Pokémon: Starting as a Farmer Instead of a Trainer

Chapter 180 Preparations for the New Year: Making Dumplings? (Seeking Monthly Tickets)

It wasn't until evening that Xiaozhao returned home from her outing. After seeing Kirlia, she greeted her warmly, put down her backpack, and went to the kitchen, where she saw Mingyou and Ponpo busy at work.

"Has the Ralts matter been resolved?"

"Yes, both sisters have moved into the manor. What about you? Do you have any leads?"

Still nothing...

Xiao Zhao shook her head regretfully. It was going to snow heavily again tomorrow, and it wouldn't be convenient for her to go out and look for it anymore. This feeling of being in the open while the enemy was in the dark was really uncomfortable.

After a moment of silence, she gently patted her face and cheered herself up: "Let me help. What should we cook tonight? I bought some fresh ingredients at Momozawa Store on my way back, so we won't be unable to go out tomorrow."

"Hmm... let's make some sweet soup. I think Ralts likes sweet things, and its sister probably does too. Let's do this as a way of welcoming them over."

"No problem, I'll chop the vegetables... By the way, have you ever tried the sticky rice cake from Momozawa Shoten?"

Xiao Zhao asked curiously, saying that when she went to investigate the "ghost" matter with Dan Yu today, she saw that Dan Yu had bought a lot of food and was eating it, and she instinctively felt that Dan Yu's behavior was a little strange when she was eating sticky rice cake.

Upon hearing this, Mingyou was slightly taken aback. Then, recalling the disgusting taste, she looked distressed and replied, "I've eaten it... but it was awful. I don't know if the sticky rice cake I ate was spoiled, or if eating the sticky rice cake you made caused a problem with my taste buds. In any case, I really can't eat it."

"Are there any aftereffects? Are you alright?"

"That's fine. So, have you tried it? How did it taste?"

"No, Danyu finished it all by herself, and I was too embarrassed to ask her for a piece. I couldn't find any when I went to Taoze Store. This sticky rice cake seems to be quite popular lately; a lot of people are asking about it."

"Really? This stuff seems like it's addictive?"

Mingyou subconsciously complained, but she wasn't addicted at all. Maybe it was really delicious?

Thinking of all this, he looked at Xiao Zhao with an embarrassed expression and asked, "Speaking of sticky rice cakes... does Teacher Xiao Zhao plan to make some today?"

"Oh? But we don't have any ingredients at home. Why didn't you call me earlier if you wanted to eat this..."

"Oh well……"

Seeing his slightly disappointed look, Xiao Zhao sighed softly, gently brushed her long hair aside with the back of her hand, tilted her head, smiled, and said softly, "If you want to eat it, then wait a couple of days. After all, you're the first person to like my desserts, so I can't let my customer down~"

"Very good!"

"Haha, like a little kid."

The two chatted and laughed, which brought a smile to the face of Ponpo, who was helping out. It especially loved seeing its two favorites interact.

"Mmm~"

After a while, snowflakes began to fall outside. Kirlia stood at the door and glanced at it. Facing the cold wind, it immediately went inside.

Normally, it would probably be hiding in a tree hole, sleeping with its sister, right? But in this kind of winter... it never thought it could really make it through with its sister; it could only live one day at a time.

"Dinner's ready!"

Upon hearing the sound and seeing the bear cubs running towards the dining table, Ralts suddenly trotted up to it and took its hand.

"Ralu~"

Let's go together~

"..."

Kirlia was silent for a moment, then nodded slightly and followed her younger sister, who always needed her protection, to the dining table and sat down.

Don't worry about not having a seat here, because not many people will sit and eat as obediently as Ponpo; they'll all be running around with their food in their bowls.

Seeing them approach, Mingyou spun the lazy Susan on the table, bringing a steaming bowl of soup to them: "I made a sweet soup with sweet apples. It's perfect for winter. Have a taste, but be careful, it's hot."

"Ralu~"

Ralts picked up a spoon and ladled some soup into its own bowl, but after noticing Mingyou's smile, it felt it was inappropriate, so it moved the bowl in front of its sister before ladling another bowl for itself.

Kirlia looked at the sweet soup in front of her, hesitated for a moment, then gently picked it up with both hands. Realizing it was a little hot, she blew on it lightly before bringing the bowl to her lips, taking a small sip, and smacking her lips...

"Nair~"

Delicious! So sweet! So warming!

After tasting the soup, Kirlia smiled with immense satisfaction and eagerly took another sip, but without paying attention to the temperature, she accidentally burned her tongue.

"Ralu..."

Ralts immediately showed concern for her sister, Kirlia waved to indicate that she was alright, and smiled as she let it have a taste as well, a flavor they had never tasted before.

"Ralu~"

Seeing how much the two sisters enjoyed the sweet soup, Xiao Zhao, also savoring her own bowl, smiled and said, "Your sweet soup is really delicious, and so are your desserts. I can't help but wonder if you used to work part-time as a pastry chef?"

"Haha, I learned it specifically because the kids love sweets."

"You learned this specifically for Ponpo? You learned it in such a short time, teach me sometime too~"

"No problem, if you can teach me."

Mingyou responded with a smile, saying that although she had been misunderstood, it was fine this way, otherwise it would have been troublesome to explain, since she did not belong to this world in her previous life.

But just then, Xiao Zhao, watching the bear cubs running around, suddenly asked curiously, "There are only a few days left until the New Year. Are you making any preparations? I see everyone in Emerald Town is getting ready for the New Year."

"Is it Chinese New Year...?"

Mingyou thought about what people should do during the New Year in this world. In the Padia region, Christmas is generally considered more important than the New Year. Therefore, he has never experienced a New Year with a festive atmosphere in this world.

But now he has memories of his past life, so he naturally values ​​the New Year more than any other holiday, and the more lively the better!

He began to rack his brains to recall and brainstorm ideas, then looked at Xiao Zhao and asked, "Do you have any ideas? Perhaps you could add them in?"

"Um……"

Hearing this question, Xiao Zhao gradually fell silent, and after a long while, she finally responded: "I'll leave it to you. I have no family, I've never experienced anything like this before, and I don't even have many memories of my past. I don't even know where I came from..."

Hearing the girl speak in a heavy and slightly sad tone, Mingyou's smile faded, and she put down her chopsticks, feeling deep sympathy for her.

He didn't know how to comfort her, since he was the one who brought up the issue, so he stepped forward and, just like when he comforted Pengpeng, gently hugged Xiaozhao to soothe her emotions.

"Relax a little. Whatever the past was, at least you still have us by your side now!"

"Mmm~"

Ponpon also came to the side and offered words of comfort.

"Um……"

Xiao Zhao nodded slightly, then suddenly came to her senses, a hint of panic and bewilderment flashing across her face. Ming You then realized what was happening and quickly released her, saying, "I'm sorry, I didn't ask for your permission..."

Before he could finish speaking, Xiao Zhao tugged at her clothes, looked away, her face slightly flushed, and replied softly, "It's nothing, I should be thanking you..."

Hearing this, Mingyou became serious and interrupted her, saying, "What are you saying? We don't need to say thank you between us. You said it yourself."

"Huh!? That seems to be the case... Haha."

Seeing Mingyou's serious attitude, Xiaozhao couldn't help but laugh out loud. Sure enough, staying here really makes her happy. It always helps her forget her troubles from time to time. Maybe she was meant to be here?

The thought popped into her mind, and she looked at Mingyou, asking curiously, "So what are your New Year's preparations? Why don't you tell me first, and I'll see if you need me to add any of my own ideas?"

"no problem!"

Mentioning this, Mingyou perked up and returned to her seat, saying, "Then let's do it according to the tradition of my hometown!"

"The Padiya region?"

"Um...more or less."

Mingyou didn't know how to answer the other person, so after coughing twice, she continued, "First of all, we need to buy New Year's goods, and firecrackers and fireworks are indispensable, as are door couplets, red lanterns..."

As he spoke, Xiao Zhao took notes on her phone's memo app. Although there were many things she had never heard of before, she still wrote them down very carefully.

"Hmm..."

Ponpo listened from the side, her face full of curiosity. She had no idea that so many things needed to be prepared for the New Year, since she had never celebrated it before.

And at the very end, Mingyou said with a smile, "Of course, there's one more crucial point that can't be omitted; without this, it can't be called New Year!"

"Huh? What is it?"

"Hehe, of course we'll make dumplings together!"

……

One more chapter is being written.

(End of this chapter)