"This is delicious. How much is it? I’ll bring my coworkers over next time."

"Thirty-five a cup. It’s made with high-quality fruit."

Jiang Liu casually added a few words of self-promotion.

The delivery guy cradled the juice and downed it in a few gulps, even pouring the pulp into his mouth.

"Thirty-five is a little pricey, but your juice is definitely worth it. I’d come buy a bottle even if it were more expensive!"

"Boss, if I have a delivery for you in the future, I’ll bring it over first. Could I get a discount?"

Jiang Liu thought for a moment. "Sure. You can just pay twenty."

"Great! I’ll keep an eye out for them!"

The delivery guy left, pleased with himself.

Jiang Liu dragged the old sterilizer to the dump without a second thought.

Looking at the smart, high-end sterilizer in the room, he grew more and more pleased.

’Nice. My little shop is getting classier and classier.’

Jiang Liu looked around, thinking he wanted to renovate to make the place cleaner and cozier.

But he decided against it for now. Renovations, even quick ones, would take a day or two, and his customers probably wouldn’t be happy about that.

Jiang Liu wasn’t a fan of luxurious styles anyway; he preferred a clean, cozy feel.

「Ten in the morning.」

The line at the door was already packed, with a quick count revealing over two hundred people.

Everyone wanted to get the free corn.

"Hey, how much corn do you think Boss Jiang prepared today? Think I’ll get any?"

"I don’t know, it seems a little iffy. I didn’t get any last time. I hear the kernels are huge and really sweet and fragrant."

"I wish we could just buy it. I’d buy ten, stick them in my fridge at home, and just nibble on them whenever."

「Noon.」

Jiang Liu was arranging the fruit juice.

Xia Changzhi had arrived, Moutai in hand again, and had deliberately chosen a seat by the door.

"Boss Jiang, you’re busy! I’ll have a beef with juice, and an ear of corn."

"The corn is ready, but the beef isn’t. You’ll have to wait."

"Okay, I’m not in a hurry."

Xia Changzhi replied with polite caution, casually placing two bottles of Feitian Moutai on the counter without making a big deal of it.

He paid every time he ate and had even helped Jiang Liu out of a major jam, but he still felt too embarrassed to cut in line all the time.

But if he didn’t cut, he’d never get to eat.

So every time he came, Xia Changzhi would try to bring some high-quality gifts from home for Jiang Liu.

A moment later, Jiang Liu served an ear of corn on a plate and handed it to Xia Changzhi along with his juice.

"Wow, how is Boss Jiang’s corn so fragrant!"

Xia Changzhi picked up the corn with his chopsticks, took one sniff, and was stunned.

The aroma of the corn was intoxicatingly strong.

He deliberately started eating, facing the customers at the door.

He took a bite. The kernels seemed to have a spring to them—very soft, but not mushy.

The texture was wonderfully chewy,

and oh, so sweet and fragrant!

Delicious!

’To think Boss Jiang is willing to give this away for free... What a generous man!’

Xia Changzhi was secretly astonished. He couldn’t help but wonder if his two bottles of Moutai were even a fair trade.

’If this corn were sold in a high-end restaurant, it could easily go for several thousand yuan!’

’He wasn’t short on cash, anyway. He’d gladly pay.’

The customers outside watched, grinding their teeth in envy.

"That damn old geezer, always flaunting the fact that Boss Jiang owes him!"

"Let’s corner him in the park tonight. We’ll drag him into a game of chess and thoroughly humiliate him."

"Ooh, that corn is so big and white... I want it so bad!"

"I can’t take it anymore, I’m dizzy with hunger! Is anyone up front willing to trade places? I’ll pay two hundred!"

Xia Changzhi happily finished his beef.

He sipped his juice, scanned the payment code at the counter, and paid two thousand yuan.

"WeChat payment received: two thousand yuan."

"Boss Jiang, I’m heading out. Are you giving out more corn tonight? I’d be happy to buy it, too."

Jiang Liu was moving some steamed buns.

He managed a smile despite being busy. "Just for lunch today. No corn tonight."

"Alright."

Uncle Xia sighed in disappointment. The steamed corn was absolutely delicious and huge. He desperately wanted more, but it wasn’t to be.

He left, carrying fifteen steamed buns.

At noon, the shop officially opened for business.

The warm, white sun bathed the street as the air grew hotter.

The customers couldn’t care less. Those at the back of the line remained calm and continued to wait.

The ones at the front swarmed into the shop like hornets.

They were starving.

They all jostled their way to the counter to place their orders.

The people lining up at the door and window started shouting,

"Boss Jiang, how many cobs of corn are there today? I’m third in line, will I get one?"

"One plate of yak beef and fifteen steamed buns to go! Hurry up, Boss Jiang, I’m about to pass out from hunger!"

One of Jiang Liu’s loyal customers further back retorted, "What’s the rush? You think Brother Jiang has three heads and six arms?"

"No, it’s not that, I’m just so hungry and I’ve been dying to eat. Sorry, Boss Jiang."

Soon, it was Huang Yunfeng’s turn. "Boss Jiang, one order of yak beef, fifteen steamed buns, and three bottles of juice."

"Okay, one moment."

Huang Yunfeng said, "Boss Jiang, President Wang had me ask if you need to renovate the shop. She can get a chief engineer to design it for you, free of charge."

Jiang Liu was taken aback.

"Please thank her for me, but I don’t have any plans at the moment. I’ll be sure to ask if I need help in the future."

"Alright." Huang Yunfeng nodded, then with a calculating look, he asked:

"Is there anything else you want to say to President Wang?"

"Huh?" Jiang Liu shook his head in confusion. "I don’t think so."

’It’s not like they were close. What was there to say?’

Huang Yunfeng was a little disappointed.

He could tell what Wang Han was thinking and had been trying to fish for information on his boss’s behalf.

Fu Lengleng was here again, currently sitting inside and munching on an ear of corn.

Her hair was in a bun, and she was dressed in a cool, edgy style.

"Boss Jiang, your corn on the cob is amazing! It’s so sweet and chewy, even better than the corn I’ve had out in the countryside!"

Jiang Liu smiled without speaking, continuing to pack orders and hand out corn to the customers at the door.

Fu Lengleng wasn’t angry about being ignored.

Instead, she smiled politely and said:

"Brother Jiang, could you sell me one more ear? I want to bring it to my dad for a taste. He’s been dying to try your corn. My dad owns the gas station at the east end of town. He said he could give you free gas and car washes."

Jiang Liu was a little tempted.

But he still shook his head. "No, thank you. It’s one ear per person. It isn’t a question of buying it or not."

"Fine, I knew you wouldn’t agree. But if you ever come by our gas station, just mention my name, Fu Lengleng, and it’ll be on the house."

"Alright, I’ll keep that in mind."

The customers queuing behind breathed a sigh of relief.

’Good thing Boss Jiang wasn’t tempted, or there’d be one less ear of corn for the rest of us.’

Customers finishing their meals inside were full of praise.

The corn was incredibly sweet and fragrant, with a wonderful, sticky chewiness.

They would have gladly paid a hundred yuan for it.

"Boss Jiang, can you make the corn available every day like the beef? We’re willing to pay."

"This is way better than the thirty-three-yuan-an-ear black corn I bought in Xinxiang City last time. That stuff was garbage, no comparison."

"It would be great if it were available every day. Right now, Boss Jiang’s shop only has four items on the menu."

Jiang Liu saw that the customers all loved his corn.

He replied, "As for the corn, I don’t have the time to make it every day. But I’ll hand it out as a special treat from time to time. Plus, there will be other kinds of special treats."

"Other kinds of special treats?"

!!!

The breathing of every customer in the shop quickened with excitement.

"What is it?"

"It’s not going to be a hundred thousand steamed buns a day, is it? Because I’m ready to loosen my belt!"

"Brother Jiang, don’t leave us hanging! Tell us! It’s gotta be food, right?"

Jiang Liu nodded without stopping his packing. "That’s right. But it’s a secret for now. I’m still researching it."

"Alright, no problem! Just remember to let us know when it’s ready!"

"I can’t wait!"

"I’m already drooling. Brother Jiang, you should hurry and wipe this Little Fairy’s mouth."

The news that Jiang Liu would have a new special treat spread like wildfire through the customer grapevine.

Everyone started looking forward to it.

People even set up a discussion forum for it.