Chapter 211: Chapter 211: Jiang Liu Threatened with Broken Legs

"Nooo, I want Mommy to hold me. Otherwise, I can’t have a good night’s sleep."

Jiang Liu reluctantly got up and carried Tongtong back. "Qingmeng, please don’t mind her. Tongtong’s still young and doesn’t know any better. You should head back and get some rest."

"Alright, I’ll head back then." Disappointment flickered in Jun Qingmeng’s eyes.

Tongtong shot her father a look of exasperation.

’This little cutie had worried herself to death for this family.’

’Sigh.’

"Alright then, Qingmeng’s Mother, can we hug again?"

The two hugged again and exchanged a few kisses.

"I’m off."

"Goodbye, Teacher Qingmeng."

"Bye-bye."

Jun Qingmeng returned home and closed the door, her pretty face flushing red again.

On the way back, she couldn’t stop her mind from replaying various scenes.

She felt a mix of nervousness, anticipation, and curiosity.

"What’s wrong with you now? Your face is as red as a monkey’s ass."

Having eaten and drunk her fill, Guo Jia was lounging on the sofa with her legs crossed, picking her teeth.

Jun Qingmeng shot her a glance, not bothering to reply.

She turned, grabbed her pajamas, and headed into the bathroom.

’A single person could never understand the joy of being in love.’

Guo Jia pursed her lips. "Heh, if it weren’t for me giving you ideas, you might not even be with Jiang Liu right now."

A moment later, she grew excited again.

’A long-term meal ticket!’

’Looks like it’s in the bag.’

’Nice, very nice!’

After their bath, Jiang Liu and Tongtong lay comfortably on the cool, soft bed.

They were both sprawled out like starfish, in the exact same pose.

"Daddy, this is so comfy."

"Mhm, so comfy."

"Should we go back to building our house?"

Jiang Liu checked the time.

10:40.

It was a bit late.

But remembering that his daughter took a two-hour nap every afternoon, Jiang Liu relaxed and said, "Alright, we can play for half an hour."

"Yay!"

Tongtong excitedly plopped down on Jiang Liu and went back to tinkering with her little dirt house in Minecraft.

"Daddy, it’s almost nighttime! Come back so we can sleep! We’ll do stuff together tomorrow."

She wanted to be with her dad even in the game.

"Hang on, I need to fight some Endermen."

"Okay then. Oh, the wheat’s ready! Daddy, come back and protect me while I harvest it."

"Alright, just let me mine some iron."

Before long, Jiang Liu returned with a huge pile of things.

With a look of pure admiration, Tongtong organized their chests. "Daddy, you’re the best! With all this stuff, we’ll never have to go outside again, ever! Can we just stay here and grow wheat forever?"

The moment she finished speaking, Jiang Liu ran outside again.

Only to get surrounded by a horde of zombies.

Jiang Liu could only pillar up on four dirt blocks.

"Daddy, I’m coming to save you!"

Tongtong charged over, brandishing a hoe.

’I have to protect Daddy!’

A moment later, they both died.

"SOB... It’s all your fault, Daddy! Why couldn’t we just hide in our little house and sleep?"

"Okay, okay, time for bed. We’ll play again tomorrow."

Jiang Liu put down his phone.

"Okay."

Tongtong put down her tablet and snuggled into her father’s arms, nuzzling her cheek against him.

"Daddy, can you pat my little bottom to help me sleep?"

"Go to sleep. I’m right here."

Jiang Liu gently patted Tongtong.

In less than a minute, the sound of even snores filled the air as Tongtong’s little belly rose and fell in a slow rhythm.

Her shutdown speed beat 99.99% of users nationwide.

Jiang Liu carefully got out of bed to prepare the ingredients for the next day.

As he was busy in the kitchen, he received a WeChat message from Lin Qiu.

"Son, your beef is so much more delicious than mine. I couldn’t even bear to eat all the raw beef you brought me last time. I gave a little to your uncle, and he’s been hounding me for more these past few days."

"Qingmeng told me you’re working more than ten hours every day. You have to watch your health. If your body gives out, how is my granddaughter supposed to have a happy life with you?"

After reading the messages, Jiang Liu replied, "Okay, Mom, I’ll be careful. Next time you visit, I’ll vacuum-pack some beef for you to take home."

"You and Dad should take care of your health at home, too."

"(Photo)"

"(Video)"

"Our Tongtong is so good at dancing, isn’t she? The photo is a selfie Qingmeng sent me."

Lin Qiu watched the video and looked at the photo.

It put her in an excellent mood.

She replied in a heartfelt, serious tone:

"Tongtong has grown a bit more. And let me tell you, you have to treat Qingmeng well. She’s such a good girl, and prettier than anyone for miles around."

"Her heart is set on you, so you’d better not mess this up. If your father and I hear that you’ve wronged Qingmeng in any way, we won’t even ask for details. We’ll come straight for you and break both your legs."

She often chatted with Jun Qingmeng, and the more she learned about the young woman’s values and outlook, the more pleased she was.

’She’s the absolute picture of a model daughter-in-law for the modern age.’

Jiang Liu broke into a sweat when he read that his mom would break his legs without asking any questions.

He couldn’t help but feel a little embarrassed.

"I know, Mom. I really like Qingmeng, too. I’d never hurt her, so don’t you worry!"

He made a few more solemn promises to his mom.

Jiang Liu then switched over to his chat with Jun Qingmeng.

Several minutes ago, Jun Qingmeng had messaged him to say she was going to take a shower.

Jiang Liu typed out a question: "Is something on your mind?"

"I can’t shake the feeling that you’ve been preoccupied. If something’s wrong, you can tell me. We can face it together."

After sending the message, he went back to work.

He was busy and had a lot on his plate, but he could still sense that something was slightly off with his girlfriend. He hadn’t known how to bring it up, but spurred on by his mother’s message, Jiang Liu decided to ask.

Jun Qingmeng had actually finished her shower ten minutes ago.

She was doing the laundry now.

When she saw the message on her phone, Jun Qingmeng’s eyes welled up for no apparent reason, and she felt tears about to fall.

She had always felt that she should bear everything as a matter of course, though she was getting a little tired.

But Jiang Liu’s sudden question gave all her pent-up feelings an outlet.

Jun Qingmeng replied: "I’m fine, really. Nothing’s on my mind. I probably just haven’t been sleeping well lately."

Jun Qingmeng: "(Pats a little pig’s head)"

Jiang Liu relaxed. "Okay, that’s good. But if anything is making you sad, you can tell me. Go to bed early."

Jiang Liu: "Good night."

Jun Qingmeng: "Mm, good night. I’ll head to bed after the laundry is done. You were all I could think about in the shower just now."

Jun Qingmeng: "I will always love you. My words might sound hollow, but you deserve to have everything that comes with being in love."

Jiang Liu read her messages.

A small smile spread across his face.

The night gradually settled over South City.

The moon high above the skyscrapers cast its cool, silvery light, which slipped through the window to shine down on Jiang Liu and the sleeping Tongtong.

At 4:50 AM, Jiang Liu woke Tongtong up. After getting ready, they left the house, pulling along the ingredients he had prepared in advance.

As always, Jun Qingmeng was waiting by the elevators, ten minutes early.

She was wearing the same sapling T-shirt as last time, along with loose jeans and a pair of white sneakers.

The look was clean and pretty.

Jiang Liu, for his part, wore sweatpants and a Briar Bear T-shirt, while Tongtong wore a Bramble Bear T-shirt and denim shorts.

Jun Qingmeng held the still-drowsy Tongtong in her arms.

The three of them got off the elevator.

Tongtong nuzzled against Jun Qingmeng’s neck and asked, "Mommy, did you have any dreams last night?"

"Nope, I didn’t."

"I did. I dreamed that the three of us were sitting in the shop, eating stir-fried pork and shrimp noodles together."

Jiang Liu, standing nearby, asked, "How about I make shrimp noodles and stir-fried pork for breakfast, then?"

"Hehe, yay!"

Tongtong happily closed her eyes, drifting back to sleep.

’I have a mommy and a daddy who love me. I’m so happy, so lucky.’

’I wish time could stop right here, forever and ever.’

’I want to live with Mommy and Daddy forever.’

Jiang Liu took a quick trip to the wet market.

He bought some spiral hot peppers and dried river shrimp powder.

He had used up the last of the river shrimp powder; one jar was only 500 grams.

It didn’t last long.

River shrimp powder was made by drying and grinding freshly caught river shrimp.

When they got back to the shop’s entrance, hundreds of people were already in line. The dense crowd was a hubbub of noise and chatter.

It looked like a country fair from ten years ago.

Seeing Jiang Liu, the customers greeted him enthusiastically.

"Boss Jiang’s awake! Seeing as I’ve been waiting in line for three hours, can you make a few extra buns today?"

"Hurry, hurry, Xiao Jiang, can’t you pick up the pace a little? Aren’t you afraid you’ll have loyal customers starving to death on your doorstep?"

"Morning, Brother Jiang! Any new permanent items on the menu today?"

Jiang Liu shook his head. "No new permanent items."

Many customers looked disappointed.

"Sigh, I really wish Brother Jiang would add more permanent items. Everything is so delicious, every dish is a classic. But I guess that’s just wishful thinking."

They loved Jiang Liu’s four classic dishes.

The problem was, the more they ate, the less satisfied they felt.

Jiang Liu smiled and exchanged greetings with some of the familiar regulars.

The regulars were pleasantly surprised and flattered.

They found themselves liking Jiang Liu even more.

Most bosses, once their business takes off, tend to forget about the people who supported them from the very beginning.

But Boss Jiang was different.

"I really have to hand it to Brother Jiang’s character. If he asked me to be his follower, I’d say yes in a heartbeat."

"In your dreams. Plenty of people want to get on Xiao Jiang’s good side."

Meanwhile,

in the line, two men in their forties or fifties were scrutinizing Jiang Liu.

They didn’t look away until Jiang Liu had entered his shop.

"He’s the boss?"

"He looks like he’s only in his twenties. The question is, can someone that good-looking really make food that’s on everyone’s lips?"

"Keep it down. You don’t want one of these mindless fans to report us to Jiang Liu."

The two men were dressed in casual sportswear. One of them, a tall and portly man who resembled a Maitreya Buddha, was named Hu Yongfa. The other, a sturdy man with a bronze complexion, was named Yue Longfan.