The morning glow was as bright as brocade.
Behind the Congee Shop, Xian He suddenly appeared, carrying two large baskets of Plain Boiled Eggs.
He was already a White Obsidian One-star martial artist. His single arm could exert six hundred and ninety pounds of force, so carrying a basket of eggs was as easy as carrying a basket of cotton.
The Congee Shop was already open, and customers had lined up in a winding queue, like a Polygonum Multiflorum Vine.
Xian He had arrived a little late.
But the moment he appeared with the bamboo baskets, he caused a commotion.
The customers abandoned the line and crowded around him.
"Xian He, what took you so long? I've been going crazy wanting to eat eggs!"
"Xian He! I went to the elder's Chicken Coop, and not a single chicken was missing. Where did you get the chickens you sold yesterday?"
"Everybody move! Clear the way so Xian He can set down those eggs!"
"Why are there only boiled eggs today? What about Beggars Chicken? I've got my money ready!"
The customers all talked over one another, making Xian He's head spin.
Holding the baskets high to keep anyone from stealing amid the chaos, Xian He squeezed his way to a table and sat down.
"Get in line! One at a time. Don't rush, there's enough for everyone!"
Today, Xian He was only selling eggs. His stock had already overflowed, and if he didn't sell them soon, there'd be no room left in the Cold Storage of the three Siheyuan.
"Grand opening special! Buy ten, get one free! Buy twenty, get two free!"
"Don't miss out as you pass by!"
As he was selling Plain Boiled Eggs, Xiao Kuang came strolling over with a huge bald head perched on his shoulders.
"Little brother, where's my surprise?" Xiao Kuang's voice boomed like a furious lion's roar.
He stared with bloodshot eyes at the table. When he saw nothing but Plain Boiled Eggs, his face fell.
"Big brother, help me sell these eggs first. They're ten Copper Coins each. I'll go get your surprise and bring it right back!"
With that, Xian He gave Xiao Kuang his bench and headed behind the Congee Shop.
"Xiao Kuang, Xian He said buy ten, get one free. You shorted me an egg!"
"Shorted you my ass! Ten Copper Coins an egg, a hundred for ten. Take it or leave it—and if you don't want them, get lost!" Xiao Kuang replied, rude and unreasonable.
The customer glared at Xiao Kuang, but there was nothing he could do.
In less than half an incense stick's time, Xian He returned carrying a large bag.
Inside were three Beggars Chickens, four Crystal Pomegranates, ten steamed cakes, and forty Fried Eggs.
Steamed cakes, also known as Steamed Cakes, were made from wheat flour. Eating one increased Force Dissipation and true energy by eight percent.
In the Inner World, wheat ripened once per season, yielding four harvests a year.
Of the twenty-four mu of Spirit Field, twenty mu had been planted with wheat. The fields were expected to yield twenty thousand jin of wheat each season, or eighty thousand jin a year.
For now, though, all the wheat had been planted, and there wasn't much flour to spare. He could only send ten steamed cakes as a token.
After thinking it over, Xian He decided to make it up to Xiao Kuang with forty Fried Eggs. Although Fried Eggs were a mid-second-grade food, they were still just eggs. Charging Xiao Kuang ten Copper Coins apiece would be far too greedy; two Copper Coins each seemed more reasonable.
"Big brother Xiao Kuang, your surprise is in the bag. Take it home!" Xian He handed him the bag, then took his place and resumed selling Plain Boiled Eggs.
The customer who had been shortchanged came back to complain that Xiao Kuang had given him one egg too few.
It was only one egg. Xian He waved a hand and gave him another.
"Little brother, this White Wood Powder Cake smells pretty good." Xiao Kuang eagerly opened the bag and found ten steaming cakes, each about the size of his palm, nestled inside.
Unable to resist, Xiao Kuang opened his enormous mouth and took a bite with a loud crunch.
"Mmm! It doesn't just smell good—it tastes great, too!" Xiao Kuang devoured them faster and faster. He finished each steamed cake in two or three bites.
Watching Xiao Kuang eat made the customers' mouths water.
Someone couldn't help asking, "Xian He, what kind of cake is that? It looks delicious."
"They're called steamed cakes, made from flour ground from the seeds of a plant called wheat," Xian He explained. "If you want some, I can bring more tomorrow!"
"How much for one?" The customers were more concerned about the price.
Xian He held up one finger. "It's cheap. Same price as Wood Powder Porridge—one Copper Coin each."
"What?"
"One Copper Coin each?"
"That's so cheap!"
The customers were so shocked that the eggs in their mouths nearly fell out.
"But," Xian He added, "I'll only sell a thousand tomorrow, with a limit of ten per person. First come, first served!"
"Little brother, what if I can't get up in the morning?" Xiao Kuang scratched his gleaming bald head.
Xian He waved a hand. "No worries. I'll set aside an extra hundred for you tomorrow and leave them at Old Man Yun's Congee Shop. You can pick them up whenever you like."
"Great, thanks, little brother." Xiao Kuang affectionately patted Xian He on the back, nearly knocking the breath out of him.
Xiao Kuang was incredibly strong!
No wonder he was a Yellow Radiance Three-Star martial artist!
"I'm off, little brother!" Xiao Kuang waved.
"Take it easy on the way!"
After seeing Xiao Kuang off and selling two hundred eggs, Xian He tidied the table and prepared to attend the Azure Light Competition.
"Hey! Where do you think you're going?" Old Man Yun rushed out of the kitchen and blocked Xian He's way.
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