I've been possessed by a culinary genius, and I've turned Shaxian snacks into a rip-off!

Yu Shen is in a pretty good mood today.

I casually spent 100 yuan to buy 5 scratch-off lottery tickets when I went out in the afternoon. Unexpectedly, I was incredibly lucky and won 120 yuan.

I made a net profit of 20 yuan, what a steal!

We should find a place to have a good meal and celebrate.

So he immediately decided to head to Shaxian and treat himself to a good meal.

Two other group members came with him this time, one of whom was Lu Qianshan, who had come with him on the first day.

The other one is a fat guy whose ID in the group is "I'm not fat". His real name is Pang Yi, and he weighs 250 pounds. He is a veteran lurker in the group.

This guy is usually quiet in the group chat, the kind who likes to quietly observe and rarely speaks up. If it weren't for the intense discussion about Li Heizi's Shaxian snacks in the group these past few days, he wouldn't have been dragged out and clamoring to come and see how delicious this legendary Shaxian snack is.

"Old Yu, is that restaurant you mentioned really that amazing?" Pang Yi asked Yu Shen as they walked after getting out of the car.

"Fatty, that shop is really different. The owner isn't an ordinary person."

"Let me tell you, his hands are like they're blessed; the things he makes, wow... they're incredibly delicious."

Pang Yi was still a little skeptical, after all, he was a true foodie who had tried all sorts of delicious food.

Although he had seen the food pictures they posted in the group, he still felt that seeing was believing.

Then he looked at Lu Qianshan, who was walking on the other side: "Old Lu, is what he said true?"

Lu Qianshan remained calm as always: "Since you're already here, why don't you try it and see?"

Soon, they spotted the Shaxian snack shop.

However, Yu Shen was clearly stunned when he saw the scene in the store.

He rubbed his eyes hard and took another look.

"Holy crap?"

"Wait, it's only been a few days! Why are so many people coming to eat?"

Looking at the Shaxian restaurant packed with customers, he felt a strange sense of crisis welling up inside him.

How can I describe that feeling?

It's like you finally discover a hidden treasure, intending to enjoy it all to yourself with your friends, but suddenly the treasure becomes known to everyone, and you're afraid you won't get a share.

Lu Qianshan wasn't surprised at all, and said calmly, "Isn't this normal? The boss's food is so delicious, it would be strange if it wasn't popular."

"Let's go, let's go inside first and then talk."

As soon as the three entered the store, a rich aroma of food wafted over them, like an invisible hand grabbing their stomachs.

It has the aroma of scallion oil, the sweetness of soup, and the meaty fragrance of chicken legs... Just one whiff is enough to make your mouth water.

Glug glug~~~

Pang Yi's stomach was the first to protest.

When this seasoned diver, weighing over 200 pounds, saw the delicious-looking and fragrant food, his initial doubts vanished instantly.

Do I even need to taste it? Just looking at it, I know it's going to be delicious.

The three large tables, put together, were filled with all kinds of delicious food.

The golden noodles resemble blooming chrysanthemums, each strand coated in amber-colored scallion oil, topped with a sauce of crab meat and crab roe, making it look incredibly appetizing.

And the chicken leg rice in the clay pot—it was the first time he'd ever seen Shaxian chicken leg rice cooked like this, using a clay pot for the rice. The chicken leg, in particular, looked so beautiful and tempting; as a carnivore, he was utterly powerless against it.

Finally, there was the clear yet fragrant soup, and the steamed dumplings as thin as cicada wings... everything looked delicious.

The group of guests had transformed into a group of ruthless eating machines, frantically devouring the food on the table.

"Holy crap, this chicken leg is amazing! The skin melts the moment you touch it."

"Give me another basket of steamed dumplings, no, two baskets!"

"This soup is so delicious."

"........."

One of the bespectacled men, who looked like a programmer, was even more outrageous. He picked up the casserole and used chopsticks to scoop up the golden-brown rice crust from the bottom of the pot, crunching it loudly. His expression was one of pure bliss, as if he were on drugs.

As Yu Shen and the other two watched the group eat, they all swallowed hard without realizing it.

Pang Yi, in particular, was so eager to rush in and join them that he couldn't wait to do so.

Just then, the kitchen curtain was lifted.

Li Zhibai came out carrying a tray of freshly steamed dumplings. As soon as he placed the dumplings on the customer's table, he noticed the three people standing in the shop.

Welcome!

The "Adapt to the Dishes" talent activates instantly.

Lu Qianshan and Yu Shen are old acquaintances, so there's no need to look at them again.

He mainly looked at the fat man.

[Client: Venture Capital Fund Analyst]

[Personal Wealth: Purple -]

[A fondness for food: A preference for meat, and a longing to find the person who weighed only 120 pounds back in the day through delicious food.]

Looking at this fat man who looked to weigh at least two or three hundred pounds, Li Zhibai muttered to himself: "You think you can find your 120-pound self again in food? That's going to be tough, bro."

"Boss, what's going on? Why are there so many customers today? This doesn't make sense!" Yu Shen couldn't help but ask.

Upon hearing this, Li Zhibai was immediately displeased: "Look at what you're saying! My cooking is so delicious, isn't it normal for my business to be booming?"

"However, since you're a regular customer, I won't hold it against you."

Yu Shen: "...."

Boss, you're getting a little too big for your britches.

But he had to admit that they did indeed have the capital to become arrogant.

That skill is truly unparalleled; even in the Financial District, it's probably unmatched.

"If you're here to eat, you might have to wait until they finish and make room for you," Li Zhibai said, pointing to the other guests.

Yu Shen nodded: "Let's wait a bit then."

"By the way, can we order the regular version today?"

"Of course, you can order anything on the menu," Li Zhibai said.

Yu Shen was somewhat surprised to hear this.

Huh? Why is the boss being so agreeable all of a sudden today?

Has he finally had a change of heart?

Never mind, it's good that he can order the regular version; he hasn't tasted what the regular version is like yet.

However, when he looked up at the menu on the wall, his expression froze instantly.

The menu for the standard version prominently displayed three large characters: 【Sold Out】.

Yu Shen: ? ? ?

"No, boss, why is this regular version... again?"

"Sold out. Isn't that what it says here? It's sold out," Li Zhibai said, shrugging.

The three people: "..."

They were completely speechless.

When it comes to cunning tactics, Li Heizi is the best.

The first time I came, they said the regular version was sold out.

The second time I came, they said the regular version didn't include any ingredients.

Now, on their third visit, they simply wrote "Sold Out" on the sign.

So they're not even going to put on an act in order to rip off customers?

"Fine, Li Heizi, you've really got guts," Yu Shen muttered through gritted teeth.

"Huh? What did you say?" Li Zhibai didn't hear clearly.

"It's nothing, boss, you really know how to do business." Yu Shen immediately changed his expression and gave him a thumbs up.

"Thank you for the compliment. I also think I have a good business sense." Li Zhibai shamelessly accepted the praise.

"..."

Damn, what's this guy's skin made of? It's incredibly thick!

Since there were no seats available at the restaurant, Yu Shen and his two companions didn't order any food. They planned to wait outside for some fresh air before going in.

As they stood at the shop entrance chatting and smoking, they suddenly noticed Li Zhibai going up and tearing off all the white labels covering the prices on the menu, one by one.

As the labels were torn off, the hidden prices were finally revealed.

Luxury version of fragrant mixed noodles: NT$588 per serving.

Luxury Crystal Steamed Dumplings: 588 yuan per basket.

Luxury Chicken Leg Rice: 688 yuan/serving

Luxury version of flat meat wontons: 666 yuan/serving.

Luxury stew pot: 888 yuan/serving.

…………

Yu Shen: "......"

Lu Qianshan: "......"

Pang Yi: "......"

The three of them looked at the menu, which had once again revealed its fangs, and then they realized what was going on.

"No, he just covered the prices like that when he let the customers order?"

Lu Qianshan nodded: "Obviously."

"So, when these people eat, do they have no idea how much these things cost?"

"Obviously, they don't know either."

"Li Heizi is utterly despicable and shameless."

"Obviously."

"......"

Yu Shen glanced at the group of working-class people frantically eating and couldn't help but say, "These guys are doomed! Their credit cards are going to be maxed out after ordering so much!"

Honestly, what Li Heizi did today was far more ruthless than when he slaughtered them.

At least they were being ripped off with the prices clearly marked. Although they could never order the regular dishes, at least they knew how much they would cost, so it was a case of one party willing to pay and the other willing to be ripped off.

But these guys in front of me seem to have no idea that they're drinking soup that costs 888 yuan a bowl and chicken leg rice that costs 688 yuan a serving.

Damn it, when we pay the bill later, we're going to be ripped off so badly we'll question our existence.

Yu Shen took a deep drag on his cigarette, then stubbed it out on the nearby trash can, cursing, "Li Heizi has once again lowered my expectations of the lowest level of unscrupulous business owners. If this guy lived in ancient times, he would definitely dare to open a human flesh bun shop."

"Great minds think alike." Lu Qianshan nodded in agreement.

The three of them looked at the group of workers who were happily eating again, and their eyes showed sympathy.

You'd better pray for yourselves later.

You can only blame yourselves for having such an inhuman boss as Li Heizi.