"This is so annoying!"
Yang Yixue was on her period, and for the past few days, her blind dates and work had been going terribly.
She was irritable and upset.
The elevator doors opened. She pushed the door to her apartnt open and found the place was a ss again. The greasy scrambled eggs she’d made this morning were still sitting on the table, giving off an unpleasant sll.
"You’re back, Xiao Xue? Are you tired?"
Li Xiaoyan had just finished showering and walked out wearing a Hermès bathrobe.
Hearing her mother’s concern, Yang Yixue’s gloomy mood from her failed blind dates lifted slightly.
"Yeah, I just got back. Mom, I’m not feeling well. Could you make so brown sugar ginger tea?"
"Brown sugar ginger tea? We don’t have any ginger at ho, and I don’t know how to make it anyway."
Li Xiaoyan gave a perfunctory reply, then lay down on the sofa and turned on the living room air conditioner.
"Okay."
The cold air blew over Yang Yixue, making her feel even worse. Her limbs felt like ice.
When Jiang Liu was still around, he always rembered her cycle. Every ti she got her period, he would have a nourishing soup ready for her when she got ho, and he would never turn on the AC to blow on her.
Now, not only did Yang Yixue’s body ache, but her heart ached with a panicked pain as well.
In that instant, a flicker of regret suddenly appeared in her heart.
’If only Jiang Liu were here, he would definitely take care of ... huh? What am I thinking?’
Yang Yixue shook her head hard to clear it, her expression turning cold and disdainful again.
’He’s just a poor man. So what if he was good to ?’
’I make a million a month. How could he ever be worthy of !’
’There are high-quality n everywhere in this world. A three-legged toad is hard to find, but I can’t find a two-legged man? I’ll just keep looking...’
She kept comforting herself.
Yang Yixue quickly took a hot shower, didn’t bother to tidy up the apartnt, handled so work matters in her group chat, and then fell into bed.
...
The little bear clock went TICK TOCK.
「The next morning」 Jiang Liu’s eyes snapped open at 4:50 AM, right on ti.
A carp flip sent him tumbling out of bed.
He was gradually getting used to it now. The last few tis he’d woken up early, he had been a bit sluggish.
Jiang Tongtong woke up at the sound as well.
She looked listless and unhappy today.
Because she was going to have to part with her dad.
And she had to deal with that awful woman. Just thinking about it made her feel wronged.
Tongtong tried to push her little legs into her loose, miniature-sized jeans, but she was still groggy and couldn’t get her leg in.
The day before, her little legs had been so cooperative, but today, after a few kicks, they simply stopped moving. She’d given up!
Jiang Liu patiently helped her put on her pants and tied up her hair.
He comforted her, "It’s okay, Tongtong. Didn’t Daddy buy you a little watch? If she tries to bully you, just call , and I’ll co pick you up right away, okay?"
Jiang Liu had bought Tongtong a children’s smartwatch with call functions a long ti ago.
Tongtong felt much more at ease. "Okay, then I’ll call you, and you have to get here as fast as you can."
"No problem. Just give the word, and Daddy will turn into Superman and fly right over."
"Hehe, then you can take flying, Daddy."
"Sure. How about I fly you to the moon?"
"Okay! Just the two of us!"
Tongtong was cheered up, a water bottle full of juice hanging from her neck as she left with Jiang Liu.
The sky was just beginning to lighten.
There weren’t many people on the road, and only a few shops on Yangzhai Street were open.
Jiang Liu rolled up the shutter door and glanced at the familiar storefront, feeling a sense of relief.
This was the foundation of his new life.
Jiang Liu first snuck behind the curtain to the back kitchen and placed two jugs of juice there.
This ti, it was kiwi juice and orange juice.
’Hmm? The disposable cups are almost gone. I need to send a WeChat ssage to Wang Dongxu to deliver so more.’
Jiang Liu had added Wang Dongxu on WeChat yesterday to make deliveries easier.
Jiang Liu took out his phone and sent a ssage about the order quantity.
"Daddy, is there anything I can do?"
Tongtong poked her head in, her big eyes blinking in anticipation.
"Yes, can you keep filling the juice cups?"
"Hehe, okay!"
Hearing that she could help Jiang Liu, Tongtong scampered inside happily.
"Daddy, move your legs, don’t get in the way of my work."
"Slow down, and don’t slip again."
Jiang Liu reminded her before starting to knead the dough.
He worked the dough in his hands with a vigorous flair that was a joy to watch.
This morning, Jiang Liu had brought the 2,400 portions of bun filling he had prepared last night. His plan was the sa as yesterday: sell half in the morning and half at noon.
This was pretty much his limit; any more and Jiang Liu really wouldn’t be able to handle it.
By now, custors were gathering outside in small groups.
The aunties and uncles were already forming an enthusiastic line.
They had even brought their own tables and stools and were cracking lon seeds and playing cards.
Several more minutes passed.
6:10 AM.
Jun Qingng, carrying a small purse, walked into the shop under the watchful eyes of the uncles and aunties at the door.
She was even more beautiful today than yesterday. She wore a white dress, a small pink bag slung over her shoulder, and the ends of her hair had been specially curled into small waves with a curling iron. Her fragrant hair cascaded over her white collar.
"Tongtong? Where are you?"
Jun Qingng called out softly toward the back kitchen.
Tongtong’s delighted voice imdiately ca from the back:
"Ah, it’s Teacher Qingng! Daddy, Teacher Qingng is here!"
"Teacher Qingng, Tongtong missed you so much! You’re finally here."
Tongtong ran out and hugged Jun Qingng’s fragrant, slender leg.
The office workers waiting in line outside watched this scene, their eyelids twitching.
"Where’s your dad?"
Jun Qingng asked, her gaze drifting toward the back kitchen with a hint of longing.
’Why didn’t he co out to greet ...’
"Daddy’s busy. Teacher Qingng, you look so pretty today."
Tongtong gave Jun Qingng’s leg a lick.
The fine, translucent hairs on her leg tingled, but it felt surprisingly pleasant.
Jun Qingng held down her skirt as she squatted, patting Tongtong’s head and saying dotingly, "Tongtong is pretty too. Tongtong is the cutest Little Fairy."
"Hehe, we’re both pretty."
Jiang Liu dusted the flour from his hands, set down his work, and ca out with a smile to greet her.
"You’re here? Pretty early."
"Mhm! I usually get up very early, so I’m used to it."
In reality, Jun Qingng always slept until noon on weekends.
But today, she had woken up early and didn’t feel the slightest bit sleepy.
Because she was going to see Jiang Liu.
Tongtong tugged on Jiang Liu’s hand and asked, "Daddy, don’t you think Teacher Qingng is pretty today?"
As Jiang Liu’s eyes looked her up and down, Jun Qingng’s heart pounded wildly, as if it would burst out of her swelling chest at any mont.
Jiang Liu hadn’t really noticed before, but now that he took a closer look, even he was stunned by her beauty.
"Teacher Qingng is getting more and more beautiful. You look especially beautiful today!"
He added a thumbs-up for emphasis.
Jun Qingng smiled faintly. "Thank you for the complint."
Jiang Tongtong pulled on Jun Qingng’s hand and pressed, "So, do you like her, Daddy?"
At that question, Jun Qingng’s heart leaped into her throat.
She looked at Jiang Liu with a gaze full of hidden expectation.
Jiang Liu raised an eyebrow and gave an ambiguous answer, "Of course I like her. Am I supposed to dislike your Teacher Qingng?"
It was an answer that couldn’t be faulted and wouldn’t cause any misunderstandings. Jiang Liu was quite proud of it.
Tongtong pouted, frustrated that her father wasn’t getting the hint.
Jun Qingng felt a faint sense of disappointnt because she hadn’t gotten the answer she wanted, but at least she hadn’t been rejected either.
Her fighting spirit rekindled.
"Co on, you two can sit in the back kitchen for now. Have you eaten?"
"Not yet," Jun Qingng said, looking down shyly.
"Want so juice? You can have so first to rehydrate and get so vitamins."
"Yes, please. Whatever you arrange, I’ll go with it."
The two of them, one big and one small, sat down at the small table and chairs in the back kitchen.
Jiang Liu brought over a cup of kiwi juice.
The pale green juice looked vibrant. Through the clear cup, you could see little black, sesa-like seeds floating inside.
Jun Qingng: "What kind of fruit is this?"
"Kiwi. See if you like it."
"Okay, I’ll try it."
Jun Qingng elegantly lifted the cup and took a few sips.
Tongtong was gloating on the side.
GLUG GLUG GLUG.
"HISS... Sour! It’s so sour!!"
Jun Qingng’s soul nearly flew out of her body. It was so sour she sucked in a sharp breath, and her teeth felt soft.
"Jiang Liu, you did that on purpose, didn’t you? Why didn’t you tell it was this sour!"
Jun Qingng glared at him reproachfully with her beautiful eyes.
"HAHAHA, Teacher Qingng is a dummy."
Tongtong slapped the table happily.
Jiang Liu spread his hands innocently, blinked, and asked with feigned confusion, "Is it sour? I don’t think it’s sour at all."
"Hmph, you did it on purpose!"
In truth, he had done it on purpose. It was the kind of harmless prank n sotis play.
6:45 AM.
A long line had ford at the door.
Today was a weekend.
High school students waited in line, so leaning over folding chairs to do howork or morize vocabulary.
The aunties and uncles were joyfully playing a ga of Fight the Landlord.
The office workers were as anxious as ants on a hot pan.
"I’m starving! Open up already!"
"Dammit, I got so excited I have to take a shit. I can’t hold it in, fuck."
"Then hurry up and go. I’ll save your spot."
"In your dreams! Even if I shit my pants, I’m getting my buns! I didn’t get any yesterday, and the craving is killing !"
An auntie threw down a pair of cards. "Pair of threes!"
"Pass."
"Pass."
"Pair of fours, and that’s my last card!"
"HAHAHA, I won another five yuan. That’s enough to buy a shrimp bun."
6:53 AM.
The fragrant, hot steam from the buns wafted out.
"It slls so good, so so good."
"Old Jiang, hurry up, hurry up! We can’t wait any longer!"
"Can you stop dawdling? You’re young, be quicker on your feet! You’re keeping from my buns!"
As the custors slled the aroma, they grew restless, becoming more and more agitated.
"Alright, how many buns would you like?"
Jiang Liu flipped the sign to: [Now Open...]
The words had barely left his mouth when the shop filled up in less than half a minute, everyone clamoring for buns.
In the takeout line,
The auntie at the front of the line rushed forward first. "Give twenty buns, five of each filling! And one cup of waterlon juice and one cup of apple juice!"
Jiang Liu said, "The juices are different today. Kiwi and orange. Both are delicious."
"They’re different??"
All the custors’ eyes lit up.
"Then give two of each. I want to take them ho for my son to drink."
"Alright."
"Boss, I want to try the new drinks too! And give fifteen buns!"
"I’ll have one kiwi juice, three shrimp buns, three chive buns, and four three-delicacy buns!"
"Twenty buns and two juices!"
The shop was chaotic both inside and out.
Jiang Liu wasn’t flustered at all, thodically serving each custor.
In the back, Jun Qingng and Jiang Tongtong finished their buns.
They ca out waddling, clutching their overstuffed bellies.
Tongtong plopped down next to Jiang Liu, groaning softly.
"Jiang Liu, is there anything I can do?"
Jun Qingng asked, her heart aching as she watched the busy Jiang Liu.
"Anything. If you want to help, you can put the custors’ plates in the cleaning bin in the back. You don’t have to wash them; I’m buying a dishwasher today."
"Okay, I got it!"
Jun Qingng took this ordinary, couldn’t-be-more-ordinary job very seriously.
Whenever a custor left, she would quickly clear their plates and wipe the table spotless.
The aunties watched Jun Qingng with smiles on their faces.
"This girl is great. Look at her, so pretty, and curvy in all the right places. She’ll have no trouble bearing children."
"Boss Jiang is so lucky. His wife is so virtuous. The one I have at ho is too lazy to even get out of bed, just yells about wanting buns first thing in the morning and can’t do anything."
"Oh, the little lady is blushing, haha! I’ve noticed she blushes so easily. You can tell she’s inexperienced."
The aunties spoke without any filter.
Jun Qingng didn’t say a word, silently doing what she could to help Jiang Liu.
She stole a glance at Jiang Liu and was secretly delighted to find he hadn’t corrected the aunties.
The last ti, when Jiang Liu had contradicted the aunties, she hadn’t said anything, but she had been a little unhappy inside.
7:20 AM.
Of the 1,200 buns Jiang Liu had made, nearly 700 had been sold.
The two types of juice, which had no purchase limit, were completely sold out.
Empty bottles were strewn all over the entrance.
Jiang Liu felt a bit of a headache coming on.
’This isn’t very considerate to the sanitation workers.’
’I should put a big trash can by the door tomorrow...’ Jiang Liu thought.
Jun Qingng, seeing Jiang Liu bagging up buns, said, "Jiang Liu, it’s almost 7:30. Should I take Tongtong back?"
"Sure. Be careful on the way," Jiang Liu said, looking up from his work.
Tongtong looked at the small shop reluctantly. "Daddy, you have to rember to check your watch."
She was very scared of Yang Yixue.
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