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

Inside a Shaxian snack shop.

After hearing about Li Zhibai's new event, no one in the group spoke.

But their eyes never stopped; they were constantly communicating with each other through their gazes.

Yu Shen winked at Lu Qianshan: "Old Lu, you're the leader of the Anti-Black Alliance, you wouldn't betray the organization, would you?"

Lu Qianshan adjusted his glasses and winked at everyone: "Of course I won't fall for it. This is Li Heizi's open scheme, similar to forcing you to climb the rankings in a mobile game to get limited-edition skins. Once someone takes the first step, the rest will definitely compete fiercely."

Pang Yi blinked: "But that's a one-of-a-kind collector's card in the entire universe! From now on, every time I come to the store, I'll see my exclusive customized dishes. Just thinking about it is awesome!"

Yu Shen glared at Pang Yi: [Feeling good my ass! Have you forgotten the mission of our anti-gang alliance? You're aiding the enemy!]

Pang Yi blinked, looking aggrieved: "But the customized dishes really smell delicious, and we're not promoting him. We're just eating our own food, it won't become popular."

Lu Qianshan blinked: [Fatty, you don't understand. If everyone really wants to roll it up, they definitely won't be able to finish it if they order too many portions.]

What should we do if we can't finish the food? We can't just waste it, can we? That doesn't align with the core socialist values.

Do we need to call in more people to help with the food?

If you call people over, and those people find it delicious, they'll go back and tell others, and that's how you spread the word even further.

So, on the surface, it looks like we're trying to climb the charts, but actually we're also giving Li Heizi free publicity—he's killing two birds with one stone!

Pang Yi blinked in realization: [Wow~~ Li Heizi is so cunning!]

Yu Shen then looked at Wang Yun and Yao Qianqian, this perfect couple, wanting to see what they had to say.

Then he almost got goosebumps.

Wang Yun was gazing at Yao Qianqian with deep affection, and Yao Qianqian was also looking back at him with tender affection; they were practically smitten.

Wang Yun blinked gently: "Qianqian, don't worry! I will definitely secure that customization right and send you a dish that is unique in the whole world. It will be called 'Qianqian's Exclusive Romance,' or 'Wang Yun's Lifelong Love.'"

Yao Qianqian blinked her big eyes: "Darling, you're so sweet. If only the boss could offer two custom-made dishes, I could make you a braised pork belly dish called 'Yunyun's Happy Pork Belly'... It sounds so romantic!"

Wang Yun blinked, touched: "Then let's each rely on our own abilities. Whoever wins the contract will have it custom-made for the other."

Yao Qianqian nodded: "Yes, no matter who wins, we win."

Yu Shen shuddered. These two guys were really cheesy. Then he looked at Cha Xiaochai.

The guy was staring at the movable panel on the wall, his eyes filled with undisguised longing.

[I've been away on a business trip for so many days, and these bastards have been posting pictures of delicious food in the group chat every day, making me drool. Now I finally have a chance to get back at them. I'm going to customize a unique dish and make these bastards green with envy! Let's see if they can stop trying to tempt me!]

The group of people stood there for seven or eight minutes, staring at each other and trying to communicate, like they were typing Morse code.

Yu Shen finally couldn't take it anymore. He coughed to remind them to look over, and then frantically winked at everyone again.

Brothers, I think we must stand together and not fall for this! This is clearly Li Haizi trying to force us to spend money; whoever gets carried away first loses. So we must unite and resolutely prevent his conspiracy from succeeding. Let's all think carefully about the principles of our anti-blacklisting alliance and our original intentions.

The others immediately blinked and agreed.

[Old Fish is right. It's just a customized dish. What's so special about it? I can just not eat it.]

Yes, we can't fall for it! Li Heizi is trying to cause infighting among us. We can't let him succeed; we must resolutely resist.

That's right, unity is strength!

【……】

They outwardly claim to be united, but in reality, they all harbor their own ulterior motives.

For example, Yu Shen was thinking: "One serving of Bodhi Jade Vegetarian costs 1288 yuan. If I eat three servings a day, that's nine servings in three days, which is about ten thousand yuan. Ten thousand yuan for exclusive customization rights + a unique collector's card in the entire universe doesn't seem so expensive."

[No, no, we can't think like that. What if someone else sneaks in too? Like that guy Lao Lu, he looks all respectable, but he's the most cunning.]

[And then there's Fatty. That guy has such a huge appetite; he could easily eat five portions in one sitting. If we really rolled him up, I'm not sure I could beat him. I need to think of a way.]

Lu Qianshan's inner thoughts: [Assuming 6 participants, and an average daily consumption of 2 servings per person, the total consumption per person over three days would be approximately 6 servings. Considering some individuals might have exceptionally large appetites, the median consumption would likely be between 10 and 15 servings. To secure first place, a conservative estimate is that at least 20 servings are needed, which would cost 25760 yuan.]

[Benefits: One exclusive custom-made menu item, one collector's card, priority tasting rights, and the right to show off indefinitely.]

[The price-performance ratio seems acceptable.]

I wonder how much Old Fish can gain; he's the biggest threat to me.

【……】

Just as everyone was calculating the costs in their minds, Yu Shen winked at them again, having come up with a compromise.

【How about this: we choose a representative to go for the top spot and win the customization rights. We can brainstorm the customized dishes together, decide on the names together, and treat the collector's card as a shared tool for showing off. This way, we won't fall into Li's consumer trap, and we'll avoid internal competition. It's a win-win situation, doesn't it?】

Who should be chosen as the representative?

"You can choose me too; I'm the most impartial person."

[Choose you? Why should I choose you? What if you change your mind? I'd rather choose me.]

Please choose me; I'm the most reliable.

Damn, what a fake brotherhood...

[.........]

Yu Shen blinked: "I was just making a suggestion. If you disagree, you don't have to."

Lu Qianshan blinked: [I also think it's inappropriate. Customization rights are an exclusive personal right; it's unrealistic for the collective to enjoy them. Besides, if we really elect a representative, it's like all of us pooling our money to help one person show off, which isn't right.]

Pang Yi: [I also think it's inappropriate. If we're going to compete, we should rely on our own abilities and have a fair competition.]

Wang Yun: [That's what they say, but if we really charge in, wouldn't that be exactly what Li Heizi wants?]

Everyone started exchanging glances and frantically communicating, but they couldn't reach a consensus at all.

Lu Qianshan couldn't help but sigh inwardly: [Sigh, this year's anti-gang alliance is hard to lead; morale is low.]

Just as they were staring at each other, neither able to convince the other, Li Zhibai couldn't take it anymore.

"Wait, don't your eyes get dry from blinking so much?"

He wondered to himself if these people were sending some kind of code, forming a united front to boycott his new activities.

If that's the case, then we have to find a way to break this deadlock.

For example, find a shill.

Ding-a-ling~~

Just then, the wind chimes at the door rang.

An elderly man wearing a gray undershirt and carrying an old-fashioned radio pushed open the door and walked in.

The radio was playing a storytelling performance, specifically the episode from "Romance of the Three Kingdoms" where Guan Yu warmed wine before beheading Hua Xiong.

"Guan Yu drew his sword, mounted his horse, and charged straight at Hua Xiong's camp. With a single stroke, he beheaded Hua Xiong..."

It was none other than Grandpa Huo Wang, who had fallen at the door last night.

Li Zhibai's eyes lit up the moment he saw him.

The golden legend he's been waiting for!

finally come!