In Sumeru, pretend to be a scholar!

On the way back to the Menakali shop.

Dixia expressed her gratitude to Wang Yan again: "You've really gone to a lot of trouble, Mr. Wang Yan, and even came all this way with me. How about I treat you to a drink? I haven't had lunch yet."

From the Menakali shop to the Health House, and then busy at the Health House for half a day, it was already afternoon.

The streets of Sumeru City were still bustling with people, and the aroma of spices wafted through the air.

Upon hearing Dixia's invitation, Wang Yan instinctively wanted to politely decline, but his stomach rumbled loudly.

Hearing this commotion, Dixia burst into laughter: "It seems Mr. Wang Yan has agreed. Let's go to the Grand Bazaar; we might even catch a performance."

Wang Yan wasn't embarrassed at all; when people are hungry, they have to eat.

However, he still politely said, "Just call me Wang Yan. It's too formal to keep calling me 'Mr.' or anything like that."

"Haha, that would be even better. I'm not used to being too polite." Dixia's smile became even more genuine.

As a member of the gilded troupe and a desert native, Dixia is meticulous but also a generous person.

She called him Mr. Wang Yanyi today. It was fine at first, but as they got to know each other better, she started to feel a little uncomfortable.

The two chatted and laughed as they walked toward the Grand Bazaar.

...

Sumeru City itself is a three-dimensional city built on the basis of the "Sacred Tree", with a complex multi-layered structure.

And at its very bottom is where the Grand Bazaar is located.

As a commercial hub, the Grand Bazaar has a more vibrant atmosphere and is more accessible to the general public than Bao Bao Street.

If Guobao Street is closer to the commercial plaza in Wang Yan's mind, then the Grand Bazaar is a farmers' market. Although both involve commercial activities, there is still a big difference between them.

However, this does not mean that the Grand Bazaar is inferior to Baoshang Street.

On the contrary, because of its more accessible nature, the Grand Bazaar is more lively than the Baoshang Street, and there are more people coming and going there.

The presence of the Zubair Theater further transforms the Grand Bazaar into a comprehensive hub for culture, commerce, and dining.

In the past, when the Great Sage Azhar was in power, this place was disliked by the Church, and cultural and entertainment activities were once banned, causing the Grand Bazaar to decline for a period of time.

However, after the Traveler helped the Little Lucky Grass King defeat the Great Sage and regain control of the Order, the [Void] was shut down, and the ban on entertainment was naturally lifted.

The Grand Bazaar has regained its prosperity and even reached new heights.

Following Dixia into the area, Wang Yan was quickly drawn to the lively atmosphere around him.

Although he had stayed in Sumeru City for more than half a month, he had never actually been here.

Sumeru City is very large. Commuting to work and reading after get off work has already taken up a lot of Wang Yan's time. If it weren't for Dixia's invitation today, Wang Yan might have had to wait for Nilu's special performance before coming to the Grand Bazaar.

The narrow but not crowded streets are lined with stalls and shops, with colorful awnings, flags and string lights creating a vibrant canopy.

The vendors' shouts, the customers' haggling, the children's laughter and running, and the faint sounds of rehearsal music coming from the Zubair Theater in the distance... all these sounds blend together into a symphony full of life.

People's clothing is also more diverse. In addition to the common scholar's robes and merchant's attire, you can also see many travelers wearing desert-style clothing, local residents dressed simply but in bright colors, and even people dressed in costumes from other countries.

Meanwhile, as the two went deeper, a complex and alluring scent gradually filled the air.

The freshly baked naan bread smelled of wheat, while the spices at the neighboring stall were piled high, releasing a mixture of cumin, curry powder, cinnamon, and other aromatics. Further away, the aroma of roasted meat and the sweet scent of fruit wafted through the air…

Wang Yan felt that this was a very standard food street in Sumeru, and the smell made his mouth water.

"How is it? Pretty lively, right?" Seeing Wang Yan's expression, Dixia smiled proudly. "This is the most vibrant place in Sumeru City. If you ask me, this is the place where people should be."

Wang Yan nodded, observing with great interest as he walked: "It's really nice, very lively."

"Haha, you'll love it here." Dixia moved through the crowd with practiced ease, with Wang Yan following closely behind. "Come on, I'll take you to a great place. I always go there whenever I come to the Grand Bazaar."

They turned a few corners and came to a relatively spacious corner where several food stalls were gathered, and the aroma of grilled meat was particularly strong in the air.

Dixia walked straight to one of the stalls.

The stall had a simple charcoal stove, on which sizzling meat skewers were arranged on an iron rack. The grease dripped onto the charcoal fire, creating puffs of white smoke and an enticing sizzling sound.

The stall owner was a dark-skinned middle-aged man wearing an apron stained with oil. He was deftly flipping the meat skewers, and when he saw Dixia, he immediately gave her a familiar smile.

"Dishia! Long time no see! Still the same?"

The middle-aged man had a loud voice with a desert accent.

"Uncle Tarik! The usual, double portions! I brought my friends here today to try your cooking!" Dixia responded cheerfully, then turned to Wang Yan and introduced, "Uncle Tarik's roast meat is the most authentic in the entire Grand Bazaar. It's marinated with the finest spices from Sumeru, and the charcoal is specially selected fruitwood charcoal."

Uncle Tarik looked Wang Yan up and down, then smiled and nodded: "A friend of Dixia's? That means we're one of our own. He may not be as good as Dixia described, but he certainly won't disappoint you. Please have a seat."

Wang Yan smiled and said, "Then we must try it."

Dixia said to Tarik, "Twenty skewers of grilled sago palm meat, two servings of Aru bibimbap, and two cups of Chi Nian wine."

She ordered with practiced ease, clearly a regular customer.

"Alright! Just a moment, it'll be ready soon!" Uncle Tarik quickly grabbed a handful of meat skewers and laid them on the grill, then scooped rice from the large pot next to him.

Wang Yan glanced at it and noticed that the rice didn't seem to be just plain rice; it appeared to be mixed with flour and beans.

Tarik scooped out rice, then took out a small pot, scooped out a spoonful of sauce, and poured it over the rice.

And that's how you make a bowl of Aru Bibimbap.

"Don't let its simplicity fool you, it's not easy to make it delicious." Dixia pulled out a small wooden stool at the table and sat down, explaining with a smile, "This Aru bibimbap originated from Aru village. It's made with rice, flour, peas, and tomatoes. But if someone with poor cooking skills makes it, it's barely edible."

She paused for a moment, then pointed to Tariq, who was busy at work: "And what Uncle Tariq makes is both delicious and filling."

After thinking for a moment, she added, "However, the best one has to be made by Candice; that's the real delicacy."

"You've made me want to go visit Aru Village," Wang Yan said, feigning a hungry expression.

Dixia smiled happily: "I'll take you there when I have the chance. Candice values ​​education a lot. If you go to Aru Village, she'll definitely treat you well."

"Then I'm afraid I'll be in a bind if I eat someone else's food," Wang Yan said with a smile.

The two chatted and laughed, and the atmosphere was quite pleasant.

Soon, Uncle Tarik brought over two large glasses of deep amber-colored liquor. According to Dixia, it was a low-alcohol liquor fermented from red berries and dates unique to the desert. It had a sweet and refreshing taste with a fruity aroma and was very popular.

Wang Yan tasted it and found it to be quite good. Compared to the jujube wine he had drunk before, it had a refreshing taste with a touch of sweet and sour, which must be the flavor of the red jujube fruit.

Perhaps because of the abundance of fruits in Xumi, there seems to be very little grain-based liquor here; most of it is fruit-based liquor.

However, this suits Wang Yan's taste perfectly; it's quite good as a beverage.

Soon after, Aru's bibimbap and grilled meat were served.

The rice in Aru Bibimbap is distinct, each grain coated in a rich sauce. When you put it in your mouth, it's even more tempting than meat, despite not having any oil or meat added.

The meat skewers are made of uniformly sized pieces, grilled to a crispy exterior and tender interior, coated with a layer of deep red spices, steaming hot and incredibly fragrant.

"Come on, don't be shy!" Dixia grabbed a skewer of grilled meat first, took a big bite, and squinted her eyes in satisfaction. "Mmm! It tastes just like before! Wang Yan, try it!"

Wang Yan followed her example and picked up a skewer of grilled meat.

With one bite, the first sensation is the smoky aroma from the charcoal grilling, followed by the tender and juicy texture of the meat itself.

The flavor of the pickling spices is even more complex: the spiciness of cumin, the stimulation of a little chili, and the aroma of some unidentifiable herbs that bloom in the mouth, making it truly unique.

A bite of meat, then a bite of rice; the slightly sour tomato sauce is appetizing and perfectly cuts through the greasiness of the grilled meat.

"Delicious!" Wang Yan exclaimed sincerely.

This rustic and direct flavor is a completely different experience from the refined dishes he usually eats at restaurants on Baoshang Street.

"Right!" Dixia proudly waved the meat skewers in her hand. "This tastes of the desert, the taste of freedom."

She raised her glass: "Come on, let's have a toast! Thank you for your help today, and I wish that Shahak guy all the best."

Wang Yan raised his glass and clinked it against hers, the glass making a crisp sound: "Wishing you peace."

The two enjoyed the food and chatted as they ate.

Dixia recounted some interesting stories about the "Blazing Beast Hunter" group's adventures in the desert, while Wang Yan also shared some unusual encounters with characters he encountered during his translation work.

After eating for about half an hour, the two were full and satisfied.

Dixia paid the bill, and Wang Yan didn't stand on ceremony, saying he could always treat her to something next time.

After leaving the Grand Bazaar, the two agreed to visit Shahak in a while before parting ways at the intersection. Dixia still had matters to attend to with the tour group, and Wang Yan also had to return to the shop.