Chapter 2154: Harvest Farm's Marvelous Daily Life 25

In the wooden house's kitchen, the magic mushroom sprite stood on tiptoe on a wooden stool, the little mushroom on its head trembling with each word.

"The wood ash must be made from burned spirit oak, sifted three times, the powder fine enough to float." It pushed a jar of gray-white powder toward Lin Mian, cheeks flushed, voice as thin as a mosquito.

"You, you try……"

Lin Mian stared at the gurgling, bubbling crucible; the flame was a dim blue lit by Tala's elf magic, with no heat at all, even the rising waves carried a chill.

He was a bit nervous, scooped a spoonful of wood ash, his wrist trembling, and half the powder fell before it even touched the liquid.

"Oh no!" the magic mushroom sprite panicked, its cap trembling, "The liquid must turn amber before adding ash; adding it now will cause an explosion!"

Jin Chen leaned against the doorframe, arms crossed, and suddenly laughed: "What's there to fear? If it explodes, just brew another pot."

Lin Mian glared at him, yet saw faint smiles flickering in his green eyes.

"I'm afraid I'll mess up; this is far harder than cooking." Lin Mian said dejectedly.

Jin Chen stepped close, pinched the back of his neck to relax him, and said, "You have talent; believe me."

"Alright, I'll try again."

Lin Mian took a deep breath, mimicking the magic mushroom sprite's stance, stirring the liquid clockwise; the wooden spoon scraped the viscous slurry, and he gradually became fully absorbed.

After three hours, a pot of shimmering moon-white light condensed in the crucible.

Lin Mian wiped his sweat, turned his head, and saw Jin Chen poking the newly grown mushroom of the magic mushroom sprite with his fingertip, frightening the little sprite into huddling in the corner of the hammock, afraid to move.

"It's time for the blessing." Lin Mian held up the crucible before him.

The magic mushroom sprite and Tala agreed that for the potion to work at its best, the Divine Envoy's blessing is absolutely essential.

Jin Chen frowned and stepped back half a pace, as if avoiding something dirty.

"I don't want it."

Lin Mian looked at him, puzzled, "Why?"

"Anyway, I just don't want it."

Jin Chen shoved the crucible far away, kissed Lin Mian, then fled to his own room.

"I… I don't know why." The magic mushroom sprite shook its head and hid inside the hammock.

Lin Mian blinked blankly, then decided to ask Tala.

In the yard, Tala sat on the new swing counting ducks; after hearing Jin Chen's reaction, she pondered for a long time, then also shook her head.

A bard carrying a lyre passed by, and Lin Mian finally got the answer.

Keluoni smirked, plucking a string with each remark, as if accompanying himself.

"The Divine Envoy's blessing usually comes in only two ways."

A stirring lyre melody.

"But due to the limitations of the mortal world, only one method remains feasible: tears."

Lin Mian blinked, "You want Jin Chen to shed tears?"

"Then he'd rather not bless the orchard."

"Hmm…" Keluoni suddenly fidgeted while holding the lyre, gave Lin Mian a single wink, "Any tears from any emotion are fine—joy, pleasure, sorrow, fear—so I suppose, refreshing…"

"Alright, Keluoni, that's not allowed."

Lin Mian's ears suddenly heated, and he hurried to interrupt before the sentence finished.

Tala suggested, "Maybe the kitchen onions can be of great help."

But who would dare use onions to attack the Divine Envoy?

Tala and Keluoni both looked at Lin Mian, "The Divine Envoy's human."

Lin Mian: "……"

In the end, Lin Mian entered holding an onion, got kissed until his eyes turned red, and obtained the Divine Envoy's blessing in the form of tears.

Those three precious drops of tears tormented Lin Mian all afternoon.

——

After the potion was sprayed, the black, foul-smelling soil in the orchard recovered to a state visibly improving each day, and the trees regained their vitality.

Experts exclaimed it was unbelievable, yet could not pry the method from this mysterious farm owner's mouth.

After the orchard's land regained vitality, Harvest Farm's fame spread throughout the village once more, even drawing tourists from nearby scenic areas.

Every day curious people stood outside the farm's fence, gazing in awe at the lush crops between the ridges and the splendid fantastical scenery.

Some held up cameras to take photos; others, leaning against the fence, asked, "Can we come in to visit? We're willing to pay!"

Lin Mian was initially hesitant, since the farm isn't a tourist spot, but the visitors' enthusiasm made him start to consider it seriously.

After discussing with Jin Chen, one evening they brought a basket of freshly picked strawberries and knocked on the door of Uncle Li, the farm-stay owner.

Uncle Li was sitting in the yard shelling hairy beans; upon seeing Lin Mian and Jin Chen, he sprang up laughing, "Oh, hoping the village's great contributor has come! I heard the farm is now livelier than the scenic area?"

Lin Mian scratched his head: "Uncle Li, don't tease me… lately everyone's asking if they can come in to eat and sightsee; do you think this is reliable?"

Jin Chen handed over the strawberries: "Our young boss has no experience dealing with visitors, so we came to learn from you."

Uncle Li pinched a strawberry, popped it into his mouth, and his eyes lit up.

"Sweet! I say, not making this money would be a waste."

He leaned in, lowered his voice, and muttered to the two, "The scenic area's 'farm experience' project charges 488 per person, just lets them pick two baskets of veggies and fruit, then snap a check-in, and it's still wildly popular."

"Your farm is like a fairyland; pricing it at 888 would still have people rushing to come!"

Lin Mian quickly waved his hands: "That wouldn't be gouging customers? I just want to know if we can cooperate."

Jin Chen understood, brought out the hand-drawn farm map by the pressed-elf sprites, set it on the table, and even had a few Ling Gun Gun paw prints on it.

Lin Mian traced the outline of the peripheral area on the map and said seriously, "Uncle Li, my idea is for the farm-stay to send a few chefs to work at the farm, solely responsible for visitors' meals."

"Your farm-stay's reputation is big; we'll make it your branch location, fencing off a small garden at the farm's edge, setting up tables and chairs as a dining and check-in area."

Jin Chen added, "This spot backs the mountain spring, borders the vegetable fields, and allows fishing and barbecue."

Visitors can pick fruits and vegetables here, hand them directly to the chef to cook, and the ingredients are absolutely fresh.

Lin Mian: "As for profits, we split fifty-fifty."

Uncle Li narrowed his eyes, thought for a moment, then slapped his thigh: "Great idea! But the chef's labor cost should be deducted from the profit share, and add my family's signature stew and secret barbecue sauce to the menu."

Lin Mian smiled and nodded: "No problem."

Jin Chen rolled up the map, considered the workload, feeling a bit overwhelmed.

After bidding farewell to Uncle Li, on the way home Jin Chen took Lin Mian's hand and gave it a little shake, suggesting: "Kun Kun, I think we should hire a few more helpers."

Or we could keep Terra on as a formal employee, then recruit elf helpers from the forest.

Now Lin Mian no longer worries about magical help; the log cabin courtyard shines with light all day, truly not suited for adding human workers.

And Croni, as a bard, they all know he won't stay long.

Lin Mian thought it over, then suddenly smiled, looked up and kissed Jin Chen's lip corner: "Have you been too tired lately?"

Jin Chen had said before, it's best not to have other elves or humans disturb them.

"Yeah." Jin Chen said solemnly, "And you too, you're really tired."

When busy, at night she refuses to do bedtime exercises with him.

Lin Mian inexplicably understood his meaning, gave him an annoyed look: "Your demands are too much."

"Is that so?"

Jin Chen doesn't think so.

However, the decision to hire elf helpers was still made.