Pokémon: Starting as a Farmer Instead of a Trainer

Chapter 2 Grandpa's Manor

Kitakami Village is located in a remote area in the southern part of the Sinnoh region, separated only by a sea. It borders the southeastern part of the Armia region and is on the same continent as the Kanto and Johto regions.

Surrounded by mountains, this place boasts tranquil natural scenery, including farmland and apple orchards, a stark contrast to the big cities.

The village used to be famous for its fruit industry, but now tourism is its main source of income. The only connection between the village and the outside world is a road built in recent years.

When Mingyou came to her senses, she was chased by the hyenas by the roadside and almost jumped into the field. She only escaped by offering all the snacks in her backpack.

Watching the coyotes snatch away the potato chips and sausages, he wiped the sweat from his forehead and took a breath.

Don't expect a complete idiot to exercise every day. Compared to his peers, his physical condition is quite poor; he's always been rather weak.

As for his Pokémon...

If he could pass the Orange Academy entrance exam, he could indeed get a starter Pokémon for free, but that's just wishful thinking.

As for buying a Poké Ball to catch one? That's the most fantastical episode. Even if his parents were alive, they couldn't give him one, worried that he would misbehave and get hurt by a Pokémon.

Thinking back on all this, he couldn't help but feel a little pathetic. He always felt that sometimes being a fool wasn't so bad, provided someone was willing to take care of you...

After catching his breath, he continued walking towards the town of Emerald Green at the foot of the mountain. In the distance, he saw a road sign that read "Emerald Green, the Apple Town," and two cuckoos were dozing on top of the sign.

Passing by and entering the town, one is greeted by a modern town style, with signal base stations covering the entire town, well-developed roads, and even flying taxis parked on the roadside.

The surrounding houses didn't feel rural at all. Several six-tailed tadpoles were huddled together on the eaves next to the streetlights, still asleep from their afternoon nap. Below, in the flowerbeds, black tadpoles and mosquito coil tadpoles were splashing and playing with each other.

Perhaps the only remaining stereotype is that of the residents who sit on small stools under the shade of trees in front of their doors, chatting while fanning themselves with palm-leaf fans.

Thanks to tourism, this remote rural village has now developed into a modern town, with rows of small villas standing there. However, the elderly here still prefer to refer to it as "the village".

Just as Mingyou was curiously looking around Green Town, a bald old man dressed in purple clothes and wearing glasses walked towards him.

The other person's clothes had a Poké Ball pattern that looked like a "ghost" on them. This symbol represented Kitakami Township, because Kitakami Township's landmark is Oni Mountain. As for why it has such a scary name, that involves local legends...

The old man stepped forward and greeted him, "My name is Yao Qian, and I'm the administrator in charge of managing various facilities in Beishang Township. And you are...?"

"Hello, my name is Mingyou."

Mingyou responded politely.

Upon hearing his name, Yao Qian smiled and said, "It really is you. Judging by the time, it's about time, so I came out to check. But you seem a little different from how you sounded on the phone. How was your journey?"

"I'm fine, thank you for your concern."

Mingyou nodded slightly. There was another reason why he came over: the person in front of him kept calling him every few days, urging him to come and deal with his grandfather's affairs.

After exchanging greetings, Yao Qian invited him to the community center, which is the center of Cui Lv Town. Local residents often gather there to enjoy the air conditioning and chat. It's a place where everyone can interact.

On the way to the community center, Mingyou listened to the other person talk about some things in Beishang Township.

Only after we entered the community center and found a seat did the other person finally get to the point, saying with a slightly heavy tone, "Actually, the land your grandfather left you has a three-year lease that expires, and the land was originally purchased in installments for the right to use it..."

"What do you mean?"

"Your grandfather still owed money before he passed away. We didn't ask for it back then because of his health condition. If you take over, you'll have to pay off this debt on his behalf. Think it over carefully."

"Um……"

Mingyou stroked her chin, pondered for a moment, and felt that there was something more to the other person's words. After considering it carefully, she finally replied, "Could I take a look at the contract first?"

As a newcomer, he didn't know much about these things, but after all, it was related to his grandfather, even though he didn't have many memories of his grandfather.

Because the journey between Beishang Township and Padiya is too far, and his parents are too busy with work, they only bring him here occasionally during the Lunar New Year. However, he doesn't remember much about it anymore; those were things from his childhood.

However, he vaguely remembered that his grandfather was a very kind and gentle old man who would make him candied apples, but at the same time he was also very stubborn, preferring to live alone here rather than go to Niangguang City to live...

"no problem!"

As he spoke, Yao Qian went to the front desk of the community center, took a document, and placed it on the table.

Mingyou carefully read the contract terms and confirmed that it was indeed a 30-year land use right.

Grandpa only paid part of the cost when he bought it, and chose to pay the rest in installments, once a year, with a maximum grace period of five years.

If the deadline is missed, the land will be forcibly reclaimed, and the outstanding payment will be made up; otherwise, legal proceedings will be initiated.

At this moment, Yao Qian thought for a moment and continued, "Your grandfather stopped paying two years ago. I heard something happened to your family?"

"Two years..."

Mingyou frowned slightly. Grandpa had left her a complete mess. Even if it was only one-fifth of the debt, she couldn't possibly pay it back now unless she sold the house in Niangguang City.

Seeing his expression, Yao Qian coughed lightly: "Since he has passed away and you are his only relative, the decision can only be made by you. However, I do have one condition."

"Hmm? What are the conditions?"

Mingyou looked up in confusion, only to see the other party take out another transfer contract, place it on the table, and then say with a smile, "As long as you sign the contract now and transfer that land to us, all the debts will be wiped clean!"

"..."

Mingyou finally understood that the other party was eager to get the land, which was why they approached him. After all, Beishang Township was a tourism-oriented area, and such a good piece of land was being occupied, so they could use it for other purposes.

"How so?"

Yao Qian continued to ask questions.

Looking at the contract, Mingyou thought about it carefully for a moment, then looked up and replied softly, "Can I give you an answer tomorrow? I want to go and see Grandpa's place first; it's been a long time since I've been there."

He was quite curious about his grandfather, who had lived here alone for so many years. Perhaps he had left something for him at home.

Yao Qian would naturally not refuse his request, as long as he could agree in the end.

With permission, Mingyou nodded gently and then asked about his grandfather's former residence. However, the answer he received surprised him greatly.

"Is it that far?"

He was stunned for a moment. He hadn't felt anything when he was a child and thought his grandfather lived near Cuilu Town. He didn't expect that there were still nearly ten kilometers to go after leaving the town. Why would he live so far away?

Fortunately, he saw flying taxis in town on his way there, so he could take one to get there later...

After chatting with Yao Qian for a few more minutes, he said goodbye, picked up his bag, and left the community center. He soon arrived at the location where the Flying Taxi was parked.

The taxis in Kitakami Township and Padiya are not much different in appearance; they are all helicopter-shaped without tails and propellers, with the only differences being the paint color and the company logo on top.

However, there was no driver in the carriage. After calling out twice, the driver finally came over from a nearby convenience store with bottled water.

"Have a ride, buddy? Where to?"

"The manor where the river flows into the riverbank."

"No problem, get in the car!"

As he spoke, the driver took out the whistle hanging around his neck and blew it. Three night owls that were resting in a tree not far away immediately flew down onto the carriage.

"Um?"

Mingyou was somewhat surprised, since the taxis in Padia were all carried by Angry Parrots, and this was the first time she had ever seen one carried by an Owl...

As he boarded the Flying Taxi and listened to the sound of night owls flapping their wings, he felt himself getting farther and farther away from the ground. Then he looked out the window, wanting to admire the scenery of Beishang Township.

But the instant he looked out the window, his gaze was completely drawn to the magnificent, towering Ghost Mountain, and he felt his own insignificance.

"Wow, it's huge..."

Enjoying the scenery of Ghost Mountain, before he knew it, the taxi had arrived at its destination. After settling the bill, the driver left him his phone number, saying that he could call a taxi anytime in Beishang Township.

As the taxi drove away, Mingyou looked at her wallet and felt a pang of heartache: "So expensive...it's three times the price of a taxi in Padonia!"

I can only say that he truly understands the essence of tourism; he's definitely got it figured out.

Coming back to his senses from the heartache, he looked up at the orchard in front of him, a place where there was hardly any fruit, with some round spiders living in their webs above.

The roadside weeds had not been cleared for a long time and had grown to nearly half a meter tall. Some broken branches and leftover food scraps from Pokémon were scattered everywhere.

Looking towards the end, there is a very conspicuous old three-story villa, standing alone at the deepest part, its walls covered with unknown plants, seemingly abandoned for a long time and never tidied up.

Filled with curiosity, he walked along the cement road built in the middle, observing the surrounding scenery as information kept popping into his mind.

[Apple tree: An apple tree that will still bear fruit normally despite being unattended, but the quality of the fruit is very low, and there are still two months until the next fruiting season.]

"Two months? But this isn't an Apple product?"

He saw an apple hanging on a green branch of the tree closest to him, so he went over and reached out to pick it.

But the next second, the apple stem on the apple opened its eyes, and the green branches wiggled like tails, as if it were somewhat alive.

"Click!"

"...Sorry to bother you."

Mingyou quickly hung the fruit-eating worm back on the tree, and the other party's information immediately appeared before her eyes.

[Fruitworm: Apple-dwelling Pokémon. It doesn't like you much. Don't bother it if you don't have food. It's best to give it a sweet apple.]

I've seen information about Pokémon many times along the way. As soon as I have a thought that I want to see something, this kind of information will appear immediately, all of which teach you how to increase your affinity.

Recalling the card that disappeared earlier, he still didn't quite understand his own abilities...

As he walked through the orchard and was about to reach the villa, an indescribable smell of rotting food hit him, causing him to involuntarily take two steps back.

Following the scent, he quickly found the source: at the villa entrance, there lay a Pokémon nearly a meter long with blue fur, a white underside of its head and belly, and an appearance similar to Totoro, lying motionless. The stench was emanating from the creature.

"It stinks... Is it still alive?"

Mingyou raised an eyebrow and cautiously walked towards the small Snorlax of a different color, while also displaying its information in her mind.

[Snorlax (Shiny): A gluttonous Pokémon that does nothing but eat and sleep, only waking up when hungry. You can try luring it with food.]

He breathed a sigh of relief after seeing the message. It seemed that the little Munchlax was just sleeping. The food it was hiding on its body must have rotted without it noticing. Munchlax does have a natural tendency to hide food in its fur.

But why are they sleeping in front of someone's door? Do the Snorlax family have a natural habit of blocking the way?

Confused, Mingyou stepped over the Snorlax and took the key out of his bag.

The key was inserted into the lock, turned gently, and with a click, the gears of fate began to turn...

(End of this chapter)