35: Section 35

“When they heard that they could get a free cup of wine if they came to eat at the restaurant, some wine-addicted customers flocked in.”

“However, everyone ordered the lowest-grade set meal: miscellaneous fish potstickers with a pot of Gue Hua Wine.”

“Although there weren't many seasonings, you still managed to make the miscellaneous fish soup flavorful and delicious, and the potstickers crispy on the outside and tender on the inside.”

“The customers who had eaten your food all said it was the best miscellaneous fish potstickers they had ever tasted in their lives.”

“At the same time, the Gue Hua Wine also had an excellent taste and was sweet.”

“For only 25 copper coins, they could enjoy such delicious wine and dishes, making everyone feel it was a great value.”

“However, no one had yet ordered the higher-grade set meals.”

“Finally, after a full day of sales, all the miscellaneous fish you bought at a low price were sold out. Although the profit wasn't much, it was a good start.”

“Just as you were preparing to close, an uninvited guest arrived at the restaurant.”

“This guest was completely shrouded in a black robe, making his appearance unclear, but he seemed quite short, like a hunched old man.”

“This guest initially only ordered the lowest-grade miscellaneous fish potstickers and Gue Hua Wine, but at this moment, all the miscellaneous fish in the back kitchen had been sold out. To make more, you would have to go to the fishmonger in the early market tomorrow.”

“After learning that the potstickers were sold out, he did not leave but instead ordered the second-tier set meal.”

“You were very happy to hear this and quickly made him roasted lamb, egg drop soup, and ale.”

“When he first tasted such a magical wine as ale, this guest was clearly stunned and immediately asked for more ale.”

“To better preserve the ale's liquid and bubbles, you specially commissioned a huge wooden barrel that could hold five hundred catties of fresh ale.”

“After tasting the ale, this guest immediately kept asking you for more ale, not touching the roasted lamb and egg drop soup at all.”

“Seeing that a big customer had arrived, you then sent the two waiters to the kitchen to help clean up, and personally began to serve this guest.”

“The cups you used for the ale were specially made large bamboo cups. This mysterious guest drank a full thirty-four cups before stopping, a drinking capacity that you admired.”

“At the same time, you also saw piles of silver beckoning to you.”

“As the last cup of ale went down, the mysterious guest stood up unsteadily, but from the corner of his hood, you saw a face as pale as yellow paper.”

“It was like old paper soaked in wax, yellowish-black, with a strange waxy sheen.”

“Your scalp tingled when you saw this person's face; you didn't know what this thing was.”

“Seemingly noticing your gaze, this guest burped and patted your shoulder.”

“Kid, your wine is good.”

“Remember, my name is Dou Qianli. If you ever need anything in the future, remember to find me at Grey Smoke Hall.”

“After speaking, Dou Qianli took a silver ingot from his sleeve and placed it on the table, then wobbled away.”

“Facing such a strange guest, your heart pounded. What do you choose now?”

“Option One: Happily accept the silver ingot left by Dou Qianli, then close up and clean, and after tidying up, go and enjoy your two-person world with Guo Lin.”

“Option Two: Take the silver you are owed, and chase after Dou Qianli to return the rest.”

“Option Three: Chase after Dou Qianli, return the silver, and tell him that this meal is on you.”

...

Dou Qianli?

Su Mo was a little surprised, he didn't expect Xiao Qing's friend Dou Qianli to be attracted over.

Based on previous simulation experiences, this Dou Qianli was considered a good Demon.

He controlled the Grey Smoke Hall, the largest intelligence organization in Qinglin County's Yin and Yang realms.

If he offered protection, ordinary Demons would indeed not dare to trouble him.

Thinking of this, Su Mo immediately chose the third option.

“You watched Dou Qianli's wobbling figure leave and immediately chased after him.”

“Sir, it is my honor for you to come and eat at my humble establishment. How could I accept your money? This meal is on me!”

“Upon hearing this, Dou Qianli stopped, his body unmoving, but his head twisted 180 degrees to look back.”

“Kid, you're a good person, but I, Dou, have never eaten a free meal.”

“Take it back; there will be plenty of opportunities to eat in the future.”

“After Dou Qianli finished speaking, he transformed into a black mist and disappeared.”

“You were truly startled by such a bizarre sight.”

“But thinking of the silver ingot in your hand, its weight so real and reliable, you immediately cast that fear aside.”

“The world is vast, but making money is paramount!”

Chapter 42: Malicious Competition from a Peer

“After cleaning up and returning to your room, you told Guo Lin, who was calculating the accounts, about this strange incident.”

“Guo Lin grew up in the Generals Residence and was well-informed.”

“After asking you for some specific characteristics of the person, she immediately recalled a book of strange tales she had once read.”

“The book of strange tales once said that a gray rat spirit, when formed, has a yellowish-gray complexion and a hoarse voice.”

“If I'm not mistaken, that should be a gray rat spirit, but to be able to drink so much wine without reverting to its original form, its Dao cultivation must be very deep.”

“However, there haven't been any rumors of Demons harming people in Great Song for a long time, so this gray rat spirit shouldn't have any malicious intent.”

“When you heard Guo Lin say this, you also breathed a sigh of relief. If you were truly targeted by a Demon, then even if you had nine lives, it wouldn't be enough for that Demon to kill.”

“Subsequently, you put the account book from Guo Lin's hand aside.”

“Niangzi, it's time to rest...”

In the scene, Guo Lin's eyes rolled back, and she fainted...

...

“You left at the fourth watch on the second day, responsible for purchasing a whole day's worth of ingredients.”

“Because your food was delicious and the wine was cheap, the entrance was surrounded by returning customers who had eaten your food yesterday, early in the morning.”

“Everyone wanted to eat your miscellaneous fish potstickers from yesterday again.”

“But you haven't opened yet.”

“Then you greeted everyone.”

“Everyone, everyone, the humble establishment is not open yet,”

“Because you were too tired last night, you first sent Guo Lin a medicinal meal to replenish her Qi and blood, lest she faint again on the way...”

“After serving Guo Lin, you and the two female cooks, the female servant, and the two waiters had a simple breakfast and began a busy day.”

“Perhaps it was your good fortune, but for the next consecutive month or so, you were busy off your feet every day. Besides Dou Qianli who often came, some gentry officials and scholars also came admiringly.”

“After tasting your wine and dishes, they all praised them.”

“Some scholars were even inspired to write poetry, directly inscribing many poems on the screen you specially purchased.”

“Among them, the most famous was a poem titled 'Ascending Yue Lai Restaurant'.”

...

Ascending the stairs, my heart at ease, rare delicacies and jade wine intoxicate my gaze.

Fragrance fills the ornate room, stirring covetous thoughts, flavor lingers in tender intestines, a refreshing charm remains.

Jade liquid fills the cup, shimmering waves, fine dishes cover the table, a colorful display.

Such ultimate taste, emotions are hard to exhaust, wishing to transform into a Kun fish and roam the vast sea.

...

“The release of 'Ascending Yue Lai Restaurant' completely made your Yue Lai Restaurant famous in Qinglin County, and your reputation even spread to several nearby prefectures and counties.”

“You felt that such days were tiring but happy.”

“However, your thriving business hindered the business of the nearby 'Chun Ke Lai Restaurant'. Chun Ke Lai Restaurant had been suffering dismal business for the past month.”

“Hua Zixu, the owner of Chun Ke Lai Restaurant, stopped doing business and spent his days strolling on the street.”

“Hua Zixu had been in this street for many years, and now seeing his own restaurant with sparse customers while your restaurant was bustling, with even people from other counties coming to admire your reputation.”

“This made Hua Zixu feel worse than being killed.”

“During this period, Hua Zixu also continuously sent his restaurant's Man to your restaurant to buy various set meals, attempting to find some flaws and loopholes.”

“But he couldn't find anything, and eventually, he would feel an itch in his heart if he didn't eat your food for a day.”

“This situation made Hua Zixu burn with jealousy.”

“He was almost losing his mind.”

“But after eating your dishes, he also worried about completely ruining your business, leaving himself with nothing to eat in the end.”

“However, after struggling for a month or two, Hua Zixu made up his mind: he would make your business dismal, but not to the point of being unable to operate.”

“Ultimately, Hua Zixu gathered all the beggars, big and small, in Qinglin County and instructed them to beg for food at your Yue Lai Restaurant every day, and to drive away any customers they encountered, absolutely not allowing a single customer to enter your restaurant.”

“Under Hua Zixu's instigation, the beggars began to constantly beg for food at your restaurant's entrance, making the originally clean and tidy ground messy with feces and urine.”

“How could Guo Lin tolerate such an insult? She immediately wanted to pull you to the government office to file a complaint and seek justice.”

“But you guessed that it was Hua Zixu's doing.”

“What do you choose now?”

“Option One: Agree with Guo Lin's suggestion and go to the government office to file a complaint.”

“Option Two: Confront Hua Zixu directly and drive away all the beggars.”

“Option Three: Go find Dou Qianli and ask him to help you resolve this matter completely.”

...

Su Mo looked at the three options before him, extremely conflicted, unsure of how to choose for a moment.

Option one...

That Hua Zixu had been operating in Qinglin County for many years, and his accumulated connections were not to be underestimated, as he had dealings with influential gentry and officials in the area.

The simulated self, however, was like rootless duckweed, newly arrived, completely unable to compare with Hua Zixu in this regard.

Even if he had accumulated some fame for a while, the government might not necessarily be fair and just.

Option two was even worse.

Directly confronting Hua Zixu would surely lead to unwarranted humiliation. If he simply denied everything, you would have no recourse whatsoever.

As for option three...

Su Mo was still somewhat reluctant to choose it.

Although he believed Dou Qianli could help him solve this problem, the other party was, after all, a Demon.

When humans and Demons become entangled in Karma, no one knows what will happen later.

Perhaps good, perhaps bad.

It could also lead to eternal damnation.

Thinking of this, Su Mo couldn't help but press his brow. If he wanted to obtain the God of Cookery Talent talent this time, this might be the most crucial choice.

Finally, after much deliberation, Su Mo still chose the third option.

He would go to Grey Smoke Hall to find Dou Qianli and see how he could break this deadlock!

“You stopped Guo Lin, who wanted to report the case to the government office, and began to tell her your thoughts.”