"Sure, I'll be your guide."
Yushu nodded and led Qingmu around the ranch, explaining his plans.
"That's the Berry orchard over there. I just planted it today. There are Pecha Berries, Oran Berries, and Wepear Berries."
"Over there is where the flower field will go. I'm planning to till it in a while, plant flowers, keep bees, and make honey."
"And over there..."
Qingmu listened to his son's nonstop explanations without interrupting, simply hearing him out.
This kid sure could talk.
Only after Yushu finished explaining his plans for the entire ranch did Qingmu slowly speak.
"Sounds pretty good."
"But is that flower field of yours really going to work? You've never grown flowers before."
Qingmu's jab was late, but it arrived all the same.
"Eh, I'll learn by doing."
Yushu shrugged.
It was just growing flowers, not building rockets.
If it really didn't work out, he would ask Kaixin for advice. She was a bona fide junior Breeder, so growing flowers and grass should be no problem for her.
"Learning by doing... hmm, well said."
Qingmu shook his head and said nothing more.
He'd already given him the farm anyway. Let him do whatever he wanted with it.
Worst case, I'd cover for him.
The father and son reached the shore of Lake Acuity and watched the shimmering water. Qingmu's phone rang, Anna's name appearing on the screen.
"It's your mom."
Qingmu answered, but before he could speak, Anna's anxious voice came through.
"Well? Well? Did you deliver everything? How's the ranch? How's A-Yu? Has he lost weight? Has he been eating properly?"
"Could you ask one question at a time...?"
Qingmu helplessly held the phone a little farther away. Anna's voice carried so well that it was perfectly clear even from a distance.
What a waste that she didn't sing the high notes.
Yushu leaned toward the phone.
"I've been eating properly. I've even gained weight, and all the Pokémon are settled in."
"That's good, then."
Anna's voice noticeably relaxed.
"Oh, is the money I sent you enough? If not, I'll send you some more."
"It's enough, it's enough. Mom, don't send any more. I can make money myself."
"What money can you make? The ranch hasn't started turning a profit yet. Just use it for now. You can pay me back once the ranch is making money."
"Then..."
"All right, all right, I'm done talking to you. Where's your dad? Put him on."
Yushu handed the phone to Qingmu.
Qingmu took it, stepped aside, and said a few things in a lowered voice.
Yushu vaguely caught phrases like "not bad," "pretty respectable," and "better than I imagined," and the corners of his mouth lifted unconsciously.
He never said anything nice to my face, but he sure knew how to praise me behind my back.
Yushu went to inspect the feed Qingmu had brought.
It was standard all-purpose feed, made mainly of hay and grain.
This kind of feed could fill their stomachs without a problem, but it was nowhere near enough to feed them well.
"No problem. Let's add a little something."
Yushu rolled up his sleeves and began mixing a new feed formula.
Following the Eye of Detection's recommendations, he mixed the feed Qingmu had brought with the Berries he had bought yesterday in set proportions, then added some nutritional supplements purchased from Uncle Kaisuke.
Once thoroughly mixed, the new feed gave off a distinctive scent blended with the sweetness of Berries.
Smelling it, the Miltank and Mareep emerged from their corners and gathered around the troughs, their tails beginning to wag unconsciously.
"Go on, eat up. I mixed it especially for you."
"Mooo!" (This good!)
The Miltank lowered their heads and began eating in great mouthfuls.
What was this? It smelled amazing! What kind of miserable lives had we been living before?!
"Looks like it tastes pretty good."
Yushu nodded in satisfaction.
After feeding the Miltank and Mareep, Yushu started making Pokéblocks again. Those six had already finished everything he had made yesterday.
Not just lazybones, but foodies too.
He began preparing the ingredients again. This time, besides making portions for the six veteran employees, he also needed to make some basic Pokéblocks for the thirty newly arrived Pokémon.
He had just loaded the first batch of Berries into the machine when a voice rang out from the doorway.
"Stop! What are you doing?!"
Qingmu stared at the running Berry machine in horror, his face deathly pale, as though he had seen a ghost.
"Uh... making Pokéblocks."
Yushu sounded bewildered.
What was that about? He'd given me a fright.
"You brat, are you trying to destroy this family?!"
Qingmu strode inside and circled the machine twice, inspecting it from top to bottom several times. Only after confirming that everything was in order did he relax a little.
This kid had nearly set the kitchen on fire just cooking a meal. Making Pokéblocks? Wouldn't he blow the whole house up?!
He didn't want to make tomorrow's headlines.
Yushu offered no explanation. He simply waited until the machine stopped, took out a freshly made Pokéblock, and handed it to Qingmu.
"Here, try it."
Qingmu accepted the Pokéblock dubiously, turned it over several times to inspect it, and even held it to his nose for a sniff.
"It looks pretty convincing... this is edible, right? Eating it won't cause any problems, will it?"
"Try it before you judge."
Yushu wasn't indulging his father at all.
Qingmu cautiously took a bite, and his expression changed.
Clang!
Rich, pure Berry energy spread through his mouth, its texture smooth and free of impurities.
His expression shifted from doubt to surprise, then to an indescribable mix.
"Holy crap, you really made this?"
"Who else? Did the machine make it by itself?"
Yushu flashed a Dragon King smirk.
Speak up, hater!
Qingmu took another bite and savored it carefully.
"This tastes better than some of the Pokéblocks I've bought in Hearthome City. Not bad, kid. When did you secretly put points into this skill tree?"
Was this still his family's mascot who couldn't do anything?
If he'd learned this earlier, why bother challenging Gyms? He could've opened a Pokéblock shop and gotten rich ages ago.
Qingmu was about to say more when he suddenly spotted a young woman approaching through the window.
She wore a cream-colored long dress, with a gentle air and a serene smile.
"Who's that beauty? You know her?"
Qingmu looked over too, his gaze turning subtle as a meaningful smile lifted the corners of his mouth.
"Oh, her? She's a friend who runs a Pokémon Day Care in town."
Yushu was a little surprised. It was Kaixin, who had helped him haggle yesterday.
"Are you sure she's just a friend?"
Qingmu raised an eyebrow.
Well done, kid. You'd only just come back, and you already knew how to flirt with girls.
Although Kaixin looked several years older than Yushu, who knew? Maybe his son actually liked the older-sister type deep down.
Yushu rolled his eyes helplessly and went out to greet her. "Kaixin? What brings you here?"
"Am I not welcome?" Kaixin teased with a smile.
"Of course you are. Come on in." Yushu stepped aside to let her through.
"And this is?"
Kaixin looked at Qingmu and asked politely.
"This is my good-for-nothing father."
Yushu introduced him offhandedly.
"Hey, you brat!"
Qingmu had been planning to put on the image of a mature, steady elder, only for Yushu to turn the hierarchy upside down.
Was his rebellious phase delayed or what?!