Chapter 15: Chapter 14: Don’t Snatch, I Still Want to Eat

Jiang Liu was delighted.

This was the first time he’d met customers who spent money without a second thought.

He resolved to find a way to make them loyal customers.

"Do you have anything to drink, handsome owner? I don’t see anything on the menu."

Yang Touyang asked Jiang Liu playfully.

"We don’t have drinks for now, but we should have some in a few days."

"Yeah, yeah! If you come often, you’ll definitely get to try them."

Tongtong chimed in quietly from the side.

Jiang Liu spoke as he opened the steamer basket.

Hot steam billowed out, condensing into misty droplets on the glass display case above.

DRIP. A drop of water landed on the wooden lid.

"Oh, right. We have complimentary water. Would you like some?"

Jiang Liu trotted out his offer of complimentary water again,

attempting to satisfy every customer.

Niu Lili poked Yang Touyang.

"Tuotuo, water is healthier than other drinks. Should we get a pot?"

Yang Touyang readily agreed.

"Okay, handsome owner. A pot of water, please."

"Tongtong, go get a pot of water for the young ladies."

Jiang Liu ordered Tongtong, who was squatting under the counter and gnawing on a bun.

"Oh, okay, okay. Tongtong’s on it."

「One minute later.」

Jiang Liu placed the buns on the table.

"Please enjoy. They just came out, so they’re a bit hot. Be careful."

He reminded them with a smile.

That up-close smile was so handsome, so radiant.

It left the romantically inexperienced high school girls completely starstruck.

"Mm-hmm, we will!"

"Thanks for the warning, handsome owner!"

"Owner, why don’t you sit down and eat with us?" Yao Yao stared seductively at Jiang Liu with her brown, almond-shaped eyes.

As soon as she said this, Yang Touyang, sitting beside her, raised an eyebrow.

Jiang Liu rolled his eyes and turned to leave.

’So young and already up to no good, trying to hit on me. What is she thinking?’

’I’m not looking to commit a crime.’

Nearby, Tongtong, who was getting water from the stainless steel dispenser, perked up her little ears. When she heard Jiang Liu refuse, she pouted and let out a couple of huffs, looking utterly pleased with herself.

’Good thing Tongtong is here, or Daddy would be tricked away by a bad woman!’

Yang Touyang poked a bun with her finger, and a puff of hot steam immediately escaped from the spiraled seal on top.

A rich, natural, and savory aroma wafted into their noses.

"Wow, it smells so good! Such an amazing aroma!"

"How can it smell this good? And the scent isn’t overwhelming or anything!"

Niu Lili exclaimed, sniffing the air eagerly.

"This flavor is something else. Who knew the owner wasn’t just handsome, but good with his hands too?"

Jiang Liu: ??? ’Hey, hey, that doesn’t sound right to me.’

"Hurry up and try it! I can’t wait any longer! OM NOM!" 𝐟𝐫𝕖𝗲𝘄𝚎𝗯𝕟𝐨𝕧𝐞𝚕.𝕔𝕠𝐦

Yao Yao grabbed a scalding-hot shrimp and corn bun and took a huge bite.

The soft, moist dough broke open.

A mouthful of tender, savory shrimp met her taste buds.

The corn kernels burst, and sweet, fragrant, scalding-hot corn juice squirted onto her clothes.

Niu Lili was ecstatic:

"Oh my god, this is too delicious! You guys, hurry and try it! This is honestly the best thing I’ve ever eaten!"

"Can you not be so dramatic?"

"Is it really that good?"

The other two didn’t believe her.

They picked up their buns and took a bite, rolling the hot filling around on their tongues to savor it. The next moment, it was as if they’d been hit by a paralysis spell.

"It really is delicious!!!"

"How can a bun be this good!"

Looking at the bitten-open bun in her hand, she saw the translucent shrimp and plump corn kernels inside.

Yang Touyang’s narrow eyes went wide.

While she was stunned,

the other two had grabbed a bun in each hand and were devouring them in huge bites!

"Wow, this Three Delicacies Bun is super amazing too!"

"And this Chive and Egg Bun! I’ve never had chives with this kind of texture before!"

"How are these buns so delicious? My mind is blown!"

"Hey, hey, hey! Slow down, leave some for me!"

Yang Touyang grew frantic. Forgetting her ladylike persona, she started fighting with the other two for the buns.

In five minutes, the three of them had devoured all the buns.

Niu Lili rubbed her stomach, still craving more.

"I can’t, I can’t. If I’d known, I wouldn’t have drunk milk before coming out. Otherwise, I could have eaten a few more!"

"Here, have some water."

Yao Yao poured three glasses of water.

Niu Lili clutched her stomach with one hand and waved the other in refusal.

"I don’t want any. I’m afraid it’ll wash away the lingering flavor on my tongue."

"I don’t want any either."

"Alright then."

Yao Yao was feeling a little choked up, so she picked up her glass and took a small sip.

The sweet, smooth mountain spring water flowed down her throat and into her stomach.

"Holy shit! This water is amazing too! The mouthfeel is incredible—it’s even better than the expensive bottled water I buy!"

"This is definitely good water. This owner is so generous!"

"No way?!"

"Let me have a sip."

Yang Touyang took a sip, holding the water in her mouth to taste it.

She was very surprised. "This water has a slightly sweet taste. And it’s so smooth and refreshing. It doesn’t seem like the ordinary water you get anywhere else."

As she spoke, she thought of the buns she had just eaten.

That flavor, that texture... for a moment, she was at a loss for how to praise them.

They were simply... too delicious!

She even suspected the owner might be a world-class chef in hiding.

Someone who had come to this place specifically to smurf!

"Owner, give us three more of each kind of bun!"

"Okay, coming right up."

Sitting at the counter, Jiang Liu cheerfully gathered the buns.

’This money is coming in so fast.’

"Your buns."

Jiang Liu placed the buns on the table and was about to leave,

"Handsome owner?" Yang Touyang called out to him.

"What is it?" Jiang Liu turned and blinked.

"Um..." Yang Touyang hesitated for a moment, then asked curiously:

"I want to know, why are your buns so delicious?"

She quickly added, "I’m not trying to get your recipe, I’m just curious. Can you tell me?"

The other two also fixed their gazes on Jiang Liu.

They were also puzzled.

They’d been eating buns for over a decade and had never tasted any this good.

Jiang Liu chuckled.

He looked into her beautiful eyes and explained, "They’re delicious because I have a deep understanding of how to prepare the ingredients and combine the seasonings, so the flavor naturally comes out well."

This only confused them more.

"But then why is it that I’ve eaten at so many shops, even at many famous ones, but I’ve never had a bun this perfect?"

’Of course you haven’t...’ Jiang Liu couldn’t be bothered to explain, but wanting to build customer loyalty, he decided to elaborate.

"Craftsmanship is only one aspect. Another very important aspect is the choice of ingredients. If you use ordinary ingredients, no matter how well you cook, there’s a ceiling on the flavor. But my buns use only the highest-quality ingredients, so naturally, they’re going to be delicious."

This time, they understood. And they were a little shocked.

’No wonder. So it’s top-tier ingredients, plus excellent craftsmanship, that makes such delicious buns.’