I'm a Druid at a farmhouse.

Chapter 76 A Family That Stands Out from the Crowd

Pei Ziyou stopped chewing as soon as the diced chicken entered his mouth.

In those eyes that had been somewhat indifferent to everything, a pure, food-struck gleam finally appeared.

The crust is perfectly crispy and caramelized; you can hear a subtle crackling sound when you gently touch it with your teeth.

Next comes the domineering aroma of chili peppers, which hits the taste buds intensely but is not pungent; it is just a pure, appetizing spiciness.

As the waves recede, the rich aroma of the chicken slowly emerges, and the tender juices burst in your mouth.

The most wonderful part is at the end, when the spiciness and saltiness gradually dissipate, a faint, refreshing sweet and sour taste quietly rises from the depths of the tongue, long and refreshing, perfectly gathering and sublimating all the previous flavors.

"Hmm!"

Pei Ziyou let out a satisfied groan, and unconsciously quickened his chewing pace.

He didn't eat in a particularly elegant way, but there was a strange focus in him, as if the whole world consisted only of him and the dish on his plate.

Angie, who was standing next to her, was a little stunned.

She'd been to every high-end restaurant Pei Ziyou had ever been to, even those exquisitely presented Michelin-starred dishes with captivating stories, and he'd never shown that kind of expression before.

"Is it really that delicious?" Angie looked at the bright red chilies on the plate, feeling a little apprehensive. She rarely ate such oily and spicy food in order to maintain her figure.

Pei Ziyou ignored her, picked up another piece of food with his chopsticks, and this time put several golden peanuts into his mouth.

The tenderness of the chicken, the aroma of the chili, and the crunch of the peanuts exploded in his mouth in turn, and he squinted his eyes comfortably.

Angie finally couldn't resist any longer. She carefully reached out with her chopsticks, picked up a piece of chicken that looked to have the fewest chilies from the edge of the plate, and hesitantly put it into her mouth.

The next second, her eyes widened suddenly.

My previous dislikes about this place and complaints about the environment were completely overwhelmed by the tsunami-like impact on my taste buds in that instant.

She disregarded all ladylike manners and, imitating Pei Ziyou, quickly picked up the second piece, then the third...

For a moment, only the crisp sound of chopsticks and plates colliding remained on the table.

When Song You brought out the steamed fish and smashed cucumber, this was the scene of utter chaos.

Half of that spicy chicken dish was already gone.

"The fish is here, be careful it's hot." Song You put the dish down.

Pei Ziyou looked up, still chewing something, and mumbled, "Boss, your skills are a waste of your talent."

Song You smiled but didn't reply.

Pei Ziyou swallowed what was in his mouth, wiped his mouth with a napkin, and his expression became more serious.

"Seriously, are you interested in starting your own business? I'll set up a studio for you, specializing in home-style cuisine. I'll take care of everything: the location, the decor, the marketing. You just need to cook. The salary is 40,000 a month, and we'll split the profits 70/30."

These conditions are like a meteoric rise for any chef.

Anqi also put down her chopsticks and looked at Song You expectantly.

If Song You agrees, wouldn't she be able to eat such delicious food every day?

Song You shook his head and pointed to the courtyard beneath his feet.

"Thanks, but I still prefer to stay here."

"Why?" Pei Ziyou asked, puzzled. "With your skills, how many tables of business can you possibly serve a day in this remote mountain village?"

"Feeling at ease," Song You replied simply.

Pei Ziyou stared at him for a few seconds, then suddenly sighed and slumped back into his lazy posture, leaning against the back of his chair.

"Yes, it's good to be free."

He picked up his chopsticks and poked at the fish in the plate listlessly. "Unlike me, my dad forces me to start a business every day."

Song You was somewhat surprised: "Starting a business is a good idea; you can make money."

"That's the problem," Pei Ziyou said, his voice filled with frustration. "He's not making me make money, he's making me lose money."

"Losing money?" Song You was stunned.

"Yes." Pei Ziyou looked utterly dejected. "My dad's exact words were, 'The more you lose now, the bolder you are, the bigger the market you're eyeing, and the more you'll earn in the future. I'll give you a small goal first: lose a hundred million. After you've lost it all, I'll give you more.'"

"I heard he learned it from a relative who owns a game company."

An eerie silence fell over the courtyard.

Several customers eating at the next table looked at Pei Ziyou as if he were an idiot.

Angie's face showed undisguised envy and admiration.

Song You remained silent for a moment, then sincerely remarked, "Your father's educational methods were truly unique."

"Don't even mention it." Pei Ziyou waved his hand. "That's why I'm wandering around everywhere, trying to find some real things that money can't buy. As for starting a business, I'll leave it to fate. Anyway, I can live off the money my family gives me."

As he spoke, he suddenly sat up straight and reached out his hand to Song You.

"You're an interesting person, and your cooking is even more interesting. Want to be friends?"

Song You looked at him, then reached out and shook his hand.

"Song You".

Pei Ziyou.

"What does your family do? How come you're so rich?" Song You couldn't resist asking.

"I'm not bragging, but our family..."

Just as Pei Ziyou was about to boast a few words as was his habit, a clear voice suddenly came from the side.

"Boss, everything's cleaned up. Is there anything else to do?"

Su Yunxi walked over at some point and stood next to Song You, holding a rag in her hand, with fine beads of sweat on her forehead.

Pei Ziyou's words caught in his throat.

His gaze swept over Su Yunxi's face, which appeared even more beautiful and charming due to the sweat, and her face, unadorned, instantly became extremely interesting.

His nonchalant smile froze, his mouth slightly agape, as if he had seen a ghost.

"Cough, cough cough!" Pei Ziyou coughed suddenly, almost choking on his own saliva. He quickly withdrew from his previous boastful posture and sat up straight.

"Actually, I don't have much money. It's just a small business, barely enough to make ends meet, haha, just enough to make ends meet."

His sudden humility made Song Youdu look at him with some surprise.

Su Yunxi looked at him quietly without saying a word, but her clear eyes revealed an unmistakable warning.

A bead of cold sweat appeared on Pei Ziyou's forehead.

He immediately changed the subject, his voice rising a notch: "By the way! Song You, I'm planning a trip to Latin America in a couple of days, to see the Amazon rainforest and the Inca ruins!"

Song You's heart skipped a beat.

Latin America, the Amazon?

He immediately thought of the dying little Bodhi tree.

"How long will you be gone? When will you be back?" Song You pressed.

"It's uncertain. It could take as little as one or two months, or as long as half a year," Pei Ziyou replied.

Song You considered it in his mind. Several months was too long. By the time he brought back the soil, the World Tree seedlings would have long since died.

But it would be nice if I could help.

"Pei Ziyou, now that we're friends, could you do me a favor?" Song You asked.

"Go ahead," Pei Ziyou answered readily, eager to turn the page.

"When you're traveling, keep an eye out for any plants that look unusual, especially those that seem very vibrant." Song You described it vaguely; he couldn't very well say he was looking for a branch of the World Tree.

"Plants?" Pei Ziyou paused for a moment, then found the request quite interesting. "Okay, I'll keep an eye out for you. Anything else?"

"And one more thing," Song You's expression turned serious, "whenever you go to a place, could you help me dig up a small bag of soil from the local area? It doesn't have to be much, just a plastic bag will do, and then mail it directly to this address."

"Mail soil?" Pei Ziyou was completely dumbfounded.

He'd seen people buy bags, watches, and cosmetics for him, but this was the first time he'd ever seen someone buy mud from overseas.

"Yes, it's earthen." Song You nodded. "I'll cover all the postage and labor costs."

"Sure! No problem!" Pei Ziyou readily agreed. He found Song You to be even more interesting than he had imagined. "Anyway, I have to check off every place I go. I'll just send you a bag of soil while I'm at it. It's no big deal."

"Thank you." Song You breathed a sigh of relief; this had solved his immediate problem.

As long as there is soil from its place of origin, he is confident that he can use his Druid abilities to analyze its components and create the most suitable environment for the growth of Rila Bodhi.

Collecting more soil is also a way to prepare for unforeseen circumstances.

The meal was eaten in a strange atmosphere.

Pei Ziyou ate to his heart's content, and An Qi also ate quite a lot, which was unusual for her. Only Su Yunxi stood quietly to the side.

"Boss, check please," Pei Ziyou called out.

Su Yunxi took the payment code and walked over, stating the amount: "A total of three hundred and eighty-eight."

Pei Ziyou took out his phone, scanned the QR code, and entered the information.

"Ding-dong."

Su Yunxi's phone rang.

She glanced at it, then her expression turned somewhat strange: "Sir, you only paid one hundred and ninety-four."

Upon hearing this, Angie chimed in, "Is there some kind of special offer? Like a 50% discount?"

Pei Ziyou stood up, straightened his vest, grinned at her, revealing a set of white teeth.

"Of course."

"You'll have to pay for your share."