The Famine Field

The following morning, the Jeon family gathered in the backyard.

Everyone stared at the abandoned field.

The soil was cracked like broken pottery. Even weeds struggled to survive.

Father Jeon sighed.

"This land hasn't grown anything in three years."

The eldest brother shook his head.

"We've tried everything."

The second brother added, "We even borrowed seeds from Uncle Liu. Nothing sprouted."

No one believed the field could be saved anymore.

Only Taehyung quietly knelt down.

He grabbed a handful of soil and rubbed it between his fingers.

The soil isn't dead...

It's only exhausted.

In his previous life, he had studied survival techniques and modern farming. This land didn't need magic.

It needed the right method.

"We need ash," Taehyung said calmly.

Everyone blinked.

"...Ash?"

"And rotten leaves."

"The dirt from the old chicken coop."

"The mud near the stream."

The family exchanged confused looks.

Father Jeon scratched his head.

"I've never heard of farming like that."

Taehyung smiled gently.

"It may work."

"Wife!"

Jungkook suddenly raised his hand like an excited child.

"I help!"

Mother Jeon laughed.

"What can you help with?"

"I carry!"

Without waiting for instructions, Jungkook rushed toward the chicken coop.

A moment later—

Crash!

Everyone hurried over.

Jungkook had tripped over a wooden bucket and landed in a pile of dry straw.

He blinked twice before bursting into laughter.

"Hehehe..."

"I'm okay!"

The whole family sighed helplessly.

Father Jeon pulled him to his feet.

"Our Kookie..."

"You really can't do anything properly."

Jungkook only scratched the back of his head sheepishly.

Taehyung couldn't help smiling.

"Come."

"I'll show you."

Jungkook immediately nodded obediently.

"Okay, Wife!"

Instead of letting Jungkook carry heavy baskets, Taehyung gave him easier jobs.

"Can you gather dry leaves?"

Jungkook saluted dramatically.

"Yes!"

He happily ran away.

Five minutes later...

He returned carrying leaves...

Flowers...

Several colorful stones...

And somehow...

A sleeping rabbit.

Taehyung stared silently.

"...Why is there a rabbit?"

Jungkook looked confused.

"It was sleeping."

"So I brought it."

The rabbit suddenly woke up and jumped away.

Everyone burst into laughter again.

Even the usually quiet second brother chuckled.

"Our Kookie can even lose a rabbit after catching it."

Jungkook laughed louder than everyone else.

"He ran fast!"

Throughout the day, the Jeon family worked together.

The brothers loosened the soil.

Father Jeon dug small irrigation channels.

Mother Jeon spread ash over the field.

The eldest sister-in-law sat nearby, smiling as she rested one hand over her stomach.

"I wish our child grows up in better times."

Her husband gently squeezed her shoulder.

"They will."

Taehyung heard his sincere thoughts.

"Even if I starve... I'll never let my wife and child suffer."

His heart warmed.

This family wasn't wealthy.

But they genuinely loved one another.

Only one person remained silent.

The second sister-in-law.

She scattered leaves across the field without speaking.

Yet her thoughts drifted into Taehyung's ears.

"Ever since he arrived..."

"Mother smiles more."

"Father laughs more."

"Even Kookie follows him everywhere."

"Why him?"

Taehyung sighed inwardly.

Jealousy was a dangerous thing.

Especially during famine.

As the sun began to set, everyone admired the freshly prepared field.

Father Jeon wiped the sweat from his forehead.

"It already looks better."

Taehyung nodded.

"Tomorrow we'll plant the seeds."

His father-in-law smiled.

"If they grow..."

"Our family might finally have hope."

Suddenly...

"Wife!"

Jungkook came running from outside the gate.

His face was covered with dirt.

His sleeves were muddy.

Behind his back, he was hiding something.

Taehyung smiled helplessly.

"What is it?"

Jungkook grinned proudly.

"A surprise!"

He slowly brought his hands forward.

Inside them was a tiny bundle wrapped in leaves.

When Taehyung opened it...

His eyes widened.

Vegetable seeds.

Dozens of them.

Not just ordinary seeds...

Several were rare varieties that almost couldn't be found anymore during the famine.

"Where did you get these?"

Jungkook pointed toward the mountain.

"I found them."

Father Jeon looked astonished.

"Impossible..."

"I searched those mountains for years."

"There shouldn't be any seeds left."

Jungkook simply giggled.

"They wanted to come home with Wife."

Everyone laughed at his childish answer.

Only Taehyung became thoughtful.

No matter how lucky someone is...

This shouldn't be possible.

He looked at Jungkook carefully.

The man was still smiling foolishly, completely unconcerned.

His clothes were messy.

His hair stuck out in every direction.

There wasn't the slightest hint of intelligence on his face.

Maybe...

He really is just incredibly lucky.

Taehyung accepted the seeds with a smile.

"Thank you."

Jungkook's eyes curved into crescents.

"Wife happy?"

"Mm."

"I'm happy."

Hearing those words, Jungkook clapped excitedly before wrapping both arms around Taehyung.

"My Wife smiled again!"

The Jeon family laughed warmly at the sight.

None of them noticed that, beyond the village path, a traveling merchant had been watching the scene.

His gaze lingered on the handful of rare seeds in Taehyung's hands.

Then he frowned.

"Those seeds disappeared from the royal granary years ago..."

"How did a village fool find them?"

Without another word, the merchant quietly turned his horse toward the county town.

A rumor had just begun its journey.

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