บท 12: Buffs and Fishing
Since what the god told her seemed to be quite intriguing, she didn't decline the offer.
Marigold and Elaina sat on the counter as Marigold's husband started to prepare the ingredients and tools for cooking.
"Say, Elaina, do you cook?" Douglas asked.
"I do yes. However, I only cook simple dishes and although I have one complicated dish I can create, it is only good to be cooked around wintertime," Elaina answered truthfully.
"If that is the case, you can come back here to my place and buy some of my recipes. I sell recipes to people who are interested in cooking. Of course, it is not expensive so if you have taken a fancy on some dishes, I can sell them to you."
"Selling recipes? You also do that?" Elaina is quite shocked. After all, most chefs would rather have their food recipes be a secret forever or more like an inheritance they will pass to their children for future generations. This is the first time she has seen someone sell recipes to those who are willing to learn.
Douglas chuckled since he knew what Elaina was thinking. "You are thinking that this will be bad for me since competition would be harsh, yes? Haha, don't worry. Even though I sell my recipes, people still would rather buy in our shop just fine. I am not angry if someone decides to spread the word about my recipes and let others see them. It is fine for me. For me, that is a better outcome. To spread the word to everyone how special some of the food I cook and anyone willing to cook them can also do so."
"See? He might look strict but he is a very outgoing husband and he is very gentle as well. You don't have to be scared of him, Elaina."
Elaina smiled at this and could see how the two are so casual to each other and yet, she could feel that the two love one another equally. Elaina then remembered her husband and she could only clench her teeth whenever she remembered what he did with her sister.
While thinking about her current situation, a bowl of hot piping soup is now served to her. Its aroma is very enticing to the point that even by the smell alone, she can feel her stomach already screaming to grab the spoon and scoop up the soup and eat.
Elaina grabbed the spoon, scooped a bit of soup filled with meat and vegetables, and slowly blew on it to cool it down. She involuntarily swallowed a bit of her saliva as even the smell was enough for her to salivate from it.
The moment it cooled down, she put it in her mouth and all of a sudden, a burst of flavors came to life in her mouth. It was like a harmonious dance of the ingredients that she couldn't experience before in her life. She was so entranced that when she recovered, Douglas was silently giggling in the corner while finishing his earlier task while his wife was also entranced by the flavor of the soup and is also suspended in action as she felt the feeling.
"This... this is phenomenal!"
Marigold recovered and immediately faced Elaina. "RIGHT?! Even though I have on eating these foods several times already, I couldn't get over it. Even when I tried cooking myself, I couldn't hit the same energy Douglas can make on his food!"
The two started eating so fast that it only took a few minutes before the bowl full of piping hot soup was now fully empty, and not a single drop of soup or even a speck of meat strand was present in the bowl That's how delicious it was for them that they didn't realize that they have already eaten the whole thing.
"That...is the best...meal I ever had in my life..." Elaina felt very happy as she absorbed the experience and essence of what she had just eaten just now.
Just then, Elaina can feel her body felt a lot more refreshed. Her vision seems sharper and she is full of energy. It was like she had eaten some sort of tonic that she didn't know the effects of.
"Is this the buff that you mentioned earlier?" Elaina asked while using her mind to make a conversation with the god.
"Yes. If you want to review what buffs you got, check the almanac and you can see the status you were under."
Although Elaina is curious, she decides that she will look for it later on. Marigold and Elaina left the pub with the latter taking notes on the pub's schedule and its business of selling recipes as well.
"This should be the last stop since the other neighbors we have are a lot farther from here and they are more inclined to be in the city than to our little village anyway."
The two arrived at a small hut with fishing gear displayed inside and outside the hut. They are on the beach and Elaina didn't know that the village has a beach this close.
"Anyways, Elaina. This is the beach. You are free to swim here anytime but once summer hits, this place will be packed to the brim so I suggest that if you want to relax here, don't do it during summer as this will be a packed place. As for the little hut over here is the business of our local fisherman Lorenzo. He sells fishing gear and he also buys fish in case you catch any."
Lorenzo goes out from his little hut and sees the two outside. He is a guy around his 30s, still looking young if not for his thick beard. Despite that, he looks like a decent guy who is not strict nor scary to interact with. He is a bit chubby and his face is round and plump, yet his arms and body are full of muscle, it's just that both of his muscles and fat seem to coexist together for some reason.
"Oh, it's you, Mayor! Is this the young lass that you mentioned earlier that moved to the abandoned farm?" Lorenzo asked.
"Yes! She is the one who joined in. Elaina, this is Lorenzo. Lorenzo, Elaina."
"Hello, young lass. I am Lorenzo, the local fisherman in this area and the one who supplies those who like to fish or just want to fish any gear for fishing to use in exchange for some bits of money and produce. But since you are a new neighbor and you are starting, how about a fishing rod? Do you fish, young lass?"
"I know how to fish, but only spearfishing..." Elaina revealed.
"Spearfishing eh? Not bad, and that is a good way to catch fish in shallow waters. For a farmer girl, you seemed to have some basic skills for fishing, which is a good thing. However, how about catching some fish under the deep sea instead? Here, I will give you this old rod of mine. Although it is pretty much an old one, It works nicely. If you want to buy some bait, want to sell some fish? Or if you want me to create your fishpond? Just go straight to me and I will allow you to have fish in your backyard."
Fishing...Elaina can get a decent amount of money with the help of this. It seems she will have a busy time on her farm soon with these new opportunities opening up to her. With the fishing rod in hand, she now knows her next plan for the rest of the afternoon.
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