Mai Ge brought out Sally's second serving of Yang Zhou Fried Rice and placed it in front of her, smiling, "Please enjoy."
"Thank you." Sally replied politely, picking up her spoon. Her eyes were only on the fried rice in front of her. She scooped a spoonful and put it in her mouth, eating more slowly this time, savoring the gradual blending of the various ingredients' flavors. This novel experience made her somewhat intoxicated.
"Daddy, twelve gold coins! Little Amy calculated it in no time!" Amy held the gold coins, looking up at Mai Ge, her little face full of eager anticipation.
"Hmm, our Little Amy is so clever! You applied what you learned and collected the money perfectly. It seems you mastered what you learned today." Mai Ge smiled, ruffling Amy's hair and taking the gold coins from her hand. She was indeed a very bright child.
"Mmm, Little Amy will be even more diligent tomorrow." Amy nodded happily, feeling a surge of joy. So the multiplication tables weren't so hard after all! It's just that three times six… three times six… oh well, she'll think about it tomorrow. She looked up at Mai Ge, "Daddy, Little Amy hungry too."
"I'll make you fried rice." Mai Ge nodded, put the money in the locked drawer of the counter, and went into the kitchen.
Amy sat obediently opposite Sally, watching Sally eat her fried rice with elegant posture, trying her best to sit gracefully as well, mimicking her movements perfectly.
Completely absorbed in the delicious fried rice, Sally finished the last bite before noticing Amy sitting opposite her. The little girl was even mimicking Sally's posture, her legs crossed, which made Sally smile.
"Sister Sally, you look so pretty when you eat." Amy said after Sally finished.
"You can too when you grow up." Sally nodded with a smile. She was even a little surprised by her own words; back in the elf tribe, she hadn't really liked little elves, but now she couldn't help but encourage her like an elder.
"Okay." Amy nodded happily, then asked, "Sister Sally, are you full?"
"Yes." Sally nodded, putting down her spoon. She hadn't eaten so much in a long time to maintain her figure, but today she simply couldn't resist.
"Then that's two sixes, twelve gold coins. Please pay." Amy's eyes lit up, and she stretched out her hands on the table.
Mai Ge happened to be carrying out a plate of Yang Zhou Fried Rice and couldn't help but chuckle at the sight. It seemed the little one really enjoyed receiving money.
"One dragon coin, two gold coins." Sally took one dragon coin and two gold coins from her purse and placed them in Amy's hand. She hesitated for a moment before letting go, but remembering the unprecedented deliciousness she had just tasted, she readily released her grip. She was definitely getting a good deal.
Sally stood up and picked up the longbow and quiver from the table. She looked at Mai Ge with slightly narrowed eyes and said, "I'm curious why this Yang Zhou Fried Rice tastes like the Fountain of Life."
"I don't know what you mean, young lady. This Yang Zhou Fried Rice doesn't contain the Fountain of Life." Mai Ge smiled and shook his head calmly. He hadn't lied, but it seemed this woman's identity was indeed somewhat extraordinary; she had actually detected the Fountain of Life's flavor.
Sally stared into Mai Ge's eyes for a moment, seeing no trace of panic in those deep eyes. She nodded and said, "Boss Mai, right? The Yang Zhou Fried Rice is delicious. I'll come again next time." With that, she turned and walked towards the door.
"Take your time." Mai Ge put down the plate he was carrying. He didn't seem particularly alarmed. From the moment this restaurant opened, he was destined not to be low key. The fact that the rice tasted like the Fountain of Life wasn't exactly a secret. As long as the system's farm wasn't raided, he'd deny everything else to the death. The system probably wouldn't let him get killed, right?
"This system is not responsible for protecting the host's safety." the system's voice echoed in Mai Ge's mind.
"I've died once, I'm fearless." Mai Ge replied calmly to himself, placing the fried rice in front of Amy.
"Host, please take your life seriously." the system responded after a moment of silence.
"Actually, I don't really want to die that much. How about you boost my physical abilities a bit, System? Just a ten or twenty point will do. If I could tear dragons apart with my bare hands, who would dare cause trouble at the restaurant? That way, I can focus on cooking and strive to become a chef god." Mai Ge said this as if it was the most natural thing in the world.
This time, the system remained silent for a longer period before finally responding: "This system does not have this permission. Improving physical attributes requires triggering and completing a corresponding task. After evaluation, this system suggests the host start with daughter to improve restaurant security."
"Amy?" Mai Ge paused, looking at Amy who was holding the dragon coin, about to put it in her mouth. He couldn't help but chuckle. However, the system's assessment seemed reliable. Could it be the blue purple fireball spell from this morning?
"Daddy, it's a dragon coin! You said at noon that ten gold coins could be exchanged for one dragon coin. Little Amy didn't receive the wrong one, did I?" Amy looked up at Mai Ge, a small row of teeth marks left on the edge of the dragon coin.
"That's right, great." Mai Ge nodded with a smile, putting the matter aside for now. He reached out and took the dragon coin, examining it closely. The dragon coin was about the same size as a gold coin, but it had a pure white jade stone inlaid at the center, with a small golden dragon encircling the edge of the jade stone. It felt slightly heavier than a gold coin and was the highest currency in this continent.
"Then, Little Amy start eating." Amy, pleased with the praise, happily picked up her spoon and began eating her fried rice, swaying slightly as she ate, looking quite content.
Mai Ge put the dragon coins away in the cash register. Seeing that no customers seemed to be coming, he went into the kitchen and made himself a serving of Yang Zhou Fried Rice for dinner.
After finishing a plate of Yang Zhou Fried Rice, Mai Ge felt warm all over, his fatigue vanishing.
"Daddy, I... I feel a little hot again." Amy said, putting down her bowl after finishing the extra half bowl of fried rice Mai Ge had given her, looking at Mai Ge with some unease.
"Is it getting hot again?" Mai Ge asked nervously, recalling the morning's events. He quickly added, "Little Amy, don't panic. Remember that fireball spell from this morning. Release the fire inside your body."
"Release it?" Amy thought seriously for a moment, then raised her hand. A blue purple flame shot up, instantly evaporating the moisture in the air, as if burning out a white hole.
Mai Ge, sitting across the table, couldn't help but take a few steps back, watching the fireball in Amy's hand slowly shrink until it became a small ball, his eyes filled with undisguised astonishment.
He suddenly understood what the system meant.