Healing in the Country Side with a Baby Dragon - CHAPTER 12 (Stir-fried Soybean Paste and Acorn Jelly)

A man clad in gleaming armor stands alone in a barren wasteland filled with jagged rocks.

The silver plating catches the afternoon sun, refracting it into a brilliant, shifting rainbow of light. Beneath the heavy visor, his eyes shine with a fierce, unwavering determination. A deep, heavy sigh follows.

Holding his breath, he shifts his weight, his entire body locking into a tense, reverent posture as he lifts a legendary artifact high above his head. He aims straight at the enemy before him, channeling the absolute will to shatter it with a single blow.

*Down!*

He strikes using the perfect kinetic chain—the recoil of his toes, his waist, his shoulders, and his wrists all fluidly integrating into a beautiful, flawless form.

“Haaap!”

A fierce battle cry bursts from his chest as the tool slices through the air, painting a splendid silhouette against the clear blue sky.

‘Please, don’t blow up the entire mountain this time!’

A cold sweat broke out across my brow as I watched the razor-sharp tip of the pickaxe arc downward. I couldn't even count how many times I had accidentally demolished the landscape today. I literally couldn't handle any more property damage!

The exact millisecond the EX-grade dwarven pickaxe struck the solid granite:

*Phew!*

With a sharp, compressed pop—completely devoid of a normal stone-crashing sound—the massive boulder simply vanished into thin air, leaving behind absolutely nothing but a faint breeze.

“Hoooo...”

I exhaled a massive, trembling sigh of relief as the automated SSS-grade armor automatically retracted, folding away from my face into the sleek bracelet on my wrist. I scanned the area. Thank goodness. This time, the magic tool had actually behaved itself and only cleaned up the targeted rock without deleting the underlying tectonic plate.

It had taken me exactly ten frantic attempts to finally achieve a normal result. Seriously, if the local topography disappears every single time you swing an implement, can you even call it a piece of farming equipment? That thing was a weapon of mass destruction disguised as a tool.

“Byaaaa!”

“Ta-aang!”

From a safe distance near the porch, the enthusiastic cheers of Seol-ah and the earth fairies rang out. Seol-ah was bouncing on her heels, thoroughly enjoying the rhythmic popping sounds of exploding geology. As for the earth fairies, they didn't seem to care if I accidentally warped reality, so long as their precious garden plot kept expanding.

I slung the heavy pickaxe over my shoulder and wiped a bead of sweat from my forehead. 

"Alright, that’s plenty for today."

I casually kicked away a tiny piece of stray gravel. Honestly, since the giant rocks were literally erasing themselves from existence instead of shattering into heavy debris, it saved me the agonizing labor of hauling them away. 

'Maybe this crazy dwarven gear is going to be a lot more convenient than I thought?'

Right as I was secretly savoring my satisfaction, a chorus of high-pitched squeaks erupted around my ankles.

“What are you talking about, Great Master! There is still so much land left to conquer!”

“He’s right! We cannot allow this vast, beautiful wilderness to sit here and go to waste!”

The earth fairies had swarmed my boots before I even noticed, puffing out their tiny chests and yelling up at me. It was true that the patch of ground I had just cleared was only a minuscule fraction of the surrounding overgrown fields, but I had a very specific, legally binding reason for stopping.

“That’s not my property.” I explained, pointing to the invisible boundary line.

“I only own the deed up to where that last rock vanished. The rest of this vacant valley and the entire mountain behind it belong to someone else.”

I had heard from the village elder that the land was split among various local residents.

“Since it belongs to other people, we shouldn't cross over or touch a single blade of grass without explicit permission.” I lectured them. 

“This isn't land we can just freely convert into a vegetable garden.”

The earth fairies looked completely bewildered.

“Earth? But isn't the Great Master the absolute ruler of this realm?!”

“This is pure heresy!”

“This entire continent and all the mountains within it naturally belong to the Great Master!”

“No, they don't.” I deadpanned. 

“An actual human neighbor owns it.”

“Oh, the tragedy!”

“How could the cosmos allow this to happen?!”

They looked genuinely traumatized, clutching their tiny heads in despair. I couldn't help but chuckle internally. If I actually had enough money to purchase this massive valley and the entire mountain range behind it, would I have lived such a broke, exhausting life back in the city?

Suddenly, the earth fairies began trembling with a surge of microscopic adrenaline, raising their tiny fists into the air.

“Conquest! We must launch a conquest for the territory!”

“War! War is the only definitive answer!”

The little furballs puffed out their coats, their eyes blazing with primitive battle fury. They were actively chanting a battle cry to launch an immediate cross-border invasion to claim the neighboring real estate. There was seriously no limit to what these reckless little creatures would propose.

What kind of medieval territorial war did they think they could wage in a peaceful 21st-century rural village? Before the local police department could pass judgment on their illegal border crossing, I decided to execute a little disciplinary action of my own.

I reached down and subjected a few of the instigators to a series of firm finger-squishes.

“Squish, squish, squish... it’s a miserable, crushing defeat.” they whimpered, flattening instantly under my fingertips.

“There is absolutely nothing in this universe that can withstand the Great Master’s terrifying pressure...”

The tiny warmongers tired themselves out within seconds and began crying comically. They couldn't even put up a proper fight, yet they had the nerve to talk about launching a military campaign. Seol-ah, finding the whole display highly entertaining, waddled over and happily joined in, lightly tapping the earth fairies to hear them squeak.

“Well... later. Realistically down the line, once I actually make some real money, I’ll look into officially buying up the adjacent lots to expand our property.” I murmured, thinking out loud.

“Earth?”

“Huh?”

Not only did the earth fairies instantly freeze, but even Seol-ah turned her head, her big eyes sparkling with sudden interest at my casual comment.

“Seol-ah, would you like it if Daddy bought a much bigger piece of land?”

“Yes!” she chirped, nodding vigorously.

“Why’s that?”

Seol-ah cradled a couple of earth fairies gently in her chubby hands, thought about it for a brief moment, and then spread her arms out as wide as they could go.

“Do you want a big yard so you can invite even more friends over?”

“Yes!”

[The Healing Life of a Beginner Dad]

[Quest: Seol-ah's Social Circle]

[Seol-ah is lonely and needs some special friends! Expand your property boundaries and cultivate rare, mystical flora to attract unique dimensional travelers! It will significantly aid her developmental growth!]

A new quest notification manifested right before my eyes. Well, it made perfect sense. Seol-ah wasn't exactly a normal toddler; she was an SSS-class Dimensional Dragon. It seemed there was an entire registry of exotic creatures she could subconsciously summon besides our current batch of earth fairies. To make that happen, I needed to expand my land and build a proper estate.

“Alright, let’s take it one slow step at a time.” I smiled, gently patting her head.

If it was Seol-ah’s wish, I would make it happen.

I could focus on generating a steady income by selling our golden bell tomatoes and the rest of our premium garden produce. Once the savings built up, I’d officially purchase the surrounding acreage and expand the house. There was absolutely no need to rush; we had all the time in the world.

To be completely honest, I was getting pretty curious myself. What other kinds of mythical creatures would end up showing up if we expanded? The earth fairies were incredibly cute, helpful, and low-maintenance. I could only hope that whatever friends arrived next would be just as cooperative.

“Shall we finish plowing the soil for today?”

After cooling down from the heat, I pushed myself up from the porch and braced for the next phase of farm work. Now that the embedded boulders had been successfully disintegrated, it was time to turn over the dry, compacted dirt. Normally, this would be a task I'd delegate entirely to the fairies.

“But I’ll handle the tilling today.” I announced.

I had just received that legendary set of dwarven agricultural gear, and I was dying to see how the other tools functioned. This time, I pulled out a heavy, mastercrafted hand-plow from the bundle.

[Effect: Drastically elevates soil fertility upon tilling.]

The system literally promised that the earth would become hyper-fertile the moment the metal broke the surface. As a beginner farmer, how could I possibly resist testing out an option like that? It was time to get a taste of its performance.

I took a confident, wide stance, raised the dwarven plow, and drove it firmly into the hard ground.

*Whoosh—!*

The entire plot of earth in front of me violently erupted, seamlessly flipping upside down in a massive, elegant wave of soil. As the airborne dust slowly drifted back down to the newly pristine, dark earth, the crowd went wild.

“War! It’s a glorious war against the earth!” the fairies screamed, running around in frenzied circles.

“Baaaaaaah!” Seol-ah cheered, throwing her hands in the air with pure excitement.

I stared at the perfectly tilled, nutrient-rich field, then lowered my gaze to the innocent-looking plow in my hand. I slowly raised a hand to pinch the bridge of my nose.

“No, seriously... why on earth is the performance this overpowered?!”

EX-grade farming equipment was genuinely terrifying.

Once the massive plot had been instantly tilled by my single swing, the earth fairies took over to handle the meticulous detailing. Moving in perfect, synchronized harmony, the tiny creatures leveled out the beautifully turned soil and began planting the fresh variety of seeds we had prepared for our newly expanded garden.

Previously, our modest inventory had been limited to standard household basics like lettuce, chives, and green onions. This time, however, we boldly diversified our crops. We laid down rows of green chili peppers, cucumbers, zucchinis, eggplants, perilla leaves, potatoes, and sweet potatoes. Since the earth fairies' passive aura caused crops to mature at an unnaturally rapid pace anyway, I figured it made much more sense to cultivate a rich variety of vegetables rather than just mass-producing one item.

As the pristine green sprouts began visibly pushing through the rich soil, the earth fairies burst into a joyful, rhythmic song, thoroughly delighted by the progress.

“Our green chilis are sprouting strong, getting nice and spicy~”

“Oh my word! Look at how beautifully they climb~!”

“Thump, thump, thump, the zucchinis and eggplants are ripening to perfection!”

“The subterranean potatoes and sweet potatoes are sleeping soundly. Rest well, grow swell~!”

“Blah, blah, blah!” 

Seol-ah chirped, mimicking their rhythm as she gently patted the soil beds, offering her own adorable words of encouragement to the growing plants.

[You have beautifully expanded your agricultural garden!]

[Thanks to a vastly enriched variety of crops, your future holds a bountiful, incredibly therapeutic healing life!]

With that, our morning gardening session officially came to a successful close. 

*Grumble...*

My stomach let out a timely roar, prompting Seol-ah to look up at me and let out a bright giggle. 

"Let's go wash up and fix some lunch." I smiled, lifting her up. 

Deciding what to cook for lunch every day was a daily ritual that brought a perfect mix of excitement and anticipation. What could I whip up today that would hit the spot?

Right as I was browsing through the refrigerator, a firm knock echoed from the front door.

“Is anyone home?” a familiar voice called out. 

“It’s So-yoon’s father. Jin-sol, are you around?”

It was Kim Sang-do, our neighbor from down the road.

“Yes! We’re inside! Just a moment!” 

I called back, putting down a carton of eggs.

“Bam!” 

Seol-ah cheered.

I couldn't help but smile as I walked toward the entryway. It felt genuinely nice to have neighbors knocking on the door like a normal family, rather than magical guests literally tearing through the fabric of space and falling from the heavens onto my roof.

I unlatched the door and swung it open.

“Hello, Uncle!”

Standing right beside her father was little So-yoon, her face lighting up the moment she saw us.

“Please, come on in.” 

I welcomed them warmly. Ever since the community dinner at the village hall, I had been periodically sending over baskets of our golden bell tomatoes as a neighborly gesture. It looked like they had officially run out of their latest batch and had come to pay a visit.

“I figured Seol-ah could use some new toys to play with.” Kim Sang-do said, holding up a large bag before handing over a neatly sealed container. 

“And my wife made some fresh, homemade acorn jelly for you guys.”

“Oh, wow, you really didn't have to bring all this. Thank you so much.” I said, feeling a bit overwhelmed by his generosity. 

Every single time he dropped by, his hands were heavily loaded with gifts. Last time, it was a massive stack of children's picture books, and today it was a whole collection of toys. Even though I repeatedly insisted he didn't need to keep treating us, he always brought things over, purely thinking about what would benefit Seol-ah's upbringing.

To be completely honest, I was incredibly grateful. Since this was my absolute first time raising a child, having an experienced parent offer practical advice and physical resources was an immense help. I certainly hadn't shared my tomatoes with the expectation of getting anything in return, but the warmth of the countryside was a breath of fresh air.

“Think nothing of it. We do it because we're genuinely thankful for your kindness.” Kim Sang-do replied with a hearty laugh.

“Seol-ah!” 

So-yoon called out, stepping into the living room.

“Sister So-yoon!” 

Seol-ah squealed, sprinting across the floorboards to throw her arms around her favorite playmate. Bright, identical smiles erupted across both of their faces.

“Seol-ah, have you been doing well?” 

So-yoon asked, holding her hands.

“Bam!”

“What did you do today? Did you play anything fun?”

“Blah, blah! Blah, blah, blah—!” 

Seol-ah babbled excitedly, gesturing wildly toward the backyard.

“Wow, really? That sounds like so much fun!” 

So-yoon giggled, nodding along as if she perfectly understood the intricate dialect of a baby dragon.

Watching the two girls chatter away, I turned to Sang-do. 

“Let me go ahead and pack some fresh tomatoes for you to take back. Give me just a second.”

I stepped out to the porch and harvested a basketful of perfectly ripened golden bell tomatoes, their vibrant skins glistening like polished gems in the warm sunlight. I handed the heavy basket over to him.

“Thank you, Jin-sol. Well, we should probably head back now.” Kim Sang-do said, adjusting his cap.

“Huh? You’re leaving already?” I asked, noticing the immediate look of disappointment on both girls' faces. 

So-yoon and Seol-ah looked entirely crestfallen at the prospect of an abrupt goodbye.

As Kim Sang-do stood there scratching his head, feeling a bit guilty for tearing his daughter away so quickly, I offered a casual invitation. 

“If you don't have any pressing plans, why don't you guys stay and have lunch with us before you go?”

“Oh, would that really be alright? We don't want to impose,” he hesitated.

“Not at all! Seol-ah absolutely loves playing with So-yoon." I laughed. 

“Since you’re already here, you might as well stay, have a bite to eat, and take your time.”

“Well... in that case, I'll gladly accept your hospitality.”

“Yay!” 

So-yoon cheered.

“Bam!” 

Seol-ah echoed, both girls throwing their arms up in celebration at the executive decision made by their fathers. I suppose Sang-do felt a bit self-conscious about leaving right away after receiving such a large bounty of premium produce, so the invitation worked out perfectly. Plus, I had been meaning to ask him a few questions regarding local agricultural distribution networks. If I wanted to buy up the adjacent lots and expand the house for Seol-ah, I needed to accelerate my farming revenue.

“Is there anything I can do to help in the kitchen?” Sang-do offered, rolling up his sleeves.

“Don't worry about it. Just relax and keep an eye on the kids." I replied easily, heading out to the back lot to gather a few more ingredients.

Eager to show off her newly renovated kingdom, Seol-ah grabbed So-yoon’s hand and proudly dragged her toward the backyard, with Kim Sang-do naturally following close behind to supervise.

“Wow... Jin-sol, you’re growing this many different varieties? And they’ve already matured this much?!” 

Kim Sang-do’s astonished voice echoed across the yard.

“Ah, yes. They’re... pretty enthusiastic growers." 

I called back, offering a slightly strained chuckle. I glanced out at the patch. Sure enough, the seeds we had literally just planted a few minutes ago were already flourishing into robust, thriving plants. It was a terrifyingly efficient process, courtesy of the earth fairies.

“There isn't a single withered leaf, and I don't see a single pest.” Sang-do murmured, inspecting the immaculate crops in utter disbelief. 

“What kind of agricultural chemicals are you using out here? Seriously, please recommend me the brand.”

“I haven't sprayed a single thing.” I answered honestly.

“Pardon?”

“I don't use pesticides or chemical fertilizers.”

“Then... how on earth are they growing like this?”

Faced with his completely bewildered, professional gaze, I could only scratch my head awkwardly. I hadn't given the soil a single drop of medicine. Every ounce of credit belonged entirely to the secret labor of the earth fairies.

“Wow... so this is what real, raw talent looks like." 

Kim Sang-do breathed, staring at me as if I were a legendary master farmer. 

“I never realized that agriculture could be an innate genius talent.”

I could have sworn I heard a chorus of tiny, smug giggles erupting from the tall grass at his exclamation, but I ignored it and headed inside to prepare a quick, kid-friendly feast.

I recalled that I had recently bought a few packs of premium sausages and tucked them away in the fridge. For the girls, a classic stir-fried sausage and vegetable dish would be absolutely perfect.

I looked back out toward the living room. 

“Uncle, do you mind a quick drink with lunch, or is it a bit too early?”

“Oh, my. I’m only sad when there 'isn't' a drink available.” 

Sang-do replied with a broad grin.

“Dad!” So-yoon immediately piped up, crossing her arms. 

“Mom explicitly told you not to drink today!”

“Let’s just keep it to one single glass, sweetie.” Sang-do bargained smoothly, leaning down. 

“If you keep this a secret, I won't tell your mother that you haven't finished your weekend homework yet.”

So-yoon’s eyes narrowed into a shrewd calculation. 

“...Really?”

“It’s a promise.”

“Hehe, okay! It’s a deal!”

A flawless, highly transactional contract had officially been established between father and daughter. With the adults' drinks secured, I decided to use the homemade acorn jelly Sang-do had brought to whip up a crisp, refreshing acorn jelly salad.

I started by washing and trimming the fresh lettuce, carrots, and cucumbers I had pulled from our garden.

[Carrot - Grade: C], [Cucumber - Grade: B]

[Crops cultivated in this garden are heavily imbued with the rich, primordial nutrients of the earth and the blessings of the earth fairies. They possess an extraordinary aroma and an exceptionally crisp flavor profile.]

I noticed something fascinating—the item grades, which had consistently stayed at C-grade previously, had officially jumped up to B-grade. It was an immediate testament to the miraculous power of the Harvest God's tools.

I whisked together a savory dressing using soy sauce, red pepper powder, a splash of vinegar, and a drizzle of rich sesame oil. I tossed the crisp vegetables and tender acorn jelly gently in the large bowl, layering the finished salad onto a wide plate before topping it with thinly sliced green chilis and a generous dusting of toasted sesame seeds.

Next up was the sausage stir-fry. 

‘There isn't a kid on the planet who dislikes stir-fried sausages.’

I thought confidently. Honestly, that went for adults, too.

I roughly chopped onions and carrots into bite-sized pieces and scored the sausages with neat diagonal cuts. I heated a splash of cooking oil in a wide pan, tossing in chopped green onions first to create a fragrant scallion oil base before dropping the sausages in to sear. This technique always locked in an incredible, smoky aroma. While some health-conscious folks prefer boiling sausages in water first, doing so completely drains the rich, savory fats and artificial flavor notes that make them delicious in the first place. To compromise, I tossed a handful of halved golden bell tomatoes straight into the pan alongside the vegetables. 

'Golden bell tomatoes, do your thing and detoxify the processed meat for us.'

Problem solved. 

“So-yoon, can you handle a little bit of spice?” I called out.

“I love spicy food!” she answered proudly.

With her green light, I immediately reached for the gochujang (Korean chili paste). Personally, I always preferred a stir-fry with a rich, spicy gochujang base over a purely sweet one. While a standard ketchup and oyster sauce combination is perfectly fine, it can sometimes taste a little flat. I kept the paste quantity light so it wouldn't overwhelm their palates, tossing everything together until the sausages and crisp vegetables were coated in a beautiful, glossy red glaze that emitted a mouthwatering aroma.

*Sizzle—!*

The soothing sound of the hot pan intermingling with the bright, carefree chatter of the children in the living room brought a profound wave of peace over me. I plated the stir-fry while the vegetables still retained their perfect, crunchy texture. Cooking was complete.

We set the vibrant dishes across the low table on our open terrace, serving bowls of piping hot rice before gathering around. To complete the spread, I fetched a chilled bottle of traditional makgeolli (milky rice wine) from the refrigerator.

Kim Sang-do nodded with a massive, appreciative smile. It was the exact same, eye-crinkling smile that So-yoon had flashed when greeting Seol-ah. Her overall facial features were a spitting image of her mother, but her warm, radiant smile belonged entirely to her dad. Seeing them sit side by side made it undeniably clear that they were father and daughter.

“Alright, girls, go ahead and dig in first.” I encouraged.

“Thank you for the meal, Uncle! I'll eat well!” So-yoon chirped, politely waiting for her father to lift his chopsticks before she instantly snagged a glazed sausage and a piece of sweet onion, popping them into her mouth.

“Thank you for this food!” Sang-do echoed, taking a bite of the acorn jelly salad.

“Byaa-!” Seol-ah cheered.

The moment the flavors hit their tongues, both of their eyes widened in synchronized shock.

“Wow, this is delicious!”

“Mm! It’s incredible!”

The compliments burst from their mouths simultaneously. Seol-ah and I made eye contact across the table, sharing a bright, knowing smile.

Sitting out on the sunny terrace with our wonderful neighbors, enjoying a hearty lunch enveloped by a gentle, refreshing country breeze—I knew right then, with absolute certainty, that leaving the chaotic city to return to the quiet countryside was the single best decision I had ever made in my life.