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

Does Chapter 79 hint at something?

When Huo Wang entered the shop, the rich aroma of fried rice still wafted through the air.

"Young man, the usual, two servings of that vegetarian dish, please."

Li Zhibai first carried a cup of free tap water over and placed it in front of the old man.

"Sir, are two servings enough? Today is the second to last day, how about I add two more?"

"I'm getting old, and my appetite isn't that big anymore. It would be a waste if I couldn't finish it."

Li Zhibai thought to himself, "If you don't have a big appetite, why don't you bring a few more people?"

If you eat two plates at a time by yourself, it will be difficult for me to do anything underhanded.

"Sir, where are your friends? It's not fun eating alone, why don't you invite a few dozen of your buddies to come and eat together? My shop may be small, but the atmosphere is great."

Huo Wang suddenly laughed and asked, "What, can't I eat by myself?"

"That's not what I meant," Li Zhibai had no choice but to say directly, "I meant that tomorrow is the last day of this tasting event, and I see you've ordered so little, are you planning to forfeit?"

Having said all that, he thought the old man would at least give some response, even something as simple as saying, "I'll bring more people tomorrow."

In response, Huo Wang simply said slowly, "Did I say I was going to abstain? Aren't I participating right now?"

"Your written guarantee is still in my pocket. If I withdraw, then your guarantee will have been written for nothing."

Li Zhibai: "..."

This old man is so difficult to deal with! He's completely impervious to reason.

For the first time, Li Zhibai felt a deep sense of powerlessness. He knew that from the very first day of business, every single customer had been ripped off by him.

Only this old man in front of me.

From the first night he fell down in front of the store, this old man has always been standing at a height that I can't reach, so I can't be stimulated at all!

Could it be that the old man has truly reached a state of being without desires or wants?

impossible.

Forget it, I don't want to think about it anymore. He should just go and cook.

Just as Li Zhibai was about to enter the kitchen, a familiar Northeastern accent came from the doorway.

"Boss! I'm here again!"

Li Zhibai turned his head and saw that it was the sanitation worker from Northeast China.

The "Adapt to the Dishes" skill activates automatically.

[Customer: Sanitation worker]

[Personal Finances: Blue]

[Food preferences: cheap, filling, and hot meals; occasionally, I'll treat myself to one...]

Wait, something's not right, the information has been updated.

[Preferred food: Delicious, hot meals; I'll occasionally treat myself to one or two meals.]

Li Zhibai: "..."

In just a few days, this woman has gone from occasionally rewarding herself once to occasionally rewarding herself three times.

Sister, are you not going to live your life anymore?

"Big sister, the usual today?"

"I'm not having noodles today, I'll eat something else..."

As the woman from Northeast China walked into the store, she suddenly saw Huo Wang sitting there and immediately greeted him warmly.

"Uncle Huo, what are you doing here?"

Huo Wang looked up, saw that it was an acquaintance, and waved with a smile: "Little Liu, come, come, have a seat."

"What brings you to eat here?"

"I tripped and fell last night, and this young boss helped me up. I came in for a meal, and once I started eating, I couldn't stop."

"You fell? Are you alright?"

"It's okay, it's okay, you're not hurt."

Li Zhibai, who overheard their conversation, was somewhat surprised: "You two know each other?"

"Yes, I know him. Grandpa Huo is our neighbor; we live in the same area," the woman from Northeast China explained.

"Neighbor?"

Li Zhibai was surprised.

This old man is a legendary figure, how come he's neighbors with this woman from Northeast China?

"Yes, we all live in Qing'an Lane, which is about three or four kilometers east of the city, in the old residential area that hasn't been demolished."

Qing'an Lane.

Upon hearing the place name, Li Zhibai immediately recognized it.

It was an old residential area not far from Jiangdong South Road that had not yet been demolished, and one of the few old urban villages within a ten-kilometer radius that had not been demolished.

The alleys there were narrow and dilapidated, and the houses were all built in the 1970s and 80s, some even older. The environment could be described in three words: dirty, messy, and terrible.

The only advantage is that the rent is cheap, and many sanitation workers, food delivery riders, and low-income workers rent rooms there.

What he didn't expect was that Grandpa Huo also lived there.

With his wealth, he could easily move to a high-end residential area by the river, or even a retirement apartment with 24-hour concierge service.

But on second thought, it makes sense. After all, Mr. Huo came from a poor background, and as he gets older, he tends to be nostalgic. He probably feels that living in the old house gives him a more lived-in feel, or perhaps there is something he cherishes that prevents him from moving away.

The woman from Northeast China sat down opposite Grandpa Huo with an open and generous air, and asked him curiously what he had ordered that day.

"Fried rice with egg".

"Fried rice with egg?" The woman from Northeast China was taken aback, glancing at the menu on the wall. "They don't have fried rice with egg here."

"It's the Bodhi Jade Restaurant on the menu," the old man said.

"Fried rice with egg is fine, but why is it called Bodhi Jade Vegetarian Restaurant? Let me check the price..." When the woman from Northeast China saw the price, she gasped.

"288? Even the regular version is that expensive!"

"Never mind, I'll just have noodles then." In the end, the woman from Northeast China decisively chose the most cost-effective option.

"Okay!" Li Zhibai nodded. He didn't try it out, after all, the other person was just an ordinary worker. Even though the wages for sanitation workers in the center of Jiangcheng City were decent, he wouldn't actively persuade him.

His real target has always been wealthy people like the old man.

Before long, two deluxe versions of Bodhi Jade Vegetarian Dish plus a serving of mixed noodles were served.

The Bodhi Jade Noodles are as white as snow, steaming hot, and the noodles are golden and chewy, making them look very appetizing.

"Sir, here is your Bodhi Jade Pavilion."

"Here's your noodles, ma'am."

The woman from Northeast China picked up her chopsticks and eagerly prepared her rice. Just as she was about to start eating, she couldn't help but glance at the plate of the old man across from her and was immediately taken aback.

"Uncle Huo, is this fried rice with egg? Where are the eggs? Did they fly away?"

Grandpa Huo chuckled: "This is just fried rice with eggs, except you can't see the eggs."

"Really? That's amazing!" The woman from Northeast China exclaimed in surprise.

This doesn't look like fried rice at all, although it smells quite delicious.

"Xiao Liu, take a spoon and try it." Grandpa Huo didn't explain further.

The woman from Northeast China had never seen fried rice without eggs before. Being quite curious, she took an unused spoon, scooped up a small spoonful, blew on it, and then ate it in one bite.

She couldn't control herself after that bite and screamed.

"Oh my god!"

"This really is fried rice with egg!"

"It looks like plain white rice, but the taste is amazing—it's full of egg, meat, and bamboo flavors... It's so delicious!"

Seeing how much she liked it, Grandpa Huo pushed the plate of Bodhi Jade Vegetarian Dish forward and said, "I ordered two plates. If you want some, just take one over and eat it."

The woman from Northeast China quickly declined his offer: "No, no, one bite is enough for me. This plate costs over a thousand yuan, I really can't eat it all, thank you sir!"

Grandpa Huo said, "I'm not treating you to this meal for nothing. I happen to have something I'd like to ask you for a favor. Consider this meal a payment I'm making in advance for your trouble."

Northeastern woman: "Really, no need. Just tell me what you need. Don't be so polite. I'll definitely help if I can."

"Take it over and eat first, then we'll talk."

Finally, after Mr. Huo's repeated insistence, the woman from Northeast China accepted the egg fried rice, which cost a thousand yuan.

She thought to herself: "Master Huo treated me to such delicious fried rice. No matter what favor he asks me to do later, I must do it well."

"Thank you, sir. Then I won't be polite."

The woman from Northeast China ate very quickly, finishing her noodles and Bodhi Jade Vegetarian Delight in no time. Then she stood up, greeted the old man and Li Zhibai, said she had to go back to her night shift, and hurriedly rode away on her cleaning bike.

Twenty minutes later, Huo Wang finished his meal, put down his spoon, and stood up.

"Young man, I'm finished eating."

"Take care, sir. Will you come again tomorrow?"

"Come."

"Oh, by the way, boss, there's something I'd like to ask you."

"What is it?"

"Is it true that the sign outside your shop says you only serve fifty customers a day?"

Li Zhibai nodded: "Yes, that's right."

"Okay, I understand." After saying that, Huo Wang picked up the radio and slowly left Shaxian.

Li Zhibai was left standing alone in the shop, looking completely bewildered.

What does the old man mean by that?

Is he implying something?