"So you haven't actually tried it yet?"
"Right-" Tong Hua scratched his head. "I've been busy lately, building a house and running the dessert shop.
And getting dragged into all those major incidents involving Team Dim Sun and Dark Dialga-
Tong Hua had actually grumbled that last sentence silently to himself.
After all, the fewer people who knew Fairy Tale Ranch was connected to those major incidents, the better-
"Anyway, I just haven't found a good opportunity to start."
Tong Hua smiled and changed the subject, tidying the molds beside him as he spoke. "But now that we've settled into the new house, it really is time to put brewing on the agenda."
Jessica nodded understandingly. "True, quite a lot has happened lately."
She considerately refrained from asking for details, turning instead to look at the Farmland outside the window and the distant Orchard.
"Well, since I'm here today, why don't I teach you anything you're unsure about?"
"Would that really be all right?"
"Of course!"
Jessica readily patted Tong Hua on the shoulder. "When it comes to brewing, I'm an expert. But before that..."
She winked mysteriously. "We'll need to prepare some special tools."
As noon approached and business at the shop quieted down a little, Tong Hua and the Pokémon waited quietly for Jessica to return.
She had said she needed to prepare some special tools, then hurried off.
"She's taking ages-"
Just as Tong Hua was about to start making lunch, he heard Jessica calling from outside.
"Xiao Tong, Xiao Tong! I'm back!"
Tong Hua went out to meet her and saw Jessica unloading several old-fashioned wooden barrels from Rapidash's back. Sunlight fell across her sweat-damp forehead, giving it a crystalline sheen.
"These are all brewing barrels from my personal collection." She excitedly patted a barrel. "They've