Not much had changed.

Customers who finished their meals helped Jiang Liu clear the tables on their way out.

And they never forgot to offer some words of encouragement and praise before they left.

"Brother Jiang, I’m getting totally addicted to your food. I can’t go a single day without it. Seriously, how do you do it? The flavor of your buns never falters, not even a bit. You’re incredible!"

"See you later, Boss Jiang! I’ll be back for lunch, so please don’t close! I drove over a hundred kilometers to get here. I’m determined to get three meals in today, no matter what."

"When are you adding new items to the menu? You’ve only got the same few things every day, and it’s just not enough to satisfy my stomach!"

Jiang Liu casually exchanged a few words with the customers.

Once the customers had all left,

he got up to clean the dining area.

It wasn’t very dirty, just a bit of trash on the floor.

Jiang Liu put all the bowls and plates in the sink to soak. A ten-minute soak would make them easier for the dishwasher to clean.

Then, Jiang Liu took out a spray bottle of alcohol and disinfected every nook and cranny of the shop.

A customer still lingering outside secretly recorded the scene.

’If anyone dares to claim Brother Jiang’s food gave them an upset stomach, I’ll post this video. Let’s see who dares to say a word then.’

Once he was done with everything,

Jiang Liu grabbed two bottles of juice and went next door to visit his "patient" friend, Xue Guang.

The sight of the great, heartless Boss Jiang...

...sent Xue Guang into a tizzy.

He just didn’t feel right if Jiang Liu went a whole day without stopping by for a chat.

It felt a lot like... jealousy.

By the time he left the fresh fruit shop, it was already nine o’clock.

A long line had once again started to form at the entrance.

The seniors had set up parasols and card tables, complete with teapots, cups, sunflower seeds, and peanuts laid out.

Xia Changzhi was in a standoff with a group of the seniors, his face covered in little drawings of turtles.

Seeing that Xia Changzhi was on the verge of winning, the surrounding seniors started to panic.

"I’m telling you, Old Liu, he’s out of bombs! Just play your cards, what are you scared of?" 𝚏𝕣𝐞𝗲𝐰𝕖𝐛𝐧𝕠𝕧𝚎𝚕.𝐜𝚘𝗺

"Listen to me. Lead with a pair to test him. You’ve got a pair of aces anyway. If he dares to fight back, crush him!"

A crowd of young people, also there to queue for Jiang Liu’s food, gathered around to watch the spectacle.

Xia Changzhi was panicking internally. He frowned in annoyance. "Don’t you people have any etiquette? Ever heard the saying ’A silent spectator is a good one’?"

"But this isn’t chess, so there’s no problem with us talking, right folks?"

"No problem at all! Old Xia is just scared. Let’s keep giving our advice."

Fuming, Xia Changzhi sat up straight and took a deep breath.

Just as he looked up, he saw Jiang Liu watching him with a gentle smile.

Xia Changzhi instantly perked up. He put down his cards and called out, "All done for now, Boss Jiang?"

All eyes in the vicinity turned toward Jiang Liu.

Jiang Liu smiled at Xia Changzhi. "Just finished up. Taking a little break."

"Okay! I’m not up to much here. Need a hand with anything? I can help out."

"No need, Uncle Xia. You enjoy your game."

Jiang Liu went back into his shop to work.

The customers waiting outside looked disappointed.

’It would’ve been interesting if Boss Jiang had joined the game.’

’They’d have to let Boss Jiang win a few hands. Who knows, if he was in a good mood, he might make some extra food or offer a discount. That would be amazing.’

11:10 AM.

Jun Xinghe and a very excited Guo Dapao got out of an MPV and joined the queue.

Xia Changzhi had heard Jun Xinghe was coming again, so it was no surprise. He had even specifically asked his wife to help save two spots for them.

"Yangzhai Street... truly a wonderful place!"

Jun Xinghe lifted his profound gaze toward the blue sky and white clouds at the end of the street.

Here, his body and mind could finally relax.

All around him, people were playing mahjong, shooting the breeze, and boasting loudly. The familiar, pungent smell of tobacco smoke from the old men filled the noisy air.

Jun Xinghe felt as if he had returned to his childhood.

"It’s been so many years... It feels like I can smell the scent of home again."

Guo Dapao suddenly lowered his voice. "Old Jun, the boss of Nanliang Group is here too. He’s right behind us."

"Nanliang?"

Jun Xinghe had to think for a good while before he remembered.

Nanliang was a company in South City that dried and processed medicinal herbs, operating on the same business model as his Huaxia Pharmaceutical.

It just wasn’t on the same scale as Huaxia Pharmaceutical.

The two companies had clashed once at a bidding conference in the past.

They hadn’t had any dealings since.

Jun Xinghe nodded, then deliberately turned his head to glance at Nanliang’s boss, Chen Liang.

He gave a slight smile.

A silent mockery.

’Your company can’t compete with mine, and now you’re even queuing up behind me?’

Chen Liang was a middle-aged man in his fifties, dressed in casual sportswear. He had a distinctive streak of white hair at his forehead.

Chen Liang froze for a second when he saw Jun Xinghe, his expression instantly souring.

’Tch! How did this guy sniff his way over here too? And he’s even in line ahead of me?’

He was fuming.

’His company’s market value couldn’t beat Jun Xinghe’s, and now he even had to line up behind him!’

’The thing is, he was the local here!’

"Ptooey!!"

There was now an unwritten rule on Yangzhai Street.

Anyone who came to eat Boss Jiang’s food was forbidden from causing trouble on Yangzhai Street. You couldn’t pull rank or act like a big shot; you had to queue up obediently. It was all strictly voluntary.

If you made it to the front of the line, you ate. If not, you didn’t. Anyone who dared to cause a scene would be reported directly to Boss Jiang.

Without turning his head again, Jun Xinghe quietly asked Guo Dapao, "Is he angry?"

Chen Liang didn’t recognize Guo Dapao.

Guo Dapao glanced back again, then turned around and reported with schadenfreude, "The guy’s spitting on the ground like crazy, haha. Looks like he’s really pissed, but there’s nothing he can do about it."

"Good. I see."

Jun Xinghe remained the picture of elegance and grace, a calm smile on his face.

What no one knew, however, was that he was doing a little butt-wiggling dance in his head.

’So satisfying!’

’So incredibly satisfying!’

’I’ve finally gotten my revenge.’

Of course.

They weren’t the only two groups of CEOs queuing up at the scene.

The texture of the food changed drastically if it was ordered for takeout and left to sit for too long.

That was why most people were willing to travel long distances to come and enjoy it fresh in the shop.

12:30 PM.

Jiang Liu officially opened for the lunch rush.

The die-hards at the front of the line swarmed into the shop.

"Brother Jiang, one Di San Xian combo and a bottle of juice."

"A plate of yak meat!"

"I’ll get a Di San Xian too. I’ve pretty much eaten through last month’s salary. Brother Jiang, can I start a tab?"

Jiang Liu shook his head with a smile. "We don’t offer that service at the moment."

"Hahaha, fine. I’ll just use my credit."

Jun Xinghe was still outside, queuing under the hot sun.

The two of them were getting anxious.

’Buy less, you guys! If you buy everything, what’s left for us to eat?’

Xia Changzhi was no longer in the queue; he had already gone home with his wife.

Guo Dapao swallowed hard. The closer he got to the food, the more intense his craving became.

Every second was an agony.

Finally.

It was their turn.

"Come on, quick, place the order! Buy as much as we can!"

Guo Dapao nudged Jun Xinghe forward.

Just then,

Jun Xinghe let out a curious "Oh?" "Boss Jiang, you still have the eggplant and rice porridge today?"

He spoke slowly and gently, his gaze as benevolent as if he were looking at his own son.

Jiang Liu was plating some yak meat. He looked up and answered with a smile, "It’s the Di San Xian with Nutritious Seafood Porridge combo. Fifty for a set. The flavor’s just so-so, so I only sell it once in a while to give everyone a change of pace."

"So-so flavor? Fifty for a set? That’s quite cheap. The two of us will take two sets to try, then. Gotta support you!"

"Alright, just put it on the order. I’ll bring it out in sequence."

"No problem. Thanks for your hard work."

Jun Xinghe then wrote on the order slip: Table 12, two people, two Yak Meat with Potatoes, 15 Sanxian Buns, 15 Pork and Scallion Buns, 2 bottles of juice, 2 Di San Xian combos.

After he finished writing,

he continued to chat with Jiang Liu. "Boss Jiang, if you ask me, why don’t you raise your prices? Even if you sold your buns for ten yuan a piece, or even a hundred, people would still be fighting to buy them, wouldn’t they?"