192: Old man

Just as Lu Chuan was frantically complaining about the system in his heart, a series of footsteps suddenly came from outside the store.

"Who is it?"

Lu Chuan's expression changed, and he immediately stood up, looking over with full vigilance.

At this hour, the probability of someone coming to the store being a customer was already very small.

After the sudden incident of the shadow attacking, the nature of the newcomer was self-evident.

Damn it, does that ghost thing have accomplices?

Lu Chuan's expression became extremely ugly.

Even He Jingrui was counterattacked and injured during his sneak attack, so with his amateur skills, he was probably in for a tough time.

Just as Lu Chuan was feeling uneasy, frantically calling the system, and preparing to spend appetite coins to exchange for life-saving abilities, an old cough sounded from outside the store.

"Cough, cough, why is it so noisy in the middle of the night? It's keeping this old man from sleeping!"

As the voice fell, an old man wearing loose clothes and flip-flops appeared at the store entrance.

His hair was messy, and he had a dirty-looking beard, completely unkempt.

However, the old man's complexion was very rosy, and his exposed skin was not as loose as that of an elderly person; instead, it was taut and elastic, with a healthy bronze color.

Lu Chuan looked at this suddenly appearing old man with some surprise, but when his gaze moved up and met the old man's eyes, his heart inexplicably jolted.

The other party's eyes instantly became as sharp as an eagle's, but the next moment they became as profound and mysterious as the stars.

Just as Lu Chuan wanted to look closer, he found that the other party's eyes had become cloudy, no different from those of an ordinary old person.

?

Lu Chuan blinked in confusion.

Of course, it was impossible to have misread it.

So, what was the other party trying to do with that display?

Lu Chuan cautiously retreated slowly, while cooperatively saying:

"The floor in the store collapsed just now, old sir. I'm truly sorry for the inconvenience I caused you. I will definitely come to apologize another day. You see, it's already this late, it's not good to wander around outside. You should go back and rest quickly."

The old man completely ignored what Lu Chuan said, just walked into the store on his own and sat down at a random round table.

He first carefully examined all the furnishings in the store, as if to engrave everything here deep into his heart again.

After a long while, he finally patted his head in distress and said:

"Alas, what you said makes sense, but this old man is old, and my sleep is naturally light. After being woken up, it's not so easy to fall back asleep."

Lu Chuan was speechless for a moment; the other party was clearly intent on staying.

Fortunately, he could still communicate, unlike that shadow which attacked without a word.

Lu Chuan had no choice but to try and appease the other party first, waiting for He Jingrui to return and help him out.

"Then, old sir, please sit for a while. I'll pour you a cup of water."

Saying that, he was about to go into the kitchen to get the kettle.

However, the old man spoke with a smile:

"Pouring water is good, but if it's 'spiked' it would be even better, after all, this old man is immune to all poisons and usually likes to add a little something to his water to adjust his appetite."

Lu Chuan's footsteps paused, and his face, turned away from the old man, showed a hint of embarrassment.

But countless humiliating experiences from setting up stalls allowed him to remain calm in such situations.

"Old sir, what are you saying? A guest is a guest, and naturally, they should be treated with courtesy. Besides, I run a restaurant; how could I possibly poison a guest?"

"Heh heh, heh heh heh heh."

The old man chuckled, seemingly finding Lu Chuan's words amusing.

Listening to this deeply sarcastic laughter, Lu Chuan's mouth twitched.

If he didn't know he couldn't win a fight, he really wanted to give this old man a good beating for daring to make fun of him.

Lu Chuan stopped pretending. He turned around and sat behind the cashier counter, his tone no longer as enthusiastic as before, and said indifferently:

"Since that's the case, old sir, please make yourself at home. Just don't sit for too long; the store will be closing in about half an hour."

With that, he picked up his phone and started scrolling through short videos, truly leaving the old man to himself.

As the cheerful background music played, the tense atmosphere in the store was instantly broken.

The old man looked at Lu Chuan, who was constantly scrolling on his phone, with a strange expression.

After a while, seeing Lu Chuan still on his phone, he finally spoke:

"Heh heh, since you're running a business, and this old man happens to be hungry, does the owner have any signature dishes to recommend?"

Hearing this, Lu Chuan reluctantly put down his phone.

A guest who comes without causing trouble is still a guest. Although this old man's depth was unknown and his origin seemed very mysterious, he hadn't made any excessive moves since entering. So, despite Lu Chuan's unwillingness, he had to put on a show.

Now that this "ordinary" customer wanted to order, according to the system's mission requirements, Lu Chuan could only hand the old man a pen and paper.

"There are no special recommendations. Old sir, just write down what you like to eat, provided, of course, that the store happens to have those ingredients."

The old man blinked, a hint of surprise flashing in his eyes, but then he smiled and said:

"I didn't expect you to know so many dishes. Alright, since you've said so, then this old man, when passing through Nujiang more than ten years ago, tasted the Lisu ethnic group's special delicacy—Xiala—and still savors its memory. I wonder if you can make this dish?"

Xiala?

Lu Chuan's expression remained unchanged, but he had already begun searching for information about this dish in his mind.

Soon, he had the answer.

"Of course I can make it, but it requires the aid of lacquer oil or ghee and local shaojiu. The store is newly opened, and some of the more uncommon auxiliary ingredients are not available. If old sir doesn't mind, how about I make some changes to the original recipe and use existing ingredients?"

The old man's eyes again showed surprise. He hadn't expected Lu Chuan to actually know how to make this dish, and even be able to adapt it by using other ingredients.

"Interesting, interesting. Then let's do as you say."

"Alright, old sir, please wait a moment."

Lu Chuan nodded, then pushed open the kitchen door and walked in.

Before long, the sounds of running water and spatulas turning could be heard from inside the kitchen.

Listening to the activity in the kitchen, the old man's originally calm expression once again showed a hint of reminiscence.

He then stood up, walked to a calligraphy and painting hanging on the wall, and touched the mottled rice paper, his expression becoming gentle.

"I'm back, but things have changed, and you're no longer here..."

The old man's lips moved, uttering a silent mumble, as if confiding in someone.

"These past few years, I've been like a wandering soul in the world, drifting aimlessly and at a loss..."

"Even after spending all my money to set up an orphanage and spending every day with the lovely children, my heart still feels empty..."

"Perhaps the time I spent with you was the only happy time in my unfortunate life."