A farming master in Stardew Valley

Chapter 59 Who Says We Have No Money?
Lyon picked up the colorful fragments on the iron felt, wiped them on his clothes to remove some debris on the outer shell that had not been cleaned up, and carefully put it in his trouser pocket.

Of course, the moment he stuffed it in, Leon put it into his backpack when Clint couldn't see.

After all, it is the safest and most secluded area. Unless Leon takes it out on his own initiative, no one can find this colorful fragment.

Clint felt a little disappointed when he heard Leon's answer. After all, the rarity of the colorful fragments was really one in a million, and he needed to use this mysterious and rare mineral in many places.

However, it is understandable that Leon does not intend to sell it. After all, in addition to the forging industry, the colorful fragments have many other uses and meanings. Such a precious gem, even he himself is reluctant to sell it.

"Thanks to you, the results of my first crystal ball blind box were very good. Let's go to the Star Bar for a drink when you're free. It's my treat."

After collecting the colorful fragments, Leon kept smiling. In a good mood, even the scruffy bearded man Clint looked handsome to Leon.

"The contents of the Omnipresent Crystal Ball are just like its name suggests, encompassing everything. However, this is the first time I've witnessed a case of multicolored fragments appearing. You are very favored by Yuba. I hope that the crystal cave you bring next time will also produce a variety of goodies."

Clint sighed, then realized he was talking to himself and ignored Leon's offer to treat him: "Well, I don't go to the bar regularly, but I'll say hello next time I see you."

Leon didn't know what to say to Clint's social inaction, so he shrugged and started a conversation: "By the way, can you tell me more about the blacksmith business you run here?"

"Of course it's the sale of various ores and the processing of tools and weapons. This is our family's tradition. Generations of Clint blacksmiths are the best blacksmiths in Pelican Town." Clint answered proudly when he heard Leon talk about his professional field.

"Wait for me." Leon left the blacksmith shop immediately after hearing that. The moment he went out again, he took out the axe from the system tools in his backpack, brought it into the blacksmith shop, and handed it to Clint.

"Take a look at this axe of mine. Can it be strengthened and upgraded?"

"Hmm? This is a very exquisite forging technique, and it seems to contain some special power. I have learned this forging method from the family classics, but your axe is in its most primitive state. If you want to strengthen it, you need to forge and reshape it step by step."

Clint picked up the axe Leon handed him, held it in the center of his vision, and examined it carefully for a long time before putting it down and adding, "If you can bring me five copper ingots and pay a forging fee of two thousand, I can give it copper properties, completing the first stage of reshaping and upgrading, making it even sharper."

"Two thousand dollars? That's too expensive." Lyon heard that the processing fee was exactly the same as in the game, and he felt endless resentment in his heart. The prices here at Blacksmith Clint were too outrageous.

"It's quite expensive, but that's already the cost price. It's basically difficult to find a blacksmith outside who can complete this special upgrade process. The time and energy required are also extremely exaggerated. At least during the two days that I upgraded your tools, I had no energy to do anything else." Clint explained quickly.

"And the copper attribute is only the initial stage of strengthening. Only after upgrading to copper can you upgrade to steel attributes, followed by gold attributes and the most powerful iridium attributes. Each upgrade requires not only the corresponding attribute metal ingots, but also a larger amount of money. However, I can guarantee that the enhanced effect will be worth it."

Listening to Clint's explanation, Leon could understand. After all, he had used iridium tools before, and the effects were indeed very different from the original tools. However, thinking about the price of the subsequent upgraded tools, he felt bitter.

The upgrade price for copper tools remains unchanged, meaning that the cost of subsequent upgrades will remain the same. Steel tools cost 5000, gold tools 10000, and iridium tools 25000. Upgradable tools include a watering can, an axe, a pickaxe, and a hoe. To upgrade all of them to the top-tier iridium tools, Leon will need 20 copper ingots, 20 iron ingots, 20 gold ingots, 20 iridium ingots, and standard currency.

This does not include the trash can. Of course, the system does not provide an additional tool like the trash can, but it does help Lyon save some money.

However, the total price of 2000, if converted into the monthly salary that Leon used to earn when he worked for Joja, would take him seven years and one month to save up without sleep or food.

This is the salary of management. If it were the income of an ordinary worker, it would probably take longer to save.

After finishing the calculation, Leon waved his hand at Clint and said, "Let's think about this later. I can't go down to the mine for the time being."

"If you need it urgently, you can buy some ore from me." Clint said, then walked to the counter used to entertain guests, took out a price list and handed it to Leon.

Leon glanced at the prices of these raw ores and breathed a sigh of relief. Clint's blacksmith shop finally had items with prices different from those in the game.

A piece of copper ore costs seven dollars and a half, a piece of iron ore costs fifteen dollars, a piece of coal costs fifteen dollars, and gold ore is the most expensive, costing eighty dollars a piece.

The price of gold ore actually makes Leon quite excited. After all, who doesn't like the glittering precious metal? If he has the conditions in the future, he will definitely get more gold and lay a layer of gold brick floor in his home. It must be very cool.

But if you buy these ores from Clint now, it would still be a bit of a loss. Lyon will definitely go to the subsequent mines. If he can mine them himself, Lyon doesn't plan to pay for them.

"No, I'd better go mining myself."

Listening to Leon's words, Clint looked at Leon with some surprise and asked, "Don't you still have a farm to run? Going mining by yourself is too hard."

"There's nothing we can do. We have no money," Lyon complained. "We can only be self-sufficient."

Clint fell silent after hearing this. This was indeed an impeccable reason and he had no way to refute it. However, he remembered that the mining framework structure of Stardew Valley was now privately held, so he asked.

"But the new mines in Stardew Valley are now privately operated. Where are you going to mine? All the mineral veins in the eastern mountains have been taken over by state contractors. They won't allow anyone other than their own miners to privately mine."

"Of course it's an abandoned mine." Leon replied.

(End of this chapter)