Chapter 14: The long queue made other bosses envious! This porridge is delicious—three more bowls, please!
At the kindergarten gate, Jiang Feng saw Rong Shuang holding a stack of pick-up cards.
She was dressed simply today—a light blue shirt and deep black cropped pants that revealed her fair, delicate ankles.
“Good morning,” Rong Shuang greeted him cheerfully when she saw Jiang Feng.
Jiang Feng smiled. “Good morning, Teacher Rong Shuang. I’ll leave her in your care. You have the pick-up card, right? I won’t take one.”
Rong Shuang nodded. “Alright. After I finish sending the children in, I’ll take her over. It might be a little late.”
“See you in the afternoon.”
Jiang Feng turned and left.
Several mothers and little girls stared after him, only looking away once he was out of sight.
Rong Shuang glanced at Jiang Youyou. “Do you want to go upstairs first, or stay here with me?”
“I’ll keep you company,” Jiang Youyou said, putting on a mature air. “Sigh, if I don’t watch over you, I just can’t relax.”
Rong Shuang burst into laughter.
Just then, a parent arrived with their child.
“Good morning, Keke,” Rong Shuang said, handing the pick-up card to Keke’s mother.
Keke’s mother looked at her curiously. “Teacher Rong, is something good happening?”
“You seem really happy.”
Rong Shuang’s cheeks flushed pink.
Of course, she knew why she was happy—she’d see Jiang Feng again in the afternoon.
She got to see Jiang Feng every day!
But she would never admit it. “It’s nothing, I just remembered something funny.”
“Oh, I see. Well, I’ll be going now. Keke, listen to your teacher, okay?”
Keke turned to Jiang Youyou. “Youyou, wanna go upstairs together? I have toys!”
Jiang Youyou shook her head seriously. “I have to stay with Teacher Rong Shuang.”
“Okay then, I’ll go up first!”
Keke headed upstairs.
Jiang Feng arrived at the shop entrance to find a long line of people waiting—at least fifty.
The moment they saw him, their eyes lit up.
“Finally, you’re here!”
“Hurry up! My grandson refuses to eat anything but your buns!”
“I’ve been craving them all night—dreamed about them! Come on, faster!”
All along the street, customers waited outside various shops, but none had a line as long as Jiang Feng’s.
Other shop owners watched enviously.
How could a brand-new shop with no sign already be this popular?
Jiang Feng called out, “Everyone, please wait just a moment—we’re starting now.”
He unlocked the door, washed his hands, turned on the steamer, and swiftly began wrapping buns.
Elderly customers gathered around the counter, observing his technique.
They were seasoned cooks themselves, so they didn’t just care about the taste—they admired his skill.
“Boss Jiang is really something.”
“His technique is flawless—not a single wasted motion.”
“Fast and perfect. I’ve been making buns for decades, and I’m put to shame.”
“Young people these days are just getting better and better.”
The elders were thoroughly impressed by Jiang Feng’s smooth movements.
One after another, he placed the buns into the steamer.
Fifteen minutes later, three steamers were ready.
“Alright, line up properly, one at a time. Don’t make trouble for Boss Jiang!”
“It’ll move fast—no need to rush!”
A few regulars kindly helped maintain order, saving Jiang Feng some effort.
All he had to do was pack the buns and keep wrapping more.
Customers who got their orders left happily, but the crowd inside only grew.
After packing ten beef buns, Jiang Feng apologized, “Sorry, we’re sold out for the morning.”
The twenty-plus people still in line were devastated.
“Damn it, missed again.”
“This is too hard! Boss, can’t you make more?”
“Honestly, he already makes a lot. Come earlier at noon.”
“Boss Jiang, I’ll be back for lunch then!”
The disappointed customers left.
A few young women, however, didn’t mind too much.
With a handsome guy like Jiang Feng to look at, waiting in line wasn’t a waste of time!
Once the shop emptied, Jiang Feng closed the door and started cleaning.
Most tables were already tidy—plates stacked, cups and disposable chopsticks thrown away, and oil stains wiped clean.
In just ten minutes, the shop was spotless.
After mopping, his phone rang.
“Brother Jiang, can I bring the buckets over now? Is the shop open?”
“Yeah, come on over!”
No sooner had he hung up than the bowl supplier called.
By 9 AM, both the bowls and buckets had arrived.
Jiang Feng inspected them—good quality, and at a steep discount.
The bowls cost only 800 yuan and came with 30 reusable plastic cups.
The electric heating bucket, usually priced at 2,700 yuan, was sold to him for 2,280 yuan, with three long-handled metal spoons thrown in.
After paying, Jiang Feng handed each supplier ten buns.
“I don’t smoke, so I can’t offer you cigarettes. But if you don’t mind, try these buns.”
They tried to decline, but Jiang Feng insisted, so they accepted.
That was just how favors worked.
After seeing them off, Jiang Feng soaked the rice, dates, and lotus seeds.
Different ingredients required different prep.
Starchy ingredients needed high heat first, then a controlled simmer at 55°C to thicken properly.
Peanuts and dates needed less soaking time and went in last.
Boiling them too hard would make the peanuts mushy and split the dates.
At 55°C, the dates infused the porridge with sweetness while keeping their texture, and the peanuts stayed crisp for a richer mouthfeel.
By 9:47 AM, the porridge was simmering while Jiang Feng prepped other ingredients.
A group of office workers from before walked in.
“Boss, 15 beef buns, 10 pork fennel, and 10 chive egg ones.”
“Oh, you have porridge now? Lao He, wanna try it?”
“Eh, porridge takes up stomach space. One bowl means two fewer buns.”
They came planning to eat until they could barely move—why waste room on porridge?
But after a moment’s thought, they ordered a bowl anyway.
What if the boss’s porridge was amazing too?
Jiang Feng served them a bowl along with the buns.
Lao He, the leader, scanned the payment code.
“Payment received: 116 yuan.”
The group examined the porridge in surprise.
They each took a sip.
“This porridge is incredible!”
“The sweetness, the fragrance, the texture—perfect!”
“Boss, three more bowls! That’s 18 yuan, right? Sent!”