I Grow Crops with a System

Pearl took another huge bite of the Layered Wheat Cake.

Cream got all over its nose, but it didn’t care at all, seeing that expression of melting happiness, Ethan couldn’t help but laugh.

”Meow, the fluffy cream and the chewy wheat pancake crust are a perfect match, meow~”

”Look at you, you’ve got cream all over your nose, eat slower — no one is fighting you for it.”

”Meow, how can I eat something this delicious slowly, meow!”

Saying that, Pearl buried its head back into the food, seeing it eat with such relish filled Ethan’s heart with a sense of accomplishment.

”Besides the Layered Wheat Cake, do you know how to make other kinds of bread, meow?!” Pearl asked, still wanting more.

”Of course I do, come on, let’s start making natural yeast now.”

Ethan took out the lidded clay jar he had prepared earlier and poured water and flour into it in a one-to-one ratio, after stirring it evenly, he put the lid on and placed the jar in a suitable spot.

”Meow? What are you doing, meow?” Pearl asked curiously.

”Letting it ferment,” Ethan replied.

”Ferment? Is that the spell the elf tribe uses often, meow?”

”That’s right, doing this will allow the dough to rise better, making it easier to make bread later.”

He placed a Sun Stone next to the clay jar, as a suitable temperature was beneficial for fermentation.

”Pearl, inject some mana into it.”

”Meow~”

Pearl put down the Layered Wheat Cake in its paws, walked forward, and placed its front paws on the Sun Stone, in an instant, the Sun Stone emitted a soft glow, and the surrounding temperature began to rise.

”This way, we just have to wait twelve hours.”

”That’s a bit long, meow, we have to wait twelve hours...” Pearl was slightly disappointed.

”To finally complete the yeast, it will take at least four days.”

”Meow... wait four days... That’s really heartbreaking, meow...”

Pearl stared at the clay jar, wishing it could open the lid and look inside right now, Ethan couldn’t help but laugh out loud seeing its gluttonous cat appearance.

”Before that, we need to build a proper oven.”

”Meow? Don’t we already have an oven now, meow?”

”The previous one was temporarily built and isn’t very easy to use, to bake delicious bread, I plan to build one in the shape of a baking oven.”

”Why does it feel like there are more and more things to do, meow...” Pearl complained.

”But our lives are getting better and better too, aren’t they?” Ethan said with a smile.

”That is true, meow~”

Compared to the initial shelter that only had a tattered tent, this place had indeed undergone earth-shattering changes, Pearl looked around, then finally finished eating the remaining Layered Wheat Cake.

Walking up to Ethan, it asked, ”Then when are we building a house, meow?”

”Well about that...” Ethan pondered for a moment.

”We’ll talk about it when we have some free time.”

Life was getting better, but it seemed like the tasks to do would never end.

...

In the days following the creation of the natural yeast, Ethan kept a close eye on its condition.

”It should be about ready.”

He opened the lid, checked the fermentation status of the starter, and a hint of a smile appeared on the corners of his mouth.

An appropriate amount of bubbles had formed in the starter, making it the perfect time to add it to the bread dough.

”Meow, can we eat bread today, meow?” Pearl asked excitedly.

”Mhm, we’ll make some to try first, and then send some over to the Canine Beastman village.”

Ethan began to mix flour, water, and natural yeast together, kneading them into dough.

”Since it’s our first time making it, let’s start with a loaf of toast.”

He placed the kneaded dough into a bowl, covered it with a cloth, and let it undergo its first fermentation.

After some time passed, Ethan uncovered the cloth and saw that the dough had expanded quite a bit.

”Wahhh! It expanded so much, meow!” Pearl cried out in surprise.

”Thanks to the natural yeast, next...”

Ethan divided the dough into three portions, placed them into previously prepared molds respectively, and let them undergo a second fermentation.

”Alright, let’s go work in the field.”

”Meow~”

Ethan and Pearl went to the field and checked on the growth of the Honey Sweet Potatoes, carrots, Vitality Cabbage, and Moonlight Tomatoes, because of the scarecrow made from the Blood Jade Beast, there were no traces of birds, mice, or other animals invading the area around the field.

’The Blood Jade really is convenient, I just don’t know how to properly thank it.’

Ethan muttered to himself as he looked at the Blood Jade scarecrow in the center of the field.

”The Blood Jade has no life, it can’t eat, nor does it need to, just treat it as a mass of mana, meow,” Pearl explained.

”I see.” Ethan nodded, reached out, and patted the scarecrow.

”Thanks for your hard work.”

Ethan picked a few ripe Moonlight Tomatoes and then returned to the shelter with Pearl.

By this time, the dough undergoing its second fermentation had expanded even more fully, next, it just needed to be baked.

Pearl stared intently at the molds being placed into the oven, its eyes sparkling with anticipation.

”Meow, can we eat it as soon as it’s done baking, meow?”

”That’s right.”

”It feels like the wait is so long, meow...”

”That’s because this bread is relatively simple, if we were making something more complex, it would require more ingredients and time, alright, let’s take a rest while the bread is baking.”

Ethan stroked Pearl while recovering his fatigued body.

Time ticked by, minute by minute, bursts of aroma drifted out from the oven, Ethan opened the oven door and saw that the bread had been baked to an enticing golden yellow.

[Fragrant Natural Yeast Toast]

[Toast made using natural yeast, it is the perfect choice for breakfast.]

[Delicious Effect: Increases Intelligence upon the first consumption.]

[Delicious Effect: Increases Mana upon the first consumption.]

[Crafting Difficulty: ★★]

”Baked perfectly.”

Ethan looked at the toast emitting a faint luster in front of him and nodded in satisfaction, he tore off a small piece of bread, the soft interior was immediately revealed, emitting an enticing aroma.

”Meow-ahhh...!” Pearl was practically drooling.

”Here, have a taste.”

Ethan handed the torn piece of bread to Pearl, Pearl impatiently took a bite, and Ethan also picked up a piece of bread to carefully savor it.

”Wow?!”

”Meow-ahhh?!”

The two of them let out gasps of amazement at the same time.

The taste of the bread was even more delicious than they had imagined, the crust was crispy, the inside was soft, and it melted in the mouth, even more surprisingly, despite not adding any seasonings like carrot juice or sugar, the bread itself emitted a faint sweetness, becoming more fragrant the more they chewed.

”Could it be because of the high quality of the wheat?” Ethan guessed.

”Meow-ahhh?! What is this? What is this, meow?!” Pearl asked excitedly.

Even Ethan, who used to make bread often, was incredibly surprised by the results this time.

”Wow... this is absolutely amazing!”

Pearl was completely conquered by the deliciousness of the bread.

”Meow, another piece, meow~”