Boss Jiang was the treasure of Yangzhai Street.

And as his neighbors, it was their duty to protect him.

Jun Xinghe smiled and explained, "You see, I have a daughter who’s twenty-three. I was thinking of introducing her to Boss Jiang, so I’d appreciate any information you could share, my friend."

"Ohh—so that’s it. Well, there’s no harm in telling you. A lot of people know this, but Boss Jiang’s dad is on the police force, and his mom is probably a department head at a hospital. That’s just what I’ve heard, but it’s most likely true."

"I see..."

Jun Xinghe relaxed, feeling even more satisfied.

’My future son-in-law has an upstanding background,’ he thought. ’And most importantly, his parents can’t be wealthy.’

’If Jiang Liu’s parents were some rich big shots, my daughter would have a tough time competing.’

’After all, my daughter isn’t the sharpest tool in the shed. She’s pretty, sure, but there’s no shortage of pretty faces in the world.’

The two of them lingered for a while longer before getting up.

Walking over to the counter, Jiang Liu was still busy packing steamed buns. Jun Xinghe took a silver business card from his pocket.

"That potato and eggplant dish of yours was excellent, and you’re an excellent young man yourself, Jiang Liu. This is my business card. Contact me if you ever need any help."

"Uh, okay."

Jiang Liu was even more confused.

’This guy must be a little crazy,’ he thought to himself.

Back in the shop, Jiang Liu stared at the notebook crammed with orders, his head spinning.

’I need to set up an online ordering system. Then customers can just order from their phones. It would save so much trouble...’

"Boss Jiang, is the yak meat sold out?"

Jiang Liu heard a familiar voice. He looked up, and his eyes widened in surprise when he saw who it was.

"Uncle Liu? Long time no see. Have you been busy these past couple of days?"

He hadn’t been by in a few days.

Liu Honglei’s graying hair was matted down by his cap. He waved a hand in dismissal. "Don’t ask. It’s been one strange thing after another these last two days. Five new cases. In our line of work, we burn the candle at both ends, don’t we?"

"You work too hard, Uncle Liu. How’s my dad been lately?"

"I’ve got good news for you. The promotion was approved by the higher-ups. Your dad’s been thrilled about making deputy captain these past few days. By the way, is there any of that yak meat left? I haven’t gotten to try it even once."

Liu Honglei’s face was full of anticipation. If his official duties hadn’t kept him so busy, he would have been here ages ago.

Jiang Liu smiled. "I’ll pack you three orders of yak meat and three orders of tuna. As for buns, let’s make it fifteen. You can take them back for the team at the station to try."

His unspoken message was that his father should get some too.

Liu Honglei was ecstatic. "Perfect, perfect! Your dad is always raving about your cooking."

He rubbed his hands together as he watched Jiang Liu pack the food.

He was practically drooling.

He hadn’t had it in days, and the craving was killing him!

"Looks like I’m benefiting from Dahai’s good fortune again. He’s a lucky man to have such an outstanding son like you."

"He’s not so bad. If my dad gives you any trouble, I hope you’ll cut him some slack, Uncle Liu."

"Not at all, not at all. We’re all family here," Liu Honglei said graciously.

"Uncle Liu, take these two bottles of Maotai back with you. They’ll go great with the food."

"Maotai?"

Liu Honglei was pleasantly surprised. "I was just thinking of having a couple of drinks to relax. In that case, I’ll accept them on your dad’s behalf."

"Maotai is good stuff. It pairs perfectly with your food."

"How much is it? I’ll pay you."

"No need, Uncle Liu. Consider your portion on me. As for the rest, just say it’s from my dad for everyone else."

Liu Honglei was envious. "Dahai is so lucky to have a son like you. Usually, it’s the fathers paving the way for their sons, but here you are, paving the way for your old man. Alright then, I gratefully accept this gesture from you and your father. See you around."

"Goodbye."

Liu Honglei left, carrying two large bags.

This left the customers waiting in line behind him completely stunned.

"How did he buy so much? Boss Jiang is playing favorites."

"Seriously! I’ve lined up for two days and still haven’t gotten any yak meat. How did he get three portions at once?"

An in-the-know auntie in the line said, "I’ve seen that man before. Jiang Liu calls him Uncle Liu. I heard he works with Father Jiang and is a big shot leader there!"

"Ohh~ so that’s what’s going on."

"Then I’m not mad anymore. Brother Jiang must have wanted him to bring food to his parents. There’s nothing for us to be jealous about."

The customers weren’t angry anymore.

They’d thought Jiang Liu was playing favorites, but after learning the truth, they were completely on board.

What’s wrong with a son getting a few meals packed for his parents??

At 1:21 P.M., he was closed for the day.

Every last bit of food was sold.

Jiang Liu ladled a little of the leftover broth from the yak, potato, and mushroom soup into some rice porridge for his own meal.

He had to fight to save even this little bit of broth; otherwise, his customers would have wiped the pressure cooker clean with their bread.

So clean you wouldn’t even have to wash it.

"This damned weather. It’s getting hot again around noon."

He grumbled.

Jiang Liu used a cartoon-print towel to wipe the sweat from his forehead, pulled down the rolling shutter door, turned on the air conditioner, and ate his porridge.

He took out his phone and glanced at it.

His girlfriend had sent him messages.

Jun Qingmeng: "Ahhh! Your two babies are fuming! The beef at the kindergarten for lunch was so dry and tough. Tongtong has a loose tooth, and she’s been sulking for an hour."

Jun Qingmeng: "Tongtong said she wants to eat steamed egg custard again tonight. Can you make it?"

Jun Qingmeng: "It’s been six hours since we were together. Boo hoo, I miss you! What should I do? (chin in hand)"

Jun Qingmeng: "Gotta go, the kids are all sleeping. I have to go make my rounds!"

Jun Qingmeng: "(Voice message)"

Jiang Liu smiled as he finished reading, then tipped the bowl back to pour the last mouthful of porridge into his mouth.

He typed back: "Time for her baby teeth to come out. We can have more steamed egg custard when you get back."

"Steamed egg custard shouldn’t hurt her tooth."

"I miss you too."

Jiang Liu plugged his phone in to charge.

He lay down in the kitchen and rested quietly for an hour.

「2:30 PM」

Leaving the shutter down, he headed out.

Yangzhai Street was much livelier than it had been before he’d opened his shop.

Many small vendors were milling about nearby.

The tanned old man who sold good-luck charms, Uncle Gao, greeted him with a wide grin:

"Boss Jiang, heading out to run errands? Come over and pick a bracelet. For good luck. No charge, it’s free."

Jiang Liu smiled and refused, "No thanks, Uncle Gao. You should keep them to sell."

Uncle Gao looked disappointed. He’d been hoping to get on Jiang Liu’s good side. Perhaps the local bylaw officers would go a little easier on him if they saw he was friendly with Jiang Liu.

A young woman from the beauty salon across the street just so happened to step out as Jiang Liu passed. "Brother Jiang, finished for the day? Your skin’s been looking a little rough lately. Come on in, I’ll give you a facial, on the house. I’m really good at it, you know."

"Ah, that’s very kind of you, but I have some other errands to run. I probably don’t have time. Maybe next time."

"Alright then."

"Boss Jiang? Going out to buy groceries? Why don’t you go back and rest? I’m planning to go grocery shopping too. What do you need? I can grab it for you."

All along the way, people greeted Jiang Liu enthusiastically.

It was all a bit overwhelming.

Jiang Liu drove his car and parked next to the stone lion at the market entrance.

Wang Dongxu had already prepared the five thousand sets of cups.

He looked completely flattered and a little flustered.

"Brother Jiang, you really shouldn’t have. If you needed the cups, you just had to give me a call. I would have delivered them to you. There was no need to trouble you to come all this way yourself."