Divorced Dad's Gourmet Shop

Chapter 288: Chapter 288: The New Stall’s Customer Traffic Explodes

Lin Qiu nagged on.

Jiang Liu listlessly responded.

"Oh, right, Dad. Isn’t my third uncle in Kun City? I had the new shop’s deputy manager go there to sell steamed buns today. Could you ask my third uncle if he wants any buns or anything else to eat? I can have some sent over to him."

Jiang Dahai, holding his rice bowl and eating with relish, said between mouthfuls, "Sure. I’ll share his WeChat with you later. You can talk to your third uncle yourself."

The three of them picked the several dishes on the table clean.

Jiang Dahai ate the most.

’It’ll be hard to eat my son’s delicious food once I’m back with the team. I have to eat more while I can.’

Jiang Liu took the initiative to clear the table.

He sat with his mom and pulled out his phone, all under her watchful, disciplinary eye.

Jiang Liu sent Jun Qingmeng a message on WeChat.

Half an hour ago, Jun Qingmeng had sent him a message, and she didn’t seem to be in a very good mood.

She had only sent an "Mm."

Jiang Liu typed: "What did you have for lunch? I just finished up."

Jun Qingmeng quickly replied: "I had stir-fried pork with pea shoots, pork meatballs, and rice today. It was so bad!"

"What about you, Jiang Liu? What did you eat?"

Jiang Liu: "Lots of delicious things. Jealous? My mom and dad are here with me, but they’re about to leave."

Jun Qingmeng: "Wait, let me find someone to watch the kids for a bit. I’ll find a spot to video call and say goodbye to Uncle and Auntie."

Lin Qiu hurriedly said to Jiang Liu, "Don’t make Qingmeng go through the trouble. That girl’s been tired enough lately. Hurry up and tell her we’re leaving!"

Jiang Liu: "My parents are already getting ready to go. Why don’t you wait until they’re back home? We can video call then, it’s the same thing."

After a moment, Jun Qingmeng replied: "Okay."

"I have to tell you something. Tongtong came in second to last in jump rope today, out of fifteen kids. Make sure to praise her when she gets back."

Jiang Liu: "Okay. I’ll take you two out for ice cream when you’re back."

"You can get back to work."

Jun Qingmeng: "Mm! Don’t forget to miss me. I miss you a lot!"

She put down her phone.

A smile appeared on Jun Qingmeng’s face.

Jiang Liu had initiated the chat, which had brightened her mood considerably.

Sometimes she was like this, prone to getting emotional.

But she was very restrained when it came to Jiang Liu.

...

After replying to the message, Jiang Liu checked the time.

It was still early.

Jiang Dahai asked, "Do you want to take a nap? If there’s any work to be done, the two of us can get a head start on it for you."

"No need, Dad. There’s not much to do at the shop, and I’m not tired. In a bit, I’m going to the market to buy some dried river shrimp powder and some other vegetables. I’m planning to make some shrimp noodles tonight."

The customers had been clamoring for it, and his daughter wanted to eat it too, so Jiang Liu had no choice but to make some.

"Alright then."

Jiang Dahai was secretly craving the shrimp noodles but was too embarrassed to say so.

Lin Qiu said reluctantly, "Liu’er, let’s go to the market together later. Your mother here can haggle for you."

"It’s okay, Mom. The vegetable vendors around here are all pretty good to me. They always give me the lowest price."

"We can also help you carry things."

Hearing his dad speak up, Jiang Liu didn’t refuse.

He just didn’t want his parents running back and forth with him.

「Ten minutes later.」

Jiang Liu went to the market with Jiang Dahai and Lin Qiu.

When the Vegetable Boss saw Jiang Liu arrive, he came out from afar to greet him. "Here to do some shopping, Boss Jiang? I’m telling you, all you have to do is give me a call, and I’ll deliver it to you. Why run over here every day?"

Jiang Liu said with a smile, "I happened to have some free time. Besides, wouldn’t it be tiring for you to run around?"

"Boss Jiang, you’re really a considerate person!"

The Vegetable Boss was growing to like Jiang Liu more and more.

When you thought of him, he would also think of you. People like that were the best to befriend.

After they finished shopping, Jiang Dahai took the initiative to carry the bags for Jiang Liu.

"Dad, let me get that."

"No need! You’re my son. It’s your old man’s duty to share your burdens. Besides, don’t you have to protect Tongtong and Qingmeng? You protect them, and we’ll protect you!"

Jiang Liu’s eyes started to sting.

His dad had never been good with words and had been very strict with him since he was a child. He had never spoken his heart like this before.

Lin Qiu patted Jiang Liu’s shoulder. "Liu’er, you’ve grown up. Soon, you might even be starting a family with Qingmeng. Your dad and the whole Jiang Family are looking forward to it."

"Okay, Mom. When I have time, I’ll take you guys on a trip. Just the three of us. It’s time for you two to enjoy life a little."

...

「Back at the shop.」

His parents, unwilling to sit idle, once again helped Jiang Liu clean the shop from top to bottom.

They didn’t miss a single nook or cranny.

After helping Jiang Liu bottle the fruit juice, Jiang Dahai said, "Son, we’re going to head back now. You stay here and keep busy."

"Liu’er, I tidied up the house, finished the laundry, and washed some fruit for you. Remember to eat it when you get home."

"Okay, I know, Mom, Dad."

Jiang Liu took out his phone. "Mom, what time are you two planning to leave? I’ll arrange for a car."

"We’ll go back, pack up, and leave at four."

"Okay. I’ll give you the driver’s number then. I’ll have him wait for you at the entrance to our complex."

"No problem. We’re off then."

Jiang Liu saw his parents to the door.

He felt a little wistful.

’Mom and Dad are getting older. Setting aside the nights, setting aside all the time we’re not together, I wonder how many days I really have left to spend with them.’

’If only I could live forever with my family...’

Jiang Liu couldn’t help but daydream.

After his parents left, he started working. He began by preparing the soup base for the shrimp noodles, then got the fresh bok choy and raw noodles ready. That way, when it was time to sell, he just had to bring the soup to a boil and add the noodles, which would save a lot of trouble.

Time passed without him realizing.

During this time, Yue Longfan kept reporting back to Jiang Liu.

Yue Longfan: "[8 Photos]"

Yue Longfan: "Master, just as you predicted, our stall is blowing up! I think we had over two hundred customers at lunchtime! We’re not even open for the evening yet, and there are already a dozen customers waiting. They all want to eat our steamed buns."

"Master, you should have seen it. Basically every customer who tried our buns had a look of shock on their face. HAHA, it gave me such a sense of accomplishment. Anyway, I gotta go. The customers are getting impatient. I’ll get back to work."

Jiang Liu read the message.

He sent back a few words of praise and encouragement.

He glanced at the system backend.

[Number of Positive Reviews Received: 3585.]

’Decent, but it still hasn’t met my standards.’

「5:45 PM」

Jiang Liu kept stepping outside to take a look.

He missed his daughter and his girlfriend.

Another five minutes passed.

Jun Qingmeng and Tongtong came jogging back to the shop.

The moment she pushed open the door, she shouted happily, "Honey, I’m back!"

"Honey, your little cutie is back too!" Tongtong copied Jun Qingmeng, shouting toward the kitchen in her high, childish voice.

Jun Qingmeng reached out to pinch Tongtong’s nose, but Tongtong dodged it with a giggling, childish laugh.

Jiang Liu came out and looked them over.

"Why are your faces covered in sweat?"

"Daddy, Mommy and I ran back. We missed you so much."

Jiang Liu put on a stern face and said, "Don’t be in such a hurry next time. There are cars on the road. Just walk back slowly on the right side. If not, I can go and pick you up."

The two of them immediately put on their most well-behaved expressions.

"Okay, Daddy. Next time, Tongtong will crawl back like a snail."

"Honey, I promise it won’t happen again."

"Daddy, come here. I’ll help you untie your apron. You can hug us."

"Alright."

Jiang Liu spread his arms and let Tongtong take off his apron.

He certainly hadn’t forgotten his promise from that morning to give his daughter hugs and kisses when she got back.