At that moment, the Turtwig from earlier ran back, looking a bit shy after seeing the Gloom get caught. Wen Qi glanced at the slightly embarrassed little creature, didn’t mind, and just shook his head with a gentle smile.
Leading the two Pokémon along, he noticed the surroundings were quite remote, with hardly any signs of people. It seemed this farm wouldn’t face much disturbance in the future, which pleased Wen Qi. After walking for over half an hour, he finally reached his farm.
Standing before the weathered gate, Wen Qi felt an indescribable surge of emotion. He hadn’t been back in so long, and the scene before him was starkly different from the vibrant, lush farm in his memories. The gate looked dilapidated, with rust etched into the iron by time, as if telling tales of the farm’s past glory and present decline. The paint had long peeled off, revealing mottled iron and a sense of desolation and loneliness.
Wen Qi gently pushed the gate open, and with a creaking sound, he stepped into the once-familiar farm. Inside, weeds grew wildly, nearly covering the original paths. The fields that had once been neatly arranged were now chaotic and barren. Stepping on the weeds, Wen Qi felt a pang of inexplicable sadness. He recalled the joyful times on this farm, once filled with laughter, now reduced to silence and desolation.
The berry trees bore sparse fruit, many of them malnourished, their withered yellow hues signaling the decline of life. Wen Qi remembered how these trees used to be laden with heavy fruit, which he and his family would pick and taste, their sweetness unforgettable. Now, the fruit was shriveled and bland, as if echoing the farm’s decline.
The farmhouse was also in disrepair, with moss and vines climbing the walls and broken glass in the windows. Wen Qi entered the house to find it empty, furniture and decorations covered in dust, desolate and cold. He could almost hear the wind whistling through the windows, carrying a hint of sorrow.
Standing in this ruined farm, Wen Qi was filled with emotion and regret. He recalled the happy times and the farm’s former prosperity. Yet reality was harsh—the farm had fallen into decay, never to return to its past. He stood silently, feeling the farm’s transformation and pondering his own future.
Wen Qi had suspected the farm would be run-down, but actually arriving here, he found it far worse than imagined. It clearly needed a major overhaul. However, before hiring anyone for repairs, he had to deal with the wild Pokémon here first. Though most were low-level, leaving them unchecked would make work inconvenient later.
Thinking of the Gloom’s terrifying stench, Wen Qi suddenly had an idea. He released the Gloom and whispered something to it. After listening, the Gloom hesitated shyly but, knowing it was Wen Qi’s wish, didn’t refuse. It walked into the farm, while Wen Qi quickly ran to a distance to observe.
He watched as the Gloom began to emit its stench, circling the farm. Wen Qi saw many Pokémon fleeing while cursing loudly, as if accusing Wen Qi of playing dirty by releasing poison. Wen Qi felt a bit helpless, but this was the fastest method, and it wouldn’t harm the Pokémon. After all, he noticed these were mostly weak Pokémon, likely the underdogs from the mountain forest, otherwise they wouldn’t have come down to the farm.
An hour later, the Gloom returned, looking sad. Though it knew it wasn’t popular, it hadn’t expected so many Pokémon to dislike it. Seeing the Gloom on the verge of tears, Wen Qi immediately went to comfort it. He activated his psychic powers to block the stench and said gently, “Don’t be sad. You still have me. After some rest, I’ll help you evolve, and then you’ll become even more beautiful.”
Hearing Wen Qi’s comfort, the Gloom felt a bit better and even looked forward to evolving. Though the wild Pokémon had left the farm, the lingering stench would take time to dissipate. Wen Qi decided to return to the village and ask the village chief for help in finding people to fix up the farm.
Back at the chief’s house, Wen Qi explained the situation. The old chief said, “Your farm is indeed quite run-down. How about this: stay at my place tonight, and tomorrow I’ll call the renovation team from the neighboring town to fix it up. They handle most of the repairs around here and have plenty of experience. I’ll call them first, and then you can discuss it with them.”
Wen Qi found the arrangement reasonable and agreed. After the chief coordinated with the team, Wen Qi called to consult. They decided to come to the chief’s house tomorrow morning and head to the farm together. Wen Qi was satisfied with this plan, as he knew nothing about farm renovations, and having a professional team would save a lot of trouble.
That evening, Wen Qi had to stay at the old chief’s house. He felt a bit embarrassed for imposing without bringing anything, but the chief’s family was incredibly warm and hospitable, making him feel at home. They gathered for dinner, the atmosphere cozy and harmonious. The chief’s son and daughter-in-law were hardworking and simple, managing the family orchard while caring for their young granddaughter, Wen Xin’er. Little Wen Xin’er was lively and cute, only a few years old but already showing a childlike innocence that brought endless joy to the household.
There was also the older grandson, Wen Zhe, a sensible seventeen-year-old on summer break from his sophomore year of high school. Instead of relaxing, he actively helped his parents in the orchard, sharing the farm work. When Wen Zhe saw Wen Qi, he found him familiar, and upon hearing his grandfather say it was Wen Qi, he suddenly remembered. It turned out Wen Qi had been his neighbor, and they played together as kids.
Seeing Wen Zhe, Wen Qi’s face lit up with a joyful smile. Though he wasn’t the original Wen Qi, the childhood memories of playing with Wen Zhe were still deeply etched in his heart. Wen Zhe asked excitedly, “Brother Qi, why did you suddenly come back? You haven’t been back in years—I thought you’d forgotten this place.”
Wen Qi smiled faintly and sighed, “How could I forget? It’s just that after my parents’ accident, I’ve been hurting inside and was afraid coming back would stir up memories.” Wen Zhe knew about Wen Qi’s ordeal, so he didn’t say much, just gently patted his shoulder in silent understanding and support.
Then, Wen Zhe suddenly remembered something and asked curiously, “Brother Qi, you must have graduated high school by now, right? What about your Pokémon? Can I see them?” Wen Qi didn’t hesitate and released his Turtwig, Venonat, and Horsea. He kept the Gloom by his side to avoid affecting everyone’s appetite.
Seeing Wen Qi’s Pokémon, Wen Zhe exclaimed, “Wow, Brother Qi, you’re amazing! You already have three such strong Pokémon right after graduation, including a starter Turtwig and a Horsea!” The old chief and his son and daughter-in-law also looked surprised. Though they knew Wen Qi’s situation, they hadn’t expected his Pokémon to be so impressive. Wen Qi smiled modestly, not showing off.
Little Wen Xin’er, seeing the Turtwig and the others, danced with excitement and shouted happily. Watching this, Wen Qi silently resolved to repay the old chief and Wen Zhe’s family for their help in the future. He thought that when Wen Zhe came of age, he’d give him a Pokémon as a token of gratitude to the chief.