Stardew Valley of Gensokyo

Like a gentle breeze, hats flew into the sky, and the ground was covered with fluffy, light blue cotton candy...

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Several days have passed since I returned from the Scarlet Devil Mansion.

Even without Aya Shameimaru's help, Akina Sawa still managed to quickly build the greenhouse.

Plant the obtained mushroom fragments in the very center of the greenhouse. When the mushrooms actually emitted light, Akina Ze felt that the world had suddenly become magical.

What exactly makes this thing glow?

Akina Ze couldn't figure it out either, but he didn't want to think about it too much; as long as it could glow, that was enough.

With the land prepared, the next step is to cultivate it.

After spending most of the day hoing the frozen ground, Akina Ze's underwear was soaked with sweat.

There are a few reasons why we don't farm in winter.

The first reason is that the ground in winter is frozen solid, like a block of ice. It's not easy for an ordinary person to move it without some strength; it's a real drain on physical energy, which is incomparable to spring and summer.

Akina Sawa was able to clear the land only because the ground had been heated beforehand and a tiny bit of system bonus had been applied.

But if you were to ask him which factor is the most important?

He will answer you with only muscles.

Thus, Akina Sawa broke the tradition of not planting in Gensokyo during winter, realizing his vision of planting year-round.

Congratulations, congratulations.

Chapter Eleven: Discounts are impossible.

One carrot after another was pulled from the ground and put into a net bag by Akina Ze.

The freshly pulled carrots, with their vibrant green leaves and smooth, orange-yellow surface, showed no signs of having been grown in winter.

Thanks to the suitable temperature in the greenhouse, some spring, summer and autumn crops can also be grown here in Akina Sawa.

This time, Akina Sawa chose to grow carrots in the greenhouse, which can only be sown in the spring.

The reason for choosing it is because of its fast growth cycle; with the system's enhancement, it can mature completely in about three days.

The greenhouse is not very large, and the area available for planting is also limited.

Soon, Akina Sawa pulled out all the fully grown carrots, enough to fill a large net bag.

A bountiful harvest of carrots piled together is indeed a pleasing sight.

Although these carrots all grew in the same land, there are still differences between them.

As a seasoned farmer, with the help of the system, Akina Ze also divided the full basket of carrots into three categories: ordinary, good, and excellent.

"Save the good and excellent ones, and sell the ordinary ones?"

Looking at the carrots in front of him, divided into three parts of varying quantities, Akina Ze was also somewhat conflicted.

From a subjective point of view, Akina Sawa actually wanted to store all the carrots of all grades and not sell any of them. If he could fill a small warehouse, that would be the best. Just looking at them would be a pleasure.

However, his daily expenses were too high; the electricity bill he paid to the kappa alone was an astronomical figure, leaving him no choice but to sell.

After much deliberation, Akina Sawa finally decided to sell only the regular carrots at the market, while using the better-grade carrots for daily consumption.

Whether you're steaming carrots or using them as an ingredient in stir-fries, pickling is a great way to prepare them.

As for the premium-grade carrots, Akina Sawa plans to store them away as a last resort. He'll decide what to do with them when he's full.

Considering that there might not be anyone to buy the crops if they are put in the collection box in winter, Akina Sawa also plans to set up a stall in the community.

After sorting the regular-grade carrots and packing them into his basket, Akina Ze walked a few miles and arrived at his familiar spot.

This place has good lighting and is relatively quiet, so you can sit here and have a nice, undisturbed nap.

This perfectly aligns with Akina Sawaya's self-positioning.

However, it is said that the market is owned by the Hieda family. In fact, one could apply to the manager for a spot with a large flow of people, but Akina Sawa doesn't really know much about these things. Anyway, it's fine to keep the unsold items for himself.

He leisurely arranged the carrots one by one on the stall and covered them with a newspaper he had taken from under the door that morning. Then, Akina Ze sat still in the chair and did not call out to anyone. He let things take their course.

People came and went on the main road, and Akina Ze sat quietly in the corner, but even in this corner, customers still came to his door.

A soft but clear bell sound gradually approached.

Akina Sawa looked up and saw a girl wearing a red and white checkered kimono carefully selecting items at the stall.

Kosuzu Motoi, the waitress at Suzunaan.

Unexpectedly, she also came to buy groceries. Akina Ze felt that he had discovered another side of Xiaoling. He had always thought that Motoori Xiaoling was the kind of literary girl who never lifted a finger.

"Boss, how much is this?" Motoori Kosuke asked, picking up a radish.

Xiaoling's voice interrupted Akina Zeya's thoughts. He glanced at it and replied, "Four copper coins."

"Four copper coins, let me think." Motoori Kosuzu counted on her fingers. "One in the morning, one at noon, and one in the evening, um... but four copper coins a bit expensive."

Motoori Kosuzu was a little reluctant. Renting out a book at Suzunaan for a day only cost a few copper coins, and there were actually very few people reading books there, so it was barely enough to cover daily expenses.

After hesitating for a while, Motoori Kosuzu finally made up her mind and said, "Boss, I want two carrots."

"Alright, thank you for the eight copper coins."

Akina Ze accepted the eight copper coins Xiaoling handed him and put three carrots into the vegetable basket she brought.

"That's not right, boss. I only ordered two, why did you give me three?" Motoori Kosuzu looked at the boss wearing a straw hat with a puzzled expression.

"Ahem," Akina Ze pulled his straw hat down a little to cover his face and said, "You're the first customer today, so I'll give you one for free."

In fact, Akina Sawa had already figured out that Motoori Kosuzu actually wanted three carrots, because she kept counting on her fingers until she reached three and then stopped. It would be strange if she hadn't noticed.

In addition, when he went to Suzunaan to read books for free before, Suzuna didn't say anything to him. Instead, she often brought him tea and asked if he was thirsty. Akina Sawa felt that he should repay Suzuna appropriately.

"Wait? What's that voice?" Motoori Kosuzu leaned down in confusion, trying to get a better look at her boss's face.

"Ah! It's Mr. Akina."

She quickly recognized the boss in front of her as Akina Zeya, who often came to his shop to freeload.

Reality isn't a TV drama; the scenario where you can't recognize someone just because they're wearing a hat is impossible.

Furthermore, because there are very few people who read books, even though Kamo no Shirazawa Keine has been tirelessly cultivating readers for many years, it is still a drop in the ocean.

Therefore, Motoori Kosuzu still has a deep impression of Akina Zeya, who often comes to read books for free.

"Uh, it's me." Seeing that he couldn't hide it any longer, Akina Ze simply raised his head and said, "But this radish is a gift from me. Consider it payment for the books I read."

“That one carrot isn’t enough!” Motoori Kosuzu said with a smile.

"Haha, that's true." Akina Sawa scratched his head awkwardly.

Motoori Kosuzu continued, "Next time you come to Suzunaan, don't hide in the corner. There are plenty of chairs in front of the counter!"

"Huh?" Akina Ze was also somewhat surprised.

“People who enjoy reading deserve recognition,” Motoori Kosuzu said earnestly. “Next time, sit next to me so I can walk less to serve tea.”

Looking at the earnest Motoori Kosuzu in front of him, and remembering that he had actually been reading books on how to improve his posture, Akina Sawa was speechless.

"Oh? Aren't these Xiaoling and Mr. Akina?"

In the distance, Kamishirasawa Keine, wearing a blue scholar's hat, walked over carrying a vegetable basket; it seemed she was also there to buy groceries.

Good morning, Teacher Huiyin.

"Good morning"

Motoori Kosuzu greeted Shirasawa Keine, and Akina Sawa followed suit.

Kamishirasawa Keine nodded in response to their greetings.

"Is Ms. Huiyin here to buy groceries?" Motoori Kosuke asked after making way for her.

"Yes, the ingredients in the temple school are running low, so I came out to buy some ingredients to cook lunch for the students."

Teacher Huiyin even cooks for her students? Qiumingze was also a little puzzled.

So he asked, "The students in the village should all live close to home, so why do they have to eat lunch at the temple schoolhouse?"

Before Kamishirasawa Keine could respond, Motoori Kosuzu spoke first:

"Isn't there a lot of little fairies in Master Huiyin's temple? I must have made food for them, right?"

"Yes," Kamishirasawa Keine nodded in reply.

"Oh, I see." Akina Ze said, somewhat understanding.

That's true. Human children all have lunch prepared by their parents, so it's only the fairies who don't.

Would a mischievous fairy like this quietly eat the lunch prepared by Teacher Keine in a terakoya?

Thinking about it, Akina Ze realized that Teacher Keine really had a tough time.

"Come on, Teacher Huiyin, I'll give you a 50% discount on the carrots. Pick whichever you like." Qiu Mingze also lifted the newspaper covering the carrots.

Kamishirasawa Keine shook her head and refused, saying, "That won't be necessary. This is my own business, and you don't need to do it."

"Please accept it, Ms. Keine. It's Mr. Akina's way of showing his appreciation," Motoori Kozue advised from the side.

"No need, I'll leave if you keep saying that." Kamishirasawa Keine didn't want to accept people's kindness casually, even if it was positive.

"Alright, then I won't offer a discount. Two copper coins and a carrot, Teacher Huiyin, you can choose whichever you like."

Akina Sawa said the same thing, and Motoori Kosuzu winked at him.

"Sigh." Kamishirasawa Keine sighed and said, "Alright."

Just as Shirasawa Keine was picking out carrots, Akina Sawa suddenly thought of the blue-haired little girl.

It's been a long time since I've seen Cirno, hasn't it? She's probably eating Keine's cooking at the Terakoya, right?

A few thoughts casually flashed through Akina Zeya's mind.

Chapter Twelve Fairies

The morning passed, and the carrots on the stall were all sold out.

Akina Ze also weighed the wallet in his hand; it was heavy, which made him feel happy.

Farming is important, but selling the crops you grow is also very important.

The gifts of the earth, even rounded up, are a kind of freebie, and part of the enjoyment.

With his basket on his back, Akina Ze followed the path he had come from, intending to go home and cook. Nikua was waiting to be fed, even though fairies wouldn't starve if they didn't eat for a meal.

The roads in the village were paved with bluestone slabs, but over the years, the raindrops dripping from the eaves have worn even the hard bluestone slabs into pits and bumps.

These are the marks of time.

Whenever Akina Sawa walked the streets of the city, every street scene, every stone slab, and every broken fence made him feel that the past was vividly present here, and every trace had a story to tell.

As I strolled past the corner, a sweet scent wafted through the fresh air, a scent that Akina Ze recognized.

This is the taste of steamed carrots from my own garden.

I wonder which family is already using carrots they bought from Akina Sawaya in their cooking.

Akina Sawa followed the direction from which the smell wafted, and at the end of his gaze, there stood a quaint temple house.

"Has Teacher Huiyin already started cooking at this hour?" Akina Ze couldn't help but wonder.

Looking at the upturned roof of the terakoya, Akina Sawa hesitated. Cirno should be inside now. Should he go and see her on the way?

He hadn't seen Cirno since winter began.

People have a common flaw: they resent those who are close to them and miss those who are far away. Akina Sawa is no exception.

You used to complain that Cirno was too naughty, but suddenly she's not around anymore, so it's a bit disheartening.

Akina Ze also admitted that he did miss Cirno a little, after all, it's impossible to dislike an energetic person.

"Never mind, let's just go and take a look on the way."

Having made up his mind, Akina Sawa also turned a corner and headed towards the Terakoya.

It's not like looking at a mountain makes a horse run itself to death; soon, Akina Sawa arrived at the front of the temple house.