Chapter 29: Yu's General Store—Truly Poisonous

"Host, I think you should just stop struggling."

"You keep getting slapped in the face, and each time it hurts more than the last."

"Many people have been shopping at Yu's Grocery's physical store today, too. I've been keeping an eye on it; most of the videos people post are just showing off, and there's very little criticism."

"I was already tempted by the goods at Yu's Grocery, but after watching the host's debunking video, I'm even more tempted."

"Action is better than just being tempted; I've already placed an order at their online store."

"Haha, if I didn't know the host, I'd really think this was a scripted performance."

"I was thinking the same thing."

"Speaking of which, I also follow 'Skinny as a Lightning Bolt'! She was the first streamer to review Yu's Grocery's goods, though she focuses more on the grocery store itself. Many people in her room are drinking the products along with her, waiting to see the long-term effects."

"I'll go follow her, too."

"..."

Yin Dongchen looked at the stream of comments in his live chat and gave a helpless smile.

"Brothers and sisters, don't mock me. Didn't I still recommend some great finds to you?"

He truly hadn't expected the products from Yu's Grocery to be this formidable! Beyond their exquisite flavor, the effects were truly immediate. Thus, Yin Dongchen could understand why Yu's Grocery was so popular.

With that in mind, Yin Dongchen turned his attention to his fifth series: Lotus Seed Ice Cakes.

"I'm going to test the Lotus Seed Ice Cakes now. They claim to soothe the heart and calm the spirit, as well as clear away heat and toxins. I happen to have a pimple on my chin, so let's see if this can clear it up. I'm starting the unboxing now!"

As he spoke, Yin Dongchen took out the Lotus Seed Ice Cake set box.

"This box is very delicate. It’s carved with a lotus flower pattern; even the seed pods are carved so vividly, giving it a three-dimensional feel. The box even feels cool to the touch—I feel like the box itself is worth collecting."

He pulled the lid open. The moment it opened, a faint mist wavered around the contents. The sight of the desserts, appearing and disappearing within the haze, was instantly breathtaking.

It wasn't just Yin Dongchen; the fans in the chat were stunned too.

"Holy cow, that is gorgeous!"

"The visual impact of the six-piece set is multiplied."

"As expected, humans have zero resistance to beautiful things."

"Wooo, it's so beautiful. Just for the aesthetics alone, I think it's worth it."

"Host, you must have bought this a while ago, right? And it still has a chilled mist effect—the freshness-keeping ability of this bamboo box is top-notch."

"The more we verify, the more impressive it gets!"

"..."

While the fans were discussing, Yin Dongchen dove right into the Lotus Seed Ice Cakes. He picked one up and shoved it into his mouth without hesitation. Given his large bite, it was the type of snack that you could finish in one go.

As he chewed, Yin Dongchen's eyes lit up instantly.

"It feels like eating ice cream—cool and refreshing, sweet, soft, and smooth, with the delicate fragrance of lotus seeds. There’s definitely no shortage of lotus seeds inside. Delicious!" Yin Dongchen rattled off, clearly using his usual vocabulary. As he spoke, he grabbed a second one. "Let me try another one."

"The taste is identical; the production quality is very consistent. In the market—at least among the desserts I've eaten—very few can compare to this. The main thing is the freshness; it’s like it was just made. I might test the shelf life later to see how long the flavor remains consistent."

Yin Dongchen said this, then resisted the urge to eat more, turning to the fans in front of the camera. "That concludes the tasting for this series. We'll wait to see the effects tomorrow. Now, on to the next series."

Immediately after, the staff off-camera handed the "Spring Water Fresh" set to Yin Dongchen.

Yin Dongchen displayed it for the fans once more.

"This is the second type of dessert from Yu's Grocery: Spring Water Fresh. It's a delicacy mentioned in a popular TV drama, also known as 'Glazed Fruit,' because the outermost layer looks like it’s wrapped in glass. It’s considered the 'beauty' of the dessert world. It can be made in many flavors; Yu's Grocery released six in total. Small boxes are blind boxes, while the large box comes with the full set."

"Let's talk about the main function of this one: beauty and detoxification. Perfect! This also counts as a facial effect. I'll stream again tomorrow morning so everyone can see. No beauty filters, no settings—this is the most authentic state of my skin. The pimple is right here!" After showing his face, Yin Dongchen prepared to unbox it. "The pattern on top is 'Spring Water Fresh,' and the carving is incredibly lifelike."

He opened it immediately. "The same lingering mist," Yin Dongchen muttered, "but compared to the cool, detached feel of the Lotus Seed Ice Cakes, the visuals of Spring Water Fresh are much more striking. Truly a beauty."

"The six current flavors are: Grapefruit, Green Lotus, Starlight, Water Chestnut, Honey Peach, and Passion Fruit. They come in orange-red, pale green, blue-purple, warm white, pink, and orange-yellow. The use of color is masterful. Let me try the flavors." Without hesitation, he dove in.

"It’s so beautiful, I’m afraid to eat it!"

"Are these colors definitely natural? They're so beautiful, I’m a bit worried about 'tech and additives.'"

"No way. Using fruit to dye desserts is quite mature now; I see many food streamers do it."

"The difference is probably in the taste!"

"God, I'm drooling."

"It's so pretty!"

"It looks this good even without beauty filters."

"Hahaha, I feel like the host has suddenly become an advertiser."

"Watching the whole thing, I feel like it's hard for the host not to defect."

"Let's just wait for the results of the various series tomorrow!"

"Right, let's wait."

"Holy cow, what happened? The host already finished them."

"Host, savor them! Aren't you just 'chewing peonies like a cow'?"

"..."

Yin Dongchen saw that comment right as he finished and couldn't help but cough lightly.

"They're just too small, basically one bite each. Once you eat one, it's hard to stop. As for the taste, I want to describe it in one word: superb. Even eating them one after another, the flavors don't interfere with each other. If any of you try them, you'll feel it too," Yin Dongchen said. "I also support this 'Spring Water Fresh' series. The aesthetics and the taste are top-tier."

"If you ask me to compare the two, I can only say they each have their own merits. It depends on personal taste," Yin Dongchen replied to someone asking. After that, he gave a concluding statement. "This series is finished, too. Now, for the final one: Qiong Ye Cake."

For the Qiong Ye Cake, the staff didn't bring a whole box, but a single piece.

"This was a gift from the owner of Yu's Grocery. I think it's quite meaningful, so I'll use this one for the review. The exterior of the box is carved with leaves; I assume that's the shape of the Qiong Ye Cake."

As he spoke, Yin Dongchen unwrapped it.

"The Qiong Ye Cake doesn't seem to have the cooling mist effect. It's a very simple dessert, looking like white jade, warm and smooth like grease." After tasting it, he added, "The effect of this dessert is to strengthen the spleen, nourish the stomach, and expel dampness. It should be a long-term effect, so I'll just talk about the taste. It's relatively light, but the more you eat, the more you appreciate it."

"And that concludes the review of all the products from Yu's Grocery! The taste is impeccable! As for the video, it will be edited and released tomorrow after we see the effects. Thank you all for your trust..." As Yin Dongchen gave his final summary, the fans continued to flood the chat.

"Okay, waiting for you."

"Actually, according to the host, even ignoring the effects, the taste alone makes it worth it."

"But I feel like the delicious taste is only temporary. I can tolerate being broke, but if it really has those effects, I'll find a way to buy it even if I'm short on cash."

"Exactly, exactly! That's probably why this shop focuses on effects."

"Looking forward to tomorrow."

"I'll definitely be watching the host's follow-up stream tomorrow."

"And the edited videos of the various series."

"..."

After a final round of interaction with his fans, Yin Dongchen efficiently ended the stream.

The moment the stream ended, he didn't hesitate to pull out his phone and start clicking through Yu's Grocery's online store to buy, buy, buy.

He had set out to debunk them, but he had been completely won over by the taste of the products.

He just couldn't get enough!

Yu's Grocery is truly addictive!