Chapter 852: Harvest in Vige Five


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


    Arge amount of crops are being stored in a big warehouse managed by Vige Five.


    This is this year’s harvest.


    -0-


    There is no harvest tax in Vige Five.


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


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


    I wasn’t really aware of this until now.


    Vige 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 viger to deal with merchants who are good at negotiation.


    The merchant also weed dealing with Vige 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 Vige Five is delivered to Vige Five.


    Well, it is simr to what small viges 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 topare the harvest of Vige Five and Big Tree Vige given the big difference in terms of poption but it’s overwhelming.


    「Vige 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 vige hall and even my mansion.」


    Youko exins 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 Vige.


    「It was probably because vige chief expanded the fields of Vige 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……Vige chief, some harvested crops canst for a while but some don’t.」


    ?


    Maa, that’s true.


    Wheat and barley canst a long time but tomatoes and eggnts don’t.


    「Those that canst 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’tst 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 longsting crops. Even though there are teleportation gates, they will only buy a limited amount of shortsting crops. In short, we can’t rely on them to deal with shortsting crops.」


    T-that’s true.


    Then, what do you do with them?


    「Consume it ourselves.」


    Eh?


    「The vige council and the security forces’ cafeteria are good ces 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 Vige. However, those who are living in Vige 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 shortsting crops.


    「Also, about the vige 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 toe 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 shortsting crops to the neighboring elf viges.


    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 shortsting crops……I’m d 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 nned manner.


    「No, just continue to do as you please. Vige chief does better doing what you wantpared to doing a poorly nned one.」


    You’re having trouble eating the same menu though…


    「The day wille when the days of eating the same menu everyday wille 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.」