The NO.1 Food Stall in the Wasteland novel Chapter 129

Chapter 129: Chapter 129: Congratulations to the Host for Drawing the No. 333 Blind Box Prize

Even though it wasn’t a milestone birthday for Bai Lei, he was likely just inviting close friends and family. Still, a street food like malatang was hardly refined enough for the occasion.

Bai Lei: It’s my birthday, my rules.

Shen Lu: I can bring the malatang machine, but not the ingredients.

Bai Lei: Fish balls? Can you just bring some fish balls? Yours are the best. I can’t find any as good as yours anywhere else.

Bai Lei: [PleadingKitten.jpg]

’Trying to act cute?’

That wouldn’t work on Shen Lu.

’She was a cold, heartless woman.’

Shen Lu: The ingredients are a definite no. I can lend my skills, at most. You’ll have to provide the ingredients to avoid any unnecessary trouble.

If one of the guests got sick after eating, there would definitely be an investigation. Shen Lu knew she couldn’t withstand that kind of scrutiny, so she nipped the possibility in the bud.

Bai Lei wheedled for ages, but Shen Lu remained completely unmoved.

Bai Lei: Alright, then can I request specific dishes?

Shen Lu: Sure. I’ll see if I know how to make them.

The two of them went back and forth about the menu for another hour before finally settling on one cold appetizer, four hot dishes, and a dessert from Shen Lu.

The Bai Family had their own professional chef, so Shen Lu being responsible for six dishes was plenty. Making fifty servings of each would be more than enough to keep her busy.

Shen Lu: Marinated meat platter, braised pork belly, mouth-watering chicken, spicy crayfish, garlic spare ribs, and pumpkin cakes. How does that sound for the six dishes?

Bai Lei: Perfect. Will you need to come a day early?

Shen Lu: Mhm, some dishes need to be prepped ahead of time.

With the conversation finally over, Shen Lu yawned, feeling a bit drowsy.

Remembering she hadn’t used today’s Lottery Ticket yet, Shen Lu mentally commanded, ’Lottery.’

[Congratulations, Host, you have drawn a prize from blind box #333: Free Utilities Privilege.]

[Free Utilities Privilege: Any shop under the Host’s name will have its water and electricity bills waived. Within the normal range of use, no fees will be charged. Usage exceeding this range will be billed at 30% of the standard rate.]

Shen Lu was happy for a moment. Free utilities would cut down on her business expenses, which was pretty good. But she quickly asked the system a question.

Shen Lu: "So, does this privilege also apply to the utilities for my apartment?"

[Yes, it does.]

Shen Lu: "That’s more like it."

She and Fu Cheng didn’t use that much water or electricity, but every penny counts. Better to save where you can.

Before falling asleep, Shen Lu’s thoughts turned to Zeng Xiaodao.

She wondered how he was doing in that illegal underground clinic.

She checked her hidden quest’s progress. It was still at 6%, unchanged.

’Oh well. Life and death are decided by fate, and wealth by heaven. I’ve done all I can. Whether he lives or dies is up to his own luck now.’

Shen Lu scrolled through some short videos for a while and came across several reports about the explosion at the pharmaceutical company.

The pharmaceutical company’s losses were severe, and the police were working around the clock to investigate the attackers. A reward was being offered to any citizen who came forward with information, pending verification.

Shen Lu expressionlessly scrolled through the comments. Most citizens were furious with the attackers.

—Those goddamn bastards! What the hell were they thinking, bombing a pharmaceutical company? Don’t they know that’s where nutrient liquid is made? Now that they’ve blown it up, what if it delays production?

—It has to be those rebels. Seriously, I don’t get it. What the hell are they even rebelling against?

—When the titans clash, it’s us little guys who get crushed. Just you wait, the price of nutrient liquid is definitely going to skyrocket.

—I think it was definitely those lowlifes from the Lower City District.

—The commenter above is right. If you ask me, why can’t we just kick out all those dregs from the Lower City District? They’re parasites on the Imperial Capital Survival Base, completely useless drains on society.

—What’s that supposed to mean? Don’t paint everyone with the same brush, okay!

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