The midday sun hung high over Wutong Town, casting a golden haze over the sleepy streets. Lin Feng walked along the bluestone path, flanked by a curious duo: a regal Snivy gliding along with an air of "I'm only here for the snacks," and a sturdy Sandshrew that was literally rolling with excitement.
They arrived at Grandpa Qin's western-style house, where the old man was resting on a porch swing.
"Grandpa Qin! I'm heading back to the nursery now. I'll make sure this little guy gets back to you safely this afternoon," Lin Feng called out.
"Take your time, Xiao Lin!" the old man beamed, his eyes settling on the teal-colored snake. "Say, is that Snivy your partner? She looks exceptionally healthy—shining like a piece of jade, she is!"
Beside Lin Feng, the Snivy's heart hammered against her ribs. Her vines twitched nervously. If this human told the truth—that she was a "thief" caught red-handed eating berries—her reputation as a dignified Pokémon would be ruined forever. She cast a desperate, pleading look at Lin Feng.
Please, don't expose me...
Lin Feng caught the look and felt a surge of amusement. He casually patted his pocket where the energy cubes were kept. "You could say that, Grandpa. With a plantation this big, I needed a capable hand—well, capable vines—to keep things running. She's my head of security and landscaping."
"Hahaha! A wise choice! Grass-types are the heart of any good farm," Grandpa Qin chuckled, completely convinced.
The Snivy let out a long, silent breath of relief, her tail drooping. She looked at Lin Feng with a gaze that said, I suppose you aren't so bad for a human.
On the way back, Lin Feng stopped at a local market stall and bought several Spicy Tamato Berries. The Sandshrew's eyes nearly popped out of its head, its nose twitching at the sharp, pungent aroma.
"Eye of Exploration: Target—Sandshrew"
Aptitude: White (Standard)
Condition: Ravenous for spice.
Affection: 65 (Deeply trusts your cooking)
Joy: 60 (Anticipating a feast)
"Patience, little driller," Lin Feng laughed as the Sandshrew began to perform its Rollout move in circles around his feet. "I'm going to make you something that'll make those wild berries taste like cardboard."
The Snivy, watching from the side, let out a soft, elegant "Snivy-hmpf." She looked at the Sandshrew with pity. How ambitious can a pile of scales be? It's just a berry. Nothing can compare to the yogurt-infused perfection of those energy cubes.
Ten minutes later, they were in the nursery kitchen.
Lin Feng rolled up his sleeves. His parents had left behind a well-stocked kitchen, but with his Divine Breeder and Master Chef knowledge, the room felt different. The tools seemed to hum under his touch.
He started with the basics: boiling a pot of fresh spring water and dropping in hand-pulled egg noodles. The scent of wheat filled the air. He added a dollop of high-quality lard, letting it melt into a silky, savory broth.
Then came the magic. He heated a pan of golden rapeseed oil until it shimmered. He beat several farm-fresh eggs and poured them in; they sizzled and puffed into a light, airy cloud. Next, he took the Tamato Berries, dicing them into perfect, uniform cubes. He tossed them into the pan, stir-frying them on medium heat until the oils turned a vibrant, fiery red. He folded the eggs back in, added a splash of cornstarch for a glossy, thick texture, and poured the entire spicy, golden-red mixture over the steaming noodles.
"Ding! B-Rank Delicacy Created: 'The Flame-Soul Bowl'."
Description: A masterpiece of heat and texture.
Cooking Effect: 'Mind-Fire.' Temporarily increases Special Attack by 10% for one hour. Frequent consumption can permanently enhance a Pokémon's Special Attack potential.
"Lunch is served," Lin Feng announced.
He looked down. He expected the Sandshrew to be there. He didn't expect the Snivy to be practically vibrating at his feet. Her "dignity" had vanished the moment the scent of the sautéed berries hit the air. She was staring at the bowl with her mouth slightly open, a tiny bead of drool forming at the corner.
"You wanted energy cubes, remember?" Lin Feng teased. "Noodles are for 'unambitious' types."
"Vine! Snivy-vi!" (I was wrong! Give me the red noodles!) she chirped, her vines reaching out to grab a pair of chopsticks from the counter.
Lin Feng laughed and divided the portion into three. The Sandshrew didn't wait. It buried its face into the bowl, claws be damned. The combination of the sweet-lard broth and the stinging, joyous heat of the Tamato berries was too much.
"Ding! Sandshrew's Joy: 60% -> 90%!"
"Reward: Ten bags of Golden Kela, one Rare Candy, and 500g of Hardened Sand."
Meanwhile, the Snivy had actually figured out how to use the chopsticks with her vines—a testament to her high intelligence. She slurped a single strand.
Her eyes widened. The world seemed to slow down. The spicy heat danced with the richness of the egg, and the Divine Breeder essence in the food began to tingle in her Special Attack centers.
"Ding! Snivy's Joy: 35% -> 60%!"
"Reward: Eight bags of Golden Kela, one Rare Candy."
Lin Feng took a bite himself. "Woah..."
The flavors were explosive. It wasn't just "good cooking"—it felt like the food was alive, fueling his True New Human Body. He felt a wave of heat wash over him, and suddenly, the fatigue of the morning's labor was gone.
After the "religious experience" that was lunch, the trio returned to the plantation.
"Alright, Sandshrew, the deal was lunch for labor. It's time to turn this soil," Lin Feng said.
But before the Sandshrew could begin, Lin Feng reached into his pocket. To the Pokémon, it looked like he was reaching into thin air, but he was actually accessing his system storage. He pulled out a bag of Golden Kela.
The fertilizer looked like shimmering, dark soil mixed with gold dust. Lin Feng walked to the first 10x10 meter plot and began to sprinkle it evenly.
"This is the good stuff," he muttered. According to the system, this could make a plant grow ten times faster. In a world where some berries took weeks to ripen, this was a game-changer.
The Sandshrew watched with wide eyes. It could sense the intense vitality leaking from the "Golden Kela." It didn't need any more motivation. It curled into a ball and used Rollout, but instead of a combat strike, it used its weight and speed to churn the fertilized earth, turning the weeds into natural compost and loosening the soil to a perfect, airy consistency.
Behind it, the Snivy followed, using her Vine Whip to pick out any large stones the Sandshrew missed. She was moving with incredible speed now, the "Special Attack" buff from the noodles giving her a literal glow.
Lin Feng stood at the edge of the plot, holding a handful of Oran Berry seeds. He looked at his two helpers—one a neighbor's pet, one a "thief" he was slowly bribing into a lifetime contract—and felt a deep sense of satisfaction.
"By tomorrow, this place won't just be a nursery," he whispered. "It'll be a fortress."
He looked at the Rare Candies in his hand. He had over a dozen now. If he gave them to the Snivy all at once, she might evolve before the week was out. But he held back. A God-tier Breeder knows that the best fruit is the one that ripens under the sun, not just in a lab.
"Hey, Sandshrew! Once you're done with that row, I've got some 'Hardened Sand' for dessert!"
The Sandshrew let out a muffled "Shrew!" of joy from underground, its digging speed doubling instantly.
Lin Feng turned his gaze toward the forest. He could feel it—the reputation of the Neighboring Nursery was about to spread, and he had a feeling the next "guest" wouldn't be as small as a Snivy.