The Return of the Genius Farmer - Chapter 133



Only Noblemtl

Episode 133

67. I kept my promise – 1

“Isn’t there bulgogi with rice?”

After Hongryeon’s words, those who had tried Leehan’s rice dishes added their own words.

“Steamed pork goes well with rice.”

“I like fried rice better.”

“I want omelet rice!”

When he came out of Daesurim, Lee Han, who had brought plenty of rice and cooked almost any dish that could be made with rice, smiled at the sight of those who gulped as they recalled his cooking.

“Then shall we try everything?”

“Wow!! I agree!”

“Thank you, Lee Han!”

The delighted twins clung to his legs.

Now that we’ve reached Higgs Estate, Lee Han will return to Daesurim.

As the two clung to each other, thinking that this might be the last time they would ever have a meal together, Lee Han patted the twins on the head.

“I can use the Fairy Path too, so I’ll stop by when I get the glass. Otherwise, you guys can come play in the Great Forest too.”

“Really?!”

“Is it okay to go?! But I heard that the Great Forest is dangerous… … .”

“It’s okay because I’m here!”

The explanation that was on Lee Han’s shoulder jumped up and hugged Sur’s arms.

Sur was delighted by those words and quickly hugged the explanation.

“Hahaha. If you guys come, I’ll show you the Purple Forest too!”

Hongryeon also became close with the twins during her trip.

She hugged Aisin from behind and spoke while stroking her neck, and Aisin burst into laughter and gently patted Hongryeon’s head.

“Hmm… … . The purple forest… … .”

Eric broke out in a cold sweat.

It was because I remembered what happened when I entered the purple forest before.

I wondered if it was okay to send my younger siblings to such a dangerous place, but since Lee Han didn’t say anything, I just nodded obediently.

“By the way, aren’t you going to cook rice?”

“Oops. This is not the time.”

Elsa finally gets to eat rice.

If I want to feed her right when she comes back from washing up, I have to start preparing things slowly.

“What did you guys want to eat? I’ll make that for you too.”

“Wow~!”

“You’ll make bulgogi too?! Huh!? Huh!? Eric! I heard there’s a lot of strong alcohol at Higgs’ estate? Can you bring me some of that too?”

“Hahahaha. I have a lot of alcohol stored away. I’ll give you as much as you want.”

“Wow~! This is exciting!”

Hongryeon, whose face was so happy that it could be expressed with the word ‘happiness’, walked around excitedly.

Lee Han, who heard Aisin’s loud laughter while riding the horse, immediately got up from his seat.

“I’ll be cooking, so you guys just rest.”

***

Elsa closed her eyes as she washed her body with hot water.

A memory from a long time ago came to mind.

It was when she worked under a dwarven craftsman to learn the art of glassblowing.

Working with glass is not an easy task.

It was a job that required a lot of physical strength as they had to be constantly close to extremely hot temperatures, and to replenish their stamina, the craftsmen always had alcohol and food nearby.

It was the same with Elsa.

She, like other craftsmen, loved food and drink, and she cooked many meals for them in her workshop, but she had one regret.

“When will we get to eat rice… … .”

At that time, rice was a very precious ingredient.

The pure white dish made with ingredients that taste sweeter and more savory the more you chew on it was not something that just anyone could eat.

Then one day it happened.

After a long day of work, when I came out feeling refreshed after washing up, my fellow craftsman said to me.

They said rice will be served for dinner tonight.

The story goes that he traded with humans and obtained rice, but that only hard-working craftsmen would use the rice to cook meals.

Elsa, who was curious about the taste of rice, worked hard that day and was able to confidently win the rice.

And the taste.

“… … I still can’t forget it.”

It’s not that I haven’t eaten rice since I came back after learning the technique properly.

Anyway, she was a noble, and a noble who made a lot of money selling glass.

Would it have been difficult for her to eat just a bowl of rice?

But it wasn’t as delicious as the rice I ate back then.

Of course, that doesn’t mean I didn’t like rice.

Anyway, the rice was delicious.

‘I wonder how delicious the rice made by Mr. Lee Han will be… ‘

Elsa licked her lips as she recalled the food he had made for her.

I remembered the honey sweet potato candies he had made for me before.

If he can cook much tastier food than most chefs, wouldn’t he be able to cook something tastier than the rice I ate back then?

She smiled broadly, her heart pounding with anticipation.

“Are you here?”

When Elsa arrived at the Nokmyeongwan after washing and getting ready, she took a deep breath without realizing it because of the pleasant scent that tickled her nose.

“grandma!”

“We want to eat together too!”

My grandchildren, whom I would not mind putting in my eyes, came running towards me.

She hugged the two of them and glanced towards Lee Han, who was busy cooking.

“They say the rice is being steamed.”

Eric, the eldest grandson, came over and said with a smile.

My eldest grandson, who had been causing trouble just a short while ago, was now a very mature man.

This is also thanks to the person over there.

“Shouldn’t it be time for you to take your place as successor?”

“Haha… … . We still have a long way to go.”

She patted her grandson, who was smiling bashfully and scratching the back of his head, and sat down in the prepared seat.

“But what are you doing, Mr. Lee Han? Let’s say you’re steaming the rice… … .”

“Ah. You’re making bulgogi and omelet rice.”

“I decided to make fried rice too!”

“I wonder if it’s too much trouble.”

“No. I like cooking.”

Lee Han turned his head and spoke as if he had heard Elsa’s voice.

She bowed her head slightly to him and looked at the large pot.

“Is there food over there?”

“Yes. It’s being steamed, so you’ll be able to eat it soon. Before that, please eat these first.”

Lee Han, speaking leisurely, held out a plate.

What was piled on the plate was spicy bulgogi that looked like it had just been stir-fried.

Fresh vegetables are placed on the table along with bulgogi dripping with red oil.

Hongryeon, who saw it, was delighted and put the bulgogi on the lettuce and put it in her mouth in one go.

“Hmm! Hmm! Hmm!”

Spicy bulgogi and crunchy lettuce go well together.

Hongryeon, who washed down the bitterness remaining in her mouth with strong alcohol, let out a low moan and trembled.

“Kiya~! Alright! Hey! Let’s have a drink!”

“Haha. Is that so?”

If Elsa likes alcohol, she won’t go anywhere without it.

She wrapped the spicy bulgogi in lettuce and put it in her mouth, chewing it before taking a sip of strong alcohol.

Old memories come to mind.

Memories of working hard, eating grilled meat, and having a drink with other craftsmen.

Even though the people in front of you are not the same craftsmen you used to hang out with, what do you think of them?

I have lovely grandchildren by my side.

Elsa glanced at her grandchildren sitting next to her.

Eric, Sur, and Aisin were also seen eating meat wrapped in lettuce like themselves.

“Is it delicious?”

“Yes! Grandma!”

“Oppa Lee Han’s cooking is so delicious!”

“Hahaha. I see. Okay. Eric. Have a drink.”

“Yes, Grandma.”

It was when Eric took a sip of the drink Elsa had offered him.

Lee Han was approaching the table carrying a large pot.

“It’s all done.”

My heart is pounding with anticipation.

Elsa swallowed hard and looked at the pot, and Lee Han opened the lid to satisfy her expectations.

Hwaak. Pale smoke rises from the cauldron.

What’s inside are pure white rice grains.

As she stared blankly at the sticky rice and swallowed again, Lee Han scooped up a large amount of rice with a wooden spatula and placed it in front of Elsa.

“Here. Take a bite.”

Elsa recalled her memories again as she saw the soft rice in front of her.

Rice that humans ate when they existed.

He couldn’t believe that the food he thought he would never eat again was right in front of him.

With trembling hands, she scooped up a spoonful of rice.

Elsa, who had been staring blankly at the rice with a faint steam rising from it, opened her mouth.

“Haha. Haha. Haha. Haha… … .”

As the hot rice entered her mouth, Elsa closed her eyes without realizing it.

This heat, this stickiness, and the richness and sweetness that overflows the more you chew.

Ahh. This is it.

I missed this, I wanted this.

“It’s really… … delicious.”

“thank you.”

It was the highest praise for Lee Han, who grew this rice and served it as a meal.

I worked hard on my farming because I wanted to hear those words.

Lee Han looked at the others with satisfaction.

I saw people eating pure white rice, each in their own way.

Eric took a bite of the soup, which was filled with meat.

Scoop up some of the spicy bulgogi oil, mix it well, and take a bite.

Aisin took a bite of spicy bulgogi and rice together.

Hongryeon put rice in lettuce wrap and took a bite.

The explanation is just a bite of rice.

Although the way they ate was different, everyone was satisfied.

Looking at it makes me feel proud as someone who grows rice and cooks it.

“Ah. I guess I have to do something else too.”

“No, no, Mr. Lee Han. How about eating together?”

“Haha. I can eat slowly.”

“Then, please have this!”

Aisin came over with a lettuce wrap filled with rice and held it out to me.

Lee Han opened his mouth and ate it, then patted Aisin’s head and went back to cooking.

“Ah… … . I’m full… … .”

I ate so much that there was no more room to eat.

Seeing that everyone was satisfied, Lee Han said to Elsa, who was sipping her soup while watching the servants wash the dishes.

“Then let’s go now.”

“Huh? Are you saying you’re leaving already?”

She expressed her regret, wishing she had just come all this way and rested for a few days before leaving.

But Lee Han was starting to get worried about Daesurim.

No, but rather, I felt hesitant to just rest here and leave, thinking of the people who would be waiting with their eyes wide open for me to come.

“Tree, Shredder, and Walter will be waiting for you.”

“Then, a gift or something… … Is there anything you need? I’ll give you anything.”

“It’s the price of the Bongwang bracelet… … . You don’t have to do that.”

“But I feel too bad about just sending it away.”

“If that’s true, I would appreciate it if you could send me some more glass plates next time.”

“Ahh… … . I understand.”

“Brother Lee Han! Is it okay if we go play in Daesurim?”

“of course.”

“Now?”

When Aisin asked with sparkling eyes, Lee Han looked at Eric.

It didn’t matter to him, but from Eric’s perspective, he wondered if it was okay for the twins to go to Dwarven City and then straight to the Great Forest.

He smiled awkwardly as if he was embarrassed and grabbed the two people who were hanging on to Lee Han.

“Go to sleep. You guys have to catch up on your studies. We went to Dwarven City, so let’s go to the Great Forest together later.”

“Eek… … .”

It’s a shame, but what can we do?

The two dead men bowed their heads and hugged the explanation.

Lee Han got on the cart, smiling at the children who were feeling sorry, and Elsa, who had gathered various things in the meantime, placed them on the cart.

“What is this?”

“It’s medicine and alcohol.”

“Ah. All this stuff.”

“Considering what I received from Lee Han, this also seems insufficient.”

Ihan gave a quick greeting to Elsa, who felt regretful for not being able to take better care of her, and climbed into the cart.

Hongryeon and Seol-ri also greeted the remaining people and got on the cart. After confirming that everyone was on board, Lee Han moved the cart.

“Goodbye!!”

“See you again later!!”

They waved goodbye to the twins who were waving their hands and waved goodbye to Elsa and Eric who were looking at them vaguely, and then set off.

After moving like that, he stopped by the seed storage to receive barley, and summoned fairies through the nearby river. Then, he spoke to the fairies who appeared with a bright smile.

“Would you please send me to Daesurim?”

“Okay! Okay!”

The fog is starting to roll in.

How far did we travel through that fog?

“Huh?! What? Why are you guys coming out of there?”

Shredder, a familiar wolf-man who was carrying water in a large wooden bucket, spoke up.

Tree, who was standing next to him, ran over with a big smile, and Lee Han, who hugged Tree, patted Tree’s back and said.

“I’m back.”