Still, it paled in comparison to Jiang Liu’s SpongeBob profile picture.

Tongtong had picked it out for him.

Wang Han opened Jiang Liu’s social media feed, his expression one of surprise. "How have you gone half a year without posting anything?"

His page was set to only show posts from the last six months.

"There was nothing worth posting," Jiang Liu said with a faint smile.

’He had just escaped a sea of misery. Back when he was with Yang Yixue, he was in no mood to post on social media. Life was just one big, annoying headache.’

"I see... Well, I’ll get going. You seem busy, Jiang Liu. I’ll head back and draw up a detailed plan for you."

"Won’t you stay for a bite? I just made some dough drop soup."

"Dough drop soup? You know how to make that?! In that case, pack up two orders for me to-go."

The moment food was mentioned, Wang Han tossed all thoughts of work to the back of his mind. Eating well came first.

Jiang Liu then packed up two orders of dough drop soup and two bottles of juice for Wang Han.

After Wang Han left, Jiang Liu got back to work. He soaked the prepared beef to drain the blood, then placed it in a pressure cooker.

Several hours flew by, and the line of people outside the door had grown even longer.

The entire street was bustling with activity thanks to Jiang Liu’s shop, looking just like a lively market day from the nineties.

"Boss Jiang, it’s twelve! Aren’t you ready yet?"

"Don’t rush Boss Jiang! Let him slack off a little longer."

"From my spot in line, I should be able to get some ham today, right?"

Everyone was in high spirits as opening time approached.

Strangers or not, everyone was striking up conversations.

A group of seniors, including Uncle Li and Aunt Wu, were playing cards in line.

At 12:10, Jiang Liu announced he was open for business.

The customers at the front of the line charged into the shop with wild abandon.

Aunt Ding, despite her limp, made a ten-meter dash that left the new, unsuspecting customers—who had just joined the crowd to see what the fuss was about—completely dumbfounded.

’Are these people insane? Are they selling Immortal Pills in there or something?’

Seeing the severe congestion at the entrance,

one of the aunties let out a mighty roar:

"Hurry up and get inside! Don’t block the path!"

"You there, youngster, get out of the way! Don’t you know to respect your elders?"

"Did you just touch me? Push me again, I dare you! Get lost, you’re in the way!"

A frustrated office worker was shoved out of the line.

His spot was instantly gone, and the worker’s face flushed red with anger and frustration.

Ironically, it was mostly seniors who managed to get into the shop first.

"Little Boss Jiang, you got any new specials for lunch today?"

"What’s that amazing smell? Boss Jiang, don’t tell me you’ve made something new and delicious again?"

Uncle Li sniffed the air, his eyes darting slyly toward the counter.

Jiang Liu smiled. "I do. Today I’m selling forty bowls of dough drop soup, thirty yuan each."

"Dough drop soup?!"

"Hot damn, I really came on the right day! Finally caught a new special!"

"Quick, quick! Let me get one to try!"

"I’ll have a bowl of dough drop soup too."

The seniors were beside themselves with excitement, their eyes gleaming.

When the people still in line outside heard Boss Jiang had made dough drop soup, they all strained their necks, trying to get a peek inside.

Even if they couldn’t get a bowl, just smelling it would be enough!

The forty bowls of dough drop soup were snatched up in an instant.

Xia Changzhi was lucky enough to snag the very last bowl.

The customer behind him was so jealous they were cursing up a storm.

Yang Tuoyang, being a young lady, managed to snag a bowl. She happily sipped the delicious soup, feeling it warm her stomach.

The flavor was a perfect blend of sweet, sour, and savory. The egg was tender and silky, and paired with the golden sesame oil drizzled around the rim of the bowl, a single spoonful was enough to make your eyes roll back in pleasure.

"This is delicious! Brother Jiang, you’re amazing! I’m your biggest fan!"

Xia Changzhi took a large gulp, vegetables and all. "This is incredible! I never thought a simple dough drop soup could taste this good, Boss Jiang!"

"It’s true! The egg and the little dough drops are out of this world. They’re so soft and tender, and the sour, fragrant flavor... It’s a hundred times better than my wife’s cooking. This was thirty yuan well spent!"

"Fuck, I drank the whole damn thing without even realizing. My wife is definitely going to kill me when I get home."

The lucky customers who got the soup wore expressions of pure bliss. Some of the more shameless ones even stood right at the doorway, deliberately showing off as they ate.

’Heh, can’t get any, can you? Sucks to be you, huh?’

By 12:56, every last bit of food had been sold.

"Haha, today’s my lucky day! I managed to buy the very last of the steamed buns."

"Good for you."

"Are you willing to sell those buns? I’ll pay you triple the price, what do you say?"

"Not for sale. I’m taking them home to eat with my grandparents."

The customers who came away empty-handed were utterly dejected, as if their spines had dissolved, leaving them completely dispirited.

"Sigh, I’ve lined up for five days and still haven’t gotten anything! Boss Jiang, please, show me some favor! This is so hard!"

"Hold on, man. You’re a dude. How’s Boss Jiang supposed to ’show you some favor’?"

"I’m a bottom! Maybe Boss Jiang has... special interests."

"Fair enough, fair enough. You’re not afraid your girlfriend’s going to come after you with a knife?"

After the last group of customers inside finished eating, they did something that shocked the newcomers: like a magic trick, they pulled rags and spray bottles from their pockets and started wiping down the tables for Jiang Liu.

"Damn! Does everything have to be a competition?"

A female internet celebrity from South City, dressed in a schoolgirl uniform, pulled out her phone and started recording.

"This is killing me, you guys. Look at these people! School is a rat race, work is a rat race, and now even getting a meal is a rat race. What has this world come to?"

She had a feeling this video was going to blow up in South City.

An innocent-looking female student giggled. "Brother Jiang, you’re super famous at our school now, you know? A lot of the students who’ve eaten here are saying even a dog wouldn’t touch the food in our cafeteria."

"Is that right? While I’m glad to hear it, I still hope everyone eats well and respects every grain of rice."

The student blushed. "Brother Jiang, I really like you! Can I add you on WeChat? I’ll like all your posts!"

"Sure."

Jiang Liu didn’t refuse. He, of course, had no ulterior motives; he simply saw her as a little sister.

After he accepted her request, the student immediately posted to her social media feed: "Oh yeah! I added Brother Jiang today! The first day of our friendship! Wish us luck, everyone!"

[Image]

Little Sapling: "??? How did you do it? Post a guide, quick! I want to add Boss Jiang too!!"

Paii: "Wish you luck, my ass! You make it sound like you’re his girlfriend now. Pfft!"

Rain Oh Rain: "So jealous!! What did you talk about? Did you send him any pics in white stockings? You can use mine if you want."

"Use mine, use mine! I have black ones with a floral pattern!"

...

The post was quickly flooded with comments from her classmates. After all, who didn’t know Boss Jiang? In the Second Senior High’s group chat, he was known as "The Don of South City’s Food Scene."

Even the dogs at school would drool at the mention of his name!

While the students were busy strategizing how to win over Boss Jiang...

「Inside the shop.」

Jiang Liu sat at the counter, sorting through the small change.

Uncle Niu, having finished wiping down a table, said, "Boss Jiang, let me mop the floor for you. I’ve got nothing to do for a while anyway, so I can just treat it as a workout!"

"Alright then. I’ll have to trouble you, Uncle Niu."

Jiang Liu didn’t refuse this time. ’I can afford to slack off for a bit. Once Uncle Niu is done, I’ll treat him to a glass of juice. A win-win for everyone.’

Uncle Niu grinned happily.

"It’s no trouble at all. Boss Jiang, you’re a South City treasure. We’re all happy to help you out."

"Uncle Niu, you’re getting on in years. How about you let me help Boss Jiang? I’m a pro at mopping floors!"

...