Chapter 10: Chapter 9: I’ll Help Daddy Earn Money

His friends were stunned. When did Red Hair start speaking so politely? Shouldn’t he be dropping "what the fucks" left and right?

Whenever they played League, he was always the one cussing the loudest.

Hearing this,

Tongtong lowered her head and counted on her fingers. "We have cabbage and egg buns, pork and fried chicken buns, shrimp and corn buns, and three-delicacy buns!"

"They’re all super yummy! What would you nice big brothers like to eat?"

Tongtong blinked her big eyes, her hands clasped behind her back as she looked up adorably at the group of young gamers.

Standing to the side, Jiang Liu listened to his daughter’s bun descriptions, and the corner of his mouth couldn’t help but twitch.

But he didn’t interrupt her.

The four gamers were completely smitten.

They didn’t hear a single word she said. Their minds were completely filled with the three words she’d spoken so sweetly: "nice big brothers."

After a few seconds of stunned silence,

"Ahem, anything’s fine. Uh, just give us twenty buns."

Red Hair touched his blushing face and said shyly.

The group had been gaming all night. They were planning to start a "morning market" session and keep playing, but they were starving. After a bit of back-and-forth about who should go, they finally came out together to grab some breakfast.

Jiang Liu stood at the window, pointed to the sign above his head, and said with a chuckle:

"You can take a look at the types of buns first. I have four kinds to choose from, all at different prices."

"Oh, oh."

"Brother Jin, I can’t see clearly. You check what they’ve got."

"Hurry up and buy so we can get back for the morning session. I’ll play Master Yi later. My tank build is invincible late-game; I’ll definitely rank up."

his friend urged excitedly from behind.

The tall, skinny Red Hair, whose name was Jin Wei, squinted, trying to focus on the words on the blackboard.

They had been pulling all-nighters for days, and their vision was a bit blurry after leaving the internet cafe so early in the morning.

Pork and Scallion, 6 yuan. Huh?

He paused for a moment, then continued reading downwards, unconsciously reciting it for his friends:

"Pork and Scallion, 6 yuan; Leek and Egg, 5 yuan; Three-Delicacy Bun, 6 yuan; Shrimp and Corn Bun, 15 yuan!?"

The group exchanged glances, each seeing the same disbelief in the others’ eyes.

Xu Bo, the chubby one with short, yellow-dyed hair, had a look of delight on his face.

"Brother Jin, the buns here are so cheap! Only a few yuan for a whole steamer basket. The small buns we had yesterday were twelve for a basket!"

"Yeah, this must be a new store opening special. It’s a great deal. Should we just get four baskets to go?"

"Sounds good to me. I’ll pay."

"If they don’t taste bad, we can come here often from now on."

The group huddled together, scheming under the shop window.

Jiang Liu listened, completely baffled. ’What steamer basket? What’s so cheap?’

Just then,

Jin Wei happily called out to Jiang Liu:

"Boss, we’ll take four baskets of buns to go! One of each kind."

Jiang Liu gave the group a strange look. They all looked like they’d just stumbled upon the deal of a lifetime.

He already understood.

’So they thought the price I listed was for a whole "basket"?’

He was speechless, but he couldn’t blame them.

’It’s my own fault. It’s my first time in business, and I don’t have the experience. I didn’t make the unit price clear.’

Even though it was his mistake,

Jiang Liu remained calm and explained with a smile:

"My apologies, gentlemen."

"Our shop sells buns by the piece, not by the basket. The prices on the sign are for individual buns."

By the piece?!

What!

What did you say!

Not by the basket?

They’re sold individually??

The four of them stared wide-eyed in unison.

Their faces darkened as they glared at Jiang Liu.

They tried to find any sign that he was joking on his ridiculously handsome, smiling face.

However, Jiang Liu said nothing more,

just maintained his professional service smile.

"Hey, Boss, I’m not trying to be harsh, but isn’t this a total ripoff? It’s your grand opening! Other places offer deals on their first day, but you’re just straight-up scamming customers!"

"This is outrageous!"

"The buns next door are only two yuan! How are you selling yours for five or six? And the shrimp bun is fifteen!"

Jin Wei and his friends complained to Jiang Liu, full of dissatisfaction.

Jiang Liu remained unfazed. Standing behind the glass counter, he explained with a service smile:

"I’m very sorry, everyone, but our buns are special, from the ingredients to the preparation. The price isn’t high at all; it’s actually a great value."

He was currently wearing a white chef’s uniform with a white hat, which he had found in the shop.

Xu Po sneered.

"Heh, a great value? Who are you trying to kid!"

"Let’s go, Brother Jin. We’ll buy from next door. Their buns are cheaper!"

"Fine."

The four of them, led by Jin Wei, shot Jiang Liu an angry glare and prepared to leave for the shop next door.

They had already blacklisted Jiang Liu’s shop.

Just then, Tongtong tugged pitifully on Jin Wei’s sleeve. She tilted her head up, her eyes misting over with an expression of hopeful sorrow.

"Nice big brothers, you don’t want Tongtong’s buns anymore?"

"But Tongtong’s buns are really, really yummy, big brothers!"

"Please buy a few~"

GASP!

BOOM!

An indescribable emotion rushed to their heads.

Jin Wei, who had been about to leave, found his feet frozen to the spot.

He looked down at the adorable little girl with her pitiful expression, the hope in her eyes, and her sorrowful cry of "big brothers."

His heart melted on the spot.

He was reminded of his own younger sister.

’Though she’s not nearly as cute or pretty as this girl.’

His friends couldn’t take it either.

They didn’t have the heart to argue.

"Uh, Brother Jin, let’s just buy from here. The buns from next door always give me a stomachache anyway. Let’s just get a few today. It’s not that much money."

"Yeah, buy them, buy them! I’m itching to play Yasuo! Hasagi!"

His friends urged Jin Wei on.

They all really liked this little girl.

Jin Wei nodded.

Even if his friends hadn’t said anything, he was planning to buy a few anyway. He’d just consider it ’paying tuition’ for this little cutie.

’Those few calls of "big brother" were worth it!’

Tongtong turned her head, her little fists clenched tight.

She flashed her father a triumphant smile, showing off her little canine teeth.

Her little heart was pounding. ’I helped Daddy make money! Daddy, praise me, quick!’

Jiang Liu slapped his forehead. He had a headache.

He shot his daughter an exasperated look.

’She already knows how to use a honey trap at such a young age. What’s she going to be like when she grows up?!’

’The pressure of being a father is too, too much! This is too hard!!’ 𝒇𝓻𝓮𝓮𝙬𝙚𝒃𝒏𝓸𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝓬𝓸𝒎

’Forget it, I’ll just have to give her a spanking when we get home.’

Jin Wei stared at the price sign.

He hesitated, then awkwardly scratched at the hair flattened by his headset.

"Boss, uh, can I get four leek and egg buns, um... four pork and scallion buns, and four three-delicacy buns. Yeah, that’s it. Any more and we won’t be able to finish them."

"Yeah, that’s enough, Brother Jin. I’m not actually that hungry," one friend chimed in.

"Just enough to try them is fine."

Seeing Jin Wei’s awkwardness,

his friends’ hearts ached for him a little.

They were students who had just dropped out of school. They usually worked odd jobs, spending what money they had together, and sleeping on the streets together when they were broke.

"Alright, please wait a moment."

Jiang Liu took out the remaining black take-out boxes from the shop.

Seeing this, Jin Wei quickly stopped him.

"Boss, no need for boxes. A plastic bag is fine."

Jiang Liu looked up at him as he packed the buns.

"They’ll get cold faster in a plastic bag. Our shop provides these take-out boxes for free to all to-go customers. Do you want them or not?"

"Okay, we’ll use them then."

Jin Wei shot Jiang Liu a grateful look.

He suddenly found this boss to be quite an interesting guy.

Soon,

Jiang Liu finished packing, placed the three boxes in a paper bag, and was about to hand it over. He hesitated for a moment, then packed four more shrimp and corn buns.

Jin Wei looked on in confusion as Jiang Liu packed the four extra buns.

He reminded him, "Boss, you packed too many."

"It’s our grand opening. Consider these four shrimp and corn buns a free sample. Also, I didn’t mark the price clearly earlier, which caused a misunderstanding. Think of it as an apology."

Jiang Liu explained cheerfully.

He really hadn’t handled it well. Not being clear about the bun prices had made the situation very awkward for them.

"It’s fine, it’s fine."

"Thanks, Boss. This way, we’ll be able to eat our fill."

Jin Wei didn’t stand on ceremony and accepted the buns with both hands.

Even though they were new to the real world, they could still get a read on a person’s character.

They were inwardly amazed at the boss’s people skills.

He made them feel so comfortable and welcome.

’If he does business like this, always thinking of the customer, will he ever have to worry about not having any?’

Jin Wei and his friends thanked him again, paid the 68 yuan, and left.

[Positive Review Points +200]

[Current Total: 550]

He had 200 points left over from before, plus the points from the Xue Guang couple and Tongtong, and had gained another two hundred today.

Hearing the voice in his mind, Jiang Liu was very satisfied.

The [Gourmet Album] was a yellow book, quietly floating in his mind.

The first page, for the buns, was already unlocked. It steamed and sizzled, and next to it was an option to purchase ingredients.

’I wonder what the next one is and how to unlock it.’

Jiang Liu thought to himself.

Suddenly, the [Gourmet Album] automatically turned a page.

An image of a lifelike fruit tree appeared, laden with watermelons, oranges, apples, kiwis, and other fruits.

In the middle of the page, there was also a lock.

Jiang Liu understood immediately. This had to be the next gourmet item to unlock.

’But... a fruit tree? What is this? Is it going to have me sell fruit?’

He asked silently, "Divine Book, can I unlock this with my current Positive Review Points?"

[550/12,000]

A line of numbers appeared in his mind from the [Gourmet Album].

’It’s still not enough. Not even close.’

Jiang Liu felt a toothache coming on.

Twelve thousand. How long would he have to sell buns to unlock that?

If he unlocked a new food item, his shop would definitely attract more people, and he would earn more money as well.

He checked his bank balance.

He originally had around 110,000 yuan.

Then he paid a year’s rent for his apartment, 38,000, and also transferred a year’s rent for the storefront to his uncle, 42,000, leaving him with 30,000.

Buying ingredients and fixing up the shop sign had cost him nearly another two thousand.

"Sigh, money just flows like water. Tongtong’s next tuition payment is another eight thousand..."

’I also need to buy a car. Otherwise, it’ll be difficult to get around when it rains or snows. I can endure hardship, but I can’t let Tongtong suffer.’

Jiang Liu frowned with worry.