Chapter 13 – Small Shop on the Old Street
Lin Jiu: “It’s in the old street in the west of the city. Demon Fish is my store.”
Jiang Ge: “Great, we’ll head over right away.”
Lin Jiu: “Come by tomorrow instead. The store opens tomorrow; today I need to do some final preparations.”
Jiang Ge: “We’ll come over and help you set up. We’re eagerly waiting for your seafood!”
Lin Jiu checked the time. If he went back to prepare now, he might still be able to open the store in the evening. Are there any stores that open in the evening?
“Alright, then come over. I’ll go prepare.”
Jiang Ge, thrilled, hung up the phone and immediately began to rush, “Hurry, hurry! We’re going to his store, and we should be able to try other delicacies too.”
Si Xu took the black star pearls out of the paper box, put them in a softer box for safety, and placed it in the room. Not feeling comfortable with that, he then put the box in the safe and locked it carefully before he felt at ease.
A series of actions left Jiang Ge stunned. “Wait, is this real or not?”
“It’s real,” Si Xu said with a smile, then went to change clothes before heading out.
Jiang Ge’s legs went weak, and he almost fell to his knees. “If this is real, how much is it worth?!”
Wen Qin’s expression turned serious. “If it’s real, it absolutely cannot be accepted. I’ll go to the courier company to see if I can find the specific address.”
Si Xu came out dressed. “No need. You don’t need to worry about this. I’ll handle it.”
Since debuting, Si Xu had never accepted gifts from fans, especially something as valuable as this. Since Si Xu wanted to handle it himself, Wen Qin didn’t press further.
*
The store didn’t actually need cleaning; the renovation company had already taken care of that.
Lin Jiu needed to tidy up the second and third floors. Previously, the elderly couple lived on the second floor, the third floor was rented out, and the first floor was a breakfast shop. Now the first floor was completely renewed, but the second and third floors remained as they were.
Lin Jiu opened the renovation blueprint.
[System Prompt: Opening the renovation blueprint will directly complete the renovation. Do you want to renovate the small store?]
“Yes.”
[Please select the renovation location.]
“Second and third floors.”
[Confirm renovation of the second and third floors?]
“Confirm.”
[Renovation in progress…]
[Renovation complete.]
Lin Jiu: “???”
So fast? How come there wasn’t any sound at all?
[Would you like to adjust the renovation of the first floor?]
Lin Jiu: “Does the first floor need adjustment?”
[Adjustments will make it more aesthetically pleasing, comfortable, and healthy. The design will feature flowing water, and the system will control it entirely, requiring no effort from the host.]
“Adjust.”
Health is the most critical aspect; everything else is secondary.
The live fish in the decorative pond requires regular feeding, water changes, oxygenation, and disinfection, which can be quite troublesome. With the system handling it entirely, Lin Jiu can relax.
The red-painted wooden door on the first floor has been replaced with a single, natural wood door, positioned near the left side, leaving the entire right wall open. The wall has been redesigned with small, light-colored squares, and a large window has been added. The window design is recessed and flush with the wall, and the interior features landscaping with blue stone, ancient trees, and swimming fish. Although it’s not large, it is very exquisite.
Between the door and the window, a rectangular sign reads Demon Fish Shop.
The old street buildings are straightforward. Lin Jiu placed the cash register and kitchen on the right side, and on the left side against the wall, he arranged five long wooden tables. Wooden benches with cushions in light colors are placed on either side of the tables.
At the far end is a private room, carefully designed and Lin Jiu’s favorite place.
The number of tables is limited, making the small shop feel very spacious, cozy, and comfortable.
[Adjustment Successful.]
Lin Jiu looked around; the overall design of the first floor hadn’t changed, but there were several modifications in the details. For example, on the left side’s light-colored wall, which previously had only two large artistic characters reading “San Tang,” now featured a peculiar hand-painted big fish below the characters. The fish is made of colorful blocks, and its vibrant colors make the black “San Tang” stand out more, adding vibrancy to the otherwise plain light color.
On the left wall, small wooden shelves display some cute decorations, adding a more detailed and warm touch to the shop’s overall style.
It’s simple yet refined, with a touch of elegance throughout.
Lin Jiu was surprised to see that the business license and food operating permit, which he hadn’t yet picked up, were already hung on the wall behind the cash register. He hadn’t expected the system to handle these items as well.
Lin Jiu doubted the authenticity of the business license and specifically checked its registration number. The result confirmed that the license displayed on the wall was indeed the one he had applied for but not yet retrieved.
The system’s capabilities continued to amaze Lin Jiu.
He planned to check the second floor but found that two small white doors, resembling angel wings and quite cute, had appeared at the stairwell. It was evident that these were created by the system.
He pushed open the small doors and went upstairs, circling around in a daze before coming back down. He seriously suspected that the space wasn’t renovated but rather replaced entirely. How else could such a large transformation occur so silently?
Lin Jiu’s first thought was that he couldn’t let people freely go upstairs. He was worried about scaring them, as the design upstairs was beyond ordinary explanation.
[Chef System Reminder: Only customers who spend 1 million and meet the shop’s favorability requirements are eligible to access the second floor. Only customers who spend 5 million and meet the shop’s favorability requirements are eligible to enter the third floor.]
That’s good. Such high thresholds are difficult for most people to meet, and the “favorability” is entirely determined by the Chef System.
Lin Jiu took a look around the kitchen. It was well-equipped, with the basic facilities available. Complex and difficult ingredients would be processed in the super-smart kitchen before being brought out. The small kitchen could handle simple food preparations.
The kitchen could be either concealed or open. There’s a wooden bar on the outside where food can be served, and guests can sit. Lin Jiu didn’t plan to seat guests for now and hadn’t prepared high stools, as he didn’t like a cluttered appearance in the shop.
Lin Jiu had planned to write the menu the next day, but since Jiang Ge was coming tonight, he decided to write out today’s dishes.
He took a small blackboard and wrote today’s menu in chalk:
Seafood Rice (Small) / 298 yuan
Seafood Rice (Medium) / 1098 yuan
Seafood Rice (Large) / 3998 yuan
The system had set these three prices after comprehensive calculation and comparison.
Lin Jiu placed the blackboard on a stand in front of the cash register, where it would be visible as soon as someone entered.
Since seafood rice was on the menu, he needed rice. Besides seasonings and magic seafood, Lin Jiu didn’t have any staple food.
[It is recommended that the host use Moonstone Rice. This rice is grown on the southernmost island of the magic sea realm and is the highest quality Moonstone Rice available. The grains are crystal-clear, with a soft, chewy texture, rich aroma, and abundant nutrients.]
[1 point of magic value can purchase 100 pounds of Moonstone Rice. Would you like to buy it?]
In Lin Jiu’s mind appeared: one silver carp fish bone = 100 pounds of Moonstone Rice.
There’s no need to think twice; this must be bought. Shop can’t run without staples.
Lin Jiu took out an advanced intelligent rice steamer from the super-smart kitchen, washed some Moonstone Rice, and put it into the steamer. He plugged it in and started cooking the rice.
The smart kitchen can use various energy sources, but Lin Jiu most frequently uses electricity. Adapting to local customs, many of his kitchen appliances are electric, which Lin Jiu finds very convenient.
*
After enduring the rush hour, the three of them found West City Old Street, and it was nearly dark.
The old street was bustling with elderly people and children taking walks. The buildings were old and the ground uneven. Jiang Ge drove cautiously, bumping along and stopping frequently to avoid pedestrians.
A few children were playing in the road, and some elderly people were chatting by the roadside. Jiang Ge had to honk to alert them, but the elderly man in front turned and scolded him.
“Why are you honking? It’s hard enough to drive here. Why did you even bring your car in? Look at the elderly and children around here. If you hit someone, you’ll be in trouble.”
Jiang Ge: “…”
Jiang Ge was at a loss for words and thought about how to express his frustration.
They were all new to this area and didn’t know what to expect.
Jiang Ge grumbled, “Why did Lin Jiu open a shop in such a place? It’s old and broken down, with bumpy, narrow roads. Parking is impossible, and even driving through is a problem.”
Wen Qin lowered the car window and asked the elderly man, “Do you know where there is a shop called Demon Fish?”
“Demon Fish?” The old man shook his head. “Never heard of it.”
Wen Qin explained, “It’s a newly renovated shop.”
The elderly man knew the area well. The old street was small, and news traveled fast.
“There’s a shop being renovated next to Chen’s Noodle House. It looks pretty good. The walls have fish decorations, and it’s attracting a lot of kids.”
Wen Qin asked, “Where is Chen’s Noodle House?”
The old man pointed ahead. “Keep going.”
Jiang Ge had no choice but to move forward.
Chen’s Noodle House was the most conspicuous place on the old street. It was large, with an eye-catching red-painted door and big red characters. Compared to the rough and unrefined Chen’s Noodle House, the “Demon Fish Shop” next door appeared to be a breath of fresh air.
Jiang Ge parked the car by the roadside, and the three of them got out.
As a public figure, St. Xu’s every move was observed, so he put on a mask but didn’t wear a hat.
The three entered the shop and were immediately struck by the comfortable decor and arrangement inside.
Si Xu’s gaze was drawn to the figure in the kitchen. Lin Jiu, wearing light casual clothes with his sleeves rolled up and long black hair tied back, was stirring a pot with a long spoon. His movements were skilled and focused, and in the misty steam, he looked almost unreal.
“This place has such an atmosphere; it feels more like a café than a dining spot,” Jiang Ge’s loud voice shattered the ambiance.
Lin Jiu looked up and met the gaze of someone wearing a mask. The exposed eyes were very attractive and somewhat familiar to him.
Jiang Ge pointed at the dining rules on the wall by the entrance. “Lin Jiu, you’re being too arrogant with these long dining rules.”
- No reservations, no takeout; dine-in only, no wasting food.
- Daily dishes are decided by the owner; no ordering.
- Do not inquire about ingredients; the owner guarantees absolute freshness.
- Prices are fixed; no haggling.
The three read through the dining rules and understood that Lin Jiu’s business approach was both domineering and laid-back.
The rules were clear: eat if you want to. As for the price, it’s non-negotiable.
When they saw the prices for today’s dishes, they understood Lin Jiu’s confidence.
Indeed, it’s eat or not, and money can’t force it.
Wen Qin scrutinized Lin Jiu. He looked even better in person than in photos and on camera, with a striking appearance. Wen Qin had listened to all the songs of the Dream Group recently, and Lin Jiu’s voice was excellent, though the group’s songs didn’t suit him. The selection of songs seemed arbitrary, not considering individual voice qualities.
Now that the group had disbanded, it might be a good thing for Lin Jiu. With a strong team for packaging and planning, his appearance and voice could easily make him famous. “Star Creation” must have been blind to keep such a good talent hidden.
“What kind of seafood rice would you like?” Lin Jiu had only prepared seafood rice ingredients for today.
Jiang Ge leaned over the bar, peering inside. “Do you have silver carp? We want to eat silver carp.”
Lin Jiu replied, “The seafood rice includes silver carp.”
“Three large servings of seafood rice then,” Jiang Ge ordered the most expensive option. “Do you have a private room? My friend isn’t feeling well.”
Jiang Ge pointed at Si Xu, worried about someone coming in later.
Lin Jiu glanced at Si Xu, noticing he was tall but quite thin, and guessed he was the sick friend Jiang Ge mentioned.
“Go to the innermost room.”
Jiang Ge went ahead and indeed found a private room. When he opened the door, he was warmed by the design inside. Every detail was thoughtfully designed, with the back wall made of wood and a window showing lush green banana plants.
Behind the old street was a semi-circular flower bed, common in every household. Over time, some had been neglected and grown wild, while others had been cultivated for vegetables. Lin Jiu’s flower bed had been designed into a picturesque scene.
In front of the window, a long table was set up for sitting, daydreaming, listening to the rain, and watching the banana plants.
Standing by the window, Si Xu suddenly understood Lin Jiu’s state of mind. He might not want to return to the noisy and competitive entertainment industry. This quiet and peaceful life was what he truly desired.
—
Translator Note:
I decided to stop bolding the ‘system’ message because, in the beginning, I was trying to make it more robotic but as the chapter progressed the ‘system’ message doesn’t sound that robotic anymore…
So… Let me know in the comment if you want to keep the ‘system’ message bold or not 🙂
I think it’s fine not to bold the system’s messages if you don’t want to. On a diff note, LJ is so lucky, the system is doing practically everything for him!