Chapter 108: A Taste of Their Own Medicine
The lean meat was tender, not tough, and the fat melted in your mouth without being greasy. A single bite filled the senses with its rich, savory fragrance.
It barely required chewing, practically melting and sliding down the throat. A soft exhale enveloped the nose in a rich, meaty aroma, like being in heaven itself.
"Delicious!" Boss Zhou praised from the heart. "This braised pork is absolutely incredible!"
His wife, on the other end of the video call, was driven wild with craving. She hung up, hailed a cab, and rushed over to Little Deer Cuisine, becoming the second customer to enjoy the braised pork set meal.
The couple sat facing each other, alternating bites of pork and rice, eating with pure delight.
"It’s a shame our son has school. We can’t bring him here to try this," Boss Zhou’s wife said as they were finishing up, her thoughts turning to her son.
"That’s right. And Boss Shen has a purchase limit, or else I’d get a takeout order and have it sent to his school."
"A purchase limit? Wouldn’t any business want to sell as much as possible?"
"I’m not sure. Boss Shen has always been like this. If not for that, I would have brought you some back when she was running the food stall."
The couple finished every last bite of food and stood up together. Before leaving, Boss Zhou asked Shen Lu if she would be selling meals that evening.
If she was, he could bring his son over to eat.
Shen Lu said, "Probably not today. I have some things to take care of this afternoon."
"Alright then."
Boss Zhou looked a little disappointed as he left with his wife.
After seeing them off, Shen Lu stared at her completely empty restaurant, finding it hard to process.
’What exactly went wrong? So many people came to the crayfish competition yesterday. Logically speaking, any new business should have a good first couple of days. It shouldn’t be so dead I’m just twiddling my thumbs.’
Shen Lu stepped outside, and another person approached to ask if she was selling fried rice today.
Shen Lu didn’t answer right away. Instead, she asked, "Is the fried rice really that good?"
The customer gave an embarrassed smile. "It’s delicious. And it’s cheap and filling."
Shen Lu didn’t realize that ever since her stall had appeared, these people no longer had to eat expensive, terrible-tasting lunches. Over time, they had grown accustomed to sorting out their midday meal for under 100 Star Coins.
Most people in the Lower City District were of modest means. If they could spend less money on food that was both delicious and filling, that was obviously the better choice.
Upgrading her stall to a small restaurant and adding the 120 Star Coin braised pork set meal was great, but it just wasn’t as affordable as the fried rice.
Besides, there was another, more important reason—one that everyone tacitly understood but wouldn’t mention to Shen Lu.
"Boss Shen, I’m in a rush to get lunch, so I can’t chat." The customer seemed anxious and turned to leave before he even finished his sentence.
Shen Lu frowned. ’Is my set meal too expensive?’
’Impossible. My prices are well below market value.’
As Shen Lu stood outside pondering, Xue Can slowly ambled over.
"Boss Shen, enjoying the sun?"
"Mr. Xue." Shen Lu snapped out of her thoughts. "Here for a meal?"
"Yes."
"Welcome, welcome. Please, come in." Shen Lu led him into the restaurant and told him about the lunch specials.
Xue Can wasn’t short on cash and had a hearty appetite. He ordered one of everything available, from the braised pork set meal to the braised snacks and spicy hot pot.
Since the man himself was here, Shen Lu brought up the matter of the mint water.
Xue Can agreed without the slightest hesitation.
"I’ll buy as much as you’re willing to sell."
Shen Lu was puzzled. "Are you planning on a career change, Mr. Xue?"
"No."
"Then what do you need all this mint water for?"
Xue Can paused for a moment before giving a very dismissive reply: "It tastes good. I like it."
Shen Lu was speechless.
While Xue Can ate, a few stray customers wandered in. Shen Lu took note that they were all regulars—and well-off ones at that.
Which is why they didn’t bat an eye at buying the 120-Star-Coin braised pork set meal.
Shen Lu couldn’t help but wonder, ’Was my entire approach wrong?’
’For most people in the Lower City District, is filling your stomach for the lowest price far more important than taste or nutrition?’
When Xue Can was leaving, Shen Lu sold him a barrel of mint water. Business was so slow, she figured she wouldn’t sell it all anyway. Selling to Xue Can might not earn her much popularity value, but at least she’d get some Star Coins.
Besides, daily revenue was now one of the conditions for completing her daily quests.
"Oh, right, Boss Shen." As he put away the mint water, Xue Can seemed to recall something. "On my way over, I noticed a new stall set up in your old spot."
Shen Lu looked up. "Oh?"
"You know the person running it. It’s Boss Cao from Cao’s Noodle House."
A bad feeling crept into Shen Lu’s heart. "Boss Cao? He’s running a stall?"
"Yes." Xue Can paused. "And his business seems to be doing quite well."
"Thank you for letting me know, Mr. Xue."
Xue Can nodded and left.
Just then, a few more customers arrived. Like the others, they were financially better off and tended to order more generously.
Shen Lu served them, then casually asked about Boss Cao’s stall.
"Oh yeah, that’s right. He’s selling noodles right where you used to have your stall." A customer in glasses clicked his tongue. "They’re cheap, sure, but his cooking is just so-so. I much prefer Boss Shen’s food. The portions are generous and it tastes great!"
Shen Lu knew exactly what kind of person Boss Cao was. This was obviously a targeted move against her.
’That man is like a cockroach that just won’t die. Out of everyone in the world, why is he so fixated on me?’
Shen Lu took off her chef’s whites and went to find Boss Cao’s stall.
Just as she’d expected, a long line had formed at the stall, mostly filled with familiar faces—customers who used to eat at her place.
Shen Lu couldn’t quite put a name to what she was feeling.
’Betrayal?’
’But it’s not like she had a contract with these customers. They were free to eat wherever they wanted; she couldn’t force them to come to her.’
Someone in the line spotted Shen Lu nearby. They looked guilty for a moment, but their expression quickly hardened into one of self-righteousness.
’We’re all just common folk, earning a meager salary each month. Of course we’re going to choose the most cost-effective lunch.’
’Shen Lu was the one who stopped making fried rice and noodles. If she were still selling them, they’d be there supporting her.’
Boss Cao, who was swamped with orders, finally noticed Shen Lu a moment later. He shot her a provocative glare, which only seemed to fuel his energy.
After his humiliating defeat the day before, Boss Cao hadn’t slept a wink.
He’d spent the money, but the job hadn’t been done. He just couldn’t swallow that indignity.
But what could he do about it?
Shen Lu was so close to Xue Can of the Gale Mercenary Corps. If he wanted to hire someone to rough her up, he’d need to find enforcers on a similar level. Forgetting the high price for a moment, the cascade of problems that would follow would be more than he could handle.
Boss Cao mulled it over and over until a sudden flash of inspiration struck him: he could set up a stall too!
He’d set up right in Shen Lu’s old spot. He would improve the quality of his noodles, slash his prices, and steal her customers.
’After all, isn’t that exactly what she did?’
’Giving her a taste of her own medicine... The plan was perfect.’