CFSMS -Chapter 2 The Bun Stall Got Hijacked

Unlike the rich aroma of the meat buns, the fragrance of the sweet red bean buns was exactly as their name suggested—sweet, enticing, and irresistible.

Just smelling them felt like drinking honey.

The aroma seeped into every corner.

The moment Lu Wu stepped into Baihua House, brushing past several people along the way, quite a few gazes began following her.

“What is that? It smells amazing!”

“Damn, what kind of food is that?”

“I smelled it earlier too. Sniff… now I’m starving.”

Baihua House was bustling with business. Courtesans on the first floor were entertaining guests, and amidst the scent of wine and heavy cosmetics, the soft, sweet fragrance of red beans instantly hooked everyone’s attention.

At that moment, even the delicate and alluring courtesans seemed less attractive.

“Little girl, what’s in your arms?”

A cold-faced customer stepped into Lu Wu’s path. He stared fixedly at the oil-paper package in her hands, his eyes practically drooling. He looked as if he might pounce at any moment.

Heaven knew how picky he usually was about food. Whenever he came here for entertainment, he never even touched the dishes.

Yet right now, he was craving it.

His mouth was rapidly filling with saliva. Lou Xiaotian felt like turning into a wolf and lunging forward.

“They’re buns.”

Noticing his expression, Lu Wu pointed outside.

“The bun stall is right across from Baihua House. You’ll see it as soon as you step outside.”

“Thank you.”

With directions secured, Lou Xiaotian immediately dashed out.

And he wasn’t the only one.

Several others who had overheard their conversation followed after him.

Even some of the courtesans lost interest in attracting customers and headed outside as well.

After all, satisfying one’s appetite was also a form of desire, and cultivating desire was beneficial to their practice.

Watching the hall suddenly become half-empty, Lu Wu felt the murderous gaze of the madam boring into her back.

Silently apologizing in her heart, she hurried upstairs to deliver the buns.

Inside the room, the courtesan sat before her dressing table, her expression gloomy.

Her fingers traced her cheek.

Dark spots had appeared on what should have been smooth, jade-like skin.

She had tried various medicines, but none had worked. Every time she went out, she had to cover herself with thick layers of makeup.

As time passed, fewer patrons sought her company, and her cultivation had stagnated for a long while.

“Oh, it’s you. Just leave it there.”

The courtesan tapped the table absentmindedly.

She clearly wasn’t in the mood for conversation.

After setting down the package, Lu Wu glanced at the woman gently touching her face and fell into thought.

If she remembered correctly, the cookbook provided by the system mentioned something.

Because all ingredients in the Qingyuan Realm had been nourished by spiritual energy, food made from them carried special effects.

For example, the Sweet Red Bean Bun.

Eating it could make a person’s skin as clean and fair as first love.

“Sister, buns taste best while they’re hot.”

Lu Wu spoke softly.

Then, after receiving only a casual wave in response, she left the room.

Still pondering the matter, she had barely stepped out of Baihua House when a loud shout caught her attention.

Looking up, she froze.

“Come one, come all! Don’t miss out!”

“Fresh meat buns! One low-grade spirit stone each!”

“Guaranteed satisfaction! No regrets!”

“What? You think it’s expensive? Move along, next customer!”

“Waaah, this is so delicious!”

“Spicy kidney bun? More like a fiery enchantress bun!”

“Back off! Stop grabbing! The last one is mine! I’ve already paid!”

…

At her stall, Lou Xiaotian was enthusiastically hawking buns while occasionally stuffing one into his mouth.

One bite into a meat bun and the melted broth flowed down his throat.

The tender meat mixed with the fluffy dough, and the meat juices completely conquered the bun skin.

Fresh, fragrant, and not greasy in the slightest.

So delicious it almost brought tears to his eyes.

The expression on Lou Xiaotian’s face was pure bliss.

???

Several question marks practically popped over Lu Wu’s head.

If she remembered correctly, she was supposed to be the owner.

How had her stall been taken over after being gone for only a few minutes?

She quickly checked the system.

Fortunately, the mission progress was steadily increasing.

“Oh! Boss, you’re finally back!”

Spotting Lu Wu, Lou Xiaotian reluctantly licked his fingertips.

The chili oil from the kidney bun was still exploding with flavor in his mouth, leaving him wanting more.

“Hurry up and make more buns! I already sold out this entire steamer for you.”

“Ahem… I couldn’t wait, so I packed one myself earlier.”

“I paid for it, though.”

“And I made sure everyone else paid too.”

“The only problem is that you don’t have enough buns.”

Pointing at the dozen or so spirit stones on the table, Lou Xiaotian’s formerly aloof face now looked downright flattering.

“So you’re the owner?”

“Hurry up and make more buns!”

“I’m literally about to cry from craving them!”

“You’ve got some nerve talking! We’ve been friends for decades, and you wouldn’t even let me have one bite!”

“Our friendship is over! Over, I tell you!”

Seeing Lu Wu, some people were delighted while others were nearly losing their minds.

One man shouting about ending a friendship looked ready to kick another fellow who was secretly chewing on a bun.

Lu Wu calmly looked away.

She hadn’t seen a thing.

Customers were gods.

And gods were always right.

Besides, she was just a tiny nobody.

If she got involved in a fight, she’d probably be slapped into meat filling.

“Coming right up.”

After washing her hands, Lu Wu took out a lump of dough and began working on fresh buns.

At the same time, she casually asked what had happened.

How had her tiny business exploded in popularity after only being away for a short while?

“Ahem, it’s all because of that guy.”

Lou Xiaotian glared at a drunkard standing nearby.

Although he had desperately wanted a bun, he had intended to wait for Lu Wu to return.

Taking something without permission was stealing.

Unfortunately, while Lu Wu had been delivering her order, this drunkard had tasted the Pure-hearted Meat Bun and been completely blown away.

The moment he saw Lou Xiaotian coming to buy buns, he boldly declared that the entire steamer belonged to him.

As the local tyrant of Xiaohe Town, how could Lou Xiaotian possibly agree?

Accustomed to throwing his weight around, he immediately started helping himself under the banner of “self-service sales.”

The drunkard followed suit.

Sadly, out of the three flavors, Lou Xiaotian only managed to grab two meat buns.

Then things spiraled completely out of control.

Who could have expected that once the soft white bun skin was bitten open, the aroma would be so intoxicating?

The onlookers who had gathered out of curiosity instantly took the bait.

Everyone insisted that whoever saw the buns deserved a share.

The quick-witted people simply paid and served themselves.

The slower ones lined up beside the stall and started waiting.

Listening to their account, Lu Wu finally relaxed.

It looked like her bun stall had successfully opened for business.

“Don’t worry. They’ll be ready soon.”

With business booming, Lu Wu felt even more motivated.

Her hands moved swiftly as steamer after steamer went onto the stove.

Amid the rising clouds of steam, she couldn’t stop smiling.

Under the eager gazes of the crowd, fresh buns soon emerged.

With Lou Xiaotian acting as self-appointed security, nobody dared cut in line.

The buns weren’t cheap, however.

Some customers only bought a single flavor to satisfy their cravings.

As for wealthy spenders like Lou Xiaotian?

Naturally, he bought everything.

“Holy crap! This Sweet Red Bean Bun is incredible!”

“It’s so sweet my tongue feels like it’s melting!”

“And this Pure-hearted Meat Bun—slurp—my heart is pounding!”

“How can something be this delicious?”

Lou Xiaotian ate heartily; the freshly baked buns were scalding hot. He breathed on them while talking, his hands and feet moving in a flurry.

The aroma is still lingering. With Lou Xiaotian as a living advertisement, even those who hesitated about the price wanted to give it a try.

Before long, another batch of steamed buns was gone. This time, Lu Wu got to work quickly without needing to be urged.

Looking at the nearly empty filling and the customers surrounding her stall, she spoke softly. “We can only pack another thirty or forty at most. Perhaps the customers who come later shouldn’t wait.”