Chapter 95.

"Boss Jiang is so handsome! This is my first time here. Are the steamed buns really as good as everyone says?"

A student asked, their eyes twinkling with curiosity.

The two lines still had over a hundred people each.

In reality, even more people had shown up.

By ten o’clock, there were already over a hundred people in line.

Some who arrived late took one look at the headcount.

Their faces fell.

’Great, out-competed again,’ they thought.

All they could do was leave, disgruntled.

...

「At the kindergarten.」

Jiang Tongtong and the other children from the mixed-age classes were led to lunch by their teacher.

"Ugh, it’s potatoes and tomatoes again, and cabbage with pork."

Tongtong sighed.

Jiang Liu had spoiled her palate from a young age.

Admittedly, while Jiang Liu wasn’t a master of sashimi, he was an incredible cook when it came to Chinese stir-fries and home-style dishes.

Jun Qingmeng got a plate of food for Tongtong.

The two of them sat down to eat together.

The kindergarten teachers ate the same food as the children.

Pouting, Tongtong poked at her rice with a spoon, managing only a single piece of potato and one spoonful of rice in a whole minute.

Jun Qingmeng asked with concern, "Tongtong, does it not taste good? Should Teacher order you something yummy online?"

Tongtong shook her head and sighed. "No, I just miss the steamed buns and the meat dishes. And I miss Daddy."

Jun Qingmeng nodded in agreement. "I miss your daddy and the food he makes, too."

The kindergarten’s chef was actually quite skilled.

But both of them had tasted Jiang Liu’s cooking.

Their palates had been thoroughly spoiled.

The stir-fries and rice porridge that once seemed delicious were now hard to swallow.

"Go on, Tongtong, eat up. Tonight, we’ll have your dad make us something delicious."

"Okay!"

...

「Elsewhere.」

The outdoor air conditioning unit hummed.

The hot air sent strands of Wang Han’s hair dancing.

Finally, it was their group of four’s turn.

Besides Wang Han and Huang Yunfeng,

there were also two of Wang Han’s friends from Jing City.

A man and a woman, both fashionably and expensively dressed and in their thirties. The man had a debauched look, with dark circles under his eyes. He wore American-style sweatpants, a striped short-sleeved shirt, and a men’s bag slung low at his waist. The woman was a young matron, wearing a platinum necklace, loose black "ice silk" pants, and a white crew-neck T-shirt with a small pocket on the chest.

They were well-known figures in the Jing Circle, the young master and miss of corporate families.

As the group entered the shop, a wave of cool air washed over them.

Wang Han smiled and said, "Jiang Liu, we’ll have forty-five steamed buns, three bottles of juice, and three orders of your tuna sashimi."

"Alright," Jiang Liu replied calmly. "You can sit at table nine. I just cleared it."

"Okay." Wang Han nodded.

She led her two friends to the table.

Huang Yunfeng tactfully ordered fifteen steamed buns and left.

The debauched-looking man, Xu Zhiwen, did little to hide his annoyance. "This dump? I can’t imagine what’s so good about it," he said impatiently. "We came all this way, and I thought it was some kind of hidden culinary gem. Turns out it’s just this ordinary."

He looked down on the place.

Accustomed to the glamorous and luxurious life on the streets of Jing City’s Sanlitun, he felt a surge of superiority coming to a small city, and to such a tiny restaurant at that.

The young matron, Shi Ruining, pursed her lips without a word, her disdain already apparent.

Wang Han looked at her two friends from the corporate world and patiently explained, "It’s not as bad as you think. You’ll definitely be surprised after you try the food."

"Oh, is that so?"

"Heh."

The two of them clearly thought Wang Han was telling a bad joke.

Xu Zhiwen glanced at the small blackboard and scoffed, "This is the first time I’ve ever seen sashimi paired with steamed buns. I’m speechless, for god’s sake!"

"It’s a bun shop, and people are actually fighting to buy from here? Back in Jing City, I, Xu Zhiwen, have tried them all—all the old, famous brand-name bun shops. I’ve even had buns that cost hundreds or thousands, and I refuse to believe this place can be better than those time-honored establishments."

He shook his head and muttered, drawing unfriendly glares from the surrounding customers.

’Where did this country bumpkin come from?’ they thought. ’Doesn’t he know the saying? If it’s made by Jiang Liu, it must be top quality.’

Shi Ruining watched Jiang Liu, sticking out her tongue playfully, her interest piqued. "This boss has a nice figure. Is he married?"

"Hey, what are you thinking!"

Wang Han shot her a protective glare, saying defensively,

"We’re here to eat. Why are you hitting on the owner? Besides, he’s married, and his daughter is old enough to run around. Trust me, he’s someone you can’t have."

’And it’s not like you’d be next in line for Jiang Liu anyway,’ Wang Han thought.

"Ooh, what’s this little secret I’ve discovered? I never thought our domineering CEO Xiao Wang would know so much about some ordinary guy. How strange, tsk tsk."

Shi Ruining said in a backhanded tone, her face full of mockery.

Wang Han just huffed and didn’t reply.

Soon, Jiang Liu brought all their food to the table.

"Enjoy your meal. I’m getting back to work, so please try not to call me unless it’s important."

Jiang Liu wasn’t standing on ceremony with Wang Han.

They had talked before, and in Jiang Liu’s mind, he considered her a friend.

Wang Han’s mood instantly brightened. The corners of her lips curved high as she waved her hand and said,

"Okay, go on, go on. We’ll clear the table ourselves when we leave. We wouldn’t want to trouble the master chef."

Jiang Liu left.

Xu Zhiwen and Shi Ruining examined the wild bluefin tuna sashimi with a hint of surprise.

It actually looked quite impressive.

No, not just impressive! It looked even more high-grade than any they had seen before.

Xu Zhiwen said uncertainly, "It looks better than what I had at a specialty restaurant last time. Did they add food coloring or something?"

Even he didn’t believe what he was saying.

Wang Han was speechless. "Can’t you just shut up and eat?"

As she spoke, she couldn’t resist picking up a piece of akami, dipping it in sauce, and popping it into her mouth.

Even though Huang Yunfeng had described the taste to her before,

and she was mentally prepared, she was still stunned by the smooth, tender, and sweet flavor.

Delicious!

It’s so, so good!

Better than any sashimi she had ever eaten before!

’I can’t believe Jiang Liu managed to do this!’

Xu Zhiwen and Shi Ruining picked up a piece of otoro.

"This is real wasabi, right? I admit, this boss has some skills, but I’ll reserve judgment until I’ve tasted it."

He still clung to his playboy pride.

At the same time, they both took the glistening, fatty slices of fish, dipped them in soy sauce, and placed them in their mouths.

The next moment,

the exquisite flavor of the wild bluefin tuna exploded in their mouths.

Their eyes widened in shock.

This was a level of deliciousness neither of them had ever experienced before!

The texture was incomparably light, sweet, and smooth.

The meat melted in their mouths. The fish oil, combined with the aroma of the soy sauce and the clean heat of the wasabi, wasn’t greasy at all, leaving only the unique, tangy fragrance of wild tuna.

"Where did this boss get this fish? The texture is incredible, and his preparation technique is so professional!"

If tuna isn’t cut properly, it can seriously affect the texture when you chew it.

"Stop talking and eat!"

The three of them buried their heads in their food and ate intently. 𝕗𝐫𝚎𝗲𝘄𝐞𝕓𝐧𝕠𝘃𝕖𝐥.𝐜𝚘𝚖

Their earlier attitudes had completely vanished.

Wang Han said, "See? Delicious, right? When have I ever lied to you? Now are you convinced?"

They both nodded at the same time.

"This little shop really is something else."

Xu Zhiwen wiped his mouth and glanced at Jiang Liu with admiration. "I never thought there’d be a place with such a sublime taste in a small place like South City. Honestly, and don’t laugh, but I’ve eaten countless tuna sashimi meals in Jing City, and this is the first time I’ve ever felt this satisfied!"

He was conquered. His taste buds had fallen in love with this flavor.

Shi Ruining took a bite of a steamed bun and then said with sudden seriousness,

"Wang Han, do me a favor and find a pre-owned apartment nearby. I’m planning to buy a place here."

"Huh?" Wang Han was stunned. "You can’t be serious. You’re going to buy a house just for a bite to eat?"

Xu Zhiwen chimed in, "Me too."

Wang Han rolled her eyes.

"You two are insane."

Xu Zhiwen gave a wry smile. "You really don’t appreciate what you have. Do you have any idea what a sensation this kind of food would cause in Jing City?"

"It’s only because it’s in a small place like South City that its fame is spreading slowly. I guarantee you, food this delicious and this cheap is going to blow up. This boss is just waiting for his big break!"

Shi Ruining nodded. "Exactly. If this Boss Jiang keeps up this quality, forget a line of a hundred people—it would be normal for the doorway to be trampled to pieces."

"It’s like that one barbecue place that was just a little bit better than the rest and ended up driving the tourism for an entire city."

"So, buying a house here is actually an investment."

Wang Han was bewildered. She rubbed her forehead and touched her earring. "I really didn’t expect you to be thinking that far ahead. Actually... now that I think about it, it seems very possible."

"When foodies from all over the country start flocking here, there will be plenty of people wanting to buy a house just to eat Jiang Liu’s food every day. After all, food is the first necessity of the people."

In the end, Wang Han agreed to find houses for them.

This made Xu Zhiwen and Shi Ruining overjoyed.

Once they had houses,

they could occasionally bring friends and family over to visit.

And they could treat them to the food from this restaurant—how impressive would that be?