Chapter 171 - 161: Multiplication Workbook

Although he was a little unhappy that Jiang Liu hadn’t come to chat with him much these past couple of days, his relationship with Jiang Liu was still very good and wasn’t going to change.

At that moment, the sturdily built Hua Manman heard the voices. She thoughtfully came out with a bag of grapes picked from their doorway, saying enthusiastically, "We grew these grapes at home, and we can’t finish them all. Boss Jiang, why don’t you take them back for your child to eat."

"Alright, thank you."

Jiang Liu didn’t refuse.

Jun Qingmeng politely took the bag for him.

The smiles on the faces of Xue Guang and his wife grew even wider.

They were very keen on maintaining a good relationship with Jiang Liu.

From the side, a well-behaved Tongtong piped up, "Thank you, Grandpa Xue! Thank you, Granny Hua! You’re the best!"

"Aw, what a good girl. Tongtong is so well-behaved."

"I’m really envious you have a daughter."

Jiang Liu smiled and changed the subject.

"Uncle Xue, my shop will have a new item tomorrow morning. When you get here, come find me, and I’ll get you a portion to try. You can give me your opinion on it then."

’Are we really this lucky??’

"Is it the Yak and Mushroom dish?!"

Xue Guang and Hua Manman’s breathing quickened.

’A permanent new item!!’

’They hadn’t dared to hope they’d get to try it, since there would definitely be a huge crowd blocking the door tomorrow.’

"Yes, that’s the one."

"Great, great! No problem, I’ll come early tomorrow. Oh, right, one more thing. That high-pressure cooker you wanted? I already contacted a supplier for you. It’s ordered and will be delivered tonight."

"A pressure cooker??"

Jiang Liu froze for a second, then slapped his forehead.

’Oh, man. I completely forgot.’

’I’m completely speechless. And here I was, telling customers there would be a new item tomorrow morning.’

’If Uncle Xue hadn’t reminded me, I might not have even remembered when I woke up.’

"I almost forgot, there’s too much going on. How about this, Uncle Xue, I need to take Tongtong home to sleep. Here’s the key. When it gets delivered later, just help me put it inside."

He didn’t stand on ceremony with him.

’The more formal you are, the more distant the relationship becomes.’

Xue Guang happily nodded in agreement, and they chatted for a bit longer.

After receiving a knowing blessing from the worldly-wise Xue Guang, Jiang Liu led a shy Jun Qingmeng to the car.

"Boss Jiang, heading home?"

"That’s right, Uncle Li. Out for a stroll?"

"Haha, something like that. Make sure to get some rest when you get home. We’d all be worried sick if you fell ill."

"Heh, I will."

"Hey, Boss Jiang! Just getting off work? What a coincidence! Here, look at this—sesame seeds from my relatives. I’m not a big fan myself, so you take them home to cook with." The hair salon owner, Liu Shu, handed over a bag of sesame seeds with a fawning smile. The price tag was still on it.

Jiang Liu couldn’t bring himself to turn down a smiling face.

"Well then, thank you, Boss Liu. I’ll take them."

"Haha! Great, great! Take care, Boss Jiang. When you have time, you must bring your girlfriend to my salon to get her hair done!"

"Alright."

Seeing Jiang Liu nod, Liu Shu grinned from ear to ear. A stranger would have thought he’d just won the lottery.

A new kind of culture was now trending on Yangzhai Street.

Being on good terms with Boss Jiang was a huge status symbol on Yangzhai Street.

Jiang Liu had only taken a few more steps when Aunt Wu "coincidentally" appeared, walking toward him.

Jiang Liu expertly put on a smile.

"Aunt Wu."

"Ah, Xiao Jiang, finished with work?" Aunt Wu said, handing him a plastic bag.

Inside were five red figs. They looked freshly picked, with white sap oozing from the broken stems.

"Take them home to eat! Another batch from the two fig trees in my complex just ripened. I picked some, but my family doesn’t really care for them. You take them for Tongtong, they’ll be good for her appetite."

Jiang Liu patted Tongtong’s head.

Tongtong got the hint immediately and piped up in her sweet, childish voice:

"Thank you, Granny Wu! Tongtong absolutely loves figs!"

"Haha, what an adorable little girl."

The Boss of Wanjiafu walked over from the east end of his store. "Tongtong, you must be tired! Helping your dad work all day again? Aiya, what a good girl! Here, take this bread home to eat."

"Boss Jiang, my daughter’s in the second grade now, so she has some leftover multiplication workbooks from her introductory classes. How about I bring them over for your Tongtong tomorrow? You have to get them started on academics early."

Tongtong: ??????

The things the neighbors were ’feeding’ them were getting more and more outrageous.

They all really liked Jiang Liu’s family.

Ever since Jiang Liu opened his shop on Yangzhai Street, not only did he let them experience unparalleled delicacies, he also indirectly boosted the economy of the entire street.

’In the future, he might even end up revitalizing the entire surrounding area.’

What’s more, Jiang Liu had a great reputation. His food was delicious and affordable, and he even gave out freebies to everyone.

They genuinely wanted to be good to Jiang Liu and didn’t want him to ever leave.

Tongtong forced a smile. "Aunt Zhang, I’m still too little, I don’t need those yet."

"It’s fine. She’ll need them in a couple of years. It’s good for her to get a head start!" Aunt Zhang’s tone was non-negotiable.

She was determined to give the workbooks to Jiang Liu the next day, no matter what.

On the verge of tears, Tongtong pleaded, "Daddy, please, I can’t even count properly yet. Can we please say no to the workbooks?"

Jiang Liu said dotingly, "Don’t worry, Daddy won’t force you. If it’s something you like, we’ll take it. If it’s something you don’t, we’ll turn it down."

"Wow! Daddy, you’re the best!"

Tongtong looked up at Jiang Liu, her eyes shining with adoration.

’Her daddy was so cool and charming right now!’

Jiang Liu finally got into the car.

He watched as Jun Qingmeng loaded bags big and small into the back seat.

He let out a deep sigh of relief.

"The neighbors are so good to us. We have to find an opportunity to pay them back."

"I think so too."

Jun Qingmeng had no objections.

’For a girl as lovesick as her, whatever her boyfriend said or did was always right.’

’Her only job was to dote on her boyfriend!’

Passing by Wanjiafu Supermarket, Jiang Liu went inside and bought some more of Tongtong’s favorite nuts.

Pine nuts, pistachios, and macadamia nuts.

He quickly paid and left. He was genuinely afraid that if the Boss of Wanjiafu came back and saw him, he’d be trapped in another round of solicitous inquiries.