Chapter 145: Chapter 145: Daddy’s Clothes Are Torn, and Tongtong’s Heart Aches

"Well, in that case, let’s hurry inside! My stomach is screaming at me! I haven’t eaten all morning."

Xia Changzhi dropped the act and eagerly scrambled into the shop.

Jiang Liu followed him back into the shop.

The group of customers still lingering at the entrance lost their cool.

Why does this Old Xia get special treatment?!

They’d been lining up for ages and still couldn’t buy anything.

But as soon as this Old Xia showed up, Boss Jiang invited him right into the shop?

"Come on, let’s go see what’s happening."

"Maybe there’s still something to buy. How dare Boss Jiang hold out on us!"

Amid the clamor, the crowd followed them into the shop.

The moment they stepped inside, they saw a plate of buns and a glass of juice on a table.

They were instantly jealous.

"Little Boss Jiang, you didn’t sell all the buns?"

"What’s going on? I thought you’d closed for now."

The owner of the foot massage parlor was quick on the uptake, immediately shouting, "I’ll take fifteen buns and a cup of juice! Any filling is fine. You pick, Boss Jiang."

The moment the words left his mouth...

...the other customers all started clamoring to buy buns too.

They looked ready to throw a full-blown tantrum if he refused to sell.

Tongtong anxiously explained, "Uncles, big sisters, Papa left these buns for us to eat. We know Grandpa Xia."

The customers were still insistent. "Tongtong, since you have some left, why not sell a few to us?"

"Just three each. That’s not too many, is it?"

"I’d be happy with just two."

Having failed to buy any buns, their cravings were intense.

They were gradually losing all reason.

Jiang Liu and Jun Qingmeng, who were washing dishes in the back kitchen, heard the commotion and came out. "What’s going on?"

"Boss Jiang, do you still have some buns left to sell?"

"I’d like a bottle of juice. Please, sell it to me."

"You already gave some to this Old Xia."

The customers shouted at the top of their lungs, their gazes fixed on Xia Changzhi, dripping with envy.

Jiang Liu explained, "Uncle Xia did me a huge favor yesterday. These buns are my way of thanking him—it’s on me. And just to be clear, I sold every single bun I made for sale this morning. The ones for Uncle Xia were an extra batch I made just for him."

As soon as he said this, the customers understood.

A newfound respect crept into their eyes as they looked at Jiang Liu.

’He always repays a kindness. Boss Jiang’s integrity is as solid as ever!’

"Oh, okay then. Sorry for the trouble, Boss Jiang. We’ll leave now and come back at noon."

"Bye!"

"That Old Xia seems so straight-laced, but he’s a dark horse. Secretly building up a connection with Boss Jiang... what a player."

"Next time we play chess, we should team up and crush him!"

After the customers had left,

Xia Changzhi said smugly, "Sorry to have caused you trouble, Boss Jiang. If I’d known this would happen, I wouldn’t have loitered around your doorway."

’This feels great! So incredibly gratifying!’

Seeing his old cronies, who were usually so cocky around him, now staring with faces full of envy, made Xia Changzhi practically giddy with delight.

Jiang Liu said with a smile,

"Don’t worry about it. Please, sit and eat. Are the buns enough for you?"

"More than enough! They’re absolutely delicious. You’re an incredible cook."

Soon after,

Uncle Xia finished all thirteen buns.

Not wanting to trouble Jiang Liu, Uncle Xia insisted on washing his own plate.

"Payment received via PaymentPal: sixty-seven yuan."

Jiang Liu protested, "Uncle Xia, this was my treat! Why did you pay me? Between us, what’s a few buns?"

Xia Changzhi waved him off. "No, don’t. Letting me in through the ’back door’ was more than enough. If I ate for free on top of that, I’d be too embarrassed to ever come back!"

"I’m treating you this time. I’ll just transfer it back."

Jiang Liu said, pulling out his phone.

"No! Even if you send it, I won’t accept it. Don’t waste your effort. I’m off, you get back to work."

Afraid that Jiang Liu would refund him the money, Uncle Xia practically fled from the little shop.

Jiang Tongtong tugged on Jiang Liu’s pant leg and said in her soft, sweet voice, "Papa, Grandpa Xia is a kind grandpa. He doesn’t want you to lose money, right?"

"How did you know that?"

Jiang Liu was surprised.

"You told Tongtong before. When people are polite to you, you have to be considerate too, so you don’t make things awkward for them."

Jiang Liu stroked Tongtong’s head.

"My little Tongtong is growing up. One day, you can help Papa run the shop, just the two of us."

Tongtong hugged Jiang Liu’s leg, her eyes alight with happy daydreams.

"Okay! Then you’ll be in charge of working, Papa, and Tongtong will be in charge of collecting the money. And when I’ve collected lots and lots of money, I’ll buy you lots of toy cars and lots of ice cream!"

"Haha, you’ve certainly got a lot of ideas."

"Tongtong is Papa’s daughter, so of course I have lots of ideas, just like Papa!"

Jiang Liu held Tongtong, leaning back in a chair to watch a show.

Jun Qingmeng sat nearby, resting her chin in her hand, looking bored.

As it neared nine o’clock,

Lin Qiu and Jiang Dahai arrived.

"Mom, I left breakfast for you at home. Why are you here so early?"

Jiang Liu didn’t want his parents to have to work.

"Grandma! Grandpa! You’re here!" Tongtong, like a little angel, flew into Lin Qiu’s arms.

Lin Qiu scooped Tongtong up and said chidingly, "Liu’er, have you even looked at my granddaughter? Look at this outfit—she’s about to grow out of it. Didn’t you think to buy my little treasure some new clothes?"

"Your father and I are planning to take Tongtong to Wanda to buy some clothes today. We came over specifically to pick her up."

Jiang Liu looked at the dress Tongtong was wearing.

It really was getting a bit small.

It looked tight.

A pang of guilt struck him. He’d been so focused on work these past few days that even though he was making money, he hadn’t remembered to buy his daughter new clothes.

’What a failure of a father...’

Jiang Liu’s gaze lingered on Tongtong’s little dress as he said,

"I forgot. You should take Tongtong and go buy some. I still have to work, so I can’t go."

Tongtong was reluctant to part with Jiang Liu.

She immediately grabbed Jiang Liu’s pant leg and said urgently, "Grandma, why don’t we just stay here at the shop with Papa?

My clothes still fit! Papa’s clothes are even more worn out than Tongtong’s. He never buys new clothes for himself. Tongtong isn’t in a hurry."

Her clothes were worn and tight.

But Jiang Tongtong wasn’t the least bit sad. Other children might have new clothes, but she didn’t care. As long as she could be with her papa, everything was perfect!

Jiang Liu sighed. "Tongtong, go with your grandma and buy a few things. Be good, now. It won’t take long. Papa will be right here waiting for you, okay?"

His heart was a tangle of emotions. His daughter was far too sensible for her age.

It was heartbreaking.