Chapter 21: Soft Tofu Should Be Eaten While It's Warm

“Not only is it no good—it’s completely unresponsive.”
“You all don’t know. A few days ago, our sect leader changed his face and came to our building looking for my sisters to serve him. But once in bed, he turned out to be completely useless—neither attractive nor capable.”
“What’s even funnier is that the sect leader has a birthmark on his buttock. Even after changing his face, the birthmark remained. That’s how my sisters recognized him.”
“That night, I really had to put on a show.”
“I racked my brains so hard, but the money I earned still wasn’t enough to cover my compensation.”

As she spoke, the young woman wiped at the corner of her eye, seemingly sympathizing with her sisters.
Yet, the shift from “my sisters” to “I” clearly revealed who the protagonist of the story was.

Sometimes, these courtesans really did have it tough.

Crunch, crunch.

Enthusiastically munching on melon seeds, Lu Wu held the melon seed hulls given by Miss Hibiscus and ate with sheer delight.

“The sky is cloudy, mostly cloudy.”

“You—you all are just too much!”

Elder Huang, lying on the ground, blushed deeply upon seeing the private secret of his sect leader exposed so publicly.
He trembled as he raised his hand to curse, but a passerby with kind intentions happened to step on it.

Lu Wu seemed to hear the sound of bones breaking.

“Our Huang Fist Sect will never let you off!”

Elder Huang spat a mouthful of old blood, furious and threatening, his bloodshot eyes coldly glaring at everyone, clearly unwilling to give up.

A surge of spiritual energy burst forth, striking Elder Huang’s head with a loud bang, knocking him completely unconscious.

“Boss Lu, rest assured, within my Little River Town, there will never be any bullying or abuse of power.”

Lou Ba Tian pounded his chest in promise, fearing that Lu Wu might abandon Little River Town because of this.

Without those delicious buns, his household would be in turmoil.

“I trust the town chief.”

Lu Wu nodded heavily.

After selling out the buns and finishing the melon seeds, Lu Wu packed up and headed home.

It was still early, so Lu Wu lay on the bed scrolling through the One Realm Pass, laughing wildly at some amusing posts.

“Why did a sect leader forcibly seize and loot?” Lu Wu clicked in and saw it was the joke of the night about the Huang Fist Sect. Underneath the post, a crowd unleashed merciless mockery.

Lu Wu joined in with a few hearty laughs, but when she refreshed, the comments had disappeared.

Did the Qingyuan Realm also play the control-comments game?

Feeling the depth of the schemes, Lu Wu’s eyes caught a very dramatic headline.

“I am an elder of the Bun Cult, hereby declaring that those who offend the Bun Cult shall be exterminated no matter how far!”

The extremely over-the-top topic made Lu Wu shudder all over and quickly swipe past.

She remembered that the Bun Cult was a newly emerged cult, recently making quite a stir with their ruthless eradications—definitely not to be trifled with.

Leisurely moments always passed quickly. After an hour, Lu Wu, who had started dozing off, reluctantly put down the One Realm Pass and went to sleep.

Ever since the bun stall’s reputation spread, crowds of customers eagerly awaited Lu Wu’s arrival whenever she opened shop.

The task was completed smoothly, and Lu Wu earned a modest profit.

The system’s seven-day requirement had reached its final day.

Rising at midday, Lu Wu busily prepared the ingredients.

On the last day, to reward new and old customers alike, Lu Wu decided to prepare a bigger variety.

This was the largest batch yet; handling ingredients and seasonings kept Lu Wu so busy she had no time to try the new flavors herself.

By the time she hurried to the stall location, she found the entire alleyway packed tightly with people.

Her appearance naturally made her the center of attention.

Amid countless gazes, Lu Wu calmly walked in.

“Buns for sale!”

Lu Wu called out to customers and hung out the menu.

“Spicy kidney buns... cunning white sugar sesame buns, tofu buns best eaten hot. Wow, the previous flavors are still here, plus two new ones!”

“Buns family feast? Boss Lu is generous!”

“Generous, yes, but Boss Lu is limiting purchases. There were so many flavors I haven’t tried yet. Boohoo... I just can’t decide.”

Someone bit on a handkerchief, eyes brimming with tears, pleading.

“Boss Lu, can you lift the purchase limit today?”

They had heard that this was Lu’s last day selling here.

“Yeah, Boss Lu, please don’t limit it today. We’re all old friends; cut us some slack.”

After one person led the way, many more earnestly begged Lu Wu to relent.

“Boss Lu, I want this one, this one, and this one... please, just this once.”

Miss Hibiscus pressed close to Lu Wu, her fingers as tender as spring onions tapping Lu Wu’s shoulder. Her coquettish voice sent chills down one’s spine.

Her fragrant breath brushed Lu Wu’s ear, utterly intoxicating.

For Miss Hibiscus, the leading courtesan of Smoke Willow Street, to use such advanced charms on a girl just to get a few more buns—if this got out, no one would believe it.

“Ahem!”

Lu Wu nearly choked on the seductive glance.

She cleared her throat, looked at the pitiful customers before her, and after a moment’s thought said,

“I know everyone supports me. Alright, today each person may purchase up to four buns, no more.”

She had to let more people taste them; unlimited purchases were impossible.

“Thank you, Boss Lu.”

Two turned to four—a doubling. She was satisfied.

Feeling the air practically filled with pink bubbles, Lu Wu quickly stepped back, face full of refusal.

She really didn’t like women.

Really!

“Come, come, sales are open.”

“Make way! I’m first! I want a cunning bun, a hot tofu bun, a pure little meat bun, and a soup-filled bun.”

This was an old customer.

He had tried all the flavors before, so naturally wanted to try the new ones.

After receiving the hot buns, under a crowd of envious eyes, the old customer deliberately broke open a white sugar bun in front of those queued behind him.

Lu Wu used soft white granulated sugar that melted into crystal-clear syrup when steamed, with plump black sesame seeds embedded inside, making it especially enticing.

Unlike the gentle sweetness of red bean buns, the white sugar sesame buns’ sweetness touched the heart with each bite.

The intense sweetness might seem cloying to some, but these buns avoided that because during sugar melting, part of the sweetness was absorbed by the flour.

What remained was just right.

The old customer inhaled the aroma, his throat rolling.

“Glug, glug.”

Many around him did the same.

Amid those hungry, wolfish gazes, the old customer smugly smiled and used his spiritual power to fan the sweet scent, spreading it far and wide.

“Damn you, old geezer, you’re killing us with temptation. Step aside!”

Those behind, worried they wouldn’t get any buns, were now so tempted they wanted to jump forward and pin the old customer to the ground.

Wasn’t this just asking for trouble?

“Hehe.”

The old customer winked, flaunting his prize.

Under the jealous and longing glances, he leisurely stuffed the bun into his mouth, every move dripping with playful mischief.