Chapter 15: The First Pay-to-Win Player? Menu Prototype Appears in the Game! ...
After the bumper potato harvest and the completion of the toilet, life at Lin's Restaurant entered a relatively stable, but still busy phase.
Lin Yue spends his days with Gray on infrastructure projects, expanding houses, reinforcing fences, tending to the second crop of potatoes, and studying blueprints for new tools. Although he often drools over the blueprints, he can't keep up with the materials and technology. He also has to outwit Uncle Stone Fist, mainly focusing on the supply of salt and rehabilitation training, as well as being Xiao Fen's cat caretaker.
Although life was fulfilling, Lin Yue always felt that something was missing.
What's missing?
Lack of resources! Lack of information! Lack of connection with the outside world!
They are like players trapped in a beginner village. Although they can barely support themselves, they must leave the village to level up, fight monsters, and unlock more maps and achievements, or... let the NPCs outside come to them!
Just as Lin Yue was gazing longingly at the amazing items on the system panel that required a lot of points to redeem, such as ironwork furnaces, water generators, and even flush toilets, and pondering how to make some extra money, the opportunity arrived quietly.
That evening, while Gray was out on patrol, he discovered a faint campfire rising in a distant mountain hollow!
"Someone's here?" Lin Yue immediately became alert upon hearing the news.
Although the edge of this cursed land is desolate, it is not entirely uninhabited. Besides holdouts like them, occasionally some desperate wanderers or daring adventurers pass by.
But usually these people either move around mysteriously or pass through quickly, and rarely do they so openly light a fire to spend the night.
"Grey, do you think... he's a friend or foe?" Lin Yue asked.
Gray shook his head, indicating uncertainty. "...One person. Doesn't look...like...a bad guy," he added, clearly after observing him.
[System Scan (Long Range): Single human life signal detected. No large offensive weapons (visual assessment). Vital signs stable, but signs of mild fatigue and malnutrition are present. Overall risk assessment: Low.]
"Alone? Doesn't look too bad?" Lin Yue stroked his chin. "Could it be... a lost traveler?"
This is a great opportunity to connect with the outside world! Maybe we can get something useful from him, or find out some crucial information!
Of course, we have to be careful, what if it's an act? You can know a person's face but not their heart.
Lin Yue decided to observe first.
The next morning, Lin Yue told Gray to go to work as usual, while he took Xiao Fen and carefully made his way towards the direction where the campfire had been found the day before.
Sure enough, in that mountain hollow, he saw a middle-aged man packing his bags.
The man looked to be in his forties or fifties, his face etched with the marks of time. He wore a worn but still relatively clean leather travel outfit and carried a bulging backpack.
His movements were swift, but his brows betrayed an undeniable weariness and anxiety, clearly indicating that he had experienced considerable hardship.
Upon seeing Lin Yue appear with a fluffy little animal cub, the man was visibly taken aback, then warily gripped the short knife at his waist and scrutinized Lin Yue.
"Um... hello?" Lin Yue tried to greet him in his still somewhat broken otherworldly language, forcing his best smile. "I live over there. I saw the campfire here... are you alright? Do you need any help?"
The man looked Lin Yue up and down, especially at his tattered, oddly patterned T-shirt. His wariness eased slightly, probably because he thought this guy didn't seem like a tough character.
“…Hello, young man.” The man spoke, his voice a little hoarse but clear, with a smooth accent typical of merchants. “My name is Tom, and I’m a…unlucky traveling merchant.” He gave a wry smile.
"Unlucky traveling merchant?" Lin Yue asked curiously. "What do you mean?"
Old Tom sighed, seemingly finding Lin Yue harmless, or perhaps wanting to confide in someone with a bellyful of grievances, and began to pour out his heart: "Oh, don't even mention it! I was planning to transport a batch of furs from Silvermoon City in the north to Ironforge in the south, where the prices are better. But halfway there, I heard that not only are the tax checkpoints strict, but there's also a band of fierce bandits roaming the route, specifically robbing passing merchants!"
A look of lingering fear crossed his face: "My small business can't withstand any turmoil. After much thought, I was wondering... could I risk taking a shortcut and go around the edge of this damned cursed land? Everyone says this place is dangerous, but I think as long as I don't go too deep and just quickly pass through the outer perimeter, it should... be fine, right?"
Lin Yue's eyelids twitched. Good heavens, this guy's got some nerve! Daring to take a shortcut through the Cursed Land?
Sure enough, Old Tom's next words confirmed Lin Yue's guess: "As it turned out! I was really unlucky! First, I encountered a rainstorm and got lost, and then I was chased for miles by some kind of wild beast! Although I managed to escape, I lost all the food and supplies in my backpack! Even the guide I hired... got separated from me!"
He wiped his face, his voice filled with a mixture of relief and despair: "I've been wandering around this godforsaken place for two days like a headless fly, my water bag is empty, and I was about to die of thirst and hunger... Last night, when I saw the firelight over there in the distance, it was like seeing a lifeline! That's why I mustered up my last bit of strength to come here! But I didn't dare to go forward rashly, so I temporarily camped out nearby. Did I disturb you?"
"No, no." Lin Yue quickly waved his hand. "My name is Lin Yue, and this is my... uh, partner, Xiao Fen." He pointed to Xiao Fen, who was sniffing around curiously at his feet.
Seeing Xiao Fen's harmless appearance, Old Tom seemed to relax his guard a bit. "Lin Yue... that name doesn't sound like a local's," he probed casually.
"Uh... sort of, I come from a very far place." Lin Yue answered vaguely, not wanting to reveal too much information.
"I see." Old Tom nodded, not pressing further. He rubbed his somewhat emaciated belly, sighed, and looked at Lin Yue with pleading eyes: "Brother Lin Yue, you see... given my situation... could you do me a favor and give me some food and drink in return? I can use what little I have left to exchange!"
After hearing Old Tom's tragic story, Lin Yue immediately felt reassured.
It turns out he was an unlucky fellow who got himself into trouble trying to avoid taxes and bandits! However, it is precisely because he had a clear destination and rich business experience that his remaining possessions are likely to be more valuable!
"I see. Uncle Tom, your experience... it's truly heartbreaking to hear," Lin Yue said, feigning sympathy, while his mind was already racing with calculations. "Food and water... we're also quite short on supplies here. But seeing that you're really having a hard time, it's only right that we help each other out."
He paused deliberately, then changed the subject, "I just don't know... what do you have to offer in exchange?"
Old Tom's eyes lit up; he knew he had a chance. He patted his bulging backpack: "I have plenty of good stuff here! Look at this!"
He pulled a dark-colored, sharp-edged stone from his backpack. "A top-quality obsidian flint! A light tap produces big, bright sparks! Much better than those yellow stones you struggle to tap for ages!" It seems he may have observed Lin Yue starting a fire yesterday.
He then pulled out several thin, metallic-looking needles. "And this! A fine steel sewing needle! Don't let its small size fool you, it's tough and durable! You can use it to mend clothes, hides, or even as a makeshift weapon!"
Then, he took out a small leather bag and poured out some grayish-white powder: "This is low-quality salt from outside. Although it doesn't taste very good, it's still salt! I think your place... must be short of salt, right?"
Finally, he even pulled out a small booklet with a worn cover and yellowed pages: "This is a treasure! 'Introduction to the Geography of the Continent'! Although it's a bit old, it records the customs and traditions of various parts of the continent, the distribution of major kingdoms, and some common monsters and dangerous areas! For an outsider like you, it's absolutely priceless!"
Lin Yue's eyes widened as he watched Old Tom pull out one item after another!
A flint and steel! A sewing needle! Salt! And a map and an encyclopedia?!
These are all treasures he desperately needs right now! Especially that booklet, it's practically a survival guide to another world!
He suppressed the urge to pounce on them and snatch them all... no, to exchange them all, and said calmly, "Hmm... they do look like some useful things."
Inner monologue: Holy crap! I'm rich! Is this old Tom sent by Doraemon?!
Seeing that Lin Yue was interested, Old Tom quickly pressed his advantage: "How about it, Brother Lin Yue? As long as you provide me with a good meal, a pot of clean water, and a safe place to rest for the night, you can pick any of these things you like!"
Lin Yue's mind started racing with calculations. He wanted all these things, but he couldn't appear too eager, lest he be manipulated. Besides, what he could offer was limited; he couldn't just empty his savings.
How can we conduct a fair, efficient transaction that also reflects the unique characteristics of "Lin's Restaurant"?
Oh, right! The menu!
He had a sudden inspiration and came up with this brilliant idea!
"Uncle Tom, wait a moment." After saying that, Lin Yue turned around and ran towards the restaurant.
Old Tom watched his hurried departure with a bewildered expression.
Lin Yue ran back to the small restaurant, found a relatively flat and smooth wooden plank left over from cutting down trees, and also took a piece of leftover charcoal.
He took a deep breath and began to write on the wooden board.
What should I write? Otherworldly script!
After this period of study and systematic assistance, he has mastered quite a few common words and basic writing rules. Although his handwriting is still crooked and messy, comparable to a primary school student's, at least it's legible, I suppose.
At the very top of the wooden board, he wrote four large characters:
[Lin's Restaurant - Available for exchange today]
Then, the following lines list what he can offer in small quantities for exchange today and the corresponding "price":
A serving of hot soup (wild vegetables + a small amount of diced meat, all you can eat! High-quality and reasonably priced!) --> In exchange for: 1 flint or a pinch of low-quality salt
One serving of roasted meat (exclusive spices to remove any gamey smell, crispy on the outside and tender on the inside! Limited quantity available!) --> Exchange for: 2 sewing needles or "Introduction to Common Geography of Mainland China"
One pitcher of purified water (multi-filtration, safe and hygienic!) --> In exchange for: a small amount of usable fabric (Lin Yue's T-shirt urgently needs a patch).
Safe overnight stay (provided with a berth, basic protection, and a pair of anti-snoring earplugs?) --> In exchange: valuable intelligence or other gadgets that Lin Yue might be interested in.
After finishing, Lin Yue proudly admired his masterpiece. Though simple, this was Lin's Restaurant's first menu with clearly marked prices in this other world! It was groundbreaking!
Holding this "menu board," he returned to the mountain valley with great pride and high spirits.
Old Tom was even more confused when he saw him return carrying a wooden board covered in writing: "Brother Lin Yue, what's this...?"
"Uncle Tom, look!" Lin Yue held up a wooden board in front of old Tom. "These are the things our Lin Family Restaurant can offer for exchange today, as well as what we want to exchange. It's all written on here! Prices are clearly marked, and we're fair to everyone!"
Old Tom leaned closer, squinting as he carefully examined the crooked characters on the wooden board. Having traveled extensively and seen much of the world, he naturally recognized the common script of this other world.
When he understood what was written on it, his face showed an expression of extreme surprise and curiosity!
"This...this is..." Old Tom stammered, pointing at the wooden board, "You wrote down...the things that can be exchanged and their prices?"
“Yes!” Lin Yue nodded. “Isn’t this more convenient? If you see something you like, you can exchange it for something of corresponding value. It’s clear at a glance and saves us from wasting time haggling.”
Old Tom exclaimed in amazement, "I've been to so many places, and this is the first time I've ever seen someone use a writing board like this for business! How novel! How convenient!"
He carefully studied the menu options. All-you-can-eat hot soup sounded good. Limited quantities of roasted meat chunks, seasoned with their own unique spices—surely delicious! Clean water was also a must. And a safe overnight stay would be a lifesaver!
The corresponding items for exchange... flint, salt, needles, cloth, intelligence, pamphlets... were all things he had in his backpack and was willing to exchange!
"Great! Great! Brother Lin Yue, that's a good idea!" Old Tom slapped his thigh. "Then I'll... first, a bowl of hot soup! Then a serving of roasted meat! And a pot of clean water! And I'll stay here safely for the night!"
He considered for a moment: "I'll trade you the hot soup with a flint, and the roasted meat... I'll trade you this booklet! As for clean water... I happen to have some extra linen here. And for the night... I'll tell you about my trade route and what I've seen along the way, what do you think?"
"No problem! Deal!" Lin Yue readily agreed.
The two parties exchanged money and goods simultaneously.
Lin Yue obtained the high-quality flint he had always dreamed of, so he would no longer need to rely on luck to start a fire! He also got a few pieces of linen to mend his fishing net T-shirt. (Note: The phrase "《大陆地理同同知识的基本的，升级要要！》" is a separate, unrelated phrase and doesn't translate directly.)
Having obtained the desired supplies, Lin Yue eagerly opened the tattered "Introduction to Common Geographical Knowledge of the Continent," its pages yellowed and emitting a musty smell.
He skipped the chapters about kingdom wars and noble gossip, going straight to the section on anecdotes and races. Records about dwarves were scarce, only mentioning their stubbornness and skill in forging.
The descriptions of the elves are even more mysterious. The book mentions that this proud and long-lived race seems to be facing some unknown predicament in recent years. Their resonance with the elements of nature is becoming increasingly difficult, many ancient and powerful spells are gradually declining or even lost, causing them to become more and more reclusive and rarely active on the continent...
Old Tom got what he wanted: a dinner that was much more plentiful than his previous rations, a pot of clean water to save him, and a night to rest in peace.
That night, Old Tom ate a steaming, upgraded version of bluebird stew with potatoes, which was actually a newly laid haystack next to Lin Yue and Gray's restaurant, in the guest room of Lin's Restaurant. He also ate potatoes roasted to a crispy exterior and soft interior, with the salty and savory flavor of exotic herbs. He drank clean, clear filtered water and listened to the occasional howls of wild animals outside. He felt as if he had entered paradise ahead of time!
"Brother Lin Yue... your cooking... is amazing!" Old Tom ate with gusto, praising the dish endlessly. "Especially the saltiness in this soup... just right! And these roasted potatoes... I've never had such delicious potatoes before... um, tubers!"
Lin Yue chuckled: "Isn't it delicious? This is our restaurant's secret recipe!"
After eating and drinking to their hearts' content, Old Tom kept his promise and told Lin Yue everything about his trade route, the dangers he encountered along the way, and the rumors he had heard, such as which kingdom was at war, which place was plagued by monsters, and which noble had been involved in a scandal.
Although this information was scattered, it undoubtedly opened a window for Lin Yue, who had always been in a state of information isolation, to understand the outside world.
[System Prompt: Acquired a large amount of external information. World map module unlocked (fog-of-war, requires manual exploration to unlock). New "Explore Surrounding Area" quest series added to the quest panel.]
The next morning, after resting and feeling refreshed, Old Tom once again shouldered his bag and bid farewell to Lin Yue, Gray, and the curious onlookers, Xiao Fen and Shi Quan.
"Brother Lin Yue! Thank you so much for your hospitality! Your Lin's Restaurant and your handwritten menu board have truly broadened my horizons!" Old Tom said gratefully. "I will definitely come back again if I have the chance! By the way... I will also tell other friends who might need your information."
"You're welcome anytime!" Lin Yue said with a smile, waving goodbye.
Watching Old Tom's departing figure, Lin Yue knew that he had taken away not only food and water, but also information about "a strange safe spot on the edge of the Cursed Land where you can exchange writing boards for food."
Lin Yue himself, through this successful trial run, verified that food, clean water, and safety could indeed serve as important bargaining chips. More importantly, he realized the enormous advantages and potential of the menu format in information transmission and transaction processes!
"It seems it's time to make the menu at Lin's Restaurant more formal and comprehensive!" Lin Yue stroked his chin, his eyes gleaming with the light of business opportunity.
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