Chapter 250: Is Boss Jiang Really Releasing a Permanent Dish? Slap Me, I Must Be Dreaming
Chapter 250: Chapter 250: Is Boss Jiang Really Releasing a Permanent Dish? Slap Me, I Must Be Dreaming
This was his third high-end product.
A 200-gram plate of ham contained about fifty or sixty slices. A single leg of ham could yield seven kilograms of usable meat. If he sold it all, Jiang Liu stood to make a net profit of 55,000 yuan.
A sharp-eyed customer outside noticed Jiang Liu writing something on the blackboard.
They were instantly thrilled.
"Did you guys see that? It looked like Brother Jiang was just writing something on the blackboard!"
"For real? You’ve gotta be kidding me. That blackboard’s practically rusting over, and I’ve never seen Boss Jiang even touch it."
"No way. If Brother Jiang is releasing a new item, I’ll eat shit."
No one believed it.
Every time they entered the shop, they would subconsciously glance at the blackboard.
They were always hoping for a new delicacy, but after countless disappointments, they’d stopped getting their hopes up.
They certainly didn’t believe Boss Jiang would be adding any more dishes.
"It’s true! I really saw Brother Jiang moving around in front of the blackboard! Like this."
Wang Dongxu said, raising his hand to gesture in the air.
"Could it possibly be true?"
Someone wondered aloud.
The line erupted in a commotion!
If Boss Jiang released a new permanent menu item, they would be so happy they’d wake up laughing in their sleep. Right now, they had four dishes to rotate between. One more would make it five!
That meant their chances of getting food when they queued would be even better!
"Come on, let’s go sneak a peek," said Aunt Wu. "But let’s not disturb Boss Jiang while he’s working."
A dozen or so people crept up the steps, pressing their faces against the glass door to peer inside.
When they saw "ham" and "unpasteurized draft beer" written on the blackboard...
Their eyes instantly widened.
’He really did add new items?!’
’It’s real!!’
’Boss Jiang released a new delicacy? And two at once?!’
’Holy shit!!’
All dozen or so of them were simultaneously buzzing with excitement!
’No, this has to be fake! I must be dreaming.’
Uncle Liu slapped himself across the face.
It hurt.
Aunt Wu asked cheerfully, "Does it hurt? Want me to rub it better for you?"
"It hurts."
Uncle Liu offered his cheek.
Aunt Wu slapped him again.
The small group burst into gleeful laughter.
"Come on, let’s go tell everyone the good news!"
"Boss Jiang is so hardworking! I can’t believe he released two new items at once. We’re in for a real treat now, haha."
In the blink of an eye, the news spread through the entire line.
The hundred-plus customer group chats exploded with activity.
Customers who hadn’t managed to get a spot in line and were still asleep were woken up by their foodie friends.
They were grumpy at first, but when they heard Brother Jiang had released new permanent menu items—two of them!—they instantly sprang out of bed, wide awake.
Even if they couldn’t buy anything, it was worth going just for a sniff!
All the major group chats were blowing up.
Everyone was spreading the same message: "Boss Jiang has two new permanent dishes! Get over here, quick!"
「Yangzhai Street.」
"Sister Jing! You’re here too?"
"Well, hello, Boss Wang. Don’t you usually only come around noon?"
"Is it true? About Boss Jiang’s new dishes?"
"Nope, it’s fake. You can go home now."
At six-thirty, Yangzhai Street was practically exploding with activity.
It was as festive and crowded as a New Year’s market.
Everyone was cheerfully greeting each other. Just the thought of Boss Jiang releasing new dishes put them in an impossibly good mood, their grins threatening to stretch to the back of their heads.
The customers who had secured a spot in line looked ecstatic, becoming the object of envy for thousands of others.
Throughout Phoenix District, lights began to switch on in house after house. One particular old gentleman was frantically searching for his clothes.
"Hurry, hurry! Where are my pants!"
"If I’m late, I won’t even get a spot in the noon line!"
「Inside the shop.」
Jun Qingmeng was also a little stunned.
"Jiang Liu, why is it suddenly so noisy outside?"
"They probably all want to gaze upon the face of a peerless goddess."
"Oh, get out of here. You’re teasing me again, aren’t you!" Jun Qingmeng said reproachfully, putting her hands on her slender waist.
Jiang Liu feigned surprise. "Did I say the peerless goddess was you?"
Jun Qingmeng: "..."
"Grr!"
She bit down on Jiang Liu’s arm.
"Alright, alright. Time to eat."
Jiang Liu didn’t seem to mind her saliva.
"Food? Okay!" Jun Qingmeng immediately sat down, suddenly well-behaved.
She was starving.
"Daddy, take this, quick! Tongtong’s arms are getting tired."
Jiang Tongtong emerged from the kitchen carrying a wooden tray.
On it were three bowls of congee, a plate of sliced ham, and a large bowl of yak, potato, and mushroom soup.
Jun Qingmeng went over, took the tray from her, and placed it on the table.
The two little gluttons stared intently at Jiang Liu.
They were just waiting for the command to dig in.
"Can we eat now, Daddy?"
"Dig in."
"Yay!"
"Whoa! Daddy, the sliced meat smells so, so good!"
Jiang Tongtong didn’t sneak a bite, even though the craving was so intense she felt she might faint. Instead, she clumsily picked up a slice of ham and placed it in Jiang Liu’s bowl of congee.
"Daddy, you eat first. This is your little girl spoiling you, hehehe."
Jun Qingmeng did the same, placing a slice of ham in Jiang Liu’s bowl.
She never hesitated when it came to spoiling her boyfriend.
"You two, stop giving me all the food. Hurry up and eat."
Jiang Liu said, then ate the two slices of meat with a spoonful of congee.
The savory, fragrant ham paired perfectly with the mild, clean flavor of the congee.
Every bite was pure bliss.
Only after seeing her boyfriend take a bite did Jun Qingmeng finally pick up a piece of ham for herself.
A second later, she was completely stunned by the ham from the Gourmet Album.
She couldn’t stop herself from shooting a bewildered look at Jiang Liu.
She had assumed the ham her boyfriend procured would be, at best, half as good as the cured hams her father collected.
But in reality, its flavor and texture completely blew her dad’s most treasured and expensive ham out of the water.
It was perfectly savory the moment it hit her tongue, not the least bit tough or dry, and its tenderness was infused with an unbelievably rich, meaty aroma.
It was, quite simply, the king of all hams.
"Is it good?"
Jiang Liu looked at the two dumbstruck cuties.
"Delicious! It’s so, so delicious, Daddy! Is Tongtong in heaven?"
"Honey, where on earth did you get this?" Jun Qingmeng asked, snapping back to reality and feigning nonchalance.
She had asked before, but Jiang Liu had been vague.
"I have my sources."
"Hmph. Fine."
Jun Qingmeng rolled her eyes at Jiang Liu.
Ham of this caliber was even more delicious than the one her father had spent over a million yuan on.
Her boyfriend truly was full of surprises.
But somehow, she wasn’t surprised at all.
Tongtong was eagerly shoveling potatoes and ham from the bowl into her mouth.
’Delicious!’
’This is the life! Ahhh!’
Jiang Liu watched the two of them wolf down their food.
His heart swelled with a sense of accomplishment.
"Tongtong, save some room. When you’re done, I’ll warm up some milk for you."
"Mmm, can I have it tomorrow instead? Tongtong wants to eat more food."
Jiang Tongtong’s little mouth was smeared with grease from her enthusiastic eating.
’Daddy’s food is just too yummy!’
"Nope. Today’s a milk day, so you have to drink it."
Jiang Liu’s tone was firm.
His daughter needed a balanced diet; he couldn’t let her have her way on this.
*Sniffle!*
"Okay... Then Tongtong will save a little room for Daddy."
"Jiang Liu, I want some milk, too,"
Jun Qingmeng chimed in, a blush on her cheeks.
Jiang Liu didn’t refuse. "I’ll prepare an extra serving in a bit. There’s enough for both of you."
"Okay!"
"I love you, honey!"
「Soon.」
The three of them had polished off every last bit of food on the table.
Tongtong had obediently saved a little room in her stomach, and she gave Jiang Liu a look of sorrowful reproach.
’Daddy made such delicious food, but he won’t even let his little cutie eat until she’s full.’
*Sniffle!*
Jun Qingmeng clutched her stomach and let out a satisfied burp.
"You’re amazing, darling! You manage to surprise me every single day."
"If I ever lost you, what would I do? I’d never get to eat such delicious food again!"
Jiang Liu glanced at her. "Are you only with me for the food?"
"No!" Jun Qingmeng quickly shook her head to explain. "There are many, many other reasons! So many I can’t even count them all."
As she spoke, she gazed at Jiang Liu with deep affection in her beautiful eyes.
’Her boyfriend was perfect in every way, not just because of his cooking!’
Jun Qingmeng wanted to give Jiang Liu an infinite sense of security.
Jiang Liu smiled and gently stroked his girlfriend’s soft hair.
"I’m going to get things ready now. You two sit and rest for a bit."
"Okay!"
"Mmm-hmm!"