Divorced Dad's Gourmet Shop

Chapter 25: Chapter 24: Hello, Sister.

The aunties tried to one-up each other with their flattery.

One by one, they crowded around to claim their steamed buns.

One of the aunties couldn’t wait and took a bite, her eyes immediately widening. "This three-delicacy bun is absolutely authentic! I love this flavor!"

"Wow! What kind of shrimp is this? It tastes amazing!"

"This is incredible! So delicious. How does the egg have a hint of a milky fragrance?"

"I can’t believe it. This pork is even more delicious than the premium pork I bought for fifty yuan a jin!"

The aunties all gave a thumbs-up in praise.

Dozens of buns were devoured in a single minute by the twenty aunties.

Everyone was left wanting more. It was too little; one or two buns were nowhere near enough.

They wished they could eat ten in a single bite.

"Brother Niu, come on, tell us where you bought them?"

"Yeah, Brother Niu, share with your sisters!"

"I want to buy some for my family. Can you please tell me where to get them?"

"I’m not telling!"

Uncle Niu tried his best to guard his precious treasure.

"Oh, come on, Brother Niu. You’re so generous. You can’t be stingy like those other guys."

"Here, Brother Niu, feel my hand. I soaked it in hand cream just for today. Isn’t it soft?"

"Mm, it is soft."

"Brother Niu, tell me, and Chunxue will only dance with you from now on!"

"You swear!"

"I swear, Brother Niu. Honestly, I like dancing with you the most."

"Well, alright then. I’ll tell you, but don’t you dare tell that stinking bunch of old men!"

"Don’t worry, of course we won’t tell them!"

"I bought these buns at the Second Best Under Heaven food shop on Yangzhai Street."

"They must be expensive, right??"

"Not at all. Just normal prices, two or five yuan."

"Okay, I got it, Old Niu. I have to go now."

"Me too. Bye, Old Niu."

"Let’s go together. I’m going to buy some buns. They’re so good, I have to bring some home."

"Let’s go, let’s go! Everyone, let’s go together! Let’s buy a bunch!"

The group of aunties rushed off together in a frenzy to buy buns.

Uncle Niu was dumbfounded. How could they all change their tune so quickly?

’They promised they’d dance with me!’

Watching one of the aunties haul away the boombox, Uncle Niu’s heart shattered...

He no longer believed in love.

...

’It’s 11:21. I wonder if I can sell all four hundred of these steamed buns by noon.’

Jiang Liu glanced at the time.

Then he went into the back kitchen, brought out two steamers of each type of bun, and placed them in the glass display case up front.

’Huh? What the hell? Who put money in my Care Box?’

As Jiang Liu passed the counter, he was surprised to find a thick stack of colorful bills in the box.

A little puzzled, he took it out and counted it. It was 450 yuan in total.

Adding that to his previous earnings, his income had now reached 2,500 yuan.

Jiang Liu sniffed the crisp new bills, feeling a sense of joy.

’It was probably those workers from before,’ he guessed.

"Are you Boss Jiang?"

A deep voice came from the side.

Jiang Liu looked up and saw a male doctor in a white coat standing in the doorway. He looked to be in his fifties, with a fair complexion and square-framed glasses.

"Yes, hello. I’m Jiang Liu."

The doctor’s name was Chu Songkuan, the deputy director of South City First Central Hospital. He had also tasted one of the buns, a gift from a nurse, and its heavenly flavor left him stunned and utterly obsessed.

He couldn’t even stand to look at the free boxed lunches at the hospital and had specifically run out at noon to eat these buns.

"Good, that’s all I needed to know. I’d like some buns. Three of each filling, please. Thank you."

As he spoke, he walked inside, then suddenly frowned. "Boss Jiang, you don’t have the air conditioning on in here? It’s so hot in the middle of the day."

Jiang Liu gave an awkward smile. "Well, the shop just opened. I haven’t had a chance to get it sorted out yet."

He said this while lifting the lid of a bamboo steamer to get the buns.

"Oh, I see."

Chu Songkuan thought for a moment. "Boss Jiang, we have some old air conditioners at the hospital that have been replaced. How about I get you a few?"

His motive for doing this was the fear that Jiang Liu might suddenly skip town, and he wouldn’t be able to eat his buns anymore.

Of course, he had noticed the Care Box the moment he walked in.

"Thank you for the kind offer, but that’s alright. I’ll figure something out myself."

Jiang Liu declined, planning to buy a new one.

’It’s not like I’m short a few thousand yuan.’

"Alright, alright."

Disappointed, Chu Songkuan walked up, took the plate, and sat down to eat sullenly.

The buns were exceptionally delicious, tasting even fresher than the one he’d had that morning.

But the more delicious they were, the more uneasy Chu Songkuan felt.

To be honest, he was terrified that Jiang Liu might just pack up and leave one day. If that happened, wouldn’t he be stuck eating those boxed lunches again?

Other than this place, he had never encountered food that was both healthy and could conquer his taste buds.

「A moment later.」

CLACK CLACK CLACK. The sound of footsteps echoed from the entrance.

A woman appeared at the door. She had delicate features and a noble, elegant air. She walked into the shop on high heels, with green jadeite earrings dangling from her earlobes, which made her complexion look even fairer.

Wang Han curiously sized up the shop.

Inside, there was just one doctor, head down, devouring his food. The tables and chairs were very clean, and the floor was mopped so well it reflected the light.

’Aside from the heat, it seems pretty nice!’

But when she saw the utterly ordinary prices on the wall, she froze for a second in disbelief.

’Buns of this caliber are being sold at this price? Shouldn’t they be several hundred or even a thousand yuan each?’

"Where’s the owner?!"

She shouted forcefully.

Jiang Liu, who was washing dishes in the back kitchen, heard the shout and hurried out. When he saw Wang Han, who practically screamed "I’m rich," his eyes lit up.

"Hello, miss. I’m the owner. Would you like some buns?"

’What a handsome young man...’ Wang Han gave Jiang Liu a second look, then nodded and sat down. "Not just buns. Bring me everything edible in your shop!"

"PFFT!"

At the next table, Chu Songkuan burst out laughing.

’This woman acts like she hasn’t eaten in days.’

Jiang Liu was also taken aback. What did she mean by "everything edible"?

’Garlic and chili peppers, too?’

After complaining internally for a moment, Jiang Liu said: ƒгeewёbnovel.com

"Right now, my shop only has buns, in four different flavors. How many would you like?"

"Only buns? You don’t even have anything to drink? Fine, buns will do. Just bring them. Start with twenty."

"Okay, coming right up."

Jiang Liu didn’t bother asking if she could finish them all. Who cared? If she couldn’t eat them, she could take them to go.

Soon, Jiang Liu placed a plate of buns in front of her.

Wang Han couldn’t resist sniffing them first, then nodded in pleasant surprise. "This is the smell! It’s divine."

She picked up a bun and started devouring it, finishing it in three bites without a pause.

The fragrant pork and green onion bun gushed with juices at the first bite. It had a mix of fat and lean meat, leaving a savory aroma that lingered on her lips and teeth.

"Ooh, a little hot!"

Wang Han fanned her mouth.

The juice got all over her mouth, making her rosy lips glisten with oil.

"Mmm, the meat is so tender, and it fills my whole mouth with flavor. It’s too delicious!"

Saying this, Wang Han grabbed a bun in each hand and, ignoring the heat, took a bite from the left and then the right, huffing out the hot air as she swallowed.

Chu Songkuan watched, his heart thumping in alarm.

’Isn’t she afraid her stomach can’t handle eating like that?’

P.S. Chapter 18 has been slightly modified. It doesn’t affect the overall plot, but you can give it a look. 7/8/2023.