Exactly!
To eat so many buns without finding a single flaw—is he even human?
Yu Guoguang looked at Jiang Liu and said reflectively:
"People used to call me a master, a Kitchen God. Looking back now... how did I ever have the nerve to accept those titles?
"I’ve made so many careless mistakes in my cooking. There was even one time, at a major banquet, where I used sugar instead of salt in a dish. Sigh.
"Perhaps only someone like Boss Jiang is truly worthy of the title ’master’!"
Du Qin agreed, "That’s right. He’s much better than us. The best I could ever hope to be in this lifetime is to reach the level of you two elders. Reaching Boss Jiang’s level is just too difficult."
"It’s more than just difficult. It’s an innate talent. Boss Jiang is a genius. You and I are not. It’s impossible in this lifetime, and it won’t happen in the next one either."
Xia Changzhi’s words cut deep.
The men cleaned up the trash by the entrance and returned the plates.
Hou Canjun offered a rare, friendly smile:
"Boss Jiang, a pleasure to meet you. My name is Hou Canjun. I’m just an ordinary cook who’s been at it for fifty years."
"Huh?" Jiang Liu was taken aback for a moment, then replied politely, "Hello, Elder Hou. My name is Jiang Liu."
The two old men’s eyes were sparkling as they looked at him.
A shiver went down Jiang Liu’s spine.
’Don’t tell me these two have... *that* kind of preference...’
’Seriously! You really do get all sorts of customers when the crowd gets bigger.’
"We’ll be heading out now, Boss Jiang. We’ll come back to eat another day."
Du Qin appeared out of nowhere, holding a piece of paper.
"Boss Jiang, could I get your autograph? To be honest, I truly admire your culinary skills! Is that okay?"
"Mm."
Jiang Liu didn’t see any reason to refuse,
and earnestly signed the character for "Jiang" for him.
"What a beautifully written character!" Du Qin said, satisfied, as he tucked the paper into a book.
In the future, when Boss Jiang becomes world-famous, he could pull this out and show it off.
The two elders looked like they wanted to say something but held back.
They wanted an autograph too,
but seeing how busy Jiang Liu was, they were too embarrassed to ask.
The men left.
A while later, Xue Guang brought a friend over and bought a plate of beef and a plate of tuna.
Jiang Liu gave him a lot of face, even throwing in two bottles of beer for free.
Xue Guang’s friend was grinning from ear to ear. Cutting in line for the first time felt so damn good!!
Seeing someone else cut in line again,
the secretaries and bosses waiting in line were green with envy.
Right now, in their Jing Circle, only Jun Xinghe could cut in line so brazenly and even get to eat Boss Jiang’s private dishes. It could be said that the old man was acting so wantonly entirely because Boss Jiang was his son-in-law.
He would show off after every meal, as if afraid people didn’t know he was Jiang Liu’s father-in-law.
Everyone cursed Jun Xinghe, and yet, everyone wanted to be Jun Xinghe.
After clearing the plates, Tongtong ran to the counter with her little steps.
"Daddy!"
"Hm? What is it, sweetie?"
"Hehe, nothing! I just wanted to call you Daddy." Tongtong hugged Jiang Liu’s leg and snuggled against it.
"Daddy, can you call me ’sweetie’ more often in the future?"
"Why’s that?" Jiang Liu asked, keeping his daughter company while he worked.
"Tongtong likes it when you call me sweetie, because I *am* your sweetie!"
"Okay, sweetie!"
"Wow, Daddy, why are you so handsome today!"
"You little sweet-talker."
"Nope, I’m Daddy’s exclusive sweet-talker. If Daddy likes it, Tongtong will be your sweet-talker for life."
Aunt Xu tutted, "Boss Jiang, you’d better hide your little treasure away before someone snatches her. That child is just too adorable."
"Besides my little treasure, I also have a big one." Jiang Liu said with a smile, glancing at Jun Qingmeng.
Jun Qingmeng played along and winked back.
Cute and charming.
...
After leaving the shop, Du Qin could hardly hide his excitement.
He took out his phone and posted on his Moments.
[Photo]
"Came to eat at Boss Jiang’s place today. I suddenly realized that even gods can be easy to get along with. Maybe the two of us just clicked."
He had just posted it,
when a flood of comments from the minor and major tycoons of the Jing Circle appeared below.
"Nice one, Old Du. When did you go to Boss Jiang’s place? Bring me back a couple of bottles of fruit juice."
"So jealous. Is this the friendship between titans? I want in!!"
"Since when did you start humble-bragging? Just you wait, I’m going to find Boss Jiang for an autograph tomorrow too, and grab a meal while I’m at it, hehe."
"Whoa, nice! The last time I asked Boss Jiang for an autograph, he refused. He’s totally playing favorites!"
"Last time I tried to add him on WeChat, he told me he doesn’t have WeChat..."
Xia Lianshan curiously peeked over. "What are you looking at that’s making you smile so happily?"
"Nothing, nothing."
Grinning, Du Qin hugged his phone, turned to the side, and continued to chuckle foolishly.
He was finally experiencing the same satisfaction Jun Xinghe felt.
Reading the pile of envious, jealous, and sour comments below put him in a great mood.
"This feels awesome. Boss Jiang is really a great treasure for flexing..." Du Qin muttered to himself. He suddenly understood!
*
「Inside the shop.」
Xiao Han, Yang Zishan, and their group of friends finished their buns and skillfully began wiping down the table.
They meticulously wiped every nook and cranny, trying to leave a good impression on their Jiang God.
Once they were done cleaning,
Yang Zishan rushed to place the plates in front of Jiang Liu.
"Brother Jiang, I helped clean up for you! We’re leaving now! Bye-bye."
"Alright, see you." Jiang Liu smiled and waved, treating her no differently than any other customer.
A faint sense of melancholy rose in Yang Zishan’s heart.
Conquest Progress: 0.
Xiao Han, carrying her Hermès bag,
said happily as she passed the counter, "We’re leaving, Jiang God! The buns you made today were just as delicious, and I noticed you’re even better-looking than you were yesterday."
"Okay, thank you." Jiang Liu maintained his calm smile.
After the five young women left,
they started chattering away like a flock of ducklings,
with Jiang Liu at the center of their conversation.
"Did you guys notice? Handsome Jiang’s voice was so nice just now. It’s so magnetic. I wish I could be his girlfriend, wow."
Rui Ning said with a sinister expression, "How about... we take advantage of the dark and windy night, secretly kidnap Jun Qingmeng and beat her until she’s a little piggy, and then stuff Jiang God into a sack and drag him away?"
"No way! I strongly disagree! I just love seeing Brother Jiang, Sister Qingmeng, and Tongtong living happily. I love that warm, family feeling."
"I agree with the sack plan, but Brother Jiang has to spend two days a week with me!" Yang Zishan raised her hand haughtily.
"Two days? No, one day for each of us. We have to give Boss Jiang a weekend off, right?"
"I don’t think that’s necessary." Xiao Han shook her head seriously. "Boss Jiang is in such good shape, does he even need it? How about this: we’ll give him one day off a year!"
"Hahaha!"
"That works, that works."
"Alright, let’s hurry back. I need to lie in my bed and fantasize about my Boss Jiang."
"Oh? Fantasize about him holding you? Hehehe."
"Get lost! You pervert, Rui Ning! Don’t you dare taint the pure friendship between me and Boss Jiang with your filthy thoughts!"
The group of girls, chattering about their private topics, got into a luxury van.
Yang Zishan sent a message to Yang Zhengwu: "Dad, find me a job, please. I don’t want to just drift along like this anymore."
She wanted to become a strong, successful woman like Jun Qingmeng!
————