Chapter 244: Dad, Don’t Be a Bad Influence on Tongtong.
Chapter 244: Chapter 244: Dad, Don’t Be a Bad Influence on Tongtong.
So that’s how it is...
A smile touched Yang Yixue’s red lips. "I get it now. I see what’s making that shop so popular! They’re not only imitating Jiang Liu, but their prices are much cheaper than ours. No wonder their business is booming."
Li Xiaoyan asked worriedly, "Then what should we do?"
Yang Yixue replied, "Don’t worry. They can’t compare to us. Their flavor must be a huge step down. Don’t forget, our shop’s recipe came from Jiang Liu. They must have developed their own."
"You’ll see. Once the hype dies down and the novelty wears off for our old customers, they’ll come back."
Li Xiaoyan gushed, "My daughter is so brilliant, your analysis is perfectly logical! I really don’t know how brainless Jiang Liu is. If I were him, I wouldn’t be able to dote on a business genius like you fast enough!"
"Oh, by the way, there’s something I wanted to tell you. Have you felt like the buns in our shop don’t taste as good anymore?"
Yang Yixue replied, "I don’t think so. Other than cutting costs a little, we haven’t changed anything. We’re still following the recipe Jiang Liu gave us."
Yang Yixue usually never ate the buns from their shop. ’Eating this kind of thing is just too embarrassing,’ she thought.
’Aren’t things like steamed buns and mantou just food for the working class?’
Li Xiaoyan said, "Alright then. I just feel like they taste worse and worse every time I eat them."
Yang Yixue suggested, "Maybe you’re just tired of eating them."
Li Xiaoyan immediately thought that made sense.
The two of them didn’t dwell on the matter any further...
...
「8:45 PM」
Jiang Liu drove his car back into the residential community’s parking garage.
Just as he reached his parking spot, he saw Lin Qiu and Jiang Dahai.
The two of them were smiling as they watched Jiang Liu’s car pull in.
They had been waiting at home, but when they saw their son’s text saying he was almost there, they rushed downstairs to greet them.
’They missed their daughter-in-law and granddaughter so much.’
Tongtong was the first to open the car door and leap into Lin Qiu’s arms.
"I missed you so much, Grandma! Mwah! Grandpa, don’t be sad. Tongtong missed you too, just not as much as Grandma, hehe."
Jiang Dahai was speechless.
Lin Qiu chuckled and took Xiangxiang Tong in her arms. "Grandma missed you too! I think about you when I’m eating, when I’m dreaming, all the time!"
Tongtong rubbed her belly. "Grandma, can you hold me a little more gently? I ate lots and lots of yummy food today, and my tummy is all full."
"What yummy food did you have?" Lin Qiu asked curiously.
Tongtong counted on her little fingers. "There was Xiangxiang porridge, beef, steamed buns, scrambled eggs with toma-chickens... Hmm, that sounds a little off."
Tongtong scratched her head.
Lin Qiu and Jiang Dahai were so amused they burst out laughing.
Jiang Liu turned off the car and got out of the driver’s seat.
"Dad, Mom, why did you guys come down?"
Jiang Dahai put on a benevolent smile. "We weren’t doing anything, so we thought we’d come down and wait. That way we could see Tongtong and our daughter-in-law sooner."
Jun Qingmeng got out of the car, carrying her bag, and greeted them gracefully, "Hello, Uncle! Hello, Auntie!"
"Ah, hello."
"Hello!"
The two of them beamed, their faces blossoming like flowers.
"Qingmeng, your complexion looks better and better. Hasn’t Jiang Liu been bullying you?"
Lin Qiu was even more pleased as she looked Jun Qingmeng over, finding her radiant and full of life, with an extraordinary aura.
’She’s like an angel!’
"Not at all. Jiang Liu treats me very well."
After she spoke, Jun Qingmeng lifted her long, slender neck and shot Jiang Liu a victorious glance.
’We’ll see if you dare stop me from kissing you in the future.’
The family chatted by the car for a while.
The five of them went up in the elevator together, pulling the small cart.
Jun Qingmeng and Tongtong didn’t mention that Jiang Liu wasn’t feeling well.
The old couple had taken the time to come visit; it was best for the family to just be happy together.
The two of them would take care of Jiang Liu.
The elevator doors opened.
Jun Qingmeng smiled obediently. "Uncle, Auntie, I’m going to run back and give my best friend some food. Is it okay if I come over to join you in a little while?"
"That’s fine. You go ahead, Qingmeng."
"Do you have a key?"
"Jiang Liu gave me one." Jun Qingmeng turned to look at Jiang Liu, her eyes twinkling with a smile.
"That’s good. We’ll go back and wash some fruit for you while we wait."
Lin Qiu had also noticed the loving gaze Jun Qingmeng sent Jiang Liu. She was incredibly satisfied with her daughter-in-law.
Jun Qingmeng returned home, humming a little tune.
After getting home, she first sent a message to Jiang Liu: "You got caught in the rain, so don’t busy yourself with anything else. Take Tongtong for a bath first. I’m going to take a bath too. The rain got all the way down my collar today. It was super cold and feels awful."
Jiang Liu was chatting with his parents.
He replied: "Okay, I’ll go wash up now. Are you feeling uncomfortable anywhere?"
Jun Qingmeng typed back sweetly: "Nope."
She loved it when Jiang Liu showed concern for her. What she’d just said was also a way to test if he cared about her.
Actually, even if Jiang Liu hadn’t shown any concern, she wouldn’t have been angry. ’A boyfriend’s affection needs to be nurtured slowly by me.’ she thought.
’If it’s there now, that’s great. If not, I’ll just have to work harder.’
Jiang Liu got a loose set of pajamas from the bedroom.
He said to his parents, "Dad, Mom, why don’t you sit and watch some TV? Feel free to open the gift boxes in the room if you want to eat anything. I’m going to take a shower first."
Lin Qiu asked, "Liu’er, why do your lips look so dry? Are you feeling under the weather, or what’s wrong?"
Jiang Dahai also turned his gaze to Jiang Liu’s face.
As the only son of the Jiang Family, their son was a treasure.
Jiang Liu licked his lips and said nonchalantly, "It’s nothing. I just talked too much today and got thirsty."
He didn’t want others to worry about him.
Lin Qiu was still very concerned, her face full of affection. "If you’re tired from work, take a break. It’s getting cold, so drink more hot water. And stop taking Tongtong out for soft drinks and ice cream."
"That’s right, Daddy! Stop being a bad influence on Tongtong."
Jiang Liu casually gave her a flick on the forehead.
HUH?!
Tongtong shrank back, her head bowed in grievance.
Two seconds later.
"WAAAH! Grandpa, Grandma, look at him! He’s always hitting this little cutie!"
As expected, Lin Qiu put her hands on her hips and gave Jiang Liu a good scolding.
Tongtong hid smugly behind her grandmother, secretly making a silly face at her dad.
’Can’t get me, can’t get me, hehe.’
"Tongtong, why don’t you take a bath with Grandma later?" Lin Qiu said, glaring at Jiang Liu.
Tongtong was conflicted. "Grandma, I still want to take a bath with Daddy."
She liked bathing while hugging her dad.
It gave her a super sense of security.
Jiang Liu took Tongtong in to take a bath.
Lin Qiu and Jiang Dahai sat on the sofa, eating the yak, potato, and mushroom soup, tuna, and steamed buns that Jiang Liu had brought back.
Jiang Liu had brought back a lot, thinking his parents could continue eating it for breakfast tomorrow morning.
Lin Qiu spoke with concern as she ate, "Something seems off with our son. I noticed his eyes look a bit dim. They were so bright before."
"I noticed that too. That brat always hides it when he’s sick, never says a word. It’s like he’s afraid we’ll worry about him!"
Jiang Dahai said, sounding angry, but his heart ached.
He cared about his own son more than anyone. He would rather get sick himself than have his son fall ill.
"Should we ask him about it later?" Jiang Dahai suggested.
Lin Qiu shook her head. "I don’t think we should. Asking might not do any good. Don’t forget, our daughter-in-law is right there with him. If Liu’er is sick, how could she not have noticed? I say we let their little family handle it."
"Mm. They’re a family now. Going through more things together will help their relationship grow."
The two of them shared a crafty, knowing smile.
After a moment of laughter, they quickly lowered their heads and dug into their food.
The food their son made was just too delicious!