Chapter 328: Chapter 328: Military Armored Vehicle

At five in the afternoon, Shen Lu suddenly heard an unusual engine roar from outside.

A moment later, a matte-black armored vehicle stopped at the entrance.

’Why does this vehicle look so familiar?’ Shen Lu muttered to herself, standing in the doorway. The next second, the door opened, and Wu Jun emerged, pushing Fu Cheng in his wheelchair.

Shen Lu: ???

Once Fu Cheng was inside, Shen Lu asked curiously, "Where did you go?"

"This armored vehicle’s performance can’t compare to Zhao Qian’s, and its gas mileage is worse, but it’s more than enough for you," Fu Cheng said with a gentle smile. "It should last you until next spring."

"You went and got me a vehicle?" It dawned on Shen Lu. "Where on earth did you get it?"

"That’s not important. An armored vehicle handles a little differently than a regular one. Have you decided who’s going to drive it? While the driver is still here, they should get some special training."

"I’ll go get Wang Daguo." Shen Lu immediately ran to the greenhouse and dragged Wang Daguo away from his digging.

Wang Daguo was still completely out of the loop. It wasn’t until he was sitting in the passenger seat that he finally snapped out of it.

"Holy crap, the boss actually got her hands on a military armored vehicle? That’s so badass."

"Stop messing around and learn properly from the instructor," Shen Lu said.

"Yeah, yeah, I’ll definitely do my best."

Shen Lu closed the vehicle door and walked back into the restaurant.

"So, what’s the real story?" Shen Lu was dying for a clear answer. ’Fu Cheng got her a vehicle without saying a word. That’s just too cool.’

Fu Cheng took a sip of water. "I was more or less with the military before, so I still know a few people. This armored vehicle was just sitting idle in a warehouse, so I borrowed it."

He spoke of it nonchalantly, but in reality, it hadn’t been easy at all.

He just didn’t want to burden Shen Lu. All she had to do was happily accept his kindness.

"Fu Cheng, you’ve been a huge help."

Shen Lu didn’t suspect Fu Cheng was lying, truly believing the matter was as simple as he said.

Now that she had an armored vehicle, she could start putting the plans she’d been mulling over into action.

Because of the driving lesson, Wang Daguo worked some overtime and finished later than usual.

Shen Lu checked the System Warehouse. There were only four or five steamed buns left from a previous batch, so she gave them all to Wang Daguo as an overtime bonus.

Wang Daguo didn’t complain in the slightest, happily tucking them away before heading home.

Parking the vehicle on the street would be too conspicuous, so Shen Lu had it moved to behind the backyard wall.

Feeling cheerful, Shen Lu prepared a lavish dinner: a large iron pot stew, a mountain of sweet and sour crispy pork, and a massive bowl of mixed greens.

"This is amazing, Boss Shen! Can we have this iron pot stew all the time?" Wu Jun asked, his face gleaming with oil. He was most pleased with the stew, which was served in a huge pot.

Xue Can shot Wu Jun a look and cleared his throat.

Xue Can: ’You’re just a freeloader. Have you no shame, making requests?’

Wu Jun and Huo Qian did pay for their three meals a day, but the amount was mostly symbolic. After all, they both had huge appetites, each eating enough for two, yet Shen Lu only ever charged them for a single portion.

Shen Lu didn’t really mind. "I’ll do my best to grant that request."

After eating and drinking their fill, Cai Su brought everyone a cup of tea. No one was in a hurry to leave, so they all sat, sipping their tea to aid digestion and chatting casually.

Shen Lu brought up the fact that the restaurant would soon be starting a delivery service. "Mr. Xue, if you want to order in the future, you can call me directly or send a message. However, the delivery service won’t be available all the time—only when it’s inconvenient for everyone to go out."

Little Deer Cuisine’s business was already good enough as it was, and they were actually shorthanded. If she added deliveries on top of that, Shen Lu had no doubt she’d work herself to death in the back kitchen.

However, when the sandstorms were severe, it wasn’t convenient for people to go out, meaning fewer customers would dine in. That would be the perfect time to offer delivery. ’That way, it won’t interfere with my daily tasks,’ she thought. ’It’s perfect.’

Xue Can had already heard that Fu Cheng procured a military armored vehicle, and he couldn’t deny he was jealous.

With his current network, he wouldn’t have been able to get one. And even if he had, he would have had to give it to his regiment first.

He shot Fu Cheng a complicated look. The man was sipping his tea quietly, his impassive expression grating on Xue Can’s nerves.

"When the time comes, I’ll be sure to be Boss Shen’s first delivery customer."

He’d lost this round, but he wasn’t about to back down.

That evening, after her shower, Shen Lu went to ask Fu Cheng if he wanted to watch TV together, as was her routine.

"Can we do it a little later?" Fu Cheng didn’t agree immediately. "I have to log on at eight for a match."

"A match?" Shen Lu paused. "In that game?"

"Yeah, it’s the finals today." Fu Cheng hesitated for a moment. "Want to come watch?"

"But I don’t have access, do I?"

"You don’t need access for the spectator seats; you just have to buy a ticket." As he spoke, Fu Cheng sent Shen Lu an electronic ticket. All she had to do was click it to enter the game world.

Since he’d already bought her the ticket, Shen Lu felt it would be rude to refuse. Besides, she was curious about the game. ’Fu Cheng seems to really like it,’ she thought. ’What’s so magical about it?’

Lost in thought, Shen Lu clicked the ticket. A burst of digital fireworks exploded before her eyes, and her body felt as if it were being yanked by something. When the feeling of solidity returned, she found herself standing before a massive building.

People were coming and going all around her. They looked almost like real people, but upon closer inspection, some differences were apparent.

After all, real people weren’t followed by spirit pets, nor did golden lotuses bloom on the paths they walked. And they certainly couldn’t produce trails of ethereal light with a mere flick of their sleeves.

These were the various special effects granted by the video game.

Moreover, the flowers here were vibrant and the grass was green, trees grew in lush forests, and an elegant crescent moon hung in the sky. Everything was so full of life—nothing like the real world, which was desolate, withered, and choked by sandstorms.

"A virtual AI game?" Shen Lu murmured to herself. She bent down, plucked a blade of grass, and pinched it. To her surprise, juice seeped out. "But these effects are far too realistic."

Shen Lu followed the crowd inside. The digital guard at the entrance simply scanned her before letting her pass.

A game sprite gave her directions in a voice only she could hear, and Shen Lu found her seat without any difficulty.

It was in the row closest to the fighting ring.

"Is that tourist in the wrong seat?" someone whispered, pointing at her. "These seats aren’t for public sale."

People like Shen Lu, who didn’t have a game account, were given a very plain white outfit upon entering, marking them as a tourist at a single glance.

"She’s got some nerve! Just watch, I’ll report her!" another boy said indignantly.

The game’s customer support responded with lightning speed, delivering a verdict in less than half a minute.

"Huh, customer support says that’s her seat."

"So she’s one of 66527’s guests?"

"Probably. This section is reserved for the players’ personal guests."

"I remember 66527’s friends not being tourists, though."

"Is he not allowed to have other friends? Come on, stop wasting time and sit down. The annual Dragon and Tiger Cup is about to start! I heard this year’s winner gets a chance to join the military. I wonder if 66527 will win, or if Taoli Bubian will take the top spot."

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