After 105 Hours in Stardew Valley, I Think This is The Best Thing to do With Mayor Lewis’ Shorts

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Stardew Valley offers much more than just farming, gathering resources, and digging for minerals. A big part of the game is getting to know the residents of Pelican Town. Whether you’re pursuing a romantic relationship with one of the single townsfolk or simply chatting with the locals, the game really highlights the charm of small-town life and keeps you coming back for more. While there aren’t a huge number of characters, learning about their backstories as you build friendships creates a vibrant and engaging world, complete with the kind of juicy secrets you’d expect from a close-knit community.

When I first started playing, one of my early goals was to find Mayor Lewis’ lucky purple shorts, and I honestly didn’t know where to look. The game is a relaxing life simulator with a really friendly feel, so I figured they’d be hidden somewhere unexpected. But it turns out not everything in Pelican Town is as simple as it seems! Mayor Lewis had a good reason to be worried, and in a surprisingly dramatic twist, I discovered his shorts were hidden in Marnie’s bedroom, right behind her shop counter.

I’ve spent about 105 hours playing *Stardew Valley*. Whenever I start a new game, I resist planning my farm perfectly right away. Instead, I go straight to Marnie’s shop for a quick laugh. But that’s when I remember how much control I have in the game – I can do absolutely anything I want with my character. It’s up to me whether I use that freedom for positive or mischievous purposes, and if you listen to me, you can too!

Your Options: What to Do With Mayor Lewis’ Purple Shorts in Stardew Valley

You’ve become friends with Marnie and reached a two-heart friendship level, giving you access to her room. This means you can sneak in and return the shorts you were asked to deliver. However, many players don’t know you actually have the option *not* to return them. Here’s what happens if you choose to keep them:

  • Return the Shorts: You’ve been given a quest, and you will be rewarded handsomely if you complete it. Returning the shorts to Lewis will gain you some gold and his gratitude. But on that note
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    • Give the Shorts to Marnie: You can spin the quest on its head and give the shorts to Marnie. She’ll be startled before asking you to keep this a secret, confirming what you suspected all along. This won’t affect your friendship with her.
  • Keep the Lucky Shorts at Home: Finders keepers. You can take the shorts back home and display them proudly on any corner or surface that can host them.
  • Display Them at the Stardew Valley Fair: In what has to be one of Stardew Valley’s most iconic festivals, the Stardew Valley Fair grants players the opportunity to show off the best their farm has to offer. But instead of crops, fish, and forage, you can simply place the shorts on your grange display. You’ll be disqualified, but you’ll be paid 750 star tokens in hush money. It may be a good trade-off, given how hard winning first place can be during that grueling first year at the farm.
  • Wear Mayor Lewis’ Lucky Shorts: Armed with a gold bar and Emily’s sewing machine, you can line the shorts with a gold trim. After giving them a new look, they become wearable. Marnie and Mayor Lewis will have unique interactions with you if you speak to them while wearing them.
  • Add the Shorts to the Luau Soup: Adding Mayor Lewis’ shorts to the Luau’s communal potluck soup is possibly the most disastrous thing you could do. It’ll ruin the soup, erase any chances of gaining the community’s favor, send Mayor Lewis into a frenzy, and make the governor furious. While it’s among the worst things you can do in Stardew Valley, it’s also undoubtedly the funniest.

This is the Best Thing You Can Do With Mayor Lewis’ Shorts

While most tasks in *Stardew Valley* follow a straightforward path, the quest to find Mayor Lewis’ lucky shorts is different. It offers a lot of freedom and multiple ways to finish, letting you tailor the experience to your liking. Whether you’re aiming for rewards or a good laugh, the outcome is up to you, making each game unique.

I always try to optimize everything in life simulation games. As soon as I buy a cozy game, I immediately start figuring out how to get the most out of it. Whether it’s maximizing profits in *Stardew Valley* or choosing the most successful career in *The Sims*, I lay out all my options and try to create the perfect plan. It might sound odd, but even something like Mayor Lewis’s shorts become part of that plan!

Returning the Shorts to Mayor Lewis: Right, Just, and Profitable

I get it – after complaining about the limited options, suggesting the most honorable path might seem surprising. But before you disagree, I want to remind you that, given your specific situation in the game, this is actually the most sensible choice.

You’ll get this quest at the beginning of Spring in your first year. Your grandfather’s farm is a real mess, you’re not sure where to start, and you don’t have much money. In fact, you’re especially short on gold. If you finish the quest by returning the shorts, you’ll earn 750 gold and gain a friendship heart with Lewis, which is a significant boost early in the game.

Getting 750 gold early in the game is a huge advantage. It lets you comfortably buy profitable crops like cauliflower and still have plenty of money left over for a thoughtful gift at the Stardrop Saloon or Pierre’s – which is important if you want someone to dance with you at the Flower Dance! That’s why I always prioritize saving Mayor Lewis’ dignity, and your farm might benefit from it as well.

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2025-09-14 21:06