Chapter 65 Passion And Calmness
Now that the troublesome part of human relationships seemed to have been settled, Sara thought it was time to look ahead and consider the future.
"Mr. Jade, you may busy dealing with the aftermath of the rye and weeds, but we need to discuss what's to come, don't you think?"
"Yes, that's right, Lady Sara. We shouldn't plant crops with rye next year, or maybe even the year after that."
"It depends on the situation, but that's a possibility."
Sara hesitated for a moment, wondering if they should go back to planting rye in a few years.
"Mr. Pollux, how much does rye cost compared to common wheat?"
"Well, at best it's 80%, and at worst it's around 60%."
"That's a huge difference in price."
"Yes, and when you make bread with it, it has a dense texture and a slightly sour taste, which isn't popular."
"That's a shame. Rye is good for your health, after all."
That's the truth. Rye is rich in dietary fiber, vitamin B, potassium, and other nutrients, making it more nutritious than other types of wheat. It's also lower in sugar, making it suitable for diets.
Jade, who was standing beside her, looked puzzled.
"Is rye really good for health?"
"Yes, it has more beneficial ingredients than wheat bread. It's good for older people who are worried about strokes, and for women who are concerned about their weight. Plus, rye bread is dense and has a nice texture, and it's easy to digest."
"That's true, isn't it..."
"Ah, and it's also less likely to cause beriberi."
""What's that?""
Sara had tried to explain it in a way that Jade could understand, but Alexander and Amelia the Pharmacist Girl reacted quickly to her statement.
"Wait a minute, Miss Sara. Did you just say beriberi?"
"Yes."
"So, you're saying you know the cause of beriberi?"
'Oh no, I've said too much! I didn't realize that the cause of beriberi hasn't been discovered in this world yet!'
What's been said can't be taken back. It's clear that the 2 pharmacists are aware of this.
"That's right. If the disease you 2 call 'beriberi' is the same as the one I know, it can be cured by improving your diet."
Alexander pressed on.
"Beriberi is a disease that starts with physical fatigue, and eventually, your limbs become numb and you can't even stand up. It can also cause palpitations and shortness of breath, and in severe cases, it can even stop your heart."
"That's right. The beriberi I know also shows those symptoms. The cause is a lack of certain nutrients in your diet."
"Is that nutrient found in rye?"
"Yes, it's found in rye, as well as in soybeans. Even whole wheat bread can be effective. And then there's a specific type of meat."
"Meat?"
'Pork, maybe? I mean, there's no pork in this world, right? But wild boar is basically a pig, so maybe it's close?'
"Yes, it's likely found in wild boar meat as well. I apologize for not being certain."
Then, Amelia the Pharmacist Girl looked up as if she had an idea.
"That's right, many patients are elderly and don't like meat very much. They prefer soft bread and vegetables."
"Hmm, if they eat bread made with refined white flour and a bit of vegetables, it's no wonder they get beriberi."
Jade, who had been listening to this conversation, let out a deep sigh and hung her head.
"If we had known that earlier, this village might have been more prosperous..."
Indeed, it was too late to talk about the benefits of rye now. Sara regretted saying something unnecessary that had discouraged Jade.
"I apologize for my thoughtless remark."
"Oh, it's not like I'm discouraged or anything. I mean, I am discouraged, but I'm also a bit more optimistic. If we can grow useful crops, we won't have to rely on imports, right?"
"That's right."
Jade smiled with a look of pure joy, as if she couldn't help it.
"Finally, Lady Sara, your words from earlier, 'Why don't we plant something that a magician or pharmacist would need?' have sunk in. Until now, I've only been thinking about what kind of plants I can grow here. I might have forgotten that we need to create something that people need. Please, tell us about the useful plants that can be grown in this land."
Theofrastos and Alexander looked at each other and nodded.
"Please, let's lift your heads up. I also want to grow useful plants. Let's create something that will help people together."
Then, Marquis, Robert, and Pollux joined in, exchanging words of encouragement, "Let's work together to help Grandchester and the country!"
As the guys got excited and started talking about the future, the maidens remained surprisingly calm.
'Let's not get too carried away, let's focus on the practical discussion.'
It was as if they were looking at the guys with cold eyes. Sara and the other girls started a whispered meeting, slightly away from the guys.
"How's the list of plants in the Secret Garden coming along, Ms. Amelia?"
"It's almost done, Lady Sara. I got help from Ms. Alicia (Alchemist Girl) and Ms. Teresa (Blacksmith Girl), and even our fairy friends pitched in."
Amelia the Pharmacist Girl handed the list of plants to Sara.
"There are a lot of plants I don't know. Are there any medicinal herbs that can thrive in this climate?"
"Actually, there are many types of plants beyond just medicinal herbs. They're growing wildly, ignoring the climate and soil conditions. It's chaotic. I think we need to organize them, but each plant has its own guardian fairy, so we need to discuss it with them."
Sara thought, "This is quite a hassle," as she gazed at the numerous fairies in the flower garden, but she didn't say it out loud. Amelia the Pharmacist Girl probably felt the same way.
"Herbs are often seen as weeds by farmers, aren't they? And with a field as well-maintained as this, wouldn't it be better to focus on regular crops? It feels like a waste. In fact, when I helped out on a farm, I'd pick up herbs that were considered weeds and bring them back."
"I understand. Herbs do give off the image of growing wild, don't they? Like, they're not something you'd cultivate. I'd also gather materials for alchemy from the mountains and riverbanks."
"Some farmers might think, 'Why bother with weeds?'."
As Sara scanned the list of plants in the Secret Garden, she stumbled upon an unexpected one.
"Aardappel?"
'Is this a potato? The way they named it is so... reincarnation-like.'
"Ah, that's an ornamental plant."
"Eh, you can't eat it?"
"When the potato grows, it produces something like a fruit on its roots, but it's toxic and can't be eaten."
Alicia the Alchemist Girl explained, and Amelia the Pharmacist Girl nodded in agreement.
"The toxic part is only the sprouts that grow from the tubers, so if you remove them, it's fine. It's actually delicious and nutritious too."
"Is that so?"
"Yes."
'So, if we focus on potatoes and beans as the main crops and rotate with other plants from different families, we can avoid continuous cropping damage. But I don't know much about farming...'
"Hey, is that a Mulberry?"
'Wait, isn't this the fruit of the mulberry tree?'
"It produces sweet and sour fruit, but many people avoid it because of its reddish-black color."
"But wouldn't silk farmers definitely plant it?"
"Silk? That's an imported product from a neighboring country. It's not produced in this country."
"Really!?"
'Wow, is silk even more of a luxury item in this world than in my past life?'
"Does Miss Rebecca know how to make silk?"
"I know it as knowledge. The cocoon of the silkworm is the raw material, after all. However, I don't know the detailed manufacturing method that comes after that. Silk is a technology that the Kingdom of Sericia has a monopoly on. Even the farmers and weavers involved are all managed by the country. It seems they're prohibiting the export of the silkworms that produce the threads, too."
'Haha, I see.'
"If they're prohibiting the export of silkworms, then it's no wonder Sericia has a monopoly on the market. And when it comes to sericulture techniques, it's not like we can talk about it without the craftsmen. I thought that if we could raise silkworms, it would be easy since mulberry trees can grow even on poor soil, but I guess we should give up on that for now."
'But I'll definitely make it happen someday! I'll find a way to raise silkworms no matter what!'
After that, Sara worried about various things, but she eventually came to the conclusion that she should focus on crop rotation and wait until the wheat harvest.
It's likely that if she relied on the fairies, most plants would grow even if they ignored the environment. However, Sara thought that she shouldn't use methods that the farmers couldn't protect on their own. Even when harvesting rye, Sara might be able to do it faster with magic. But the experience and memories of overcoming difficulties on their own would be absolutely necessary for the future.
'Now, how should I tell the men who are excited about making medicinal herbs that will help people?'
Sara felt a little down.
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