Sophia looked at Leon suspiciously, then asked, “You’ve eaten Starfruit before too?”
“Mm.” Leon nodded. There was nothing to hide about that.
“No wonder you know.” Sophia finally relaxed, then teased, “So you’re not much different from me. Here I was thinking you were some hero or wizard straight out of a fairy tale.”
“Uh—” Leon was about to say something, but considering Sophia might not know much about certain things, he decided not to explain.
“Alright, I’ll wait for your letter, then. I should head back.”
Having learned why Sophia could grow grapes in the spring, Leon decided it was time to leave. He still needed to contact Django to order some small barrels.
“You’re leaving already?” Sophia said reluctantly. “I was hoping we could have another one-life clear challenge in Prairie King’s Big Adventure.”
“Next time. I’ve still got a few things to do,” Leon declined politely.
“Fine, see you next time.” Sophia didn’t push it. They left the game room together and then stepped out of the Starfruit Saloon.
“Going for a walk?” Leon asked curiously when he saw Sophia heading out with him.
“Sort of. I haven’t been back to Pelican Town in a long time. I wanted to see how it’s changed since I was a kid.” Sophia’s eyes darted away as she explained.
From her expression, Leon could guess her true purpose—likely to visit her parents’ graves. But he didn’t say anything, only offering her a warm smile.
“Alright, I’ll head back then. I had a great time today. Welcome back to Stardew Valley—now that you have your vineyard, I’m no longer the only farmer here.”
“I’m glad to have met you, Leon. Goodbye.” Sophia forced a smile and waved.
She watched Leon pedal away on his bicycle before withdrawing her gaze. After glancing around to make sure no one was nearby, she lowered her head and walked slowly, heavily, toward the cemetery.
…
Meanwhile, Leon returned to his farm. The first thing he did was dig out Django’s business card and dial the number on it.
“Hello, who’s this?” Django’s voice came quickly over the line.
“This is Leon, owner of Red Star Farm. We met this morning,” Leon replied.
“Oh, so it’s Mr. Leon. And this is your number, right? I’d better write it down.” Django’s tone grew much warmer.
“Did you call to ask about dealing with giant cauliflower, or was there something else you wanted to know?”
“I wanted to ask about the Traveling Merchant’s Guild’s stock situation. I’m considering starting a winemaking business and would like to order some small barrels for brewing. Do you have any in stock?” Leon got straight to the point.
“Small barrels for brewing? Of course. If you’re interested, we can talk details,” Django confirmed.
“Let’s talk. Prices, types, and so on. This is my first time getting into winemaking, so I don’t know the ins and outs,” Leon admitted.
If it were another merchant, Leon would never admit to being a novice—doing so was like telling them he was an easy mark.
But with the Traveling Merchant’s Guild, he wasn’t worried. So far, they had only given him good impressions. He doubted they’d stoop to underhanded tactics.
Especially since both sides had something the other wanted. In a mutually beneficial relationship, a large, reputable organization like theirs wouldn’t ruin it for short-term gain.
“In that case, I should explain the options for winemaking barrels,” Django said, clearing his throat.
“We have three types. First, the standard brewing barrel—good seal, no strange odors, the top choice for many winemakers. Price is 200G each. However, it’s only suitable for brewing a single type of wine. If you switch to another fruit, residual flavors from the previous batch might carry over, so it’s best for brewing one fruit variety consistently.
“Next is the oak barrel—ideal for making wine, especially grape wine. The tannins, vanillin, oak lactones, and eugenol from the wood dissolve into the wine, stabilizing its color, softening its taste, and harmonizing its aroma. Blue Moon wine uses these oak barrels. Personally, I recommend this type most. They’re 500G each. You can brew other drinks in them too, but they won’t be as effective as they are with grape wine.
“The third type is our top-grade special barrel. It’s well-sealed, odorless, and made from special wood that allows you to brew a different wine without cleaning it first. The previous batch’s flavors won’t affect the next. This makes it perfect for alternating between different fruits in complex production schedules. Because of the materials, they’re pricier—1,200G each.
Which one would you like, Mr. Leon?”
“I’m not considering grape wine for now. I’ll take one standard barrel and one top-grade barrel to test. Once I know what I need, I’ll place a bulk order. Is that alright?” Leon decided after a moment’s thought.
“Of course. If it’s convenient for you today, I can have them delivered to your farm tonight. If not, just tell me when, and I’ll arrange the delivery at your preferred time,” Django said briskly.
“Anytime’s fine. Tonight works,” Leon replied. The sooner he had the barrels, the better.
“Alright. Since this is your first time getting into winemaking, I’ll also include a brewing guide written by a master winemaker as a gift. I hope it’ll be useful.”
“Thank you, Mr. Django. A pleasure doing business.”
“A pleasure indeed.”
If you enjoyed this chapter, please consider subscribing to me on (www./RomayStories)! Your support helps me keep bringing you more chapters and lets you enjoy them early.
Next Chapter >>>