173: dinner
"Grumble—"
Someone's stomach suddenly let out a long protest.
Fang Yun and the other two sat calmly in their seats, as if the sound just now didn't exist.
"Looks like we really should eat something." (Fang Yun, looking at Valentine)
"I want to eat mixed noodles." (Toke, looking at Valentine)
"..., two streets away, there's a 'Nuclear Noodle Shop'. Their special synthetic meat is the most technologically and ruthlessly processed synthetic meat I've ever seen. It can keep you full for eight hours, and most importantly, the taste and food safety are also very good." (Valentine)
"Okay, then let's go to the 'Nuclear Noodle Shop'. Valentine, can you point the way for me?" (Fang Yun)
"OK." (Valentine)
Fang Yun stepped on the accelerator, and the speed of the "thunder" instantly soared from grandma-crossing-the-road pace to one hundred and twenty miles per hour.
After running the red light by a hair, Fang Yun, guided by Valentine, took three consecutive turns and finally arrived at a snack street.
The "thunder" rolled over the wet asphalt and turned into this narrow street flickering with neon lights.
On the street, holographic advertising girls twisted and deformed in the acid rain, repeating in a sweet electronic voice:
"Arasaka Special Supply—the latest subcutaneous armor, letting you fear no 'accidents' in Night City!"
Toke glanced at the advertisement by the roadside and chuckled:
"Heh, Arasaka Special Supply Subcutaneous Armor? I think it should be renamed 'Nothing Outstanding But Just Damn Expensive', or 'Unless You're Upper Class Don't Expect High-Quality Stuff', only then can it reflect its 'selling point'."
"Hahaha, your description is too accurate." (Fang Yun)
Valentine didn't say anything, just stared at the 'Nuclear Noodle Shop' ahead:
"We're here, we're here. That's the one."
〖Looks like Valentine is really hungry.〗
The sign of the 'Nuclear Noodle Shop' was half-lit, with electric sparks occasionally popping out of the neon tubes, sizzling.
Several shabbily dressed homeless people lingered at the entrance of the noodle shop, staring longingly at the steam wafting from inside.
They didn't dare to get close to the front door of the shop to smell the food, because that would only attract expulsion.
So they just watched, watching from afar.
"Beep, 1 euro has been credited to your personal account." x3 (All)
"Find a secluded vending machine and buy some pizza to fill your stomach." (All)
"!" (All)
"Thank you for your mercy." (All)
"Thank you for your charity." (All)
"May you be forever happy." (All)
Fang Yun watched the homeless people walk away after thanking him profusely, feeling a bit melancholic:
「If I gave them 10 euro, would it make them live longer, or shorter?」
「If I gave them 100 euro, would these people turn around and resent me, complain about me, or even want to harm me?」
「Heh, this is Night City. No matter what good deed you do, you have to consider the possible bad outcomes first.」
"Let's go, get out of the car and eat."
Valentine's words interrupted Fang Yun's thoughts. He shook his head, clearing the雜念 from his mind.
"Let's go, eat."
Fang Yun parked the car in the empty space (not a parking spot) in front of the 'Nuclear Noodle Shop'.
As soon as the three of them got out of the car and were about to go inside, they heard a loud bang from the shop.
"Bang!"
A burly man crashed through the glass door and flew out of the shop, rolling twice on the ground before stopping.
When he stopped rolling, his chest was facing up, allowing one to immediately see the charred area on his chest.
Inside the shop, the bald owner wearing a greasy apron walked out, muttering curses, carrying an old-fashioned shotgun:
"Motherfucker, how many times have I said it! 'Nuclear Special Supply Meat' is only for diamond VIPs, and no credit! Are you deliberately causing trouble?!"
Seeing this, Toke whistled:
"Looks like the food safety at 'Nuclear Noodle Shop' is as 'good' as ever."
Valentine shrugged, his tone somewhat gloating:
"There are always some street kids who think they're special and want to challenge the boss."
"Facts prove, your boss is still your boss. For so many years, even those big shots who later grew into 'quasi-legends' or even 'legends' would be mercilessly thrown out by the boss."
Hearing Valentine and Toke, Fang Yun formed a preliminary impression of this 'Nuclear Noodle Shop':
"From the looks of it, the 'Nuclear Noodle Shop' seems pretty awesome."
"Of course. As long as it's a place I choose, it can't be bad." (Valentine, slightly proud)
"I can testify to that." (Toke, laughing heartily)
The noodle shop owner, who had finished dealing with the burly man, glanced lightly at Fang Yun, then pushed open the glass door again and walked back into the noodle shop.
「Interesting. This boss has such good eyesight, he can actually tell I'm a master. Could he be a reclusive 'legend'?」
「Although there's a saying in Night City that 'legends are all in the graveyard', 'living legends' aren't nonexistent.」
〖Yes, brothers, yes. As long as the plot requires it, there can be 'living legends' like this.〗
Fang Yun and the other two followed the noodle shop owner into the shop.
As soon as they entered, the strong smell of spices and machine oil hit them.
In the corner, several cyberpunk were burying their heads in their noodles, and happy smiles appeared on their cold faces.
Seeing this scene, Fang Yun thought for a moment, then asked Valentine:
"Brother-in-law, this 'Nuclear Noodle Shop', surely they didn't put 'drugs' in the noodles, did they?" (All)
Valentine looked at Fang Yun with some confusion, followed his gaze, and saw the several cyberpunk burying their heads and eating wildly.
Suddenly, Valentine understood.
He said to Fang Yun with a smile:
"Of course not. If he put 'drugs' in the noodles, I wouldn't be eating here anymore."