Manor Lord in the Pokémon World

Chapter 199 The Actor's Self-Cultivation

Xiao Chao thought carefully for a moment before cautiously answering.

"Our target for this identification is *Brassica oleracea*. Its medicinal properties and value lie primarily in the color of its flowers. According to general standards, it is roughly divided into three main grades from low to high: blue, purple, and gold. Occasionally, extremely rare mutant individuals will appear, which are even more valuable..."

The young girl spoke fluently and knowledgeably, describing the characteristics, grading, and main uses of withered grass in a clear and organized manner, demonstrating a solid foundation in herbal medicine.

To work in this line of work, you have to know the properties of hundreds or even thousands of common herbs in your head, otherwise it's easy to get them mixed up.

The girl remembered so clearly, which, like her appearance, clearly indicated that she was a top student.

The old man listened quietly, nodding inwardly.

The child has no problem with professional knowledge; he is hardworking and remembers things well.

But that wasn't the answer he was looking for.

"That's right," the old man slowly hinted. "Anything else? Note that I'm talking about important things, not just the herbs themselves."

Xiao Chao thought hard again, his brows furrowing slightly. He went through the identification process and precautions in his mind several times, but he really couldn't think of anything else that needed to be emphasized.

A blush crept onto her face, and she scratched the back of her head somewhat awkwardly: "Master... I, I really can't think of anything."

The old man sighed silently and continued walking forward, leaning on his cane.

This child is pure-hearted and diligent, and has the potential to study medicine, but he still lacks experience in interpersonal relationships and reading between the lines.

If things continue like this, he might become an excellent pharmacist in the future, but it would be difficult for him to inherit his mantle and take over the appraisal and acquisition business that requires dealing with all sorts of people.

"Just now, when Daigo called me from the bank, you overheard a few words," the old man prompted from a different angle. "What do you think Daigo's attitude is towards this Pokémon Manor?"

Xiao Chao paused for a moment, his hair twirling around his fingers as he carefully recalled the events.

"Mr. Daigo, well, he was very polite and spoke highly of the manor, he even praised it a few times."

She paused, even more puzzled, "Master, does this have anything to do with our appraisal and acquisition of medicinal herbs?"

The old man shook his head, knowing that if he didn't explain it to the child, the child would probably not be able to get around this.

He stopped, turned around and looked at his honest apprentice, deciding to stop playing games.

"Xiao Chao, have you ever thought about this? If it's just about assessing the quality of medicinal herbs, there are plenty of people who can do that. Why do people specifically choose our Paraster Herbal Language Pharmacy, which isn't the biggest one?"

Xiao Chao shook her head; she hadn't really thought about that in detail.

"That's because we not only need to understand the medicine, but also what the other party wants to do."

The old man smiled and tapped the ground lightly with his cane. "Mr. Daigo values ​​this manor highly, and his relationship with Lord Fang must be quite good. He called to arrange things for us, hoping that this appraisal and acquisition will go smoothly, and perhaps even that he can offer a good price that satisfies the other party, thus facilitating this cooperation and consolidating this relationship."

"So," the old man lowered his voice and began to impart his unique secrets.

"When we go there, besides conducting the assessment according to standards, we also need to pay attention to our attitude."

"Normally, our industry doesn't accept blue-quality items, or we negotiate very low prices for them. If there are some in the manor, as long as they're not too bad, we'll have to think it over and offer a reasonable price to take them, so as not to embarrass them too much."

"We can't treat common purple qualities with indifference; we need to offer appropriate praise, providing emotional value and making them feel that their hard work is recognized!"

Xiao Chao felt as if thunder and lightning were roaring in his mind!

So that's how it works!

Master, I've learned it!

Seeing his apprentice's enlightened expression, the old man was very satisfied and said, "Come on, don't just listen, try it out. Now give me a look of shock, like when you see some good medicinal herbs."

The Master's test!

Xiao Chao quickly adjusted his facial muscles.

I recall the shocked expressions of the supporting characters in the anime series I often watched.

Then his eyes widened suddenly, rolled slightly upwards, and his mouth opened wide.

The old man was stunned for a moment after reading it.

Are you feeling unwell anywhere?

boom!

The girl felt her body instantly turn to stone, turning into a pile of dust, and she squatted in a corner, drawing circles in a state of self-isolation.

The old man shook his head helplessly: "It's too deliberate, too stiff. It looks like he's been frightened. The emotion isn't there, and his eyes are empty."

He pointed to a small clump of white wildflowers stubbornly growing from a crack in the roadside stones.

"Come on, look closely, let's use this flower as an exercise. Let's assume it's just an ordinary, withered purple flower."

As soon as he finished speaking, the old man straightened up and instantly got into the zone.

His previously slightly cloudy eyes suddenly lit up, as if he had discovered something interesting.

He didn't quicken his pace; instead, as if drawn by something, he naturally took two steps closer to the clump of wildflowers, bent down slightly, and focused his gaze intently on the ordinary little flowers.

"Oh? This is..." The old man's voice was slightly higher than usual.

Immediately afterwards, his eyes widened, and his gaze lingered on the little flower for two or three seconds, as if confirming something.

Then, a smile bloomed on his face.

The smile held a hint of appreciation and a touch of joy...

Ninety-five points of excitement!

"These flowers! This color! Such a pure and vibrant purple! And the blossoms are so full and perfectly shaped!"

He leaned closer and sniffed it, immediately revealing an expression of rapture.

"Mmm! This aroma is so uniquely refreshing!"

"Nine-nine percent perfection, a rare find~"

The old man's performance was smooth and natural, conveying surprise, observation, confirmation, and praise in one go.

The coordination of hand and eye, and the fluctuations in tone and intonation were all just right.

It expresses the delight of someone who knows their stuff without seeming pretentious or fake.

Xiao Chao watched in stunned silence, as if a lightning bolt had struck his mind!

Master!

I really learned it this time!

"Remember," the old man concluded, regaining his composure, "when expressing 'shock' or 'appreciation,' your hands, eyes, and facial expressions must be coordinated. You must truly 'see into' the scene, not just put on a show."

"I'll give you a five-word mantra: 'Eyes, hands, and heart all in harmony.' As for what to specifically praise, that's much more flexible. If the color is bright and outstanding, praise the color; if the color is ordinary but the flower shape is unique, praise the flower shape."

"If the flower shape is just average, praise the fragrance. If the fragrance is strong, call it rich and aromatic; if it's light, call it delicate and elegant. You can always find something to sincerely praise. The key is to make people feel that you are a true connoisseur and genuinely appreciate it."

Xiao Chao timidly raised his hand, "Master, 'eyes, hands, and heart' are six words..."

"Shut up!"

Xiao Chao shrank back in fright.

"It's not just about praising plants; it's the same with praising people. Come on, try praising me!"

Xiao Chao carefully observed his master, his brows furrowing, which greatly displeased the old man opposite him.

"Master, you look exceptionally well today. Your complexion is rosy, and your eyes are bright. You're like...like an old chrysanthemum, wrinkled but full of energy!"

The old man's face darkened: "Go away, go away! You can't even praise someone properly, and your flattery is completely off-target! You'll never even get to eat hot shit again!"

As the two spoke, the outline of the manor could already be seen.

From a distance, the manor is surrounded by a simple wooden fence. Although it is not high, it is neatly and sturdily maintained, and ordinary small Pokémon might not be able to break through it.

Through the gaps in the fence, you can see several pomelo trees with their branches and leaves outstretched, bearing unripe fruits.

You can faintly hear the cheerful cries of Pokémon coming from inside; it's not noisy at all, but rather makes this pastoral scene even more peaceful and beautiful.

Hmm... this manor does look quite nice.

As you approach the manor, an indescribable sense of vibrant life washes over you.

The old man nodded slightly. No wonder Daigo valued him so much.

It seems the lord of this manor is quite capable.

It's good to have real skills.

To be honest, he still prefers to deal with truly capable people, and when he praises them, it's genuine and effortless.

He cleared his throat and straightened his clothes.

Xiao Chao behind him immediately understood, quickly stepped forward, and respectfully knocked on the wooden fence gate of the manor.

Boom boom boom!

huh~

A bald head suddenly peeked out from behind the fence gate.

It's a Squirtle!

The girl's eyes lit up immediately. What an adorable Squirtle! Squirtles are not commonly seen in the Hoenn region.

Its head looks so soft, I really want to... I really want to pinch it.

"Squirtle, Squirtle!" With Squirtle's call, a series of footsteps soon approached.

A boy dressed in light-colored linen farming clothes walked quickly out from inside.

The clothes were the most common farmer's style: loose, durable, and even stained with fresh mud.

But when worn by him, paired with his handsome face and tall figure, it looked exceptionally refreshing and neat, exuding a unique vitality that blended sunshine and earth.

Her natural smile makes her instantly likable.

So handsome!

A faint blush rose to Xiao Chao's face as he looked at the young manor lord.

Hmm... if she's praising this handsome guy, she should know how to do it.

"Hello, you're here to identify the withered grass, right? Please come in. May I ask your name?"

Xiao Chao quickly stepped forward, bowed slightly, and introduced himself according to his prepared remarks: "Hello, Lord Fang. We are appraisers from the Herbal Language Medicine Shop. This is my master, Master Ma. My name is Xiao Chao, and I am Master's apprentice."

"Welcome, welcome, Master Ma, Miss Xiao Chao. I'm Fang Zhou, you can just call me by my name. You must be tired from your journey, please come in and have a cup of tea to rest."

He stepped aside to let the master and apprentice into the manor, and led them toward the simple teahouse next to the wooden house.

Since they've come all this way, we can't treat them like mere tools, inspecting the goods and then sending them away.

Basic hospitality is still necessary.

As Fangzhou gestured for the two to sit on the smooth wooden stool, he skillfully used a small clay stove to boil river water and took out a jar of homemade tree fruit and flower tea.

The lily root doll knew that the two had come to see its withered grass, and curiously followed them over, squatting down at the ark's feet, its small nose twitching slightly as it carefully sniffed the scents on the master and apprentice.

Fangzhou poured freshly boiled water into the teapot, warming the cups and rinsing the tea while smiling and saying, "As soon as I got close, I smelled a very special medicinal fragrance on you two. It seems you are both experts who have been immersed in this field for a long time."

Xiao Chao, who was secretly observing the ark nearby, was taken aback upon hearing this and blinked.

!

This Mr. Fang... has such a nice way of speaking!

This praise not only highlighted their professionalism but also expressed respect, making it a pleasant compliment.

A thought struck her: it seemed that this Boss Fang was also a member of the praise club, and a master at it!

Master Ma chuckled, waved his hand, and looked at Fang Zhou's fluid tea-making movements.

"Mr. Fang, you're too kind. We just make a living with this little bit of experience. But Mr. Fang, your tea-making technique is very professional."

He noticed that the Ark used the "Guan Yu patrolling the city" technique.

The teapot spout moves at a steady pace against the three small white porcelain cups, ensuring that the tea is evenly distributed into each cup, maintaining a consistent strength and aroma in every cup—a detail that only tea connoisseurs would notice.

"Not at all, not at all. I just made it up by myself, just for fun. I hope Master Ma won't laugh at me."

The two chatted back and forth, and the atmosphere quickly became harmonious, as if they were two old friends who had not seen each other for many years.

For a moment, laughter and chatter filled the tea room.

Xiao Chao, on the other hand, was stuck in the middle, looking left and right, unable to get a word in edgewise.

An expression of envy flashed in his eyes. How amazing!

She silently encouraged herself, "Xiao Chao, you must study hard and write all of this down!"

After a few cups of tea, the atmosphere had become quite lively.

Master Ma glanced at the sky, put down his teacup, and took the initiative to speak: "Boss Fang, we've had our tea, and it's getting late. Shall we take care of business first? Shall we go and see the withered grass you planted? To be honest, this old man is quite curious about it."

"Of course, Master Ma, this way please."

The lily root doll immediately jumped up and led the way.

After passing the wooden house, a bright and clear view suddenly appeared before us, revealing a meticulously tended medicinal herb field.

Upon seeing the scene before him, Master Ma was stunned.

He's spent most of his life identifying herbs; what hasn't he seen?

But he had never seen such a scene before!

Before me stretched a true golden sea of ​​flowers!

Hundreds and thousands of withered grasses stood tall in the afternoon sun, densely packed, their splendor enhanced by the green leaves, yet not glaring.

Even some silvery-white flowers appeared among them!

This, this, this!

Master Ma's cane trembled almost imperceptibly, and with a "thud," it slipped from his hand and fell onto the soft paddy field ridge.

Oh! It's starting!

Xiao Chao felt a surge of excitement and took out his notebook to start taking notes. His master was about to give him a live lesson!

Mmmmmmm!

Starting with dropping the cane, this is the first step in expressing extreme shock!

The next step should be to "see, do, and think at the same time"!

Use language to shower them with praise!

I absolutely cannot miss a single detail!

But then the old man exclaimed in surprise, "You planted all these withered grasses? And they all have golden flowers?! Some of them are even mutated?"

Xiao Chao scratched his head.

Wait a minute, why isn't Master doing it the way he taught us before?