"Because the prices have gone up," Zhao Shen exclaimed, startling everyone.
"Holy cow! You're charging 58 gold coins for a single bun now? Is this how you expect people to survive?" Not everyone was as affluent as Mu Yichun; while the elder had money, it certainly wasn't falling from the sky.
"It's not me who raised the prices; it's the Ice Silkworm Dumplings that have increased in cost," Zhao Shen explained to the relentless crowd.
...
"Hmm? It's true! Just a few days ago, Ice Silkworm Dumplings were only 1 gold coin each, and now they've skyrocketed to 3 coins?"
"Indeed, they've always been an obscure ingredient, practically worthless. The 1 gold coin price was the system's base rate; how has it now risen to 5 gold coins? Could it possibly have found a new use?"
"How could that be? If there were any new applications, they would have been discovered long ago."
"Look at this trading volume; is it possible someone has deliberately inflated the price of Ice Silkworm Dumplings?"
The trading records clearly displayed a surge in transactions over the past two days, with Ice Silkworm Dumplings priced at 13 gold coins being snatched up immediately, leading to a shortage of this low-tier material.
"Boss Zhao, it truly is the case. The only customers who know the needed materials are those from that day. Who would engage in such self-destructive behavior?"
...
Unable to procure Ice Silkworm Dumplings, the foodies gritted their teeth and stamped their feet in frustration.
"Boss, I want the Golden Fried Rice!"
Of course, some genuinely could not afford such luxuries.
One such individual was a salaryman named A-Chao, a rogue in his guild. Having read numerous online gaming novels, he dreamed of becoming a noble thief, robbing from the rich to give to the poor while filching treasures from the bosses' coffers.
However, reality was far removed from his fantasies. Currently, they were in the early stages of dungeon exploration, with few large-scale conflicts. As a combat-oriented rogue, he found himself marginalized within the company. The only way to make a name for himself was through relentless grinding, battling monsters to level up.
Yet, A-Chao was better off than many other rogues, for he had a beautiful girlfriend—a delicate young lady—whom he had been dating for five years. She was a priest within the same guild.
It was difficult to imagine how a holy priest could be paired with a rogue, but as a hardworking and resilient thief, A-Chao's greatest dream was to provide his girlfriend with a comfortable life. Thus, he turned over his monthly salary of 15,000 gold coins to her, keeping 5,000 for potions, food, and other daily expenses.
...
However, he was presently facing financial difficulties. In the past, he would hastily buy fried rice from the market and eagerly join leveling parties. He refrained from smoking or drinking, meaning the 5,000 gold coins he set aside were hardly ever spent. Occasionally, he even surprised his girlfriend, bringing her immense joy.
"Darling, I love you so much! I want to marry you."
These were the innocent words of A-Chao's beloved girlfriend.
Yet, ever since he had tasted Zhao Shen's Dragon's Tear rice, A-Chao felt both fortunate and unfortunate.
Fortunate in flavor, unfortunate in finances.
Just yesterday, he had spent 333 gold coins on a radiant serving of Golden Fried Rice, a single day's expenditure equating to two or three days' worth of living costs. With the month nearing its end, he found himself with little over 200 gold coins left. While he had hoped to enjoy Ice Silkworm Dumplings today, their absence left him torn between Dragon's Tear rice and fried rice.
"I really, really want to taste that delightful Ice Silkworm Dumpling," he sighed, swallowing hard.
"Hey, are you going to buy something or not? You've been staring for two or three minutes! I'm in a hurry to eat; I need to finish and join the dungeon run," someone urged.
"Yeah, come on! Even our boss said my attack power has significantly increased lately; I need to level up my cooking skills!"
His hesitation was beginning to irritate those behind him.
...
Watching the person beside him create a small dent in the fried rice, the aroma of egg wafting into his nose, he felt a pang of sorrow. This expression of pure enjoyment made him sigh deeply.
Resolute, A-Chao turned and left.
Zhao Shen was momentarily taken aback; this was the first customer to leave after learning there were no Ice Silkworm Dumplings, and he shook his head—after all, he wasn't particularly concerned about losing just one customer.
...
Once A-Chao departed Zhao Shen's stall, he hurried to the teleportation point. He paid the 10 gold coin fee to be transported to the Alaskan Snow Mountain.
The mountain, perpetually blanketed in snow, glistened like silver and resembled a colossal snow dragon lying in repose. At its summit, the crystalline beauty radiated an imposing chill, with glaciers, crevices, knife-edge ridges, and snowy eaves dotting the landscape.
At times, the snow would swirl in mist; the weather shifted from sunny to cloudy, while the white clouds seemed to engage with the snow, eternally locked in a dance of frosty embrace.
Even in a game, transitioning from extreme heat to extreme cold was no easy feat, and A-Chao was shivering from the bitter cold on the mountain.
"For the one I love, I will endure!" he shouted, causing a few scattered players on the mountain to glance his way.
"Keep it down, brother; you might trigger an avalanche," someone cautioned, their sincerity uncertain.
A-Chao shivered and pressed on into the depths of the snow-covered mountain, fortuitously spotting his target not far from his entrance.
[Ice Silkworm Dumpling]: A common monster found in the frigid snow mountains.
These low-tier monsters were fairly numerous, with many novice players training in this area, especially given the recent surge in the popularity of Ice Silkworm Dumplings.
However, A-Chao was the first to have sprinted here dressed in a suit; he should have at least donned a down jacket or snow gear.
When A-Chao finally returned from the snow-capped mountain, it was an hour later. Back at Zhao Shen's stall, Zhao Shen regarded the returning A-Chao with a perplexed expression.
...
The frost on A-Chao's face had melted into droplets.
"Boss, may I ask you for a favor? It's an unusual request," A-Chao said, feeling somewhat embarrassed.
"Oh? Then don't say it," Zhao Shen almost choked on his words.
"I wish I could not…" A-Chao had endured quite a bit, but he persisted.
"No Ice Silkworm Dumplings."
"No, no, no, it's not that."
"Then what is it?" Zhao Shen inquired.
"Boss Zhao, in order to enjoy your Ice Silkworm Dumplings, I specifically ventured to the frigid Alaskan Snow Mountain and spent an hour defeating a hundred Ice Silkworms. Could you please prepare a batch of Ice Silkworm Dumplings for me? I implore you; you're the kindest person! I will pay you the original price, and I'm providing the materials for free." A-Chao earnestly offered the materials to Zhao Shen, pleading desperately.
After hearing A-Chao's request, Zhao Shen was left speechless for a moment. Sometimes, the potential energy that a foodie could unleash far exceeded what an ordinary person could comprehend. To indulge in the culinary delights he yearned for, this man was truly dedicated.
Zhao Shen hesitated briefly, feeling a twinge of emotion. To refuse him after such an effort seemed rather inhumane! Reluctantly, Zhao Shen nodded.
...
"Wait, is it really possible to do that? I'm going to hunt Ice Silkworms now; goodbye, everyone!" Several die-hard fans of Ice Silkworm Dumplings embarked on a path of gastronomic obsession, determined to pursue their culinary desires.