"Hiss—"
Susan didn't even lift her head as she ate. Her face was flushed, her eyes bright with excitement, yet she couldn't help but reach out with her chopsticks for more fish. It was truly delicious!
Hiss—it was just a bit spicy.
As she ate, the burning, spicy sensation on her tongue sent pinpricks of sweat popping out all over her forehead.
"Hello."
Susan looked up. An elderly woman stood before her, smiling as she asked, "What dish is this?"
Susan wiped the sweat from her brow and recommended it enthusiastically, "This is the newly launched Sauerkraut Fish from Youwei Restaurant. It tastes absolutely amazing!"
As she spoke, she couldn't help but hiss again, adding, "It’s just a little spicy."
Hearing it was fish, the old woman frowned slightly. But seeing Susan's reaction, her interest was piqued. "How spicy is it?"
Seeing that the woman was interested, Susan eagerly flipped her chopsticks over and handed them to her. "Try some."
Odeya didn't mind; she took the chopsticks and reached straight for the fish.
Beneath a layer of golden broth lay slices of delicate fish, beautifully plated and colorful enough to make anyone’s mouth water. The intense, fragrant aroma wafted into her nose, making her salivate instantly.
As for the fish itself, she had tried it when she was young, but it had been fishy and slimy—hardly something one would call delicious. However, even though this dish was made of fish, it lacked that unpleasant fishy odor. Odeya found herself feeling a rare spark of interest.
She nonchalantly placed a snowy white slice of fish into her mouth. Instantly, a searing, spicy heat exploded against her dulled taste buds, surging through her nerves along with a subtle tang.
Odeya’s pupils contracted. The intense sensory impact stunned her aged palate. Ever since her body had begun to decline, her senses had dulled, and she couldn't even remember the last time she had experienced such a potent and satisfying flavor.
No, even in her youth, she had never tasted anything this bold and aggressive.
Odeya squinted slightly, chewing slowly. Fine beads of sweat broke out on the tip of her nose. A long-forgotten sense of exhilaration welled up from deep within her—a feeling she hadn't experienced since she was young, adventuring with her husband.
She hadn't felt such a powerful impulse in years.
Seeing the old woman just chewing slowly without a word, Susan grew anxious. "Is it not to your taste?"
That was the only reason she could think of; the owner’s ingredients and culinary skills were top-notch.
Hearing the young girl's worried voice, Odeya looked over. Her face, usually calm and composed, held a rare expression of satisfaction. She shook her head. "It’s delicious. It reminded me of the days when I used to go on adventures with my husband."
Before Susan could reply, she asked, "Is the shop owner here? I’d like an order, too."
Susan nodded happily. "The owner is in the kitchen!"
"Owner—"
Hearing Susan’s call, Ling Miao poked her head out of the kitchen and spotted the new customer. She wiped her hands on her apron and greeted her with a smile. "Hello! Is there something you'd like to eat?"
"We only have two dishes on the menu right now." She pointed apologetically at the electronic display scrolling on the wall, where two lonely entries were listed: Hand-pulled Fish Ball Noodles and Sauerkraut Fish.
Odeya felt a twinge of regret; she had wanted to try other dishes. But it didn't matter. Recalling the lingering taste on her tongue, she replied briskly, "I’ll have an order of Sauerkraut Fish."
"No problem," Ling Miao started to nod, then remembered something. "The Sauerkraut Fish is a bit spicy, you know?"
"I love spicy food!"
Ling Miao hadn't expected the old lady to be so straightforward. She replied with a nod and turned back to the kitchen.
Seeing that she had successfully converted a customer, Susan was overjoyed. When she had first arrived, the owner had hoped she could bring in more customers, but having just arrived on Tadar Star, she didn't know anyone. Now, every new customer made Susan incredibly happy. The owner's food was so good that more people deserved to know about it!
In her excitement, she chatted more with the old woman, and as they talked, the distance between them narrowed.
It wasn't until Ling Miao brought out the freshly made Sauerkraut Fish that Susan stopped, still feeling as if she had more to say. Ever since she was exiled to Tadar Star by her family, her old friends had distanced themselves, and she hadn't spoken her heart to anyone for a long time. She felt awkward complaining to the shop owner while eating her food, but perhaps because Odeya had stayed because of her recommendation, Susan felt she could open up more.
After letting it all out, Susan felt much better. Ling Miao, who was serving the food, smiled at her. "Did something good happen?"
Susan shook her head. "I just figured some things out."
"I have to thank Grandma Odeya."
Ling Miao looked surprised. She looked at the visibly livelier Susan, then at the smiling Odeya, who nodded gently at Susan. "It’s good that you found your own peace of mind."
Ling Miao raised an eyebrow, said nothing, and returned to the kitchen.
The live stream had ended after she finished making the Sauerkraut Fish. Now, it was time to calculate the tips and the deliciousness value.
Ling Miao watched the translucent live-stream interface excitedly. The circle on the screen was spinning rapidly, then suddenly accelerated like a car hitting the gas, eventually grinding to a halt just as she had a gut feeling it would.
Live stream tips:
Over a million!
Ling Miao covered her mouth and did a little spin. She barely managed to compose herself before looking at the deliciousness value. With only a few hundred viewers, it was a lucky coincidence that a wealthy "whale" had dropped in and gifted two battleships, or it wouldn't have been anywhere near this much.
She calmed her heart and focused on the deliciousness value.
Deliciousness value: 2,860 points.
Split among everyone in the stream, it meant every viewer had contributed at least a few points. If this kept up, she would earn enough points to go home before long! She might even have the chance to travel to other worlds!
Wealth was coming so easily that Ling Miao couldn't help but feel giddy, lost in visions of her bright future.
Suddenly, a cold, mechanical voice rang in her ears:
*Deduction for live stream operation points: 2,280. Automatic deduction for outstanding debt: 500. Remaining points: 80.*
*After deducting operation costs and the platform's commission, the remaining balance is: 426.5.*
Ling Miao felt like spitting blood. She gritted her teeth and demanded, "Why are the operation points so high? It was promised that all tips from the live stream would be mine!"
[Live stream operation points are the energy consumed by the system to connect to StarNet; the same applies to live stream operation costs.]
Seeming a bit guilty, the system fell silent.
Ling Miao held back and held back, but eventually, she couldn't help but thrust her middle finger into the air.
"Stupid! System!"