Store by the Corner III

Everyone's here? The competition is about to start! Time for the countdown. Three, two, one —

Let me take a look-see. Aunt Tian's Braised Meat Noodles! Aunt Tian, you've been absent from the market for a few days and Captain Mi really misses your noodles!

Wait. Ah Zai, what ... is this exactly? I don't really know what you're trying to sell.

This is my "Wuling Lifestyle Station"! I'm selling the special produce of Wuling, the daily lives of Wulingers, and the stories behind our daily routines!

Everyone, listen to me!

Your first task is a city-wide scavenger hunt.

The grand prize shall be — Eat-for-free at my place, effective for one full year!

OH! Sign me up already! And what's on the eat-for-free menu?

The second prize — A bowl of Ah Zai's "Wuling Memory" Special Braised Meat Noodles.

Ah Zai, are you selling braised meat noodles as well?

No, it's different. My special braised meat noodles are prizes awarded only to the winners! They're not for sale!

My special noodles got no meat. It has straw mushrooms instead.

No meat?! How could you call it braised meat noodles, my boy? Oh, my heart —

Aunt, remember Pebbles? The one I raised when I was a boy?

Oh?

Whatever. You probably forgot.

This very moment has sparked a flood of emotions. As your fellow watchguard, I've got a word to share with my friends and neighbors...

Enough with your silly old floods, Liu. Don't make me gag you —

...Sheesh. Endmin, there's no stopping Liu once he gets started. Just look around the place at your leisure.

Get three "Today at Wuling" photos and exchange them for a special Ah Zai Connect-and-Win voucher!

I'm so hungry. Will I ever get my bowl...?

Ahem. You didn't hear anything.

We got lucky! There's an ongoing "Wuling Gastronomic" event!

You'll never get this taste in Kjersch!

Endmin, you're here too! Haha. I'm here to support my friend Ah Zai's biz.

I hope his business succeeds!

It's so crowded! Look at all those people at Aunt Tian's place! Let's check it out!

Oh, my sweet darlings! I can barely meet the demand! I wonder if you can help me serve the crowd!

And before I forget, this one's for Ah Zai. It's got straw mushrooms.

Huh?

Yeah. I figured out a few things on my own. The lad prefers things his own way. I'll let him have it.

Great. We'll take this "special braised meat noodles" to Ah Zai.

Good people, the mini shellbeasts you photographed are known for their long lifespans, gentle nature, and wisdom!

I used to have one called Pebbles. I always asked Pebbles whenever there was something I didn't understand...

Life wasn't easy at Wuling when I was a kid. We relied on monthly supplies from Hongshan. Things were really rough.

Yeah. But I swore I'd keep Pebbles happy and fed. If I had something to eat, Pebbles got a share too.

Well, I thought happiness could last. But then the tide rose, and it really poured... We lost the geo-beacons and communication with the outside.

The monthly supplies got delayed too. We were literally running on our last reserves...

What happened next, Ah Zai?

Then ... I got sick. It was really bad. My aunt scraped together the last flour we had and made a bowl of noodles for me.

We hadn't had meat for a month already.

My Aunt told me Wednesday was the final day. If the supplies failed to arrive ... we'd have to ... take Pebbles...

WHAT?! Did she force you to eat Pebbles?!

I thought it was cruel too. I was in bed and held Pebbles really close so my Aunt wouldn't take him away!

But later I smelled something delicious... Pebbles was gone, but my Aunt woke me with a bowl of noodles.

Aunt Tian made it especially for you.

Just put it there. I'm busy... Well, maybe just a little bite. I...

Ah Zai...? You alright? Why so quiet?

He literally emptied the entire thing ... plus the soup...

Psst. Endmin, I think he's crying. Literally dripping like a faucet! Ahem. Ah Zai, are you okay?

Hngh. This is how it tasted! It's the exact same thing... That bowl of special noodles back then...

Please don't cry, Ah Zai! What happened to .... to Pebbles? Did it end up in the soup?

No! Of course not! Pebbles lived to a wise old age. He'd just gone for a walk but he came back later.

But my aunt ... she went out in the pouring rain and foraged shrooms — just to put them in my noodles. It's the same shrooms in these noodles.

And as I finished them, I heard the convoy honking their horns... The rain stopped and the supplies finally arrived.

Wow! These mini shellbeasts are so cute!

I want one too!

Ugh... I know. Being hungry feels terrible...

You really loved your Pebbles, Ah Zai. It must've been really happy...

Oh no. Why...?

Uuuhhh! I don't want to hear this...

And then I fell asleep. Maybe it was the fever...

I had zero noodles for two days because of this competition! Come, Endmin. The best braised meat noodles of Wuling are on me.

Alright!

Just two...? Aren't you having anything?

Okay. Final countdown — Three, two, one! And it's over!

...Oh. We got the figures. Time for me to reveal the number of patrons for the two stalls —

Aunt Tian's Braised Meat Noodles served 120 patrons during the competition!

Wuling Lifestyle Station served 35 patrons during the competition! Ah Zai, has everyone come back! Are they still taking their photos...?

According to the competition rules, Aunt Tian wins the leasing rights for the stall! Congratulations!

Thank you, everyone! I'm so happy about this. Ohoho. With a roof over my head, I can finally make noodles every day for everyone!

Uh oh, what happened...? Are my location intros keeping people there...?

Ah Zai, I tried your straw mushroom noodles. You gotta parboil them first. Cook them raw and your soup will be bitter...

The new store really needs all the help it can get. We can add a straw mushroom noodles to the menu if you want...

Ugh, whatever! I may have lost the competition, Aunt, but I'm not gonna inherit the noodles stall!

Okay, here you go again...

It's alright. I concede. Gotta take care of the elderly, you know! I'm young. I still have my chances.

I gotta work on something — Time to prep my next business plan.

That's right! I got it all figured out...! But it's a secret and not for everyone's ears...

By the way, Aunt, don't lower your guard. Wuling City is constantly changing.

Maybe it won't change today, but who knows about tomorrow? Be prepared — I'm getting ready for round two!