Today.
It's harvesting time!
The time for harvest had finally come for the Grey Family.
They had already hired helpers to help them, and are in charge of handling the rice stalks while the family of four, including Hao are in charge of the corns.
"Wow, Bob, I've seen this place many times, but I'm still amazed looking at these crops"
One of five helpers, who also happens to be their neighbors, and whom they had asked for a hand in the harvest said with amazement while looking at the huge corn in his hand while talking to Michael's father.
"Right!? This is all thanks to my son! Kuhahahat" Bob couldn't help but laughed proudly and raised his shoulders high.
"Oh boy, here we go again"
The helpers who were already tired from harvesting rolled their eyes, as they quickly stood up and got away from him.
"Wait...where are you going? I'm not done yet!"
"We're going home now!"
Bob hurriedly called out to his friends when he saw them trying to quickly leave, like he was some kind of a monster or something, but old farmers just ignored him and hurriedly ran away from the scene.
"God, dad is so embarrassing" Harin shook her head with a laugh, and continued sorting out the corn that the family is planning to give to their five neighbors who lent them a hand.
"Don't mind him, he's just that happy and proud about your brother"
Their mother said with smiling eyes, and both mother and daughter busied themselves by sorting out the corns into the sacks around them.
"Every corn here is so healthy, and at the same time, we don't need to spend money on the Crop Tester anymore now that Michael is a walking Crop Tester himself" Harin gave a laugh when she had another nickname to call her brother.
The walking Crop Tester.
Crop Tester is a product developed by a company called LNC, short for Life Now Convenient.
Just as the name of the product implies, it's a tool that tests the quality of a crop and determines its rank of value.
The lowest rank is E, while the current highest rated crop would be an A.
And the higher the rank is, the more expensive the crop would be.
Of course, the Crop Tester is not sold to those who can't afford it, so ordinary folks just rent them instead.
The company was once just a small company that deals with construction and farming tools, but it all changed when its owners became a Magic Engineer and Alchemist, who also happens to be husband and wife.
And in two short years, it became one of the largest companies in the world.
Meanwhile.
Michael is currently in one corner of their farm with Hao.
"These are all offerings as thanks for always helping me with the farm"
A few corns are laid on the ground in between Michael and the Elementals who had been a great help to him.
"Wan~ Wan~"
"Wiin~ Wiin~"
"Eoong!"
The Elementals then started moving around the offerings, and an amazing scene happened as the corn slowly disappeared bit by bit like ashes disappearing into thin air.
All of them had bright faces after that, and somehow, Michael could feel that they're satisfied.
"Wan~ Wan~"
"Wiin~ Wiin~"
"Eoong!"
"Later then"
"Hawong!"
Michael smiled while waving his hands in goodbye, while Hao raised her paws with a bright look on her face.
And soon after, the Elementals disappeared into thin air.
"I guess it'll be a while till we'll need their help again"
Michael took a deep breath smiling, while looking at the spot where the Elementals disappeared from, then at the corn on his hand.
Corn
Rating: B+
A crop of high quality. There was a lack of care in the early stages, but it's quality made a quantitative leap during the later stages because of the care of the Elementals and a human who has a high affinity with nature.
It has a lot of health benefits.
"Let's go back Hao!"
"Hawong!"
Michael picked up Hao from the ground and made his way toward where his parents are.
Dusk.
"Hehe, B+ rating, I wonder how much they'll be worth?"
"It'll probably be worth a lot, right? After all, this is a B+ crop that we're talking about, something that's almost an A Rating"
"But am I cooking this right? Such precious things being boiled in water like this"
Michael couldn't help but contemplate on their successful harvest with his hands on his waist while looking after the corn that's being boiled in a large pot.
"But wow, the smell is tantalizing that it makes you want to eat lot later"
Michael couldn't help but get a sniff at the scent of the corn wafting through the surrounding air while gulping down his saliva.
"Bro! Is it not done yet?"
"Hawong!"
Suddenly, his sister Harin appeared beside him with Hao in her arms, and both of them stared at the pot with eyes filled with hunger.
"Seriously? They've only been there for five minutes. Be patient, and that includes you too, mom, dad"
Michael rolled his eyes when he saw actions of his family who suddenly crowded behind him, and kept staring at the pot with shining eyes, and the only thing that's missing now is a saliva dripping from their mouths, and so Michael couldn't help but push them away from there as they are interfering with his "work", where in fact, he just needs to stand there and wait for another twenty minutes to finish boiling the corns.
More or less twenty minutes later.
"Is it still not done yet?"
"Hawong~"
"Hahaha, sorry for the wait! Let's eat!"
Michael came before the dining table with a plate of five corns on it and placed it on the table.
"Oh my gosh, they're really big"
Harin couldn't help but get amazed at the size of the corns and quickly took out her phone and started taking photos of the corns before posting them on her Newstagram!
"Just the smell of it is already tasty enough" Bob said while swallowing his saliva.
"Let's quickly dig in! I've been so famished when it was just getting boiled!" his mother quickly said and took one corn from the plate.
"Hawong!"
Followed by Bob, Harin, then Michael who placed it on Hao's plate, and the latter quickly started to dig in with vigor!
"..!!!"
"Heavens! T..this is so delicious!" said Harin with astonishment after one bite!
Then followed by Michael who was also similarly shocked, "How can a corn be this freaking good!?"
"I've never had such a delicious corn in my life!"
"Me too dear, me too!"
"Hawoooong~!!"
And then there's his mother, who couldn't help but cry a bit while eating the corn in his hands in between sobs, followed by Bob, who just focused on stuffing his mouth after what he said.
Not even two minutes later, the corns which was twice the size of a regular corn was already long gone, and only a bare cob was left!
"Son? Why don't you go boil some more!"
And not even a second later, Michael's mom wasn't still satisfied.
"Huh? But…"
"Go...now"
Michael wanted to say something, but looking at his mother's serious look alongside his family who's looking at him with encouragement, and Hao who's trying to look cute to him.
"Ha~ alright"
"Yay!!!"
"Bro, you're the best!"
"Hawong~!"
Michael could only sigh with a laugh while looking at them.
They were so happy that people would've thought that they won the lottery or something!
*****
Outside.
"We've at least eaten three corns each"
Michael laughed while looking at the now empty sack on his hands.
"It was just supposed to be a taste test, but in the end, it became our dinner"
But through this, Michael was able to determine that they would certainly sell a lot when they enter the market.
He has no doubt that their corns and rice stalks that have a B Rating would certainly become popular!
Especially in a world where there's a lot of foodies like him!
"Kuhahahat! We're gonna be rich!"
Michael couldn't help but raise his hands towards the skies while letting out a laugh full of happiness and hope towards the future.