“Boss Lu, we’ve all been waiting for you.”
Lou Xiaotian was dressed in brocade robes, originally affecting a cool and aloof air, fanning himself and ignoring everyone.
But upon seeing Lu Wu, he immediately broke into a wide smile and walked over.
A faint pride was hidden in that smile.
He, Lou Xiaotian, was the senior brother of the Baozi Cult. Besides the Grand Elder, he held the highest position in the sect.
He had fought hard to earn the privilege of welcoming Boss Lu today.
He was determined to make Boss Lu see him in a new light.
“This way, please, Boss Lu.”
Looking at his fawning demeanor, the corner of Lu Wu’s mouth twitched.
She was starting to suspect these people had been hexed.
Amidst the welcoming crowd lined up in formation, Lu Wu steeled herself and walked to the designated spot, then took out her baozi stall.
Living things couldn’t be placed in a Storage Bag, but cooked food like this would still be hot when taken out.
She knew customers would be lining up in advance, so to save time, she had steamed several baskets of baozi at home and brought them with her.
Seeing this scene, she realized she had still underestimated just how popular her little stall was.
Unfortunately, she was no social butterfly. Surrounded by so many people, the smile on Lu Wu’s face was about to stiffen.
The crowd was a cacophony of chirping voices. Some were singing her praises, some were on the verge of breaking down because they couldn’t get any baozi, and others were trying to coax their friends and family.
This group of cultivators was nothing if not energetic.
The soft dough gradually took shape under her hands. The new flavors made the foodies eager to have a taste.
Lu Wu sighed, resigned to her fate as she continued to wrap baozi.
It was only the fourth day.
She was about to be drowned by this crowd of enthusiastic foodies.
Looking at the growing pile of spirit stones, Lu Wu felt a small measure of comfort.
She hoped the system’s next mission would put her in a less crowded place, allowing her to develop quietly for a while.
The familiar aroma conquered the foodies’ taste buds, and many of the first-time customers began to feel a sense of anticipation.
Even Xu Gu, upon smelling the fragrance and seeing the blissful expressions on the foodies’ faces, gradually came to believe in the deliciousness of these baozi.
It was unlikely that so many people would conspire to deceive him.
Yanliu Street’s business was primarily brothels. There were some small stalls and vendors, but very few.
Yet, because of Lu Wu’s baozi stall, many other opportunistic merchants had appeared on this street.
There were all sorts of goods, and some had even copied Lu Wu and opened their own snack stalls.
Things like griddle cakes, pastries, and some grilled wings and skewers.
The smells of various foods diluted the original scent of rouge on Yanliu Street. The Flower Girls leaned against the railings, smiling as they watched the cultivators below fight and scramble.
“They’re all on the same street, so the taste should be similar, right?” Some people had this thought and curiously went to try the other stalls, only to return with disgusted expressions and get in line at Lu Wu’s stall.
Pah!
There was simply no comparison.
This led to the other stalls having a lot of customers at first, but then a massive drop-off in subsequent visitors.
The other stall owners watched Lu Wu’s bustling business, and tears of envy streamed from the corners of their mouths.
After a long, long wait, it was finally the turn of the young woman from yesterday. She was looking at the menu.
But she didn’t see the Little Meat Bao.
Upon asking, she learned that Little Meat Bao had been sold the past few days, but the menu had changed today, and she had come too late.
She was a little sad, but not disappointed.
Anyone who had tasted them would understand that no matter the filling, as long as it was made by Boss Lu, it was of the highest quality.
Thinking of yesterday’s warm and sweet Dousha Bao, a small sense of grievance welled up in her heart.
She had learned her lesson and come early to queue up.
But how could she have known so many people would be competing with her? She had almost failed to get a spot near the front.
And behind her was a baby-faced girl with delicate features.
“Mu Mu, are these baozi really as delicious as you say?”
For these baozi, she had given up the Flying Fish personally cooked by a famous chef.
The waiting list for that restaurant was already months long.
All for a few baozi. It felt like a bit of a loss.
Mu Mu, being questioned, didn’t get angry.
“Tian Tian, trust me. I can’t speak for other things, but when it comes to the art of baozi, no one’s skill in the entire Qing Yuan World can compare to Boss Lu’s.”
“I’ll stake my future culinary fortune on it.”
This attitude from the foodie Mu Mu forced Tian Tian to believe her.
“What fillings would you two like?”
Lu Wu had overheard their conversation and asked with a smile.
The fact that her baozi could now attract people from a thousand miles away was a great affirmation for her.
“I want one Crab Roe Baozi and one Egg and Chives Baozi.”
Soul-Reaping. For that name alone, she had to try it and see what it tasted like.
Standing so close, amidst the billowing steam, Mu Mu felt that the pristine white baozi were shamelessly seducing her.
So fair and tender, so plump.
She really wanted to feel them with her own hands.
Cultivators usually had good self-control, but facing these baozi, Mu Mu felt as if she had been hit with a high-level charm spell.
She couldn’t tear her eyes away at all.
“Oh right, Tian Tian, remember to buy different fillings from me later. Boss Lu has a limit of two per person here,” Mu Mu whispered.
If she could, she would have loved to buy out all of Lu Wu’s baozi.
But she also knew that even if Boss Lu agreed, the other cultivators eyeing the stall like tigers would not.
“Okay.”
Tian Tian agreed and bought two other flavors of baozi.
“Thank you, Boss Lu.”
Mu Mu said sweetly, then pulled Tian Tian to a nearby spot to start sharing their food.
They broke each baozi in half to share, so they could both taste every flavor.
When the Crab Roe Baozi was broken open, the juices oozed out slightly, and the aroma that had been sealed within the skin began to escape.
The melted crab roe was absorbed by the white dough, and its brilliant golden hue was enough to make one’s mouth water.
In her excitement, she squeezed her fingers too hard.
The baozi skin was pressed down, causing the crab roe inside to nearly spill onto her hand.
Mu Mu didn’t dare delay, opening her mouth and stuffing half the baozi inside.
“Mmm…”
Instantly, Mu Mu’s eyes widened.
The moment it touched the tip of her tongue, that savory flavor took over all her senses. The taste her buds experienced made her utterly reluctant to swallow.
The crab roe had a slightly grainy texture, enhanced by the fragrance of the meat filling.
As the flavors collided, Mu Mu was rendered speechless.
She looked at her friend, conveying the message with her eyes.
Seeing Mu Mu’s expression of someone about to ascend to immortality from sheer deliciousness, Tian Tian smiled and took a bite of the Dousha Bao.
Her palate leaned towards sweet things.
She had eaten plenty of Dousha Bao before, and although she trusted Mu Mu’s judgment, her expectations weren’t particularly high.
But all those thoughts vanished when she felt the red bean paste slowly melting in her mouth. She was stunned.
Tian Tian stared blankly at the Dousha Bao in her hand.
Her small teeth marks were still visible on the white dough.
Although the glossy red bean paste was very hot, its sweet and soft texture made Tian Tian completely disregard the heat and continue to savor it.
She chewed slowly, until the sweetness gradually flowed down her throat.
Tian Tian’s nose tingled.
It was so good she wanted to cry.
She declared that this would now be number one on her list of desserts. All other desserts were pathetic compared to the Dousha Bao.
It was only half a baozi. No matter how carefully she savored it, it was gone in a few bites.
Tian Tian regretted eating it so quickly.
As someone who already loved sweets, her heart was now in a state of limbo, itching with an unsatisfied craving.
Her gaze fell on the remaining half of the baozi, and then she looked mournfully at her good friend, Mu Mu.
She felt that her friendship with Mu Mu was undergoing a severe test.
Instantly understanding her best friend’s thoughts, Mu Mu puffed up her cheeks and guiltily looked away.
To be honest, she had the same idea.
Fortunately, in the end, sisterly affection triumphed over appetite.
“You should try the other flavors, they’re all delicious,” Mu Mu said, quickly popping the remaining half of the Dousha Bao into her mouth.
Any slower, and she was afraid she’d have a falling out with her best friend for a while.
Now, without any need for further recommendation from Mu Mu, Tian Tian, who was now a firm believer in Lu Wu’s skills, began her conquest of the other flavors.
“Delicious.”
Traveling a thousand miles for a few baozi was a huge gain.
The two sisters looked at each other and smiled, utterly blissful.