novelraw Chapter 81: A Life to Long For
Chapter 81: A Life to Long For
With that, Krobus pulled out a small pouch from who-knows-where.
“For example, something like this.”
“If it’s too valuable, I can’t accept it.” Leon didn’t rush to take it. Friendship was both priceless and measurable—if it was an expensive gift, there was no way he would accept it.
“It’s nothing precious, just some unknown seeds washed down by the rain. Don’t you have a farm? You could plant them and see what grows.” Krobus explained.
“Let me take a look.”
Leon took the pouch, opened it, and immediately recognized the seeds inside. They were mixed seeds—about eight of them. Definitely not an expensive item.
So Leon accepted the gift with a smile. “Then I’ll take it. Thank you, Krobus. Next time I come by, I’ll bring you a gift too.”
“Alright.” Krobus didn’t refuse Leon’s kindness. In fact, he looked forward to Leon’s gift—it meant Leon truly considered him a friend. And having a friend who gives gifts felt… wonderful.
After chatting a bit more, Leon bid Krobus farewell and retraced his steps back to the Sewer Drain. There, he retrieved his bicycle and rode home. Along the way, he didn’t see any wild plants worth foraging.
But he did notice that the small animals in the Coal Forest were becoming more active. He even saw a squirrel hop onto his bicycle handlebar and hitch a short ride before leaping off near a pine tree.Just like Krobus had said, those who possessed Forest Magic would always be liked and trusted by the creatures of nature. This squirrel, for example, showed no fear of him.
Watching the squirrel leave, Leon found himself wondering: if he were a die-hard foodie, curious to try squirrel meat, would this little creature still willingly sacrifice itself to satisfy his appetite?
Not that he had any interest in squirrel meat—it was too scrawny, and probably carried all sorts of dangerous bacteria or viruses.
Cherish life. Stay away from wild game.
When Leon returned to Red Star Farm, he parked his bike and went to his room to get the rhubarb seeds he’d bought from Sandy. Rhubarb grew well in spring, and he had already planned to plant them upon returning.
Now that he also had Krobus’s mixed seeds, Leon decided to prepare another row of soil. He planted both the rhubarb and mixed seeds evenly, then watered them well.
He also took the time to check on the other crops he had planted earlier.
Most had already sprouted and were growing vigorously, with no sign of pests or disease. Their overall health was excellent.
But one batch didn’t look as good. If Leon remembered correctly, those were green bean seedlings. They were lying flat on the soil, looking weak and wilted.
“Almost forgot—green beans are climbing plants. They need something to climb on to grow well.”
Realizing his mistake, Leon chuckled at himself. Once again, he had treated real life like the game. In Stardew Valley, planting green beans automatically came with a trellis for them to grow on. In reality, you had to make your own.
Luckily, it wasn’t a complicated fix. He took some wood from a storage chest, trimmed and shaped it with his axe, and soon had a simple trellis ready.
He placed it next to the green bean seedlings, then gently guided the plants to wrap around the support. The rest would be up to their natural growth habits and will to live.
Learning from this, Leon recalled the growth patterns of his other crops. Aside from green beans, most would grow just fine with soil and water. They didn’t require special attention.
With the new seeds planted and the green beans taken care of, Leon returned to his cabin, gave himself a quick wash, changed into clean clothes, and sat on the wooden steps outside, basking in a lazy, carefree moment.
The truth was, there wasn’t all that much work in farm life—especially here in Stardew Valley, where nature was so kind. Once the seeds were planted and watered daily, the rest took care of itself.
Leon had never seen pests on his crops. The only real threat was the crows’ habit of “shopping for free.” But thanks to the scarecrows, they didn’t dare touch the fields now. For Leon, life as a farmer was comfortable.
That didn’t mean he had nothing to do. He could go chop wood to stockpile lumber, cut grass for fiber (and the occasional mixed seed), and expand his planting area.
But Leon didn’t want to fill his days with endless chores. He had come to the countryside to be a farmer—wasn’t it fine to enjoy a bit of peaceful idleness?
In the game, the grandfather’s spirit would return in the third year to evaluate the player’s achievements. But even if you spent two years lying in bed, letting the farm go to ruin, he wouldn’t scold you. He’d just tell you that as long as you were happy, that was enough.
After all, the farm was his legacy. He didn’t want the player to run it like a cutthroat business—he wanted to offer them a new choice in life. A safe harbor away from the noise and pressure of the world.
That’s why, in the letter he left, he told the player only to open it when they felt crushed by the burdens of modern life, when emptiness filled their heart.
He didn’t tell them to rush to the farm the moment he passed.
In other words, if someone was living happily—light work, a loving family, a comfortable life—they might never open that letter at all.
In Leon’s case, if he hadn’t already known the secret of the farm and the beauty of Stardew Valley, he probably wouldn’t have opened it either.
After all, he was used to the grind of 9-to-9, six days a week. Joja Corporation’s work environment wasn’t all that different from his old job. Two thousand gold a month was enough for him to live comfortably in Zuzu City. Life wasn’t much different than before—just a bit duller.
But Leon understood what this farm truly represented. That’s why he chose to leave Joja, come to Stardew Valley, and take over the long-abandoned Red Star Farm. To live a life he’d never experienced before.
A life with good food and drink. With friends to chat with. Where he could play with the dog, ride the horse, rest in the shade on sunny days, and follow only his own heart.
A life to long for.