Foreign Land Reclamation By a Vegetable-growing Skeleton Chapter 1031

Chapter 1031: Chapter 599: Friend, Lend Me Some Leaves_2 Chapter 1031: Chapter 599: Friend, Lend Me Some Leaves_2 “Oh no, oh no, I haven't finished saying, said completely…” the farmer said anxiously and flusteredly, “Anyone can eat it, but only the followers of the three Gods can taste the sweetness of the fruit. It's all over, you actually spat it out? You've wasted food, you're in trouble.”

“Oh? I'm in trouble? And someone dares to trouble me? Very well, I'll wait right here to see who dares to trouble a High-level Magician,” Drov said irritably.

He was starting to suspect that the farmer had picked an unripe date to fool him, which was quite common; in this age, encountering thieves and robbers was a regular occurrence, as were all forms of deceit. Without any power, venturing out was akin to seeking death.

So he intentionally revealed his status as a High-level Magician to see who would dare trouble a High-level Magician.

The farmer was on the verge of tears, “No, I mean, you–sigh, anyone can eat green dates, but those who don't believe in the three Gods can't taste their sweetness; they can only feel full. If someone is hungry, they can eat regardless of belief, but you mustn't waste them, or you'll be in big trouble.”

“Oh? How so?” Drov asked leisurely.

The farmer said pityingly, “You'll get diarrhea; I hope you've brought enough leaves to wipe your bottom.”

Drov's face changed color, and he reflexively responded, “Magicians don't use leaves to wipe…” and then heard a thunderous rumble from his belly, accompanied by an overwhelming urge to relieve himself.

Drov's face turned green as he exclaimed urgently, “You've poisoned the dates! Ugh… Seize him, don't let him escape…”

He could not finish speaking before turning to dash toward the roadside. With a flick of his hand, a hollow column of mud rose from the ground, and, lifting his robe, Drov sat down on it, followed by the sound of a torrential release into the abyss.

Equally green-faced was Rebinya, for she too had eaten a green date, whereas Drov had eaten only half and had even spit it out, amounting to little more than a taste on his lips, and yet he was in such a state?

Although her stomach showed no signs of distress, Rebinya still hesitated whether to look for a private spot in advance, as she didn't possess Drov's skill to create a makeshift toilet on the spot.

However, by this time, the farmer had already turned around, trembling, and said anxiously, “Ma'am, you must bear witness for me. You also ate a green date; I haven't poisoned anyone. The Mage Lord is like that because he wasted food and received the curse of the Gods; it's not my fault.”

The farmer's expression didn't seem deceitful, and Rebinya also felt no symptoms of diarrhea. Unlike Drov, she didn't shun the Gods, so she asked, “It really wasn't poison?”

“Really not, not at all, everyone here knows, wasting food will incur the curse of the Gods; diarrhea is the least of it. More severe cases involve turning red and breaking out in sores, even leading to death,” the farmer clarified anxiously.

Turning red and breaking out in sores?” Rebinya's complexion paled drastically as she asked in a rush, “I've eaten it too and haven't gotten diarrhea. Could I turn red and develop sores? Is it an allergy? I'm not a follower of the Gods; it won't affect me, right?”

Diarrhea was one thing, as long as it wasn't embarrassingly in public, but turning red and breaking out in sores? Oh my, could it disfigure one's face?

The farmer shook his head, “You won't. You prayed to the Harvest Goddess, and the Gods allowed you to taste the sweetness of the green dates. You'll be fine.”

“Really that miraculous? Just pray and it'll be okay?” Rebinya was still somewhat incredulous.

The farmer nodded confidently, “That's how miraculous it is.”

At that moment, a couple with seven children walked onto the road, greeted the farmer, and then the whole family knelt under a green date tree, praying devoutly.

After finishing, the children climbed the tree, picked eighteen green dates–two for each person, not one more or less–and munched on them as they walked back.

Clearly, they weren't the only ones eating green dates. Judging by the family's practiced behavior, it wasn't their first time picking these dates to eat.

“Who are they?” Rebinya inquired curiously.

“Oh, they're poor folk from the city, recruited by the Commerce Guild to manage the greenhouse vegetables here. They get to eat, but that family has too many kids, and the money they earn isn't enough. So they come every day to pick two green dates each to eat,” the farmer explained.

“Greenhouse vegetables?” Rebinya frowned slightly; she seemed to have heard the term before but was too preoccupied to ask about it, instead posing another question, “Why only pick two? Why not more? Is two enough to feel full?”

“It's a blessing from the Gods, but the Gods don't sustain the idle. Eating two so you won't starve is enough; if you want to feel full, then you must work for it,” the farmer explained.

After that, he added, “Eating more will give you diarrhea.”

“What if I don't eat them? What if I pick more and save them, and eat them tomorrow instead? That way, I wouldn't have to come out here every time. Would that still cause diarrhea?” Rebinya asked.

If that were possible, then none of these green dates would remain. Someone would surely pick them all and sell them in the city. As long as they ate only two at a time and prayed beforehand, wouldn't that be alright?

The farmer replied, “You won't get diarrhea, but you will turn red and break out in sores.”

Rebinya asked several more questions, and the farmer answered each one, which only increased her puzzlement. The existence of these green dates seemed designed to ensure a bare minimum food security. Eating too many was not allowed, nor was saving them for later; they had to be picked and eaten on the spot.

Chapter end

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