Chapter 73: Chapter 73: It’s Me, Xiao Jiang.

"WeChat payment received: 146 yuan."

Huang Yunfeng left, completely satisfied.

The shop owner behind him immediately rushed forward.

His eyes were fixed on the baozi as he shouted:

"Brother Jiang, three of each kind of baozi, and one juice."

He looked like he was about to start drooling.

Jiang Liu quickly packed his order.

"WeChat payment received: 76 yuan."

Business was booming. No matter how many baozi he made, they were sure to sell out!

...

7:56 AM.

The rain had stopped, leaving behind fresh, damp air. On the street, a sanitation worker was cleaning the storm drain inlets.

Four hundred bottles of juice and twelve hundred baozi were all sold out.

Including miscellaneous sales from the "Care Box," his income for the morning was 14,500!

’It’d be great if my constitution was a bit stronger.’

Jiang Liu thought as he stretched his stiff neck after cleaning the tables, chairs, and floor.

From spending so long looking down while making and packing food, not only did his arms ache, but his neck was sore too.

Even though his physique was already top-notch, he still had some trouble adapting to such high-intensity work.

’I’ll rest for a bit first.’

Jiang Liu laid out some cardboard in the back kitchen and rested for an hour.

9:30.

He had just started working again when he heard the urgent voices of customers outside.

It almost made Jiang Liu’s scalp tingle.

He had a feeling the customers outside were staring with the glinting, green eyes of hungry wolves.

"Boss!! My stomach’s empty! Are the baozi ready yet?"

"When can you start selling? If I don’t get a baozi soon, my name’s gonna fall off the Book of Life and Death!"

An auntie was in line with her relatives and friends,

turning her head to vividly describe, with wild gestures, just how delicious the baozi were and how fresh and sweet the juice was.

"Let me tell you, I’ve eaten baozi from countless places, but this shop is the best! It’s so good it makes me forget to eat or sleep!"

"Those baozi... the texture of the ingredients inside is so special, I’ve never eaten anything like it. Even the dough they use smells so, so fragrant. The seasonings aren’t harsh on the palate; they’re just super delicious. Don’t dismiss this, I’m not exaggerating one bit."

The five relatives pursed their lips in disbelief.

They knew exactly what Wu Ma was like; she was definitely exaggerating again.

"I don’t believe it. How could it be that amazing? A baozi is a baozi."

"Grandma, Mom says to stop bragging. You’re always making a big fuss over nothing."

"Ugh, how long do we have to wait? If it’s too long, let’s just go home."

The relative was getting impatient.

"No way! Just trust me this once! If you dare go back, I’ll break your legs!"

The auntie’s attitude became fierce and uncompromising.

This was a matter of face, after all.

She just wanted to show off in front of her family. She was the one who had brought them to this undiscovered gem. Thinking about how they would all look at her with admiration in a little while made her feel great!

Meanwhile.

At South City Kindergarten.

"Come on, little ones, hold out your hands. Let’s pretend to be little animals, okay?"

"Okay!"

Teacher Li twirled her little hands. "Look, first we twirl our hands, whirly-whirly."

Below, Tongtong copied her. "First we twirl our hands, whooshy-whooshy."

Teacher Li: "My little hands can change and change."

Tongtong: "My little toes can change and change."

The other children: "My little hands can change and change."

Teacher Li: "And become a little lamb, BAA BAA BAA!"

Tongtong copied her, placing her hands on her head to form horns, and muttered unhappily, "And become a little wolf, grr grr grr."

Soon, the educational game ended.

Teacher Li returned to her office to prepare the lesson plan for the week.

"Teacher Li, can Tongtong come in?"

Tongtong knocked on the door.

"Come in, Tongtong~"

Tongtong pushed the door open furtively and asked, "Teacher, did you bring your phone?"

Teacher Li looked up. "I did. Is something wrong, Tongtong?"

"Teacher, I miss my daddy. Can I call him?"

"Here you go. Be careful not to drop it."

"Mhm, Tongtong will be careful."

The teachers at the kindergarten were all very professional and treated the children exceptionally well, doing their best to accommodate any requests.

After all, this was the most expensive kindergarten in South City.

Tongtong took the phone and walked to the doorway.

She had memorized Jiang Liu’s phone number when she was three.

She had just typed in a few numbers when several contacts popped up.

Xinran’s Mother.

Grandma Jingjing.

Tongtong’s Father.

"The dark night gave me..."

The phone vibrated in his pocket.

Jiang Liu, who was in the middle of making baozi, wiped his hands and took out his phone.

The caller ID showed Teacher Li.

’Why is Teacher Li calling me?’

He was a little puzzled. He answered the call, "Hello, Teacher Li?"

Tongtong, pinching her nose, said, "Yes, it’s me. Xiao Jiang, stop making baozi and come to my office. I need to see you about something."

Jiang Liu’s face darkened.

’Xiao Jiang?? The nerve!’

’His daughter was quite the little trickster. Did she really think he wouldn’t recognize her voice just because she was pinching her nose?’

He said lightly, "You’ve just lost all future cola privileges."

"I’m serious."

SQUAWK!

"Daddy, I was wrong! I’ll never do it again! Please, please don’t take away my cola!"

Tongtong immediately begged for mercy.

Jiang Liu asked, "So, why did you call me?"

He knew his daughter wouldn’t call for no reason.

Tongtong said, "Daddy, Teacher Qingmeng didn’t come to kindergarten today. I heard from another teacher that she called in sick with a fever."

"Teacher Qingmeng probably doesn’t have anyone to take care of her. Can you go visit her?"

Jiang Liu was surprised. "How is she?"

Tongtong shook her head. "It must be serious. Teacher Qingmeng never takes a day off. Since she did today, she must be really sick."

Jiang Liu hummed in acknowledgment. "I understand. How are things at school? Are any of the other kids bothering you?"

"No, Daddy. Don’t worry."

"Okay, I have to get back to work. Let me know if anything comes up."

"Mhm, Daddy, I miss you so much. Tongtong will love you forever and ever! Mwah!"

Hanging up the phone, Jiang Liu smiled.

’Having a daughter is really wonderful. She warms your heart every day.’

He took out his phone and sent a WeChat message to Jun Qingmeng: "I heard from Tongtong that you’re sick. How are you feeling?"

Jun Qingmeng was lying in bed, her face a little pale.

Her whole body ached, and her limbs felt weak.

On top of that, she was suffering from the torment of menstrual cramps, making her misery complete.

’I don’t want to eat anything... except Jiang Liu’s baozi...’

In the morning, her best friend had cooked her some congee and a stir-fried dish.

She didn’t have any appetite at all.

She took one small sip and went back to huddling under the covers.

’Jiang Liu must be making baozi right now.’

’I wish I could be there with him, making baozi.’

’I wonder if he’ll think of me.’

’Probably not.’

The more Jun Qingmeng thought about it, the more miserable she felt.

Just then, her phone vibrated.

Jiang Liu: "I heard from Tongtong that you’re sick. How are you feeling?"

Jun Qingmeng unlocked her phone and saw Jiang Liu’s concerned message.

Her mood instantly lifted, and her heart began to pound.

’Being cared for by the person you like when you’re sick feels so wonderful!’

Jun Qingmeng sent a message: "I’m okay, I guess. My whole body is uncomfortable, my lower stomach hurts, and my head hurts too..."

As soon as she sent the message, a wave of self-pity washed over her.

Her beautiful eyes grew misty with tears.

’I want Jiang Liu to come and hug me.’

Jiang Liu asked: "What about your roommate? Is there anyone at home to take care of you?"

"I’ll be done with work around noon. How about I bring you something to eat? What would you like?"

Her phone vibrated.

After reading the message, Jun Qingmeng was so happy she could fly.