Chapter 48: Chapter 47: I’m Angry
"Okay..."
Tongtong pouted unhappily, forcing tears to well up in her eyes. She was on the verge of crying.
An idea struck Jiang Liu, and he smiled meaningfully. "However, once you two meet, when you come back is up to the two of you."
Tongtong paused for a moment, her sadness turning to joy as her eyes lit up. "So if I do my best to make her angry, I can come back sooner, right?"
"I don’t know." Jiang Liu shrugged. He wasn’t a prophet; he had no idea if that method would work.
Although she didn’t get a definite answer, Tongtong’s mood still improved greatly.
She happily ran over to Jun Qingmeng, leaning against her and wrapping her arms around her neck.
"Tongtong, what are you doing?..."
Jun Qingmeng noticed Jiang Liu’s gaze on her. She felt a little nervous but pretended to remain calm.
Tongtong grinned at Jiang Liu and asked, "Daddy, can Teacher Qingmeng still come over as usual tomorrow? If I get back early, we can keep spending time together."
Jun Qingmeng was seated, her head slightly lowered, not daring to meet Jiang Liu’s eyes. Because she was wearing a skirt, her fair legs were pressed tightly together—not because she was worried Jiang Liu would see anything, but because she was worried he would think she was being improper.
After a moment’s thought, Jiang Liu looked at Jun Qingmeng and asked, "Teacher Qingmeng, Tongtong would like to invite you over. Do you have any plans tomorrow?"
Jun Qingmeng lifted her beautiful eyes to glance at Jiang Liu and shook her head. "I don’t have anything going on tomorrow, and I don’t feel like sleeping in at home."
Hearing her answer, Jiang Liu sighed internally.
’He had a bit of a headache thinking about what to do with Jun Qingmeng tomorrow.’
’If they just stayed in the shop staring at each other, how boring and awkward would that be?’
’But having her work for free would make him feel bad.’
’All in all, it was a dilemma.’
"Teacher Qingmeng, if you do come, you should be mentally prepared. My shop can be noisy and boring sometimes. I’m not always in the mood to talk, so you might have to sit by yourself. I’m also very busy, so I won’t be able to keep you company."
Jiang Liu decided to lay it all out clearly first.
Jun Qingmeng was left speechless by how dense Jiang Liu was.
She rolled her pretty eyes and said reassuringly,
"You’re great, and your shop is very interesting, not at all like you describe. Don’t worry about it. When I come tomorrow, you can just do your work, and I’ll be fine just watching you guys."
Jiang Liu breathed a sigh of relief. ’She seems pretty easy to get along with,’ he thought.
Thinking fast, Tongtong chimed in with praise, "Right, right! Daddy is the best daddy in the world, and Daddy’s shop is the best shop in the world!"
The little one ran out of words, struggling for a moment to figure out how to properly flatter him.
Jiang Liu smiled slightly. "Alright, then it’s settled. I usually get to the shop around five. You can come whenever you like."
"Okay. If I get up early tomorrow, I’ll come over early."
’Jun Qingmeng was overjoyed and pleasantly surprised.’
’A whole day with Jiang Liu, maybe even a chance for the two of them to be alone—the thought alone was pure bliss.’
"Daddy, how much money did we make today?" Tongtong asked, blinking her eyes.
Jiang Liu had already done the math.
The total from the morning and noon was 53,375 yuan.
The evening’s profit was 17,655 yuan.
This was after accounting for the two bottles of juice he drank himself and the few he gave away.
The juice alone brought in 11,825 yuan, the baozi earned 1,400 yuan, and the "Care Box" received 4,430 yuan.
Many customers, worried that Jiang Liu might get lazy or go out of business, would show their support by tossing a few dozen or a hundred yuan into the box as a gesture of encouragement.
"Our shop’s net profit for today is 71,030 yuan," Jiang Liu said, the corners of his mouth turning up.
"Wow, that’s so, so much! Daddy, you’re amazing!"
Tongtong imitated Pig Hero, her mouth falling open in an exaggerated expression of surprise.
She felt as if money was raining down from the sky onto her face.
Even if she spent a whole day and night counting on her fingers, she’d never be able to count that high.
Standing to the side, Jun Qingmeng was stunned.
Tongtong might not grasp the significance, but how could she not?
’Seventy thousand in profit?? From a baozi shop? Seriously?’
Her mind was filled with question marks.
Even though she came from a wealthy family and had seen her fair share of impressive things, she was still completely floored by Jiang Liu’s income.
This was a brand-new shop, and a baozi shop at that.
Initially, Jun Qingmeng had thought a thousand a day would be the absolute limit.
But once again, Jiang Liu had completely shattered her understanding of reality.
How could she not be astonished?
"Jiang Liu, should I start calling you Jiang Cow from now on, or maybe Jiang the Rich?"
Jun Qingmeng teased him happily.
She didn’t care much about money herself, but she deeply admired Jiang Liu’s ability to earn it.
"Let’s not get ahead of ourselves. Talk to me again after I’ve achieved my first ’small goal’."
"You’re quite something. I didn’t realize you were so ambitious, huh?"
Jiang Liu shrugged his shoulders.
"In a little while, there might be new items. I’m currently experimenting."
Jiang Liu said this mainly to lay some groundwork for the future. Otherwise, it would be a bit strange if he kept coming up with incredible new foods out of nowhere.
"Can you tell me what it is?"
Jun Qingmeng’s beautiful eyes showed her surprise, and she couldn’t help but feel a sense of anticipation and pride.
"There’s no progress yet, so it’s not convenient to disclose anything right now."
"Fine, I don’t want to know anymore!" Jun Qingmeng said, feeling a little dejected.
Tongtong clutched her stomach, groaning as she lounged on the chair, and pointed worriedly at her round, chubby belly.
"Daddy, I can’t eat anymore. If I eat more, I’ll turn into a little piggy."
"Go on, then. Turn into one."
Tongtong stared at Jiang Liu with her big, imploring eyes, blinking, looking like a wronged little wife.
"If I turn into a little piggy, then... Daddy, will you hate piggy Tongtong? Will you make the piggy run away from home?"
"You silly girl."
Jiang Liu gently picked Tongtong up, tapping her little nose. "Of course not. You’re my most precious little baby. Daddy swears, no matter what Tongtong turns into, Daddy will always love you forever."
Tears misted over in Tongtong’s eyes, and her nose started twitching.
"Kiss me, Daddy!"
"MWAH!"
"Not enough! More!"
"MWAH."
"Hee hee, Tongtong is so happy! I am now issuing you a notice! You must stay with me forever and ever, and we must never, ever be apart! Daddy, do you agree to my notice? You’re not allowed to refuse!"
Jiang Tongtong had a blissfully silly smile on her face, her little mouth grinning from ear to ear.
"Of course I agree. I couldn’t ask for anything more."
Jiang Liu gave Tongtong’s bottom a little bounce in his arms to keep her from slipping.
"But Tongtong will have to find a boyfriend one day. Then her loyalty will lie elsewhere."
As soon as he said that, Tongtong got anxious.
She hugged Jiang Liu tightly and argued,
"No! I don’t want one! Everyone is a bad guy except Daddy. Tongtong just wants to be with Daddy! I only love Daddy!"
"Tongtong is serious! Daddy, I love you!!"
"Okay."
"Daddy, hurry up and say you believe me."
"Alright, I believe you."
"Hmph, that’s more like it."
Jun Qingmeng watched the heartwarming scene, a smile gracing her beautiful lips.
’How wonderful would it be if it were the three of them hugging right now?’
"Alright, Tongtong, go talk with Teacher Qingmeng for a bit. I’m going to clean up first."
"No, I’ll help Daddy wipe the tables."
"Come on, then."
Jiang Liu tossed a rag to Tongtong, but he must have thrown it a bit too hard and high, as it landed right on the little girl’s head.
Tongtong took the rag off her head and sulked,
"Daddy, you threw it at me! I’m mad now!"
"Go ahead and be mad. Mad kids don’t get ice cream."
"Huh? Why am I not mad at all anymore?"
