Chapter 154: Breeder's Brew.
Sachiko, having completed her inspection, stepped out of the truck, clipboard in hand. "Alright," she said, addressing the anxious farmer, Fushun. "There's one condition. Your cargo is quite diverse. Official stall permits are usually category-specific. You can only register to sell one primary type of good."
Fushun's face fell slightly, looking helplessly towards Xiu. 'Welp, it is what it is,' Xiu thought. He'd anticipated something like this.
"Just register it under 'Food and Snacks'," Xiu suggested calmly. It was broad enough to cover the fruits and potentially the juices he was already formulating in his mind.
Sachiko glanced at Xiu, perhaps sensing his underlying plan, but merely nodded. "Are you sure? Once registered, you're prohibited from selling items outside that category."
"Positive," Xiu confirmed. The raw materials and flowers weren't the primary value proposition anyway; the fruit was the bulk.
"Very well." Sachiko efficiently filled out the final details on the temporary permit form, stamped it with an official seal, tore off a copy, and handed it to Xiu. "Your assigned spot is section C-17, just down that side street. Please keep your display within the designated boundaries and follow all festival regulations."
"Understood. We won't cause any trouble for you, Sachiko," Xiu replied with a polite smile, accepting the permit. As an afterthought, he reached into the truck, plucked a single, attractive wildflower from one of the bunches, and handed it to her. "A small thank you for your help." He then added, shifting tone slightly, "When does your shift end?"
Sachiko accepted the flower, a slight smile playing on her lips. "Still a long way to go," she replied lightly, tucking the flower behind her ear. "The festival runs late. Now, if you'll excuse me." With a nod, she headed back towards the management tent.
Xiu directed Fushun to the assigned spot – Section C-17. It was off the main square, on a moderately busy side street. 'Not a prime location, but it will do.'
They parked the truck nearby. Fushun began unloading crates, setting up a rudimentary table using stacked boxes, and piling fruits and vegetables on top, his hope clearly returning. "Is... is this enough?" he asked, looking at the simple display.
"Not even close," Xiu stated bluntly. "Nobody will notice this. Get those flowers out."
"But... the permit," Fushun hesitated. "We can't sell the flowers."
"Who said anything about selling them?" Xiu countered, already dismantling some empty cardboard boxes. "We're not selling the raw fruit either, not primarily." He held up a piece of flattened cardboard, scrawling on it with a marker pen he produced from his bag. "Selling individual fruits is slow. We need something with higher value, faster turnover."
Fushun peered at the sign Xiu had made:
[FRESHLY SQUEEZED JUICE] - 10 Poké Dollars
[FLORAL INFUSED JUICE] - 15 Poké Dollars
"Juice?" Fushun blinked.
"Exactly," Xiu confirmed. "Hang this sign up high. Now, arrange the flowers around the stall. Use them as decoration. Tuck them into the cardboard, make it eye-catching." Technically bending the rules on the permit, but not explicitly breaking them by selling.
While Fushun began transforming the stall's appearance with vibrant bursts of wildflowers, Xiu retrieved a compact, manual juice extraction kit from his own backpack – equipment he normally used for preparing specialized berry juices and supplements for his Pokémon. 'Never in my wildest thoughts would I be selling juice today...'
Soon, the stall was transformed. Surrounded by colourful, fragrant wildflowers, it stood out dramatically from the plainer stalls nearby, an oasis of natural beauty on the busy street.
"Right," Xiu ordered, pulling on a pair of disposable gloves and a simple mask. "Go buy a large stack of disposable cups. And fetch several buckets of clean water from the nearest public tap."
As Fushun hurried off, Xiu began sorting through the crates of fruit, his mind kicking into high gear. He examined the diverse array – familiar berries, strange local fruits he'd never encountered, even some edible roots and leaves.
Fushun, upon returning, proved invaluable here. His lifelong experience living off the land meant he could identify nearly everything, describing tastes (sour, sweet, bitter), textures, juice yield, and any known local uses or mild effects.
Xiu mentally cataloged the information, rapidly formulating combinations. This wasn't just about random mixing; it was about balancing flavors and creating appealing textures, achieving specific sensory profiles – the same principles he applied when crafting Pokéblocks or nutritional supplements.
He started working, washing, cutting, and feeding fruits into the manual press. Sour berries blended with sweet melons, sharp citrus notes cut through earthy root flavours. He tasted constantly, adjusting ratios.
One particular blend, using a pale, yellowish-green fruit Fushun had warned was 'an acquired taste', resulted in a murky concoction with a truly bizarre flavour profile. Xiu grimaced after tasting it. 'Definitely weird.' He grabbed the marker again and added a new item to the cardboard sign:
[STRANGE-ADE™] - 50 Poké Dollars
Fushun stared at the price, aghast. "Fifty? For... that?" He eyed the unappetizing-looking sample Xiu had poured.
"Exactly." Xiu paused, then added another line underneath with a smirk: [A Taste You've Never Experienced Before! (Guaranteed)]. Let curiosity be the hook.
With several initial batches prepared, Xiu poured small samples into tiny cups. "Take these," he instructed Fushun. "Give one to each of the stall owners nearby. A friendly gesture."
As Fushun distributed the samples, generating curious glances from the neighboring vendors, Xiu stepped forward and began his pitch, his voice clear and carrying over the street noise:
"Fresh juice! Get your ice-cold, freshly squeezed juice here! Unique flavours, beat the festival heat! Don't miss out!"
It didn't take long. Attracted by the colourful, flower-decked stall and the promise of refreshment, the first customers approached.
"One Sweet Honey blend, please."
"Two Floral Mist for me!"
"Can I get that Summer Zest one?"
Soon, a steady queue formed. Xiu worked rapidly, pressing juice, mixing blends, filling cups. The demand quickly outstripped his ability to work alone. He needed help, fast.
Spotting a young woman loitering nearby, looking bored, Xiu quickly offered her temporary work. He scribbled a simple wage offer on a scrap of paper and she accepted readily. Xiu delegated the simpler tasks to her – washing fruit, handing out orders, keeping the workspace tidy – freeing him up to focus on the actual juicing and mixing. Fushun handled the money, cleared used cups, and managed the dwindling stock.
They worked non-stop for what felt like hours. The produce dwindled rapidly. Excluding the decorative flowers and miscellaneous materials, the usable fruit yielded close to seventy crates suitable for juicing. Xiu reached down for another crate, but felt nothing. 'That's the last of the suitable stock.'
"Alright," he called out to the temporary helper, wiping sweat from his brow despite the mask. "We're out of ingredients. Go grab a few bunches of the decorative flowers – tell people they're free souvenirs – and let the queue know we're closing up."
The girl looked surprised. "The flowers? But you said..." She trailed off, then shrugged and did as instructed.
"Sold out! We're closing! Sorry folks!" Xiu announced to the remaining few people in line. They grumbled slightly but dispersed without issue.
Finally stopping, Xiu stripped off the sticky gloves, tossed them into a waste bin, and sank onto an empty crate, leaning against the truck's tire, utterly exhausted. Four hours of continuous manual labour. Physical work is draining in a way mental exertion isn't.
The girl helper came back over, seeing him slumped on the ground. "Tired, boss?" she asked cheekily.
"Where's Fushun?" Xiu asked, ignoring the tease.
"Still tidying up the front," the girl replied, gesturing towards the farmer who was diligently cleaning the stall area.
"Fushun!" Xiu called out, beckoning the older man over.
"Yes? What is it?" Fushun approached, looking weary but significantly less despairing than before.
"Settle her wages," Xiu instructed, nodding towards the girl. "Pay her fairly for the hours worked. It's getting late; time we all headed home."