177: dilapidated buildings

"It's all your fault! My rare first-class flight was completely ruined!"

After getting out of the taxi, Lu Chuan was still upset and began to scold He Jingrui again.

He Jingrui just grinned and nodded, but showed no sign of remorse.

His attitude was basically, "You're right about everything, but I'm not listening."

It was already five in the afternoon, six hours before the system's designated opening time.

Considering they might still need to clean, Lu Chuan didn't bother lecturing He Jingrui anymore, only urged him to hurry up.

Following the mobile navigation, the two carried their luggage through streets and alleys, finally arriving in front of a dilapidated, dangerous building.

It was truly a dangerous building, and located in a remote area.

Even in the highly complex environment of an urban village, it was a rare sight.

Looking at the exposed rebar and cement on the second floor of the shop, and the pitiful, shaky sign in front, Lu Chuan was furious.

After He Jingrui conscientiously pushed the door open to clean, he immediately summoned the system to inquire.

"System, you're not happy unless you're trying to con me, are you?!"

"Host, please calm down. The Demon City is, after all, an inch of gold. The Host should also understand the system's difficulties."

Before Lu Chuan could reply, the system continued:

"After all, the full name of the system is: Gourmet Resonance System, not: Gourmet Tycoon System."

"This dangerous... ahem, the house was very cheap, so I snatched it up."

"Tight on cash, you know ~"

"..."

Hearing the system's explanation, even though Lu Chuan was full of dissatisfaction, he was speechless at this moment.

Don't look at his previous few times setting up a stall, earning so much daily, but after setting up a stall for so long, it wasn't enough to buy a tiny toilet in this place, the Demon City.

"Looking at it from another perspective, if even the system can't solve it, it's understandable why so many people are lying flat and being 'Buddha-like'."

Lu Chuan shook his head, no longer dwelling on it, and carried his luggage into the dangerous building.

Perhaps it was too dilapidated, even thieves weren't willing to visit.

Even though the shop door lock didn't look sturdy, there were no traces of outsiders entering.

Of course, there were no annoying small creatures like rats or cockroaches either.

It was just a bit dusty.

"Cough, cough."

Lu Chuan just blew lightly, and the rising dust obscured his vision, filling the air with a hazy gray.

At this moment, He Jingrui had already brought out a bucket and rags from the toilet and began to wipe down the tables and chairs inside the shop.

"Fortunately, there's still water and electricity, otherwise it would have been a catastrophic start."

Lu Chuan shook his head, rolled up his sleeves, and joined the big clean-up.

And that clean-up lasted for five hours.

Even though both of them were New Humans, they were still tired after all that.

But looking at the refreshed interior of the shop, Lu Chuan still smiled with satisfaction.

The previous owner was also in the catering business. Although he didn't know why he threw in the towel, the cooking equipment, smoke exhaust and purification system, disinfection equipment, dining tables and chairs, and cash register all looked to be in good condition, probably because they had been well-maintained.

So Lu Chuan also saved himself some trouble. After cleaning, he just needed to add some essential items and he could open for business.

"You watch the shop. I'll go buy some bowls, chopsticks, spatulas, kitchen knives, and other supplies, and have someone deliver a gas cylinder over."

He Jingrui said "Oh" and continued to busy himself, checking where the shop still needed to be patched up.

Lu Chuan smiled, turned and left the shop, walking out from the depths of the alley. As he passed by the sewage ditch and garbage piles, he couldn't help but pinch his nose, carefully avoiding the unknown substances on the ground.

It wasn't until he reached the mouth of the alley that he finally let out a sigh of relief.

Then he walked to a nearby grocery store at the alley entrance and started buying items according to the list he had made before leaving.

Grocery stores in urban villages are very convenient. Although the quality of goods varies, they are well-stocked with basic necessities.

At least, everything Lu Chuan needed was available.

The shop was run by a young man in his mid-twenties. He wasn't as arrogant as the Demon City residents Lu Chuan had seen in short videos. Instead, when he heard Lu Chuan's foreign accent, he enthusiastically started chatting.

However, seeing that Lu Chuan was buying kitchen supplies, he couldn't help but ask an extra question out of curiosity.

After hearing Lu Chuan say he had opened a restaurant in that alley, he couldn't help but blink, hesitated for a while, and then spoke.

"Um, what you're talking about, it wouldn't be that dilapidated two-story building deep in the alley, would it?"

Lu Chuan smiled and nodded.

"Ah, yes, yes, yes. We just finished cleaning it up and are preparing to open tonight."

Hearing Lu Chuan say this, the young man blinked, seemingly wanting to say something, but still didn't. Finally, he twitched his lips and insincerely wished him well:

"Good idea. I wish you a prosperous business, then."

Lu Chuan felt that the young man's attitude was a bit strange, but since the other party was saying auspicious words, he immediately thanked him and then asked for the gas delivery man's number before leaving.

The young man watched Lu Chuan's departing back, couldn't help but shake his head, and muttered:

"That house isn't auspicious. Oh well, I suppose he'll move out himself in a couple of days, so why bother saying it and being annoying."

Little did he know that his words had already reached Lu Chuan's ears.

Having had his body modified by the system and awakened his Gourmet Cellss, Lu Chuan's hearing had been greatly enhanced.

He could hear every rustle within ten meters clearly.

"Inauspicious?"

Lu Chuan stroked his chin, a thoughtful look in his eyes.

The system had already clearly stated that there were no ghosts in this world.

So what did "inauspicious" refer to?

Lu Chuan walked along, thinking with his items, but still hadn't figured it out by the time he returned to the shop.

He looked at the brightly lit shop, then at the dark, dilapidated buildings around him, and only then did he realize the blind spot.

How strange, it seemed no one lived nearby. Why were there no lights on?

Lu Chuan told He Jingrui about the situation, to see if this "clever" brain could offer a different perspective.

However, He Jingrui patted his chest and confidently said:

"It's okay, A Chuan, I'll protect you!"

Lu Chuan looked at He Jingrui striking a pose and flexing his muscles, his mouth twitching a few times.

But with He Jingrui's antics, Lu Chuan's previously somewhat nervous mood relaxed.

"Haha, alright, then I'll be counting on you! Let's get ready to open the shop!"

"Midnight Diner, now open for business!"