ALL NOVEL 26: The Long Awaited Spring
Winter has ended, and it’s already March!
The snow has melted, but the early spring temperatures are still incredibly cold.
I’m currently pruning roses while my nose is running.
In cold regions, rose pruning is done before the buds sprout in March.
The water is cold, and the wind is super cold.
The thorns of the roses keep pricking my hands, and it makes me think of spring.
Hehe.
In pot cultivation, you change the soil during this period, and I remember how the water was painfully cold. It was better to do it in December when it was snowing.
Well, those are distant memories from my previous life.
In this life, I’m thrilled to be able to plant directly in the ground!
Pot cultivation limits the size, and the plants don’t grow big.
I always wanted to see the grand figure of a plant I grew myself.
Imagining the flower season in spring, I cut the rose branches.
The plant spirit, Guri, is also very active.
I had my pruning shears bought by Dad.
They’re expensive and cut well.
As I switch plants, I use cleansing magic on the shears and carefully prune each plant by identifying the buds.
To prevent the transfer of rose diseases, it’s necessary to disinfect the shears when switching plants.
Thanks to the cleansing magic, the work goes smoothly, and magic is the best!
After the pruning work, I warmed up in a hot bath.
Seeing me shivering with a runny nose, Brother Riol heated up the water for me.
He looked at me with such a bewildered expression.
The orders for the magic ward balls we started making during the farming off-season haven’t stopped.
As a result, we’ve decided to make them all year round.
Since the production of magic ward balls is harmless to humans, elderly people and mothers with children can make them in their spare time.
Even children older than toddlers can do the work, so the orphanage was happy to help.
We buy everything they make, so it becomes a cash income.
Just in case, I told everyone to cover their mouths with cloth.
Don’t forget to wash hands, gargle, and use cleansing magic after working!
“We can prepare as much dried magic ward grass as needed, but are the other insect-repellent grass and slimes okay?”
“The insect-repellent grass might run short, but slimes can multiply quickly, so it’s fine.”
Slimes can be fed garbage to make them split.
Isn’t that a great cycle of recycling?
The ingredient for the glue is a tree called Tabux; its leaves and bark are powdered and mixed.
There’s a grove nearby, so there’s no worry for now.
“Then please give me one insect-repellent grass and one Tabux seedling. I’ll grow them in my botanical garden and dry them, right?”
“We’ll prepare them immediately, so please do.”
Burton bowed deeply.
It’s great to have a stable source of income!
In late April, we got new servants.
Burton talked with the orphanage, and we decided to hire willing children over thirteen.
In this world, many children start working around thirteen because they can register with the adventurers’ guild at that age.
Until they graduate, they’ll commute from the orphanage.
We’ll provide lunch here, keep daily attendance, and pay their wages in a lump sum when they graduate.
This is to avoid creating a disparity with other kids since they have food and shelter at the orphanage.
Of course, if a child isn’t suited for the job, they can quit anytime.
Burton seemed to have put together a good employment contract.
Burton is a god!
Three people came, a mix of boys and girls.
The oldest is a fifteen-year-old girl named Millie, with soft brown hair and a serious demeanor. She will graduate next March.
Next is Billy, a fourteen-year-old boy with dark brown hair and a quiet personality, and an impressive physique.
Lastly, there is Noel, a thirteen-year-old boy. He is thin but a lively blond-haired boy.
When I met the three, they were very nervous.
Is it because I’m the lord’s child?
That might be part of it, but I’m sure they were scared of Uncle Roy’s face!
Uncle Roy is my guard today.
He’s older than my father and has a stern face. He’s like a burly macho man.
His gaze is really intense.
The silent pressure is overwhelming!
Well, ignoring Uncle Roy, I greeted them.
“Nice to meet you, I am Haku Radcliffe, the third son of this household. I manage the fields. Please take care of me!”
“Please take care of us!”
The three returned the greeting properly. They are well-educated!
Good, good.
“You three will help with the fields from the village to the mansion. The fields are ready, so today we will plant seed potatoes. Let’s work hard without getting hurt!”
Maybe my greeting was good because Uncle Roy nodded in satisfaction.
He looked like an important executive standing proudly behind me.
The spirits had already prepared the ridges, so we just had to dig holes and plant the seed potatoes.
Even beginners can do it easily.
Some villagers also came to help, and they taught the three how to plant. It’s a very homey village.
In my previous life, companies that advertised a homey atmosphere were usually fake.
Grumble, grumble.
Wait! I shouldn’t have any memories other than those related to plants, so what am I thinking about now?
That’s not good, that’s not good.
Since they probably have work at the orphanage, we start at 9:30 in the morning and finish at 4:30 in the evening.
Lunch break is exactly one hour. Since it’s physical labor, we also have a fifteen-minute break at three o’clock.
On rainy days, we take a break, and Sunday is a holiday.
The Radcliffe family is a white company.
We decided to give the villagers who came to help compost, fertilizer, and seedlings as a thank you.
I’ll put them in burlap sacks, so take them as you like.
If they want, they can plant them at the orphanage too. We loaded a set onto a wheelbarrow, and today’s work was done.
Goodbye, see you tomorrow!
Oh, don’t worry, I, who look like a toddler, make sure to have nap time.
During work, the spirits secretly watch over and sometimes help out.
If you have any trouble, ask someone for help.
Don’t hesitate!
I hope you get used to it slowly.
A week later, a fairy-tale-like shed without a door was built in a corner of the field near the village.
It always has wood ash, compost, and fertilizer, with various plant seedlings displayed daily.
There was a sign that said, “Free. Please take as you like.”
I copied the unmanned farm stand!
Hehehe.
When I asked the plant cultivation skill if it could produce a factory-like building in the botanical garden, it reluctantly did!
It took a week to make. It took a lot of magic power, though.
It’s a cute building with a pale green roof.
By the way, it’s closed on rainy days.
The unmanned free distribution center was very popular with the villagers!
Clap, clap, clap.