novelraw Chapter 33: Penny
Chapter 33: Penny
It was clear that Willy was immune to Leon’s personal jabs. After all, it was true he was an old bachelor, so the teasing didn’t really sting. In fact, Willy liked Leon and saw him as a friend. Coming from a friend, such words felt more like exasperated banter than any real insult.
Faced with Willy’s smile, Leon couldn’t bring himself to keep making jokes at his expense. As the saying goes, you can’t hit someone who’s smiling at you.
He began to wonder if he’d overlooked something. He wasn’t inexperienced in romance and knew that a girl’s emotions often showed through small details. Thinking back to Emily’s behavior earlier, Leon realized she did seem to have some interest in him. It wasn’t strong, but if he pressed forward now, he might achieve good results.
And that was exactly what Leon didn’t want. The memory of his conversation with Emily when he gave her a daffodil came back to him.
Because of some old social habits and a streak of mischief, his words and gestures then had been the same techniques he used to flirt in the past. These methods could even charm modern, well-traveled city girls, let alone someone like Emily, a small-town girl—it was practically an unfair advantage.
But honestly, he had only been teasing out of habit. In Stardew Valley, farmers giving gifts was second nature. And it wasn’t even an expensive gift—just a common daffodil.
Still, he had to admit it might have sent the wrong signal.
Now he wasn’t sure how to handle the situation. But when he saw Willy already digging into his Dish o’ The Sea, Leon decided to just let things unfold naturally. There were bigger things in life—like eating.
The Dish o’ The Sea was made mainly with sardines and hash browns, a high-calorie feast. The hash browns were cut into chunks, crispy and fragrant, with the natural sweetness of potatoes that reminded him of potato chips.
The sardines were cleaned, coated in breadcrumbs, and fried to perfection. The blend of pepper, salt, and the fish’s natural aroma was intensified by the heat of the oil, and with chili sauce on top, every bite was a burst of flavor.It was hearty, high in both calories and protein, and very filling. Gus’s cooking was as reliable as ever, and Leon ate to his heart’s content.
When it came time to pay, his mood soured a little. At 40 gold each, the Dish o’ The Sea was even pricier than the fish taco. Still, thanks to an unexpected bit of income earlier, he didn’t feel too bad.
What did annoy him was finding out that Willy had paid for his beer separately—and in advance.
Leon gave Willy a look as they left. “Didn’t we agree I was treating you?”
“Yes, you’re treating me to food, and I paid for my beer. Makes perfect sense,” Willy replied without a hint of guilt.
“Right… here’s your key. Thanks.”
Leon handed back the keys to Willy’s garage and motorcycle, intending to head straight home. But Willy stopped him.
“How about I give you a ride?”
Leon shook his head. “No need. I’ll walk back to work off the food.”
Seeing Leon decline, Willy didn’t insist. He climbed onto his motorcycle and rode off. Leon watched him go before turning toward his farm.
But he had barely stepped outside when he caught the faint sound of a sigh. Curious, he turned toward the source.
There, he saw a brown-haired girl in a hand-knit sweater crouched on the ground, struggling to help a short, plump woman to her feet. The girl’s slender arms tugged at the woman’s clothes, but the difference in size was just too great. The plump woman didn’t budge, though her clothes were now rumpled from the effort.
“Need a hand?”
After watching for a moment without seeing any progress, Leon walked over to ask.
“Ah—no, no, thank you.” The girl startled at his voice, then glanced at him, speaking shyly and with a slight stammer, as if nervous.
“But it looks like you’re having trouble. And even though it’s spring, nights here can get pretty cold. If she keeps lying on the ground, she might catch a chill,” Leon said gently, realizing he was dealing with someone shy and reserved.
“I… I know, but…” The girl’s expression turned hesitant, her words faltering until she trailed off completely.
Not wanting to see her struggle, Leon stepped forward and easily hauled the woman to her feet, bracing her shoulders. A strong smell of alcohol hit him immediately.
So it wasn’t an accident—she was simply drunk.
“You’re really strong!” the girl said in surprise. She knew how heavy her mother was, and Leon had lifted her as if it were nothing.
“I don’t think you can get her home on your own. Is she your family?” Leon asked, keeping the woman steady.
“She’s my mother.” The girl lowered her head after speaking.
“Where do you live? I’ll help you take her back,” Leon offered.
She hesitated at first, wanting to refuse, but the truth was she couldn’t move her mother alone. In the end, she nodded. “Thank you… stranger.”
“Stranger, huh? Haha. I’m Leon, the new farmer in town. I live at the old farm now. Don’t worry, I’m a decent guy. If you’re still unsure, you can ask Gus or Emily at the saloon—they know me.”
“Oh, you’re the new farmer! I’ve heard you’d come to Pelican Town, but I never had a chance to say hello. My name is Penny, and I’m the town’s teacher.” She spoke politely, following social manners now that she knew who he was.
Leon nodded. “Well then, Teacher Penny, lead the way. I’ll help you get your mother home.”
“Thank you. That’s very kind of you.” Penny no longer resisted his help—whether because she now knew his identity or simply because he was a fellow resident of Pelican Town, she seemed more at ease. After thanking him, she started walking ahead.