First and foremost, he needed a new fishing rod!
After all, it was a basic tool of production. He couldn't do without it, no matter what.
Tong Hua had originally intended to make a fishing rod himself to replace the one that had broken yesterday, but he couldn't find suitable materials for the line or hook anywhere at home.
So he had no choice but to buy one from a specialist shop.
First, buy a fishing rod. Then go to Chicory Woodwork Hall and ask Master Xiang Shi roughly how much it would cost to build a house...
Tong Hua silently planned out the most important tasks at the Ranch.
The first was, of course, basic construction. Aside from the Wooden Cabin where Tong Hua lived, there was also the Pokémon Cottage that housed Miltank.
The temporary cottage had no windows, relying entirely on the gaps in its gate for ventilation. It would definitely be stifling in summer, and rain would blow inside on wet days.
Then there were the paths around the Ranch, which turned muddy whenever it rained. With no lighting at night, going outside was inconvenient too.
Speaking of roads, Tong Hua felt that the stretch between the village and the Ranch needed some work as well. It didn't have to be asphalt, but they could at least make it a smooth concrete road!
The truck jolted so badly all the way there! Riding Orthworm had been far more comfortable!
"Min... Min..." Even Minccino felt sick from all the bumps and lay whimpering in Tong Hua's arms.
"Twig?" Turtwig was doing a little better and still had the energy to check on Minccino.
Fortunately, the truck soon reached their destination. Tong Hua quickly picked up his food basket and got out at the village entrance with the two Pokémon.
"Thanks, Chuang Yi. Next time..."
Tong Hua had wanted to say that he wouldn't be taking Chuang Yi's truck next time, but on second thought, that seemed a little inappropriate.
"See you next time. Say hello to Hitomi and Captain Palmer for me."
"Will do!" Chuang Yi waved cheerfully and stepped on the accelerator with gusto.
Tong Hua brushed the dust off his clothes and looked down at the Minccino in his arms. “How are you feeling? Any better?”
Tong Hua brushed the dust off his clothes and looked down at Minccino in his arms. "How are you feeling? Any better?"
Tong Hua had no choice but to keep carrying Minccino as he headed into the village with Turtwig.
There was nothing Tong Hua could do but keep holding Minccino as he headed into the village with Turtwig.
At a crossroads beside the river in Chicory Village stood a little fishing tackle shop.
It was a single-story building with blue-gray brick walls, gray roof tiles, and a wooden porch. A faded blue cloth banner hung by the entrance, bearing the shop's handwritten name.
Two low woven-bamboo stools sat beneath the porch roof for villagers to rest and chat, while wooden frames for mending fishing nets were piled in a corner.
The woman who ran the shop was named Nagisa. Her full name was Nagisa Shiosaki, but hardly anyone called her by her full name or surname.
Everyone called her Nagisa, with the younger ones calling her Big Sis Nagisa.
When the weather was good, she would always set up a lounge chair beside the little river behind the shop and lie there doing nothing. A fishing rod rested nearby, but she never fished. She just basked in the sun like a cat.
"Yaaawn..."
Nagisa gave a lazy yawn, growing drowsy in the sunshine. With her eyes narrowed, she gazed blankly at the river before her.
Beside her, Glameow had already fallen asleep and was snoring.
Suddenly, a few children came over with their Pokémon to play in the water.
It had rained all day yesterday, raising the river's water level, but fortunately, it had dropped again today.
"It's finally sunny! Lotad, let's play!"
Splash! A little girl with pigtails was the first to jump into the shallows, sending water flying.
Her Lotad cheerfully flapped its leaf, making "blub-blub" sounds.
The other children entered the water with their own Pokémon, splashing one another and playing in the little river. It was quite a lively scene.
Nagisa watched their antics through half-closed eyes, the corners of her mouth lifting slightly.
Knock, knock, knock!
“Tch... Coming, coming!” Nagi sat up and called toward the shop entrance.
"Tch... coming, coming!" Nagisa sat up and called toward the shop entrance.
She stretched, and her loose linen shirt slipped off one shoulder, exposing part of her wheat-tanned skin.
She looked to be in her early twenties, with tousled, short, light-brown hair whose ends curled up slightly, like a dandelion ruffled by the river breeze.
Beneath her bangs were amber eyes, always half-lidded with a hint of a lazy smile, and a tiny beauty mark at the corner of one eye.
Nagi walked barefoot across the wooden porch, heading briskly toward the shop entrance.
Barefoot on the wooden porch, Nagisa walked briskly toward the shop entrance.
“What’s the hurry...” Nagi muttered, casually ruffling her hair as she ambled toward the shop entrance.
"What's the rush..." Nagisa muttered, casually raking a hand through her hair as she ambled toward the door.
Her figure was slender but upright, every movement carrying an air of easygoing resilience.
She opened the door to find an unfamiliar young man holding a basket, with two Pokémon clinging to him.
"Hello. I'd like to buy a fishing rod."
"Come in."
Tong Hua entered the shop and looked around. His first impression was how tightly packed the interior was.
A counter stood near the entrance, while shelves filled almost all the remaining space.
Fishing line, floats, hooks, and other small items were displayed on different shelves, along with an assortment of rods, landing nets, and waterproof gear.
Although the merchandise was sorted by category, it somehow still looked cluttered.
Nagi pulled a bamboo fishing pole from beneath the counter and spun it deftly in her hand. “A beginner?”
Nagisa casually pulled a bamboo rod out from beneath the counter and gave it a graceful twirl. "Beginner?
“Uh...” Tong Hua froze for a moment, then instinctively answered, “A casting rod.”
“You’re a beginner, aren’t you?” Nagi looked at Tong Hua’s slightly nervous expression with amusement.
"You are a beginner, aren't you?" Nagisa studied Tong Hua's slightly nervous expression with an amused look.
Faced with Nagi's barrage of questions, Tong Hua was utterly confused and had no idea how to answer.
Faced with Nagisa's barrage of questions, Tong Hua was utterly confused and had no idea how to answer.
"Anything will do. I'll be fishing near the village, and I want to try all kinds of methods." Tong Hua struggled for a while before finally managing to say this.
"Anything's fine. I'm just fishing around the village, and I'd like to try all kinds of methods." After struggling for ages, Tong Hua finally managed to get that out.
"Oh, in that case..."
Nagisa stepped out from behind the counter and went to the shelves,
where she began rummaging around.
Nagi picked up a three-meter-long fishing rod from the shelf, then selected a bunch of accessories.
Nagisa picked up a three-meter rod from a shelf, then selected a whole assortment of accessories.
"You don't seem to know much about this, so I'll just set up the line and rig for you."
Nagisa returned to the counter, and Tong Hua watched her deftly put the various pieces together.
A long fishing line, a little reel wound with line, a bait feeder full of tiny holes, and a string of five small hooks—Nagi assembled all the little components in her hands, leaving Tong Hua bewildered.
"A three-meter fiberglass rod, with size-two nylon for the main line... though you probably don't understand any of that. Anyway, it's more than enough for small fish.
"When you fish, put bait in the feeder and bait all the hooks too. Open the bail to let the line out, then close it once the rig hits bottom and slowly reel it in.
"As you lift the feeder, the bait inside disperses through the water, attracting fish."
As she explained, Nagi handed Tong Hua the assembled rod. Her long, nimble fingers worked with crisp efficiency, making her seem like a completely different person from the lazy woman of a moment ago.
"That'll be 3,500 League Coins." She yawned, reverting to her languid manner.
"3,500?" Tong Hua took the rod. Although he didn't know much about prices, judging by its appearance, it seemed worth the money.
At any rate, it was definitely much better than the shabby rod the Village Chief had given him.
But...
"Can this rod only catch small fish?"
"That's right." Nagi nodded and yawned again. "You're a beginner. Start with small fish and get some practice. What, were you hoping to catch a Gyarados right off the bat?"
Tong Hua scratched his head. "But catching little fish doesn't sound very interesting.
"I want the thrill of fighting a big fish."
"Ha!" Nagi suddenly laughed.
"All right, then. Come with me."
Nagi led Tong Hua back to the little river behind the shop.
"Go on. Fish."
"Huh?"
"Use the rod in your hands to catch a fish in this river. If you succeed, I'll sell you a rod that can handle big fish.
"Do you dare give it a try?"
Before you continue