Chapter 177: Chapter 167: Tongtong’s Alphabet Book

Her name was Fu Lengleng. A recent graduate, she had been enjoying her life as a couch potato at home. But last night, her dad had suddenly forced her to come and queue overnight. He’d said she absolutely had to bring him back some steamed buns and beef, or else she wasn’t allowed back in the house!

She scoffed at this. ’Her dad must be getting old, letting himself be swindled like this. Is a single steamed bun really worth all this fuss?’

Fu Lengleng glanced at the 1,900 price, then at the excited customers.

A cold laugh escaped her lips.

’She, Fu Lengleng, was no fool. Her dad might be an idiot, but she was smart.’

Her theory was simple.

This shop was obviously using some special marketing tactics.

’Just think about it.’

’Hundreds of people lining up for something so ridiculously expensive? It was too fake.’

Besides, could steamed buns and beef really be *that* good? *That* special?

"Boss, table one. I’ll have the beef and a glass of juice."

Fu Lengleng called out to the counter, her face devoid of expression.

She planned to tear this crooked boss a new one after she finished eating. A plate of beef and potatoes for 1,900? Even her wealthy family had never eaten anything that expensive.

’So ridiculous!’

’Does being handsome mean you can charge more? Heh. Maybe you can fool some old aunties, but it’s not nearly enough to trick a young college student like her.’

As soon as Fu Lengleng finished speaking, the other customers rushed to place their orders.

They were terrified they wouldn’t get to eat if they were a second too late.

"Boss Jiang, table two, one order of yak beef and a bottle of juice, please."

"Beef, beef! Table three."

"Table twelve, thirty shrimp-and-pork buns and two bottles of juice." The auntie hesitated for a moment, then, remembering the first-day 30% discount, she gritted her teeth. "And add an order of the Beef, Potato, and Mushroom Soup!"

’Can’t miss out on the new item!’

The customers at the other tables also excitedly called out for beef and buns.

The room was instantly filled with a cacophony of voices.

Jiang Liu had just finished packing up a takeout order of the Beef, Potato, and Mushroom Soup.

Listening to the chaotic mess of orders gave him a headache.

’There’s no way I can remember all this.’

He thought for a moment and came up with an idea.

Jiang Liu pulled one of Tongtong’s alphabet workbooks from a drawer.

His daughter had a habit of hiding her workbooks all over the place, so there were plenty stuffed around the shop. It was finally coming in handy.

"Ahem. Quiet down."

"Everyone, listen up. From now on, you’ll need to write down your orders by hand at the counter. I’ve placed a notebook here. If you want to order, come up and write down your table number, the time, and what you want to eat."

"Any objections?"

The customers: ’Do we dare to object?’

Yu Qingzheng stood up, adjusted his reading glasses, and said approvingly, "That’s a great idea, Boss Jiang. Let me go first."

The foot-massage parlor owner rushed to the counter. "Yes, yes, I agree! It’ll save time so you can make more buns for us."

"So we’ll do as Brother Jiang says?"

At table one.

Hearing that she would have to go up and write down her order, Fu Lengleng frowned. She took a deep breath of the chaotic air and said unhappily, "Boss, please pass the notebook over to me. I came to your shop to eat. Do you really expect me to go over there and write it down for you?"

"Don’t you know the customer is always right?"

She shot Jiang Liu a sideways glance, her words laced with hostility.

The main thing was, the thought of her dad being conned by this crooked boss made her furious!

The moment her dissonant voice fell silent,

the aunts, uncles, and young people in the shop immediately spoke up to defend Jiang Liu:

"What are you talking about? Everyone has to follow Boss Jiang’s rules!"

"Hey, young lady, can’t you watch your tone with Boss Jiang?"

"Exactly! So rude. Brother Jiang has done so much for Yangzhai Street. Do you think you can just order him around? Do you see any of us daring to tire Brother Jiang out?"

"Brother Jiang, don’t pay any attention to her. If she doesn’t want to order, she doesn’t have to eat. That just leaves more for the rest of us."

"That’s right, no argument there. Do you know how many big bosses are craving Xiao Jiang’s food?"

Someone muttered under their breath, "If she makes Boss Jiang unhappy and he decides not to open the shop, then we’re all screwed. Are we supposed to just survive on air?"

At this, the customers’ gazes toward Fu Lengleng turned even more hostile.

Jiang Liu was their collective treasure, after all.

’How dare she try to pluck a hair from a tiger’s mouth?’

"You...!"

Listening to one person after another mock her, the simple-minded Fu Lengleng immediately flushed red.

She slammed her hand on the table, stood up, and said in a tone of frustrated exasperation:

"You’re all a bunch of idiots! This is infuriating! You come to this crooked boss’s shop to eat, so why are you siding with him? We’re the customers! We’re gods here! Why should we have to coddle this boss?"

The customers: ???

’What are you talking about? We don’t get it! All we know is that we want Boss Jiang to stay in business!’

Jiang Liu finished packing up another order of buns. Naturally, he had overheard the small conflict in the shop.

He remained completely unperturbed.

He spoke up casually, "Everyone, let’s not argue over something so minor. I’ll pass it to her when I get a moment."

As a businessman, Jiang Liu couldn’t be bothered to stoop to her level.

He could have just ignored her, but with so many people watching, it would make him seem petty.

The customers shook their heads, their admiration for Jiang Liu’s conduct growing as their contempt for Fu Lengleng deepened.

The aunties discussed in low voices.

"Look at that. The difference is obvious at a glance! That young lady and Xiao Jiang can’t be that different in age, so how can they be so far apart in character?"

"Now *that’s* what you call class! Young Boss Jiang is so mature!"

An uncle saw his chance, stood up, and said, "There’s no need for you to trouble yourself with something so small, Boss Jiang. I’ll take it to her. You just keep busy with your work."

"I’ll have to trouble you then, Uncle Liu."

Jiang Liu didn’t refuse.

Hearing that Jiang Liu still remembered him, Uncle Liu’s face immediately beamed, creasing into a smile like a chrysanthemum.

’Damn, why didn’t I think of such a great opportunity?’

One customer looked completely regretful.

Fu Lengleng angrily scribbled down her order.

She swore that she would find every single fault she could with this meal. 1,900 for such a tiny portion of beef? Only an idiot would be happy to buy that!