Chapter 248: Unlocking Emperor Ham: 4 Rewards
Chapter 248: Chapter 248: Unlocking Emperor Ham: 4 Rewards
"What are you trying to do?"
"Bully you!"
Jun Qingmeng planted a light kiss on Jiang Liu’s forehead. "If I can’t kiss your lips, then I’ll kiss your forehead!"
"Tee hee hee."
Jun Qingmeng happily lay back down, looking at Jiang Liu.
Jiang Liu gave a helpless smile and yawned.
He was a little sleepy.
But he wanted to wait until his points reached 550,000 to see what the specific reward for the fifth dish would be.
Jun Qingmeng said, "Should we go to sleep? I can lull you."
"Just a little longer. I still have some things to take care of for the new shop. Why don’t you sleep first? I’ll be right there."
"No, I want to sleep with you. I’ll wait with you."
Jun Qingmeng rested her head next to Jiang Liu’s and started patting him gently.
This was how she lulled Tongtong to sleep at the kindergarten.
Jiang Liu picked up his phone from the nearby table and took a look.
Hu Yongfa had sent a message:
"Today’s revenue was about 50,000 yuan. Master, are you busy? I’m home already. We closed up at nine today."
"I did everything you asked. Everyone is very grateful to you."
Jiang Liu thought for a moment and replied:
"No need to work so hard. Close up earlier from now on. Open at 6:30 AM and take a break at 8:00 AM. For lunch, open at 11:30 AM and take a break at 1:00 PM. In the evening, from 5:30 PM to 7:00 PM. After that, just clean up and clock out."
The shop had just opened; there was no need to be too greedy or rush things. Besides, with only a few people on staff, working like this for a few days would be exhausting.
Hu Yongfa’s heart melted.
’Master is so considerate!’
Any other person, seeing the money rolling in, would have worked their employees like cattle.
But Master’s first concern was for their level of exhaustion, and he had even given them a special raise.
Hu Yongfa was now completely determined to follow Jiang Liu from here on out. Working for his master was the way to go. Not only was Master good to him, but there was also a bright future ahead.
Hu Yongfa: "Understood, Master! I’ll follow the new schedule strictly."
Jiang Liu: "Mm."
Seeing Jiang Liu put down his phone, Jun Qingmeng spoke softly, "Big baby, are you done with your work?"
"Can we please use a different name?"
That pet name was too awkward.
Jiang Liu didn’t like it.
"Choose between ’big baby’ and ’little baby’!" Jun Qingmeng switched back to her domineering CEO mode.
"Isn’t there a third option?"
"Nope!"
"Fine."
Seeing that Jiang Liu had fallen silent, Jun Qingmeng took the initiative and started stroking his head.
"Can you sleep now? I want to watch you fall asleep."
"No need. Let’s sleep together."
Jiang Liu rolled over, wrapping an arm around both Jun Qingmeng and Tongtong.
Jun Qingmeng’s face instantly flushed red, and she didn’t dare to move a muscle.
’What’s happening...’
’Wasn’t I the one flirting with my boyfriend?’
’How did I suddenly get flirted with in return?’
’And my boyfriend’s move was a little too much for me to handle...’
Jun Qingmeng’s figure looked well-proportioned and delicate, but her frame was actually quite small, so it was easy for Jiang Liu to reach past Tongtong and place his hand on her back.
Jiang Liu closed his eyes.
Jun Qingmeng’s whole body was stiff. She spoke shyly, "Jiang Liu?"
"What is it?"
"Um... I like you so much. Every second I’m with you, I feel like even the air is beautiful."
"Is that so? Me too."
Jiang Liu’s breathing gradually evened out.
Jun Qingmeng watched Jiang Liu for more than ten seconds, breathing in the scent of his exhaled breath, and her eyelids grew heavy.
She was out in five seconds.
She was just like Tongtong; whenever she was next to Jiang Liu, she felt especially safe, and closing her eyes was enough to make her want to sleep.
Jiang Liu listened intently. When he heard that both Tongtong’s and Jun Qingmeng’s breathing had become steady, he secretly opened his eyes and gently loosened the arm wrapped around them.
He leaned against the headboard and closed his eyes.
[Current Praise Points: 552,686.]
Jiang Liu shouted excitedly in his mind, ’Please unlock the fifth page.’
The Gourmet Album trembled for several minutes.
Text appeared on the fifth page.
[Spend 550,000 Praise Points to unlock Spanish Ham?]
"Yes, yes."
An orange pattern lit up.
[Congratulations on unlocking purchasing rights for Spanish Ham.]
[Epic Level Delicacy Unlocked. Reward granted: Bone Knife, Meat-Carving Knife.]
[Epic Level Delicacy Unlocked. Second Reward granted: Anomaly Shield.]
[Epic Level Delicacy Unlocked. Third Reward granted: Bun-Making Tools.]
[Five Delicacies Obtained. Achievement Unlocked: Basic-Level Gourmet. Reward: Strong Sense of Taste.]
’So many rewards?’ Jiang Liu was stunned.
A basketful of question marks popped up in his head.
Before he could even think, a flood of memories on ham-processing techniques rushed into his mind.
In the memories, Jiang Liu was cutting ham day and night, learning its structure, skin thickness, the force needed for each cut... and so on.
He understood it all perfectly. If a leg of ham were placed before him now, he could process it with his eyes closed just by feeling it!
Jiang Liu immediately began to study the ham.
The ham came from a special type of aromatic pig, completely different from the suckling pigs used for buns. These aromatic pigs were raised free-range in an oak forest. When hungry, they ate acorns, wild medicinal herbs, and various fruits from the ground. When thirsty, they drank from wild springs. When sleepy, they lay down in haystacks to rest...
After three years, they were ready for harvest. Because of their constant, wild running, the hind legs of these aromatic pigs were strong and their meat was firm...
Jiang Liu didn’t look for long before turning his attention back to the reward descriptions.
He mentally clicked on the fifth page, and a list of rewards appeared below.
The description for the [Bone Knife, Meat-Carving Knife] was simple. Jiang Liu could control these two knives freely, and they were incomparably sharp.
They also possessed a special ability: [Lock-On].
When one of the knives was locked onto a piece of meat, it would become extremely dull when used to cut any other object, soft and completely harmless.
The [Anomaly Shield]. Jiang Liu was pleasantly surprised after reading its description.
This item could be used to lower other people’s sensitivity to the anomalies surrounding Jiang Liu.
For example, people would subconsciously overlook questions about the source of Jiang Liu’s ingredients and how strange they were.
The [Bun-Making Tools]. This was an interesting one. It was a black iron barrel with a few buttons on it. As long as Jiang Liu put the bun ingredients inside, it would automatically produce perfectly wrapped or steamed finished products.
Jiang Liu nodded in satisfaction. "That’s what I’m talking about. If things had kept going like before, wouldn’t I just have become a beast of burden with no end to my labor?"
With the Bun-Making Tools, his life would be much easier.
If other "Making Tools" appeared later on, Jiang Liu’s life would be even more comfortable.
The [Strong Sense of Taste], as its name implied, enhanced Jiang Liu’s sense of taste.
For instance, if Jiang Liu ate at a high-end restaurant, he could taste a dish briefly and immediately analyze its preparation techniques and seasoning ratios.
"No wonder it’s Epic Level. The rewards are so generous!"
Jiang Liu had originally planned to test the taste of the ham.
But he looked at his sleeping daughter and girlfriend.
Jiang Liu gave up on the idea. Spending more time with his family was what mattered most.
Trying it tomorrow wouldn’t be too late. The ham wasn’t going anywhere.
「The next morning.」
The wind was blowing outside. The rain had stopped for the night, but now it had started pouring again in a hurry.
In bed, the three of them were huddled together.
Tongtong was burrowed under the covers, nestled in Jiang Liu’s embrace with only half her head showing. Jun Qingmeng was using Jiang Liu’s armpit as a pillow, her hand clutching his clothes, while one of her long, fair legs was pressed against him.
The three of them were practically glued together.
Just then.
The alarm clock rang.
Jun Qingmeng was the first to open her eyes. Jiang Liu and Tongtong opened their eyes right after.
Jiang Liu looked at how he was "trussed up" and chuckled. "Are you two trying to kidnap me?"
Jun Qingmeng huffed and didn’t move, but she quietly pulled back the leg that was on top of Jiang Liu. Her ears turned red again.
’This is so embarrassing.’
’Jiang Liu didn’t see anything, did he...?’
Tongtong yawned, left Jiang Liu’s embrace, and rolled over to hug Jun Qingmeng.
"Mommy, it’s so nice having you here with me and Daddy. I can hug you as soon as I wake up, hehe."
Jun Qingmeng hugged Tongtong back. "Mommy loves hugging you in the morning, too."
The space under the covers was fragrant, filled with Jun Qingmeng’s scent.