“How can someone not know whether they need money or not?” Abigail grumbled at Leon.
“Then do you think you need money?” Leon countered.
Abigail froze at the question. Come to think of it… she wasn’t sure either.
She was the only child in her family. Her father ran Pierre’s General Store in town. Although there was competition from Joja Mart, business was actually quite good. Her money-loving father was also exceptionally skilled at making money—never missing the chance to set up a stall even during festivals meant for rest and entertainment, and somehow always turning a profit.
So Abigail figured her family’s situation was decent. Pierre almost always gave her plenty of weekly pocket money, and if she helped out occasionally, he’d reward her generously.
Outsiders might think Pierre was stingy and greedy, but toward his daughter, he was always generous.
But if she claimed she didn’t need money, that wasn’t exactly true either. There were many things she couldn’t bring herself to buy—or rather, couldn’t save enough to buy—so she kept quiet.
“See? You don’t know if you need money or not either. But it’s not really a problem. That’s what you call a fortunate kind of trouble. Whether you know the answer or not doesn’t matter, because people who truly lack money will always give a definite answer.”
As Leon spoke, he sat down beside her. The soft grass beneath him made for a perfect cushion—very comfortable to sit on.
“Are you lecturing me now?” Abigail imitated him, plopping down onto the grass.
“Nope, just chatting. After all, we can’t just sit here staring into space like you were before.” Leon chuckled, then asked again, “Speaking of which, why were you crouching here, staring at the lake?”
“What else am I supposed to do if not space out?” Abigail pouted. “I don’t have a fixed job, no goals or ambitions. I always feel like I have too much time on my hands. Spacing out is the best way to kill time.”
“Can’t you hang out with friends?” Leon asked.
“They’re all busy working.” Abigail lowered her head. “I’m the only one with nothing to do all day.”
Hearing that, Leon finally understood why she had seemed so lonely and lost earlier.
But he didn’t try to comfort her. Instead, he simply sat with her, watching the lake rippling under the breeze, waiting for the occasional fish to leap out of the water. After a long while, Abigail was the first to break the silence.
“Leon, are you busy on the farm?”
“It’s fine. It looks like there’s a lot to do, but once you get into it, it’s manageable. Maybe because my farm’s still new, the work’s pretty easy for now,” Leon explained.
“Oh, I see.” Abigail fell silent again.
Not wanting her to drift off into silence again, Leon asked, “So… are you thinking of asking me to hire you?”
“What makes you think that?” Abigail looked at him curiously.
“Didn’t you say you’ve got nothing to do? Or did I guess wrong?”
“No, you guessed right. I really was thinking of asking if you needed a helper.” Abigail smiled.
“Well, that might have to wait. I can’t afford wages right now,” Leon said with a smirk.
“That’s fine, I can wait. And as for wages, I’m not asking much—just the market average is fine,” Abigail replied.
“Haha, alright. When I can’t handle the work alone anymore, I’ll hire you as my assistant,” Leon promised.
“You can’t go back on that. You’re not just saying that to brush me off, are you?” Abigail asked seriously.
“No, I mean it.” Leon nodded.
With his firm answer, Abigail finally relaxed, her smile becoming brighter.
Seeing the change in her from earlier, Leon realized she really was bored to the point of illness.
No wonder she kept dropping by to eat with him—it might not be about the food at all. She probably just wanted someone to hang out with.
After all, aside from Leon, the farm owner who worked for himself, she didn’t seem to have anyone else willing to mess around with her.
She was an understanding girl, but Leon still found it strange—why did she think he had so much free time? Did she not want to bother other people working, but didn’t mind bothering him?
Leon didn’t dwell on it. Sometimes, a person really could get unbearably bored. Having Abigail around as an occasional meal companion was actually pretty fun.
Maybe lonely people are drawn to each other. After all, humans are social creatures.
For now, the two of them sat quietly on the grass.
No talking. No thinking. No interaction. Just sitting. Until Abigail finally got restless.
“Aren’t you here to fish? Go on, then.”
“If I fish, what will you do?” Leon teased.
“I’ll watch the show.” Abigail said matter-of-factly. “Fishing seems pretty hard. Every summer at the trout competition, my favorite thing is watching fishermen wait forever without catching a single fish, then angrily swinging their rods around.”
“Then you might be disappointed.” Leon grinned, pulled out his fishing rod, baited the hook, and cast into the water with practiced ease.
Maybe the heavens were on his side—within ten seconds of the bait hitting the water, the float was pulled under. Leon’s wrist snapped, reeling in the line, and an unprepared silver carp was hauled ashore.
“See? Fishing’s that easy.” Leon dangled the fish in front of Abigail like a trophy, only putting it away after seeing her embarrassed, annoyed expression.
He rebaited the hook, then handed the rod to Abigail. “Want to try?”
“Can I?” Abigail was surprised he’d let her. “I’ve barely ever fished.”
“That’s exactly why you should try.” Without giving her a chance to refuse, Leon shoved the rod into her hands, guiding her toward the lake. He showed her how to cast and how to watch the float.
It was just like when Willy had first taught Leon. The thought made him grin—maybe all fishermen secretly love dragging others into the hobby.
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