Li Wei wanted to learn cooking along with the special dishes that the system hadn't unlocked yet.
Anyway, he had proficiency, so all he needed to do was grind.
Breeders and chefs are both categorized by grade, and passing assessments grants certification from the Alliance.
From low to high, they are: Novice, Intermediate, Advanced, Elite, Master Class, and Grandmaster.
For chefs above Master Class, Pokemon food made from specific ingredients, like precious resources and rare Berries, can enhance a Pokemon's strength, effectively acting as training.
Gym Leader Siebold of Kalos is a Master Class chef.
The old man's culinary skills are Master Class, while his breeding is Elite.
When Li Wei said he wanted to learn from him, the old man's face became serious, and the air around them suddenly solidified.
Arcanine, who had been happily slurping down beef noodles, now only dared to eat cautiously, eventually grabbing its bowl and running off without looking back.
(╬￣dish￣)
You just sold me out? You ran too fast!
Li Wei had anticipated this.
When it came to breeding and cooking, Grandpa was always very serious.
Because that's how one is responsible for Pokemon.
A side quest appeared on the quest panel.
[Lien's Wish]: Lien is troubled that his eldest son became a Pokemon stylist instead of pursuing a proper career, and that his second son, granddaughter, and grandson did not inherit his craft.
Please make a Pokemon food that satisfies Lien before the Breeding House opens.
Quest Reward: Random Specialty Dish * 1
Li Wei hadn't expected his grandpa to have such a dream, but thinking about it, it was normal.
His eldest uncle, Li Wen, had little interest in breeding and became a designer and tailor.
Li Wei's cousin, Vera, was even more adventurous, directly going to research ancient history and fossils.
Although his father, Leon, had embarked on the path of a Breeder and chef, the old man's evaluation was:
Better than some, but not as good as others.
Both breeding and cooking require talent.
For someone like Li Wei, whose Pokemon gain proficiency just by eating his food, it's like cheating.
Although Li Wei made food for his Pokémon himself, he had never thought of pursuing the path of a Breeder.
He originally thought it would be enough to only train his own Pokémon.
With his parents opening a new Breeding House, Li Wei made a decision.
His parents had also borrowed money from his eldest uncle, so he couldn't just be a good-for-nothing.
Even without the system quest, he had to do this.
Lien looked at Li Wei, and said seriously, "You're not joking, are you?"
Leon shook his head: "No, Mom and Dad are opening a new Breeding House, and I want to help them, and I also want to try to walk this path."
Li Wei's motto was: if you're going to do something, do it to the best of your ability.
The old man nodded slightly: "That's a legitimate reason. Actually, you have talent and can persevere, unlike your sister who cries at the slightest thing."
Listening to the old man speak, Li Wei recalled his childhood.
He was either memorizing the Pokémon Breeding Handbook or on his way to make Pokémon food.
Whatever he made, edible or not, all went into Gengar's four-dimensional stomach; it wouldn't get sick from it anyway.
His cousin had run off very early.
Li Wei, however, had continued learning, but once he got Riolu and started traveling, he stopped.
Li Wei accepted the side quest [Lien's Wish].
The old man pondered for a moment: "Breeding is more complex; let's start with cooking. I'll check your knife skills, and you'll also need to get a Breeder's license."
Breeding and cooking have commonalities, and breeding is indeed more complex.
A Breeder needs to understand different Pokemon species, delve into individual Pokémon, customize specifically for them, and even manage their fur.
Although Li Wei's breeding skill is Intermediate, he has no rank with the Alliance.
"Yes."
The old man said grumpily, "Yes what? Go wash and chop vegetables. Do you expect me to do it for you?"
"Alright!"
While Li Wei was washing vegetables, the old man called out to Farfetch'd, who was planting green onions in the backyard.
"Quack!" (What do you want!)
Farfetch'd's eyes sparkled with wisdom.
"You supervise him. Point out his mistakes and guide him."
Farfetch'd confidently patted its chest.
"Quack!" (Let me, Duck Duck, guide him!)
The old man only had two Pokémon: Farfetch'd for cooking and Gengar for eating.
Under the old man's tutelage, Farfetch'd's cooking skills were even better than Li Wei's...
Yes, a human was inferior to Duck Duck.
The old man then called out to Lucario, who was outside, "You explain what Farfetch'd says to him."
"Lucario."
(I understand.)
The old man, having given his instructions, left first.
Looking at Farfetch'd, who was pushing up its wire-rimmed glasses on the left,
And Lucario, who had its arms crossed on the right,
And hearing the sound of the TV from the front yard...
Was this also part of your plan, Grandpa!
Li Wei seriously suspected that Grandpa giving him a Riolu egg was for this very day.
"Quack~"
(First, julienne~)
"Don't imitate the accent!"
Next, guided by Farfetch'd's pointers, Li Wei began his culinary journey.
Picking up a finely shredded potato, Farfetch'd nodded in satisfaction: "Quack!"
(Good, now slice~)
"Quack!"
(Next, roll-cut into chunks~)
Farfetch'd held its leek and poked Li Wei wherever his technique wasn't standard.
"Quack quack!"
(The three sides of a roll-cut must be the same. Watch my demonstration.)
Lucario dutifully translated.
The kitchen was filled with quacking sounds.
Li Wei's knife skills were better than his heat control and seasoning for a reason: he learned knife skills first.
Then he ran away...
Under the guidance of Duck Duck, Li Wei relived his childhood, accompanied by potatoes and cucumbers.
But Li Wei was undoubtedly happy.
Over the next two hours, under Duck Duck's guidance, his cooking proficiency kept increasing by +1, +2...
And the old man's evaluation of Li Wei's knife skills was...
"Barely passable. Keep chopping. Chop for another ten days to half a month first."
"Grandpa, I have something to do tomorrow."
The old man glanced at him,
"Already don't want to learn?"
"No, Xiao Meng Jie's Berry fields have Pokémon stealing Berries. I want to help her find them."
Hearing this, the old man frowned: "That child, I just saw her two days ago, why didn't she say anything?"
Li Wei shrugged, "Isn't Xiao Meng Jie always like this? She doesn't like to trouble people."
"Alright, come back quickly after you find them."
"Okay."
"Watch from the side. Today I'll make you oil-garlic crab and braised prawns."
...
The next day, Li Wei took the time to bring Lucario, Arcanine, and Metang directly to the door.
Knock knock—
Hearing the knock, Xiao Meng opened the door.
"Xiao Wei, Lucario, come in quickly."
The house Xiao Meng lived in was relatively small, a one-bedroom apartment. Li Wei didn't see Farfetch'd in the living room.
"Where's Farfetch'd?"
"It's helping me guard the Berry fields."
"Did something happen?"
Under Li Wei and Lucario's questioning, Xiao Meng finally revealed that her Berry fields had been raided by Pokémon.
"We'll help you find them."
"Lucario."
(Leave it to us.)