The frenzy surrounding the purchase nearly sparked a riot.
Yet, no one dared to show disrespect to Zhao Shen; at most, they offered a few sarcastic remarks. After all, this was a safe zone, where troublemakers were swiftly dealt with by the suddenly appearing cloaked guards.
Moreover, after tasting such exquisite cuisine, they found themselves disinterested in any other rice; anything else was simply inferior! Who would dare to disrespect Zhao Shen after experiencing his culinary delights?
...
As evening fell, Zhao Shen tallied his earnings from the day. He had sold a total of 21 servings, managing to cater to nearly all potential customers, as few in the novice village had the financial means to indulge in 88 gold coins for a single serving of rice.
With 21 servings of Dragon's Saliva Rice, he amassed 1,893 gold coins, nearly reaching two thousand—almost equivalent to his monthly salary in the real world!
After deducting the 30 gold coins for the six-hour stall fee and the cost of the ingredients, Zhao Shen netted an impressive profit of 855 gold coins!
He was momentarily taken aback; earning nearly a thousand in a single day was an extraordinary concept. How far could he go—perhaps a villa or a luxury car were within reach?
Converting the gold coins in his backpack into 38 servings of ingredients, Zhao Shen went to bed radiating confidence, opting to sleep directly in the simulation without logging out. The game capsule was more than capable of maintaining his physiological functions.
Compared to the mundane reality, Zhao Shen cherished this realm, where he could truly showcase his culinary talents.
...
The following day, he returned to the same spot, only to find it bustling with activity, as numerous people awaited his arrival.
Scanning the crowd, Zhao Shen felt a twinge of disappointment when he did not see the figure he hoped to find. Last night, he had dreamt of her.
Today's earnings surpassed yesterday's significantly; perhaps the reputation of Dragon's Saliva Rice had spread. By midday, Zhao Shen had sold 17 servings, almost matching his total from the previous day.
However, the figure he longed for was still conspicuously absent. Despite hesitating several times, Zhao Shen refrained from reaching out to the friend he wished to see.
"Stay strong, you can do this!" Zhao Shen encouraged himself inwardly.
...
Xiaoshuang furrowed her brows as she regarded a young man named Dayu before her.
He was a close friend of her cousin in real life, and upon their first meeting, he had been captivated by Xiaoshuang's beauty, launching into a relentless pursuit that had carried over into the simulation.
Due to their connection, Xiaoshuang felt compelled to maintain a semblance of politeness, which led Dayu to believe he had an opportunity, resulting in his persistent entanglements.
He had been clinging to her for the better part of the morning, and Xiaoshuang despised such clingy individuals—men devoid of self-assertion and personality.
"I'm going to eat!" Xiaoshuang declared to Dayu, her tone sharpening slightly in hopes that he would take the hint.
Dayu, however, displayed remarkable tenacity, seemingly oblivious to her implied message. "I'll accompany you," he replied, unperturbed.
Left with no choice, Xiaoshuang reluctantly drove her jeep, clad in her dark outfit, accompanied by Dayu, who trailed like a shadow, to Zhao Shen's stall.
...
At that moment, Zhao Shen had just concluded a busy period; mealtime had passed, leaving him with a rare moment of leisure.
"Boss, I'll have two servings of rice. Wait, do you only serve rice? What's going on? It costs 88 gold coins?" His voice escalated in astonishment, culminating in incredulity. Dayu, wholly preoccupied with Xiaoshuang, remained unaware of the burgeoning reputation of Dragon's Saliva Rice in the stall area.
For reasons he could not quite comprehend, Zhao Shen felt an immediate dislike for Dayu; perhaps it was the fact that he was in company with the goddess he had been dreaming of.
Out of Zhao Shen's sight, the red negative buff of entanglement shimmered alluringly, as if a demon had opened its eyes.
"I'm here specifically to enjoy his rice," Xiaoshuang stated decisively, paying for her serving of Dragon's Saliva Rice and diving right in.
Had it not been for Dayu's incessant presence throughout the morning, she would have arrived much sooner. Now, seeing the Dragon's Saliva Rice, saliva began to pool involuntarily in her mouth.
...
Feeling a bit awkward, Dayu subsequently ordered a serving, regretting his earlier actions, which seemed rather stingy.
"Boss, can I get a cup of tea? Xiaoshuang, what would you like to drink?" Dayu inquired with an overly considerate tone, hoping to alleviate the previous tension.
"Sorry, I don't offer anything besides rice here. If you want tea, please purchase it from the stall next door," Zhao Shen replied bluntly, lacking any gentleness towards Dayu.
"Is this how you conduct business?" Dayu, a wealthy young man in reality, was unaccustomed to being treated in such a manner during his outings. Wasn't a service attendant supposed to exhibit a certain level of courtesy?
Had it not been for the desire to leave a good impression on Xiaoshuang, he would have confronted the stall owner.
"Hey, are you going to eat or not?" Xiaoshuang interjected, sensing the brewing tension between them.
However, for reasons unknown, she felt a secret satisfaction watching Dayu experience a setback at the hands of the stall owner.
...
"Dayu, you know I'm not the type to cause trouble; I just feel there's an issue with the owner's attitude. What kind of business only sells rice for 88 gold coins?" She eloquently cleaned her spoon with a napkin, maintaining an air of grace.
Although Dayu was not pleased, he began to eat without further complaint, noticing Xiaoshuang's focused attention on her meal.
As the first bite of rice entered his mouth, his mind erupted in silent exclamations.
"Is this truly just rice?"
"I eat rice every day, but I've never tasted anything this delicious! Compared to this bowl, other delicacies pale in comparison!"
Despite the overwhelming flavor, he fought to maintain an air of indifference, feeling torn within himself.
Zhao Shen observed Dayu's expressions throughout the entire process.
"Another soul conquered by my rice. Look at Xiaoshuang; she is so graceful and dignified."
Unbeknownst to him, Zhao Shen's attitude towards the enchanting Xiaoshuang gradually began to shift, a realization he was not yet aware of.
Whether this transformation was due to the negative effects of the Culinary Master Spring Water or genuine attraction was anyone's guess.
...
"Boss, has the portion size of the rice decreased today? Could I have another serving?" Xiaoshuang playfully blinked, fully aware of the rules yet eager to test the waters.
"Sorry, that's not possible," Zhao Shen replied firmly.
Upon hearing this, Dayu became irate. The woman he had been pursuing was now flirting before his eyes, even playfully asking for another serving, only to be denied?
"Boss! Give me another serving! I'll pay double the price!"
He pulled out a stack of gold coins, transitioning into show-off mode as he sought to capture Xiaoshuang's attention.
Yet as Zhao Shen caught sight of the gleaming coins, he felt his sanity slipping away; he could no longer resist the allure of wealth.
So, he decided to share a true story.
"Once, a card worth a thousand gold coins was placed before me, and I failed to cherish it. Only in its absence did I realize my regret. If only time could rewind, I would tell that boy: 'I apologize, but I shall not sell.'"