Chapter 56: Chapter 56: 99 Food Store Opens

Jiang Tongtong clutched her bottom, glaring at Jiang Liu with a fierce pout.

She looked angry, but the little girl didn’t hold a grudge against him at all.

She knew Jiang Liu loved her.

Before long, Tongtong was her cheerful self again.

She took the initiative to clear the dishes.

Usually, Jiang Liu would cook and Tongtong would wash the dishes.

The two worked together in silent coordination.

"Daddy, are you done eating? Once you’re done, Tongtong’s going to wash the dishes! As long as there’s a bite for Daddy to eat, there’s a bowl for Tongtong to wash."

"Go on, then. If you use dish soap, make sure to rinse it off completely. It has chemicals in it."

"Mhm!"

Jiang Liu got a cup of mountain spring water from the water dispenser and handed it to Jun Qingmeng.

"You must be thirsty. Have some water."

"I was feeling a little thirsty from the salt. You’re so thoughtful."

Jun Qingmeng elegantly accepted the cup and took two large gulps, her long, curled eyelashes trembling slightly.

"The water is delicious!"

"It’s alright."

Jiang Liu poured himself a cup as well. One should always drink plenty of water, especially on hot days.

After washing the dishes, Tongtong wiped her small, wet hands on her jeans.

She let out a yawn.

"Daddy, Tongtong wants to take a nap. You guys can sleep with me."

Jiang Liu said exasperatedly, "What’s going on in that little head of yours? The three of us can’t sleep together."

’Teacher Qingmeng is a young woman. How could she possibly sleep in the same bed with the two of us?’

’This little girl’s ideas were getting more and more out of line!’

"Oh, okay."

Tongtong trudged toward the small bedroom, crestfallen.

"Then you two can sleep in the big bedroom. I’ll sleep in the small bedroom by myself."

With her back to them, Tongtong waved her hand. "Don’t worry about me. I’m a big girl now. You two go ahead and sleep."

Jiang Liu took a deep breath.

’My daughter is getting more and more audacious.’

Jiang Liu couldn’t hold back.

He strode over in a couple of steps, hauled Tongtong back, and delivered a swift SMACK to her bottom.

"Qingmeng, kids say the darndest things, please don’t mind her. You can nap in Tongtong’s bedroom next door. The sheets haven’t been slept on; they’re very clean."

Jun Qingmeng rolled her eyes internally, but her stunning face bloomed into a small smile. She waved her hand. "Okay, bye-bye. Good afternoon."

"Good afternoon."

Tongtong rubbed her bottom, huffily following Jiang Liu back to the master bedroom to sleep.

In less than three minutes, Tongtong was fast asleep, hugging Jiang Liu’s leg.

Every now and then, a little snot bubble would form at her nose.

It was clearly an aftereffect of her crying spell earlier.

The small bedroom was Tongtong’s room, though she was never willing to sleep in it.

The bed was covered with a Shaun the Sheep cartoon bedsheet. It wasn’t large, maybe four feet wide and five feet long.

Jun Qingmeng lay on the bed.

She breathed in the scent on the sheets, a scent that belonged to Jiang Liu.

The corners of her lips curved into a beautiful smile.

’It’s so comfortable here. I wish I could live here and see Jiang Liu and Tongtong every day.’

She thought happily.

She took out her phone and opened WeChat.

A few unread messages had come in from her best friend.

Guo Jia: "Whatcha doin? I’m so hungry."

[Photo]

"This is disgusting. I never want to eat takeout again. Only Jiang Liu’s buns can satisfy me."

"You’d better hurry up and reel him in! Then the two of us will have endless delicious food to eat!!"

"Reply! Reply! You guys didn’t sleep together, did you? Hey, missy, be a lady! Be proper!"

"Don’t you dare lose your virginity! As a woman, you have to stay on guard at all times, you know?"

"Oh, right. Bring me back thirty buns and two cups of juice, thanks."

Jun Qingmeng chuckled at her phone and replied, "Jiang Liu is a great guy, a very responsible man."

"Also, I don’t like him for his food. I just like Jiang Liu."

After sending the message, Jun Qingmeng began to hum happily.

Her best friend was arguably the only person she could open up to.

Liking someone for a long time without anyone to confide in is tough.

Guo Jia: "Stop rubbing your romance in my face!! You’ve totally got love on the brain. Nothing’s even happened yet, and you’re already completely on his side."

Guo Jia: "I, your mother, have raised you for so many years, and for what? You ungrateful brat."

Jun Qingmeng: "You can find your own food tonight. I’m not helping you!"

Guo Jia: "Sowwy, Mommy! (pitiful) Your daughter is hungwy."

Guo Jia: "Jiang Liu is the best, the number one man in the world! Go for it, girl!"

The small bedroom didn’t have an air conditioner, so Jiang Liu had left the living room AC on, hoping to cool the smaller room down a bit.

Jun Qingmeng put down her phone, her long, fragrant hair spreading across the bedsheet.

She lifted her skirt to cool off, lying sprawled on the bed like a starfish, and stared blankly at the cheap crystal lamp on the ceiling.

Her exquisite, slender legs seemed to elevate the entire room’s aesthetic.

Soon, lulled by the comforting scent, Jun Qingmeng drifted into a deep sleep.

Her legs were wrapped around the summer quilt.

...

Diagonally across from "World’s Second-Best Restaurant," next to Yuzu Hall.

A new sign reading "Jiujiu Cuisine" was erected.

The shop’s layout was an exact replica of Jiang Liu’s.

The outer hall also had wooden tables. Near the door stood an identical counter, glass display case, and service window. They had even copied the charity box.

Three middle-aged men chatted excitedly as they wrapped buns.

"Brother Hai, this idea of yours is brilliant! Walk the path of others, leaving them with no path to walk, haha."

The man called Brother Hai was a stocky, hairy man, standing at 1.65 meters.

Brother Hai said smugly,

"Of course. That damn Jiang Liu across the street just got lucky. Now, the three of us will crush him with a full-on imitation. We’ll show him the dark side of business."

"He sells his buns for two yuan, so we’ll sell ours for one-fifty. He’ll definitely rush to lower his price. If he sells for one-fifty, we’ll sell for one. We’ll sell our juice for ten yuan, too."

Xiao Huzi said pensively, "But won’t we lose money this way?"

He was an investor. Brother Hai had promised he could get rich with him, but he wasn’t clear on the specific strategy.

Brother Hai scoffed. "What’s there to be afraid of? Take his shrimp buns, for example. I’ve tried them. The ingredients are all top-notch, and there’s no faulting the preparation.

That means his costs must be high. Our strategy is to target the mass market. For the same shrimp and corn buns, we’ll use cheap, farmed, dead shrimp, and our corn will be the sweet corn that costs a few dimes an ear. Our cost will be one yuan per bun. How can he compete with us??"

Xiao Huzi asked, confused, "What if our flavor can’t compare?"

"Are you stupid? Did you forget about artificial flavorings and additives? I’ll throw in a damn spoonful of shrimp essence and leave that guy across the street completely dumbfounded, you believe me?"

"The same flavor, a cheaper price, and we guarantee you’ll get your fill. On what grounds can he possibly compete with us?"

"Hahaha, now that you mention it, I’m actually looking forward to seeing that dumb rich boss across the street lose his shit."

"Just you watch. In less than three days, we’ll have stolen half his customers. What does half mean? It means a possible monthly income of three hundred thousand!"

"Brother Hai, this is really unscrupulous of you," Xiao Huzi said in a low voice.

"Huh?"

"What’s wrong, Old Liao?"

Xiao Huzi held back a laugh and said seriously, "If we end up angering the boss across the street to death, won’t we lose years off our own lives for it?"

"Hahaha. That’s hilarious."

"Ugh! PTUI, PTUI, PTUI!" Brother Hai, feeling jinxed, spat a few globs of thick, yellow phlegm mixed with streaks of blood into the filling.

...