--[Day 32 Report]--
Simlife
Revenue: +$315,700
Cost: -$210,400
Profit: $105,300
Modifiers: Fortune III [+15%], Satisfaction [0%]
Income: +$121,095
Total: $177,185
DateLife
Energy Spent: 1
Energy Gained: 1
Tantric Reserves: 5/5
Lust: +0
Total: 80/100
---
"So, this is the blueprint I drew up for the farm," Ashe opened the conversation as she rolled out a paper map of the farm. "For the first stage of the farm, we'll want to have four greenhouses dedicated to germination. They should be staggered a week apart so that only one greenhouse needs to be transplanted at a time; that way, when it comes time to put crops in the field, we can divert all of our manpower to that jobsite."
"Then what timeline are we looking at? It takes 100,000 to buy a greenhouse and then an additional 225,000 to fully staff the building with five workers and maximize the output," I quickly calculated, "If we say my daily income is about 120,000, that means it will take me…11 days to raise the money we need. Split over a five-day work week that roughly two weeks to buy the four greenhouses and all the staff."
Ashe smirked at me, "You say that like it's a bad thing. Normally, we measure projects in years on a farm. Two weeks is more than acceptable."
I held up my hands in surrender, "Alright, then maybe we should look at what it takes to prepare a field for planting?"
"Already ahead of you," Ashe replied as she made a gesture in the air like flicking something at me, and a window opened in the corner of my vision.
[Field Management]
Area: 1 -Acre
Capacity: 0/ 180,000 Crops
Crop: Not Selected
Harvest time: [Error: Select Crop]
Quality: +10%
Growth Rate: 0%
Workers: 0/20
Treatment(s)
Pest Management: +10% GR [$7,500]
Fertilizer: +35% GR [$10,250]
Irrigation: +55% GR[$15,500]
Upgrade(s)
Integrated Pest Management: +5% GR [$15,000]
Drip Irrigation: +10% GR [$75,000]
Soil Amendment: +35% GR [$100,000]
"Mind giving me a run down of what I'm looking at," I asked not bothering to hide the fact that I was looking at a whole bunch of numbers and words that I could assign a vague meaning to but had absolutely no idea what they did in practice, "I mean the first few things seem pretty straight forward, but what's the deal with the treatments and upgrades."
"Well, from what I could piece together, the big difference is that treatments need to be bought with each crop, while upgrades are one-time purchases for permanent benefits." Ashe explained, "They determine how fast the crops will grow, so we'll at least need to buy one treatment, but not buying all three is really not acceptable. Farming is all about being efficient with your time because time is money."
I nodded in agreement, "Sage advice, but expenditures are only one half of the picture. Do we have any idea what our profits might look like?"
"Well, normally I would do some research, see what buyers are in the area, whether it's worth it to do retail or wholesale, but I found something that might be a bit more convenient and profitable," Ashe prompted as she sent another screen my way.
[Building: Farmstand]
Cost: $12,000
Maintenance: $3,600
Workers: 0/2
Brief: A collection of wooden stands and display tables that allows the direct-to-consumer sale of produce at a 25% mark up, while attracting up to 100 customers a day when fully staffed.
[Upgrades]
Capacity I: $5,000
XXXX
Reading over the window, I couldn't help but purse my lips in thought, "100 customers a day, is that enough of a market to sustain us?"
Ashe grinned, "Definitely not, but it would allow us to get the biggest bang for our buck when we start growing high-value specialty crops that would benefit a lot from a 25% bonus. Then, for our more standard goods, we can sell them with this."
[Building: Shipping Warehouse]
Cost: $250,000
Maintenance: $160,000
Workers: 0/12
Brief: An industrial structure dedicated to the packaging and shipping of produce over long distances, capable of fulfilling 120 bulk orders a day when full staffed, with a -15% penalty to price.
[Upgrades]
Processing efficiency I: $75,000
Standard of Quality I: $100,000
"Okay, I see what you're getting at," I muttered while slowly nodding my head, "It's a big investment, but it will give us a market that will grow with us reliably."
"Hmm, this is going much better than I thought it would," Ashe muttered contentedly as she walked over to place a kiss on my cheek.
"What did you think we wouldn't work well together?" I asked suspiciously even as I wrapped my hand around Ashe's waist.
Ashe let out a short sigh, though there was a smile on her lips. "No, it's just my old pessimism refusing to trust that my life is actually going this well, and I don't have to be looking out for the other shoe waiting to stomp down on my head."
"You don't know how happy I am to hear that," I replied with a broad grin, "And don't worry, I'm sure you'll shed your old habits in time. Especially after this weekend."
"Is that what you were talking about with Meg last night when I was in the shower?" Ashe asked with a smirk.
I smiled back at her, "Yes, and if you were listening closely, you'd know that I'm not going to tell you anything about it."
"Just for the record, I hate being kept in the dark," Ashe muttered, "But I'll let it go this time."
"Glad to know you have a soft spot for me," I grumbled back with mock insult that made Ashe slap my arm playfully before pushing away, "Alright, enough banter, let's buy this green house and at least one worker to see how this stuff actually works in practice."
Going ahead with Ashe's instructions, I bought the greenhouse along with a worker and watched as my money drained away, with seemingly little effect until we heard a knock on the door.
I was the first to answer, and I found an almost painfully plain man standing in the doorway dressed in work overalls, a loose cotton shirt, heavy boots, and a baseball covering the top of his head.
"Where should I work?" The man asked as I glanced into his eyes and found them to be rather flat, as if there wasn't any real intelligence behind them.
"Uh, the greenhouse," I answered somewhat hesitantly, wondering what kind of system magic was taking place.
"Where should I get the seeds from?" The man asked again, his tone coming out flat without the slightest hint of intonation,
I paused, not knowing the answer, but luckily, Ashe quickly stepped in, "Around back, there should be more than enough to get you started."
The man nodded once before turning around and walking away without another word, presumably to start his assigned task.
"What the hell was that?" Ashe muttered as she looked from the man to me, "It's like he was barely a person."
"Just think of him like a mindless drone," I advised, even though I wasn't a hundred percent sure about how the workers functioned. "Either way, he should do what we need him to do."
"Guess I can't complain too much about that," Ashe muttered before glancing back in the house, "Hmm, it's almost ten. How much longer do you plan on staying?"
"Not long at all, I'm afraid, I need to get to the restaurant and start working. But believe me, I wish I could stay longer," I answered, but softened the blow with a quick kiss. "Also, I don't think I'll have much time to come back to the farm this week."
"You're just gonna bind our souls together and then not see me for a whole week," Ashe glared at me with narrowed eyes.
"Well, if it's such a problem, you could always come and visit my penthouse," I suggested selflessly.
Ashe pursed her lips, "You don't know how tempting that offer is, tiger, but that's Megan and Patty's territory, and we don't know each other well enough for me to just pop in and intrude. We need some time to get to know each other better and feel out the dynamic."
"That's probably for the best."
---
After a few more kisses and close embraces, I was on the road back into town. Before I spaced out while driving on the empty road, I put in a call. My phone rang several times in a row before it was answered with a snide, spoiled reply: "Hmmmph, and here I was just hoping that you had somehow lost my number."
"Now we both know that would be your worst nightmare, Priscilla," I replied with a small shake of my head. "Now, be quiet and listen for once. I need to ask you for a favor."