Chapter 412: Achieving Big Things with Little Money

With things looking so promising, Shen Lu felt that once spring came, the number of people collecting materials for her would continue to grow.

When that happened, she would set up a small, dedicated shed in the backyard for taking in the materials.

She hadn’t considered it before because it was just three kids collecting materials, and it was easy enough to just take them at the front door.

Once more people started showing up, she couldn’t have them crowding the main entrance. It would be much better to move the collection point to the backyard.

The day before, Shen Lu had received a text from the Kitchen King Championship production team. It was a notification to attend the preliminary round at the qualifying venue in the Lower City District at ten in the morning.

Only by passing this round could she enter the official competition.

With an uneasy heart, Shen Lu set out with Xue Can.

Her anxiety wasn’t about failing the preliminary round, but about facing another assassination attempt.

They arrived cautiously at the venue for the preliminaries, which was the gymnasium in the Lower City District.

"Boss Shen, it’s very crowded here. Stay close to me," Xue Can urged before they got out of the car, his tone laced with concern.

"Alright, I will." Shen Lu nodded.

After they verified their identities and entered the gymnasium, a chaotic wave of noise instantly washed over them.

Assistants weren’t permitted for the preliminaries, so Shen Lu had to go line up by herself as directed by the staff, while Xue Can went to the designated waiting area for companions.

"Don’t worry, I’ll be fine," Shen Lu said with a smile to Xue Can.

After drinking the Solidification Liquid that day, Shen Lu slept soundly through the night. When she woke up the next morning, she hadn’t undergone the classic transformation written about in novels—waking up to find her entire body covered in black sludge.

She did, however, make several urgent trips to the bathroom, completely emptying her system.

Pinching her nose, Shen Lu flushed the toilet and sprayed a generous amount of air freshener.

’Thank goodness Fu Cheng is at the hospital,’ she thought. ’Otherwise, I would have absolutely died of embarrassment.’

However, she’d forgotten there was someone in the shop with a very sharp nose. With a solemn expression, Xiao Lang led Xue Can up to the fourth floor and knocked on her door.

"Sister Shen, did your toilet explode?"

"Huh?" Shen Lu was confused.

"I could smell it all the way from my dorm. Did a bad guy get in? I asked Brother Xue to come up with me to investigate."

"N-no, it’s not that!" Shen Lu desperately blocked the doorway, preventing them from coming in. "Everything’s fine here. You two hurry downstairs, it’s time for breakfast."

But Xiao Lang insisted, "Sister Shen, didn’t you tell me that I should investigate thoroughly whenever I sense something isn’t right?"

"..."

Shen Lu really wanted to die.

She had told Xiao Lang that after the poisoning incident. Now, after all this time, her own words had come back like a bullet straight to her forehead.

"When I say it’s nothing, it’s nothing. Be good now. Go on downstairs for breakfast. I’ll be down after I take a shower."

Xue Can seemed to sense Shen Lu’s predicament, so he picked up Xiao Lang and carried him downstairs.

Despite the embarrassing misunderstanding, the benefits were tangible.

Shen Lu could clearly feel her five senses had sharpened, her strength had grown considerably, and her movements were much more agile.

Not only would this improve her culinary skills, but it also increased her chances of survival.

When the preliminary round was over, Shen Lu had successfully advanced. Not daring to linger, the two of them headed straight back to the shop the moment they left the gymnasium.

"There’s no need to be so tense, Mr. Xue. Everything went smoothly today."

Xue Can’s tone was grim. "We can’t let our guard down."

What they didn’t know, however, was that the Shadow Organization was still wrangling with Ma Tao.

Ma Tao believed the Shadow Organization took his money but botched the job, and was now trying to pin the blame on him.

The Shadow Organization, presenting the facts, believed that Ma Tao had provided incorrect target information in an attempt to get a big job done on the cheap.

Trying to pull a fast one on them was simply unforgivable.

As a result, the Shadow Organization sent its people to shave off every single hair on Ma Tao’s body in the middle of the night.

His private areas were not spared.

When Ma Tao woke up to find himself completely hairless, he was both shocked and enraged. He ran to Ma Shiyou and Ma Hong to complain.

Ma Shiyou and Ma Hong hadn’t known about Ma Tao’s dealings with the Shadow Organization. After hearing the whole story, Ma Shiyou massaged his faintly throbbing temples.

"The Shadow Organization doesn’t lie."

"Dad! I’m your son! How can you not believe me?"

Ma Hong thought for a moment. "It’s not that your intel was wrong. It’s more likely that Shen Lu deceived you."

Ma Tao slapped his thigh. "Right! That’s it, that has to be it! That woman is too cunning!"

"Alright, let’s drop this for now. We’ll find another chance to deal with her later," Ma Shiyou said. He’d been swamped lately.

After the earlier Gong Tianhua incident, the government had promised to distribute relief supplies several times. They had just completed the second distribution when the Royal Family also got involved. Claiming this year’s sandstorm season was exceptionally harsh, the Eldest Prince announced that he, too, would distribute relief supplies out of pity for the difficult lives of the Lower City District’s citizens.

On top of all that, the Kitchen King Championship had also begun.

As the deputy district head’s secretary, Ma Shiyou was completely overwhelmed every day. He had no time to deal with his youngest son’s ridiculous messes.

"How can you say that? Dad, look at me! My hair, my eyebrows, my eyelashes, even..." Ma Tao yanked at his pants. "It’s all gone! If I go out like this, people will laugh themselves to death!"

Ma Shiyou shot his youngest son a look of pure exasperation. "Then just go get hair transplants, can’t you? Ma Hong, take your brother later."

Ma Hong replied without expression, "Understood."

On the way to the hospital for the hair transplant, Ma Tao was still complaining nonstop.

"I can’t swallow this insult! Bro, I’m going to kill that little bitch!"

Ma Hong shot his brother a sideways glance. "Go ahead if you want. Just don’t come crying to us when you get into trouble. Dad and I have no time to deal with you right now."

"Hmph!"

"What’s your hurry? Once we’re past this busy spell, Dad will naturally get even for you. She’s just the owner of a small restaurant, but she probably has a powerful backer. You made a move without investigating anything, so it serves you right that you failed."

"You yourself said she’s just a small-time boss. What kind of backer could she possibly have?"

"And that’s why I say you’re brainless." Ma Hong had intended to share some of his findings with his brother, but seeing his clueless expression, he couldn’t bring himself to say another word.

The moment she got back to the shop, Shen Lu received a congratulatory message from Fu Cheng.

The preliminary round was live-streamed, but Fu Cheng had been undergoing a medical check-up right when Shen Lu was competing, so he’d missed it.

After his check-up, he deliberately scrubbed back through the recording to watch her part.

In truth, Fu Cheng knew what the result would be even without watching. Shen Lu’s skills were so exceptional; it was impossible for her not to pass a mere preliminary round.

But after watching it, Fu Cheng gained a new level of appreciation for her culinary artistry.

He had seen Shen Lu cook before, but she had never been this poised. From chopping vegetables to tossing the wok, every movement was as fluid as flowing water, making for a captivating performance.

The aura she exuded was one that could not be taken lightly.

Shen Lu cheerily sent a smug sticker and asked Fu Cheng what he’d had for breakfast.

Fu Cheng: Congee, an egg, and pickled vegetables.

Shen Lu: You poor thing. We had hand-rolled noodles this morning. They were perfectly chewy.

Fu Cheng could almost picture Shen Lu on the other end of the conversation—elated, her cherry-red lips surely pursed in a smug, playful pout.

"Fu Cheng." Jiang Ying knocked gently on the door and called from outside his room, "May I come in?"

The gentle smile on Fu Cheng’s face vanished. "Come in."

Ever since he had spoken to Doctor Wang about changing the physician who handled his case notes, Jiang Ying hadn’t set foot in his room.

Fu Cheng had thought she would never come back, so he was surprised to see her today.