The scent of truffle and roasted game still lingered in the air as Ken leaned back in his chair, heart thudding with possibility. Old Mr. Pell's reaction had stirred something in him—something deeper than pride. It was opportunity.
He didn't need a tavern kitchen. He didn't need a noble's patronage.
He just needed consistency.
With the right ingredients, he could create food good enough to sell—maybe even revolutionize cooking in this world. But first… he had to solve a few key problems.
---
PLAN: Start Selling Food
Step 1: Create a home vegetable garden — renewable ingredients
Step 2: Learn hunting and trapping — sustainable meat supply
Step 3: Find cheap packaging method — portable, disposable, low cost
Step 4: Test small batches — gather feedback from trusted villagers
Step 5: Scale wisely — do not go broke
---
The next morning, Ken rolled out of bed before sunrise and marched out behind the cottage to a plot of rough, weed-choked land about five paces wide and ten paces long. It had likely been used generations ago for farming but had long since fallen into disuse.
Ken stabbed the rusted spade into the earth—and nearly collapsed from the effort.
Muscles burned. Breath heaved.
Wow. I have the stamina of a sleep-deprived squirrel.
A familiar ding chimed in his head.
---
REMINDER: 10 Unspent Attribute Points Available
Strength and Endurance are key to labor-intensive tasks.
---
Ken opened his status window:
---
KEN — STATUS
Level: 3
EXP: 10/60
Unspent Attribute Points: 10
ATTRIBUTES
STR: 4 → 7
DEX: 7 → 9
INT: 9 → 11
END: 5 → 8
(Other stats unchanged)
Attribute Points Allocated!
---
The change was immediate. The spade felt lighter. His movements steadier.
He spent the next two hours tilling the soil, ripping out weeds, and breaking up clay-like chunks of earth. He enriched the soil by layering decomposed leaf mulch, compost from the kitchen scrap pile, and pulverized ash from the hearth—high in potassium and carbon.
Not perfect, he thought, but for a peasant village, this is peak permaculture.
---
[New Subsystem Unlocked: Personal Garden]
[Skill Unlocked: Basic Gardening Lv. 1]
+10 EXP
EXP: 20/60
BONUS: You've planted a multi-crop bed. Pest Deterrent Reminder: Use aromatic plants!
---
GARDEN STATUS — Ken's Plot
Size: 5 x 10 paces
Enclosure: Woven branch fencing (75% complete)
Soil Quality: Medium-Rich (compost-enriched)
Fertilization: Hearth ash, kitchen compost
Drainage: Moderate (slight slope)
Sunlight: Full morning, partial afternoon
CROPS PLANTED:
Crownroot x6 – Sprouted | Est. Harvest: 20 days
Wild Garlic x8 – Healthy | Est. Harvest: 12 days
Green Onion x5 – Stable | Est. Harvest: 10 days
Lemon Balm x4 – Thriving | Est. Harvest: 8 days
Wild Cress x6 – Recently Planted | Est. Harvest: 6 days
Chickweed x3 – Vulnerable to Pests | Est. Harvest: 5 days
RECOMMENDED ACTION:
Plant Marigold, Lavender, or Mint to deter insects and rodents.
---
Ken wiped the sweat from his brow and surveyed the garden. He had created three main rows, staggered to allow water runoff to drain easily between trenches. Stones ringed the perimeter, and woven sticks from birch branches formed a simple fence—low but enough to keep rabbits out.
He even repurposed cracked clay bowls to act as water catchers near the shallow-rooted plants.
Midway through the setup, the system chimed again:
---
[GARDENING Lv. 1] EXP +6% → 6%
[Ingredient Identification EXP +4% → 36%]
[Seasoning Sense EXP +3% → 49%]
---
By midday, the fencing was complete, the seeds and bulbs were tucked in, and Ken was lying on the ground, covered in dirt but smiling.
This isn't just a garden. It's my menu in six weeks.
He set off back into the forest briefly to find pest-repelling herbs. After foraging along the ridge, he returned with sprigs of wild mint and several stalks of bruised lavender—a rare find in these parts.
He planted the mint in corners and set the lavender near the garlic rows.
---
GARDEN STATUS UPDATED
Pest Resistance: Moderate
New Crops Added:
Wild Mint x3 – Stable
Lavender x2 – Delicate
Gardening EXP +9% → 15%
---
As he finished patting down the last patch of soil, a light breeze swept over the garden. The scent of garlic, mint, and earth mingled in the air.
Ken sat on the stone ledge and looked out at what he had built with his own hands.
I'm not just cooking anymore. I'm farming flavor. And soon… I'll be selling it.
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