Chapter 159: Chapter 159: Why Are You So Tong Tong-ish?

Jiang Liu replied, "Just kidding. Go to bed early. Good night."

It was getting late. He needed to hurry up and make the fillings so he could finish early and get some sleep.

Jun Qingmeng: "Good night. Mmm, and remember to think about being my boyfriend."

"Oh, right, can we not wear the matching family outfits tomorrow? I’m afraid of getting them oily while working. We can still wear them when we’re not working."

Jiang Liu had no objection. He ignored her previous comment and replied, "Then we won’t wear them tomorrow."

「...」

「August 17th. Scattered showers, 77°F.」

Before dawn, Jiang Liu and Tongtong got up to wash.

After brushing their teeth, the father and daughter gargled—GURGLE GURGLE—and spat into the sink, their movements and expressions identical.

They were ready in less than ten minutes.

Jiang Liu put on the jeans and cartoon T-shirt he had bought yesterday.

Tongtong also wore her new clothes, a pretty dress.

"Daddy, do I look pretty?"

"You do!"

"Hee hee, my undies are new too."

"Come on, get on my shoulders."

Jiang Liu let Tongtong ride on his neck, holding one of her legs with his hand to keep her from falling off if she got drowsy.

A small yellow duck bag was slung over Tongtong’s shoulder. Inside were her tablet and a small towel.

The two of them left the apartment.

As expected, Jun Qingmeng was waiting by the elevator.

Today, she wore a black, over-the-knee mesh dress. Her delicate, fair collarbones were slightly exposed, and her chest was full.

When Jun Qingmeng saw Jiang Liu, she smiled and waved a clean, fair arm in greeting. "Jiang Liu, what a coincidence! Good morning."

"Good morning. Are you sleepy? If you are, you can go back and rest for a bit. It’s fine to come to the shop later."

"I’m not sleepy when I’m with you."

Sleepy Tongtong heard her voice and opened her arms. "Teacher Qingmeng, quick, hold me."

She didn’t want to make her dad work so hard.

Jun Qingmeng took Tongtong from Jiang Liu’s arms.

The two of them pressed their cheeks together.

They got into the elevator.

Jun Qingmeng playfully poked the nose of the little lazybones in her arms. "Teacher saw you in my dream last night, you know."

"Ah! You’re not tricking me?"

"Nope. Let me tell you, in my dream, Teacher was holding Tongtong, and we were rowing a wooden boat, traveling the world. The salty sea breeze smelled so good."

Tongtong asked with concern, "Was there ice cream on the boat?"

Jiang Liu, standing to the side, laughed. "You little foodie, all you ever think about is ice cream, isn’t it?"

"Hmph!" Tongtong turned her head away proudly.

’This dad is so annoying!’

Jun Qingmeng explained, "Tongtong, a wooden boat doesn’t have a freezer. The ice cream would melt."

"Okay."

Tongtong quickly asked again, "When we were traveling the world, was Dad on the boat?"

"Of course. No matter where we go, the three of us will never be separated."

Tongtong breathed a sigh of relief, finally at ease. "That’s good. If Dad isn’t there to give me spankings, Tongtong will be unhappy."

The three of them talked and laughed.

After getting out of the elevator, Jiang Liu easily lifted the ingredients and placed them in the trunk.

"Daddy, that box is so big! Let your big friend help you!"

"Come on then."

Tongtong gritted her teeth and "helped" Jiang Liu lift the corn.

Unfortunately, she just ended up dangling from it.

Jun Qingmeng asked, puzzled, "Jiang Liu, why did you pack so much corn? What’s it for?"

Jiang Liu dusted off his hands and answered, "I’m planning to steam some corn."

"Steamed corn? A new item?"

Jiang Liu shook his head. "It’s not for sale. I plan to give it away for free as a little bonus for the neighbors. Didn’t everyone help us out yesterday? Besides, they’re always giving us things. We should return the favor."

This was all a premium waxy corn, which was sticky, sweet, and delicious when steamed.

"Don’t move." Jun Qingmeng grabbed Jiang Liu’s arm.

"Hm?"

"There’s something on your head."

Jun Qingmeng stood on her tiptoes and brushed a strand of corn silk from Jiang Liu’s hair, gazing softly into his eyes. "What am I going to do? I’m more and more impressed with you."

"Tough?"

"If you keep that up, I’m going to get mad!"

Jiang Liu opened the car door, teasing, "Why are you acting so much like Tongtong?"

Tongtong’s ears perked up. "Who’s talking bad about me?"

They got in the car.

Since the car hadn’t been driven much, the battery was at 72%, and it still had over eight gallons of gas.

Jiang Liu turned his head to look at the two excited people in the back seat and asked, "Are you going to sleep now, or after you take your one-minute vow?"

"Mmph!" Tongtong immediately shut her eyes.

’Good babies who listen get to eat ice cream~’

Jun Qingmeng felt offended. Her beautiful eyes shot Jiang Liu a glare. "Just drive your car!"

With that, she didn’t bother pretending anymore and closed her eyes to sleep.

Being next to Jiang Liu always made her feel especially at ease. She could fall asleep just by closing her eyes.

Jiang Liu shook his head and chuckled.

He drove the car, winding his way out of the underground parking garage.

The sky was just beginning to lighten, and a cool breeze blew past.

More leaves fell from the trees, and the sanitation workers grumbled under their breath.

He went to the wet market, carefully picking out and buying a bag of vegetables.

Back at the shop, Jiang Liu got to work.

He had corn to steam today, but it wasn’t a problem. He just had Qingmeng help him husk it and could steam a batch along with everything else in the steamer.

Steamed corn was more fragrant and nutritious than boiled corn.

Many of the customers queuing at the door were wearing raincoats and carrying umbrellas, just in case of a sudden downpour.

Everyone was in a much better mood queuing in the morning; it wasn’t hot.

「6:30 AM.」

Under the astonished and envious gazes of the crowd,

Xia Changzhi walked out of Jiang Liu’s shop, carrying tuna and a bottle of juice.

He grinned smugly, showing off his uneven teeth, and strutted proudly around the line once.

It was a moment of great prestige, and Xia Changzhi certainly wasn’t going to miss the chance to show off.

"What’s going on? How’d he get his order to-go already?"

"What the— Boss Jiang, someone’s stealing from you!"

One customer was green with envy. "Holy crap, I’ve been in line for an hour! How come he doesn’t have to wait?"

"Damn it, look at that old guy’s smug face! I want to punch him..."

An auntie who knew the whole story explained:

"Don’t be mad at Boss Jiang. That old coot did Boss Jiang a huge favor before, so Boss Jiang is grateful and treats him well, you know?"

"Oh, so that’s how it is."

"Huh? Is that so..."

"Alright, then. I forgive Boss Jiang. If it were me, I’d have to treat the old man well, too."

Hearing the auntie’s explanation,

The crowd understood Jiang Liu.

And they had no more complaints.

The customers who realized the key point became excited.

"Helping Boss Jiang lets you cut in line? I’ll be damned! There’s a perk like that?"

"No way, I’ve got to find a chance to help Boss Jiang, too. Does anyone know if Boss Jiang has any troubles?"

"I don’t know. I heard Uncle Niu helps Brother Jiang sweep the entrance and gets a few free buns every day."

"What!!! How come all the good opportunities are snatched up by those old guys? So annoying!"

"Just you wait."

"If Boss Jiang needs help, I’ll definitely be the first to rush over!"

The queue buzzed with chatter.

「7:00 AM.」

Jiang Liu opened for business.

"Xiao Jiang, do you have any new items for sale?" Aunt Wu asked, nervous and expectant.

Although she never got tired of the buns and juice—they were delicious—she still hoped Jiang Liu would offer a wider variety of food.

Who wouldn’t want to eat different delicacies every day?

Jiang Liu smiled. "Nope."

The auntie sighed.

"If there aren’t any, there aren’t any. Then give me fifteen buns and one portion of juice!"

Jiang Liu also grabbed half an ear of corn and put it in the bag.

He had steamed over fifty ears of corn today. Once broken in half, that made more than a hundred pieces.

The ingredients from the Divine Book were all excellent. The Myriad Waxy Corn was huge, with plump, full kernels.

"Corn?" the auntie asked, confused.

Jiang Liu nodded, then looked past the auntie to address the front of the line. "Thank you all for your help yesterday. I’m offering a little something extra today. The first hundred customers can get half an ear of delicious steamed corn for free."