The Secret of Kang Farm

Part One

Living in a small farming community had its pros and cons. Pros: Everyone knew everyone, life was quaint, and it moved at a serene pace. The town of Greenfield was a patchwork of fields, barns, and quaint houses nestled between rolling hills and lush, green pastures.

Cons: You think everything will always be just as it was, until it's not.

Raul's life changed forever a month ago when his mother, the beloved mayor, unexpectedly passed away in a car accident. It had left a void, not only in Raul's heart, but also within the community. The loss was still fresh and every corner of their home seemed to echo with his mother's presence. It was a modest cottage, close by the town square, the walls filled to the brim of memories that Raul could barely acknowledge, for fear that he will begin to cry again and never stop.

Despite the grief that tugged at him daily, Raul remained determined to pursue his dreams. His mother had always encouraged his artistic talent, believing in her son's potential to capture the beauty of their world on canvas.

Today, Raul was in the town square, sitting on one of the benches, his easel set up and a canvas slowly coming to life with the vibrant colors of the landscape laid out before him. His focus was intense as each stroke was a step closer to his goal. This painting was his final submission for art school, a dream that seemed both tauntingly close and impossibly distant. The tuition loomed over him like a dark cloud, a constant reminder of the financial gap he needed to bridge.

As he worked, townspeople passed by, some offering kind words of encouragement and condolences, others too absorbed in their own lives to notice anything around them. Raul didn't mind, though. He found solace in his art. Each completed piece was a small triumph against the sorrow that had marked his heart.

He glanced up at the sky and sighed. He had until the end of the summer to come up with the other half of the tuition and his savings were nowhere near enough. The possibility of putting his dreams on hold weighed heavily on him, but he pushed the thought aside, focusing on the task at hand.

"That's some fine artwork you've got there," said a deep, calming voice behind him, smooth and unexpected.

Raul turned to see, none other than, Silas Kang. Silas was a portly, rugged-looking man with salt n' pepper hair, a full beard, and a calculating glint in his cold, steel-blue eyes.

Raul knew to be wary of Silas Kang. He was a savvy businessman turned farmer when he moved to town ten years ago after inheriting Kang Farm from a distant relative. He had a reputation of being shrewd and taxing, traits that his mother could not stand about the man.

"Thank you...Mr. Kang," Raul replied, deciding to remain cordial but still throwing caution to the wind. "It's the final piece for my art school portfolio."

"Art school, huh?" Silas's eyes seemed to light up, as if an idea had sparked him. "Well, no wonder. You're very talented."

"Thanks. But all that talent isn't enough for the rest of the tuition I need."

A sly smirk crossed Silas's face as he stroked his beard. "You know, I'm actually looking for a summer farmhand. It pays decently, and you could save up for that tuition of yours in no time."

For a fleeting moment, Raul's eyes widened and his heart leapt at the possibility. For days he had been asking around if any of his neighbors had job openings on their farms, but they all had the same answer of "no" for him. He did not know if it was because they thought he was too skinny for manual labor, or that they felt guilty for having the mayor's beloved son as hired help. As great as an opportunity this was for him, he could not help but feel a knot tighten in his stomach. He recalled the many times his mother was so frustrated from dealing with Silas. She never trusted him, always hinting at something dark beneath his genial exterior. "Thanks for the offer, Mr. Kang, but I'm going to have to pass."