The lean young man was different from the other three; he was not purely a glutton, but rather someone who simply enjoyed good food. Thus, he was the only one remaining relatively calm in the presence of Dragon's Saliva Rice.
His words jolted the three others into realization: indeed! Gaining two extra levels in attributes during the early stages would enable them to defeat monsters beyond their level, and such victories would yield a 50% experience bonus!
"So, you're saying this could double the leveling speed for our novice brothers?" the young man with the gold-rimmed glasses gulped, his tone laced with incredulity.
...
"Wow, no wonder they say fools have plenty of money. Look over there! Those fellows descending from entry-level artifacts are swarming around that shady stall. It seems they're buying everything!"
"Why don't we try selling our rice for 88 as well?"
The previously quiet area began to buzz with activity.
"Apologies, but each person is limited to one serving," Zhao Shen stated firmly.
Upon hearing this, Mu Yichun burst into laughter, relishing the fact that someone else would share in the torment of enjoying this culinary delight!
"What? Only one serving?" The lean young man's reaction was the most intense; his plan for leveling up was crumbling.
"Old Mu? Did you already know about this rule?" The young man with glasses turned to Mu Yichun, puzzled by his unusual demeanor.
"Don't look at me! I didn't set this rule. I've been eagerly anticipating this since yesterday! But Zhao God decreed that each person is allowed only one serving per day—nothing more, nothing less!" Mu Yichun declared proudly, reveling in the delight of this revelation.
The group hastily licked the remaining grains of rice on their plates, utterly abandoning their former airs of authority.
...
Observing the trio who looked as if they were being tortured, Zhao Shen resignedly repeated, "As I mentioned, each person is allowed only one serving of rice per day, and my portions are notably larger than those of others."
This was clearly intentional, comparable to Tmall's Double Eleven promotions that come with limitations. However, everyone has a natural inclination to indulge in delicious food, while tasteless dishes go untouched. Even women, who are often more discerning, cannot resist the allure of delectable cuisine, let alone a few grown men with hearty appetites.
Yet now, being told they could only have one serving felt like a deliberate provocation!
But facing a master, they could hardly voice their complaints, instead swallowing their grievances.
"Surely another serving is permissible? We traveled all the way from the main city, which took us two hours!" the young man with glasses protested.
"Exactly! Look at how thin I am; I need to replenish!" The lean young man, though rationally aware of the rice's benefits, momentarily discarded his reservations, longing for another taste of that earthly delicacy.
Suddenly, the dandy dashed towards a neighboring stall.
...
"Hey, come quick! Look here! I'm selling rice for 88 gold coins too, and it's on promotion—two servings for 88 gold coins!"
"Hey there, come on over! My rice is also 88 gold coins, and you can even touch it!"
Suppressing the urge to knock down the stall owner, who resembled a popular online celebrity, the dandy asked, "Do you have any blankets? Or perhaps a portable dwelling?"
"Are you not buying rice? I can sell you three servings for 88 gold coins!" the stall owner replied, leaning closer as her makeup dust fell to the ground, crushing an unsuspecting ant.
Startled, Dou Dou fled, ultimately purchasing a blanket after several inquiries; the idea of acquiring a dwelling was utterly unattainable in the novice village.
"Dou Dou, why did you buy a blanket?" Mu Yichun inquired.
Dou Dou donned a sorrowful expression and replied, "Bro, I apologize. From now on, I won't be your little brother anymore. I'm going to stick with Zhao God wherever he goes, even if it means sleeping on the ground..."
...
Glaring at Dou Dou, Mu Yichun was taken aback by how easily his little brother had been swayed!
He completely forgot that he had also succumbed to the same allure.
"Master, I admire you; it seems that individuals who uphold principles and integrity are a rare breed. I never imagined you would remain impervious to the lure of money. Truly, you are a paragon of reverence," the young man with glasses proclaimed earnestly.
Zhao Shen's heart sank in despair. What kind of absurd task was this? How could he ignore the opportunity to earn such wealth?
...
After bidding farewell to Mu Yichun and his companions, with Dou Dou being literally dragged away, Zhao Shen glanced at the gold coins in his bag. After purchasing ingredients yesterday, he had 36 remaining. After deducting the 15 for the stall fee and selling three servings of Dragon's Saliva Rice, he had earned 285 gold coins. His task completion status now stood at 95.
He procured five more servings of ingredients, leaving him with 45 gold coins, and returned to his original spot to continue selling.
Unbeknownst to him, his stall was becoming increasingly popular.
A burly man approached Zhao Shen's stall, drawing the attention of onlookers.
"Hey, does your rice really boost attack power?" The man, known as David Oscar, was a Russo-Chinese hybrid with exceptional gaming talent, though his time spent in the simulation life had been relatively brief.
"Indeed," Zhao Shen replied, not even looking up.
"Alright, give me a serving. I want to see if your Dragon's Saliva Rice truly possesses such extraordinary effects. But be warned, if you deceive me, I guarantee you will not escape the safety zone of the novice village!" David Oscar's voice was devoid of emotion, carrying a chilling undertone.
He was already level 8 and needed to reach level 10 to leave the novice village. While wandering through the stall area, he had overheard the lean young man's excited exclamations. After some contemplation, he had decided to give it a try.
"Rest assured, you won't be disappointed," Zhao Shen responded, feeling a degree of fondness for the straightforward man, far more amiable than the overly pretentious professional.
...
Moments later, the boisterous laughter of the burly man echoed through the stall area.
"Ha ha! It's true! It seems those earlier individuals weren't just shills! This rice has genuinely boosted my attack power by 12 points. I can smell freedom from the novice village on the horizon!" He declared, sprinting toward the village exit, eager to test his newfound strength in battle.
Upon hearing the man's words, those around him began to murmur.
"Really? Is this true? Are we sure he's not just a hired actor?"
"Are you kidding? Have you ever seen an ingredient that boosts attributes? Even the finest alchemists cannot concoct attribute potions, let alone a mere serving of rice!"
Most remained skeptical, not due to Zhao Shen's sales skills, but because it felt improbable. Who among the unseasoned adventurers would squander 88 gold coins merely to enjoy a serving of rice?
...
"Vroom, vroom."
A large jeep rolled into the stall area, and a woman clad in dark attire exited—Sheng Xiaoshuang was the first female customer at Zhao Shen's stall.
With her long hair, black leather boots, and subtle makeup, she appeared quite enchanting.
"My cousin David Oscar bought Dragon's Saliva Rice from you, correct? I would like a serving as well."
A repeat customer had arrived.