Chapter 518 - 417: Premium Rice? Curious Customers

Chapter 518: Chapter 417: Premium Rice? Curious Customers

"The galaxy has frozen to ice, memories streak through teardrops~"

"Imagining a return to the past, ultimately lives deep in my heart~"

"Though I try to escape, she vanishes in my dreams~"

Jiang Tongtong’s mouth dropped open in shock.

Why was Daddy such a good singer, but she wasn’t?

WAAAH!!

She wanted to hit her daddy.

Jun Qingmeng rested her chin on her hand, a light dancing in her eyes. She listened quietly, the corners of her lovely mouth curving upward as her long lashes fluttered.

Just then.

"Here for the food, Boss Jiang!"

Secretary Wang ran over to pick up the food.

Jiang Liu, who had been about to continue, cleared his throat with a "COUGH" and stopped singing.

’Singing for two beautiful women is one thing, but having a man in the audience just feels weird.’

Jiang Tongtong and Jun Qingmeng both glared at Secretary Wang at the same time.

Secretary Wang looked surprised. "Was someone just singing? Boss Jiang, was that you? I had no idea you were such a good singer!"

He stared at Jiang Liu’s face with a curious, searching gaze.

Jiang Liu could only explain, "I’m getting ready to take Tongtong and Qingmeng to the kindergarten’s parent-child night. We have to perform, you know, so I’m practicing a little."

"Oh, so that’s why..."

Secretary Wang’s eyes lit up. This was Boss Jiang singing, after all.

"How about you sing a few more lines? I can give you some feedback."

"..." Jiang Liu shot him a look and refused. "Better not. I’m busy with work."

’Are you kidding me? I’ll sing for my family if they want to listen. But you’re just some dude. You think I’m going to sing for you too?’

Secretary Wang sighed with regret. "What a shame. It sounded surprisingly good."

Jiang Liu brought over two bags, one large and one small.

Inside were steamed buns, tuna sashimi, Four-Joy Meatballs, and twice-cooked pork.

"Ooh! Four-Joy Meatballs. I’m outta here, Boss Jiang." Secretary Wang was decisive. As soon as he got the food, he grabbed the bags and bolted.

Once outside the door,

several business owners from Jing City shamelessly hurried over to cozy up to him.

"Secretary Wang, getting food for your Uncle Jun?"

"What delicious things are on the menu today?"

Secretary Wang didn’t mind showing off a bit. "It’s all Boss Jiang’s private kitchen dishes. The small bag is mine."

"Getting to freeload on food and drinks every day, you’ve got it made," a tall business owner holding an iPhone 12 said sourly.

A glamorous woman, about a six out of ten in looks, asked seductively, "Are you guys looking for another secretary? I have experience. Could you recommend me to President Jun?"

"?"

Secretary Wang raised an eyebrow. "Nope, we’re not short-staffed. President Jun doesn’t need a female secretary. He prefers male ones."

"He prefers male ones?"

The hearts of several men present stirred with a new thought.

Seeing the envious gazes all around him,

Secretary Wang’s vanity was satisfied. He said casually, "Don’t be so jealous. I’ve already gained ten pounds recently. President Jun said that gaining weight from the food doesn’t count as a work-related injury, so I have to bear it myself."

???

If looks could kill, Secretary Wang would have been riddled with holes by now.

Amidst the resentful and jealous glares, Secretary Wang swaggered away like a king.

The renovations next door were still ongoing, but they were nearing completion.

6:30 PM.

The sky gradually dimmed.

Yangzhai Street was bustling with activity.

Jiang Liu announced he was open for business and that Four-Joy Meatballs were on the menu today.

The customers at the front of the line grew ecstatic.

"Four-Joy Meatballs! I finally get to have some!"

"I flew all the way from Shanghai just for the steamed buns, but I can’t believe I’m lucky enough to be here when Master Jiang is making Four-Joy Meatballs! Haha, I’ll eat half and save half."

"Hurry it up in the front! Have some decency!" an impatient customer urged.

They were terrified they might miss out on the Four-Joy Meatballs.

This was one of Boss Jiang’s special pop-up dishes; it wouldn’t be an exaggeration to call it a private kitchen specialty.

Seeing their friends show off on their social media feeds every day, it was impossible not to feel a twinge of envy.

A group of regular customers, as happy as donkeys let out to play, rushed into the shop.

The neighborhood aunties and uncles had failed again today. They decided to hold a meeting tonight to deal with the "corrupting influence brought by the outsiders."

"Boss Jiang, I’ll have the Four-Joy Meatball combo and a bottle of beer."

"I’ll also have the Four-Joy Meatballs, and add a tuna sashimi. Your food is delicious, but there are just too many people. That’s the one thing you’re doing wrong!"

"Five shrimp buns, five fennel buns, five chive buns, and an order of yak and potato." A new customer, drawn by the restaurant’s fame, had yet to realize what they were missing.

The customer who was fifty-first in line immediately felt their spirits lift.

’Another out-of-town ’country bumpkin,’ haha.’

Jiang Liu announced from the counter, "I forgot to mention, we’ve introduced a premium rice option. Regular rice is still five yuan, but if you’d like the premium rice, it’s an additional fifteen yuan."

The moment he finished speaking,

the customers glanced at each other, only to find that everyone else was just as excited as they were.

"I’ll have a serving of the premium rice."

A customer paid on the spot.

’Only an idiot wouldn’t choose the premium rice.’

"I want the premium one, Boss Jiang!" Fu Lengleng declared with a wave of her hand. "What’s the difference between the premium and the regular, anyway?"

She had asked the question on everyone’s mind, and they all perked up their ears.

As he scooped the rice, Jiang Liu explained, "The premium rice is made with a superior grain that I sourced through a special channel. To eat it is to get a great deal."

He was telling the truth. This type of rice was likely very rare on the market.

Even if you could find it, it would be incredibly expensive. Besides, the rice he purchased from the Gourmet Album was the best of the best.

Each grain was like a tiny pearl, and it was fragrant, springy, and soft in the mouth—truly the goddess among rice.

"Switch mine to the premium, Brother Jiang. I’d buy anything from you with my eyes closed. You’ve never disappointed me,"

"I’ll switch to premium too!"

News that Jiang Liu was selling premium rice spread quickly.

Every now and then, someone would run up and ask how much rice he had steamed for the evening.

Soon,

the customers’ orders began to arrive at their tables.

Looking at the plump, distinct, and pearly white grains of rice, all the customers were stunned.

The fragrance was delightful, its rich aroma lingering in the air.

The room filled with a continuous stream of praise.

"This is my first time eating rice like this. It’s worth every bit of the twenty yuan a bowl!"

"Eat a little less, son. We’ll take some back for your mother to try," a migrant worker said, his face beaming with a happy smile.

Given his station in life, he might have never had the chance to taste food of this caliber.

"This rice is just too premium!" Liu Dong, who had bought a table reservation to eat here, was so shocked his scalp tingled.

He had eaten this kind of rice before, but very rarely.

What completely shattered his worldview was that Master Jiang was actually selling such high-quality rice at such a down-to-earth price.

Liu Dong couldn’t help but look at Jiang Liu with admiration.

’A businessman has to think of his customers. Small profits and quick returns are the key to longevity; huge profits are only temporary.’

Businessmen like Jiang Liu, who contribute to society, were rare. His future was bound to be limitless.

He took a tender, savory, and fragrant Four-Joy Meatball, gently broke it apart with his chopsticks, placed a small, succulent piece on his rice, and took a bite. Liu Dong let out a blissful "Ooh~."

"No, I have to take a picture!"

Liu Dong took out his phone, snapped a photo, and posted it to his social media feed:

"The taste of these Four-Joy Meatballs brought back memories. Checking in at Boss Jiang’s place again today. The meatballs are tender, savory, and fragrant, with solid ingredients. Delicious! (Thumbs up). The rice isn’t bad either. This is Boss Jiang’s new premium rice. I won’t say more, just look at the picture."

In less than a minute, more than twenty comments had piled up below.

"??? You went without me?"