The NO.1 Food Stall in the Wasteland novel Chapter 27

Chapter 27: Chapter 27: The Pheasant in the Magpie’s Nest

It was a boy with glasses.

His tone was partly self-deprecating, partly scornful.

"You don’t want this?" Shen Lu asked, looking up at him.

The boy didn’t answer. He just gave her a condescending glance, and then—SLAM—he shut the window forcefully.

Shen Lu was completely bewildered by his sudden temper.

’I was being friendly,’ she thought. ’I didn’t do anything to offend him. What’s he so angry about?’

But he was just a stranger, so she quickly put it out of her mind and went back, carrying the flowerpot.

Now that she had a ready-made pot and soil, she was determined to see if she could grow something.

’The soil is so dry it’s cracked. Maybe things couldn’t grow simply because it lacked water?’

The system’s shop had seeds, and they were cheap—much more cost-effective than buying vegetables directly.

Shen Lu didn’t know much about planting, but she had grown low-maintenance things like scallions, garlic, and peppers on her family’s small balcony before.

So, she redeemed some scallion seeds from the shop.

They were easy to grow, had a short growth period, and she could use them right away. It was the best choice.

She sowed the seeds according to the instructions, watered them, and placed the flowerpot on the windowsill.

Then she grabbed some clean clothes and went to the Fifteenth District to shower and do laundry. After returning, she prepared the ingredients for her stall, bustling about without a moment’s rest.

Fortunately, these were all familiar tasks, so they weren’t difficult.

The mission was issued right on cue.

[Ding~ Mission issued: Please sell 40 cups of mint water, 30 egg waffles, and 30 servings of malatang.]

Around eleven o’clock, Wang Daguo arrived, and the two of them pushed the cart out to set up their stall.

From a distance, she could already see people waiting at her usual spot.

They were her stall’s loyal customers!

Shen Lu felt an indescribable joy. People waiting for her before she even set up meant her food was good and had earned everyone’s approval.

And it was true; her popularity value had been rising quite fast recently, already over 400.

Shen Lu set up her things as quickly as possible and served the customers one by one.

At one point, two people started arguing over their place in line, but before Shen Lu could intervene, Ma Laosan—who had appeared out of nowhere—resolved the issue.

Ma Laosan approached with a fawning smile. "Boss Shen, it’s been a few days. You’ve added quite a few new items to your stall."

There was a soup simmering in a metal box, containing daikon radish, tofu skin, kelp, and konjac tofu. He’d been lucky enough to try it once at a new year’s party.

’What was it called again?’

Ma Laosan couldn’t remember, but he recalled that it was delicious.

’That metal box must have been arranged by Xue Can,’ he thought. ’And these ingredients too. Xue Can is the leader of the Gale Mercenary Corps; of course he has the power to get these things. Shen Lu definitely couldn’t have gotten them on her own.’

You don’t hit a smiling man, as the saying goes. Although Shen Lu disliked Ma Laosan, she wasn’t in a position to be rude, so she replied with a few polite platitudes.

"Are you here to collect the management fee today, Brother Ma?"

"Yeah, I was just passing by." Ma Laosan rubbed his hands together. "How much is this? Can I get a serving?"

"No need to pay. It’s on me, Brother Ma." Shen Lu moved deftly, scooping one of each ingredient for him.

"How can I do that? I’ll pay. I must pay."

Of course, Ma Laosan wanted it for free, but he was afraid Xue Can would find out and come settle the score.

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