Lao Ba's McDonald's

"What?! You opened a McDonald's in Bianjing?!"

The eldest brother spat out a mouthful of tea, startling the peacock feathers on his colorful headgear, which stood on end.

Old Eight proudly pulled out a gilded plaque with the five large characters "Eighth Master McDonald's" written on it in a flamboyant style.

"Right in the busiest part of Imperial Street, our new store is opening today! Everything is half price!"

The streets were already bustling with people.

From afar, you can see a three-story vermilion pavilion with strings of chili peppers and corn hanging from the eaves, and a life-sized fried chicken statue standing at the entrance.

Upon closer inspection, it turned out to be sculpted based on Gou Dan's bald head.

Welcome to Eighth Master McDonald's!

The maids, dressed in modified ruqun (a type of traditional Chinese dress), shouted in unison.

Old Eighth Brother produced a Western-style tall hat from nowhere and stood behind the counter, grinning from ear to ear.

"Today's special: 'Heroic Swordsman Package'!"

The man, who was frying fish, peered eagerly at the counter and asked.

Do you have ice cream cones?

"Yes! 'Snowflake Crisp Mountain' from the Western Regions!"

As if by magic, Lao Ba produced a wooden bucket filled with milky-white shaved ice.

"Lychee honey was added!"

Zui Qingfeng frowned as he stared at the menu on the wall.

"These Heartbreakingly Beautiful Wings..."

"Marinate for three hours with the secret sauce of Drunken Immortal Peach!"

Old Eight patted his chest and guaranteed it.

"Guaranteed to be even more exhilarating than quitting smoking!"

Chen Ze pointed coldly to the most expensive Celestial Immortal Castle.

"explain."

"Hehe, it has twelve layers of meat patties inside, you'll feel like you're floating after eating it!"

No sooner had Lao Ba finished speaking than Chen Ze's sword sheath pressed against his throat.

"False advertising, beheaded."

The group sat around a specially designed rotating dining table.

The eldest brother was holding a hamburger the size of a washbasin, looking worried.

"Where do we even begin..."

Watch me!

I pounced on the fried fish and started biting into it, only to get cheese all over my face.

Dog Egg took the opportunity to steal the popcorn chicken from her plate, and was hit on the head by Zui Qingfeng with his pipe.

Shiyun gracefully picked up the fries with silver chopsticks, while Xijiang studied the recipe for the "Rain of Pear Blossoms Drink" in a glass cup.

Old Qing suddenly pulled a copy of "Western Food Diary" from his pocket.

"This frying technique..."

"Try this!"

Old Lin suddenly brought over a plate of golden-brown fried food.

"Old Eight's specially made 'emergency medicine'!"

Everyone tasted it and found it to be a hangover pill coated in sugar. Lao Ba scratched his head and laughed.

"Last time I saw you guys suffering so much after drinking..."

While Lao Ba went to the kitchen, the group quietly slipped in for a look.

On the stove was an improved version of the "automatic chicken rack flipper", and on the wall were "frying temperature tips". The most amazing thing was the one in the corner.

Zui Qingfeng lifted the red cloth, revealing a mechanical arm that was automatically cutting potatoes.

Lao Ba rubbed his hands awkwardly.

"I worked with Lao Qing on this renovation... Hey, don't touch that sauce vat!"

It's too late.

Dog Egg plunged headfirst into the jar of chili peppers, and when he came out, he was fiery red, running wildly all over the yard because of the spiciness.

"Murder! Murder!"

After lunch, everyone volunteered to help Lao Ba with his McDonald's.

"Quick, quick, quick! Heat the oil! Cut the fries into thin strips! Flip the hamburger patty!"

Lao Ba stood behind the counter, sweat beading on his forehead, a shovel in his hand, directing the Hundred Birds Gang members as they busied themselves.

A long queue had already formed outside McDonald's, with diners craning their necks to peer inside and chattering amongst themselves.

"I heard that the staff at this newly opened McDonald's are all martial arts masters?"

"Absolutely! I saw that shopkeeper wearing the colorful headgear leaping across rooftops and delivering takeout with my own eyes!"

The eldest brother, wearing an apron and with flour still stuck to his colorful headgear, was frantically stuffing patties into hamburgers.

"This thing is harder than mastering light-body kung fu!"

She was frying fish on tiptoe while making French fries, and oil splattered onto her hands, making her yell "Ouch!" in pain.

"Myna bird! This oil pan is scalding hot!"

Drunk Breeze, a mint leaf dangling from his lips, leaned lazily against the counter as he handled the cash register, tapping his abacus with his pipe.

"One serving of 'Heartbreakingly Delicious Wings,' thirty coins, thank you for your kind offer."

Chen Ze stood in the kitchen with a cold face, his long sword drawn three inches from its sheath, a flash of cold light.

"Swish, swish, swish!"

The potatoes were instantly cut into even, thin strips.

Old Qing silently handed over the basket.

"French fries, plate them."

"Gah! Welcome to Eighth Master's McDonald's!"

Dog Egg stood on the specially made chicken-shaped signboard at the entrance, a mini chef's hat on his bald head, his beady eyes sparkling with the light of business.

"Please queue to order! Cutting in line will not be tolerated!"

The diners were both surprised and delighted, and they all took out coins to tip the diners.

"This chicken can talk?!"

Dog Egg proudly raised his head.

"I'm a fighting rooster, not a performing rooster!"

After saying that, it swatted away the mischievous child who was trying to touch its bald head with a wing.

Shiyun sat in a private booth on the second floor of McDonald's, her fingertips lightly caressing the strings of her piano. The melodious music made the whole store seem more upscale.

Xi Jiang then gently placed the specially made "Pear Blossom Drink in a Rainstorm" in front of the guest.

"Limited time offer, refreshing and cleansing."

The diners stared in disbelief.

"This...this couldn't be the legendary celestial wine?"

Xi Jiang smiled slightly.

"A secret recipe from the Western Regions, with three qian of mint and two fen of borneol."

Drunk Breeze heard this downstairs and almost snapped his pipe in two.

"That's the menthol I used to quit smoking!"

"Your 'Celestial Castle' has been received!"

The eldest brother used his light-footed skills to leap across Bianjing City, stepping on the rooftops, his colorful headgear shimmering in the sunlight.

He carried the food box and landed steadily in the customer's yard.

"Eat it while it's hot!"

The customer was dumbfounded.

"This...this food delivery guy...is he the leader of the Hundred Birds Gang?!"

The eldest brother grinned.

"That's right! Our specialty is delivery by a master of martial arts; express delivery fee applies!"

McDonald's has finally closed.

Old Eight slumped in his chair, clutching a heavy money bag in his hand, grinning from ear to ear.

"Today's revenue: 500 taels!"

Pan-fried Fish lay face down on the table, his face pressed against the abacus.

My fingers... are ruined...

The eldest brother lay sprawled on the ground, his colorful headgear askew to one side.

"More tiring than fighting..."

A gentle breeze caresses the sun's brow.

"We've run out of mint, we need to restock tomorrow..."

Chen Ze wiped his sword with a cold expression.

"I chopped a hundred pounds of potatoes, and my sword is now dull."

Dog Egg squatted on the money box and let out a satisfied burp.

"Today, I caught twenty people cutting in line..."

As dusk fell, Lao Ba hung up the "Sold Out" sign.

Pan-fried Fish, clutching his bulging belly, slumped in his chair.

"Myna...can I have another ice cream cone...?"

Chen Ze suddenly threw out a silver ingot.

"Pack twenty 'Heavenly Fairy Castle' meals."

Seeing everyone's surprise, he calmly added.

"Feed Dog Egg."

The bald chicken was so angry that it flew up and pecked at him.

"You're the one who eats hamburgers! Your whole family eats hamburgers!"

On the way back to the gang, the leader asked while burping.

"Why did you suddenly decide to open a restaurant?"

The Eighth Prince gazed at the myriad lights of Bianjing, a rare moment of seriousness on his face.

"That year we were starving at Yanmen Pass, and you said it would be great if everyone in the world could have enough to eat."

He shook the cloth bag full of copper coins.

"Now, at least the people on this street won't go hungry tonight."

The group laughed and joked as they walked across the Rainbow Bridge, the moonlight casting long, long shadows of them.

Dog Egg, perched on the boss's shoulder, let out a burp that smelled of fried chicken, and then suddenly whispered.

"The Hundred Birds Gang...not bad..."

A gentle night breeze blew as the members of the Hundred Birds Gang lay sprawled on the roof of McDonald's.

Old Eight looked at the starry sky and suddenly said.

What are we doing tomorrow?

The eldest brother closed his eyes and waved lazily.

"Damn! But... I'll have to pay extra!"

A gentle breeze and a light laugh.

"Okay, I'll take 30% of the profits."

Chen Ze, sword in hand, snorted coldly.

"I want double pay."

While frying fish, I raised my hand in a daze.

"I want... a free ice cream cone..."

Dog Egg was already asleep, his bald head bobbing up and down, muttering to himself.

"The Hundred Birds Gang... is the best..."

Shiyun's zither music drifted gently under the night sky, while Xijiang held a cup of tea, a slight smile playing on her lips.