Chapter 218: Chapter 217 Affluence_1 Fulu Building took up a large space, and to express goodwill towards Mo Hua, Old Master An bought three adjacent buildings and renovated them into the Food Building. The location was also very good, facilitating north-south traffic with a constant flow of people. Because it was on South Main Street, the area was affordable, so the cost in Spirit Stones wasn’t considered much, at least not for the An Family. Fulu Building had two floors; the second floor contained private rooms and the first floor was the main hall, with some tables and benches seated outside as well. The entire Fulu Building could accommodate many diners, and also offered meat snacks for takeout. The recipes used in the Food Building were provided by Liu Ruhua, which included various cooking methods for Monster Beast meat. After long-term research and improvement by Liu Ruhua, the flavors were rich and unique. The stove in the Food Building was a top-grade stove, large and adorned with a top-grade Compound Formation, producing strong fire that could be regulated to cook many ingredients at the same time. Therefore, many of the dishes in the Food Building were very affordably priced. This was Mo Hua’s initial intent: to reduce costs and improve cooking efficiency by using a large stove. Thus, most Loose Cultivators in Tongxian City could spend fewer Spirit Stones for tastier meals. Cheap and delicious, naturally, the customers flocked to the door, and the crowd was large. The Food Building could also achieve a small profit but quick turnover, earning a substantial amount of Spirit Stones. But with such a large establishment, quite a number of helping hands were needed. Injured Monster Hunters, or Loose Cultivator women not adept in Taoist Skills, could also find a job to earn some Spirit Stones to support their families. After all preparations were completed, Fulu Building opened for business on an auspicious day. After the opening, Fulu Building was continuously packed with people, doing very well in business. Mo Hua watched happily and also breathed a sigh of relief. But An Xiaofu began to feel anxious. With an entire Food Building and so many diners bustling about, he initially didn’t know what to do. More importantly, he was the junior manager, and according to Mo Hua, he would have to handle these matters by himself in the future. An Xiaofu felt overwhelmed. Although there were An Family members who could help him, they could only provide temporary help, not a lasting solution. These were things he still had to learn and do. But he didn’t know where to start learning or what to do first. Mo Hua said, “You don’t have to think of yourself as the junior manager, just continue as if you’re in a diner, chatting and eating with the guests, no need to be too rigid.” After hearing this, An Xiaofu relaxed. He could run up and down, greeting familiar Monster Hunters, offering them a toast with a glass of wine, serving some snacks, and recommending the Food Building’s signature dishes. Being a food lover, he was eloquent when discussing these topics, speaking with ease and authority. When he had idle time, he still enjoyed joining a table to listen to others sharing experience in Tao Cultivation or hearing peculiar and strange stories. If he found the stories to be good, he would even offer a pot of wine. The Food Building would occasionally invite storytellers to tell stories. If the stories were too outdated, An Xiaofu would draw from his knowledge to create some stories for the storyteller to share with the crowd, often earning a round of applause. Gradually, An Xiaofu got to know more diners, becoming more talkative and much brighter in spirit. Old Master An and An Yonglu also came to visit, seeing An Xiaofu running up and down, sweating profusely, yet full of vigor. This demeanor was completely different from his behavior within the Clan. An Yonglu sighed, feeling content. Old Master An, however, glanced at him with a slight sense of helplessness. He had not wished for the An Family to continue in the food business, but it seemed that his son and grandson were only capable of running a Food Building. They had no ambition for running a Refinery Shop or an Alchemist’s Business. They lacked the means to compete with the Qian Family, whether in the open or in secret. Considering this situation, the An Family might only be capable of running a Food Building for a lifetime… Yet An Xiaofu felt there was nothing wrong with running a Food Building. He could eat his fill, allow others to be well-fed, and even provide good food to everyone. But occasionally, he had doubts and asked Mo Hua, “If I run a Food Building for a lifetime, won’t I be looked down upon by others…?” Mo Hua thought for a moment and said, “In the pursuit of Taoist cultivation, every profession has its strength. Excelling in any field is something remarkable. If you can open Food Buildings throughout the nine states of the Cultivation World, allowing everyone to have meat to eat, who would dare to look down upon you?” An Xiaofu was stunned; he hadn’t thought that far ahead. “Nine State is so vast, can we really open branches everywhere?” An Xiaofu asked, somewhat doubtful. “Probably not,” Mo Hua said, “But how would we know without trying?” An Xiaofu nodded, silently making up his mind. Although his cultivation level was still low, and there was only one Food Building, he would work hard to open many more, allowing everyone to enjoy meat and wine with joy! After the opening of the Fulu Building, it gradually got on the right track, and a month later, it was the New Year festival. With half a month to go before the New Year, the Alchemist’s Business was finally completed. Master Ban settled the Spirit Stone payments, and the craftsmen were all able to go home for the New Year with high spirits. Before leaving, Master Ban, along with some lead craftsmen, visited Mo Hua to express their gratitude and even brought some New Year’s gifts. Without Mo Hua’s swift and quality Formation drawings, such a large Taoist building project wouldn’t have been completed until after the New Year. In that case, they would either not be able to return home for the festival or, even if they did go back, they would be without Spirit Stones, making it a difficult year. Master Ban praised Mo Hua, and Mo Shan and Liu Ruhua were also very happy, so they invited Master Ban and his team for a meal. Everyone enjoyed a lively meal together, drinking plenty of wine. After the meal, it was time for Master Ban and his team to set off on their journey. Before leaving, Master Ban made a point of telling Mo Hua that if she ever needed craftsmen, they were just a call away, with a promise of no shoddy work and guaranteed satisfaction. He also invited Mo Hua to visit the neighboring Qingxuan City when she had time, offering to show her around and introduce her to the local customs and culture. Mo Hua nodded her agreement, waving goodbye as Master Ban left. The group of craftsmen, each with a storage bag on their back, and pushing small wooden carts laden with worn Storage Boxes; tools that didn’t fit in the boxes were haphazardly piled on top. Step by step, they walked along the cobblestone streets, departing through the gates of Tongxian City, embarking on the dusty road home. Mo Hua stood at the doorway, watching their receding figures, waving farewell once again. She hoped they would all return home safely and have a wonderful New Year. She also hoped that in the years to come, they would all be able to return home safely and joyfully for the New Year. About ten days later, every family in Tongxian City was preparing for the New Year. The streets were decorated with lanterns and tinsel, bustling with festive cheer. This might have been the wealthiest and liveliest New Year that the ordinary Loose Cultivators of Tongxian City had experienced in a century, or perhaps even several centuries. The essential industries for Tao Cultivation were all in place. The Refinery Shop produced Spiritual Artifacts, the Alchemist’s Business concocted Pills, and the Fulu Building cooked meat dishes. With Spiritual Artifacts, Monster Hunters could suffer fewer injuries, with Pills, lower-level Loose Cultivators could experience fewer ailments, and with the Food Building, everyone’s diet could improve. And whether it was the Refinery Shop, Alchemist’s Business, or Fulu Building, all could provide Loose Cultivators with a means of livelihood or a way to earn Spirit Stones. Monster Hunters, Artifact Refiners, Alchemists, Meal Masters, or just ordinary Loose Cultivators, all could find stable work and earn Spirit Stones for living and cultivation. Their apparel, necessities, and overall standard of living had also improved from before. So, this year was exceptionally prosperous, and naturally, it was also exceptionally lively. Cultivators bustled through the streets, streaming endlessly back and forth. Market Towns were everywhere, with stalls displaying a medley of goods, offering a dazzling selection of food, drinks, entertainment, and all kinds of leisure items. There were many ingenious toys, distinctive snacks, wine fragrant enough to waft for miles, and entertainers competing in splendor. Caught up in such a lively atmosphere, Mo Hua, too, began to feel joyful. The life of a Cultivator, seeking the Tao, is arduous, as is the struggle to make a living. As for other matters, there wasn’t much Mo Hua could do; what she could do was, within her capabilities, make life better for the Loose Cultivators in Tongxian City. Having grown up there, she had received much care from her neighbors and her uncles and aunts. Now that she had learned Formation, she naturally wanted to help the community. At this thought, Mo Hua once again felt fortunate. It was a good thing her Sea of Consciousness contained a Taoist Stele, and it was a good thing she had learned Formation. Formations followed the principles of the Heavenly Dao, and perhaps it was only with Formations that she could help so many Cultivators.