By now, it’s already close to eleven o’clock.

The sunlight hangs far above, casting a majestic glow and just the right amount of warmth.

At the entrance of Delicious Restaurant.

The customers lining up in front of the store, while enjoying the warmth brought by the sunlight, anxiously awaited with bated breath.

What they were waiting for, naturally, was Huang Tao!

Ever since Huang Tao drove out his BYD electric car, he hadn’t driven back yet. Everyone’s hearts began to feel unsettled.

Originally quite composed, they couldn’t help but start to chatter anxiously.

"What’s going on? It’s almost eleven, why hasn’t Boss Huang come back? My stomach is already rumbling." The pot-bellied middle-aged man looked at his wristwatch, then touched his hungry stomach, expressing his anxiety and complaints.

"Woof~"

The husky squatting at his feet looked up with its doggie head, barking in agreement as if saying: Master, I’m hungry too!

"Going to the city, coming and going takes over an hour, plus dealing with store matters is bound to require some time!" The neighbor waiting anxiously nearby joined in, mumbling with worry: "I don’t know how Boss Huang’s negotiation is going this time."

"What? Boss Huang went to the city to look at a store front? How come I didn’t know?" Ma Junwen, who wasn’t aware of the situation, immediately asked upon hearing this.

"Yeah, Huang Tao went out not long after the morning market ended, taking his parents, Xuanxuan, Ye, and his friends to the city to check out stores. Don’t ask me how I know, just ask Huang Boss, I just happened to run into him as he was leaving." Mr. Cheng, who had always eaten at Delicious Restaurant, began to narrate the morning scene where he ran into Huang Tao’s family.

No wonder I didn’t see Boss Huang’s car when I came over, turns out it was driven to the city...

Anyway, at this time, could Boss Huang still make it back for the lunch market?

Ma Junwen couldn’t help but feel a jolt: "So at noon, can we still eat the dishes Boss Huang makes? Or will the store just offer various braised meat rice, crab stir-fried cake, and Yellow Croaker Noodles starting from noon? If that’s the case, Huang Tao truly is becoming a hands-off manager..."

At this point, seeing the situation, wanting to eat the dishes made by Boss Huang at noon...

Mr. Cheng checked the time and revealed his thoughts, quite helplessly: "I’m afraid... it’s unlikely!"

As soon as these words came out.

Everyone’s hearts also jolt.

Though reluctant to admit it, looking at the current situation, the outcome is obvious.

Fortunately, reflecting on the taste of the breakfast made by Xu Hao and Jiang Chao earlier, it’s comparable to that made by Huang Tao.

So!

Though unable to eat other delicious dishes made by Huang Tao, there are still the various braised meat rice made by Xu Hao and Jiang Chao!

Although a bit monotonous, it isn’t unacceptable.

With this in mind, everyone continued to line up and wait.

No one left.

Primarily because they feel that across the entire Old Street, even the braised meat rice prepared by Xu Hao and Jiang Chao can undoubtedly overshadow the fare from other restaurants on Old Street.

This confidence and assurance, naturally, were given by Huang Tao.

Since Huang Tao allows them to take charge, it fully demonstrates that in terms of certain culinary skills, the two have already reached a comparable level to Huang Tao.

Huang Tao can let them handle things.

Even handing over the store and the kitchen authority to them.

Otherwise, wouldn’t that be... self-sabotage!

At this moment.

Huang Tao drove his BYD electric car back to West City Old Street and parked near a spot at the entrance of the store.

Sitting and waiting at the door, the customers lining up saw Huang Tao and his group appear, and their eyes began to gleam.

"Boss Huang is here, Boss Huang is here, he has returned with our hopes."

"Boss Huang, you’ve finally come back, you made us wait in such agony..."

"So long we’ve waited for the stars, waited for the moon, finally we’ve waited for Boss Huang!"

"Boss Huang, I want to eat your Wensi Tofu and Nine-Turned Large Intestine, can you arrange it for noon?"

"Boss Huang, I want to eat the dishes you make too, the super-super craving kind!"

Originally.

Huang Tao planned to let Xu Hao and Jiang Chao sell only various braised meat rice and crab stir-fried cakes for lunch.

But now.

Under the "enormous pressure" of the debt, Huang Tao decided to give up laziness and work diligently to lay a solid foundation for the vast catering industry in the future.

Huang Tao smiled and apologized: "Sorry everyone, some matters in the morning delayed things, the various braised meat rice and crab stir-fried cakes will be available soon."

"If you want to eat the dishes I make, that’s possible too, I’ll arrange that for you later."

"However! Due to some delay in time, if you want to eat the dishes I make, you might have to wait about another hour, as I need to prepare first."

Upon hearing this.

No one had even a bit of complaint, and everyone readily agreed.

"It’s no problem! Just wait for an hour more, I’m willing to wait, anyway I have nothing to do this afternoon, I’ve got time to wait."

"I’m willing to wait too, even if it means waiting an entire afternoon, I’m willing and without complaints. Boss Huang, go prepare quickly."

"Yes, it’s okay, no matter how long I’m willing to wait, at most I won’t open my shop in the afternoon, I’ll just sit and wait for you to finish."

"Right, as long as I can eat it, even if it means missing work, it’s worth it!"

This attitude left Huang Yide and his wife showing expressions of "I don’t quite understand, but I’m deeply impressed."

They couldn’t help but think.

Hopefully, the customers of the new store later will be as persistent as these customers. Then, the new store won’t have to worry about being out of business...

May both stores continue to flourish and bring in the dough!

"Alright, then I’ll go in first."

Huang Tao nodded at these customers with a smile, then took Xuanxuan’s hand and headed for the store entrance.

Only to be stopped by Ma Junwen, who suddenly remembered something: "Boss Huang, wait a second."

Huang Tao turned around puzzled: "What’s the matter?"

Ma Junwen smiled and asked: "I just wanted to ask, has Boss Huang confirmed the location for the new store?"

"My dad’s new store has already been chosen!"

Xuanxuan had a proud little expression on her face: "And my dad has already bought that store!"

"Bought it?!"

Upon hearing this, the eyes of the people in line widened, and their mouths opened wide enough to fit a duck egg.

Wow~

Just buying that store right off the bat...

As far as they knew, shops near Zhonghua Road in the city with nearly two hundred square meters were priced in the tens of millions...

This Boss Huang really has some guts and financial might!

Quite a few of the neighbors wanted to ask Huang Tao: Boss Huang, do you need a pendant on your leg?

Old Qin lightly shook his folding fan and said admiringly: "Boss Huang, impressive, this store in the city center must start at least in the tens of millions, right?"

When he was younger, he too had thought of opening his own restaurant, but for lack of courage, that idea eventually fell through and became a small regret of his.

Huang Tao laughed: "Not really, just nine million!"

Hiss~

Nine million, just that...

The neighbors took a deep breath. After all, this amount was something they would find hard to achieve even after a lifetime of work!

Huang Tao, however, nonchalantly responded with a nod: "The store is at 380 Zhonghua Road, next to New World. You’re all welcome to come and visit in the future."

"Oh, okay~"

Ma Junwen quietly noted down the address, and curiously asked: "When will it open?"

"That’s not decided yet. We’ll determine the opening date after confirming the renovation timeline and let everyone know."

With that, Huang Tao led Xuanxuan into the store.

Just then.

A familiar voice called out from behind Ye Wen: "Wen..."

She turned around to see.

As expected, it was Liu Menglin!

She actually hadn’t gone back and was wandering aimlessly around Old Street. As the time seemed about right, she was prepared to grab a bite at Huang Tao’s place. She happened to see Ye Wen returning with Huang Tao and rushed over, also hearing about Huang Tao buying the store.

Gotta admit, Huang Tao is quite a promising prospect!

She hooked onto Ye Wen’s arm and joked softly: "Wen, did Huang Tao take that money of yours?"

Ye Wen shook her head.

"Ah... no..."

Liu Menglin hadn’t even finished saying "take" before Ye Wen covered her mouth and warned with her eyes: "Keep it down, so many people around~"

"Mmm mmm mmm~"

Liu Menglin nodded, pried off Ye Wen’s hand, thought for a bit, and comforted softly: "Not taking it is quite normal! Normally, guys wouldn’t accept such goodwill."

"But he still bought such an expensive store? Didn’t he say he didn’t have enough money?"

Ye Wen explained how Huang Tao negotiated with the landlord and convinced them to let him pay the remaining amount within six months.

Hmm.

Isn’t this the so-called conjuring something from nothing?

Not only is Huang Tao an excellent chef, but he’s also adept at negotiations!

Have to admit, my bestie really has an eye for men!

Liu Menglin asked with gossip in her eyes: "Wen, on your way back, didn’t anything happen between you two?"

Ye Wen thought of Huang Tao holding her hand and her waist,

Her heart couldn’t help but race, and her pretty face blushed anew.

Oh~

Looks like something’s going on...

Seeing her bestie’s expression, Liu Menglin knew. She laughed: "Wen, come clean now, be honest and you’ll be forgiven, resist and face severe consequences. If you don’t confess, don’t blame me for tickling you!"

With that, she reached out her two "claws" and made a scratching motion in front of Ye Wen.

Ye Wen bashfully stammered: "Just now... just now Huang Tao hugged my waist..."

Before she could finish.

Liu Menglin’s eyes widened: "He initiated it?!"

"I didn’t expect you two to progress so quickly..."

Ye Wen knew her bestie got it wrong, and quickly waved her hand: "It’s not like you think..."

"Here’s what happened, I almost got hit by an electric scooter, and Huang Tao hugged my waist to save me, bringing me to safety, that’s all!"

A classic damsel in distress...

Liu Menglin couldn’t tell whether her bestie’s relationship with Huang Tao had progressed...

Hmm.

Huang Tao risking his life to save her should be considered progress...

At least it proves that, in that moment, his eyes were on Ye Wen. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have reacted so swiftly, and at the very least, it proves that Ye Wen has entered his heart and occupies some space there.

Oh!

The problem is these two are too reserved, too modest, too indecisive.

If it were me, I’d have hugged Huang Tao right then and there, pierced through the layer of ambiguity, and vowed to be grateful with everything I have...

Unlike my bestie now, stuck in a stage that’s more than friends but not quite lovers!

Oh!

It’s really like "the emperor is not anxious but the eunuch is"...