"Done with the rush, Boss Jiang? You have no idea—I could hear the commotion from your place all the way over here. It sounded like a huge gathering."

The Vegetable Boss said, glancing at Jun Qingmeng with envy.

’Why are other men’s wives so radiant and beautiful?’

Jiang Liu just smiled, not taking the bait. "Got any fresh napa cabbage?"

"Napa cabbage?" The Vegetable Boss froze for a second before his eyes lit up with excitement. "Are you planning to make a new specialty?"

"That cumin beef you made yesterday was incredible. I’ve still got a few pieces saved—I can’t bring myself to finish them."

Jiang Liu chuckled.

"I’m planning on making some dumplings today; it’s been a while. Feel free to come over if you want some. I’ll set aside a couple servings for you."

The Vegetable Boss swallowed hard, trying to feign composure. "Are you sure it’s not too much trouble?"

"It’s no trouble at all. Just come on by. Dumplings are simple to make."

"Deal! I’ll head over the minute I’m done here."

With that, the Vegetable Boss hurriedly picked out five napa cabbages for Jiang Liu.

Jiang Liu watched from the side, hesitating to speak.

He watched as the Vegetable Boss peeled off two or three outer layers, not stopping until he reached the pale yellow, tender leaves within.

"Won’t you lose money selling them this way?" Jiang Liu asked, gesturing to the pile of discarded leaves on the counter.

The Vegetable Boss chuckled. "Not at all, not at all! I grow these myself. These outer leaves will be perfect for feeding the pigs back home."

The Vegetable Boss’s wife shot him a glare.

’What pig? We don’t have a pig at home.’

Jiang Liu didn’t press the matter, simply paying the two yuan.

At fifty cents per catty, the four catties came to exactly two yuan.

"Take care, Boss Jiang."

"Alright, you get back to it."

「After finishing their shopping.」

Jun Qingmeng and Tongtong were already drooling with anticipation.

’I want dumplings!’

"Daddy, when will they be ready?"

"Honey, I want some."

"Soon. Are you two hungry? Want some ham to tide you over?"

"No!"

"I’m not hungry! I have to save room for dumplings, hehe."

’What a clever little girl.’

"Alright."

「Back at the restaurant.」

Jiang Liu set the dough to rise and began preparing the filling.

He minced the tender suckling pig pork and diced the napa cabbage into pieces the size of a fingertip.

He seasoned the filling with salt, minced ginger, cooking wine, and pepper. Then he added a dash of millet chili, a drizzle of sesame oil, a splash of both light and dark soy sauce, and a pinch of white sugar to bring out the flavor. After mixing everything thoroughly, he set it aside...

He rolled the dough into palm-sized circular wrappers. Their thickness had to be perfectly uniform, or they would fall apart when boiled.

Each wrapper had to be sealed tightly to keep the flavorful juices of the filling locked inside.

He was folding them into a pleated crescent shape.

He took a wrapper in his palm, placed a dollop of filling in the center, and folded it into a half-moon. Then, with his index finger and thumb, he pinched the edge, using his index finger to push the dough forward, creating a delicate pleat. He repeated this motion along the edge until the dumpling was sealed, forming a perfect crescent.

Jiang Liu folded the dumplings with incredible speed.

He had experience from making steamed buns, after all.

Jun Qingmeng and Tongtong watched from the side, their eyes wide in amazement.

"Daddy is so good at making dumplings too!"

"Uh-huh!"

Once all the dumplings were folded,

he dusted them with a light layer of flour to keep them from sticking together.

The water in the pot was already boiling.

"How many are you two having?"

"Daddy, Tongtong wants twelve!"

"Honey, I’ll have twelve too."

"Alright."

Jiang Liu dropped forty dumplings into the pot.

There was a mix of all three fillings.

As the dumplings tumbled in the boiling water, the clear liquid quickly turned a milky white. The fresh, clean aroma of cooked dough escaped from the gap beneath the pot lid.

Tongtong and Jun Qingmeng sat on their little stools, waiting in eager anticipation.

About five minutes later,

Jiang Liu took out a large skimmer and scooped the translucent, glistening dumplings onto a plate.

"Wow! The dumplings are so pretty."

"They smell amazing, Honey."

The two of them flanked Jiang Liu, one on each side.

Tongtong gently steadied the plate to keep it from slipping.

Jiang Liu smiled at his two little gluttons. "Want any vinegar?"

"Tongtong doesn’t want any!"

"Me neither."

Her husband and daughter both disliked sour things, so Jun Qingmeng didn’t want any either.

The two of them set the dumplings on the table.

The three of them sat down together.

"Daddy, you eat first."

"Mm, delicious!"

"Hehe, is it because Tongtong fed you?"

"That’s right!"

"Honey, open up. I’ll feed you."

Jiang Liu ate the dumpling from Jun Qingmeng and said with a smile, "Hurry up and eat."

"Okay~"

She took a bite of a pork and napa cabbage dumpling.

The skin was thin, even softer than a steamed bun’s.

With a gentle bite,

the scorching hot, fragrant juices of the pork and cabbage burst out.

The suckling pig was minced finely, a perfect mix of fat and lean. It was rich without being greasy, carrying only the pure aroma of pork without any hint of gaminess. Paired with the light, crisp napa cabbage, it was absolutely divine.

"Honey~" Jun Qingmeng gazed at Jiang Liu, her eyes filled with adoration.

"What is it?"

"Why are you so amazing? Everything you make is so delicious. What am I going to do? I don’t think I can ever leave you."

"Mmm, yummy! Tongtong can’t leave Daddy either!"

’Tongtong, the little flatterer, never missed a beat.’

Jiang Liu took a bite of a beef and scallion dumpling. "Then you’ll just have to stay with me forever."

"Honey, I want to feed you again!"

Jiang Liu’s confession made Jun Qingmeng’s heart swell with sweetness.

"I’ll feed you two."

"Ahhh—" Tongtong immediately opened her mouth.

Jiang Liu fed her one.

"Huh? Why does the one Daddy feeds me taste better than the one I pick up myself?"

"Honey."

"Open up."

Jiang Liu placed a dumpling in Jun Qingmeng’s mouth.

Her teeth were clean and bright; it was clear she paid great attention to her hygiene.

"I love this chive and egg one too! Honey, why are your eggs so tender and fragrant? The aroma of the chives is so strong too."

Jiang Liu’s expression suddenly turned serious. "Alright, I’ll tell you the truth."

"Mhm!" Both of them perked up their ears at the same time.

"Actually... I am the reincarnation of the Kitchen God."

?

"Pfft, I don’t believe you!"

Jun Qingmeng immediately rolled her eyes at Jiang Liu.

’But inwardly, she was delighted.’

She loved it when Jiang Liu joked around with her like this.

Tongtong, however, was gaping in shock.

"Wow, no wonder Daddy’s food is so, so yummy!"

’She had to play her part in Daddy’s performance, and she wasn’t about to miss her cue.’ The three of them finished their meal in joyful harmony.

Jun Qingmeng and Tongtong clutched their stomachs. They were stuffed.

They had just eaten a few hours ago.

And now they’d each eaten ten more dumplings.

"Sigh, Daddy’s little sweetheart is going to become a little fat-heart."

Tongtong looked a little worried.

Jun Qingmeng couldn’t help but laugh. She ruffled Tongtong’s hair and said, "Even if Tongtong becomes a little piggy, Mommy will still love you."

"Then if Mommy becomes a little piggy, Tongtong will still love you too."

"Mommy won’t."

"Hmph, then Tongtong won’t either."

Listening from the kitchen, Jiang Liu chuckled.

Next, he had to hurry and prepare the food for the lunch service.

11:30.

The sun hung high in the sky, with two faint white clouds drifting lazily across the azure canvas.

The weather was getting hot and stuffy.

Outside the door, customers craned their necks, waiting anxiously.

"It’s almost noon and they’re still not open! I’m starving."

"Me too. I came this morning and left empty-handed, so I haven’t eaten anything. I’ve just been waiting to get a fresh bite at Boss Jiang’s place."

"Hurry up, hurry up..." a customer mumbled, almost like a prayer.

Xiao Han and her four friends were also waiting in line.

They had arrived at nine o’clock, all for a taste of the steamed buns.

Just then,

the Vegetable Boss, his face alight with excitement, bypassed the line and walked straight into the restaurant.

"Who’s that guy? Boss Jiang isn’t even open yet, is he?"

...