“Boss Lu, are you really setting up your stall?”
Just as Lu Wu opened her door, the elderly neighbor passing by strolled over to inquire.
The look in his eyes as he gazed at Lu Wu was as if he were looking at a little fool.
“Really setting up.”
Lu Wu responded with a smile.
Under the neighbor’s scrutinizing gaze, Lu Wu pushed her snack cart out the door.
She had crossed over to this cultivation world called Qing Yuan World a month ago. Initially, she had been happily dreaming of stepping into cultivation, hoping to command the wind and rain like those cultivators, and even achieve immortality.
Alas, the aptitude test had given her a harsh slap in the face.
In Qing Yuan World, a Single Spiritual Root was considered excellent. The more spiritual roots one had, the lower their aptitude. The worst, the Five Spiritual Roots, were looked down upon by all sects, but at least those with Five Spiritual Roots could still cultivate.
But her? She had not a single spiritual root, unable to draw qi into her body—she was a complete and utter little waste.
Just as she had given up on cultivation, her golden finger arrived belatedly.
[Ding dong, the Gourmet Cultivation System has been activated. As long as the host completes tasks, cultivation can be obtained.]
With that one sentence, Lu Wu was hooked like a fish on a line.
The system tasks were simple: sell food at locations specified by the system, with each cycle lasting seven days.
This time, it was Lu Wu’s first task.
[Current Task: Sell one thousand buns within seven days]
[Specified Location: Opposite Baihua House in Xiaohe Town]
[Specified Time: Beginning of Hai Hour to end of Chou Hour]
Translated, that meant from 9 p.m. to 3 a.m.
When she discussed the feasibility of selling buns opposite a brothel in the middle of the night with her elderly neighbor, she received a look that questioned her intelligence.
Fortunately, the system provided various bun recipes. Having prepared all the fillings during the day, Lu Wu marched off confidently toward the brothel.
The night was deep, and the brightly lit Yanyun Lane was bustling.
The scent of face powder drifted in the air, somewhat cloying.
The coquettish laughter of various women mixed with the loud voices of men. Pushing her bun cart, Lu Wu felt a bit out of place here.
This was Xiaohe Town’s famous Yanyun Lane, where flesh trade was the business.
The customers here ate meat, but not the kind in meat buns. At this hour, customers were drowning themselves in the embrace of beauties.
Thus, when Lu Wu set up her stall, the courtesans leaning on the railings of Baihua House’s second floor cast puzzled glances her way.
Enduring the awkwardness, Lu Wu lit the fire, boiled water, and began making buns.
She had prepared three flavors: Spicy Kidney Bun, Sweet Red Bean Paste Bun, and Innocent Little Meat Bun.
Don’t ask—just blame the system for the names.
Lu Wu sprinkled dry flour onto the board, placed the pre-proofed white dough on it, and began kneading with force from her wrists.
The dough was snow-white, made from high-quality Spirit Grain Wheat flour. No matter how it was cooked, it carried a natural fragrance.
The soft dough was pinched by Lu Wu into appropriately sized portions and set aside. She then brought out the fillings.
The three types of fillings had been prepared by her in advance.
The two meat fillings were soaked in a bit of broth, glistening with oil, with a moderate amount of fat.
The mashed red bean paste was stuffed into the dough, gradually enveloped by the white flour. The collision of red and white made it easy to imagine how wonderful it would taste once cooked, with the sweetness of the red bean permeating the white dough.
Lu Wu worked quickly. Soon, fist-sized, pale, and tender buns were arranged in the steamer. As the water heated up and steam began to rise, Lu Wu glanced at the passersby and hung up the menu.
“Little sister, are you short on spirit stones?”
The flirtatious laughter of a courtesan drifted from above. Lu Wu looked up to see the woman leaning against the railing, clad in sheer gauze that hinted at her delicate figure.
The blood-stirring sight made Lu Wu’s face grow warm.
It wasn’t that she lacked composure—it was just that the courtesan’s charm arts were too potent for a mere mortal like her to resist.
In the cultivation world, even pleasure houses employed practitioners as courtesans.
Disciples of the Hehuan Sect, who cultivated through the path of dual cultivation, particularly favored such establishments for their trade.
Lu Wu had heard rumors that this very street served as a stronghold for Hehuan Sect disciples.
Men who entered these pleasure houses often emerged at dawn with unsteady steps, as if drained of their vital essence.
Yet, the courtesans’ services were so exceptional that men found themselves irresistibly drawn back.
Among all the establishments on this street, the Baihua House across the way enjoyed the most thriving business.
“Miss, would you like to buy some buns?”
“Just one low-grade spirit stone each.”
Lu Wu blinked cutely, trying to promote her steamed buns.
The courtesan was so shocked by the price that she stopped fanning herself, looking at Lu Wu as if she were a shameless robber.
Lu Wu maintained a sincere, eight-toothed smile.
The system-set price was non-negotiable.
“Are you selling buns or committing robbery?”
The courtesan laughed heartily, but upon seeing Lu Wu’s pitiful expression, she tossed down a spirit stone.
“Consider it a reward. Remember to bring me a bun when they’re ready.”
With that, the courtesan turned and entered her room.
Lu Wu secretly gave herself a victory sign—mission progress +1.
As the buns steamed, an enticing aroma began to spread.
The fragrance wafted straight into people’s nostrils.
Vendors nearby, who had been quietly mocking Lu Wu earlier, now cast curious glances her way.
“Wow, what is that smell?”
A drunken man happened to pass by, sniffed the air, and fixed his gaze on Lu Wu.
“A bun stall?”
“Little girl, selling buns in the middle of the night?”
Yet another person thought Lu Wu had lost her marbles, but she paid no mind.
“Yes, selling buns. This batch is almost ready. Would you like one?” Lu Wu greeted him enthusiastically, not slacking off in the slightest.
What a joke—completing missions boosted her cultivation. How could she not be eager?
The alcohol-filled man belched, feeling his stomach slosh and in need of something to settle it.
“Alright, give me one… Innocent Little Meat Bun.Reading the menu, the customer’s expression turned subtle.
“Boss, you are selling proper buns, right?”
Why did the name sound so improper?
Questioned about her integrity, Lu Wu opened the steamer and picked out a bun.
The bun was absolutely proper—whether the system was proper or not, she didn’t know.
“Here you go, sir. One low-grade spirit stone. Thank you for your patronage.”
The exorbitant price sobered the man up considerably. He opened his mouth, about to curse.
But the meaty aroma of the bun clung to him like the enchantresses in the pleasure houses, whispering seductively.
“Choose me, choose me!”
The drunk man felt as if he were hallucinating.
Could he resist?
Absolutely not!
His throat bobbing, the man eyed Lu Wu suspiciously but paid anyway.
“Fine, I’ll see what’s so special about this bun that it costs so much!”
With that price, he could have eaten his fill at any other bun shop.
“Guaranteed to satisfy.”
Lu Wu had full confidence in her own culinary skills.
Watching the man squatting nearby, ready to bite into a bun, Lu Wu instead took a Sweet Red Bean Paste Bun and went to Baihua House to find the courtesan she had met earlier.