The Price of Wasting Food, You Cannot Afford

The variety of dishes on the menu was outrageously comprehensive.

Staple foods ranged from every type of noodle to rice; the vegetable dishes were even more diverse, spanning from common greens to all sorts of rare and exotic fruits; and as for the meat dishes, it went without saying—everything from birds and beasts to mountain delicacies and seafood was available.

Desserts, soups, alcoholic beverages... there were over a dozen major categories, each with an even wider array of selections underneath.

The sheer variety of dish names was enough to make one's head spin.

Names like "Cloud Marsh Thousand-Silk Silver Thread Noodles," "Dragon Blood Glutinous Coral Rice," and "Glazed Heart Fruit Salad"... just hearing them made one feel they were high-end, sophisticated, and classy.

However, when Chrysanthemum Douluo saw the prices listed next to them, he nearly popped his eyes out of their sockets.

Eight thousand gold soul coins for a bowl of noodles?

What kind of concept was that?

One had to know, eight thousand gold soul coins were enough for an ordinary family of three to live carefree for ten lifetimes!

And yet, in this dump of a shop, it could only buy a single bowl of noodles?

Even as a Titled Douluo with deep pockets who didn't care about a little money, he couldn't just let himself be fleeced like a fool, could he?

Chrysanthemum Douluo glared viciously at Lin Feng, but that guy was still lounging leisurely on his rocking chair, his calm expression practically saying: take it or leave it; if you don't like it, turn left at the door.

He clearly had no idea how absurd the prices he had set were.

Damn it, does this brat really think he's some kind of deity?

Chrysanthemum Douluo cursed inwardly, then let out a cold sneer.

Since you dare to set such an outrageous price, then I'll just order a mountain of food, and when the time comes to pay, I'll see what you can possibly do about it!

"I want these Cloud Marsh Thousand-Silk Silver Thread Noodles, and this Glazed Heart Fruit Salad."

Chrysanthemum Douluo deliberately raised his voice, pointing at the items on the menu with a flick of his orchid finger.

"Also, bring me the Grilled Thunder Rhino Ribs, and hmm... throw in an order of this Starlight Mottled Pheasant as well."

Hu Liena and the others watched from the side, terrified.

What is Elder Chrysanthemum trying to do?

It doesn't feel like he's here for a normal meal!

"And this..."

Just as Chrysanthemum Douluo was about to continue ordering, he suddenly heard a lazy voice drift over from behind the counter.

"Are you sure you want to order that much?"

Lin Feng had finally spoken, though he still hadn't opened his eyes.

"The food in my shop has an extremely high energy content. Even for a Titled Douluo, your appetite is no different from an ordinary person's."

"Ordering too much and not finishing it is a waste, and I do not allow food to be wasted here."

When Chrysanthemum Douluo heard this, he nearly laughed out loud.

Does this brat really think so highly of himself? He doesn't allow food to be wasted?

"What business is it of yours? This Seat has plenty of money!"

Chrysanthemum Douluo provoked him intentionally, his orchid finger lightly brushing his cheek.

"I'll order as much as I please. Can a mere shopkeeper like you really dictate terms to This Seat?"

Only then did Lin Feng slowly open his eyes, casting a faint glance at Chrysanthemum Douluo.

"Suit yourself. But I'll say this first: you cannot afford the consequences of wasting food."

After speaking, he closed his eyes again, making it clear he couldn't care less.

Chrysanthemum Douluo was almost angered to the point of laughter by that statement. Cannot afford? What consequences could he, Chrysanthemum Douluo, possibly be unable to afford?

"Fine! Then This Seat will keep ordering!"

Chrysanthemum Douluo flipped through the menu viciously. "Bring me another..."

"Elder Chrysanthemum!"

Hu Liena couldn't watch anymore and hurriedly stepped forward to grab Chrysanthemum Douluo's arm.

"Please don't be impulsive! Since that senior said so, he must have his reasons!"

Yan, who was still squatting to the side clutching his aching stomach, also chimed in: "Elder Chrysanthemum, why don't you order a little less?"

Xie Yue went as far as to stand directly in front of Chrysanthemum Douluo: "Elder, our original intention for coming here wasn't to eat, but to verify the situation. Just ordering one or two things to go through the motions is enough!"

The trio's desperate dissuasion finally calmed Chrysanthemum Douluo down a little.

"Fine, then just add the Twilight Snow Warm Jade Soup, and finally, the Green Blood Loyal Heart Brew."

Chrysanthemum Douluo snorted coldly, finally stopping his order.

"Wait a moment."

Lin Feng rose slowly from his rocking chair, put on an apron, and donned a chef's hat before heading toward the kitchen.

It was at this moment that Hu Liena gathered her courage and spoke up: "Um... Senior, could the three of us also order a bowl of Clear Broth Noodles?"

Her voice carried a cautious, probing tone, fearful of irritating this mysterious shopkeeper.

Hu Liena knew very well that with the stance Chrysanthemum Douluo was taking today, he was determined to stir up trouble.

As the three of them who had led Chrysanthemum Douluo here, they would likely never be allowed to come in and eat again.

At the mere thought of this, Hu Liena felt a sharp, agonizing pang in her heart.

This was a miraculous place that could directly increase one's soul power! Where else could they find a shop like this if they missed out on it?

Therefore, she decided that before they were completely blacklisted, she would eat as much as she could while she still had the chance.

Xie Yue and Yan also snapped back to reality, hurriedly chiming in to agree.

"Yes, yes! We also want to order three bowls of Clear Broth Noodles!" Yan clutched his still-aching stomach, his tone filled with obvious longing.

"Senior, we beg of you!" Xie Yue even bowed deeply, his attitude as sincere as it could possibly be.

However, faced with their requests to order, Lin Feng merely shook his head.

Seeing this, the hearts of Hu Liena and the others instantly turned cold.

It was over!

They assumed that the shopkeeper was already forbidding them from ever eating here again, and the three of them felt utterly hopeless.

Perhaps, compared to the massive amount Chrysanthemum Douluo was spending, Lin Feng simply looked down on their small business of three hundred gold soul coins.

The three of them looked ashen, their faces etched with despair.

If they had known it would come to this, why had they told Chrysanthemum Douluo about this place? Wouldn't it have been better to just eat and level up in silence?

Hu Liena was on the verge of tears; she felt that a bright, promising path was about to be completely severed because of today's events.

However, the next second, Lin Feng's words reignited their hope.

"Under normal circumstances, a person can only eat one meal here per day." Lin Feng's tone remained languid, but to the three of them, it sounded like music to their ears. "If you still want to eat, come back tomorrow."

Pausing for a moment, Lin Feng added indifferently, "As long as you are a customer in my shop, there is no distinction between high and low status; there is only first come, first served, regardless of how much is spent."

Hearing this, Hu Liena and the others nearly jumped for joy.

So it wasn't that he wouldn't let them eat, but that it was simply the shop's rules!

"That's great!" Yan punched the air in excitement, only to aggravate his wounds, causing him to wince in pain.

Hu Liena's eyes turned red, and she was moved to the point of tears. "Senior, you are truly too kind!"

Xie Yue also let out a long sigh of relief, his tightly wound nerves finally relaxing.

Off to the side, Chrysanthemum Douluo watched the reaction of these three brats and twitched his lips.

Was it really necessary? It was just a bowl of lousy noodles; were they really that moved?

However, he quickly turned his attention back to Lin Feng, curling his lip. "Enough, stop playing the good guy and hurry up and cook!"

Lin Feng glanced at Chrysanthemum Douluo, ignoring his provocation, and simply curled his lips into a strange smile before turning to walk into the kitchen.

Chrysanthemum Douluo sat in his chair with his arms crossed, looking as if he were waiting to watch a good show.

He had already made up his mind: when the brat brought the food out, he would find fault with the quality of the dish, refuse to pay, and see what the fellow could possibly do about it.