82: Chapter 82 What the heck is this?

By noon, the signal for the end of the shift sounded at the construction site.

The workers put down their tools, one after another, and began walking towards the city in twos and threes.

Old Dao noticed that everyone was heading in different directions—they weren't going to a unified canteen, but returning to their own homes.

The five hundred of them stood where they were, feeling a bit awkward.

They had no homes.

As newcomers, they hadn't even been assigned a place to stay yet.

At this moment, several Flower City Professionals who had been working with them walked over.

"Hey, brother! You haven't found a place to eat yet, right? Come to my place!"

"Come, come, come, my place is close, just in that alley up ahead."

"It's the same amount of cooking for one person or two, we won't mind adding a few more sets of chopsticks for you!"

...

Old Dao hesitated for a moment.

After moving stones all morning, he was indeed hungry.

Moreover, entering someone else's home was a good opportunity to observe the internal situation of Flower City.

But he didn't want to owe anyone a favor.

"Fine, we'll eat at your place." Old Dao nodded, "However—we will pay."

"Aiya, that's being too much of a stranger, no need, no need—"

"We must pay." Old Dao's tone was very firm, "We are new here, we cannot break the rules."

The four hundred and ninety-nine people behind Old Dao deeply agreed with this.

A few of them secretly gave a thumbs up—the boss still handled things in a seasoned manner.

This way, eating is just eating, and their stance remains their stance; neither side owes the other.

When the time comes to take action, they wouldn't be unable to strike because they had eaten a meal at their place.

The five hundred people dispersed into a dozen or so households.

Old Dao, leading about twenty people, followed that Flower City Professional he had been working with into their home.

The house wasn't big, but it was kept clean and tidy.

It was a family of five; the husband was a Professional, and the wife was with their three children.

Seeing Old Dao and the others enter, the wife hurriedly went to the kitchen to get busy.

Before long, the food was served.

Old Dao saw the items on the table, and his hand holding the bowl froze.

Bowls of rice, steaming hot, with plump grains—each grain emitted a faint luster.

Spiritual Rice.

Silver Rank Spiritual Rice.

One thousand copper coins per tael!

As a Silver Rank Professional, Old Dao certainly recognized something like Spiritual Rice.

And now—

In an ordinary citizen's home, they were eating Spiritual Rice as if it were plain rice?

What is the meaning of this?

Treating guests?

Isn't this a bit too enthusiastic?

But enthusiasm wasn't the point.

The point was, he had promised to pay!

How much would this meal of Spiritual Rice cost to eat??

How could they afford to eat this?

The host saw their stunned expressions and thought they were disappointed that there was only rice and no dishes, so he hurriedly turned back to get the dishes.

Soon, Red Flame Golden-Maned Pig meat was placed in front of Old Dao and the others.

One plate!

Another plate!

And another!

...

Old Dao and the others were completely dumbfounded!

What is this now?

This Spiritual Qi...

How did they even bring out Demonic Beast meat?

The host, however, didn't know what they were thinking.

Now that the dishes were all served, they, having been busy all morning, couldn't wait to start eating!

Come to think of it, this Spiritual Rice and Red Flame Golden-Maned Pig meat really never get old!

You just want to keep eating it!

But after they had eaten a few bites, they noticed that Old Dao and the others still hadn't touched their chopsticks, so they asked:

"Why... aren't you eating?"

Old Dao looked at the food in front of him, the corner of his mouth twitching, "Although we are guests, you don't need to be this enthusiastic in treating us, right?"

"Eating a meal like this is really too extravagant for you."

He was speaking from the heart.

After all... Spiritual Rice, Demonic Beast meat, and the like, even in Qing City were extremely rare, the kind of things that were hard to buy even with money.

So, although they intended to pay, if they really calculated it, the host would still be at a loss.

Extravagant? That's an understatement!

The people behind him secretly shook their heads.

This family, by treating them to such a meal, probably emptied out their entire family savings, didn't they?

But upon hearing this, the host looked completely bewildered: "Extravagant?"

"It's alright, I guess." He picked up a large piece of meat and put it into his mouth, saying vaguely, "Everyone eats this normally anyway."

They eat this normally?

Old Dao almost laughed out loud.

If you're going to brag, at least prepare a draft.

Spiritual Rice and Demonic Beast meat as everyday meals?

Do you even believe yourself when you say that?

But since things had already reached this point, if they still didn't eat, it would be too embarrassing!

Isn't it just Spiritual Rice and Demonic Beast meat?

It's not like they haven't eaten it before!

Isn't it just that they have to pay?

It's not like they can't afford it!

And so, Old Dao waved his hand.

Eat!

Isn't it just money?

They were Professionals after all, they could still afford a meal!

Having received Old Dao's permission, the crowd, who had already been drooling, immediately started using their chopsticks.

The Spiritual Rice entered their mouths, each grain distinct, and the Spiritual Qi traveled down their throats, flowing warmly into their limbs and bones.

Old Dao closed his eyes—excellent Spiritual Rice!

This money was well spent!

Then he picked up some meat.

He took a bite.

He chewed twice.

Old Dao's movements stopped.

Not just him.

The twenty or so people around him froze at almost the same time.

Each of them had meat in their mouths, their expressions changing from enjoyment to confusion, and then from confusion to shock.

They looked at each other.

Their eyes conveyed the same message—something was wrong with this meat.

It wasn't like they hadn't eaten Demonic Beast meat before.

Qing City occasionally had Demonic Beast meat.

Of course, it was usually Demonic Wolf meat, Black Iron Rank.

Although it was Demonic Beast meat, and the taste and texture were better than ordinary pork or chicken, and it contained Spiritual Qi, after eating it a few times, you would find that it was actually just so-so.

But this piece of meat in his mouth—

The meat was so tender it didn't feel like beast meat; it melted in the mouth, and the Spiritual Qi was so rich that it exploded in his mouth the moment he bit into it.

That surge of Spiritual Qi didn't seep in slowly; it poured directly into his Dantian, causing all the Meridians in his body to buzz and tremble.

This concentration of Spiritual Qi was dozens of times that of the Demonic Wolf meat.

Old Dao stiffly swallowed the meat and put down his chopsticks.

"What Rank of Demonic Beast meat is this?"

He tried his best to make his voice sound normal.

The host was busy shoveling rice into his mouth; upon hearing this, he thought for a moment and shook his head: "I really don't know what Rank it is. Anyway, it was issued by Lord City Lord, so we just eat it."

"Who mentioned this before? It seems like it was Bronze Rank, right?" Someone chimed in.

Another person disagreed: "I think it should be Silver Rank! Look at this Spiritual Qi concentration; how could Bronze Rank be this abundant?"

"Yeah! I think so too! It must be Silver Rank!"

...

The host and the others started discussing it, one after another.

Old Dao and his subordinates sat there, their expressions becoming increasingly ugly.

Are you kidding me?

Bronze Rank?

Silver Rank?

How could Demonic Beast meat of just these two Ranks have such a strong concentration of Spiritual Qi?

This must be Gold Rank Demonic Beast meat!!

Gold Rank!

In Qing City, what was the concept of Gold Rank supplies?

That was good stuff that even the City Lord couldn't eat!!

And now—

In an ordinary citizen's home, they were eating Gold Rank Demonic Beast meat with their rice?

Old Dao suddenly remembered one thing.

That was...

He had said they would pay for this meal...

If it were Silver Rank Spiritual Rice, he could grit his teeth and bleed a little, it wasn't something he couldn't afford.

But what about Gold Rank Demonic Beast meat?

After eating a plate like this, even if he sold himself, it wouldn't be enough to pay for it!!

...