After leaving the Chen Family Mansion, Tu Xiao'an wasn't very familiar with the nearby roads. He wandered about, taking random turns, and after exiting an alley, he was surprised to find himself on the Ancient Street where Li Qingzhao had taken him the day before.

The foot traffic on this Ancient Street was exceptionally heavy. All sorts of famous snacks and restaurants dazzled the eye; it seemed like you could find delicacies from all over the country here.

Tu Xiao'an didn't know where the nearest bank was, so he sent a message to Li Qingzhao to ask. But after waiting for a long time, he still hadn't received a reply.

He checked the time; it was just past eight in the morning. 'That girl probably had a long night,' he thought. 'She's probably still off in dreamland.'

'Well... guess I'll have to find it myself.'

Tu Xiao'an was sure there had to be a bank near the Ancient Street. A bustling area like this couldn't possibly be without one.

Tu Xiao'an walked along the Ancient Street, in no particular hurry to leave it. Suddenly... he stopped short.

Ahead was a medium-sized noodle shop, and surprisingly, it was so busy that a long line had formed out front.

Tu Xiao'an was a bit surprised. 'Do people in Wencheng love noodles this much?'

'Lining up at a noodle shop this early in the morning? They must have nothing better to do.'

'Or maybe the noodles at this place are just that good.'

His curiosity piqued, Tu Xiao'an walked over. He didn't get in line, but instead examined a large menu posted outside, which listed all sorts of noodle dishes.

There was quite a variety, but what was really interesting was the price. When Tu Xiao'an saw it, he was dumbfounded: Shredded Pork Noodles, 198 yuan; Pork Rib Noodles, 298 yuan; Three-Delicacy Noodles, 398 yuan.

'Holy shit, that's highway robbery.'

Every single noodle dish was what you'd call an exorbitant price.

Tu Xiao'an glanced at the noodle shop again, then at the long line, a strange expression on his face. 'People in big cities really are loaded. Even with such expensive prices, so many people are still lining up.'

'Do they all have money to burn?'

Tu Xiao'an finally understood why the owner had posted the menu by the door. It was mainly to let everyone see the prices beforehand.

That way, you wouldn't eat a bowl of noodles, get a bill for 198 yuan, and then start making a scene.

Now the menu was out there, pictures and all—what you see is what you get. Take it or leave it.

And yet, so many people were still willing to eat here.

The situation only made Tu Xiao'an more curious. What kind of noodles could be so alluring that, despite the exorbitant price, people were still willing to queue up for them?

After a moment's hesitation, Tu Xiao'an got in line too, paying attention to the chatter around him.

"Haha... I've waited a whole week. I can finally eat at this noodle shop again today. I'm actually getting a little excited."

"Brother Li, is it really that good? It's just a bowl of noodles, why wait a whole week? Why not just come every day?" His friend suddenly saw the price list on the menu by the door and his jaw dropped. "Holy crap, a bowl of shredded pork noodles costs 198? That's highway robbery!"

As he spoke, he glanced at Brother Li, as if he'd just figured out why he had to wait a week to eat here.

The average person really couldn't afford to eat these noodles every day.

Brother Li shot his friend a sidelong glance. "Do I look like the kind of guy who pinches pennies?"

"The owner is eccentric and set a very strange rule. If you want to eat his noodles, you can only come once a week. If you want a second bowl within the same week, there's no way. It's useless even if you offer him more money."

The friend was astonished. "For real? Who in the world does business like that? I don't believe it. If I threw ten thousand at him for a second bowl, you're telling me he still wouldn't serve me?"

The words had barely left his mouth when a young man at the very front of the line started shouting, "What the hell, what kind of shitty shop is this? I ate here yesterday, so I can't come back today? Do you even know how to run a business?"

"You're not letting me in? Do you know who I am? I'll give you one hundred thousand. Now I'm asking you, are you going to let me in or not?"

In front of the shop stood a tall, burly man. Though his face was expressionless, he gave off a fierce aura. He gave the young man a cool glance, the way one might look at a pile of dog shit, and then completely ignored him.

The young man shuddered under that single glance, but he wasn't ready to give up. "Five hundred thousand! I just want to go in and have one bowl of noodles. Even the shredded pork noodles will do!"

A commotion broke out in the line.

Instantly, everyone stared at the young man in shock. 'Five hundred thousand for a bowl of shredded pork noodles?'

Seeing the looks of admiration from the people around him, the young man became smug, puffing out his chest with an 'I've just got too much money' expression.

But the tall, burly man simply strode forward without another word, grabbed the young man by the collar, and tossed him out.

Then he said coldly, "Next."

The people in line looked at each other in bewilderment. This shop owner really had some personality. It was just a noodle shop, yet he'd hired a bouncer to guard the door just to stop people from sneaking in for a second meal within a week.

He'd even refused five hundred thousand yuan. Talk about being unswayed by force and uncorrupted by riches.

So much character. Way too much character.

Brother Li clicked his tongue and chuckled. "See that? I wasn't lying, was I? Do you still think the noodles are expensive? That kid was obviously some rich heir, and he couldn't even get in with an offer of five hundred thousand."

"Brother Li, now I can't wait to try the noodles inside. This is my first time, so I'm actually allowed in."

"You're in for a treat today, my friend."

As Tu Xiao'an stood in line, listening and watching, he found the whole scene quite amusing. He was growing eager to try them himself. 'What kind of noodles could drive people this crazy?'

He would wait. He was prepared to wait as long as it took. 'Curiosity kills the cat, after all.'

Tu Xiao'an started queuing around nine in the morning. By the time it was his turn, it was already eleven, just in time for lunch.

"You can go in."

The expressionless, burly man glanced at Tu Xiao'an, then stepped aside to let him pass.

"Thanks."

Tu Xiao'an nodded and, filled with curiosity, walked inside.

The interior wasn't large, with only seven or eight tables. All were occupied except for a single empty one in the corner.

Everyone was intently focused on eating their noodles, their faces filled with expressions of excitement and bliss.

'If you didn't know any better, you'd think they were eating some rare gourmet feast. Their expressions are a bit over the top.'

"What would you like to order?"

A woman in her thirties approached him. Her face had many freckles and quite a few wrinkles, but she spoke to Tu Xiao'an in a pleasant enough tone.

'This must be the owner. I can't tell if she's the boss herself or the boss's wife.'

'But this woman looks a bit old, and she's very plain-looking, bordering on ugly, even.'

'She kind of looks like a widow, like someone who hasn't experienced a woman's... happiness in a long time.'

"It's my first time here, so I'm not sure what to get. You can just pick something for me."

The widow-faced proprietress looked at Tu Xiao'an, noting his youthfulness—like a college student. "Then let's go with the Shredded Pork Noodles," she said. "That'll be 198."

"Okay."

Tu Xiao'an didn't care about the price; he was just curious to see exactly how delicious these noodles could be.

After all, he was carrying a five-million-yuan check.

Soon, a steaming bowl of Shredded Pork Noodles was placed on Tu Xiao'an's table. The rich aroma was invigorating, instantly perking him up.

'Looks like there's a reason so many people line up after all,' he thought to himself instantly. 'Just from this aroma, you can tell the broth must be something special.'