Changqinglou Opens! Is this menu robbery?

"Take money?"

Li Hanyi blinked her large, red, and swollen eyes, still holding the spatula in her hand, her face full of grievance and resentment. "I... I can learn! It's just cooking, right? That phoenix fire is a bit hard to control, but I can just use less next time, okay?"

"No, no, no! Please don't!"

Upon hearing this, Su Changqing broke out in a cold sweat. He quickly snatched the spatula from her hand and threw it aside. "Wife, everyone has their own specialty. Your hands are for wielding swords, for protecting the world. How can you get involved in this kind of cooking fumes? Collecting money is so much easier. Sitting there counting money until your hands cramp up—that's every woman's ultimate dream!"

"Really?" Li Hanyi asked, somewhat doubtful.

"More real than real gold!"

Su Changqing assured her confidently, "Besides, this is also for our daughter's health. What if you put in too much salt next time, or fry the pot and scare Nuonuo?"

Upon hearing about her daughter, Li Hanyi finally gave in.

"Okay... I'll do as you say."

She glanced at the messy kitchen with some regret, but ultimately obediently went behind the counter to become her boss.

Su Changqing breathed a sigh of relief, finally saving the kitchen and the whole family's stomachs.

……

three days later.

That once dilapidated little tavern has now been completely transformed into a magnificent five-story building.

On the enormous plaque, three gilded characters were carved with sword energy—【Changqing Tower】. The characters were vigorous and powerful, exuding a domineering sword intent that inspired awe at just a glance.

On either side of the gate hangs an extremely arrogant and vulgar couplet.

First line: Specializes in curing all kinds of disobedience.

The second line reads: "It cures all diseases and difficult problems."

Horizontal inscription: Just give me the money.

The moment this couplet was hung up, it caused a huge uproar in Snowmoon City.

"Insane! Absolutely insane!"

"A master at taking down anyone who dares to defy you? Is this some kind of challenge to the entire martial arts world?"

"Just pay me? This boss must be crazy for money!"

Although they complained, their actions betrayed their words.

After all, Su Changqing became famous in the battle of Lei Family Fort. Now, who wouldn't want to see what's so special about the shop opened by this "Number One in the World"?

As a result, on the opening day, the entrance to Changqinglou was packed with people, with colorful flags waving and drums beating loudly.

Countless martial arts heroes, scions of prominent families, and even many renowned martial arts masters who came from other places all scrambled to get in and secure a seat.

"Everyone, don't rush! Don't rush! Line up! One at a time!"

Lei Wujie, dressed in a specially made waiter's uniform with a white towel draped over his shoulder, stood at the door shouting to maintain order.

With his practiced movements and warm smile, anyone who didn't know him would think he was a waiter who had been working for decades. Who would have thought that this guy was the genius young master of the Jiangnan Thunderbolt Hall?

The guests who finally managed to squeeze into the hall were not greeted by any peerless masters, but by a huge menu posted on the wall.

Everyone gasped at the sight.

"hiss--!!!"

"Is this...is this robbery?!"

The menu read:

[Signature Dish 1: Heartbreakingly Delicious Rice]

[Description: The ultimate evolution of fried rice. Made with millennium-old spiritual rice and paired with a Nine Heavens Divine Phoenix Egg (actually a demon beast egg), prepared by the owner himself. One bite to the soul, two bites to the bliss, three bites to forget the mortal world. Effects: Can help one recall the beauty of first love and randomly increase internal energy by ten to twenty years.]

Price: 100 taels of silver per bowl

"One hundred taels?! Enough for a bowl of rice?!"

A burly passerby, his eyes wide, pointed at the menu and yelled, "Is this some kind of rip-off? Even food made of gold wouldn't cost this much!"

However, this is just the appetizer.

[Second Signature Dish: Buddha Jumps Over the Wall (Spiritual Version)]

[Description: This broth is made from the meat of rare and exotic beasts from across the land, supplemented with dozens of ancient medicinal herbs, and simmered for forty-nine hours using Phoenix True Fire (actually, it only took one morning). The broth is rich and fragrant, its aroma wafting for miles. Effects: Cleanses the marrow and strengthens the bones, resulting in a robust and healthy body. It has a very high probability of helping one break through current limitations.]

Price: 1,000 taels of silver per cup (limited to three servings per day, first come, first served)

"One thousand taels?!"

Passerby A felt his heart stop. "That's enough to buy a famous sword! Who would spend that much money on a bowl of soup? Are they crazy?"

The last dish was even more outrageous.

【Signature Dish Three: Enlightenment Tea】

[Description: This spiritual tea, personally cultivated by the owner, contains a trace of the true essence of the Great Dao. It cannot be drunk by those without a destined connection, nor tasted by those without immense perseverance. Effects: It can help one comprehend the Dao of martial arts, elevate one's state of mind, and may even lead to sudden enlightenment of unparalleled divine skills.]

Price: Priceless (depends on the owner's mood; a good mood will get you a free drink, a bad mood won't sell even if you pay).

Priceless? Depends on my mood?

Everyone was speechless.

This boss is too capricious in his business dealings!

"Hey waiter, is there a mistake on this menu?"

Passerby A couldn't help but grab Lei Wujie, who was serving tea, and said, "One hundred taels for a bowl of rice, one thousand taels for a bowl of soup, why don't you just rob us?"

"Rob?"

Lei Wujie stopped and looked at him with disdain. "Robbing doesn't bring in money faster than this. Besides, we have clearly marked prices, and we're fair to everyone. If you think it's too expensive, turn left when you go out, there's a steamed bun shop over there, two coins each, all you can eat!"

"you!"

The passerby was furious. "What kind of attitude is this?"

"Eat it or don't, it's up to you. If you don't want to eat, go to the back of the line and don't block the way!"

Lei Wujie waved his hand impatiently, slipped on his foot while holding the plate, and used the "Stealth Step" that Su Changqing had just taught him to slip through the gaps in the crowd like an eel, leaving a group of dumbfounded onlookers behind.

"This...this waiter's movements are incredibly fast!"

Someone exclaimed in surprise, "This person should at least be a master of the Free and Unfettered Realm, right? Why is he working as a waiter here?"

Although Lei Wujie had shown off his skills, the prices on the menu were simply outrageous, and most people remained in a wait-and-see mode, unwilling to be the ones to be ripped off.

Just when everyone was questioning, mocking, and even preparing to laugh at him.

An old, gray-haired man carrying a broken knife walked out, trembling.

He was wearing a faded old robe, which made him look poor, but his eyes revealed a sense of vicissitude and determination.

"Waiter...give me a bowl of that...what's the Soul-Stirring Rice?"

The old hand pulled a cloth bag from his pocket, unfolding it layer by layer. Inside was a stack of crumpled silver notes, exactly one hundred taels. That was his life savings for his coffin.

"I've been stuck at the peak of the Vajra Mortal Realm for twenty years... My time is running out, and if I don't break through soon, my life is over. Rather than taking it to the grave, I might as well take a gamble!"

"Alright! One bowl of 'Heartbreak Rice'!"

Lei Wujie shouted and quickly came over carrying a steaming bowl of golden fried rice.

The rice grains were crystal clear, each one coated with golden egg liquid, and the aroma was so enticing that just smelling it made one's mouth water.

The seasoned veteran swallowed hard, his hands trembling as he picked up the spoon and scooped out a large mouthful, putting it into his mouth.

next second.

His movements froze.

Two streams of turbid tears flowed down his aged eyes without warning.

"This taste...this taste..."

The old hand muttered to himself, his voice choked with emotion, as if lost in some distant memory.

"I'm reminded of my first love... Cuihua!"

Then, with a loud bang, he actually broke through on the spot!