https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-217-The-Food-Pavilion-Part-Five-/12541026/
Chapter 218: Abundance
Chapter 218: Abundance
Fu Shen Lou, the restaurant, occupied a large area. To show his goodwill towards Mo Hua, Old Man An purchased three floors and combined them into one establishment.
Its location was ideal, situated on a busy street with constant foot traffic.
Being located on South Street meant the rent was affordable, and thus the spirit stones spent on the property weren't overly excessive, at least not for the Ans.
Fu Shen Lou had two floors: the second floor consisted of private rooms, while the first was a spacious hall with additional outdoor seating.
The restaurant could accommodate a large number of diners, and it also offered a variety of meat snacks for takeaway.
The recipes used at the restaurant were provided by Liu Ruhua, containing various cooking methods for demon beast meat. Having been refined and improved by Liu Ruhua over a long period, the dishes were flavorful and unique to the restaurant.
The stoves used in the kitchen were top-tier, large in size, and emblazoned with a superior array. They boasted strong and adjustable flames, capable of cooking numerous ingredients simultaneously.
As a result, many of the dishes on the menu were priced very reasonably.
This had been Mo Hua's intention—to utilize large stoves to reduce costs and increase cooking efficiency, allowing most of the loose cultivators in Tongxian City to enjoy better meals at lower prices.
With delicious food at affordable prices, the restaurant naturally attracted a steady stream of customers.
The restaurant could also maintain a high volume of sales with thin profit margins, ultimately earning a substantial amount of spirit stones.
However, running such a large establishment required a significant number of staff.
Injured demon hunters or loose cultivator nuns who lacked expertise in spells could find employment here, earning spirit stones to support their families.
With everything prepared, Fu Shen Lou chose an auspicious day for its grand opening.
After opening its doors, the restaurant bustled with customers and thrived in business.
Mo Hua was delighted, feeling a sense of relief.
But An Xiaofu, on the other hand, felt anxious.
As the manager of the entire restaurant, he suddenly felt overwhelmed by the bustling crowd of diners. He didn't know what to do or where to start.
According to Mo Hua, he would be responsible for managing all of this in the future.
An Xiaofu felt the weight of his new role.
Although the An family could provide some assistance, they could only help temporarily. Ultimately, he would have to learn and handle these responsibilities himself.
However, he didn't know where or how to begin.
Mo Hua reassured him, "You don't need to see yourself as the manager. Just think of this as a dining establishment, and interact with the customers as you would normally. Don't be too uptight."
With Mo Hua's words, An Xiaofu relaxed.
He began to move around the restaurant, greeting familiar demon hunters, offering them a cup of wine or some snacks, and introducing the restaurant's signature dishes.
Being a food lover himself, he spoke enthusiastically and knowledgeably about the dishes.
When he had free time, he still enjoyed joining others at their tables, listening to their cultivation experiences or fascinating stories. If he particularly enjoyed a story, he would offer a jar of wine.
Sometimes, the restaurant would also invite storytellers to entertain the guests.
If a story became too familiar, An Xiaofu would weave new tales based on his own experiences, requesting the storyteller to share them with the audience, often earning rapturous applause.
Gradually, An Xiaofu's network of acquaintances among the diners grew, and he became more talkative and cheerful.
Old Man An and An Yonglu also visited the restaurant and saw An Xiaofu rushing around, his head covered in sweat but his spirit high.
This was a stark contrast to how he had been back in the family home.
An Yonglu sighed, feeling a sense of relief.
Old Man An glanced at him, his expression resigned.
He had not wanted the An family to continue running a restaurant, but it seemed that his son and grandson only had the talent for this line of work.
They lacked the ambition to open an artifact or pill refinery, and they didn't have the means to compete with the Qian family covertly.
Given the current situation, it seemed that the Ans would be running a restaurant for generations to come...
However, An Xiaofu didn't see anything wrong with running a restaurant.
He could eat his fill, provide for others, and ensure everyone enjoyed their meals.
But occasionally, he had his doubts, and he confided in Mo Hua, "What if I run this restaurant for my entire life? Will people look down on me?"
Mo Hua pondered for a moment before replying, "In the cultivation world, there are a hundred different paths, and each has its strengths. It's admirable to excel in any endeavor. If you can expand this restaurant across the nine provinces of the cultivation realm, providing meat for everyone, who would dare look down on you?"
"Probably not," Mo Hua admitted. "But how will we know if we don't try?"
An Xiaofu nodded, silently steeling his resolve. Despite his lowly cultivation level and their single restaurant, he would strive to open countless more, ensuring that everyone could enjoy hearty meals and drinks!
As time went on, the newly opened Fu Shen Lou gradually settled into a routine, and a month later, the year-end festivities arrived.
With half a month still remaining before the New Year, the pill refinery was finally completed.
Master Ban settled the remaining spirit stone payments, and the craftsmen, from foremen to apprentices, could now happily return home for the holidays.
Before their departure, Master Ban brought some of the lead craftsmen to express their gratitude to Mo Hua and presented her with New Year gifts.
If it weren't for Mo Hua's swift and skilled array formations, such a large project would have likely kept them occupied until after the New Year.
Otherwise, they would either be unable to return home or would return empty-handed, making for a difficult celebration.
Master Ban praised Mo Hua, and Mo Shan and Liu Ruhua were equally pleased. They invited Master Ban and his crew to share a meal together.
The group enjoyed a lively feast, accompanied by ample amounts of wine.
After the meal, Master Ban and his team prepared to depart.
Before leaving, Master Ban specifically assured Mo Hua that if she ever needed craftsmen, she could rely on him. He promised that they would never cut corners, ensuring her satisfaction.
He also invited Mo Hua to visit the neighboring Qingxuan City whenever she had the time, offering to show her around and let her experience the local culture.
Mo Hua nodded and bid farewell to Master Ban, waving as the group of craftsmen and artisans gradually walked away.
They carried their storage bags on their backs and pushed small wooden carts with old storage boxes. Tools that didn't fit in the carts were piled up in groups of three or two alongside the carts.
Step by step, they made their way down the streets of blue-gray stone, passing through the gates of Tongxian City, their figures growing dustier as they embarked on their journey home.
Mo Hua stood at the doorway, watching their retreating figures until they were out of sight, and waved goodbye once more.
She hoped they would return home safely and have a wonderful New Year celebration. She also hoped that from then on, they would be able to return home safely and happily every year.
Another ten days passed, and the families of Tongxian City were all preparing for the New Year.
The streets were decorated with colorful lanterns and banners, creating a festive atmosphere.
This was perhaps the most prosperous and lively New Year celebration that the ordinary loose cultivators of Tongxian City had experienced in nearly a hundred or even several hundred years.
The basic foundations for cultivation were now in place.
The Pill Refinery crafted spiritual tools, the Elixir Refinery produced elixirs, and Fu Shen Lou offered delicious meat dishes.
With spiritual tools, demon hunters could reduce their injuries. With elixirs, low-level loose cultivators could better manage their illnesses. And with the restaurant, everyone could improve their diets.
Moreover, whether it was the Pill Refinery, the Elixir Refinery, or Fu Shen Lou, they all provided loose cultivators with opportunities to earn a living or acquire spirit stones.
Whether one was a demon hunter, an artificer, an alchemist, a chef, or just an ordinary loose cultivator, everyone could find stable employment and earn spirit stones for their cultivation and daily needs.
Their clothing, food, and shelter were all better than before.
As a result, this New Year was especially abundant, and naturally, the atmosphere was lively and joyous.
The streets were bustling with cultivators coming and going.
Stalls and shops lined the streets, offering a wide variety of goods, from unique toys to flavorful snacks, aromatic brews, and captivating street performances.
Infected by the festive atmosphere, Mo Hua found herself in high spirits.
The path of cultivation was arduous, and making a living was challenging for cultivators.
There were many things Mo Hua couldn't do, but within her capacity, she wanted to improve the lives of the loose cultivators in Tongxian City.
Having grown up in the city, she had received much care and support from the neighbors and elders.
Now that she had learned array formations, she naturally wanted to give back to the community.
With these thoughts in mind, Mo Hua felt a sense of relief.
She was grateful to have the Stele of Dao in her sea of consciousness and to have chosen the path of array formations.
Array formations were rooted in the Dao, and only through them could she help so many cultivators.
(End of Chapter)
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