Jiang Tongtong beamed as she helped Jiang Liu with the plates at the counter.

’I love being praised! I *really*, *really* love being praised in front of Dad!’

Jiang Liu wanted to pat his daughter’s hair, but he stopped himself, remembering he still had work to do.

"A snuggle is enough, Daddy."

Tongtong hugged Jiang Liu’s leg and rubbed her plump cheeks against it.

The heartwarming scene brought a smile to the face of a customer waiting for their takeout at the window.

"Brother Jiang, let me take your daughter for a few days. I’ll bring her back after I’ve teased her to tears."

"Hahaha, Boss Jiang will kill you for that, believe it or not."

Aunt Hou, who had short, tightly-permed hair, smiled and asked, "Tongtong, can Auntie ask you a question?"

"Daddy, can I?" Tongtong asked, looking up at Jiang Liu for his approval.

Jiang Liu smiled. "You don’t need to ask me. When people ask you questions, you can answer if you want to, or say no if you don’t."

"Mm, okay, Daddy. I’ll listen to you. You can ask, Grandma!" Tongtong said, a little shyly.

She was always like this in front of strangers.

"Such a good girl, Tongtong."

Aunt Hou gave her a compliment, then asked with a grin, "Tongtong, let’s say your dad falls in a river and can’t swim. Would you want to have a lollipop first, or eat some ice cream first?"

"Hahaha."

"That question is going to make the little one’s head spin."

"I bet Tongtong will pick ice cream."

The surrounding customers watched Tongtong with great interest, curious to hear the little girl’s answer.

Jiang Tongtong thought for a moment, then said in her sweet, childish voice, "I’d save Daddy first! After I save Daddy, he’ll definitely buy me ice cream and lollipops."

’Clever, right? Hehe.’

"Hahaha, you clever little thing! Just as smart as your dad," Aunt Hou said, laughing.

"That answer is unassailable. Boss Jiang, you can put that knife down now. Your daughter saved you."

"That’s it, I want to get married and have a daughter now. What am I going to do?"

"What if you have a boy?"

"Toss him out and try again. I don’t care, I want an adorable daughter just like Tongtong!"

"Hilarious."

Tongtong’s answer sent a wave of cheerful laughter through the customers outside.

"Daddy," Tongtong said, nibbling on her finger.

The little cutie was asking for praise.

"Good girl. You really warm your daddy’s heart."

"Hehe, don’t you worry, Daddy! If you ever fall in the water, Tongtong will definitely save you!"

’Why would I fall in the water...’

The corner of Jiang Liu’s mouth twitched. ’She’s probably hoping I’ll fall in the water right now just so she can save me, isn’t she?’ he thought.

"Boss Jiang, do you have any Dough Drop Soup right now?" another customer asked.

Jiang Liu patiently explained, "Not tonight, maybe next time."

"Alright then. Your Dough Drop Soup is just too delicious. I think you could take South City by storm just by selling that soup alone. It’s only a matter of time."

Jiang Tongtong and Jun Qingmeng exchanged a look, their hearts filled with anticipation.

The two of them were becoming more and more in sync.

At 7:40 PM.

All the food had sold out at an astonishing speed.

Some customers, before they even knew what was happening, found that the line had disappeared, leaving them completely dumbfounded.

’How are they closed already? They barely just opened! It feels like Boss Jiang was open for all of five seconds!’

"Tongtong, you and your mom stay here in the shop for a bit. I’m going to take some beer to your Uncle Xue."

"Okay~"

"Go on, honey. I’ll watch the shop for you."

Her use of "honey" once again caught the attention of the last few customers to enter the shop.

A wave of envious gazes followed.

’Who wouldn’t want such a gorgeous and gentle wife? A man with a wife like that would probably wake up laughing in his sleep. No, wait, who’d be sleeping at night? You’d be up tilling the fertile fields!’

Jiang Liu chatted with Xue Guang for a while and returned to the shop carrying half a watermelon.

Now that Xue Guang was making money, he could finally hold his head high in front of his wife. Even the hair on his balding head seemed to have grown a little thicker.

"Daddy, I want some watermelon," Tongtong wheedled in her sweet voice.

"We’ll eat after dinner."

"Yay! I love you so much, Daddy! You’re so good to me!"

Jiang Liu rolled his eyes. ’So a piece of watermelon is all it takes to be "good" to her. Daughters are so easily pleased.’

"Honey~ I want some watermelon too."

Jiang Liu replied, feigning annoyance:

"I never said you couldn’t have any. Do you really need to ask my permission for a piece of watermelon? You make it sound like I’m abusing you or something."

He found that his girlfriend really liked to be playful and coy, just like now.

Jun Qingmeng huffed. "Go ahead and abuse me, then. Even if you did, I’d still want to be with you. *Sniffle sniffle*, give me a hug. I suddenly miss you."

"Alright, alright, a hug it is."

"Daddy, I want one too, I want one too!"

Jiang Liu sighed, looking up at the heavens.

’The pressure on him, a husband and a full-time dad, was immense. Drowning in an ocean of love every day with no escape!’

The three of them shared a group hug and a few kisses.

Jiang Liu walked to the counter to count the money.

The shop’s revenue for the day was around 800,000 yuan, about the same as usual.

Yue Longfan had already sent a WeChat message a few hours ago, announcing his triumphant return.

Ten thousand buns yielded a net profit of around 20,000 yuan.

Yue Longfan had set the price a bit high before. What Jiang Liu wanted were good reviews and a solid reputation; earning an extra few tens of thousands wasn’t that important.

Besides, Kun City’s economy was in a recession.

His third uncle had also sent him many messages. Most of them praised how delicious the buns were, while the rest were to feel him out about opening a branch in Kun City. He said many customers had come to him, begging him to persuade Jiang Liu to open up shop there.

Jiang Liu replied, "Not considering it for now. We’ll see how things go later on."

He hadn’t even fully figured out his current shop yet. Jiang Liu’s plan was to first dominate the market in South City before even considering expanding elsewhere.

After replying, Jiang Liu went to the kitchen to make the Dough Drop Soup.

Jiang Tongtong trotted happily after Jiang Liu, her face full of curiosity. "Daddy, what’s Dough Drop Soup? Can I watch?"

"Dough Drop Soup is just made from batter," Jiang Liu explained, "made into little dough ’beans.’"

Jiang Liu explained to Tongtong as he worked.

"Then why isn’t it called Bean Soup?"

"Alright, from now on, we’ll call it Bean Soup!"

"Yay!"...

"The tomatoes smell so yummy! Are you done yet, Daddy?"

"Almost. Just a minute."

"Daddy, hurry up, I’m hungry."

Jiang Tongtong gnawed on her fingers, drooling with anticipation.

Soon, a pot of fragrant Dough Drop Soup was ready.

He sprinkled it with finely chopped cilantro.

Jiang Liu poured the Dough Drop Soup into a white porcelain serving bowl, then placed the pot in the sink to wash it.

"Honey, is it ready?" Jun Qingmeng, who had just been cleaning, came into the kitchen when she saw Jiang Liu washing the pot.

"It’s ready. You take it to the table and you two can start eating. I’ll be right there."

"We’ll wait for you. The three of us should eat together."

"That’s right, Daddy! We’ll eat together, and I want you to feed me!"

Tongtong snuggled into Jiang Liu’s embrace, holding her small bowl.

Jiang Liu fed Tongtong a spoonful.

"How does it taste?"

"Daddy, why is your Bean Soup so, so yummy!"

Jiang Tongtong gazed at Jiang Liu with adoration.

Her eyes were full of stars.

’Daddy’s the best!’

Jiang Liu chuckled. "You’ve never had anyone else’s Bean Soup. How do you know mine is so good?"

"Hmph, well, I don’t care! What Daddy makes is the best!"

"You little flatterer!"

"Honey, let me feed you."

Jun Qingmeng lifted her bowl, scooping up a spoonful of the soup and bringing it to Jiang Liu’s lips.

"Mm, delicious. You should hurry up and eat, too. You said you were starving when you got back, so don’t let your stomach get upset."

"Okay!"

Jun Qingmeng took a small sip and exclaimed in amazement, "This Dough Drop Soup you made is really incredible!"

...