"Alright, please hold on," Zhao Shen ended his stall status and entered the culinary space, aware that his meager supplies would certainly be insufficient. However, he furrowed his brow slightly when purchasing the ingredients for the Ice Silkworm Dumplings.
Meanwhile, the patrons in front of his stall began to chat while they ate.
"Have you noticed how delicious Boss Zhao's food is?"
A young boy, still awaiting his meal in the queue, could no longer contain his impatience and decided to engage in conversation.
"Indeed! In the beginning, the culinary profession experienced a surge in popularity, offering many dishes in the game that aren't found in reality. However, as the number of chefs increased, interest waned, and combat professions took precedence once more."
"Boss Zhao is certainly no ordinary individual."
"Indeed, it goes without saying that an average person could never create such perfect dishes."
A charming girl rolled her eyes gracefully.
"Ha! I believe Boss Zhao's skills are not the only remarkable aspect; his rules are singular as well—no second servings allowed!" A fellow patron lamented, feeling quite unsatisfied.
Initially, many had anticipated the growth of the purchasing service, but the binding characteristic upon acquisition proved to be quite irksome. The only item that didn't bind, the Ice Silkworm Dumplings, had turned into ice sculptures after consumption.
...
"Right? That's not all; why on earth is there no allowance for a second serving?" As soon as they started talking, complaints began to flow, with the focal point being whether there was any chance of securing a second portion.
Everyone began offering examples, each more outrageous and implausible than the last.
"Boss Zhao must be a bit neurotic; no wonder Mu Yichun, the foodie, calls him 'Zhao God'—not only torturing others but also himself, all while making life difficult for his wallet." The cute girl huffed, analyzing Mu Yichun's habitual nickname for Zhao Shen.
"Perhaps it's true. Isn't there a mental health center named Wang Tianbao in Meishi? One day, I'll go inquire if anyone exhibits such symptoms—torturing themselves while inflicting pain on others." Even Mu Yichun joined in the teasing.
Unbeknownst to Zhao Shen, the regulars were queuing up and, in their boredom, began to dissect the high-end nickname; 'Zhao God' was also humorously interpreted as 'Zhao Neurotic'. Even Mu Yichun, who had originally coined the term, did not contest it, as it indeed carried a semblance of truth.
This all stemmed from Mu Yichun and Zhao Shen's initial meeting; after trying a serving of Dragon's Tear rice, he was utterly astonished by Zhao Shen's talent. Subsequently, he discovered that nearly everything Zhao sold bore the title of "culinary god."
Feeling that simply calling him Boss Zhao lacked grandeur, Mu Yichun opted to refer to him as 'Zhao God.'
Little did they expect this playful nomenclature would spread, all thanks to the adorable girl's explanation.
...
Simultaneously, the girl's circle of friends within the gaming realm received the news, akin to a WeChat Moments feed. Even the mobile game Divine Martial had such a feature, not to mention this second-space world.
The charming girl uploaded a cute selfie to her circle.
Next to it was a radiant plate of fried rice, titled: [A Shocking Incident in the Novice Zone; Yuan Fang, what do you think?]
Accompanying text read: "Do you all think I'm pretty and adorable? Yet, every day when I come to dine, the stingy boss bullies me—one serving of rice and no cup of water, a bun must be paired with soy milk bought on my own, and even ordering fried rice doesn't earn me a side of pickles!"
What's more infuriating is that when I requested a second serving for 333 gold coins, I was flatly refused! I feel so foolish, so naïve, and so angry! (Accompanied by a pouting emoji.)
A pretty girl generally garners a lot of attention, especially one engaged in the streaming industry, exuding charm with her fair skin and large, sparkling eyes, along with a perfectly curved figure.
Even a fool would take a second look.
In no time, her post received countless likes, surpassing a hundred in mere moments, with a plethora of comments flooding in.
"Front row seating," a low-key guy remarked.
"Behave! Tomorrow, I'll take you out to eat—anything you desire," said a user named Qianmo.
"Looks like your chest has grown again today!" teased a close-combat archer.
"Perhaps the boss is too busy watching you to cook; such a beautiful girl shouldn't be stuck making food!" chimed in another.
"Can I treat you to dinner tomorrow? Let's skip the fried rice and indulge in delicacies from land and sea," proposed another.
"Is it delicious? I'm begging for the stall's coordinates!"
There were also some who were rather overtly flirtatious.
"Pretty girl, **charismatic**," said an admirer.
"Very cute, **charming**," another chimed in.
"Love the pout, **adorable**," another added.
"Professional demolisher of formations for 20 years; please call me Lei Feng!" exclaimed yet another.
As for the trio known as the XX Giants, the charming girl completely ignored them, though she took time to reply to some private messages from gaming friends, recounting her experiences at the stall. When inquiries became too numerous, she promptly posted the map and coordinates.
...
There exists a theory of six degrees of separation, suggesting that to connect with the president, one only needs to traverse through six individuals. This is also known as the small-world theory.
Zhao Shen's humble stall had gradually made its way into the main urban area, with more people becoming aware of it through word of mouth, though the distance remained daunting.
Naturally, human curiosity is insatiable, with individuals from neighboring novice villages also making the trek to see, taste, and thus become loyal fans of Zhao Shen, as eating truly is one of life's greatest pleasures.
Even though his stall was small with a less-than-ideal location, the crowds had long since adapted. They finished their meals and moved along, creating a bustling environment, where patrons constantly flowed to and from.
Zhao Shen's clientele extended beyond just a single novice village, reaching towards countless households.
Of course, they remained unaware of Zhao Shen's plight. He could hardly proclaim, "I'm special; I possess the culinary god profession. I have a culinary god system and am the sole heir of nine generations," could he?
Merely stating that he had a unique system would hardly convince anyone. The culinary world had only one culinary god, and the peculiar regulations initially left Zhao Shen quite distressed. Yet, he now found those very restrictions to be rather advantageous.
...
Exhausted, utterly drained.
Just as a dozen patrons departed, a new wave quickly queued up, and upon learning that Zhao Shen was finally online, the number of people continued to swell, creating a lively scene at his stall.
"Little chef, please give me and the boss each a serving of Ice Silkworm Dumplings; I haven't eaten all day and have been dreaming of them," the elderly gentleman returned, having missed lunch.
"I'm afraid we haven't had Ice Silkworm Dumplings recently." Spotting the loyal elder, Zhao Shen patiently replied, effectively extinguishing the man's hopes.
"Oh dear me! Little chef, you can't be so cruel! I specifically brought my wife along, and we've come here twice already!"
"I'm sorry." Zhao Shen remained firm in his refusal, though his tone softened slightly. Meanwhile, those who had hurried over for the beloved Ice Silkworm Dumplings could no longer contain themselves and began to voice their concerns.
"Boss Zhao, what's the meaning of this? Do you realize that after eating your Ice Silkworm Dumplings, I skipped lunch just waiting for you? Not everyone can afford the 333 gold coins for fried rice; why are the dumplings unavailable?" Sister Furong's companion exclaimed earnestly.
"Exactly! Boss Zhao, we can't afford fried rice; a few Ice Silkworm Dumplings would suffice! Why are they gone?" enquired the man in the suit.