You were made to farm, and now you're the emperor of an empire?

Chapter 83 Second Exploration

The morning of the 148th day.

Roman woke up early.

Because of the height of summer and the basin, the entire Origin Manor was shrouded in sweltering heat, like a giant steamer.

Roman also started sweating profusely.

Even if you do nothing, your body will naturally sweat, and the sticky sweat clings to your clothes, creating an unbearable feeling.

One can only imagine how unpleasant it must be to work in such weather.

At the hottest time of day, it can be so hot that it can make you feel dizzy.

The farmer relied entirely on his enthusiasm for summer plowing and Roman's tough attitude to endure the sun and sow soybeans and hay.

Soybeans were planted first, followed by pasture grass.

The latter is not difficult to grow, but to increase the yield, it cannot be done hastily.

Roman is preparing to build a breeding farm.

The number of livestock will only increase in the future. This industry cannot be sustained without large-scale ranches.

The yield of pasture grass from one acre is estimated to be enough to feed half a cow or two sheep.

Roman doesn't ask for much; he just wants this batch of hay to last through the winter.

To this end, he designated more than 2,000 mu of land on both sides of the riverbank specifically for planting alfalfa and ryegrass.

Compared to proper farming, grassland is much easier to plant and manage.

But you certainly won't reap any rewards by simply sowing seeds.

Sow the seeds, cover them with soil, apply a little peat fertilizer, and wait for a summer downpour, and they will grow like crazy. Finally, you can wait for the harvest in autumn.

The farmers never complained about the hardship or fatigue. They had done the same thing every year, working under the scorching summer sun to weed and turn the soil, their faces to the yellow earth and their backs to the sky, their bodies tanned dark by the sun.

Otherwise, there would be no way to support the whole family when production is low.

The same goes for carpenters and blacksmiths; they have to make all kinds of furniture and tools, their hands can't stop—they are paid, they get paid for whatever they do, providing Roman with comprehensive services.

The already unbearable heat seemed to have reached new heights.

This became unbearable for Roman, forcing him to reduce the intensity of his work.

From 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., everyone was ordered to stop working.

Summer days are long and nights are short. We start work at 6 a.m. and stop at 7 p.m. to try to make up for some lost rest time.

Roman specially asked the kitchen to prepare some herbal tea.

He has a herbal tea recipe. The preparation method is very simple. It is mainly made from cooling herbs such as mint, honeysuckle, sage, and thyme. Maltose and salt water are added separately, making it a sweet and salty drink.

These herbal teas can reduce the probability of heatstroke in those who are physically exhausted.

On this morning, when everything was arranged, Roman went to the stables alone.

He led out the white steed, placed the large bow on its back, and then put on a straw hat. He tightened his wrists and leggings, looking exceptionally capable, like a Western cowboy.

He wanted to set off early, before the sun rose.

“Lord Roman, where are you going?” Gweil asked.

"I have things to do."

"I'll go with you."

Gweil stepped forward and said that Roman's attire reminded her of a few months ago when they had set off in the same way, venturing deep into the wilderness. She remembered it vividly, especially the way Roman and his brother Green had bickered over the roasted meat.

Roman casually replied, "No need, it's too hot."

When he saw Gweil approaching, he touched her forehead with his fingers and found that it was covered in fine beads of sweat, purely from the heat. The sun hadn't even risen yet and she was already like this. He really didn't know what kind of hellish life people in Sig Town had been living in before.

He was about to embark on an exceptionally arduous trip. Last time, he took her on a trip, which could be described as a leisurely outing, but this time there was no need to bring Gweil along.

The summer temperatures in Sig Town were far more intense than he had anticipated, exceeding those of the Grand Duchy, and even the warriors' physiques were struggling to withstand them.

He asked, "Has Sanna been taking you swimming in the river lately?"

“Ah…” Gweil felt a little guilty.

Roman heard about this from the maid, and he understood the behavior quite well.

The weather is unbearably hot right now, and if he had the time, he would like to go into the river to cool off from the heat of the sun.

But Gweil wouldn't dare do that; it was probably Sanna who dragged her there.

Not many people in Sigge Town can swim. Jimmy's father drowned in the river, and even farm women have to find shallow water that's no more than knee-deep to wash clothes.

With a stable and comfortable life, the girl's childlike nature was gradually released, and there's nothing wrong with her being a bit lively.

He wasn't worried about Gweil; even if the girl really drowned, she wouldn't die—even wild beasts in the deep mountains hadn't carried her away.

What he was worried about was Sanna—Kao's sister, who spent all her time with Gweil and might one day be strangled by misfortune—he had warned Kao about this before.

But the two girls remained inseparable.

Roman said, "You guys be careful, don't go into deep water, and think more about your friends."

Gweil nodded obediently; she would pay attention to this issue.

She watched Roman lead his horse away, the sun gradually rising and shining on his back, making it glow. The thin fabric of his clothes could not hide his strong physique, which looked beautiful and powerful.

She didn't know where the courage came from, but she quickly rushed forward, wrapping her arms around his smooth waist. The skin she touched was firm and elastic. It was soft like a stone, yet so firm that it made her a little shy, and the feel of it was wonderful.

Roman turned around and looked at Gweil in surprise. The latter had already let go of his arm. She hid her hands behind her back shyly, and said with a smile, "Master Roman, come back soon."

Roman patted her head.

"I'll be back in a few days."

He left Origin Manor and headed towards that vast, undeveloped land.

Roman walked along the salt road. The road was flat, and horseshoes clattered on the hard cement. Occasionally, one could see many thatch grasses peeking out from the cement or solidified in the lime like fossils.

But Roman's target wasn't the salt mine.

He ventured into the dense forest midway through his journey, gradually moving further and further away, and soon he had completely entered this wild and untamed region.

As I traveled, the large map of "Life Story" in my mind kept dispelling the fog along the way, and all the hidden resource areas came to light.

Logging areas, quarrying areas, hunting areas...

Swamps, lakes, streams...

They advanced several dozen miles.

Roman was soaked in sweat.

The heat here is unbearable. It's alright on the plains, but once you enter the forest, it's terrifying. The trees grow wildly, there are many shrubs, and the canopy is so dense that it's impossible to breathe. The only thing that gets hot is the heat coming from above, creating an unusually stuffy and humid environment.

To make matters worse, mosquitoes kept swarming around my ears, and no matter how much I waved my hand, I couldn't get rid of these damned bugs.

After improving his hunting skills, he gained basic wilderness survival experience. Before setting off, he tightly bound his thighs and ankles, leaving no skin exposed, and his face was covered by a thin veil hanging from his straw hat.

Even so, throughout the entire journey, Roman was filled with feelings of pain, frustration, and irritability.

I feel unwell all over, extremely unwell.

Roman felt that he shouldn't have ventured into this desolate place in the summer; spring or autumn would have been more suitable. He thought he could overcome the difficulties, but after only half a day, he realized he had underestimated the power of the wilderness.

This foolish decision should be stopped immediately, and we should turn back to the manor.

Pointless persistence will only make you look more foolish!

(End of this chapter)