novelraw Chapter 11: Lewis’s Request
Chapter 11: Lewis’s Request
In Pelican Town, Leon stepped into Lewis’s home, curious to see what kind of handiwork the mayor was capable of.
On the way here, Lewis had shared quite a bit about how, back when Leon’s grandfather was still around, he had helped Stardew Valley flourish. It felt a little strange to Leon—things here didn’t seem to match what he remembered from the game’s story mode.
Still, Lewis spoke with reason and sincerity. Leon couldn’t help but believe him.
Of course, Leon suspected Lewis’s words weren’t just about reminiscing or getting closer—they were probably meant to encourage him to revive Red Star Farm. After all, the local economy relied heavily on tourism, which only kept things stable at best.
If managed well, his inherited farm might bring new vitality to Pelican Town’s economy—much like how developing cities invite major companies to set up factories to boost growth.
True, his farm probably wouldn’t create many jobs, and neither he nor Lewis had any intention of letting outsiders interfere in its operations.
And with Lewis already having promised not to collect any taxes from the farm for the next three years, Leon still wondered: why was Lewis so confident that the farm could drive the town’s economy?
As Leon mulled over the question, Lewis came back carrying a big pot of stew and two bacon sandwiches.
“Just something simple,” Lewis said, setting them down. “This was a spur-of-the-moment idea. Nothing fancy.” He gestured for Leon to dig in.
Leon nodded and enjoyed the simple but delicious lunch before voicing his doubts.“Lewis, how did Red Star Farm bring economic growth to Pelican Town back in the day?”
“That question?” Lewis thought for a moment. “Not too hard to answer. You’ve just started running the farm, so you don’t know much yet. Let me give you two points.” He began explaining.
“First, the land of Red Star Farm—it’s incredibly fertile and strangely unique. It can produce crops of exceptional quality. These crops are larger than normal, and their flavor and nutritional value are far superior. Their economic value is obvious, but their social value is just as important.”
“Countless wealthy merchants and politicians seek out such crops. If a farm can consistently produce them, it wins their favor. To secure a steady supply, they offer extensive support. The town that hosts such a farm naturally benefits as well. That’s the first point.”
Lewis paused, watching Leon as if waiting for him to absorb the news.
Leon already knew about high-quality crops from the game: after planting, various factors—like farming skill level and fertilizer—determined whether the harvest would yield normal, silver-star, gold-star, or iridium-star quality crops.
In the game, the only difference was higher selling prices and better buffs when eaten. Otherwise, they weren’t anything special. So he asked again:
“What’s the social value of high-quality crops?”
“Health and longevity,” Lewis explained. “Botanists have studied and tested this, and they concluded that long-term consumption of high-quality crops can greatly improve a person’s physical fitness and extend their lifespan.”
“I see.” That made perfect sense to Leon. When it came to health and longevity, no intelligent being could resist such benefits.
“What’s the second point?” Leon pressed on.
“The second point has to do with faith. Yoba is the Creator God, a belief universally recognized. In Yoba’s legend, He was also a farmer. Our world is said to be just one plant in His garden. So, to Yoba’s faithful, a farm that can produce high-quality crops is a place blessed by the divine. Pelican Town became a tourist city largely because of the prestige your grandfather earned when he ran Red Star Farm.”
Then Lewis leaned closer and added mysteriously, “The governor is a follower of Yoba. Every summer, he attends Pelican Town’s Luau. That’s thanks to your grandfather. When he heard you were inheriting Red Star Farm, he gave a lot of support, hoping you’d restore its former glory.”
“Sounds like farmers are held in high regard in this world,” Leon muttered.
“What was that?” Lewis asked, not having caught his words.
“Nothing. Just wondering why my grandfather never told me any of this—why he only gave me a letter on his deathbed, telling me to come here when I was tired of ordinary life.”
Lewis chuckled. “Hah, are you complaining that he didn’t leave you a fortune? I happen to know the answer. We talked about it once, and he told me he started from nothing to build this farm. He wanted his descendants to do the same. But if you ask me, he’s already left you the greatest inheritance—Red Star Farm itself.”
Lewis’s tone grew more serious. “Leon, you may not realize the farm’s potential value. But when you uncover all its secrets, you’ll see it’s a fortune beyond measure. After your grandfather passed, many tried to take over, but none succeeded. You became the second owner the moment you contacted me. Do you know what that means?”
“No,” Leon admitted honestly. His understanding of this world was still limited to what he knew from the game—how could he possibly know its deeper secrets?
“It means countless eyes are on you—some kind, some not. But I believe you’ll get through whatever trouble comes your way,” Lewis said.
“There’s much I don’t know. I’m just a mayor. If you want to understand more, you’ll have to discover it yourself. But as mayor, I promise this: I’ll support you unconditionally in running Red Star Farm. It’s the best choice for both of us. Pelican Town needs the farm. So I ask you—make Red Star Farm shine once more.”