Chapter 82: Chapter 82: What’s Wrong With You People.

They had all tried buns gifted by relatives or friends and became instant fans.

The fame of Jiang Liu’s shop was no longer confined to the immediate neighborhood; it was spreading throughout South City.

The line was still growing.

Jiang Liu did a quick calculation.

Out of a thousand buns, after setting aside thirty-five for Xue Guang and another thirty for himself, Tongtong, and Jun Qingmeng, that meant only sixty-two customers would be able to buy any.

As for the four hundred bottles of juice, even if every customer bought three, they would sell out after about a hundred and thirty-something people.

Jiang Liu announced, "Anyone after the sixty-second person in line probably won’t get any buns. The juice will likely be gone by the one hundred and fiftieth person."

He had to make it clear beforehand. Otherwise, it would be a huge disappointment for the customers at the back who had waited so long only to find out they couldn’t buy anything.

The moment he finished speaking,

A stir went through the line.

Many customers spontaneously started counting the people ahead of them.

"Hahaha, I’m number fifty-nine! I’ll be getting both buns and juice!"

"Fuck, looks like I can only get juice. Oh well, the juice is amazing, so it’s better than nothing."

"Holy shit, I’m sixty-third! Damn it! Boss Jiang, can’t you just make a few more? If I go back empty-handed, my mom will lock me out!"

Jiang Liu waved his hands. "I’m out of ingredients. There’s nothing I can do. Otherwise, I’d definitely make more for you all."

He said, packing buns as he spoke.

Jun Qingmeng and Tongtong were serving the buns to the customers eating inside.

"WeChat payment received: one hundred fifty-five yuan."

"Then just go get more ingredients! I’ll wait, I don’t care how long it takes."

"This Xiao Jiang is getting lazier and lazier. Can’t you just make a few tens of thousands of buns a day?"

"Why don’t you just hire a few people? Then you could make more."

The customers collectively started roasting Jiang Liu again.

How could he make buns this delicious and not let them eat their fill?

This small amount per day wasn’t even enough for one family!

It was infuriating.

Jiang Liu said, "I’m sorry, but there’s really no way. I’m already busy all day with very little time to rest. As for hiring help, they might not be able to get the taste right. It has to be me."

The customers couldn’t really argue with that.

However, once they got their hands on the buns, they still left humming happily.

They used to wolf down the buns in big mouthfuls. Now that so many people were buying them, they could only take small bites and savor each one.

"Boss Jiang! Four of us here. We’ll take twenty shrimp buns to go. For the other forty, just give us a mix of whatever you have. And twelve bottles of juice."

Huang Yunfeng had come to wait in line with his three best buddies.

The customers behind him were dying inside.

"You guys came as a group? Could you buy a little less? That’s just too much!"

"Can you even eat that many?"

"You’re supposed to savor good food. Why don’t you buy a little less?"

The customers behind them pleaded earnestly.

Their eyes were fixed on the steamer baskets being emptied one after another.

With each empty steamer basket,

their hearts tightened.

Huang Yunfeng didn’t engage, just let out a soft chuckle.

’Damn, these buns and juice are so good, they make for an impressive gift.’

’Haven’t you seen the people waiting by the line, trying to buy scalped buns?’

’Getting your hands on them is a win in itself.’

While Jiang Liu was packing the buns, Huang Yunfeng said politely,

"Boss Jiang, President Wang asked me to give you a message. She said if you ever need anything to open a branch store, she can help. She can even get you the best renovation, free of charge."

"Or if there’s anything else you need, you can just let her know. She’s willing to help you, no questions asked."

Jiang Liu listened and didn’t refuse outright. He just nodded. "Alright. If I need anything, I’ll let you know."

"See you, Boss Jiang."

Huang Yunfeng and his three friends carried the large bag of buns. As if handling a treasure, they took out another large bag and wrapped the first one inside to keep the buns from getting cold.

These were for Wang Han.

Wang Han was having a party at her house today and had specifically sent the four of them to buy extra buns.

Inside the shop,

one of the aunties said, "Remember to help Fellow Jiang clean up the table when you’re done eating. Don’t cause the man any trouble."

"Agreed!"

"Okay."

"If we lighten Boss Jiang’s workload, maybe he’ll be able to make more buns and juice."

Everyone’s eyes lit up.

After finishing their food, they took out wet wipes and scrubbed the tables with vigor.

A few new customers who had just entered,

looked on, bewildered. "Is it a rule here that customers have to clean up after themselves?"

An office girl looked up. "Nope, we’re doing it voluntarily."

"’Voluntarily!?’" The new customers were completely baffled.

’Are these people nuts?’

’The customer is always right. It’s one thing if the owner doesn’t suck up to you, but you’re sucking up to the owner??’

However,

after they had eaten the buns and drunk the juice...

"Wipe it cleaner! We need to learn the art of sustainable bun cultivation from the veterans here. The more we help the boss, the more opportunities we’ll have to eat buns."

"I’m on it, don’t rush me!"

"Haha, see how clean it is?"

"With skills like these, the boss has to reward me with a bun, right?"

Jiang Liu watched the bizarre scene, not knowing whether to laugh or cry.

His tables were being polished to a brilliant shine.

’Well now,’ he thought, ’I’m in their debt again.’

’Once I unlock the wild tuna, I’ll run a three-day, 30% off promotion. It’ll be a nice little bonus for everyone.’

He glanced at his praise points.

[57484]

In less than a day, it had increased by thirty thousand. 𝒇𝒓𝒆𝒆𝙬𝒆𝒃𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝙡.𝒄𝓸𝒎

At first, it was a few thousand a day, then it rose to several thousand. Gradually, it climbed to ten thousand, then over ten, and even over twenty thousand a day.

As for the price, Jiang Liu still wasn’t sure what the Gourmet Album would set for it.

He also didn’t know what it would taste like, so he put the thought aside for now.

Uncle Niu finally reached the window.

He stamped out his cigarette and said warmly, "Xiao Jiang, give me ten fennel buns, two shrimp, three pork and scallion, and a glass of juice."

"Alright, one moment."

Jiang Liu recognized the man. This was the uncle who had previously helped him attract a whole crowd of aunties.

If it weren’t for them, his shop’s reputation wouldn’t have spread so quickly.

Jiang Liu asked with concern, "Uncle, you must be spending a fair bit of money every day, huh?"

Uncle Niu sighed. "It’s alright. I sold the farm’s crops, and that, plus my job as a sanitation worker, is enough to get by."

Jiang Liu nodded. "Uncle, is the area you work in nearby?"

"It is. Why do you ask, Xiao Jiang?"

"Well, I was thinking..." Jiang Liu pointed toward the entrance, where the ground was littered with scraps of paper, plastic bags, and bottles. "This area is always a mess and never seems to get fully cleaned. I was wondering if you could help me take care of it? I can pay you a fair rate each day."

The entrance was always filthy, and Jiang Liu couldn’t stand looking at it anymore.

’Something had to be done.’

Uncle Niu’s face lit up. "Can I be paid in buns and juice?" he asked excitedly.

"Of course. One bottle of juice and five buns."

"Deal! I’ll take the job. Don’t you worry, I’ll make sure this place is spotless!"

The old man felt like he had just won the lottery.

The other elderly folks in line were green with envy.

"That Old Niu’s luck is just incredible. Sweeping that little patch of ground gets him a bottle of juice and five buns."

"Hey, Boss Jiang, let me do it! I’m a better sweeper than he is."

"Master Niu, you’re getting on in years, don’t make things difficult for the boss. Hey, Brother Jiang! I’m young and strong, and I work right across the street. How about I do it? Just one bottle of juice would be fine, okay?"

"You’ve got to be kidding me. You guys are fighting over a sweeping job?" a new customer remarked, not yet grasping how great the "benefits" were.

"Here are your buns. The juice and five of the buns are on the house today. Just pay me twenty for the rest."

Uncle Niu paid without a second thought.

A warm feeling spread through his heart.

"Thank you so much, Xiao Jiang. Don’t you worry about a thing. From now on, I’ll make sure it’s always clean for you."

He didn’t have much to do in his spare time anyway, so getting such a great gig made him overjoyed.

"Great, I appreciate it."

Jiang Liu smiled.

It might have been a transaction, but it was one that suited them both perfectly.

His storefront would be clean, and Uncle Niu would get to save some money.

An auntie in line remarked with envy, "Xiao Jiang is such a fine young man. I wonder what lucky girl will get to marry him."

"If I had a daughter, I’d definitely be pushing her to go after Xiao Jiang."

"Aren’t you just after his buns?"

The auntie put her hands on her hips. "Hey! What are you saying, you little brat who’s still wet behind the ears!"

"Even if you had a daughter, Boss Jiang wouldn’t give her a second look," the young female student muttered.

After all, she had seen Jun Qingmeng inside the shop.

’Such a beautiful woman.’

’And it was obvious their relationship was something special.’