Chapter Fifty-Seven: The "Goodies" in the Car

Heath yawned as he slipped into the resting compartment of his food truck. He had just set the destination in the driver's cabin, but the moment he entered the rest area, he noticed some rather peculiar items.

"What is this?" Heath stared blankly at the bag inside the truck. He never locked his vehicle, which was parked in the dormitory zone for Officer Jenny, so he had no idea who had brought it.

Curious, Heath opened the bag for a quick look. It appeared to be books. He took them out and soon saw what they really were.

"Five Years of Driving Exams, Three Years of Simulations," "Evergreen City Past Driving Exam Questions," and "Ten Minutes to Driving: Even a Slowpoke Can Learn." Three hefty tomes, thick enough to be used as encyclopedias, now lay before him.

"How have I lived a life of virtue, yet still encounter things like this?" Heath didn't even need to look to know who had left these books for him. It must have been one of the Officer Jennys—most likely Sister Ling.

Heath rubbed the bridge of his nose. These workbooks and textbooks instantly dredged up painful memories he'd long since buried—of himself, endlessly grinding through practice questions every day, with no time left for PE class.

Suppressing the urge to burn the books to ashes, Heath quietly put them back. Maybe, if he pretended not to see them, he could avoid ever having to read them.

But just as he set the bag down, he keenly noticed another bag at his feet. This one matched the color of the seat in the rest area so closely that, had he not been sitting, he might never have spotted it.

"And what is this supposed to be?" Heath picked up the bag with a puzzled frown. It was a bit heavy.

He opened it to find a portable mini television—one of those with slots for discs so you could play music or watch movies. It looked brand new, and beneath it were several discs.

Heath glanced at the discs, then put them back. He decided he'd destroy these things later—what on earth were they supposed to be?

"Wow, Trainer, you sure have some unique tastes~" Zorua sprawled beside Heath, having also caught sight of the contents of the discs. She eyed Heath with a teasing grin.

"Don't say nonsense, they're not even mine." Heath rolled his eyes. These were definitely brought over by Officer Jenny Ling. The old rascal actually owned discs like these?

"But all the women on the covers have really big chests. Is that your type?" Zorua craned her little head, trying to sneak a closer look, but in the next instant, Heath flicked her forehead.

"Stop imagining things. How was I supposed to know that after moving house, you shouldn't bend over in loose clothes to pick things up, and that you have to watch out for nosy neighbors? Or that something might happen if a female teacher asks you to her empty office, right?" Heath calmly tossed the discs into the trash.

Zorua gazed at Heath in confusion, clearly not understanding what he meant.

Heath had no intention of explaining. When they reached the market, he hopped out to buy all the ingredients he needed, and while it was still dark, made his way to the familiar spot where he always set up his stall.

"Farfetch'd, come here and slice up this beef." With practiced ease, Heath called Farfetch'd over. The duck immediately grabbed a kitchen knife and began slicing beef with great enthusiasm.

Meanwhile, Heath washed the mint leaves he'd bought and started preparing breakfast for the day.

Braised Beef Noodle Soup—a breakfast specialty found only in certain provinces of Huaxia. Despite the name, unless you were a true gourmand, you probably couldn't tell it apart from regular braised beef noodles.

Compared to the standard version, the beef in this dish was softer, yet tender without being mushy. Bite into it, and the meat, soaked in rich broth, would burst with flavor in your mouth—the savory taste of beef blending with the soup, a genuine treat.

But that was only half the secret. A good bowl of braised beef noodles required special noodles as well, and Heath opted for Machoke Ramen, a local specialty in the world of Pokémon.

The advantage of this ramen was its remarkable chewiness. Rumor had it that after making fifty bowls, even a Machoke would be so exhausted it couldn't move. The brand's logo even featured a Machoke collapsed from fatigue—instantly recognizable.

Firm noodles, generous portions of beef, and a handful of fresh mint to lift the aroma—breakfast, perfected.

"Come, have a taste." Heath grinned as he served a bowl to both Farfetch'd and Zorua, then stood aside with his arms folded.

"Delicious!" Zorua looked thoroughly satisfied, savoring the beef. The fragrance of noodles and beef mingled together; the slow-cooked, tender meat yielding under her teeth, releasing wave after wave of flavor.

Farfetch'd was too busy devouring his noodles to even speak, eating so quickly Heath worried he might choke.

"Slow down, no one's going to take it from you." Heath couldn't help but laugh. He went to fetch his signboard and wrote on it: Today's Special—Braised Beef Noodle Soup.

Once his two Pokémon finished their noodles, Heath washed the dishes and placed them in the sterilizer, patiently waiting for his first customer.

Since it was winter, the sky was still dim; only when the sun rose would everything brighten. Heath figured the first customer would likely be Mr. Fuji.

After all, Mr. Fuji exercised every day, come rain or shine. Once, Heath had even seen him out training during a snowstorm—the man's willpower was truly impressive.

"Pudding~ pudding-ding~" A soft voice suddenly chimed out. Heath paused, then instinctively looked down to see a Jigglypuff standing on tiptoe, trying its best to get his attention.

"Here for breakfast, Jigglypuff?" Heath smiled at the little Pokémon. How could he have forgotten that this one was often among his earliest customers?

"Dummy, this one's name is Momo," Zorua suddenly leapt onto Heath's head, peering curiously at the Jigglypuff below.

"Momo? That’s a nice name. The usual today?" Heath smiled at the pink Pokémon.

The world of Pokémon was truly fascinating. Heath knew this particular Jigglypuff harbored grand ambitions—she dreamed of becoming the number one idol singer in Kanto, though so far, her journey hadn’t been smooth.

"Puff!" Jigglypuff held up a small pouch. Heath took it, counting out ten one-yen coins and placing them in her hand before returning the pouch.

"Would you like to try the new breakfast special?" Heath asked with a cheerful grin.