The Abandoned Duchess Seems to Want a Peaceful Life - Chapter 36

Chapter 36: Winter Preparations and New Crops

The fields, now completely harvested and cleared of straw, felt desolate.

“This year, we’ll switch the fields where we grew wheat and corn.”

“Yes. Even if we spread fertilizer, it’s not good to grow the same crop in the same field repeatedly. This year, the cultivation of the corn field went well, so it’s good that we can implement this plan.”

Nid explained to Lutz’s eldest son, Fritz, pointing at a simple map of the fields.

“The cornfield is a bit far from Enkar Village, so during sowing and harvesting times, it would be best to stay in Melto Village as a group. If we reverse the fields for crop rotation, the travel time will be significantly reduced.”

For this reason, this year we asked Ricardo to build a large meeting hall in Melto Village to accommodate a large group. Next year, we plan to construct a similar building near Enkar Village.

“I see, I had a vague idea that it wasn’t good to grow wheat or barley repeatedly, but this is how we rotate the fields.”

“Yes, it’s better to avoid growing the same crop in the same field, not just for wheat. Although corn is said to be relatively resistant to continuous cropping problems, it’s still best to rotate the fields.”

The issue now is what to plant in the fields where wheat was harvested this year.

… If we follow the three-field system, we should plant summer grains, but since these lands have been half-fallow and growing wheat for many years, it might be better to leave a large portion fallow.

However, this continent is currently in the midst of a great famine. Although Enkar region is hardly affected, this situation will continue through next year.

Ideally, we’d like to produce food to export.

… If we adopt the Norfolk system, we should consider planting turnips or root vegetables for fodder, or clover. We might need to decide to increase livestock here.

The number of livestock directly correlates to the amount of manure produced. If we can make a large amount of compost, we can manage the fields more efficiently.

The Enkar region doesn’t have a large population. Even if we raise a large number of livestock, it would be difficult for the residents alone to consume all the products.

Increasing the number of cows, which provide milk and manure for compost, and can be used for plowing the fields, is an urgent task. If we also increase the number of pigs, we need to devise preservation methods for the meat.

When we have a large supply, the price will drop. In this world, commoners typically only eat old, salt-cured meat that has discolored during the winter. However, by producing a large quantity, we might be able to lower the price to a level where even affluent commoners can afford to buy it.

“I’ll think a bit more about what to plant in the fields where we harvested wheat this year. If we don’t find a suitable crop, I think we’ll plant turnips and beans in half of the fields. Turnips are delicious for humans and can also be used as livestock feed. Beans are edible, and their leaves and stems can be plowed into the soil to enrich it. Planting beans alone will fertilize the soil, so it’s beneficial in many ways.”

Many legumes have the property of fixing nitrogen in the soil.

Nitrogen is a type of fertilizer and one of the essential elements for healthy crop growth.

Beans can be dried and stored, and they can be eaten simply by boiling. They are rich in protein, vitamins, and are very nutritious crops.

“What will you do with the remaining half?”

“I’ll plant clover. Plowing it into the soil before the next planting will help soften the soil and increase soil nutrients while it grows. Clover, being a legume, has similar benefits to beans.”

“Beans really have a lot of benefits.”

“Though beans can’t be grown repeatedly in the same field, we should definitely utilize them. We had the children collect clover seeds during the summer, so use those.”

Around Lake Moltre, there’s an abundance of wild clover. As the flowers that bloomed in spring began to wither, we had the village children help collect the flowers. We selected the seeds from the collected flowers and stored them in barrels.

If crop rotation becomes established, this might become a standard summer job for the children.

“The manure pit is being built smoothly. I heard we should monitor it during the winter.”

“Yes, since it’s built by digging a hole in the ground, it shouldn’t be as affected by the outside temperature as straw compost. However, check its condition after about two months, just to be safe. In winter, if it’s generating heat, you’ll see steam rising from it, just like when your breath is visible in the cold. Even if that stops, there might still be gas inside, so don’t look inside immediately after opening the lid.”

“We’ll dilute that with water and spread it on the fields, right?”

“Yes, if it comes into direct contact with the crops, it could cause fertilizer burn, so be sure to spread it on the soil.”

“Leaving it in the pit for over two months brings us to the winter vegetable season. Winter is always a lean time for food, so a good harvest would be wonderful.”

Nid spoke in a somewhat somber tone.

Even if the summer harvest goes well, the food will eventually run out as it’s consumed.

Although Melfina, as the new lord, has managed to stockpile a considerable amount of corn and wheat this year, a poor winter harvest is still a terrifying prospect for the farmers.

“So, how have you managed winter meals so far?”

“In winter, we can’t rely on the bounty of the mountains or hunting, so we mainly eat stored potatoes. We also have a few vegetables from the fields. For the serfs, eating dried meat that’s been overly salted is considered quite a luxury.”

“We should aim to establish a livestock production system as soon as possible so that we can enjoy delicious meat even in winter.”

Overproducing and wasting livestock would be counterproductive, but at the very least, we want to ensure the residents have enough to eat without hardship.

“It sounds like a dream. Speaking of dreams, the introduction of toilets has significantly improved the village’s air quality. Plus, there’s been a noticeable decrease in people getting sick.”

That was a pleasant report. Fritz also nodded in agreement.

“It’s the same in Enkar Village. Especially, there has been a visible reduction in children falling ill.”

“That’s good to hear. I was particularly worried about small children and the elderly, as getting sick can often be life-threatening for them.”

By providing boiled water and managing hygiene, we can dramatically reduce child mortality rates. While feeling relieved about this, Nid’s expression suddenly became somber.

“… This is personal, but the child born before Rod suffered from severe diarrhea before he turned one and passed away. I still remember my small son, who looked so withered.”

“Nid…”

“Half of the serf children die while they are still young. I thought I had accepted that as fate… But if that child had been born this year, he might have grown strong.”

Hearing these sad words from Nid, who is always positive and the first to follow Melfina’s instructions, made my chest tighten.

In this world, the child mortality rate is extremely high. One could even say it is excessively so.

There is no guarantee that the children innocently running around Melfina will still be laughing next year or the year after.

“…Let’s build a village like that. A prosperous village where as many children as possible grow up strong and healthy.”

After finishing the crop rotation meeting, I parted ways with Fritz and headed towards the serf settlement, now renamed Melto Village.

In winter, it will be difficult to visit frequently again. I also wanted to see the children’s faces.

“It’s been a while since I came here, but it’s changed quite a bit.”

New buildings have been erected, and row houses line the area. People have already started moving in, with laundry swaying in the wind and children running around it.

“Recently, there have even been families from Enkar Village who want to call themselves Melto villagers and move here.”

“Oh, no matter where they live, they are still my subjects.”

“That just shows how special Lady Melfina’s name has become.”

Around a particularly large building constructed at the edge of the village, women were gathered. They seemed to be enjoying conversation while weaving baskets, all smiling.

In the clear autumn sky, several white smoke trails were drifting.

“The charcoal burning seems to be going well too.”

“Yes, the area around the hut is warm, so the women have made it a habit to work near the hut during the day.”

“Aren’t they using the brazier?”

“It’s not that cold during the day yet, and we’re conserving charcoal, so we don’t keep the fires going during the day. Once it gets colder, we’ll start using it during the day as well.”

Although the charcoal is produced in the village using wood from the forest and is currently almost free since no tax is levied, I hope to eventually sell it to neighboring territories for revenue, which will likely mean imposing taxes.

If the villagers get used to using charcoal freely, they might face difficulties when taxes are imposed. I feel a bit conflicted, wanting them to use plenty but also appreciating their habit of conserving resources.

“People often gather in homes with braziers to drink corn tea.”

“That sounds wonderful. Maybe I’ll join you next time.”

“Oh, it’s Lady Mel!”

“Lady Mel!”

As we entered the village, the children gathered around us with excitement. It was a usual occurrence, so neither Nid nor Cedric, who was following today, seemed bothered by it.

Walking through the transformed Melto Village with its new buildings, we saw some houses with chicken coops and others with small gardens.

“So, there are gardens in the village too.”

“Yes, small gardens for household consumption. We grow leeks, carrots, and chicory. Since we started raising cows and goats in the village, we were advised by a merchant who delivered the livestock to grow white radish, which is good for feed.”

“White radish?”

The unfamiliar name made me tilt my head slightly.

White radish must refer to what I knew as daikon in my previous life.

Although there are no memories of eating dishes with daikon in Melfina’s memories, it’s common for the diets of nobles and commoners to be entirely different.

“Yes, the radish grown around here is black, but it’s similar in shape. Ah, that one looks ready for harvest. The leaves are also edible, but they have a bit of bitterness.”

“I don’t like white radish leaves!”

A child exclaimed, wrinkling his nose.

“I don’t like them either.”

I admitted.

“They make my mouth feel scratchy.”

Another child chimed in.

The children were describing what is commonly known as a strong bitterness.

“In that case, you can probably mellow it out using ash from the brazier. Put the vegetables you want to remove the bitterness from in a pot, cover them with ash, pour boiling water over them, and leave it overnight.”

I suggested.

“Oh, that would be helpful. Adults can tolerate it, but children really dislike it.”

“Will white radish leaves become tasty?”

“The scratchiness in your mouth should be lessened. Let’s think of some delicious ways to eat them.”

“Okay!”

“I’ll help think of ways too!”

Smiling at the children’s enthusiastic words, I let them show me their garden. Indeed, white radish-like vegetables were peeking out of the soil.

The leaves looked quite different from the daikon leaves I remembered from my previous life, so it was likely a different variety.

Kneeling beside the garden, I touched the “white radish” with my fingertips and activated “Appraisal”.

If it turned out to be something known by a different name in my previous life, I might come up with a way to cook it.

“Huh…?”

“Is something wrong, Lady Melfina?”

“N-no, it’s nothing. …Would you mind showing me your new house? I want to make sure there are no inconveniences.”

“Of course, please come to my house. Being the village chief, it was built first.”

As Nid guided me, I felt a chill run down my spine despite the approaching winter and the cold wind outside.

Beetroot.

Whether Melfina’s encounter with this crop would turn out to be beneficial for the Enkar region and her fate, or not, was still unclear.