Chapter 282: Chapter 282: Street Vending in Kun City 1
Jiang Liu cut the potatoes Jun Qingmeng had peeled for him into chunks.
Tongtong sat on a small stool, pouring juice for Jiang Liu.
She would glance at Jiang Liu from time to time, her eyes filled with happiness.
6:33 AM.
The line of customers at the door already stretched to the entrance of the barbershop across the street.
Thanks to Jiang Liu, the entire street was buzzing with foot traffic early in the morning.
"Wow, there are so many people here, honey. What’s going on so early in the morning?"
"I don’t know. Let’s ask someone."
A young couple visiting South City was drawn in by the lively scene on Yangzhai Street.
The plain-looking Kong Dong walked over to Uncle Niu to ask.
"Hello, sir. Are you all waiting in line? Is this shop having a promotion?"
Uncle Niu, who was sweeping the floor and smoking a cigarette, glanced at him. "No promotion. Boss Jiang is open for business."
"Boss Jiang is open for business?" Kong Dong asked curiously. "What does he sell? Would you mind telling me, sir?"
"Good food, that’s what. You’re here now, so don’t miss out. If you do, you’ll regret it for the rest of your life."
Uncle Niu hadn’t wanted to bother with the two of them, but he didn’t mind putting in a good word for Jiang Liu.
’Regret it for the rest of my life?’
’Is it really that amazing?’
Kong Dong was skeptical.
He even felt like laughing.
While he was hesitating,
his girlfriend’s craving kicked in. "Babe, I want to try it too!"
"Fine. Let’s go buy a spot in the line. With this many people, who knows how long we’ll have to wait."
...
Inside the shop.
Jiang Liu placed the braised potatoes, steaming with a sweet and savory aroma, onto a plate and sprinkled a pinch of cilantro on top.
"Wow! Daddy, the potatoes smell so, so good! How did you know Tongtong wanted to eat potatoes?"
Jiang Tongtong cupped her little cheeks, her eyes practically sparkling.
’Daddy is the best!’
"Let me smell too! Wow, it smells amazing, honey!~"
The two flatterers followed at Jiang Liu’s heels, showering him with praise.
"Alright, stop with the flattery. Hurry up and eat so you can get to the kindergarten."
"Aww."
The three of them sat down together.
Breakfast was simple.
A bowl of shrimp and corn congee, and a large plate of braised potatoes.
The sauce for the braised potatoes was thick; Jiang Liu had intentionally thickened it with starch. The viscous, savory sauce coated the soft, tender, and flavorful potatoes, making them go perfectly with rice.
Jun Qingmeng first put two pieces of potato into Jiang Liu’s bowl.
Tongtong did the same.
"Daddy, you work the hardest. You eat first."
"Honey, eat more. If you eat a lot, you can protect the two of us."
"You two eat too."
Overwhelmed by their pampering, Jiang Liu quickly shielded his bowl.
Jun Qingmeng and Tongtong exchanged a glance and started laughing.
Everything was understood without a word.
"Mmm! It’s so hot and so yummy." Tongtong opened her little mouth and took a bite of potato. It was mealy and soft in her mouth, savory and delicious.
"Honey, the potatoes you made are too delicious. What if I don’t want to leave?"
After finishing a piece of potato, Jun Qingmeng looked at Jiang Liu pitifully.
She really liked Jiang Liu so much.
She wished she could stay by his side forever.
"Daddy, boohoo, I feel so sad. What if I don’t want to go to kindergarten? Just let me and Mommy stay!"
Both of them looked at Jiang Liu with pitiful expressions.
Jiang Liu said nonchalantly, "You can. Same old rules, take your pick: fifty spankings or fifty forehead flicks."
"Bleh, bleh, bleh, silly Daddy! Tongtong was just kidding. Why are you so serious again?"
Jiang Liu glanced at Tongtong, who was forcing a smile.
’Putting on an act.’
’Keep pretending.’
After they finished eating,
the two of them gave Jiang Liu a hug.
"We’re leaving now, honey. Don’t forget to miss me!"
"Daddy, what if I still don’t want to go?"
After spending two days playing with Jiang Liu, Tongtong was even more reluctant to leave him.
Jiang Liu helplessly patted Tongtong’s head, then Jun Qingmeng’s. "Be good. Hurry and go now. You’ll be back before you know it."
"Okay, then we’re going."
The two of them made heart shapes with their hands at Jiang Liu and walked out, holding hands.
As expected, the new customers at the door wore expressions of utter amazement.
Jun Qingmeng was stunningly beautiful, and Tongtong was super cute. The two of them together were exceptionally eye-catching.
「Meanwhile.」
In Ba District, Yue Longfan was already busy setting up for opening.
He had set out six small folding tables.
A red banner for "Jiang’s Buns" hung from his cart.
To the side were a gas stove, steamers, and several large buckets.
It was at a crossroads.
A business area temporarily designated by the city.
The small vendor stalls were lined up one after another. Next to Jiang’s food stall was an old couple selling beef noodles.
The two of them wore blue leather aprons, giving them the air of seafood vendors.
Heh!
Old Wang glanced expressionlessly at Yue Longfan, then turned to his wife and said, "A bun seller showed up. I bet you he won’t make any money today."
His wife glanced over as well, inwardly amused. She was busy but still said,
"He looks new, not one of our circle. That spot he’s in is just the leftovers from everyone else. By the time customers get to him, they’ll already be full."
"This catering business is a cake not just anyone can come and take a bite of."
The other stall vendors also noticed Yue Longfan’s deserted stall.
They shook their heads and chuckled.
They were all waiting to see him make a fool of himself.
Yue Longfan’s location really wasn’t good.
Behind him was a main road, and all the shops along it were closed.
The residential districts, hospitals, schools, and so on were all on the other side of the road.
To get to his side to eat, people had to pass at least twenty other stalls.
Yue Longfan was a burly man. His arms were incredibly thick from years of tossing woks.
With him was a scholarly-looking thirty-year-old server wearing glasses.
The server, Xue Binghan, said, "Chef Yue, should we shout to attract customers, or maybe use a megaphone?"
’Since I’ve decided to work for Boss Jiang long-term, I need to think about his interests,’ he fretted. ’After all, I’m this old and still not married because I’m poor!’
"No need. Just wait."
In stark contrast to Xue Binghan,
Yue Longfan was the picture of confidence.
As far as he was concerned,
these buns were made by the Master. He could sell them all with his eyes closed!
Beside him, the steamers billowed with hot air.
There were two burners in total and two tanks of gas.
One burner could steam six hundred buns at a time. With five thousand buns divided between the two burners, it would only take about four batches each.
There was more than enough gas.
After a full three minutes,
two customers finally ran the gauntlet and made it to the Jiang’s Buns stall.
They were two young-looking students who appeared to be underage.
They were residents of the Fuxing North District and were in high school, but their school was currently under renovation, so all students were at home taking online classes.
Zhong Lin, who had fair skin and delicate features, frowned. "Lily, here’s another stall selling buns. What should we do?"
She didn’t want to eat any more buns.
They had already passed two other bun stalls up ahead. She had no appetite for them at all, but she didn’t know what else to eat.
The smell of the food stalls was making her sick.
Lily said hesitantly, "Why don’t we just grab something here? We haven’t had buns in a few days. Besides, this looks like a new stall, and the uncle looks honest. Let’s go try it."
"...Fine."
The two girls, who were as close as sisters, held hands and walked up to the stall.
Yue Longfan stood up calmly.
"Are you two little sisters looking to buy some buns?"
He really did sound like a creepy old man.
’Little sisters?’
Combined with Yue Longfan’s rough features and his silly grin, the two girls were so scared they took a step back.
The other stalls were already packed, and their owners were, intentionally or not, keeping an eye on Jiang’s Buns.
Not for any particular reason, other than wanting to watch the show.
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