Chapter 519: When Are We Having a Second Child?

Chapter 519: Chapter 519: When Are We Having a Second Child?

"Alright, alright, sneaking off to eat good food, are we? Remember to bring a bowl back for me to try, or we’re not working together next time."

"What kind of rice is that? Damn it, I wish I could just fly over there. This is killing me."

"I knew I shouldn’t have checked my feed. Ugh! You just go ahead and be partners in crime with a certain someone!"

「Time passed quickly.」

7:40 PM.

All the food had been sold out completely.

The aunties were reluctant to leave. "Xiao Jiang, you must have some left, right? This auntie hasn’t eaten all day. Just sell me a little bit!"

"You must have some rice left, right? I’ll be fine with just plain rice," Uncle Liu said, his face full of hope.

He had personally seen the blissful expression on Uncle Niu’s face as he ate the plain rice. He’d heard the premium rice was so fragrant you could eat three bowls of it without any side dishes.

Jiang Liu wasn’t impatient. He explained earnestly, "It’s really all gone, everyone. I didn’t even save any for my own dinner. You’ll just have to line up earlier tomorrow."

He had his principles.

He could have made more right then and there, but closing time was closing time.

"Alright, we’ll come line up early tomorrow. You’ll have the premium rice again tomorrow, right, Xiao Jiang?"

The aunties didn’t forget to ask as they were leaving.

"Yes, from now on, I’ll have premium rice every day."

"Ah, good, Xiao Jiang. I feel much better now that you’ve said that."

"We’re leaving now, Boss Jiang. We’ll let you get back to it."

"Okay, take care, everyone."

Jiang Liu replied casually as he carried a steamer basket to the kitchen.

An idle glance made Jiang Liu chuckle.

A customer he didn’t recognize had accidentally spilled some sauce on the table and was frantically wiping it up with a napkin.

The customer noticed Jiang Liu’s gaze and smiled awkwardly. "I was worried I’d get it on my sleeve."

"Don’t worry about it. Just make yourself at home and eat comfortably. I’ll clean up after."

Jiang Liu said politely.

"No, no, it’s fine," the customer said, waving his hands dismissively.

The last batch of customers soon finished their meals.

Jiao Shenghua heard the sound of bricks being cut next door and asked curiously, "Boss Jiang, what’s all that noise about next door?"

Many customers didn’t know that Jiang Liu was expanding his restaurant.

The university professor, Yu Qingzheng, looked up with interest. "I’m curious too. Yesterday, I saw those workers going at it nonstop. I even went over to ask what was happening, but they just ignored me and kept their heads down, working."

"Don’t tell me someone’s opening a new restaurant here?"

"Ah!"

At these words, everyone felt a pang of envy.

Being neighbors with Boss Jiang would be amazing!

Hearing their questions, Jiang Liu didn’t hide the truth. It wasn’t a secret, after all.

"Nobody’s opening a new restaurant next door. I bought the place and plan to connect it to this one. That way, I can shorten the wait times and not waste so much of your time in line."

His current restaurant had to accommodate all sorts of things—antique decor, a water heater, a refrigerator, and more—so the space wasn’t very large, with only about a dozen tables. The place next door, however, was a different story.

It could fit at least twenty-some tables, and he would have to plan the layout carefully.

Jiang Liu had already thought it through. He would buy the best mahogany tables—durable and a good match for the antique decor.

Hearing that Jiang Liu was expanding his restaurant, the customers in the dining room stared with wide eyes.

"That’s great! Now we won’t have to get soaked waiting outside when it rains."

"This is great news! I’ll be sure to tell everyone."

A customer from Jing City asked, "Boss Jiang, since you’re expanding, will you, ahem, maybe increase the number of buns you make? Everything here is perfect except that you run out of food too quickly and there are too many people."

He grumbled.

Every time I come to eat, I feel like I need to bring a tent. It’s like going on a wilderness campaign.

Jiang Liu considered it for a moment. "We’ll see," he said. "I’ll assess the situation when the time comes."

Of course, he could sell more.

But the point of making money was to enjoy life, not to be consumed by it.

This was also the point of Jiang Liu opening a "knock-off" branch—even if he wanted to slack off one day, he would still have an income that guaranteed his family a comfortable life.

He couldn’t just wake up one day, find himself unable to work, and have no money, could he?

"Fair enough. It would be great if you were open 24/7, though. It’s so hard for us out-of-towners to get a chance to eat here. I even rented a place here yesterday, thinking I could just come over for a vacation whenever I’m free."

"Ha! Old Guo, are you saying Boss Jiang’s place has become a tourist destination?"

"Pretty much. South City might just boom because of it. If you have the money, you should hurry up and buy a few properties here."

The news that Jiang Liu was expanding his restaurant spread quickly, thanks to some gossipy customers.

"Sister Wang, I heard some news from Xiao Jiang’s place today!"

"What is it?" Aunt Wang’s gossipy side was instantly intrigued. "Is it about Miss Qingmeng?"

"Oh, no, no! It’s that Xiao Jiang is expanding his restaurant! The place being renovated next door is his!"

"What? Xiao Jiang is expanding his restaurant and increasing the amount of food he sells?? I have to go, something’s come up."

Aunt Wang hurried away.

On her way, she ran into the manager of the convenience store.

She rushed forward to greet him. "Heading home, Manager Liu?"

Manager Liu, wearing his convenience store name tag, looked utterly puzzled.

’She hasn’t said a word to me in years. Why is she being so friendly all of a sudden?’

He nodded. "Just got off work. Can I help you with something, Sister Wang?"

Aunt Wang said at once, "I’ve discovered a huge secret about Boss Jiang. Do you want to hear it?"

"A secret? What is it? Tell me." Manager Liu was suddenly interested.

These days, aside from Jiang Liu’s food, nothing else brought him joy—not games, not travel, not even his wife.

"Ahem." Aunt Wang cleared her throat, hinting at what she wanted. "My old man’s been wanting some Zhonghua cigarettes. You still have any? Grab me a pack."

"???" Manager Liu frowned. "Tell me first. Then I’ll get them for you."

"Fine. I’ll tell you, but only you. Boss Jiang told me this in secret, so this stays between us, understand?"

"Yes, yes!" Manager Liu replied, practically buzzing with excitement.

"Here’s the deal: Boss Jiang is expanding his restaurant. That place being renovated next door? It’s his. What’s more, he’s planning to stay open 24 hours a day and triple the amount of food he makes!"

Aunt Wang said with a dramatic flair, excitedly holding up three fingers.

"!!"

Manager Liu’s eyes bulged. "For real? Twenty-four hours a day?"

"Why would I lie to you? You can thank your lucky stars. Just don’t tell anyone else, all right?"

"Don’t worry, my lips are sealed. Go grab the pack from my store. I’ve got to run."

Manager Liu scurried away.

Before long, the news had spread through the entire customer base: Jiang Liu was expanding his restaurant, and he was going to be open 24/7.

The rumors grew more and more exaggerated as they spread.

They started saying he’d be making twenty thousand buns a day, or that he’d cook up an endless variety of off-menu specials for everyone.

But soon, customers who knew the real inside story came forward to set the record straight for Jiang Liu.

「Inside the restaurant.」

Jiang Tongtong, the little clingy-pants, was trailing at Jiang Liu’s heels, asking when she was going to get a little brother.

She even flexed her little "muscles" as she spoke, trying to prove she could take good care of him.

Jiang Liu was left speechless.

’You want a little brother, so why don’t you scram and go to sleep in your own room?’

’How am I supposed to make you a little brother with Jun Qingmeng when you’re clinging to me every single day?’

He glanced over at his wife, only to see her eyes shining with a startling brightness.

Jun Qingmeng pouted coquettishly. "Honey, when are we going to have a second child?"

"No rush. We’ll take our time," Jiang Liu said with a shrug.

He was tempted to go give his daughter a little biology lesson, but he managed to hold back.