Chapter 137: Chapter 137: Pursuing You Is So Hard

Inside were all sorts of takeaway containers, filled with food Jiang Liu had made after 6 PM that evening. Only a small portion of it had even been served at the table.

Of course, Jiang Liu didn’t have such large plastic bags on hand; these were all left over from when Xue Guang had delivered fruit to him.

"Here, here, Uncle Xia, take this. Lawyer Wang, you take one too."

"Oh, I shouldn’t. I didn’t do much." Xia Changzhi took the bag, putting on a show of reluctance.

"Whoa, you’re too kind, Boss Jiang."

A huge smile blossomed on Wang Cheng’s face. Though his words were bashful, his hands were quite honest as they took the bag.

Feeling the heavy weight, the two of them were thrilled.

This was good stuff, something money couldn’t buy!

’Even if you had the money, Boss Jiang might not be willing to cook for you!’

Jiang Liu smiled and said, "It’s the food we had at the table today. I made extra and specifically saved some for you to take home to your families. If you can’t finish it all, remember to put it in the fridge and eat it soon. It might not taste as good by tomorrow afternoon."

"Ah, yes, we understand. Thank you so much! It’s so thoughtful of you to think of our families, Boss Jiang."

Wang Cheng was not just moved; he genuinely approved of Jiang Liu’s character from the bottom of his heart.

At the same time, he secretly thought, ’I have to do a perfect job on this case!’

’I can’t let Boss Jiang down.’

After a few more pleasantries, the two of them hurried home, excitedly carrying their large bags of delicacies.

They wanted their families to share in their good fortune while the food was still hot!

They reached the corner by the tobacco and liquor store.

Xia Changzhi felt the bag. "Nice, it’s still warm. See? How about this gig I introduced you to?"

"It’s incredible. Not only is Boss Jiang’s character beyond reproach, but his food... it’s a delicacy rarely found in this world. Forget working for him for free—for a taste of Boss Jiang’s food, I’d pay to work for him."

Wang Cheng’s face was full of admiration.

Today, not only did he get to eat and take home a pile of rare delicacies, but he had also built a connection with Jiang Liu. Those were two things that couldn’t be bought with money.

Besides, he wasn’t short on cash.

"At least you know what’s what."

Xia Changzhi revealed a mouthful of crooked teeth in a sly grin. "As your master, I always think of you when good things come up. Next time Boss Jiang invites you for a meal, don’t forget to bring me along."

Wang Cheng smiled and nodded.

"Okay."

Seeing his apprentice’s ecstatic, almost dazed expression, Xia Changzhi felt the need to give him a reminder:

"You need to be clear-headed about Boss Jiang’s matter. Remember to give it one hundred and twenty percent of your attention, and don’t you dare screw it up. I don’t want to get on someone’s bad side along with you."

Annoyed at being doubted, Wang Cheng frowned and said:

"You can rest assured. Don’t you know what your apprentice is capable of? As long as Boss Jiang’s matter isn’t resolved, I won’t take any other cases."

"Besides, my whole family might be counting on his buns and juice from now on. You think I’d let him down? On top of that, I truly admire Boss Jiang as a person."

"If you put it that way, then I’m relieved!"

Xia Changzhi was satisfied with Wang Cheng’s attitude. When it came to the important matter of food, failure was absolutely not an option.

He hefted the bag in his hand. It was heavy.

About a dozen pounds or so.

"Heh heh." Xia Changzhi couldn’t help but laugh out loud.

"You did a good job this time. Look at this! Boss Jiang packed up a huge bag for each of us. I’ve been eating at his place for so many days, and I’ve never gotten to go home carrying a big sack of his food like this. It’s unbelievable."

Wang Cheng glanced around. "Now that you mention it, I’m getting nervous whenever someone walks past me, you know?"

"Hurry home, then. I have to go show off to my wife."

"I’m off. I have to let my family try this amazing food while it’s still hot."

The two parted ways at the traffic light.

...

「8:55 PM.」

The sky was like black ink splattered across a blue oil painting full of white clouds. If you stared intently, you could still see the azure and the clouds behind the blackness.

A mosquito BUZZED into the shop and was promptly swatted dead by a grimacing Tongtong.

"Ah! Daddy, there’s a mosquito! Let’s go home quickly."

"Okay, let’s go."

Jiang Liu glanced around the shop. The work was done, and it was about time to go home and sleep.

’Today went very smoothly.’

’The shop is bought.’

’Tongtong’s situation is basically resolved.’

’Nothing bad happened at the shop.’

’Everything is moving in the right direction.’

Lin Qiu winked at Jun Qingmeng, then turned to Jiang Liu and said, "Son, your dad and I are going to the supermarket to buy a few things. You can take Qingmeng home."

Jiang Liu noticed his mom’s little scheme and felt a bit helpless.

’Are they teaming up again?’

Jiang Liu thought for a moment, then took out his keys. "You two should take the car. It’ll be inconvenient to carry things back."

"No need, we can just walk."

Jiang Liu didn’t say anything more and just stuffed the keys into Jiang Dahai’s pocket.

"Ah, you kid. The weather’s so hot and stuffy."

"We’re off. You two take care on the way."

Jiang Liu took Tongtong’s hand and waved behind him without turning around.

"Alright then. This kid... sigh."

"Grandpa, Grandma, Tongtong is going home to sleep now! I’ll wait for you~"

"Yes, we heard you! Tongtong is so polite."

Jiang Liu held Tongtong’s hand, and Jun Qingmeng walked beside him.

At this hour, the streets were a bit deserted.

There weren’t many people around.

However, many shops didn’t close until ten.

They all knew Jiang Liu.

The manager of the 24-hour convenience store was wiping the glass and called out, "Boss Jiang, taking your wife and kid home?"

Jiang Liu shook his head. "You’ve misunderstood. She’s not my wife."

Jun Qingmeng pursed her lips, hiding a smile.

’The way Jiang Liu has to deny it is so cute. I love it!’

’But... I’m also a tiny bit unhappy about it...’

The convenience store manager slapped his head in a moment of realization.

"You two must be dating, then? That’s great. Come here, Tongtong. Uncle will get you some chocolate to eat at home."

Tongtong looked at Jiang Liu.

Jiang Liu nodded. "Uncle is giving it to you. What do you say?"

"Thank you, Uncle!"

"This little girl really looks like you. Even the way she talks and acts is just like her dad."

"Heh heh, of course Tongtong is like Daddy."

Hearing someone say she was just like her dad, Tongtong was so excited her tail would have been wagging.

If she had one.

They hadn’t gone more than a few steps when the owner of a small fruit stall called out, "Tongtong, come here! Want a peach? Call me Grandpa, and I’ll give you one."

"Grandpa," Tongtong called out obediently, clutching her chocolate.

This made the fruit stall’s Uncle Xu grin from ear to ear.

He reached out a wrinkled, dark hand, picked out three peaches, and put them in a bag.

"Here, Tongtong, take this."

"Heh heh, thank you, Grandpa. You’re so nice."

"Haha, okay. Be careful on your way back."

「Along the way」

Tongtong also received a bag of shrimp crackers, a pack of gummy candies, a small fist-sized cake, five cucumbers, and a box of digestive tablets.

The neighborhood shopkeepers were all extremely enthusiastic when they saw Jiang Liu and his group.

After all, Jiang Liu had brought a lot of foot traffic to Yangzhai Street.

People from the nearby residential complexes, schools, hospitals, big companies, and many other places would come to Yangzhai Street whenever they had free time, so the shopkeepers naturally benefited, earning several hundred more.

The three of them, carrying a pile of things, walked along the quiet brick path in their residential complex.

Cicadas CHIRPED from the trees in the small landscaped garden.

Jun Qingmeng bumped her hand against Jiang Liu’s.

The soft warmth from her fingertips made Jiang Liu frown. "What is it? Is something wrong?"

"In a moment like this, don’t you have anything you want to say to your big cutie?"

"No."

Jun Qingmeng puffed out her cheeks. "Jiang Liu, I really, really like you! Be my boyfriend!"

Jiang Liu didn’t want to speak.

He just kept his head down and walked forward.

It wasn’t that he didn’t want to agree. He just wasn’t mentally prepared. There was too much to consider, and besides, he didn’t know Jun Qingmeng very well, having only known her for less than ten days.

Jun Qingmeng turned to Tongtong, looking pitiful. "Sob, sob, your teacher is being ignored again."

"It’s so hard to pursue your dad."

Tongtong mimicked Jiang Liu’s expression, pinching her chin and furrowing her brow as she said:

"This child is getting more and more outrageous. He was disobedient when he was little, and now he’s even more of a troublemaker. I’ll give him a good talking-to when we get back and see if he’ll still be so naughty."

Her tiny, milky voice held no threat whatsoever; instead, it was just incredibly soft and cute.