Ten Thousand Federation Credits

"Sure!" Tang Wulin said with a smile. He was already hungry.

Lin Yu nodded. He was actually quite curious about what this braised clay-pot beef tasted like.

After all, the original story had made it sound so extraordinary. Even someone as worldly as Gu Yue had reacted like that. It sounded like it had an effect similar to something laced with ice.

Braised clay-pot beef was a delicacy cooked in a brownish-yellow earthenware pot. The beef was washed clean and stewed with scallion and ginger slices. The clay pot effectively sealed in the beef's moisture and fresh flavor. Once the beef changed color, more than a dozen spices were added and it was simmered for a long time. By the time the beef had become completely tender, the flavors of the spices had perfectly melded with the meat. It was a famous Eastsea City snack.

The shop was not large. Its stove stood outside, with nearly a hundred small burners on top, each holding an earthenware pot of stewing beef. The rising aroma of beef made the pot lids buzz, and the fragrance took the opportunity to slip out and tempt passing pedestrians.

There were only five small rectangular tables inside, enough to seat at most twenty-odd people. Half of them were already occupied.

It was already late autumn, and the temperature outside was low. The moment they entered, warmth and the fragrance of beef washed over them, instantly making their whole bodies feel comfortable.

Gu Yue glanced at Xie Xie in surprise. "I never thought a young master from a rich family would eat at a roadside shop."

Xie Xie did not bicker with her this time. "My mother used to love this shop's braised clay-pot beef. I come here every so often." As he spoke, he walked inside and sat down at the innermost table.

Tang Wulin nudged Gu Yue before following him in. Gu Yue gave a soft snort. It seemed that, without Na'er having gotten to know Tang Wulin beforehand, and with Gu Yue herself not being close to him, she was even less understanding of human nature than in the original story. She did not feel there was anything wrong with her teasing remark and simply lowered her head as she walked in.

The four of them sat at one table. Tang Wulin sat across from Xie Xie, while Lin Yu sat opposite Gu Yue, with Xie Xie beside him.

Although Gu Yue and Tang Wulin were seated together, there was a wide gap between them, enough to see what was happening outside the door.

"Oh, Xie Xie, you're here. You even brought friends. The usual?" The owner was a middle-aged man with a slightly greasy apron tied around his waist and a broad smile on his face.

"Mm, thank you, Uncle Li," Xie Xie said with a smile. He then pointed at Tang Wulin and said to Uncle Li, "Bring him ten large bowls first. He has a good appetite and can eat."

The man Xie Xie called Uncle Li froze for a moment, then smiled and nodded.

Very soon, the three portions of braised clay-pot beef and white rice for Lin Yu, Xie Xie, and Gu Yue were served first. Immediately afterward, Uncle Li hurried back inside and returned carrying a large tray in each hand, bringing out ten bowls of braised clay-pot beef one after another.

To make room for the ten bowls, Uncle Lin even pulled over another table and joined it to the one where Xie Xie and the others were sitting, forming a long table like a banquet spread.

After serving those two rounds of dishes, Uncle Li brought out two delicate side dishes.

"This is your first time bringing friends here, so the side dishes are on the house," Uncle Li said with a beaming smile. He even patted Xie Xie on the head, treating him like one of his own nephews.

Following Xie Xie's lead, Lin Yu also picked up a piece of tender, crispy beef and placed it over his rice to taste it.

Though it was not top-quality meat from a soul beast cow, its exquisite preparation made it exceptionally delicious.

As Lin Yu ate the braised clay-pot beef, he felt that it was very close to the flavor of the beef stew he had eaten in his previous life.

It was just such a small shop, with dim yellow lighting and worn-out tables and chairs, yet it served astonishing food. Beef, rich broth, side dishes, and white rice all went down warm and comforting.

Tang Wulin truly lived up to the bearing of a Food God. After taking his first bite of braised clay-pot beef and confirming that it was genuinely delicious, he swept through the ten bowls before him like a whirlwind, leaving them completely clean.

Then, his gaze settled on the bowl of braised clay-pot beef in Lin Yu's hands, since Lin Yu was eating the slowest. He said amiably, "If you can't finish it, you can give it to me. I'll take care of it."

That instantly brought out Lin Yu's instinct to guard his food. It was as though he were the one-ringed soul master and Tang Wulin were the three-ringed Soul Elder. He weakly lifted his bowl with both hands and said, "No need to trouble yourself, Brother Tang. I can still finish this bowl."

Tang Wulin could only turn to Uncle Li beside him and say, "Uncle Li, five more bowls!"

When the four of them left the braised clay-pot beef shop, they had become much closer. They walked out with their arms around one another's shoulders, while Uncle Li, who remained in the shop, watched their retreating backs and could not help sighing. "Kids these days can really eat!"

Then Uncle Li's gaze fell on a braised clay-pot beef pot that had been raised slightly. Curious, he lifted it and found a kraft-paper envelope beneath it. Opening it, he saw a stack of brand-new, consecutively numbered Federation credits.

After counting them, he found that there were nearly ten thousand. There was no need to ask; Lin Yu had clearly left them for him.

Although Light Dragon's act of punishing Glory for collecting protection money had been satisfying and vivid in the original story, when Lin Yu put himself in Uncle Li's shoes, having the shop smashed up was a loss, and having family members who needed medical treatment was another expense. That kind of youthful passion could not solve the practical problem.

They had driven Glory away today, but what about tomorrow? If someone stronger came tomorrow to collect protection money, what was he supposed to do then?

Although these ten thousand Federation credits could not truly solve the problem, they could at least help Uncle Li and his little shop get through this hurdle safely.