Schiller took the three children to the vegetable patch. Some of the cabbages there were ready to be harvested. Though they had not fully matured, salads were meant to use tender leaves anyway, so the timing was perfect.
Schiller had never expected Helen and the others to harvest vegetables properly. It would have been good enough if they did not cause trouble. So he went to the nearby Tool Room himself, pushed out a small cart, grabbed a shovel, and began digging suitable cabbages out of the soil.
This farmland used the most advanced agricultural methods, and California's sunlight conditions were indeed uniquely favorable. The cabbages felt heavy the moment he held them, full of accumulated moisture.
Standing at the edge of the field, Schiller peeled open one of them. The inner leaves were incredibly crisp, bursting with sweet, refreshing juice in a single bite. The leaves were thick, with just the right amount of fiber. Vegetables grown by oneself really did taste better.
Schiller picked five or six cabbages, broke off and discarded some of the rough outer leaves, put them in the cart, and then went to the lettuce patch.
The lettuce had been planted later than the cabbages and was still in small heads, but this kind of vegetable could be eaten at any stage of growth. Schiller chose two of the larger ones, just the right size for burgers, and they tasted just as good as the cabbage.
The banana trees nearby were even less ripe. The bananas were only finger-length and still emerald green. Unripe bananas were not only bitter but astringent, completely inedible.
The mangoes next door were better. Though they were also small, green mangoes could be used for seasoning or cold dishes, so Schiller picked some of those too.
At that moment,