Xia Huanao wasn't quite sure how many significant things he'd done in Man Ying, but after he left the shrine, his first clear goal was to take a trip back home to Ming Long Country.
It wasn't because anything major had happened, but simply because Xia Huanao was craving home-style cooking.
While the meals in Man Ying were good, Xia Huanao couldn't stomach sushi and curry every day. He had actually considered finding a Ming Long restaurant in Man Ying to satisfy his appetite. However, as anyone who's been away from home for a long time knows, even hometown dishes don't taste quite the same, let alone when they've been modified by foreigners.
The most famous example was the General Tso's chicken Xia Huanao had eaten in his previous life. He knew what the dish was originally, but the taste was truly bizarre.
To ensure he could eat a home-cooked meal as soon as possible, Xia Huanao planned to fly directly back to Liu Ling City from Ying Du International Airport. However, as soon as he and Mu Zhishui arrived at the airport and before they could even buy tickets, they were spotted.
There was no need to ask who had spotted them; it was naturally the people from the Rainbow Star Group. Xia Huanao and Mu Zhishui exchanged glances and immediately fled.
The Rainbow Star Group's members were truly persistent, almost chasing Xia Huanao and the two of them all the way back from Ying Du to the capital of Man Ying.
Today was the third day of their escape, and Xia Huanao and Mu Zhishui had once again taken refuge in the mountains. Xia Huanao didn't mind their fugitive-like lifestyle, but it didn't stop him from teasing Mu Zhishui: "So, the two of us really have the air of eloping now."
"It's good we're eloping. Although I haven't contacted my parents, if they knew I eloped with a talented young man like you, they probably wouldn't be angry."
Xia Huanao frowned at the woman, whose words made him rather uncomfortable: "Never mind, let's not talk about it. Do you have any way for us to return to Ming Long Country?"
Mu Zhishui shook her head: "No. If I had such a method, I would have returned long ago."
Xia Huanao sighed: "If I had known, I should have asked Mew when we met her to take me back."
Hearing Xia Huanao's unrealistic idea, Mu Zhishui shook her head: "Are you starving? Ask Mew to take you back? Why don't you say you'll use Kyogre to carry you across the sea!"
Xia Huanao found this idea quite reasonable and immediately decided that being carried across the sea by Kyogre might be a good option.
"Let's do it," Xia Huanao said, standing up. "I've decided, I'm going to find Kyogre!"
As soon as he spoke, Xia Huanao sat back down on the ground: "Damn it, I'm hungry again. I told you, sushi just doesn't fill you up. I bought so much sushi, and I'm still starving."
Hearing Xia Huanao mention sushi, Mu Zhishui looked at him: "What are you talking about? Although you bought some sushi, you're four people sharing it. How could it possibly fill you up? That was just a large portion for one person."
Xia Huanao ignored him and continued to vent his dissatisfaction with sushi: "That's why I say, our Ming Long Country vendors are more authentic. Look at their dishes, generous portions, filling, and tasty."
Seeing that Xia Huanao was unlikely to change his impression of Man Ying people being stingy, Mu Zhishui decided to pour a little cold water on him: "So, do you have a plan? Where are you going to get your home-style cooking?"
Xia Huanao patted his backpack: "The mountains have their own clever strategies. I have ingredients in my bag."
"When did you buy ingredients?"
Xia Huanao smiled: "The night we ran out of Ying Du that day, I secretly went back to Ying Du."
"You're truly brave..."
Xia Huanao opened his backpack, lost in his own thoughts: "Hmm, braised beef, mushroom stewed chicken, scallion ribs. What do you want to eat?"
Mu Zhishui was stunned: "Are you sure these aren't instant noodles?"
Xia Huanao thought for a long time before replying: "No. This is Man Ying, where would I find these kinds of instant noodles? Of course, they are all proper Ming Long dishes."
"Do you have any recommendations?"
"Hmm, mushroom stewed chicken?"
"Alright, then mushroom stewed chicken. I should also reward myself and have a good meal."
Xia Huanao and Mu Zhishui were in perfect agreement. Xia Huanao took out a clay pot from his backpack and even called out Squirtle and Diancie: "Squirtle, go process this chicken. Little Princess, shall I teach you how to cook?"
Squirtle looked at the chicken Xia Huanao handed him, not quite understanding how to prepare chicken. After all, he was just a young little frog.
Squirtle couldn't grasp Xia Huanao's intention. Mu Zhishui, on the other hand, scolded Xia Huanao: "What are you thinking? How could Fluffy possibly process a chicken?"
Xia Huanao took out his phone and explained a lot, but in the end, he felt it would be simpler to have Squirtle use Water Pulse to solve the problem. Mu Zhishui couldn't say anything about this method, as Xia Huanao was the head chef, and she, as a diner, wouldn't dare to criticize the cook.
After sending Squirtle to process the chicken, Xia Huanao, holding Diancie's small hand, began preparing various ingredients, including mushrooms. As Xia Huanao handled the knives, the little princess was a bit happy, which could be seen from her expression as she wielded the knife.
"Diancie, listen carefully, this is how you prepare the chicken for mushroom stewed chicken."
After preparing various side dishes, Xia Huanao took the already processed chicken from Squirtle and began teaching Diancie how to prepare it. It had to be said that although Xia Huanao's instructions to Squirtle were vague, Squirtle's abilities were trustworthy, and the chicken was processed very cleanly.
Watching Xia Huanao teach the little princess to cook, Mu Zhishui joked: "Really, I think if you opened a Pokémon restaurant, it might be good too. With you and Diancie working together, the business would surely be great."
Xia Huanao finished preparing the chicken and started a fire to stew it: "Really? I think so too. Diancie and I work very well together, don't we?"
Diancie extended her little hand and touched Xia Huanao's. Then she continued with the cooking. Mu Zhishui, looking at the clay pot already on the stove, asked: "Why use a clay pot? I think an iron pot could also do the job."
Xia Huanao glanced at the clay pot, which had barely managed to fit the chicken: "They say that stewing chicken in a clay pot results in a better texture. So I bought a clay pot."
Mu Zhishui looked unconvinced: "No, you must have another reason. Tell me, what is it?"
Xia Huanao glanced at Diancie: "Our little princess is very sensitive to the state of rocks. I think clay pots are also rocks, so the little princess should be able to feel the temperature changes of the clay pot very accurately. This way, the texture of the mushroom stewed chicken should be better."
Xia Huanao didn't hide his intention of using Diancie. Upon hearing Xia Huanao's words, Diancie became very excited, looking as if she could handle it.
Seeing the little princess's enthusiasm, Xia Huanao didn't interfere. He just briefly explained the proper heat for stewing the chicken to her and then went with Squirtle and Shedinja to pick berries.
As the saying goes, many hands make light work, and the power of a starving person is limitless. Before long, a simple yet lavish, albeit slightly absurd, lunch was ready.
It was simple because there was only one dish on the table. It was lavish because mushroom stewed chicken was indeed a hearty dish. As for absurd, it was because the staple food was bread slices...
Xia Huanao only realized that there were no grains after he had finished making the mushroom stewed chicken and berry juice. While it wasn't impossible to eat like this, as someone from Ming Long Country, it felt awkward without a staple.
Having no rice was fine; even steamed buns or noodles would have been acceptable. But Xia Huanao hadn't prepared anything. His only preparation was the bread slices he had saved for breakfast. He had looked at the map and saw that the next town wasn't far, intending to resupply after entering the city. He hadn't expected to have mushroom stewed chicken for lunch today.
Looking at the bread slices in his hand, Xia Huanao sighed. What was this life? His quality of life might not even be as good as the Pokémon's, because both he and Mu Zhishui had at least a year's supply of Pokémon food in their backpacks, and it was enough for full-scale battles.
However, humans couldn't get used to Pokémon food. Xia Huanao had tried it before and felt like dying.
"Forget it, just make do for now. When we get to the city, I'll buy some flour, and we'll have steamed buns from now on. Although we'll get tired of them soon, it's better than bread slices with mushroom stewed chicken."
Mu Zhishui skillfully tore off a chicken leg and offered it to Diancie: "Little Princess, how do you like this?"
Diancie took the chicken leg and then handed it to Magearna. Xia Huanao, imitating her, tore off another chicken leg and offered it to Diancie: "Such a good girl, Little Princess."
Although the staple food wasn't great, the excellent main dish made everyone very satisfied. Even Squirtle, who usually didn't eat much meat, had some. As for Shedinja, it only nibbled on a couple of bread slices, seeming to dislike hot food.
Mu Zhishui rubbed her belly and lay under the tree without any ladylike composure: "Diancie, your cooking is really good. Right, Xia Xia?"
Xia Huanao watched Diancie playing with Magearna: "Yes, Diancie is truly capable of both managing a household and cooking. She's an excellent candidate for a wife."
Hearing Xia Huanao mention wife, Diancie blushed slightly and gently hit Xia Huanao with her hand. Mu Zhishui laughed: "What are you talking about with Diancie? Our Diancie and Magearna are still innocent and lively little girls, right?"
Diancie and Magearna exchanged glances, then nodded in agreement with Mu Zhishui. Yes, they were still little girls.
However, Xia Huanao thought for a moment and said: "I've decided. I will train Diancie to be an excellent Pokémon who can manage a household, cook, and fight!"