The NO.1 Food Stall in the Wasteland

"Oh, oh, okay!" Wang Daguo readily agreed, awkwardly clearing the bowls and wiping down the table.

Wang Daguo had no problem with the tasks Shen Lu assigned him. If he didn’t understand something, he just asked Cai Su.

Cai Su was a good-natured person with no interest in ostracizing him. She would give Wang Daguo pointers from time to time, which significantly improved the stall’s efficiency.

Many customers questioned the new face at the stall.

"Boss Shen, why did you hire him? He’s bad luck. You should fire him, quickly!"

"Exactly. Boss Shen, don’t let him fool you."

"If he’s the one serving my food, I’m not eating."

"That’s right, he used to carry corpses. He’s tainted with bad luck!"

...

These customers made no attempt to be discreet, discussing the matter loudly right in front of Wang Daguo.

The big man’s expression soured, and he glanced at Shen Lu, a look of helpless innocence on his face.

He never imagined that his first day on the job would provoke such strong opposition from so many people. Nor did he ever expect his past work experience to have this kind of impact.

Shen Lu continued to methodically stir-fry her rice, finding the customers’ comments both ridiculous and amusing.

’She had no idea what they were being so fussy about. Most of the people who ate at her stall were only there because her food was cheap—real food they could afford if they stretched their budget a little.’

’If she didn’t run this stall, they’d either be at the still-in-business Cao’s Noodle House, eating affordable Insect Cakes, or drinking a nearly expired nutrient liquid. Back then, why weren’t they complaining that the food at Cao’s Noodle House was terrible, that Insect Cakes were poison, or that expiring nutrient liquids were unhealthy?’

Shen Lu hadn’t wanted to pay any mind to these nosy customers, figuring they would shut up on their own once they’d had their say. But to her surprise, they showed no signs of stopping. In fact, they grew more and more agitated. One person was even pointing and gesturing at Wang Daguo. Anyone who didn’t know better might have thought he was a shareholder in Little Deer Cuisine, with the authority to fire employees on Shen Lu’s behalf.

"Everyone, please, quiet down!" Shen Lu had no choice but to tap her spatula against the griddle, forcing everyone’s attention back to her. The young woman was usually all smiles at her stall, looking completely harmless. But now, with a stern expression on her face, she projected an aura that no one dared to underestimate.

"Here at Little Deer Cuisine, we have strict hygiene standards. Everyone who handles food thoroughly washes their hands and changes into clean clothes to ensure that every single meal served to our customers is perfectly safe."

"Who I hire is my decision and my right. Likewise, where you choose to eat is your decision and your right. If you want to eat at Little Deer Cuisine, my employees and I will welcome you warmly. If you feel our food doesn’t meet your standards, we won’t force you to stay."

Shen Lu’s voice was even and her tone was calm, not particularly aggressive. But her words carried weight, conveying a sense of conviction that was impossible to ignore.

Her words offended some of the more entitled customers, who immediately flew into a rage.

"What’s that supposed to mean? You think we’re being nosy, is that it?"

"Don’t forget, when those people were giving you trouble before, we were the ones who stood up for you!"

"I’m gracing a roadside stall like yours with my presence every day. You should be grateful! You’re just an ignorant young lady. Without us patronizing your business, do you think this stall of yours could even survive?!"

"Let’s go, we’re not eating here! It’s not like there aren’t other places to eat on Gold Street!"

"Exactly! Give her an inch and she’ll take a mile!"

"Let’s go, let’s go! Guangjing Restaurant has started serving lunch recently. Let’s eat there!"

The most disruptive customers chimed in one after another, their words highly inflammatory. Many of the more indecisive people in line were swayed by the commotion and ended up leaving with them for no clear reason.

Shen Lu noted that these were some of the same customers who had righteously spoken up for her in the past.

The corners of Shen Lu’s lips curled up. She didn’t say a word to stop them, simply smiling as she watched them go.

Seeing this, Wang Daguo felt both guilty and touched. He whispered to Shen Lu, "Boss Shen, maybe I should..."

"Just focus on your work and don’t worry about anything else." Shen Lu quickly calculated the number of customers still in line. ’Completing my quota won’t be a problem,’ she thought, ’but I might have some ingredients left over.’

Xue Can had shown up at some point, and when he reached the front of the line, he said to Shen Lu, "Want me to go teach them a lesson?"

He hadn’t been there the day before yesterday when Mrs. Shen and Shen Lan showed up. By the time he heard what happened, the mother-daughter duo from the Shen Family had already returned to the Upper City District.

He was an opportunist who always made sure to get credit for his good deeds. Since he couldn’t score points with Shen Lu in person, he hadn’t bothered to meddle.

Today, however, he’d arrived just in time to see some customers causing a scene. Xue Can saw this as a perfect opportunity to break the ice with Shen Lu and seized it immediately.

Shen Lu shook her head. "No need."

’This minor, insignificant issue isn’t worth my energy. And I’m not about to give Xue Can an opening like that.’

Xue Can looked a little disappointed. He quickly placed his order and carried it to a table on the side to eat.

Fewer customers had its advantages. Shen Lu cooked a few orders of fried rice and chow mein, then asked Cai Su to keep an eye on things.

She sat down across from Xue Can and tapped her finger lightly on the tabletop. "Mr. Xue, does your Mercenary Corps take on security jobs?"

Xue Can looked up, surprised that Shen Lu was asking him about this.

"Theoretically, as long as the pay is right, we can take on any kind of job."

"What are your daily rates?"

"It depends on the difficulty of the assignment." Xue Can took a sip of mint water. "Are you looking for a personal bodyguard, Boss Shen?"

Although he hadn’t confronted the Shen mother and daughter, he had done some digging.

The more he dug, the deeper his questions about Shen Lu became.

There were too many contradictions about her. The things that happened around her seemed at once perfectly logical and yet utterly baffling.

But based on two facts alone—that Shen Lu could create food that soothed and healed the Spiritual Sea, and that he himself was incapable of harming her—Xue Can had no desire to worsen his relationship with her for the time being.

Maintaining a peaceful, friendly relationship was the best option.

"No. My shop is opening in a couple of days, and I expect some people might come looking for trouble. I need capable people to protect it."

’The troublemakers she knew of were Boss Cao and the mother-daughter duo from the Shen Family. But there were others she didn’t know, lurking in the shadows, who could trip her up when she least expected it.’

’Never intend to harm others, but never let your guard down.’ Shen Lu had no intention of letting the shop she’d worked so hard to build be destroyed in a single day.

Xue Can narrowed his eyes. "Your shop isn’t exactly small."

The regulars at Shen Lu’s stall all knew her new shop was in that unfinished building. The first floor alone was 800 square meters, which wouldn’t be easy to secure.

Shen Lu interlaced her fingers. "So, what’s your quote, Mr. Xue?"