Chapter 18

    Spring Is Wonderful

    A new year, a new body, a new life... It was finally time for him to continue pursuing his long-unfinished dream.

    As the first blades of grass sprouted through the lingering sheets of white ice, the Little Scholar proposed a comprehensive farming plan for the land surrounding the church. Even though it was a fairly solid agricultural strategy, the young boy still lacked many things. A person with dreams of creating a grand garden first needed to figure out a sustainable way to make a living.

    From what the two nuns had told him, he learned that the villagers relied on only three staple crops: Wheat, which was processed into flour and bread—their primary food source. Job’s tears, used occasionally in cooking. And lastly, a variety of beans, grown according to each household’s preference.

    Food was so deeply intertwined with culture that they were inseparable.

    At this moment, Kit was preoccupied with how to change the monotonous lives of these people. Everything seemed far too dull and repetitive for someone who had experienced nearly a hundred years of life.

    The first step toward change was always the hardest. But with the two nuns' approval, he had already secured permission to proceed. After designating nearly four acres of land around the church for cultivation, he shared his plans with his siblings.

    Sweet potatoes would take up half of the space. The front of the church would become an aromatic herb garden, lined with beautifully shaped bay laurel shrubs along the pathways. One acre would be dedicated to Job’s tears, while the remaining land would be used for a mix of beans.

    The boys, overflowing with energy, followed their eldest brother to begin clearing the land. For an entire week, they worked together—digging out obstructions, hauling away tree stumps and stones from the barren land. Meanwhile, the girls sorted the beans and prepared Job’s tears from the sacks of grain stored in the pantry. As for Kit, he separated himself to prepare the sweet potato shoots for planting.

    The sweet potato tubers that had been soaking in water had already started sprouting in large numbers. In less than a month, they would be ready to be divided into small cuttings, known as slips, for transplantation into the fields. After placing the tubers into furrows moistened with water, Kit stood back to observe his work, estimating the number of slips he would soon have.

    With over two hundred tubers, he expected to produce between four to five thousand slips. The clever young boy may have set his expectations too high for a group of sixteen children. But they had the blessings of the gods and an unexplained mystical power yet to be fully understood. This decision could be seen as… a gamble based on reason, with no real downside for the future.

    The church’s main food supply had always come from the faith and generosity of the village farmers. Becoming more self-sufficient would only bring greater peace of mind to everyone.

    One month later, everything had started to take shape. The soil was neatly tilled. The dirty snow had completely melted, leaving behind moist, fertile land, perfect for planting. Thousands of sweet potato slips were distributed and transplanted into the prepared soil. The soaked, sprouted Job’s tears were scattered at appropriate intervals. The various beans, sorted by type, were planted in the same manner.

    It took them three full days to plant everything they had.

    There was no strict method to it. Kit knew that this approach wouldn’t yield the best possible harvest—after all, he had never formally studied farming. He was simply following an instinctive sense of what felt right, which served as his only guiding force.

    The sixteen siblings stood proudly, gazing at the vast fields they had cultivated with their own hands for the first time. Their eyes sparkled with excitement as they looked up at their third brother, filled with anticipation.

    “Brother Kit, is there anything else we can do? I...I’ve never had this much fun before.” Alan, the nine-year-old, beamed widely. His hands and face were smeared with dirt, prompting his older brother to reach out and brush it off for him.

    “There’s still the herb garden in front of the church. Anyone interested can go stick with Brother James. Hahaha.” The overly energetic children immediately swarmed their eldest brother, chasing him in a flurry. Before long, several curious younger sisters came over to ask him questions.

    “Brother, will they grow in time for us to eat?”

    “They’ll be ready before winter, no worries, little sisters. Hehe.”

    The feeling of being an older brother was something he truly enjoyed. His hands ruffled the heads of his little sisters in satisfaction.

    After that, everyone went off to play around the surrounding areas as they pleased. From then on, their morning routine only consisted of watering and inspecting the large plantation. The rest of the day remained unchanged. Kit was still busy cooking, tending to the wild vegetable patch he had promised to care for in his silent vow to the wind, and diligently studying reading and writing with the two nuns.

    Spring had reached its sixth week, marking the end of the sowing season and the gathering of villagers for prayer. The good and bad news from the past five months would likely be exchanged by word of mouth today.

    .....

    The large church, which had been aired out and cleaned in advance, was opened to welcome the villagers the next morning. It was a day of beautiful weather. Warm sunlight bathed the land. The forests and mountains echoed with the sounds of birds and animals, creating a melody of nature.

    The snow covering the Landbruh Ridge had significantly receded, revealing vast expanses of lush green mountains as the thick fog dissipated under the sunlight.

    No matter how breathtaking the scenery was, the past few months had been a sorrowful experience for many. Two children—one from the William family and another from the Smith family—had succumbed to illness during the storm. Despite their parents having ample supplies of firewood, food, and medicinal herbs, they were unable to keep their little lives from slipping away.

    Their illness was known as ‘Blood Curse’—a disease...that had never been cured. No one had ever survived it before… The heads of the North and Smith families also fell ill with the same disease and passed away during that time.

    Their funeral rites were not elaborate and did not require the church nuns to perform any soul-passing prayers. It was a special exemption for those who passed away in winter, allowing their families to handle the arrangements as they saw fit. In this small, close-knit village, friends and relatives did their best to console the grieving families.

    Along the way, they could only think that whatever news awaited them at Redwood Church would only add to their sorrow. As they walked up the mountain path leading to the church, no one had the heart to admire the beauty of nature.

    The moment they arrived, they were met with a breathtaking sight—trees were elegantly arranged across the church’s vast courtyard. Bushes along the ground bloomed with delicate purple and soft pink flowers. Bees buzzed around, flitting from flower to flower. Furthermore, the air was filled with a soothing fragrance that brought an immense sense of tranquility.

    Everyone could only wonder—What exactly happened here?

    Could it be that the Central Church had secretly sent people to maintain and beautify this place?

    The vast land to the east of the grand church had been plowed and planted in neat, orderly rows. The green leaves of sweet potatoes had already spread, covering the entire area. Sunlight reflected off the dewdrops on the leaves, making them shine so brightly that it hurt their eyes.

    Mr. Gray stood there, his eye twitching and his body trembling. The guilt of his past deeds gnawed at his conscience. The moment the church doors opened, he immediately ducked behind his large-built son, hoping to escape the sight of his adversary… These actions did not go unnoticed by the villagers. Seeing his reaction, they unanimously decided to elect a new village chief on this very day.

    In stark contrast to Mr. Gray, the other villagers rushed forward excitedly upon seeing Sister Anne. They eagerly inquired about the church’s recent happenings. Then, they asked about the children’s well-being.

    Sister Anne’s response left them feeling a mix of emotions—shock, joy, and deep curiosity… The children standing in welcome were all in excellent health—stronger than any child in the village. Not only that, but they were neatly bathed and dressed, looking absolutely adorable.

    The two most striking figures were James and Anna, who were now fully growing into a young man and a young woman. With a strong physique, clean skin, and a well-proportioned build that was neither frail nor thin, James had become quite popular among many village girls. Meanwhile, Anna had also caught the eyes of several young men. For a brief moment, Jason gazed at her with admiration—without anyone noticing.

    Only Ethan the rascal saw it. It was as if his hawk-like eyes could see the future, sparking various speculations among them about which god had bestowed such a blessing upon him. During the past winter, his third brother had already confirmed that Ethan’s abilities were real. Thus, the six-going-on-seven-year-old troublemaker had now become a specialized surveillance post, responsible for reporting important matters to everyone.

    (Mm... Brother Jason likes Sister Anna. This is important. I must inform Brother Kit!) It seemed this little one had been thoroughly brainwashed by his third brother and recruited into his faction.

    No matter how outstanding the eldest siblings were, the warm and approachable aura of the village’s Little Scholar brought a far more pleasant sight to those who saw him. His light brown hair reflected the sunlight, turning into a brilliant golden hue, while his deep green eyes, reminiscent of fresh spring leaves, perfectly complemented his fair and healthy skin.

    His casual conversations with the villagers only made their affection for him grow even more. As a result, fresh meat donations of various kinds were continuously sent to the church without interruption.

    “David, take this rabbit to use in the kitchen first. We don’t have any grains to donate yet, so the church will have to wait a little longer.”

    “Thank you very much, Aunt Mary. Ah… thank you, Uncle.” The young boy’s hands fumbled as he struggled to accept the donations, nearly getting tangled up in the process. The villagers didn’t just bring a rabbit. There was also half a deer, two large wild boar legs, and even a combined donation of several dozen silver coins.

    Before the important prayers began, Sister Anne finally found the person she had been waiting for...

    “Oh, Mr. Gray, it’s been a long time.” Sister Anne greeted her old rival smoothly with a sly smile. “I wonder—when exactly will the church receive the compensation money that Mr. Gray has been withholding for years?”

    “Take it! And don’t ever bother me again!” The fangless village serpent gritted his teeth, speaking through clenched jaws. His hushed voice was barely audible, cursing Sister Anne under his breath, calling her a bloodsucking leech the entire time.

    Deep inside, the malicious old man was terrified of the laws and punishments imposed by the governing authorities.

    Thus, all he could do was swallow his rage and bottle up his resentment.

    The moment he found an opportunity, he would repay this humiliation a hundredfold, a thousandfold!

    Did You Know?

    Sweet Potato Slips are the sprouts that grow from a sweet potato tuber. In Thai, should they be called shoots? Young sprouts? For now, let’s just stick with the English term.