Chapter 5 : Deciding Crop

"Info, I can't grow wheat because only the powerful people here grow it. If anyone else tries to grow wheat, they get thrown in jail."

[Host, there are still many food sources in this world that haven't been discovered yet.]

"How do you know all this?" John asked with some curiosity.

[Host, did you forget? I'm the hub of information. No information can be hidden from my data.]

After hearing Info's explanation, John asked,

"So tell me that information about the food sources,"

[There are many food sources, such as...]

1. Barley

2. Potato

3. Corn (Maize)

4. Rice

5. Rye

6. Millet

7. Sorghum

8. Buckwheat

9. Rice

10. Quinoa

11. Amaranth

12. Teff

13. Cassava

14. Sweet Potatoes

15. Yams

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John, when he saw such a long list of food sources on the screen, was completely astonished.

"What... all these haven't been discovered yet? There are so many food sources in this world, but the wealthy just sit comfortably and fill their stomachs."

" And they don't even give people like us a chance to learn. If we were to study, we might surpass them, and that's why they don't allow us to study."

"I will bring these crops to the world's attention. There are many like us who work for hours just to get one meal a day."

Thinking about this, John felt a deep sense of happiness, believing that a bright and new future was waiting for him.

"Info, are these crops not discovered yet?" John asked to confirm, as he was hearing this for the first time.

[Even if discovered, they are only cultivated for a few people, and this information may not be available in the market.]

"What... how greedy and selfish these people are! They keep such information hidden. If I find out that these things were hidden from the world, I won't let these greedy people go," John said, his face turning red with anger.

"So, INFO, which crop should I start growing first?" John asked, since he was unfamiliar with all this and needed a quickly growing food source.

[Potatoes are currently the best choice because…

°Grow quickly, even in less fertile soil.

°Highly nutritious and versatile.

°Can be stored for a longer period, ensuring food security.

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"Hmm... So, potatoes are easy to grow, a healthy food source, and can be stored for a long time," John mused.

"Alright, I'll start with this as my first step to ensure I never have to suffer from hunger again."

[Good choice, Host. You've made a solid start,] Info complemented before going silent.

"Okay, give me some details about how it looks and where it grows."

[Potatoes grow underground in a round, knotted shape with a brown skin. The plant has large green leaves, and its flowers are white. They grow best in loose, dry soil, so you'll need to find a location with those conditions,] Info explained.

...

Uncle Tom, after washing up, came out of his dilapidated house holding a piece of bread and said:

"John, have you eaten anything? If not, here, take this and eat it."

"No, Uncle Tom, I've already eaten. You have it," John replied. He had eaten around 2 AM and wasn't hungry anymore. He was used to enduring hunger, so he refused the bread.

"Are you really full, or are you lying to me?" Uncle Tom asked with some concern.

"I'm truly full, Uncle. Please, eat it yourself. I'm fine," John said, trying to hand the bread to Uncle Tom.

Uncle Tom took the bread from John's hand and said, "Alright then, I'll take it. I still have the strength to work. I'm not at the stage where I need to be fed."

"Haha... When the time comes for me to feed you, you won't be able to refuse," John said with a laugh.

"Sure, we'll see how much service you'll provide," Uncle Tom replied.

"Let's see," John said, looking up at the sky.

"Hmm... It seems like more rain is coming," John said, observing the clouds.

"It's likely. This rain has already started causing leaks in my house," Uncle Tom said, looking at the clouds.

"Yes, my house is also leaking from above. I had to sleep in one corner," John said, and both started laughing, lightening the mood.

"Oh, what's this? You both look so happy today. Is there good news?" asked an unfamiliar man who looked about 35, with muscles and a dirty towel on his head. He approached and sat down in front of John and Uncle Tom.

Seeing the man, Uncle Tom laughed and said, "Nothing much, Victor. He's just enjoying the state of our houses."

"Seeing your condition makes me laugh. I'm hearing this for the first time," Victor said, looking a bit confused.

"Forget that. You're late for work today," Uncle Tom said, as Victor's home was nearby, and they usually exchanged a few words when he returned from work.

"Yesterday, when I was carrying a sack of wheat to the fields, my back started hurting, so I told everyone I'd be a bit late today." Victor explained

John, hearing Victor's situation, asked, "Can't you take a day off, Uncle Victor?"

Victor replied, "No, John. If I take even one day off, four days' worth of my monthly ration will be cut. Being late by half a day costs one day's ration."

Seeing Victor's condition, John felt saddened, realizing how even working 16 hours a day seemed worthless. This seemed highly unfair to hardworking people, and John's anger towards the powerful grew.

Seeing John's angry expression, Victor said, "John, being angry doesn't help. It actually causes more harm. You're young, and you don't yet understand how this world works. Keep your anger in check."

John responded, "Okay, Uncle Victor, but it's still wrong. Even after working so hard, they don't appreciate you. It makes me very angry."

Victor got up from his place, placed a hand on John's shoulder, and said,

"I used to be just as angry at your age. But that anger faded as I grew older. Showing anger doesn't improve our situation; it only makes it worse."

"If we get angry in front of them, they won't spare us. So, it's safer not to get angry."

Remembering his own experience from Milltown, John calmed down after Victor's explanation.

"Hmm... Good boy…"

After saying that, Victor sat down on the ground.

"So, Victor, how's your back pain now?" Uncle Tom asked.

"Last night, my wife gave me a bit of a massage, so it's a little better, Brother Tom," Victor replied.

"That's good. I hope it gets better quickly," Uncle Tom said, continuing the conversation. "I haven't seen your son around lately. Where have you sent him?"

Victor responded, "My boss's son has taken him on for some work, so he only comes home once a week."

"That's great! Your son found work quickly," Uncle Tom said with some happiness, knowing how difficult it is to find decent work.

"Yes, it's good," Victor agreed.

"John, I almost forgot to ask you—so, what's your idea?" Uncle Tom said, turning towards John.

Victor then asked, "What idea are you talking about, Brother Tom?"

"Oh, nothing much. Before you arrived, John was looking very happy, so I asked him why, and he said it was because of an idea he had. That's all," Uncle Tom explained.

"Well, John, now I want to hear this idea too. It must be something good," Victor said, looking at John expectantly.

"Of course, Uncle Tom and Uncle Victor, I was about to tell you even if you hadn't asked," John replied.

"Alright then, tell us now!" both Uncle Tom and Victor said at the same time.

"My idea is to start growing crops," John revealed to both of them.

"What...?" they both exclaimed in shock.

"Are you out of your mind, John? There's an order from above that people like us can't grow crops, and if we do, we'll end up in jail!" Uncle Tom scolded John angrily.

"Yes, John, you need to let go of this dream of growing crops. You're still young, son. Focus on finding a decent job, and we'll be content with that," Victor tried to reason with John.

"You both don't understand. These people are storing food for themselves and plan to keep us as slaves for life. We'll never escape this slavery," John explained passionately, trying to make them see the bigger picture.

"You're right, John, but growing crops is a huge risk. If you're caught, you'll end up in serious trouble. Let go of this idea, son," Uncle Tom said, worried.

"Yes, John, just listen to us. Why are you taking such a risk? You'll have other, better opportunities in the future. Let go of this idea of growing crops," Victor calmly tried to persuade John.

"Uncle Tom and Uncle Victor, you don't understand. My idea is almost foolproof,"

John said, pulling them closer and beginning to explain his plan in detail.

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Is it interesting !?..... I think It's very intresting

See ...yaa... Next Chapter

[ Searching for Potato ]