Chapter 37
Amid the crowd, Dahei, the German Shepherd, sprinted with boundless joy.
As a carefree dog, he didn’t understand why everyone was running or why his usually health-conscious owner—who would get winded just from practicing Tai Chi—was suddenly dashing at full speed.
What he did understand was—
Awesome! Everyone’s playing with me!
He and his siblings often did this, suddenly racing to see who was the fastest. Naturally, Dahei assumed that today was no different—except that his competitors were now humans instead of fellow dogs.
He had to prove to his owner that he was the fastest and fiercest dog!
And so, tongue hanging out in delight, Dahei charged forward with unstoppable momentum, dragging Gu Tiancheng behind him like a plastic bag caught in the wind.
…He paid absolutely no mind to his owner’s survival.
Gu Tiancheng’s legs flailed wildly, his mouth foaming.
He felt like he was exhaling more than inhaling, barely clinging to life, about to ascend to the heavens.
Meanwhile, Professors Wang and Murong were panting as they ran—until a large black dog suddenly bolted past them.
The rankings they had struggled to maintain? Instantly shattered. By a dog.
Murong glanced at Wang and sneered, “Oh? Wang Jianhua, aren’t you always bragging about how fit and fast you are? How come you can’t even outrun a dog?”
Professor Wang’s face turned red as he huffed, glaring furiously. “Murong, you shameless old thief! And what about you? Are you any better? Can you run faster than a dog? Ha! All you have is your big mouth.”
“Who says I can’t outrun a dog?” Murong retorted, breathless but unwilling to back down. “I was just holding back so you wouldn’t lose too miserably. Watch this—I’ll show you my true strength!”
Summoning all his energy, he suddenly surged forward with the agility of a swallow, actually overtaking Dahei!
Professor Wang could tolerate many things, but being outdone by Murong was not one of them.
Seeing Murong accelerate, Wang gritted his teeth, unleashed his inner warrior, and exploded forward with an almost cosmic aura, surpassing Dahei as well!
PhD student Han Lin glanced at them, terrified. Dear god, my professor just went berserk.
Now Wang and Murong were running side by side again.
“Hmph, not bad.”
“You’re not too shabby yourself, but I’m still stronger!”
But before they could bask in their achievement—
“Awooo!”
Dahei pounced forward.
Hah! These two humans thought they could outmatch him in a race?
Nice! He loved a challenge! He’d prove to his owner once and for all—he was the fastest in this competition!
And just like that, Dahei pulled up alongside them.
Wang, Murong, and Dahei—none willing to admit defeat, none willing to fall behind—pushed themselves to the limit. The two professors used every trick they had, while Dahei put all his canine might into the race.
They charged forward, their spirits blazing.
A battle of pure determination!
A thrilling, intense showdown!
…If only one could ignore Gu Tiancheng flailing helplessly behind them, still being dragged through the air by Dahei’s leash.
Gu Tiancheng: “……”
Could someone do something about this?!
I swear, I’ll report this to the highest authorities!
The crowd watched with a mix of amusement and sympathy.
Among them were employees of Yuanzhou Group, who were shocked beyond belief as they witnessed their esteemed chairman soaring through the air like a kite, yanked along by Dahei.
Their boss had completely lost all color, a peaceful smile lingering on his lips, his entire body bathed in an almost holy light.
“……”
Yuanzhou employees shuddered.
It’s over. The chairman’s about to meet his end.
Fortunately, at that moment, the tricycle ahead suddenly stopped.
Jian Yunlan hopped off, looking around. They had turned into a small alleyway. At a glance… it seemed like they had shaken off the city enforcers?
Not a second to waste!
Jian Yunlan immediately set up his large wok and started cooking.
“He’s cooking! He’s cooking!!!”
Tears of joy streamed down the crowd’s faces as they clutched each other’s hands. “We did it! We carved out our own path! And now, we get to eat fried rice again!”
Leaning against the wall, gasping for air, Gu Tiancheng also sobbed in relief. “I did it… I survived… cough cough…”
Meanwhile, Professors Wang and Murong were still glaring at each other, unwilling to concede:
“I was clearly faster!”
“Nonsense! I crossed the finish line first!”
“What finish line?! You just made that up!”
Then, they both turned to Dahei.
“Dog, tell us—who ran faster?”
Dahei blinked his big, innocent eyes. “Woof?”
Following the leash from Dahei’s collar, the two professors’ gazes slowly traveled upward—
And finally noticed Gu Tiancheng, pale as a ghost.
“GASP!”
Both professors reeled in shock.
…Wait.
There was someone behind them this whole time?!
“Boss Jian, our fried rice~”
“Did we lose the city enforcers? Can we finally eat?”
“I’m starving! Running made it worse—I could eat a whole person right now!”
The hungry customers eagerly gathered around, eyes filled with anticipation.
“Hold on, everyone—there’s enough for all.” Jian Yunlan wiped the sweat from his forehead, relief evident in his eyes after their narrow escape.
He poured oil into the wok, cracked in the eggs, and a rich, fragrant aroma instantly filled the air. Next came the rice. With each precise motion, he mixed the grains and egg evenly, transforming them into a golden, fluffy perfection.
However, just as hope was rekindled—
“Urgent report—!!!”
A loud, dramatic female voice echoed from the distance.
It was Wu Qiuhe, the steamed bun shop owner, racing toward them on her electric scooter. The crowd instinctively parted to make way. She screeched to a halt before Jian Yunlan, cupped her hands in a formal salute, and exclaimed:
“Your Majesty—no, Boss Jian! The city enforcers are back!”
“We… we never actually lost them! They’re still following, and the moment they turn that corner, they’ll find you!”
Jian Yunlan paled. “Ah, what do we do?!”
Wu Qiuhe’s eyes gleamed with steely resolve, a warrior’s determination settling over her.
As if making a life-altering decision, she gripped Jian Yunlan’s hand, her voice solemn yet unwavering.
“I will lead them away. Boss Jian, you must take everyone and—”
“Run!”
Tears welled up in Jian Yunlan’s eyes. “I can’t let you sacrifice yourselves!”
“No need for words.” Wu Qiuhe smiled and shook her head. “Boss Jian, just promise me—when we meet again, save me a bowl of fried rice.”
Her husband, Bao Manman, dressed in his chef’s uniform and hat, clung to her side with tearful devotion. “My love, please, come back safely. When you return… let’s get married.”
Wu Qiuhe nodded solemnly. “Mm.”
“If we survive, we’ll be together forever.”
The crowd: “……”
Are you two seriously setting up a tragic farewell flag right now?!
Also, haven’t you been married for over twenty years?!
There was no time for hesitation. Wu Qiuhe and the other street food vendors reached into their pockets and pulled out red headbands emblazoned with the words: “Yuanzhou Group Street Vendors’ Alliance.”
Tying the bands around their foreheads, their eyes hardened with unwavering determination.
The chilling wind howled, as if foretelling their fate.
“Brothers and sisters—charge! We fight to forge a path for Boss Jian!”
Wu Qiuhe roared.
With that, the street vendors mounted their scooters, tricycles, and pushcarts and burst out of the alleyway like warriors heading into battle.
“Freshly made Chinese crepes—only ten yuan each! Clean, delicious, and hygienic!”
“Steamed buns, hot and fluffy! Pork buns, veggie buns, red bean buns—get them while they’re fresh!”
“Yo yo check it out, crispy pancakes here! One for five yuan, two for ten—what a deal!”
The approaching city enforcers halted, momentarily stunned by the sheer audacity of this small army of vendors.
Are they not afraid of fines? Not even scared of getting their carts confiscated?
The enforcers immediately stopped them one by one. “Show us your business licenses!”
Meanwhile, in the distance, Wu Qiuhe looked back as she rode away, casting Jian Yunlan a solemn, parting glance—
Boss Jian, take care!
Passersby: “……”
This is the first time I’ve seen street vendors radiate the energy of assassins plotting to kill the emperor.
At Jian Yunlan’s Street Stall
The customers watched the departing vendors with the same reverence one would give to fallen heroes.
Heroes are destined to be remembered by history. We will never forget your sacrifice.
Jian Yunlan turned back, eyes filled with new determination. He was no longer just an ordinary street vendor. On his shoulders rested the dreams of his brothers and sisters!
“Keep moving! Stay together!” Jian Yunlan leaped onto the driver’s seat of his tricycle and shouted, “Victory is ahead!”
But a voice called out from behind—
“Boss Jian, you only half-cooked the fried rice. What do we do?”
Jian Yunlan: “……”
Emergency brake.
He hopped off and rushed to the large woks on the back of the tricycle.
Around them, the customers gathered anxiously.
Standing guard over the woks were none other than Professor Wang, Professor Murong, and Chairman Gu Tiancheng—the most respected figures present. They had taken it upon themselves to defend the rice and await Boss Jian’s judgment.
Jian Yunlan made a decisive call.
“I’ll finish cooking. Chairman Gu, Professor Wang, Professor Murong—you handle the tricycle.”
The three distinguished men: “???”
Wait, what?
Gu Tiancheng had driven Maybachs, Maseratis, and Lincolns in his lifetime—but never a tricycle.
Yet—
Jian Yunlan had already wiped his sweat, gripping the spatula with a laser focus, pouring his heart and soul into the final stage of frying.
The three powerful men exchanged glances.
Then, with gritted teeth, they nodded in silent agreement.
Go for it!
Xiao Jian was giving it his all, so even if they had to bet their entire reputation, they were going to get this tricycle moving!
The three of them moved to the front. Gu Tiancheng climbed onto the tricycle’s driver’s seat while Professor Wang and Professor Murong fiddled around on both sides, quietly discussing something.
A few seconds later, the tricycle started moving!
The three wheels spun rapidly, and the vehicle rolled forward steadily.
They hadn’t let everyone down.
But among the crowd, employees from Yuanzhou Group and students from Beijing University’s Computer Science Department watched their chairman and mentors, drenched in sweat, pedaling a tricycle. It felt…
“This is so weird.”
“Pinch me, am I dreaming?”
“This is so surreal, oh my god.”
As the tricycle got moving, the crowd started running again.
But the most shocking one was Jian Yunlan.
The customers knew their boss was an incredible cook, but they never expected him to have such insane physical stamina!
—The tricycle was speeding ahead, yet Jian Yunlan was keeping up without falling behind. He ran while smoothly stirring the eggs, beating them, adding broth multiple times, flipping and tossing the rice with skillful flicks of the pan…
So cool!
No wonder this was the man who won them over with just one bowl of fried rice!
And in the time he had been running, Jian Yunlan had nearly finished another batch of rice. The steaming fragrance filled the air—the smoky aroma of a wood-fired wok, the rich egg scent, the slightly charred rice, and the crispy fire-roasted ham and shrimp…
“Damn, that smells amazing!”
“Is this some kind of martial arts technique? Running while cooking?! That wok is so heavy, yet he’s carrying it like it’s nothing? Superhuman strength?!”
“Oh no, I was already hungry, but now my mouth is watering like crazy.”
Many people had been starving while waiting in line for hours just to taste this legendary fried rice on an empty stomach. But after all the chaos, they hadn’t eaten a bite and were now forced into an unplanned morning run.
So the moment that aroma wafted through the air, people started losing their composure.
Some had drool streaming down their chins, eyes glowing green with hunger, even trying to position their open mouths under the wok, hoping to catch a stray grain of falling rice.
Everyone: “…”
Dude, that’s disgusting.
Others tried to sneak ahead in line. Based on the original queue, they wouldn’t have made it into the top 100, but by running faster and shoving others back, they could push themselves into the front.
However, before these sneaky cheaters could succeed—
A silver-white dog leaped into the crowd with elegant grace, weaving through the people like a dragon. Anyone caught cutting in line was immediately bitten by the pant leg and yanked out of formation.
Strangely enough, once removed, those people didn’t try to cut in again. Instead, they huddled at the sidelines, trembling, too scared to step forward.
“Maomao!”
“Maomao may be late, but he always shows up!”
“So cool, Maomao!!!”
After restoring order, Maomao effortlessly leaped onto the tricycle, his movements swift and nimble. His silver fur shimmered in the sunlight.
And those harboring any sneaky thoughts—upon meeting his golden gaze—felt as if they were being stared down by a beast with razor-sharp fangs, an apex predator locking onto its prey.
“Holy crap!”
A middle-aged man, who had just been planning to push a small girl out of the way to take her spot, was so terrified that he nearly pissed himself. He scurried into a corner, shaking.
The veteran customers were unfazed and calmly explained:
“If you cut in line, Maomao will watch you. Forever…”
Many looked at the dog with deep admiration.
But within the crowd, a pair of fear-stricken yet angry eyes fixated on Taotie.
It was Hu Danggui.
Seeing Taotie—the one who once dominated the Shan Hai realm—Hu Danggui instinctively trembled. Yet, at the same time, hatred for the one who stole her life-bound artifact surged in her heart…
Taotie also sensed it.
His gaze lazily swept across the crowd until it landed on a little girl with her hair in two buns, dressed in Daoist robes.
Who?
He was familiar with this kind of hateful glare, but what was the reason this time?
Hu Danggui had lined up early and was already near the front. She would be in the next batch of fried rice.
But she thought—no, she probably wouldn’t get to eat it.
Her eyes burned with resolve.
Even if she had to perish alongside Taotie, she had to avenge the theft of her artifact!
The little girl summoned unexpected courage, pulled out a peachwood sword from her sleeve, and charged at Taotie.
“Shameless Taotie, give me back my—”
“Fried rice is ready! The next three customers, please raise your hands!” Jian Yunlan called out while scooping the rice into takeout boxes.
The little girl skidded to a stop.
Bei Shi and Zhang Mo rushed forward, grinning as they received their rice. “It’s ours, hehe! Thanks, Boss Jian!”
“Who’s the third?”
No one immediately stepped up, and some people in the crowd looked eager to take advantage of the situation. But they hesitated under Maomao’s oppressive stare.
And then—
Hu Danggui stepped forward, reluctantly tucking her sword behind her back. “I… it’s mine.”
Damn it. This is so embarrassing.
Revenge was important, of course.
But… but that fried rice smelled way too good!
“Here you go,” Jian Yunlan smiled gently, handing the box to her. “Be careful, sweetheart, don’t choke.”
Damn it. Why was he so nice?!
As a nine-thousand-year-old nine-tailed fox, Hu Danggui instantly felt as if she was being soothed. She had sworn revenge, but…
But he just called me baby!
Her fair cheeks flushed red as she clutched the fried rice in her arms. Her large eyes sparkled with hunger, and she couldn’t stop swallowing.
The Yangzhou fried rice before her was steaming hot, each grain of rice glistening temptingly, its aroma overwhelming her senses! The wok-fried fragrance blended with the rich egg, the ocean-fresh shrimp, and the golden egg yolk that evenly coated each grain. As the rice was stirred, the essence of Jinhua ham broth released a deep, savory aroma—utterly mouthwatering.
Hu Danggui stared intently at the plate of fried rice. Her mouth watered, and her stomach rumbled.
Finally, she couldn’t hold back any longer. She scooped up a big spoonful and shoved it into her mouth.
The moment it entered, an unimaginable burst of umami exploded across her taste buds! The high-heat stir-fried rice was golden and crisp, the egg flavor infused into every bite. Though she couldn’t see the egg, she could taste it. The broth had seeped into the rice, layering it with flavor—each grain distinct, moist, and bursting with richness. As she chewed, the savory oils and soup coated her tongue.
Too hot! Hu Danggui sucked in air, hissing as she tried to cool her burning tongue.
The rice was firm yet fluffy, and amid the soft texture, she could still bite into plump, crunchy shrimp. Each chew released a burst of shrimp juice that blended perfectly with the smoky ham, the crisp green peas, and the delicate umami of winter bamboo shoots and shiitake mushrooms. It was… addicting!
“M-My god.”
Hu Danggui murmured, dazed.
As a millennia-old fox demon, she had only ever eaten spirit-infused delicacies from the Shan Hai Realm, rich with mystical energy. She once believed that no human-world food could ever impress her.
But this bowl of fried rice had proved her wrong.
Completely immersed in the meal, Hu Danggui lost herself in time, devouring every last bite. Only when she scraped the bottom of the bowl did she finally remember—
…Revenge!
She snapped her head up, just about to draw her peachwood sword—only to freeze.
Floating in mid-air before her was a massive, ghostly image of Taotie’s beastly head.
This was his true form, visible only to those with spiritual power. Everyone else remained blissfully unaware, still chasing after the tricycle as they ran ahead.
Hu Danggui’s legs wobbled.
In a real fight, she couldn’t even match a flick of Taotie’s pinky.
But to her surprise, Taotie didn’t lunge forward and swallow her whole.
Instead, his voice—deep, regal, and laced with boredom—echoed directly in her mind:
“What, exactly, did I swallow of yours?”
Hu Danggui: “…”
Why did that question sound so practiced?
Why was he so used to asking this?!
Of course, the reason was simple—
Taotie’s daily life was filled with people like Hu Danggui showing up to seek revenge, accusing him of devouring their precious this or sacred that.
“Y-You swallowed my… Pure Heart Ruyi Lamp!”
Hu Danggui trembled as she answered.
Her life-bound artifact. Her nine thousand years of cultivation. All of it, obliterated in one gulp.
She didn’t care. She was fighting him to the death right now!
But then, in the very next second—
“I’ll give it back.” Taotie clicked his tongue in annoyance.
Then, his enormous, fanged maw opened—
And out came…
A lamp.
A lamp carved with lotus cloud patterns, faintly glowing.
Her life-bound artifact!
Hu Danggui instinctively lunged forward, only to freeze mid-step.
The lamp was… covered in blood, rotting flesh, and other unidentifiable fluids. A thick, censoring blur had been applied over the mess.
Hu Danggui: “……???”
She had no idea whether to feel happy or horrified.
Happy, because her artifact and cultivation were still intact.
Horrified, because… dear god, it was filthy!
But despite its current state, she could tell—after passing through the belly of a thousand-year-old savage beast, her Pure Heart Ruyi Lamp had become even sharper, even more powerful.
But… could she still use it now?!
The young girl squatted on the ground, overwhelmed with both grief and joy, watching her lamp while laughing and crying. Her expressions kept shifting.
But…
She bowed toward Taotie. “Thank you, Lord Taotie!”
Taotie couldn’t be bothered with the matter. He simply nodded, yawned, and lay back in the tricycle. He had swallowed too many things—sometimes just for fun, without actually digesting them. If someone came to reclaim what was theirs, he would just return it.
A minor episode, nothing worth mentioning.
Jian Yunlan didn’t even notice what had just happened. His entire attention was on the fried rice!
Running while cooking fried rice was an immense challenge, both in terms of stamina and culinary skill. He had to control the heat, adjust his running speed, and ensure that every detail was perfect despite the constant movement…
Finally, the marathon came to an end.
Professors Wang and Murong, along with Director Gu, proved themselves to be masters of strategy. They had mapped out the perfect route, leading them to Yunchuan District’s famous street food market.
“The best hiding place is to blend into the crowd like a drop of water in the ocean.”
The three veterans wore confident smiles.
There was no better place to evade city enforcement than this!
Jian Yunlan recognized the area. Last time, when training Gu Xingzhou to run a food stall, he had sold lemon fried rice here. Now, during the morning market hours, it wasn’t as bustling as the night market but still had plenty of breakfast vendors.
So, as the stall owners looked up, they saw a tricycle speeding toward them—followed by a massive horde of over a hundred hungry customers running behind it…
“???”
The stall owners stared wide-eyed.
“Holy crap, what kind of street food stall comes with its own mob of customers?!”
But where does he gain the confidence to say “there’s enough for everyone.” ???