The Universe Snack Stand was selling braised large intestines this week.
Of course, "large intestines" is just the term used for public consumption; in actuality, it was a desert worm resembling intestines, filled with an astonishing amount of fat and a taste very similar to that of intestines.
It's said that their thod of attacking prey is quite unique—they spew a mucus from their body cavities, which contains high concentrations of anesthetic substances. If prey happen to inhale it, they quickly fall into a drowsy state, unable to move.
Then the desert worms crawl over their prey, tightly coiling around the target with their bodies and secreting digestive juices that slowly dissolve and digest the prey.
All this knowledge was shared by He Yueji with Ma Lu, and she was beaming with excitent and panting heavily while imparting it, sparking so inexplicable enthusiasm. Ma Lu wasn't sure about the credibility of this information or if she had embellished it with her own additions.
However, it's true that these creatures, which seem like archenemies to magical girls, are a delicacy in the Giant Curtain.
And with the beast tide in full swing, the price wasn't too steep—Ma Lu spent 2,200 Electric Degrees to buy 800 pounds.
As for the Six-ard Ancient Ape and the Iron-Eating Scarab, the hunters decided to work together to haul them back after the sandstorm had subsided.
But with the store's opening imminent, Ma Lu also took precautions, no longer putting high-star ingredients on sale too early, especially those above 5 stars.
These high-star ingredients are readily available now only because they're located right in the middle of the beast tide, which drives all kinds of wild creatures rushing towards the Giant Curtain.
Ma Lu had also inquired with Boggy and Mai Mai that during normal hunting seasons, even venturing deep into the Death Forbidden Zone might not guarantee a catch every ti, especially with legendary beasts like the Six-ard Ancient Ape—a creature many hunters might not encounter even once in their lifeti.
Though most people wouldn't want to et one, to be fair.
However, such premium ingredients couldn't fetch too high a price at the snack stand. If he were to bring them back and sell them for twenty or thirty a portion, Ma Lu would feel a twinge of regret.
So he rented a refrigerated storage unit in the Giant Curtain and froze his share of the Six-ard Giant Ape at and the Iron-Eating Scarab in there.
This ti, he chose to purchase ingredients directly from the market.
—[Fragrant Braised Worm] Deliciousness Index: ★★☆.
After searching, Ma Lu found this outstandingly flavorful dish, which also had a relatively low procurent cost.
The price was set at 21 bucks a serving, two bucks cheaper than the previous Earth Dragon at Sandwich.
However, selling braised large intestines outside a university entrance still required a bit of courage, as students were often concerned about their image as young idols.
Furthermore, socially speaking, it wasn't as easy to market as Volcano Grilled Sausages or Queen's Crisps, because while you could invite your crush to have grilled sausages or crispy pork, braised large intestines—even if she really wanted to eat it—might not be sothing she'd be comfortable admitting.
For instance, Little Snail, a regular custor and devoted fan of the snack stand, didn't show up this ti, and there were fewer people joining the WeChat group than before.
But the number of people privately ssaging Ma Lu to place orders had skyrocketed.
It seed that there were still plenty of braised large intestine enthusiasts out there; it's just that so of them needed to manage their appearances and could only sneak around to buy it.
So, in actuality, business wasn't overly affected.
To further accommodate his wide range of custors and incidentally increase his inco, Ma Lu had Old Wang bake so of the golden-threaded biscuits that were made for the previous at Sandwich sale.
At 3 dollars each, they could be paired with the braised large intestines to make a biscuit sandwich, and sales were quite good.
Halfway through, Ma Lu had to make a call to the gas delivery guy as the gas cylinder was running low, asking for a new cylinder to be brought over.
Ma Lu squatted down to help change the cylinder, and then felt a light tap on his shoulder.
"Ma Lu?"
"Hmm?" Read new adventures at mvl
Ma Lu responded absently and turned his head to see an unexpected face.
"It is you." The speaker was a short-haired female dressed in a khaki suit and capri pants, in full professional attire, bending over behind him.
"Oh, it's you. You've returned to the country," Ma Lu raised his eyebrows and said indifferently.
"Yes, I ca back after finishing my graduate studies," the woman spoke while reaching up to tuck her hair behind her ears.
"That's truly a pity."
"Why do you say that, you don't wish for to co back?"
"No, wasn't it you who liked staying abroad? Wouldn't it be a pity if you couldn't settle down there?"
Ma Lu wiped his hands and stood up from the ground.
The woman straightened up as well, "I just wanted to go abroad to gild my resu, to make it easier to find a job when I ca back."
"Ah... so your current job must be really good then."
"It's okay, I guess. I work at a beauty rating website. I ca out with my team leader this afternoon to take pictures, and since we were in the area, I thought I'd swing by my alma mater to take a look."
"By the way, our company is currently expanding, are you interested in submitting your resu? I can refer you internally, and I think you'd have a pretty good chance."
The woman glanced at the tricycle nearby.
"No need," Ma Lu said flatly, "I already have a job."
"Are you still angry with ?" the woman frowned, "Now's not the ti to act on a whim. This opportunity is rare, and it would be a sha to miss it... If you really hate and don't want to work with , you can just transfer to another group once you're in."
Upon hearing this, Ma Lu snorted with laughter, "Angry? Yu Yitong, you think you're too important. In my heart, you're now an irrelevant stranger, I can't even rember your na."
"You just called by my na a mont ago," Yu Yitong reminded him.
"Hmm, but I can't recall which 'Tong' is in your na, and the 'Yu' as well, I've forgotten it, let think... It should be the one with the 'single person' radical, Yi."
"Childish," Yu Yitong adjusted her hair once more.
"No, I truly don't rember, and as I told you, I already have a job. Not only a job but also a partner. Our business is thriving, and we've already established strong bonds. I'm not like so selfish ghosts who would abandon their companions for the so-called future and job."
"What's wrong with pursuing a career?"
"Ha, that is such a selfish ghost question."
"Forget it, it doesn't matter anymore. You're selling braised intestines; give a serving. I'll consider it supporting your business."
"Not selling."
"Why not?"
"Because it's my rule of doing business, not to sell to my enemies." Ma Lu crossed his arms, "Haven't you heard that old saying? Every serving of intestines you sell will turn into a weapon for your enemies to use against you."
"I've never heard that," Yu Yitong played with her hair again, "So our relationship now... is that of enemies?"
"Exactly."
"And this is how you strike at , by not selling your braised intestines to ?" Yu Yitong said incredulously, "Do you think that will hurt ?"
"So tell if you're upset now or not."
Despite not wanting to admit it, Yu Yitong was indeed seething with annoyance at this mont.
Particularly since Ma Lu, while talking, had deliberately scooped up a box of braised intestines and handed it to Hou Yihan, who was in line behind Yu Yitong, "Here's yours, enjoy. If you want a flatbread with that, just add 3 yuan."
"Oh, oh, oh."
Hou Yihan, sensing the charged atmosphere, quickly left with her braised intestines in hand, but she couldn't resist the gossip unfolding before her eyes.
So she didn't go far and edged up next to Shen Yue, who was thoroughly enjoying the show, and whispered.
"Sister Yue, what's the deal between the boss and that pretty sister?"
"What else could it be? They were a couple, oh, but they broke up two years ago. Now, I guess, they're enemies," Shen Yue said while cracking sunflower seeds, "Hmm, at least in Brother Ma's view, Sister Yu must have been categorized as an enemy."
Hou Yihan's gossip radar started spinning.
Love and hatred! There wasn't a woman who didn't enjoy such stories, "Quick, tell , how did they break up?"
"I'm not clear on the specifics; Brother Ma didn't share with anyone, but it seed there wasn't any third party. Probably because Sister Yu wanted to study abroad, and then she broke up with Brother Ma. He says it doesn't matter to him, but he's actually quite vindictive about it.
"Guess he's been pondering how to retaliate, tsk tsk, there's probably more drama to co."
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