Yu Qingzheng was still all smiles.

They laugh at me for being crazy, but I laugh at them for being blind!

He said with a carefree air:

"If you’ve got the money, spend it on food. You can’t take it with you to the grave, can you? Besides, my medical bills are covered, and my kids are all grown up and don’t need my help. Spending money on food this good is never a waste, no matter the cost!"

’He’s lost his mind...’ Feng Weiguo and Wu Yuanchao exchanged another glance.

They could both see the helplessness and barely contained fury in the other’s eyes.

Helpless, because their old buddy wouldn’t listen to reason.

Furious, because the owner of this place would even swindle a man in his sixties!

’What kind of garbage meat sells for thousands?’

’This is highway robbery! Does he really think this is some six-star grand hotel?’

"But you can’t just throw money away like that! A meal that costs nearly ten thousand? You’re being scammed, and you’re practically helping him count the cash!"

"Oh, you... I don’t even know what to say to you anymore."

"Just you wait! We’ll have your son cut off your allowance!"

The two of them went back and forth, trying to convince Yu Qingzheng to go get a refund immediately.

Just then, Wang Zhongguo came over and joined them at their table.

He had a square jaw and was dressed in a black suit and alligator-skin shoes, exuding the aura of a top executive.

"Well now, what a coincidence. You gentlemen are eating at Boss Jiang’s place too?"

"Boss Wang?"

Feng Weiguo and Wu Yuanchao were stunned when they got a clear look at the speaker.

’Isn’t that the big boss of the construction world? What’s he doing at a little place like this?’

"What brings you here?"

"Oh, I’m here to eat. What does it look like, taking a walk? I’d say you two should have come ages ago. Just look at Professor Yu. At his age, he gets here earlier than I do every day."

"Oh... Heh heh, right."

For a moment, neither of them knew what to say and could only laugh awkwardly.

’Just a moment ago, we were calling this a tourist trap and saying anyone who ate here was a fool.’

’And now we’re eating our words.’

Just then, out of the corner of their eyes, they spotted another familiar figure.

It was Gao Wanli, the Vice-Chancellor of South City University.

The two of them were completely baffled.

’What in the world is going on?’

’Once is a coincidence. It can’t be a coincidence twice in a row!’

’How can such a tiny little eatery be a gathering place for so many bigwigs?’

’Could it be... that there’s really something special about this place?’

As they pondered this,

Yu Qingzheng brought over the food they had ordered.

"Food’s here!"

Yu Qingzheng laughed heartily. He was thrilled that his friends were here, giving him an excuse to eat more.

"Old Yu, are you really getting this excited over a few steamed buns?"

GULP! Feng Weiguo swallowed hard.

He could already smell the savory aroma wafting from the twice-cooked pork.

The stir-fried pork was a perfect mix of fat and lean, seared to a tempting, tender red. The aroma of green peppers mingled with the savory scent of pork, whetting their appetites. The sight alone was enough to make their stomachs rumble.

"What are you two staring for? Hurry up and try it!"

Yu Qingzheng tapped his chopsticks. He had already started eating, downing a bun in two bites before grabbing a piece of the spicy, fragrant twice-cooked pork. He wasn’t worried about the flavors mixing; it was all just incredibly delicious.

"Oh, right, right."

Snapping out of it, Wu Yuanchao picked up a shrimp and corn bun. The bun was piping hot and firm to the touch, its skin smooth and shiny white. When he gave it a gentle squeeze, it sprang right back.

They were both a little surprised. "Let’s see what this tastes like," Wu Yuanchao muttered. "I refuse to believe any corn bun is worth five yuan."

He took a tentative bite.

Both of their eyes shot wide open, then glazed over in a stupor.

As the chewy yet fluffy skin broke, scalding, savory shrimp-infused juices flooded his mouth. The shrimp itself was crisp, tender, and impossibly fresh, while the corn kernels were plump, sweet, and delightful.

’So good!’

’So incredibly good!’

’I regret everything!’

’Why didn’t we come here sooner!?’

"This..."

"Old Yu... I think this boss might actually have some skills..."

Feng Weiguo devoured the bun in two bites, his face a mask of pure shock.

Yu Qingzheng chuckled. "What did you expect? I wouldn’t have brought you here if it wasn’t good. Now, try the yak meat. Let me tell you, this yak is the real deal. It’s stewed until it’s fall-apart tender, so it won’t get stuck in your teeth, and the beefy flavor is incredibly rich. You’ll regret it for life if you don’t try it."

"Listen to you, praising it to the skies!" Feng Weiguo had barely finished his sentence when he saw Wu Yuanchao beside him ladle a huge bowl of the beef and start wolfing it down. He was eating with such relish.

He lost his composure.

"Old Wu, were you a starving ghost in your past life? Slow down, will you?"

"Leave some for the rest of us!"

"This yak is amazing!" Wu Yuanchao exclaimed between mouthfuls. "It’s incredible. This whole place is just unbelievable."

He’d eaten his fair share of beef, but this was the first time he’d ever had something so rich without being greasy.

It was meltingly tender and packed with flavor. The fibers of the lean meat were distinct yet soft and fragrant, and there was even a subtle, clean hint of herbs!

The food on the table was vanishing before their very eyes.

Even Yu Qingzheng started to get antsy.

He was getting anxious.

A few professors, all over fifty, were devouring the food like refugees who hadn’t eaten in days.

"Brother Jiang, busy as ever?"

A sweet, girly voice reached Jiang Liu’s ears.

Yang Tuoyang had arrived, queuing up with a few of her girlfriends.

"It’s manageable. How about you give me a hand?" Jiang Liu joked.

He recognized the girls. They were regulars and he was familiar with them.

"Hee hee hee."

"Brother Jiang, you’re so funny. We have school, you know. But... if you agree to be my boyfriend, I’ll help you out."

Yang Tuoyang said, wiggling her eyebrows suggestively.

Jiang Liu arched an eyebrow. "What’ll it be? Order quickly, don’t hold me up."

"Brother Jiang, be nicer!"

"The owner is so handsome. He’s so charming when he pretends to be mad."

The girls with Yang Tuoyang already had stars in their eyes.

Girls their age preferred charming, mature men, not teenage boys they found too childish.

Jiang Liu rolled his eyes.

He didn’t take the bait.

’Trying to flirt with me at their age.’

"We’ll have fifteen pork and scallion buns, twenty shrimp buns, five fennel buns, five chive buns, ten ’three-delicacy’ buns, and a plate of tuna, please, Brother Jiang."

"Got it."

Jiang Liu nodded and started packing up the orders for the customers at the takeout window first.

He could see they were getting antsy. If he dawdled any longer, his customers would start throwing a fit.

Just then, Xue Guang walked in with a smile.

Jiang Liu packed twenty buns for him. Xue Guang grabbed two bottles of juice himself and headed back to his own shop, pleased as punch.

’It’s great being Boss Jiang’s neighbor.’

A few newcomers who had just arrived took a bite of their buns, their faces instantly registering astonishment.

The rich, scalding-hot juice from the pork and scallion bun filled their mouths. The flavor was so intense it felt like their tongues were melting!

’Incredible!’

"No wonder so many VIPs eat here! I thought it was all hype, but I never imagined it could be this good!"

"Yeah... Damn, I only ordered ten buns, and I didn’t even get to five of the other types. Does this mean I have to get back in line?"

"I wouldn’t even think about it. Look how many people are crowded around the counter. If you get up, you’ll probably lose your seat!"

A little while later.

Zhao Jinchuan, impeccably dressed in a suit and leather shoes, walked in with a friend.

He was the owner of the Bulgari Hotel in Jing City and ran in the same circles as Jun Xinghe.

His secretary must have gotten a tip from somewhere, because the two of them had followed the scent, so to speak, and come to check it out.

Zhao Jinchuan ordered a portion of ham, a portion of tuna, thirty buns, and two bottles of draft beer.

After they ate, both were utterly astonished.

It was even better than the rumors!

At least in their opinion, these were the best steamed buns they had ever eaten, and the rest of the food was just as exceptional.

"I never would’ve thought... that old fox Jun Xinghe has a good nose on him, sniffing out a tiny place like this," Zhao Jinchuan said smugly.