Shocking! The entire court was drooling with envy because of me.

Shen Qing was stunned. Although she guessed that the old man in front of her was most likely the Ghost Doctor, she did not expect the Ghost Doctor to be so straightforward.

I was planning to wait until I received the system's reward before asking the Ghost Doctor for help, but I didn't expect that the Ghost Doctor would come knocking on my door before I even finished the task.

"To be honest, I do have a sick family member who needs your help..."

"I can do it! I can do it! As long as someone is still breathing, I can save them!"

Before Shen Qing could finish speaking, Xue Buhuo hurriedly spoke up, showing an unprecedented enthusiasm for treating someone.

"Thank you very much, old doctor. I will pay you for your help, whatever it is. As for your request just now, I am really sorry, it is unfair to the other diners in line."

While the free offer is tempting, if the Ghost Doctor's request is granted, the other diners will feel it's unfair.

Moreover, once this precedent is set, a steady stream of people will come to her wanting to reserve their seats in advance.

A slight misstep could lead to endless trouble.

Xue Buhuo was completely dumbfounded. He never expected that his first attempt to take the initiative would be rejected.

His eyes widened in disbelief as he stared at Shen Qing: "Do you know how much I usually charge for treating patients?"

"I've heard that it costs three to five hundred taels of gold."

"You know that and you still refuse me? I'm offering it for free now, for free!!" Xue Buhuo felt this was extremely absurd.

Why is Madam Shen still so calm? It's like three or five hundred taels of gold is nothing.

Although he spent money freely, he also knew that for an ordinary person, a mere hundred taels of gold would be enough to live comfortably for a lifetime.

For poor people, it would take several lifetimes to earn enough.

Three to five hundred taels of gold—that's no small sum.

"Thank you for your kind offer, but my Zhiweixuan restaurant certainly cannot set such a precedent. However, on days when Zhiweixuan is closed, you are welcome to come to my residence to try some home-style dishes, if you wish."

"Yes, yes!!"

Xue Buhuo's eyes lit up, and he instantly perked up.

Then, she hurriedly asked, "Do you cook the home-style dishes too? When does Zhiweixuan close?"

Shen Qing smiled and said, "Of course I'll do it. Zhiweixuan will be closed from tomorrow onwards."

As she spoke, she locked the door and hung up the sign announcing a two-day break.

"Great! Great!! I'll go tomorrow, I'll go tomorrow!!!"

"Madam Shen, you go ahead with your work! See you tomorrow!"

Xue Buhuo was overjoyed, so happy that he swayed back and forth as if he were drunk.

Before Shen Qing could even speak, he left with a cheerful smile.

Shen Qing was left standing there, looking helpless.

"Why is this 'ghost doctor' acting like a child? I haven't even had a chance to tell him where I live yet..."

......

After five consecutive days, the instant noodle mission was successfully completed.

After returning home and tidying up, Shen Qing lay comfortably on the bed and opened the system to start settling accounts.

[Ding—Congratulations, host, for completing this week's deluxe instant noodle sales mission!]

[Ding—Shop reputation increased by 20 points. Of course, the total shop reputation is 80 points. To reach 100 points, you can achieve the achievement of being famous throughout the county.]

[Ding—Please select a random food item for next week.]

The screen flickered rapidly, then the flickering slowed down and eventually stopped.

[Ding—Next week's random food: Four Happiness Meatballs!]

Four Happiness Meatballs? That's a famous dish, isn't it?

However, for Shen Qing, it was still a matter of great importance.

She closed the system, calculating in her mind that her reputation was now eighty points, and she would receive the reward after completing next week's tasks.

There's still a lot of hope.

......

Wu Wendong was standing at the intersection, stroking the gold with one hand, his face full of struggle and hesitation.

Should he... give it another try?

What if we win...?

But he has already decided to stop gambling. This small piece of gold could buy nearly two hundred bowls of noodles at Zhiweixuan.

Is he going to bet two hundred bowls of noodles? Spicy chicken noodles and shrimp and fish cake noodles?

No, no.

He gritted his teeth, turned around, and prepared to go straight home.

But then a thought suddenly occurred to me: what if betting two hundred bowls of noodles could win me two thousand bowls?

He went once more and then never went again!

Anyway, this gold came out of nowhere...

The thoughts in his mind were like demons, constantly shaking Wu Wendong's heart and causing him to stop in his tracks.

"Hey kid, what are you standing there for?"

Wu Wendong was startled. Upon closer inspection, he saw that the newcomer's clothes were tattered, but his face was beaming with joy.

It felt like being hit on the head by a huge pie.

"You, you, you—" Wu Wendong stammered, feeling guilty. "What are you doing here??"

"I was just passing by, and I saw you standing there like a fool from afar, looking like you were possessed. Should this old man take your pulse?"

As he spoke, Xue Buhuo reached out to grab Wu Wendong's hand.

Wu Wendong was startled and quickly stepped back: "What kind of pulse are you taking, you old geezer?"

"Oh! Never mind, never mind!" He shoved the gold into Xue Buhuo's hand. "Here you go!"

"Eh? Kid, you don't like gold either?" Xue Buhuo was utterly shocked.

Refusing to let him take her pulse was one thing, because she didn't know his true identity, but to return the gold she had already put in her pocket was something she had never done before!

Is gold really that disliked?

"This gold is getting to my head. I still have to get up early tomorrow to queue up at Zhiweixuan!" Wu Wendong gritted his teeth and made up his mind.

"Zhiweixuan will be closed tomorrow, for two days. Didn't you see the sign?" Xue Buhuo said with a look of anticipation.

"Huh?? Really?"

"Of course it's true, go see for yourself if you don't believe me."

Wu Wendong's face immediately fell.

Good heavens! He won't be able to eat Lady Shen's delicious food for the next two days!

Oh my god, why is this happening??

Two whole days! How could he possibly get through that?

Wu Wendong looked utterly dejected, as if he had lost his parents.

Seeing this, Xue Buhuo, who was standing nearby, laughed gleefully: "Hehe, kid, let me tell you, I'm going to Madam Shen's house for a delicious meal tomorrow!!"

He held his head high, his voice filled with boastfulness and pride.

"I didn't mean to show off, but I just couldn't help it. Please forgive me."

He patted Wu Wendong on the shoulder with a smile.

Wu Wendong's eyes widened: "Really? Madam Shen invited you?"

"Yes, it was Madam Shen who invited me. I'm going to her house for a home-cooked meal tomorrow!" Xue Buhuo puffed out his chest, incredibly proud.

"Are you kidding me? Do you even know where Madam Shen lives?"

"Of course I'm not lying! I..." Xue Buhuo suddenly frowned, raised his hand and smacked himself on the head, "Yeah, where does she live...?"