Chapter 852: Harvest in Village Five

The fall harvest in Big Tree Village is still some time away but the harvest in Village Five has begun.

A large amount of crops are being stored in a big warehouse managed by Village Five.

This is this year’s harvest.

-0-

There is no harvest tax in Village Five.

Village Five cultivates the fields in Village Five directly or indirectly.

In other words, all the fields in Village Five belong to Village Five.

I wasn’t really aware of this until now.

Village Five hires farmers to cultivate crops in its fields.

Those who work in the fields are paid a wage based on the harvest and yield.

At first, it was decided that a certain amount of harvest would be given to those who actually did the farmwork but then, it was decided that wages would be more convenient in terms of subsequent transactions with the merchants.

It is hard for an ordinary villager to deal with merchants who are good at negotiation.

The merchant also welcomed dealing with Village Five because there was less trouble and it’s easier for them to express their requests for this or next year’s crops.

Therefore, all the harvest from the fields of Village Five is delivered to Village Five.

Well, it is similar to what small villages are doing. They leave their harvest to their representatives and trade in bulk so it’s nothing unusual.

-0-

Even so, they harvested a lot.

I know it is wrong to compare the harvest of Village Five and Big Tree Village given the big difference in terms of population but it’s overwhelming.

[Village chief, what’s here is not all that was harvested. There are other warehouses. There aren’t even enough warehouses to keep them all so some are being taken to the village hall and even my mansion.]

Youko explains with a “You should have known that already” face.

Yeah, I know.

Even so, I’m surprised.

The yield is just too different.

The amount of harvested crops in this big warehouse before me alone far exceeds the amount of harvested crops in Big Tree Village.

[It was probably because village chief expanded the fields of Village Five in your spare time.]

You think so?

[It’s certainly that.]

If you put it that way, I guess so.

Well, it’s good to have big harvest.

[No, not really.]

It’s not?

[Since the harvest is on schedule, there shouldn’t be a problem. Even so, there would be if we harvested too much or too little.]

I can see why there would be a problem if it’s too little but, how about too much?

Is it because the selling price would go down?

[That’s part of it but……Village chief, some harvested crops can last for a while but some don’t.]

?

Maa, that’s true.

Wheat and barley can last a long time but tomatoes and eggplants don’t.

[Those that can last for a long time, we won’t sell them all and keep a fraction of them and stockpile them. There won’t be a problem if our stockpiles increase.]

Stockpiling can be a measure against famine and it is also a way to be prepared just in case of an emergency like a war suddenly erupting.

However, we had been stockpiling for several years but had few opportunities to use them.

I recall receiving a report that the amount of stockpiled goods is already too much.

In other words, is consuming the out of date stockpiles the problem?

[No, even those can be used to a lot of things like feeding livestock.]

What then?

[The problem is the crops that don’t last long.]

……

[The merchants will buy them even if the yield increases. They won’t beat us down too and will be considerate about the pricing. However, that’s for long lasting crops. Even though there are teleportation gates, they will only buy a limited amount of short-lasting crops. In short, we can’t rely on them to deal with short lasting crops.]

T-that’s true.

Then, what do you do with them?

[Consume it ourselves.]

Eh?

[The village council and the security forces’ cafeteria are good places to get them consumed.]

I-I see.

[And everyone’s doing what they can too……]

I guess it would feel like they were being forced to consume surplus.

[Not that. It’s just that the menu will be the same for a while.]

………

[I’m still good since I eat breakfast and dinner in Big Tree Village. However, those who are living in Village Five are……]

I thought of Hih, Loch, and Nana.

They’ve been looking at us, or rather, at me, as if they’re barely hanging in there since we started talking about the short-lasting crops.

[Also, about the village council members, I can’t say for sure it’s the reason but during this time of the year, they work less efficient. It should be a busy time of the year.]

Well, the only thing we can do is to come up with new dishes.

[That would be a lifesaver. I’m counting on you.]

I-I’ll do my best.

-0-

Let’s talk about something else.

I heard that they once distributed short lasting crops to the neighboring elf villages.

The recipients were quite pleased and thought it would be a good idea to do it again next year but they received more in return than they gave out.

[They also sent short lasting crops……I’m glad there was a change in the menu but it continued for a while.]

I-I see.

Ehto, when we add more fields, let’s do it in a planned manner.

[No, just continue to do as you please. Village chief does better doing what you want compared to doing a poorly planned one.]

You’re having trouble eating the same menu though…

[The day will come when the days of eating the same menu everyday will come in handy. I’m sure of it.]

Hahaha, that sounds unreasonable.

Whatever the case, I’ll think of a new menu as soon as I can.

[Please, do so.]