novelraw Chapter 21: You’re Not Trying to Take Advantage of Me, Are You?
Chapter 21: You’re Not Trying to Take Advantage of Me, Are You?
Farm life wasn’t everything for Leon. It was necessary to relax once in a while.
Besides, the bit of bread he’d had for lunch hadn’t filled him up. Even now, he could still taste the bitter tang of that awful herbal medicine lingering in his mouth. He desperately needed something delicious to replace that horrible aftertaste.
The path to Pelican Town was still a little muddy, but his rain boots did a great job keeping the muck at bay. Along the way, Leon stumbled upon some of spring’s natural gifts.
Daffodil (Forage): A traditional spring flower, perfect for gifts.
Leek (Forage): A tasty relative of the onion.
On his previous trip to Pelican Town, Leon hadn’t noticed these hidden treasures. But now, with his “nature radar,” these plants didn’t stand a chance at hiding.
The joy of searching for foraged goods along the way was satisfying. By the time he reached town, Leon had collected three daffodils and five leeks.
After the rain, Pelican Town had regained its lively atmosphere. Residents had gathered in the square, some even voluntarily cleaning up the trash there. From their practiced manner, it was clear they truly loved this place.
Familiar with the way, Leon stepped into the Starfruit Saloon and was greeted by the lively hum inside.
The town’s only saloon never seemed short of customers in the evening.Scanning the room, Leon didn’t spot any familiar faces, so he headed straight to the counter. Emily, who was organizing bottles behind the bar, noticed him right away and came over.
“Leon, you’re here! Want something to eat?”
“Hello, Emily. Is Gus around?” Leon greeted her and asked.
“He’s in the kitchen. What’s the matter, am I not charming enough? The first thing you do is ask about Gus?” Emily puffed her cheeks in mock annoyance.
Leon scratched his head awkwardly. That wasn’t what he meant—he’d just been asking casually. Not expecting such a reaction, he beckoned her closer.
“Alright, my mistake, madam. As an apology, how about I show you a magic trick?”
“Oh? You can do magic?” Emily’s interest sparked immediately. “Do I need to help, or give you some kind of prop?”
“No need. Just hold out your hand.” Leon shook his head, guiding her to extend her hand before placing his own on top of it. “Now close your eyes and count to three.”
“You’re not trying to take advantage of me, are you?” Emily teased, cheeks flushing as she eyed his hand resting naturally on hers.
“You could think of it that way, but it’s part of the trick.” Leon replied without a hint of embarrassment. If he didn’t have the nerve to tease a girl, how could he hope to charm her?
“Fine. But if I don’t get a surprise out of this, I might get mad.” Emily, a bit surprised at his candid answer, nonetheless closed her eyes—though not without issuing a playful warning.
Leon smiled but stayed silent. Once she’d shut her eyes, he reached into his backpack and pulled out a freshly picked daffodil.
Emily felt something appear between their joined hands. She couldn’t see it with her eyes closed, but it felt like a plant of some kind.
“Alright, open your eyes,” Leon prompted.
Emily opened them right away and saw a daffodil, freshly blooming, lying where their hands met. She picked it up in amazement, studying it.
“A daffodil! How did you do that? I didn’t feel your hand move away from mine—so how did it just appear?” she asked curiously, eyes full of wonder.
“Secret.” Leon grinned mysteriously. He couldn’t very well admit to having a backpack that existed outside this world.
“That’s a fun trick. I’ll forgive your earlier rudeness.” Emily laughed, then offered the daffodil back. “Here. Fresh daffodils this season could sell for a nice price.”
“Keep it. It’s a gift,” Leon said with a wave, pushing the flower back into her hand. “Don’t forget—it’s a miracle we created together. You’d better take good care of it.”
“Alright. Thank you.” Emily accepted it without fuss, found an empty wine bottle, washed it, and placed the daffodil inside before setting it at the back of the counter. She then returned, giving Leon a teasing look.
“You seem pretty good at making girls happy. You must’ve had plenty of girlfriends before coming to Stardew Valley.”
“No. Life in Zuzu City wasn’t this laid-back. I was so busy with work I barely had time to sleep, let alone find a girlfriend,” Leon replied with a wry smile. “Besides, the daffodil’s flower language stands for respect and mystery—it’s a way to express gratitude. Thank you for that peach juice the other day.”
Emily’s face reddened further as she protested, “But that was Gus’s treat. I only made it and brought it over.”
“That’s still thanks to your excellent juicing skills, isn’t it?” Leon raised an eyebrow in mock challenge.
“Fine, you pass. So, what’ll you have to drink?” Emily hesitated for a while, then changed the subject.
“Peach juice again. I really like it,” Leon replied.
“And to eat?” Emily’s cheeks flushed even more, but she kept to her work.
Leon glanced at the menu behind her. “The special of the day—the fish taco.”
“Alright, one fish taco and a peach juice. That’ll be thirty gold.” Emily jotted down the order in her notebook and quoted the price.
Leon winced. Thirty was steep. He’d already spent half of the two thousand gold he’d brought, and he wasn’t sure how long the rest would last.
Still, he paid without complaint. Emily headed into the kitchen to pass the order to Gus, and soon returned with a glass of fresh peach juice and a large fish taco.
The taco was bigger than Leon had expected. A thin tortilla wrapped around large chunks of fish, coated in flour and egg, fried to a golden crisp, and paired with sweet butter and vegetables. It was about the size of two palms.
He couldn’t wait any longer. Taking a big bite, he savored the crispy exterior, the tender fish, and the soft tortilla, all bursting with sweet, savory flavor. With just one bite, he knew—this thirty gold had been worth every coin.