Chapter 129: Chapter 129: Offering Yourself for a Meal?

"Haha, it’s all the same to me."

All Jin Wei cared about was getting to eat; the rest didn’t matter.

Huang Yunfeng, who was packing orders at the window, shouted excitedly, "Boss Jiang, I need one Golden Coin Egg Skewer, fifteen buns, three bottles of juice, and one order of tuna to go, please!"

"Please hurry! People are getting antsy!"

His job now basically consisted of running errands for the big shots.

He staked out Jiang Liu’s shop every morning, noon, and night, wishing he could just live there.

Aunt Wu managed to buy a skewer and was grinning from ear to ear.

"It looks so delicious! And it’s made of egg, so it’s healthy and nutritious. I’m telling you, everything Xiao Jiang makes is top-notch."

This was torture for the hungry crowd who hadn’t managed to get one.

"Aunt Wu, what’s it taste like? Can you describe it for us?"

"Is it spicy or sweet?"

Aunt Wu pulled off a slice of egg and a piece of red chili. The egg, with its crispy exterior, paired perfectly with the chili, and the rich, spicy flavor made her taste buds explode.

"Delicious! It’s savory and spicy—my favorite! The best part is that not only is Xiao Jiang’s food incredible, it’s also affordable and healthy."

The sound of people swallowing their saliva filled the air.

"Savory and spicy? That’s my favorite flavor! Why didn’t I get here earlier?!"

"Sister Wu, let me have a piece to try," Uncle Niu said, sidling up shamelessly.

"If you want some, go buy your own!" Aunt Wu retorted, turning away protectively as she carefully wrapped the Golden Coin Egg Skewer and placed it in her bag.

"If I could still buy one, would I be asking you for a piece?"

"That’s not my problem. I have to save half of this to share with my husband."

Uncle Niu was fuming. "You just wait! Next time I manage to buy something good, don’t even think about asking me for a taste!"

Soon,

The thirty-odd portions of Golden Coin Eggs were sold out.

He didn’t make much from them—the profit was just over a hundred yuan.

「A little past 8:10 AM.」

Everything was sold out.

The profit from four hundred bottles of juice was nearly 12,000 yuan. The skewers, not counting their negligible cost of a few dozen yuan, brought in 175 yuan. The profit from the buns hovered around 2,200 yuan. The tuna was the big earner, with thirty portions selling for 31,200 yuan.

In a single morning, he had earned over 45,000 yuan—equivalent to an average person’s annual salary.

Jiang Liu had still sold today’s tuna at a thirty percent discount.

He planned to cancel the discount tomorrow.

After counting the money at the counter, Jiang Liu used the towel on his shoulder to wipe his face.

Even with the air conditioning on, running back and forth in the kitchen amidst the hot steam from the steamers had left his face covered in a mixture of condensation and sweat.

The remaining customers finished their meals and gradually began to leave.

A high school girl finished her meal, wiped down the table with a wet wipe she’d brought with her, then slung on her backpack and went to pay her bill.

"You’re busy, Brother Jiang, so I cleaned up the table for you. Bye-bye!"

"Okay, thank you. I appreciate it," Jiang Liu replied with a nod.

"No need for thanks. You can just marry me in return," the student said, sticking her tongue out playfully.

Jiang Liu was taken aback. ’Do I have no dignity? It’s one thing for the older ladies to flirt with me, but now even a spring chicken like her dares to hit on me so openly?’

"Hahaha, why the long face, Brother Jiang? I was just kidding! See ya."

The student gave a final wave.

Jiang Liu sighed with a wry smile.

’My customers are quite a handful, every single one of them.’

Around 8:20, a hale and hearty old man wearing sweatpants and a V-neck T-shirt walked in.

Jiang Liu recognized him and said with a smile, "Uncle Xia, why are you so late today? Everything’s already sold out."

Xia Changzhi held his head high, sat down with his hands clasped behind his back, and said coolly, "That’s right. I am Valley Legend."

Ever since he retired, he found he had money with nowhere to spend it. Eating out was unhealthy, but he was too lazy to cook for himself. But as luck would have it, he discovered Jiang Liu’s food and had been hooked ever since. Now he had to come to the shop every day to treat himself.

Jiang Liu was speechless.

’I’m feeling second-hand embarrassment for him,’ he thought.

’What in the world is this? Is he acting out a scene from some TV show?’

What Jiang Liu didn’t know was that Xia Changzhi had recently gotten hooked on web novels. He’d reached his golden years only to develop a flair for the dramatic, like a cringey teenager.

Jiang Liu cut to the chase. "Uncle Xia, about my daughter’s situation, what do you think we should do?"

Xia Changzhi leaned back in his chair, stroked his eyebrow, and gave a reserved smile. "It’s simple. I have South City’s largest law firm at my command, filled with countless elite lawyers. To resolve a matter like this, I need only dispatch a single assistant to crush them with a snap of my fingers."

He wasn’t bluffing. The current partners of Zhengtai Law Firm were all his protégés. At his command, the entire firm would mobilize for him.

Jiang Liu cleared his throat. "So...?"

A torrent of curses stormed through his mind.

’Is this old man just messing with me?’ he wondered.

Xia Changzhi finally dropped the act. He reined in his flamboyant expression and, with a gentle smile, folded his hands on the table. "Alright, shall we discuss Tongtong’s situation now?"

"Of course. One moment, let me get you something to eat."

Xia Changzhi was inwardly pleased. ’This young man knows the way. The moment we get down to business, he brings out the food.’

Jiang Liu went into the kitchen and came back with a Golden Coin Egg Skewer, ten buns, a plate of sashimi, and a bottle of juice.

"You came over this morning, so you probably haven’t eaten. Shall we talk over the food?"

"Sounds good."

"Oh? Is this a new item on the menu?"

Xia Changzhi was surprised. He leaned in for a sniff and caught the fragrant aroma of egg yolk.

Jiang Liu smiled and shook his head. "Not exactly. It’s just a little something I whipped up myself. I don’t sell it on a regular basis."

Xia Changzhi couldn’t resist taking a bite, and his eyes widened instantly.

"This is delicious! It would absolutely blow every other food stall out of the water!"

The flavor was truly impeccable.

It was, at the very least, the number one best skewer he had ever eaten!

Then, the two of them talked as they ate.

Xia Changzhi continuously asked for details.

"Little Boss Jiang, what is your daughter’s opinion of her mother?"

Jiang Liu replied, "Tongtong seems to really dislike her. Back when she was younger, Yang Yixue would neglect her, even locking her at home and letting her go hungry. Tongtong is still terrified of her."

Xia Changzhi nodded slightly.

"In that case, this will be much easier to handle. There are seven grounds for terminating visitation rights. One of them is if there has been abuse, harm, or any situation that adversely affects the child’s psychological well-being and development. In such cases, you can petition for termination."

"Furthermore, your daughter is five years old, an age where her own wishes can be considered by a judge. If Tongtong can personally state her reasons for not wanting to see her mother, it will be extremely advantageous for your petition to terminate visitation rights."

Jiang Liu was overjoyed. "So, from what you’re saying, Elder Xia, it sounds like we should be okay?"

Xia Changzhi smiled. "Rest assured, our Zhengtai Law Firm is quite formidable. This is a small matter, but even if it were a hundred times more difficult, I would have them mobilize their full strength to help you."

Jiang Liu was in high spirits and felt incredibly grateful.

If this matter could be resolved, Tongtong would no longer have to live in fear.

Xia Changzhi immediately gave Jiang Liu a phone number. 𝑓𝓇𝘦ℯ𝘸𝘦𝑏𝓃𝑜𝘷ℯ𝑙.𝑐𝑜𝓂

"I’m retired now, so I don’t get involved in many things directly. Just call this number. His name is Wang Cheng. He’s one of the current partners at Zhentai and also my apprentice."

"Okay, Elder Xia. Thank you so much for this!"

Xia Changzhi waved his hand dismissively and shook his head.

"Don’t thank me. I think the neighbors around here should be the ones thanking you. Where would we find such delicious food without you? Haha, Yangzhai Street is much livelier now, and everyone is in a better mood. These are things money can’t buy."

"It’s not just me. In fact, I think anyone else in my position would have been willing to help you."

"They’d all be willing to help me?" Jiang Liu was puzzled.

’When did I become so influential?’

Xia Changzhi gave him an amused look and explained,

"You don’t even realize how much everyone likes you. The food you sell is delicious, affordable, and healthy. Every day, so many people are fighting to buy it, yet you never raise your prices. How could people not respect you for that?"

"I’m helping you today not because I want you to owe me anything, but simply because I want to."

He works from dawn till dusk every day, making food that is both delicious and affordable.

And while people might complain that there’s never enough to go around, grumbling about Jiang Liu,

deep down, they truly respect him. Otherwise, they wouldn’t be lining up here so early every single morning.

The two of them chatted casually for a few more minutes.

After Xia Changzhi left,

Jiang Liu eagerly dialed the number.