272. You Aren’t Looking for Me?

You Aren’t Looking for Me?

Shen Mo made no attempt to hide his disappointment, so Mei Terumi could still see it.

Was he looking down on me?

Mei Terumi was a little unconvinced. She slightly pursed her lips and said, "I’m not the Mizukage. Why would I need to think about a question like that? What the village will become is something the Mizukage should be thinking about."

"Lady Mei Terumi." Chojuro immediately panicked a little.

According to the customs of Kirigakure, the position of Mizukage should be held by the strongest person.

And in the village now, the strongest person was undoubtedly Lady Mei Terumi.

However, Mei Terumi acted as if she had not heard him, her expression showing a trace of annoyance.

Shen Mo finally understood why, even though the Fourth Mizukage had been overthrown long ago, she had waited until the eve of the Fourth Shinobi World War to take up the Mizukage’s hat and officially become the Fifth Mizukage.

This person had no ambition for power.

Aside from showing decisiveness when the village faced a crisis, she was just a woman who wanted nothing more than to get married.

Fortunately, this world was not lacking in crises anymore.

Shen Mo was no longer planning to ask anything else.

But Mei Terumi looked at him and took the initiative to start a conversation.

"What about you, Mr. Shen Mo?" Mei Terumi’s gaze held a hint of probing. "Being a traveling merchant must be hard too, right? Have you ever thought about settling down somewhere, Mr. Shen Mo?"

"…" Shen Mo shook his head and said softly, "Traveling is the destiny I chose, and it’s also the life I enjoy."

"I see."

Mei Terumi lowered her gaze, her disappointment obvious.

She had finally found a man who suited her in every way, only to discover that he was a traveler unwilling to stay in one place.

Should I knock him out and tie him up before taking him back?

A bold idea flashed through Mei Terumi’s mind.

The corner of Shen Mo’s eye twitched almost imperceptibly several times.

Was my charm really that great?

Fortunately, at that moment, Teuchi brought over a bowl of ramen radiating an enticing aroma and placed it in front of Shen Mo.

A bowl was also placed in front of Ikaros, Mei Terumi, and the others, but it was obvious that Shen Mo’s bowl was Teuchi’s proudest creation.

"You’ve improved quite a bit." Shen Mo only took a sniff of the aroma and knew that Teuchi’s skills had improved considerably since the last time he had eaten here.

"It’s all because of Mr. Shen’s products." Teuchi looked a little embarrassed.

He had not needed to undergo much painstaking practice. As long as he purchased a jar and opened it, he could obtain experience and techniques for preparing food, as well as various rare ingredients and dishes. Being praised for improving because of this made Teuchi feel somewhat ashamed.

"There’s no need to feel ashamed." Shen Mo raised his head and glanced at him with a smile. "What’s there to be ashamed of about growth that you paid a price for?"

There really were players like this in games who felt that becoming stronger by spending money was somewhat embarrassing.

It’s not like I cheated.

Money is also a skill.

Meanwhile, Mei Terumi was a little bewildered.

What does he mean, because of Mr. Shen’s products?

Did Shen Mo sell him some product that could improve his cooking skills?

By this time, Shen Mo had already tasted a mouthful of ramen.

He had temporarily purchased a God Tongue trial item.

His brows furrowed slightly.

"Since this is a tasting, I’ll just point out the flaws. Your broth and chili oil aren’t properly balanced. You added too much soybean paste. You also added the golden shrimp from the jars? Although it’s flavorful enough, the garlic and chicken broth you paired with it are too ordinary. Also, the cauliflower is delicious, but it didn’t absorb the flavor when you stir-fried it…"

He listed a great many shortcomings, and Teuchi recorded every one of them with cold sweat beading on his forehead.

Mei Terumi stared at the bowl of ramen in front of her, which was perfect in color, aroma, and flavor, her expression turning somewhat strange.

Was it really that bad?

That couldn’t be right. So many customers had eaten it.

She tried taking a sip of the ramen broth. Her eyes immediately widened, her legs pressed together, and her entire body shuddered. She felt a wave of heat surge from her mouth into her heart.

This is way too delicious!

Mei Terumi had never eaten such delicious ramen before. No, she had never eaten such delicious food before.

Then she looked to the other side.

The chef who had made such delicious food was currently apologizing with a deeply ashamed expression.

"I’m truly sorry, Mr. Shen. I didn’t expect to have made so many mistakes. I’ve really let down the help you gave me."

"It’s nothing. After all, it’s been quite a while since you last bought a jar." Shen Mo shook his head, indicating that he did not mind.

However, he more or less understood why all the food he had bought from Erina Nakiri was so delicious.

With a tongue like that, she simply could not tolerate even the slightest flaw.

"I just wanted to wait until I had saved more money before disturbing you again." Teuchi felt even more ashamed.

He had clearly resolved to walk the true path of a chef.

Yet he was still like this.

No, I need to expand the business further, take on a few apprentices, and then open a branch in Konoha.

Mei Terumi grew even more confused as she listened.

"Jars?"

"What kind of jars can improve someone’s cooking skills?"

She blinked and could not help asking, "Sir, I haven’t asked yet. What exactly are the products you sell?"

"Just some jars." Shen Mo canceled the God Tongue and slowly ate his ramen as he spoke.

"Jars?" Mei Terumi was even more bewildered.

Her azure eyes moved from Shen Mo to Teuchi, wondering whether she and they were even talking about the same thing.

Teuchi looked at Mei Terumi, seeming somewhat hesitant.

Although he was devoted to cooking, he did not completely ignore everything else.

Yesterday’s battle, the Fourth Hokage’s resurrection, and the Anbu’s warning had all made him understand the significance of Shen Mo’s existence. But this woman was clearly not from Konoha.

Shen Mo, however, did not seem to care much.

He merely said unhurriedly, "That’s right. Jars capable of granting people’s wishes."

"Granting wishes?"

Mei Terumi repeated those words silently. Her gaze gradually changed, as if she had thought of something. Suddenly, she sprang to her feet.

Clatter.

The chair behind her fell directly to the ground.

The loud crash drew everyone in the ramen shop’s attention, but Mei Terumi seemed completely unaware of it. She only stared wide-eyed at Shen Mo, who was still eating his ramen leisurely, her face filled with indescribable shock.

Granting wishes!?

A product capable of granting wishes?

Mei Terumi looked at the man she had taken a liking to and struggled to force the words out.

"Who exactly are you?"

"What?" Shen Mo turned his head to look at her. His gaze was deep, and a gentle smile still lingered on his face. "Weren’t you looking for me all this time?"

"Thump-thump–!"

Mei Terumi felt her heart pound violently twice.

It really is him!

That mysterious existence who resurrected the Hokage, changed Konoha, and granted Tsunade that kind of overwhelming power.

It’s this man standing right in front of me!

Mei Terumi truly had never imagined that the person she had desperately wanted to find would appear before her in this manner.