Chapter 23 - 22: Am I a Pile of Cow Dung?

"Ahem, everyone, please look up. The shop’s prices have changed."

"Hm?"

At his words, they all instinctively looked up.

They stared blankly at the price list on the small blackboard.

(Chive and Egg Buns: 2 yuan. Three-Delicacy Buns: 2 yuan. Pork and Scallion Buns: 2 yuan. Shrimp and Corn Buns: 5 yuan.)

Jiang Liu had slashed the prices by more than half, making them affordable for even the most common person!

He hadn’t really thought it through before.

A single meal could cost nearly a thousand yuan. The food was delicious, sure, but it lacked a human touch.

"So affordable!"

"B-Boss, you changed the prices? I heard one bun was supposed to be fifteen yuan."

Jiang Liu nodded emphatically. He didn’t mention he was worried they’d eat him into bankruptcy. "Yep! The prices have changed. I’m doing this as a favor to everyone, running the business at a loss."

"My buns are delicious because I use high-quality ingredients, so the costs are very high."

His words stunned the group.

By the door, Zheng Qiang was shaking as he tried to stifle his laughter.

’To run a business like this...’ Old Zhang and the others were deeply moved and also a bit astonished by Jiang Liu’s sheer class.

’Compared to Boss Jiang, that guy next door is a real piece of shit!’

The men said with admiration:

"These days, you rarely find people who do business for the sake of their customers like Boss Jiang."

"Boss Jiang is a man of principle!"

One of them began to worry on Jiang Liu’s behalf.

"But Boss Jiang, you said your costs are high. Won’t you lose money this way? Maybe you should change the price back. We’ll still come support you from time to time!"

Jiang Liu shook his head and smiled.

’Of course, I’m not running a charity. I’m still making a lot of money.’

He had his own clever reasons for cutting the prices in half.

’If I were just selling buns, how much could I really make, even if I worked myself to death?’

’There’s a ceiling to how much I can earn in a day.’

’But if I can not only capture their stomachs but also win their hearts, that’s a whole different story.’

’You could say that, as time goes on, if I ever dared to close up shop...’

’The customers would be the first to protest.’

’They’d probably throw money at me just to keep the doors open.’

"It’s fine, we’ll leave it at that. Don’t worry about trying to persuade me. How many buns would you like?"

The men looked like they wanted to say more but held back. They wanted to do something for Jiang Liu but felt helpless.

"Let’s start with eighty buns, Boss Jiang."

"Give me two minutes. They’ll be right out."

"Okay, okay, no rush."

They all spoke with utmost politeness.

Outside, Zheng Qiang was dumbfounded by what he was seeing.

’These paupers are laying it on way too thick. They’re just here for a meal, but they’re acting so subservient. Isn’t this a bit much?’

An idea struck him. He took out his phone and started recording, planning to post their "masterful acting" on Douyin.

Soon, Jiang Liu came out carrying a large 40x40 cm platter and placed it on their table.

Plump, white, and fragrant buns sat on the platter, still steaming.

"Thanks, Boss Jiang."

"Thank you for your trouble."

A young, eager worker leaned over the buns, reveling in the fragrant steam.

"Holy crap! You can tell how amazing they are just from the smell!"

"Are you exaggerating?"

"Let me get a whiff... SNNNFFF... Whoa! These buns smell so damn good! Incredibly good!"

"Let me smell too. Mmm~ That’s the natural fragrance of the flour. I’ve never seen steamed buns come out like this!"

Seeing his friends’ pathetic display, Old Zhang reached out and pushed aside the men who were hunched over the platter sniffing the buns.

"Get out of the way! You guys have no shame!"

"Eat, eat, eat! What are you all spacing out for? Eat!"

He looked at the dazed men, then took the lead by grabbing a bun with his hand, not even bothering with chopsticks.

Everyone snapped out of it and eagerly grabbed a bun, taking a large bite.

The piping hot suckling pig pork seemed to melt on the tongue. Paired with the crisp, zesty Qianshou scallions, the flavor of the pork was released to its fullest potential.

So fragrant! So unbelievably fragrant, and not the least bit greasy!

"This pork is something else, and these scallions are top-notch!"

After just one bite, they all wore expressions of utter disbelief.

They couldn’t stop nodding in amazement.

"Hearing about it is one thing, but tasting it yourself is something else entirely. I’ve never eaten anything this delicious in my life!"

"You guys, the texture of these chives is incredible—so crisp and tender! And the eggs... once you start, you can’t stop!"

Old Zhang finished a Three-Delicacy bun, his weary eyes widening in astonishment.

He then picked up a Shrimp and Corn Bun and took a bite.

After chewing a few times, he was suddenly shocked. "The texture of this shrimp... how is it so similar to a Little Cyan Dragon!"

"What’s a Little Cyan Dragon?"

"A Little Cyan Dragon... is that Binhai’s Little Hualong?"

Old Zhang shook his head. "Little Hualong is an imported species; its texture is just average. The Little Cyan Dragon is a type from Australia. I had it once when I was younger, working abroad. It cost about four hundred yuan per jin. To sell it here, the price would have to be around six hundred yuan, but they’re usually dead by the time they arrive."

"That expensive? No way. Are you saying the filling in these buns is made with Little Cyan Dragon?"

"Holy shit!"

"That’s way too extravagant!"

The men were startled and quickly grabbed a Shrimp and Corn bun to try for themselves.

The moment it entered their mouths, their taste buds were conquered by the fresh, silky shrimp. The plump corn kernels burst with a gentle bite, releasing a scaldingly sweet juice that flowed down their throats and warmed their stomachs.

"This shrimp really is amazing. The flavor is so fresh and savory, and the texture is worlds apart from ordinary shrimp. The meat is plump and firm, yet incredibly smooth and tender when you bite into it!"

One of the workers commented, carefully choosing his words.

"It’s so good! Hurry up and eat! Every extra one we eat is a bargain!"

"I can’t believe it. Such a normal price, but the filling is a top-tier luxury."

The young worker mumbled between wolfish bites, "I’m doomed, I’m doomed. What am I going to do if Boss Jiang closes up shop and I can’t eat these anymore?"

"Then you should eat more!"

"Hah! Watch me eat a hundred and scare Boss Jiang to death!"

"The more you eat, the faster Boss Jiang will close down!"

"Huh? Then... should I stop eating?"

During this, Jiang Liu saw his customers gobbling down their food, so he filled three teapots with water and brought them over.

After drinking the water, they erupted into another round of praise.

Jiang Liu took a moment to check his Favorable Review Points.

He saw that they had increased by 550 points in just a short time.

Current Total: 3,250 points.

’Almost there. I’ll be able to unlock the second page soon. I wonder what it’ll be.’

Jiang Liu felt a flicker of anticipation.

Just then, an old man arrived outside.

He had a cigarette dangling from his mouth and was passing by on a pedal-powered tricycle.

He happened to glance inside and saw the workers devouring their food.

They were downing a bun in two bites—they were really relishing it!

’Perfect. I’m heading to a romance-themed square dancing competition soon. I can bring some buns to win some favor with everyone.’

As the thought crossed his mind, Uncle Niu parked his tricycle at the entrance and walked up the steps.

"Young man, what do you sell here?"

Jiang Liu was browsing for cars online. Hearing the voice, he put down his phone and replied:

"We’re a new shop, and right now we have steamed buns. Would you like some, Uncle?"

Uncle Niu glanced at the prices and was pleased to see they weren’t too expensive. He nodded. "In that case, give me ten of each. To go."

’Ah, hell, another one?’ At the side, Zheng Qiang was dying of jealousy.

’That order has to be at least a hundred yuan, right?’

"You got it. Please wait just a minute."

Jiang Liu quickly packed the buns.

"That’s one hundred and ten yuan in total."

"Payment of one hundred ten yuan received via Alipay!"

’Uncles are so trendy these days, even using mobile payments.’

"Take care."

"Alright, alright. If they’re no good, I’ll be back!"

"Okay!"

「Inside the shop.」

It took the six men just over twenty minutes to devour all eighty buns, leaving not a single one behind.

They even peeled the bits of skin stuck to the platter and ate them.

"Boss Jiang, these buns are just too good. I’m genuinely worried I won’t be able to eat them anymore in the future."

A chubby worker with the face of a Maitreya Buddha leaned against the wall and sighed, savoring the aftertaste.

"Yeah."

"After eating Boss Jiang’s buns, having to eat certain other people’s is like comparing a goddess from the heavens to a pile of cow dung on the ground."

By the door, Zheng Qiang’s brow furrowed. He had a strong feeling they were talking about him, but he had no proof and couldn’t lash out.

Jiang Liu chuckled. "You’re exaggerating. If you like them, just eat more. I’ll do my best to keep this going. My greatest goal is to make my customers happy and satisfied."

’Now *that’s* how you talk. That’s what you call playing on a higher level. Running a business like this, how could his customers not love him?’

The six men felt a new level of respect for Jiang Liu rising in their hearts.

"Boss Jiang, what’s the total?"