Chen Muxue saw the slight sheen of oil floating on the sweet and sour sauce in the bowl of radishes touched by the big man, and she felt a bit nauseous.
The man's fingernails were filled with grimy black stuff, and when he got close, a nauseating oily stench wafted over.
Too lazy to bother with him, Chen Muxue just glared at the shopkeeper, "Fifty taels."
"Fifty taels! That's robbery!" The greasy big man's loud voice immediately drew the attention of the other diners.
Seeing this, the greasy man continued, "Fifty taels for a plate of radishes! Are the radish skins made of gold or the radish flesh made of gold?"
The customers started whispering among themselves.
"Fifty taels for a dish of radishes? This girl must be crazy!"
"What do you know? I saw this girl a few days ago. She's not right in the head. See that pot she's carrying? Who goes out carrying a pot?"
"Wait, carrying a pot?"
The greasy big man heard the unfavorable comments about Chen Muxue and smirked, "Girl, it's not easy to make a unique radish dish and want to sell it to supplement the household. We'll give you five hundred coins, be content."
Be content?
Chen Muxue looked at the greasy man and then at the shopkeeper, and smiled, "Planning to buy this plate of radishes to figure out how to make it yourself?"
The greasy man shouted, "Girl, don't be ungrateful! You treasure an iron pot and carry it on the street. I advise you not to dream of being a chef casually. Us cooks might not seem like much, but we aren't something a little girl can just play around with!"
The shopkeeper frowned, tugging at the big man to indicate he should be more restrained.
After all, there's an Immortal Elder upstairs.
However, Immortal Elders generally don't meddle in worldly affairs, especially those involving food and money, which are trivial to cultivators.
Yet, on the second floor, Cen Lizhui, watching everything through the screen, was gritting his teeth to stop himself from pummeling the greasy big man.
He dared to stick those filthy hands into the bowl to grab food?!
How am I supposed to eat?!
What's with this shopkeeper? How can such a shady tavern not go bankrupt? If you can't run it, let someone else do it!
The greasy man shook off the shopkeeper's hand. He just wanted to suppress this deadbeat girl. Looking so young, how could she make such delicious radishes?
As the head chef of this inn for so many years, he prided himself on his skills, yet this seemingly ordinary radish was made by a young girl into a masterpiece...
Though he spat out what he just ate, he couldn't help smacking his lips, savoring the taste.
He was used to making and eating greasy dishes every day, suddenly tasting such refreshing pickled radishes was a surprise delight.
Yet he couldn't quite figure out how it was done; he only knew there were vinegar and sugar, with a bit of chili and ginger in the bowl.
Soak them together should be correct?
Chen Muxue chuckled, "I'm sorry, I didn't know you were motherless."
"What do you mean?!" The greasy man hesitated for a moment.
"I said, you! Have! No! Mother! Girls can't be chefs? Did you grow up eating your father's cooking? What a pity!"
This was still ancient times, and Chen Muxue could somewhat guess how ancient families operated.
Chen Muxue picked up the basket, then paused and placed the bowl of radishes on the table of the nearest customers, "Want to try?"
If they could stomach this greasy man's food, they probably wouldn't mind his hands.
After all, if the greasy man dared to walk out here like this, it meant his... revolting appearance was accepted by others.
Thinking of this made Chen Muxue a bit nauseated.
"Miss…" The shopkeeper tried to say something more, but Chen Muxue interrupted him with a gesture.
"I am the Sect Leader of Qian Ding Sect, Chen Muxue. Remember to call me Sect Leader from now on." Chen Muxue introduced herself directly, "Today I tell you all, your tavern will shut down within three months!"
"Qian Ding Sect... Hahaha!"
The shopkeeper and the greasy man exchanged a glance, not only unafraid but holding back their laughter.
"Lit... oh, this Sect Leader, do you think we run the only inn here without any support?" The shopkeeper fearlessly said, "If Qian Ding Sect wants to tear down our tavern, let's wait and see."
Cen Lizhui hearing this couldn't help but click his tongue, how detestable was this person?
Qian Ding Sect had indeed fallen to such a state. It's true that an entire sect propped up by a Foundation Establishment Seventh Rank leader was indeed insignificant...
No, I have yet to taste Chen Muxue's cooking... no, I haven't uncovered the secret between Chen Muxue and the Divine Artifact. I can't let Chen Muxue make a big mistake in a fit of impulse.
Just as he was about to intervene, he heard Chen Muxue's unruly laughter:
"Fight? No, no, I believe in reasoning. Let's see how this goes." With that, Chen Muxue left without looking back...
Uh, forgot the bamboo shoots, she turned back for a moment, grabbed the bamboo shoots, and this time really left without looking back.
"The shopkeeper actually isn't afraid of Qian Ding Sect?"
"Just Qian Ding Sect, I heard the Sect Leader is only Foundation Establishment Fifth Rank."
"Is Foundation Establishment Fifth Rank that weak?"
"Maybe?"
Hearing the customers' whispers, the greasy man snorted and turned to head back to the kitchen.
"You're all wrong! Do you know Liuyun Sect?"
"Who doesn't know Liuyun Sect! The renowned number one sect!"
"Isn't the number one sect Immortal Sect?"
"No, Immortal Sect long stopped concerning themselves with these rankings... Anyway, about that woman carrying a pot, do you know her? The one who just claimed to be the Sect Leader of Qian Ding Sect."
"Who wouldn't know her?"
"A few days ago, the one who bashed Liuyun Sect disciples with a pot was her! The pot flew up, and then bam!"
A customer gesticulated wildly as they spoke, while the others widened their eyes; they had all heard about the event from a few days ago. After all, it had been ages since so many cultivators appeared in the small town, including now with Lin Qing and others, which sparked a frenzy of discussion among the hidden residents.
The small town seemed calm on the surface, but the residents had their own gossip channels and timing!
The shopkeeper was slightly surprised upon hearing this but then shook his head.
His backing was the county's Hidden Forest Hermit, who though a loose cultivator, had reached the pinnacle of the Golden Core Stage. How would he fear the merely Foundation Establishment Fifth Rank of Qian Ding Sect? Even the county's government office was under Hidden Forest Hermit's protection!
As for a mere pickled radish, one taste, one look, should be enough to replicate it, right? Besides, it's just a small appetizer, dispensable.
He suddenly remembered the big shot from the Immortal Sect upstairs, hurriedly heading up without listening to more of the customers' gossip downstairs.
"Oh wow, that's delicious!"
"What? Let me try too!"
"I've never tasted anything like this! The Sect Leader of Qian Ding Sect has such skills?"
"I think her slow cultivation progress is probably due to being bogged down by these delicacies."
"Will they sell these radishes here in the future?"
"Didn't you hear them say they're wrapping up?"
The shopkeeper went upstairs, but there was no sign of the Immortal Elder.
Leaping across rooftops following Chen Muxue, Cen Lizhui had changed back into plain clothes and wore a straw hat.
Blast it, when am I going to get a taste of this... no, I'm here to uncover the secret of the Divine Artifact, tasting it is just incidental!