novelleonline Chapter 285 Sha Zhu Opens a Shop, Rule 1
Chapter 285 Sha Zhu Opens a Shop, Rule 1
Qianmen Street, Beijing.
This is one of the most bustling commercial streets in Beijing, where land is incredibly valuable and the streets are always teeming with people.
Today, a newly opened shop has attracted the attention of all passersby.
The shop's storefront is small and decorated in a very rustic style, with blue bricks and gray tiles, and a vermilion wooden door. Above the door hangs a black plaque with gold characters, on which are written three large characters in a flamboyant style: "Divine Chef's Hall".
"Divine Chef's Palace? What kind of restaurant is that? It sounds quite grand. Does it sell roast duck or hot pot?"
"I don't know, it wasn't open yesterday, and it opened today. There wasn't even an opening ceremony, not even a flower basket. It's so quiet."
"Come on, let's go inside and take a look. It smells pretty good."
Many curious tourists and locals were drawn inside by an indescribable, exotic fragrance wafting from the shop.
The shop is not very spacious, and the decor is simple and elegant.
The most eye-catching thing is the huge list hanging on the wall directly opposite the entrance.
The list was made of an unknown animal hide, and it was covered with lines of tiny characters written in cinnabar.
The List of the World's Finest Materials (Common Items)
"Grade 1 Spirit Rice: Contains trace amounts of spiritual energy. Long-term consumption can improve physical condition and enhance immunity. Exchange price: 1 merit point/jin."
"Level 1 Spirit Vegetable (Chinese Cabbage): Contains trace amounts of spiritual energy, has a sweet taste, and has the effect of calming the mind and improving eyesight. Exchange Price: 1 Merit Point/catties."
"Level 1 Exotic Beast Meat (Wild Boar): The meat is firm and contains a small amount of qi and blood energy, making it suitable for martial artists to eat and replenish their strength. Exchange Price: 5 Merit Points/jin"
……
The list contains hundreds of different kinds of "spiritual materials," ranging from rice, noodles, and vegetables to birds and beasts.
Each item is clearly labeled with its detailed effects and a redemption price in the form of "Merit Points".
"Merit points? What are those? Are they game points?"
"What is all this? Spirit rice? Spirit vegetables? Isn't this just rice and cabbage? And they're selling it for merit points per pound? Are they robbing us?"
"Exactly, I think this boss is just obsessed with money."
The onlookers, looking at the list, discussed it amongst themselves, all feeling that this store was simply outrageous.
The shopkeeper, a middle-aged man who looked somewhat honest and simple, was dressed in a clean chef's uniform, sitting behind the counter with his eyes closed, seemingly oblivious to the surrounding chatter.
He was He Yuzhu.
Since the rules were established with Li Zhenguo at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse.
He used the start-up capital that Li Zhenguo had "advanced" to him in his personal capacity to take over this shop on Qianmen Street.
As the first "branch" of the Divine Chef's Palace in the mortal realm.
The gentleman meant for him to keep a low profile.
So he didn't hold any grand opening ceremony; he simply hung up a sign and opened for business.
What he sells are all the most basic, ordinary-grade spiritual materials he brought back from Shennongjia.
As for the "merit points" required for the exchange, ordinary people naturally don't have them.
He opened this shop not to attract ordinary tourists.
What he was waiting for were those who truly "know the business".
Just then, a slight commotion came from the doorway.
Several burly bodyguards, dressed in black suits and wearing sunglasses, pushed through the crowd and escorted a middle-aged man with a large belly and adorned with jewels into the room.
The man was a famous real estate tycoon in Beijing, surnamed Wang, known as "Wang the Half-City". It was said that half of Beijing's high-end real estate developments were related to him.
As soon as he entered, without even glancing at the crowd of onlookers, he went straight to the counter.
He first glanced at the list on the wall, a hint of disdain flashing in his eyes.
Then, he took out a black, anonymous bank card from his pocket and slapped it on the counter.
"Boss," he said to He Yuzhu in a condescending tone, "I'll take care of everything in your shop."
"There's a hundred million in the card. The password is six eights."
Is that enough?
As soon as he said that, the entire shop fell silent.
Everyone looked at him with the eyes of someone looking at a fool.
One hundred million?
Just to buy these things, rice and cabbage?
This person is either crazy, or has too much money to burn.
He Yuzhu slowly opened his eyes.
He glanced at the black card on the table, then at the arrogant-looking Wang Bancheng in front of him.
He knew that the person who had come to "test" him had arrived.
"This shop only accepts merit points."
He Yuzhu's voice was very flat, revealing no emotion whatsoever.
"Merit points?" Wang Bancheng exclaimed as if he'd heard the biggest joke in the world. "What are those? Can you eat them? Can you exchange them for money?"
"Let me tell you, in this capital city, there's nothing that I, Wang Bancheng, can't buy with my money!"
"If you think it's not enough, I can add more!"
"Two hundred million! How about it?"
He stretched out two thick fingers, adorned with rings of emeralds and diamonds.
"This shop only accepts merit points."
He Yuzhu, as always, uttered the same calm and unperturbed words.
"You!" Wang Bancheng's face darkened. "Kid, don't push your luck!"
"Do you know who I am?"
"I advise you to quit while you're ahead. Otherwise, I guarantee your shabby shop will disappear from Qianmen Street tomorrow!"
The bodyguards behind him immediately stepped forward, each one rubbing their hands together, their eyes fixed on He-Yuzhu with hostility.
The atmosphere in the shop instantly became tense.
The onlookers were so frightened that they quickly retreated, afraid of being caught in the crossfire.
However, He Yuzhu's face remained expressionless.
He simply stood up slowly from the chair.
He did nothing.
He didn't even say a word.
However, an invisible, immense pressure suddenly spread out from him!
It is an aura of a superior being that naturally forms after countless times of cooking spiritual materials and refining elixirs!
It is the majesty of a temple master who holds the "rice bowl" of all cultivators in the world!
"Thump!"
"Thump!"
The several highly skilled bodyguards behind Wang Bancheng couldn't even hold out for a second.
One by one, their faces turned deathly pale, their legs went weak, and they collapsed to their knees on the ground!
They felt as if they were not facing a single person.
Instead, we are facing a majestic, towering mountain!
It is facing a vast, boundless ocean!
That pressure made them unable to even entertain the thought of resistance!
Wang Ban-cheng was also overwhelmed by this aura, and he stumbled backward, falling to the ground with a thud.
His face was filled with horror and disbelief.
He couldn't understand how this seemingly ordinary cook could possess such a terrifying aura!
I'm saying it again, for the last time.
He Yuzhu's gaze fell on him.
"The Divine Chef's Hall has its own rules."
"Money is useless here."
"Power is useless."
"The only thing that's useful is merit."
"Without merit, even if you are the King of Heaven, don't even think about taking a single grain of rice from me."
"Now, take your money and get out."
"Don't dirty my land."
He Yuzhu's voice remained calm.
But to Wang Bancheng, it was no less than a thunderclap from the heavens!
He was so terrified that he scrambled to his feet, abandoning the black card, and fled the Divine Chef's Palace with his few bodyguards who were completely dumbfounded.
The shop fell silent once again.
All the onlookers looked at He Yuzhu with the eyes of someone looking at a deity.
They finally realized that this store wasn't selling ordinary rice and cabbage at all.
And this shopkeeper was not just an ordinary cook!
Just then, a foreigner wearing a suit, with blond hair and blue eyes, who looked like a diplomat, pushed through the crowd and walked to the counter.
He first bowed deeply to He Yuzhu.
Then, in a slightly stiff but very fluent Chinese voice, he cautiously asked:
"Excuse me... Your Excellency, Lord Temple Master."
"Do we, the United States of America, also have the opportunity to obtain what you call 'merit points'?"