16: Ang Lee's plan to win favor

Lu Chuan smiled as he watched Leng Hui intently eating his meal, then continued to busy himself tidying the counter.

It was strange; while he had paid attention to personal hygiene during his time in the mountains, it wasn't to the point of being a germaphobe.

But now that he was running a stall, he had become exceptionally particular about these things.

Even if the counter was already sparkling clean, he still felt it wasn't spotless and needed to wipe it several times before he felt at ease.

After diligently wiping every nook and cranny twice, Lu Chuan looked up, satisfied.

As he looked up, he met the gaze of Qi Yuan and his two companions, who had just walked up to the stall.

Lu Chuan asked curiously,

"Want another bowl?"

Upon hearing this, Qi Yuan and his two companions looked tempted, but quickly waved their hands.

"No, no, we're too full."

Each of them had eaten four servings tonight; they really had eaten a bit too much.

At first, they might not have felt anything, but now their stomachs were truly uncomfortably full.

Lu Chuan nodded, then looked puzzled.

If they weren't here to eat, then why were the three of them coming to him together?

Seeming to notice Lu Chuan's question, Qi Yuan quickly explained,

"It's like this, Boss, the stinky tofu you make is incredibly delicious, but the smell is a bit strong, so it's not suitable for takeout."

"So we wanted to ask about your stall hours. We'll bring others to eat tomorrow."

Hearing that Qi Yuan wanted to introduce other customers, Lu Chuan was momentarily stunned, then his face immediately lit up with joy.

"That's truly too kind! I set up my stall at seven o'clock every day, and the location is still here."

Hearing Lu Chuan say this, Qi Yuan and his two companions were also very happy. After chatting for a few more sentences, they waved goodbye.

"Boss, we're leaving, see you tomorrow."

"See you tomorrow."

Waving goodbye to Qi Yuan and his two companions, Lu Chuan couldn't help but smile.

This feeling of being acknowledged by customers was truly wonderful.

He had earned money and satisfied his need for respect and recognition. Honestly, what should he do if he was starting to love running a stall?

Just then, Lu Chuan's gaze accidentally met Li An's.

Both of them instantly panicked, then tacitly averted their eyes.

"..."

Suddenly, he didn't feel so good anymore.

Lu Chuan sighed speechlessly.

Time flowed like water.

Lu Chuan had already wiped the counter for the fourth time, and in between, he had also seen off Worker Meng and his three companions, who had also come to inquire about the stall hours.

It wasn't until then that Leng Hui slowly finished his bowl of stinky tofu.

Lu Chuan looked at him curiously, but unexpectedly found that Leng Hui's face was already covered in tears.

"?"

Lu Chuan subconsciously picked up a tissue to hand over, but his hand was only halfway raised.

He suddenly realized the inappropriateness of his action.

If the other person were a girl, his action would be reasonable, and he might even have a chance to find a partner.

But Leng Hui clearly looked like a tough guy; he wouldn't want anyone to see his soft inner side.

Lu Chuan awkwardly prepared to retract the tissue.

Unexpectedly, a large hand reached out and took the tissue.

"Thank you."

Leng Hui's voice was a few shades softer than before.

"You're... you're welcome."

"Please excuse me."

"...Not at all."

Leng Hui looked at the somewhat introverted Lu Chuan and smiled again.

Then he suddenly took a step forward and, with a solemn traditional Han gesture, bowed to Lu Chuan to express his gratitude.

"?!"

How could Lu Chuan accept such a grand gesture? Moreover, he was completely bewildered and didn't know the reason, so he quickly moved a few steps to the side.

"No, no, what are you doing?"

"Boss, you deserve it."

"I don't deserve it! I don't deserve it!"

Seeing Lu Chuan repeatedly evade, Leng Hui was momentarily speechless and no longer insisted.

And when Lu Chuan saw Leng Hui give up, he walked back behind the small cart, wiped a cold sweat, and then asked,

"This guest... this big brother, why are you suddenly so serious? Could you tell me the reason, if it's convenient?"

Leng Hui nodded. He was just about to explain the reason and also ask Lu Chuan if he had any ancestral secret recipes that could treat anosmia.

At once, Leng Hui began by talking about his profession, recounting the accidental incident, and then his emotional journey over the past few years.

Lu Chuan listened with a look of admiration and emotion.

Although his own past circumstances weren't good, it didn't prevent him from empathizing with others' experiences.

However, when he heard Leng Hui ask about a secret recipe for treating his sense of smell, Lu Chuan immediately looked troubled.

"Big Brother Leng, I truly don't have this ancestral secret recipe you speak of. I'm truly helpless, I apologize."

He genuinely didn't have any secret recipes.

As for why the stinky tofu he made could stimulate Leng Hui's long-lost sense of smell...

Lu Chuan guessed it was probably because he had further improved the system's recipe, which led to this result.

But this was only treating the symptoms, not the root cause.

Leng Hui couldn't possibly eat stinky tofu for every meal, could he?

After hearing Lu Chuan's explanation, a flicker of disappointment inevitably crossed Leng Hui's mind, but he had actually anticipated this outcome.

After all, if Lu Chuan truly had such a secret recipe, just providing a treatment plan would be enough to earn him a fortune, so why would he bother with the hard work of running a stall?

"Never mind, I'm already grateful to be alive, and I don't dare to ask for more. Little brother, you don't need to apologize."

Leng Hui, instead, comforted Lu Chuan.

"Besides, being able to rediscover my past culinary experience through stinky tofu, I've already come out way ahead."

Lu Chuan was stunned for a moment, then also smiled happily.

"Big Brother Leng, it's best that you can think that way. Would you like another serving of stinky tofu?"

Leng Hui waved his hand grandly, saying heroically,

"How can one serving be enough? Make it three more servings, and large ones at that. For the sauces, I'll try garlic sauce, sweet bean paste, and chili bean paste."

"Alright!"

---

Li An watched Leng Hui, who was chatting and laughing happily with Lu Chuan, first with surprise for a few seconds, then with deep thought for a few minutes.

In the end, he still couldn't fathom the reason why the Your Devilishness was so fond of this muscular man.

He could only guess that some special quality about Leng Hui might have attracted the Your Devilishness.

"Wait, attracted?"

Li An suddenly realized something, and immediately broke out in a cold sweat, his chubby cheeks trembling with anxiety.

"If this continues, won't my position as the Your Devilishness's top favorite be in danger?"

But to make him rush over now and vie for favor, he naturally wouldn't dare.

After all, that was the Your Devilishness, an unpredictable higher being in novels.

Vying for favor was fine, but one still needed to be sharp-eyed.

Don't accidentally anger the Your Devilishness while trying to win favor.

Otherwise, his life might not be safe.

"Alright, alright, you use your looks to tempt, then I'll be practical and get things done, to let the Your Devilishness see who is truly a loyal subject devoted to him!"

Li An, who now regarded Leng Hui as his number one competitor, was seething with jealousy on one hand, and rubbing his fists, ready to take action, on the other.

Li An stood up, twisted left and right, simply stretched his muscles and bones, then ran in front of Lu Chuan, greeted him fawningly, and then quickly left.

In the large open space in front of the public restroom, Lu Chuan and Leng Hui, who had been chatting happily, suddenly fell silent, and the atmosphere became a bit awkward for a moment.

After a while, Leng Hui broke the silence, exclaiming in surprise.

"He... that fatty, why did he call you 'Adult'?"

Lu Chuan rubbed his teeth in frustration, only able to shake his head and say he didn't know.

Leng Hui and Li An were both customers; as the boss, he couldn't possibly say behind another customer's back that he was crazy, could he?