Universe Infinite Canteen

He Xiaoqian didn't know how to respond, just standing there foolishly.

What kind of lavish patron was this, ordering nearly five thousand worth of items right off the bat, and both topping up her account and placing orders, looking like she wanted to become a regular of the restaurant, feeling... that it was simply impossible to refuse.

Yet Ma Lu's response was no different from before.

"Sorry, the Fragrant Yearning Konjac Noodles and the Soft and Fluffy Konjac Cake are no longer on the menu, as we've changed to a new menu this week."

"A new menu?" The lady furrowed her brow a bit, then looked towards the blackboard, and her expression altered slightly upon seeing the tomato stewed scorpion meat.

In general, scorpion as an ingredient was more commonly seen in Shandong and Yunnan, and of course, the people of Guangdong, who would eat just about anything, wouldn't miss out on such a delicacy, but it was indeed not very popular in City B, nor was its acceptance very high.

After seeing the menu, the lady's first reaction was similar to that of others, but for her child's education, she still asked again, "Does the new menu also offer strength enhancement?"

"Yes," Ma Lu replied succinctly, then added, "But it's not the same kind of enhancement as before."

The Fragrant Yearning Konjac Noodles and the Soft and Fluffy Konjac Cake were both cooked with the main ingredient of Four-Star Activated Thousand-Faced Konjac Plant, and therefore both came with extra effects.

The two effects were somewhat similar, yet not exactly the same; one doubled energy, and the other doubled memory, both for a duration of two days.

And the newly added tomato stewed scorpion meat used the Four-Star Activated Volcanic Big-Leaf Tomato Plant, a tomato that also contained an astonishing vitality, and the food cooked with it also came with added attributes.

"What kind of enhancement is it then?" The lady was puzzled.

"This dish encapsulates the chef's passion for the culinary arts, so those who taste this dish will also inherit this passion, um, for a period of time, to be exact, two days."

"Are you suggesting my daughter would want to be a chef after eating this dish?"

"No, not necessarily, this passion may not be for culinary arts, it could be for anything."

"Like what?"

"Like operating an excavator, if deep down your daughter has always dreamt of doing so."

"That's absolutely absurd." The lady turned around, intending to leave.

"It's just an example. Perhaps she wants to go into politics, engage in business, or take over your family's enterprise... In any case, using this opportunity to discover what she truly loves is always beneficial." Ma Lu said.

However, the lady shook her head at his words, "She doesn't need to know what she loves, she just has to follow the path we've laid out for her, because that's what's best for her."

After speaking, she left the restaurant without looking back.

He Xiaoqian's voice came from behind her, "You, take care, and welcome to visit again."

"I think she won't come back again," Ma Lu said.

"Boss, we just missed out on a big business opportunity, aren't you upset?" Little Snail asked timidly.n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

"What's there to be upset about? I sell out all the ingredients I prepare every day, missing one or two customers is no big deal."

Ma Lu said, then pointed at the group of customers in front of him, "Look, all these people are still waiting to eat here."

"Tch!" Everyone emitted a disapproving tsk.

He Xiaoqian said sympathetically, "I feel sorry for her daughter, being born into such a family and unable to do what she likes."

"But at least she had money from birth, which totally trumps that of the vast majority of ordinary people,"

Ma Lu said, "Of course, no one can avoid worries. Poor people have their own set of troubles, rich people have theirs, there are issues that come with studying, and there are those that come with working. No matter what, if you're alive, you'll have worries."

However, what Hou Yihan recalled at the moment was something else, "Boss, do you say that this dish can truly help people discover their inner passion?"

"It's true. If you don't find it after eating, I'll give you a refund."

"Ah, then I must try it today, even if it means I'll be crunching on dry noodles for the next half a month."

Hou Yihan seemed to make up her mind and said to He Xiaoqian, "I'll have a serving of the tomato braised scorpion meat."

"Hmm, a confused university student indeed needs this dish; you won't regret it," Ma Lu said.

"Young girl, you've been fooled, this owner is definitely scamming you," someone advised, "Calm down, this dish costs 398."

Others questioned Ma Lu and He Xiaoqian, "Can we really get a refund if we don't find our passion after eating?"

"No," Ma Lu said decisively, "that promise is only for young Hou, others cannot get a refund after eating."

"Heh, I knew it was a scam. You're just bullying college students because you don't have any confidence in the dish."

"It's not that I lack confidence in the dish; I lack confidence in your character."

Ma Lu crossed his arms and said coolly, "What if you actually find something you love but then claim you didn't? Wouldn't I be at a huge loss then?"

"Damn it, questioning our character when it's you who are scared. Fine, I will spend 398 today just to expose your trickery!"

A righteous person stood up in the injustice they witnessed.

"Exactly, for all we know, that sister who came earlier might be a plant, going on about how Konjac Noodles and Konjac Cake are super nutritious, and how they can help you memorize more vocabulary and study for longer. Do they think we don't know what konjac is? What nutrition could it possibly have! That's it, give me a portion too, I want to call out your lie!" echoed another voice.

"But I've heard customers who came last week saying that after eating their noodles, they indeed felt incredibly spirited."

"Yes, I've eaten here, I can testify!"

"Ah, you kid must be a plant too."

...

He Xiaoqian had already seen such scenes countless times. Last week, as soon as Universe Infinite Canteen opened its doors, the chaos would ensue as expected.

Among the crowd were some who genuinely didn't believe, some who had intended to buy anyway and were just making a ruckus for fun, some were cursing while eating, and some who hoped to put pressure on Ma Lu to lower his prices.

The main draw was a dish with a complex composition, causing a ruckus just like a vegetable market. The new staff, Little Snail and Wu Peipei, had never seen such a scene before and were dumbfounded.

In contrast, He Xiaoqian, being a veteran employee, was much more composed. She said to the two, "Stop staring, get to work."

Having said that, she already rolled up her sleeves to direct the sharing of tables. Little Snail also snapped out of it and quickly picked up paper and pencil to take customers' orders.

He Xiaoqian also taught him, "You don't need to write down all the dish names, our restaurant has only four dishes in total, just use the codes 1-4, and remember to write down the table number as well."

Universe Infinite Canteen quickly became busy, with order after order being sent into the kitchen, and then dish after dish was brought out to the front hall by Ma Lu.