Jiang Liu was basking in everyone’s praise when a sudden comment nearly made him lose his composure.

He glanced at the person who spoke. It was an average-looking student he didn’t recognize.

Jiang Liu didn’t bother arguing with him.

Yu Qingzheng also squeezed in with his friends.

"Boss Jiang, you have twice-cooked pork today?"

"Yes, limited to fifty orders."

"Alright, fantastic! Then hurry up and give this old man an order, plus thirty steamed buns—any filling is fine—a plate of yak meat, a portion of ham, and three bottles of fruit juice!"

Yu Qingzheng’s old face was glowing with excitement.

His two old friends, who were also teachers, had strange, puzzled expressions.

It was the first time they had ever seen the stern and serious Old Yu with such an expression.

’Could this restaurant really be as amazing as he claimed?’

’Impossible!’

’We’ve lived a long life, what haven’t we eaten? Is it really worth getting this excited? It has to be a prank.’

The two of them didn’t believe it.

One of the old men was named Feng Weiguo. He wore reading glasses and had a mustache somewhat similar to Mr. Lu Xun’s.

The other was named Wu Yuanchao. He wore a Zhongshan suit, had well-defined features and fair skin, and you could tell he had been quite a heartthrob in his youth.

The three of them found a table and sat down.

"Boss Jiang, I’ll also have an order of twice-cooked pork! When are you going to sell those Coin Eggs again? My grandpa loves them."

"I’m really craving that bread from last time. I’m dying for it."

Jiang Liu listened to his customers’ requests.

An idea suddenly struck him.

He had a thought.

"Boss Jiang, are you dazing off? I’d like to get one order of twice-cooked pork and one order of tuna sashimi to go."

Jiang Liu had spaced out.

"Oh, right. I just spaced out for a moment."

Aunt Xu asked in surprise, "This is the first time I’ve ever seen you space out. Did something happen?"

Everyone looked at Jiang Liu with concern.

They were worried something had happened that would force him to close the restaurant.

If something was wrong, they had to help Boss Jiang solve it!

Jiang Liu shook his head. "It’s nothing. I was just thinking, since everyone likes the temporary specials I’ve offered before, maybe I should set aside one day a week to sell only temporary specials?"

The restaurant erupted in chatter, both inside and out.

"For real? Does that mean I can finally try the shrimp noodles I missed?"

"There are so many! Brother Jiang is a true Kitchen God. He can make lots of delicious things, not just shrimp noodles."

"I object, Boss Jiang! If you only sell specials, what am I supposed to do when I can’t get my steamed buns?"

"Yeah, I love the ham and the fruit juice! Don’t do it! How about this: you set aside one day to make more specials, but keep selling the regular items too?"

"Hey, that’s a great idea! I agree."

"Boss Jiang, just make more! We’ll clear out whatever you cook!"

Jiang Liu’s mouth twitched as he listened to the increasingly absurd conversation.

’Are they crazy?’

He was already busy enough making the regular menu items. If he had to make all the specials on top of that, wouldn’t he be worked to death?

The customers were too greedy.

"Ahem, I don’t think that’s feasible. I’d love to make more dishes, but time won’t allow it. I can only choose to make that one day all about the specials. You can’t have both the regular menu and a full menu of specials at the same time."

The surrounding customers were instantly disappointed.

They wanted to eat the regularly sold dishes but also coveted the occasional specials.

What a dilemma!

This was especially true for the customers who ate here every day, treating Jiang Liu’s place as their cafeteria for the rest of their lives. They couldn’t go a single day without his steamed buns.

Eating a dozen or so steamed buns every day—the fragrant fillings, the piping hot and savory juices, paired with a bowl of rice porridge—it was pure bliss.

"It’s too hard to choose! I want it all, but it’s a shame Brother Jiang wants to be lazy."

"I think Boss Jiang’s arrangement is fine. One day a week to change things up for everyone, what’s not to like?"

"But I’ll die if I go a day without yak meat!"

???

"I agree. One day a week for specials is acceptable. It’s not like Boss Jiang is closing down. If you can’t eat steamed buns, you still get specials, right? Don’t you want to eat the Di San Xian set? Don’t you want the sweet, smooth, and tender steamed egg custard?"

More and more people were swayed.

After some discussion among the customers.

The customers reached a consensus.

That’s right, as long as he didn’t close up shop, they had to go along with Boss Jiang.

Even if Boss Jiang wanted to open his restaurant in a tree, they would have to find a way to make it happen—as long as he didn’t leave Yangzhai Street!

Jiang Liu said, "Alright, then it’s settled. I’ll give it a try when I have time. I’ll announce the specific details to everyone in the Douyin group."

"Okay, okay, we agree!"

"Brother Jiang, you arrange it however you want. Just make sure I get a bite to eat."

The regular customers all nodded, indicating they had no problem with it.

The new customers, however, wore peculiar expressions.

Why did they get the feeling... that everyone was trying their best to accommodate this restaurant owner?

Was it just their imagination?

What the hell!

Feng Weiguo glanced tentatively at Yu Qingzheng. "Old Yu, what’s going on here? Why is everyone so partial to this owner? They’re not paid actors, are they?"

Wu Yuanchao also looked at Yu Qingzheng searchingly.

Yu Qingzheng chuckled and said, "What do you two old codgers know? This is called charisma. Boss Jiang is a good person and a great cook. It’s not strange at all that everyone sides with him. Forget everyone else—even I want to marry my granddaughter off to him."

The two men exchanged a look.

’It’s over. Old Yu has definitely been brainwashed.’

’Marrying off your granddaughter over a meal? Are you here to eat or to sell off your family?’

’What kind of food could be *that* good?’

While Yu Qingzheng was dazedly placing his order, Feng Weiguo found an older woman and asked, "Ma’am, do you eat here often?"

It was Aunt Liu, carrying a vegetable basket. It looked like she was planning to get some takeout later.

She was in a good mood and said, "I do, every day. But I don’t always get to eat. To get a spot near the front of the line, you have to be here at least three hours early."

?

Feng Weiguo was astonished. "Is the food here really as good as people say? This is my first time, and I’m worried it’ll be a bust."

He had learned that slang term, "bust," from his students.

Aunt Liu looked Feng Weiguo up and down, then pursed her lips and said, "I can tell you’ve never had Boss Jiang’s food. Let me put it this way: if Boss Jiang casually showed off a bit, his cooking could be served at a state banquet. You believe that?"

"Even gods wouldn’t want to leave after eating his steamed buns!"

"Er..."

Feng Weiguo was speechless.

’I was asking if the food was good, not for you to perform a comedy routine.’

He was now certain. This was probably just a marketing tactic,

or maybe one of those marketing accounts his students talked about, the kind that creates hype just to get views.

Aunt Liu continued, "When you order in a bit, remember to buy as much as you can. If you just sit there and eat first, it might sell out before you know it."

"Ah? Yes, yes, I’ll do as you say."

Feng Weiguo sneered inwardly.

’She’s showing her true colors now.’

’Does she think I’m old and easy to fool?’

’I’m much smarter than that.’

’Only a fool like Old Yu would get duped and still be grinning like an idiot.’

Meanwhile, Yu Qingzheng finished ordering.

The three of them took their seats.

When they heard the meal cost several thousand, the jaws of both Feng Weiguo and Wu Yuanchao dropped.

"Are you crazy, Old Yu? You can’t just throw your money around like that, no matter how rich you are."

"You’ve lost your mind! Spending this much on some steamed buns! I’m telling your son when we get back!"

. . . . . .