Wizard Farming Guide

Chapter 16 Life Assistant

"Fresh fish, scaled and gutted, seasoned with a small spoonful of salt, white pepper, fennel seeds, and a little sugar."

Lily followed the recipe her father had described from memory, and looked at the fragrant, milky-white fish soup simmering in the oven, a smile of excitement spreading across her face.

"It smells so good! I really am a genius! Yes, genius chef Lily!"

"Oh right, and the pancakes too. Ah, thank goodness, they weren't burnt."

After filling the fish soup container, she quickly glanced at the pancakes baking in the other pan and breathed a sigh of relief after confirming they weren't burnt.

"Sugar and honey are so expensive, if it fails, I'm doomed. I don't have the money to make it a second time."

Lily remembered the exorbitantly priced sugar blocks in the city, costing 5 silver coins a pound.

Her daily wage was only 8 copper coins, and it took her a month to barely afford the ingredients for this one pancake and fish soup.

Lily eagerly got up after putting the food into the earthenware jar.

"Aunt Susan, I've washed the oven and frying pan clean and put them back where they were."

"Slow down, be careful not to spill the soup," the cook named Susan said, glancing at her.

"understood."

Lily jogged for a while before slowing down.

When the troops were stationed, the temporary camps were often along the river, with women and civilians placed on the inner side and soldiers and knights on the outer side.

Because she rarely had the opportunity to interact with him, Lily had only seen the knight from afar a few times in the past month.

Looking at the soldiers appearing ahead, her excitement at making the decision was replaced by tension.

"I can do it, come on, Lily!" Lily encouraged herself in her heart.

Going in directly was impossible; she would definitely be stopped by the soldiers. Fortunately, she had a plan.

She hid in a corner, opened the earthenware jar, and gently stirred out the aroma.

Not long after, a familiar howling sound rang out, and a small white creature darted out, running up to her and sticking out its tongue.

"White Bread, you're getting fatter and fatter," Lily exclaimed in surprise upon seeing White Bread, who had clearly grown a size larger. "And why is your fur white? I clearly remember you being gray."

If it weren't for the familiar feeling of raising it from a puppy, Lily almost wouldn't have recognized it.

The white bread nudged her calf, gazing longingly at the earthenware pot in her hand.

It doesn't want to reminisce; it just wants to finish its meal quickly.

"No, this isn't for you." Lily quickly shook her head and covered the earthenware jar.

Upon hearing this, the white bread immediately stopped what it was doing, leaned to the side, and looked at her with disdain.

It's not for me, why did you call me here? Are you playing a trick on me?

"Good boy/girl, if you cooperate with me to go inside later, I will definitely cook delicious food for you in the future." Lily quickly stroked its head to comfort it.

You used to say the same thing, always giving me a bone to get rid of me. Your former owner was unreliable; I still have to rely on my current owner to live a good life.

White Bread rolled its eyes at her, but still stood up, grabbed the corner of her skirt, and walked toward the center of the soldiers' camp.

"Wait, I'm not ready yet, I can't go in like this. Oh no, I'm doomed!"

Lily was afraid her dress would be torn, so she could only follow it forward.

He turned pale with anxiety upon seeing the soldier, but to his surprise, the soldier naturally made way for him.

The lord's wolfhound has been bringing back prey every day lately; they've long been used to it.

However, bringing back a young girl this time was somewhat unexpected, which made the two soldiers take a second look.

The two ignored the matter and continued guarding the goal.

This wolfhound is incredibly intelligent and can single-handedly take down small gangs of thieves. It has a distinguished military record and holds a higher rank than them.

Rod was alone in his tent, with flowerpots beside him.

There was a wheat planted inside, which had already borne ears of ripe wheat.

He is recording relevant data through observation.

This is the product of seeds specially cultivated by Rhodes that have matured. The original seeds were not wheat, but a type of barley.

If it were a past life, it would have a more widely known name—barley.

The harsh environment of the northern region, with its high altitude and low temperatures, is unsuitable for growing food crops, which is the main reason for the local food shortage.

Rhodes wanted to establish territory there, and solving the food problem was the first priority.

With the experience he had accumulated over the previous five years, he now had a solution.

[High-grade barley / Tier 1 low-level magical plant]

It matures two months after planting and can continue to grow in extremely cold conditions, but it consumes a great deal of soil fertility.

The estimated yield is 500 kg per mu (approximately 0.16 acres), rich in nutrients and good for health.

These are the initial test data he recorded from the experimental samples; the actual results will not differ too much.

The average yield per acre of farmland in that era was around 60 kilograms, or about 130 pounds.

The yield of high-quality barley is more than eight times that of normal wheat, and it grows rapidly, taking only two months from planting to harvest.

Not only are they perfectly adapted to the harsh environment of the North, but the harvested barley also has extremely high nutritional value, enhancing the physical fitness of ordinary people.

It can help Rhodes, enabling his knightly squires to advance to the first rank and become knights more quickly.

Straw can serve as the highest quality animal feed, thus enriching the pasture.

The only problem is that it depletes the soil's fertility; potatoes need to be planted for at least two or three years to fully utilize the soil's potential.

Planting this thing twice, over four months, will turn even the most fertile black soil into a desert.

But Rhodes wasn't worried; once he built up the Demon Field, it would be enough to handle the consumption.

After completing the experimental record, Rhodes sealed the data, at which point his tent was opened.

He knew it was white bread from the contract.

Only it has the right to enter without permission.

This time, however, it seems to have brought something different back with it.

Rhodes looked at the girl in front of him, never expecting to see her again.

Lily tiptoed closer and brought out the pancakes and fish soup, placing them in front of him. "This is the dinner I prepared for you."

"Although I don't know swordsmanship, I can cook, do laundry, I... I can do more."

Holding the pottery jar in her arms, Lily spoke nervously, but suddenly she stopped, her mind went blank, and she closed her eyes in distress, unable to look.

The countless words I had prepared in my mind were once again stuck in my throat when I actually met the other person.

She cursed herself for being so useless, tears welling up in her eyes, afraid of being rejected and driven away again.

Seeing this, Rod looked at the white bread with a puzzled expression.

The latter had just lay down when he saw him looking over, and he excitedly jumped up, sticking his tongue out at the food on the table.

What are you doing? Are you going to give me something to eat? My current owner is such a kind person!

Rod smiled, picked up his fork, and put the waffle in his mouth.

The white bread let out a disappointed whimper.

They're all just playing games with dogs!

Ignore this gluttonous dog that only knows how to eat all day long.

After savoring the sweet taste in his mouth, Rhodes, whose experiment had already been a success, was even happier.

"If you don't mind, I'd like to hire you as my personal assistant." Rod put down his fork.

"A personal assistant?" Lily quietly opened her eyes, somewhat puzzled.

"You can think of it as, well, my maid. It's a similar job, the daily wage is only 30 copper coins for now, but you can get reimbursed for your monthly expenses."

"Really? I do!"

Contrary to expectations, Lily looked at him with delight upon seeing that she had achieved the first step of her goal.

"Of course it's true."

Rhodes informed his knights and squires about Lily's work so that she could make arrangements for her in the future.

At the same time, she was given 50 silver coins as temporary funds to support herself.

Unlike before, the ranks are now filled with a large number of villagers and serfs, and soldiers are no longer at the bottom of society, gradually forming a more clearly defined social class.

They began to get used to their superior status, enjoy the services of the villagers, and take pride in it.

Having established his authority, Rhodes no longer needed to live and eat with them.

He had a good impression of Lily, and thought she wanted to become his handmaid to relieve the pressure on her father. Rod remembered Luke's terrible performance in the militia.

She is a kind-hearted girl who knows how to repay kindness and is willing to try new things; she deserves the opportunity he offers.

(End of this chapter)