novelraw Chapter 50: The Bicycle Purchase Plan
Chapter 50: The Bicycle Purchase Plan
Although the spring sunlight wasn’t scorching, standing under it for a long time—plus having to walk everywhere—was enough to make sweat bead on Leon’s forehead.
I really need to find myself some transportation, he thought. Otherwise, every trip is a huge waste of time.
After walking for half an hour to Pelican Town, Leon couldn’t help but complain, abandoning the idea of heading straight to the beach to find Willy.
When it came to transportation, besides a car, the first thing Leon thought of was a bicycle.
Even in the 1990s, where Leon was from, bicycles were still the go-to mode of transport in the countryside. Where a car couldn’t go, a bicycle could. If a hill was too steep for a car, you could just carry a bicycle up.
Add to that their low price, versatility, and the ability to shoulder them through tricky terrain when needed—bicycles were all about cost-effectiveness and practicality.
So, with his fishing rod slung over his shoulder, Leon changed his destination to Joja Mart. He wasn’t sure if any local shops in Pelican Town sold bicycles, but as an outside capitalist enterprise, Joja Mart was bound to have some.
Sure enough, after a twenty-minute walk, Leon spotted the bicycle section in the store. Unfortunately, all the models were tiny, equipped with training wheels, and clearly meant for children.
“No adult-sized bicycles?”
He approached Morris, the manager of Joja Mart’s Pelican Town branch, who was overseeing the staff nearby.“We do,” Morris replied with a smile, “but there’s no stock in the local warehouse. If you tell me the style and price range you want, I can submit a request to headquarters.”
“That’ll take a while, won’t it?” Leon muttered.
“As expected of a former supply chain coordinator—you’re right. From request to delivery, it takes at least a week.” Morris took the chance to compliment Leon’s understanding of Joja Mart’s operations.
“You’ve done your homework,” Leon said with a faint smirk. “Knowing I used to work for Joja, you even looked up my employment records.”
Leon wasn’t surprised. His personnel file would still be in Joja Mart’s system even if he’d left.
“You’re a potential customer, and you could become a premium member—or even a local supplier—so of course I keep an eye on you,” Morris replied modestly.
“That reminds me,” Morris continued, “if you sign up as a premium member of Joja Mart’s Pelican Town branch right now, I can pull an adult bicycle from another store. You might have it by tomorrow.”
“Goodbye.”
Leon didn’t hesitate. He turned and left before Morris could even launch into his prepared sales pitch.
Outside the store, Leon didn’t bother hiding his feelings—he flipped Joja Mart’s front door the finger.
It wasn’t just the five-hundred-coin membership fee. If he joined Joja’s premium program, Morris could use it as leverage to convince Lewis to sell the old Community Center to Joja. That alone made it a hard pass.
After all, weren’t the Junimos far more likable than Morris? They even gave gifts in return. Compared to them, Joja Mart was nothing more than a capitalist leech deserving to be strung up on a lamppost—only working for money and giving nothing back.
“Leon, heading out to fish?”
Leon turned toward the familiar voice. Lewis was walking over, smiling warmly.
“Good morning, Lewis. Perfect timing—I’ve got a question for you.” Leon grinned. If anyone knew Pelican Town well, it was Lewis, so he was the ideal person to ask.
“Do you know anywhere in town that sells bicycles? Besides Joja Mart.”
“Bicycles? Oh, for getting around, right?” Lewis paused to think. “Aside from Joja Mart, no. But if you don’t mind secondhand, I know where you can get one.”
“Where?” Leon didn’t care if it was used—as long as it could ride.
“Do you know George? An elderly resident here. He has an old bicycle that’s still in excellent condition. It might not be your style, but it’s perfect for Stardew Valley’s terrain.”
Lewis then added a reminder. “He lost the use of his legs in a mining accident years ago, and his temper isn’t great. You might want to wait for me to finish my errands and go with you.”
“I’ll go on my own later. I get along fine with Granny Evelyn.” Leon nodded. “By the way, Lewis—are you here to inspect Joja Mart’s operations, or are you delivering that fine I suggested yesterday?”
“Both. But you don’t have to worry. I reviewed the records and laws yesterday and confirmed that Morris’s Joja team was engaged in illegal mining. I’ve already spoken to the governor, and he fully supports fining them. Stardew Valley is one of the country’s top tourist destinations, and the higher-ups care a lot about preserving its natural environment.”
Lewis couldn’t hide his satisfaction. The fine was practically guaranteed, and the funds would go straight into Pelican Town’s development budget—a welcome boost for the town’s strapped finances.
“One more thing—yesterday I shipped out a batch of green onions and some wild plants. When will I get paid?” Leon asked.
“In two days. I’ll mail the payment to you in an envelope,” Lewis replied after a short pause, reassuring him.
Leon smiled, waved goodbye, and walked off ahead.
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