Pokémon: Starting as a Farmer Instead of a Trainer

Chapter 163 Xiao Zhao's Sticky Rice Cake, Come and Try It!

Ralts played the game very seriously, even though she didn't know how to operate it at first.

But after watching from the sidelines for so long, I figured it out in no time, and Pokémon games themselves don't have much difficulty getting started.

As a Pokémon, experiencing the thrill of catching Pokémon in the game and battling as a trainer was quite novel for it.

Before it knew it, it had forgotten the time and where it was, not to mention that there were already bear cubs curiously watching nearby, but it didn't even notice.

But just then, it noticed a unique, flashing blue and white lightning ball on the screen and became instantly excited.

It immediately threw out the First Strike Ball, watching nervously as it wobbled until the very last second before exploding with a bang. Immediately afterward, unfamiliar characters appeared on the screen: the Thunderball had self-destructed...

"Ralu!"

How infuriating! How could this thing spontaneously combust?!

Watching the Shiny Electrode explode and blast it back to the Pokémon Center, Ralts was completely devastated. Her body trembled, and she slammed the controller on the sofa, oblivious to the fact that someone was smiling at her from behind it…

Mingyou was still wondering who was playing, but she didn't expect it to be the child who had woken up. Seeing the child's angry expression, she found it quite amusing, so she said softly, "Alright, let's stop the game and come eat."

"Ralu!?"

Hearing the voice from behind, Ralts was startled; the voice seemed to strike right at her soul.

Then it remembered that it seemed to be in someone else's house, sitting on someone else's sofa, playing someone else's game... What to do now? It's going to get caught. How about teleportation? Oh no, it suddenly forgot how to use it. Should it just self-destruct like the Thunderball?

"Don't be nervous, no one will bully you. You can play the game later. It's still snowing outside and it's very cold. After dinner, we'll see when the snow stops, and then I'll take you home."

Mingyou's voice was very gentle, soothing the other's nervous and scared emotions. Ralts curled up into a ball and was finally persuaded by him... after all, he really didn't feel any danger.

However, it still didn't dare to make a sound, and didn't dare to respond when Ponpo greeted it, which was a stark contrast to its behavior when it was playing games.

"Hmm..."

Ponpo is disliked...

"No, it's just that the child isn't good at expressing itself. Since it doesn't want to eat with everyone, let's get its food for it."

"Mmm~"

Ponpo nodded, immediately turned around and ran to the dining table, brought Ralts a bowl of rice piled high with vegetables, and placed it on the coffee table in front of the sofa.

"Then we won't bother you any longer. Let's finish our meal first and then play games."

Mingyou knew that the other person was socially anxious and introverted, so she didn't force it. The simplest way to deal with such a child is to gradually gain their trust and then let them open their heart.

"Mmm~"

As they were leaving, Ponpo pointed to the TV screen and asked Mingyou if she could play it.

"Sure, but you need to control your gaming time and not get addicted."

"Mmm~"

After they left, the Pokémon who had been watching also went to eat. Ralts quietly observed for a moment and only breathed a sigh of relief after confirming that no one was there.

But the aroma of food wafted around, and its attention was quickly drawn to the dinner on the coffee table. It was the first time it had ever smelled such delicious food.

Guh~~~

Ralts' stomach growled involuntarily, and she blushed slightly as she clutched her stomach. She decided to eat first... These people were actually quite nice.

……

At the dining table, Snorlax and Latias almost got into a fight over the last Squash cracker, but Garchomp managed to break them up. Meanwhile, Zoroar seized the opportunity and snatched the Squash cracker away.

Wearing an apron, Xiao Zhao carried a steaming bowl of steaming egg with tomato and minced meat, placed it on the table, then turned around and asked, "How's the child?"

"I'm still not good at interacting with people, but... it seems like we're already eating."

Mingyou glanced back and then asked, "Are there any other dishes that haven't been served yet?"

"There's also a stir-fried tofu strips with spicy chili peppers. It's quite delicious with rice. You have so many strange vegetables here. I don't know how to cook many of them. I'll have to take some time to figure them out."

As she spoke, she seemed to hear a sound, glanced towards the kitchen, and continued, "The sticky rice cake will be steamed soon, but it's my first time making it, so I'm not entirely confident it will taste good. I suggest you be prepared..."

"It's okay, it'll definitely taste good."

Mingyou smiled and replied, "How bad can something as simple as sticky rice cake be? At most, it's just a kind of rice cake with no flavor."

But I have to say... girls like Xiao Zhao are really likable.

She's beautiful, gentle, has high emotional intelligence, is a great cook, responsible, strong, and protective—she's got all the qualities of a girlfriend. Not to mention, she's also incredibly talented as a trainer.

Thinking about all this, he couldn't help but ask out of curiosity, "There must be quite a few students pursuing you at Blueberry Academy, right? Even though you're a teacher, many of your students are around your age."

When asked about the issue, Xiao Zhao did not deny it, but said with a hint of helplessness, "There were indeed quite a few, but I declined them all. I usually think about many aspects and prefer to make my own decisions and pursue my own goals."

"Do you have your own opinions...?"

Mingyou nodded slightly, indicating that she had learned a little, and then it was the other party's turn to ask questions.

Xiao Zhao tilted her head slightly, looking curious, and asked, "Why are you asking this?"

"curious……"

"If you don't want to talk about it, then forget it."

"..."

The atmosphere suddenly quieted down, and the two seemed to have their own little thoughts. At this moment, Xiao Zhao spoke up first and successfully changed the subject.

"The sticky rice cake is ready, would you like to try some?"

Upon hearing the sound, the stag and the grub in the living room... even the grub, all wore expressions of terror, as if something had appeared that they wouldn't want to experience even if they were willing to face a mythical Pokémon head-on.

"no problem!"

Mingyou didn't notice their expressions, nodded slightly, and continued as she followed, "I heard from the horned deer that you're not very good at desserts, but it seems you're not bad at all."

"I really... can't make desserts."

Xiao Zhao gently scratched her cheek with her fingers in an awkward response. That's why she had told the other person to be mentally prepared. Although she was aware of her own limitations, she had mustered up the courage to try it again because Mingyou had said she wanted to eat it.

Mingyou waved her hand, taking the other person's words as mere modesty. Then she lifted the lid of the steamer, and steam immediately gushed out, revealing the white sticky rice cake adorned with white plums below.

"Not bad... Let me try it."

"Be careful, it's hot."

"fine."

As she spoke, Mingyou reached out and picked up a piece of piping hot sticky rice cake. It felt great to the touch, not much different from the sticky rice cakes sold in Emerald Green Town. Then she brought it to her mouth and took a small bite...

It has a soft and elastic texture, better than regular freshly baked sticky rice cakes, but the taste... um... um...

Mingyou's expression gradually turned serious, his eyes sharpened, his lips were tightly pursed, and sweat beaded on his forehead, as if he were pondering some philosophical truth about life, about to uncover the whole truth of this world, and then...

thump—

His vision went black, and he collapsed.

His body suddenly felt weak, without any warning. In the last moment before he lost consciousness, he only saw Xiao Zhao rushing over to hug him.

As for the taste of the sticky rice cake, I don't want to recall it anymore, and I can't even describe it; it was as if it didn't belong to this world...

Time flew by and it was the next day. Mingyou woke up in his bed, and Pengpeng was anxiously waiting beside him. When he woke up, he immediately went to call someone over.

"Did I black out again...?"

Mingyou touched her forehead, just then Xiaozhao walked in with Ponpon and the others, looking worried.

Are you alright?

"It's okay... so is there any left?"

"what?"

"It's sticky rice cake."

Mingyou had already remembered what had happened, and continued to ask, "Although the taste was a bit strange... it was surprisingly good. It's a taste I've never had before, so is there anything left?"

Hearing this, Xiao Zhao reached out and grabbed his shoulders, shaking him vigorously with a face full of worry and anxiety: "...Wake up!!!"

……

(End of this chapter)