into thought.

"What’s wrong, meow?"

"Nothing, just thinking about a few things."

"What kind of things, meow? You look very serious."

"It’s nothing, I just need to prepare a few things."

The next day.

Everyone woke up early, ready to harvest the winter wheat, holding sharp sickles in their hands and wearing straw hats, they marched toward the wheat fields in a grand procession.

"I really can’t bear to harvest it," Zharok said, gazing at the golden waves of wheat.

Pearl smiled and teased, "Then you shouldn’t eat any food made from wheat from now on, meow~"

"That won’t do."

"Alright, Zharok and I will be in charge of reaping, while Pearl, Liora, and Mr. Walter will be responsible for moving the harvested wheat to the ridges."

"Got it, meow~"

With Ethan assigning the tasks, Zharok stepped into the fields, swinging his sickle to begin reaping the wheat, Liora and Pearl gathered the cut wheat and carried it bundle by bundle to the ridges of the field.