Lu Feng walked out of the kitchen and saw Li Jiang entering. There were two flower baskets outside the door, which he must have brought.
"Have a seat."
Lu Feng looked behind Li Jiang and, seeing no one else, felt a bit disappointed.
"Just you?"
This dog-like fellow didn't even think of bringing more friends, so he could have sold a few more servings of his xiaolongbao (soup dumplings).
"What, your boy is opening for business, and my personal attendance isn't enough? Besides, I've tasted your cooking, and I'm afraid of offending people."
Li Jiang retorted, annoyed.
"Alright then, you eat a few more servings later and bring me more customers."
Lu Feng didn't pay much attention.
"No, just one serving is fine for me. I ate before coming, so I just want a taste."
The psychological trauma from Lu Feng's cooking had not yet faded for Li Jiang, so he quickly waved his hand.
"Really, only one serving?"
"Really, really. Hurry up and serve it so I can go back early after eating."
Just as Lu Feng was about to speak, another customer entered.
Upon closer inspection, it was the female university student named Xiao Mei.
"Boss, I'll have a serving of xiaolongbao (soup dumplings)!"
The girl, Lin Meimei, was a freshman attending university in the university town not far from Food Street.
After leaving Lu Feng's place in the evening, she and her roommate had some snacks for dinner.
They shopped until 8:40 PM when her roommate said she was tired and suggested going back to school.
She had originally planned to go back with her, but then she saw the time was almost 9 o'clock.
But for some reason, she couldn't stop thinking about the xiaolongbao (soup dumplings) at Lu Feng's Restaurant.
Recalling the mysterious confidence on Lu Feng's face at that time, she suddenly felt irritated.
So she simply returned here alone.
She secretly made up her mind that if Lu Feng's xiaolongbao (soup dumplings) tasted mediocre, she would definitely promote it negatively on the campus forum to help others avoid the 'landmine.'
"Oh! A customer! Feng Zi, quickly attend to her!"
As soon as Li Jiang saw Lin Meimei's delicate and youthful face, his eyes lit up, and he eagerly approached her.
"How old are you, little sister? Where do you go to school? Maybe we're even alumni!"
"Uncle, not interested."
Lin Meimei rolled her eyes and said bluntly.
"Uncle?"
The smile on Li Jiang's face instantly froze. He turned his head and asked Lu Feng, "Do I look that old?"
Lu Feng couldn't be bothered with him and checked the time on his phone.
"It's not business hours yet."
"You... it's only two minutes away! You're too rigid!"
Lin Meimei's pretty face flushed with anger, and she almost wanted to get up and leave.
But since she was already here, two minutes wouldn't make a difference.
However, she had to vent her frustration. Even if the xiaolongbao (soup dumplings) tasted good later, she would still exaggerate things on the forum.
"Don't be angry, little sister. This kid is just like this. I'll scold him for you later!"
Li Jiang, not giving up, approached her again.
"Uncle, not interested."
The same four cold words were his reply.
"Could it be... am I really old? But I'm only twenty-five this year!"
Li Jiang felt ten thousand points of damage to his heart and squatted in the corner, silently shedding tears.
The time finally reached nine o'clock, and Lu Feng walked into the kitchen. The xiaolongbao (soup dumplings) were just ready to be served.
He brought out two baskets of xiaolongbao (soup dumplings) from the kitchen and placed them in front of Lin Meimei and Li Jiang respectively.
Ignoring the still-emo Li Jiang, Lu Feng walked over to Lin Meimei, who was about to open the lid.
"Wait a moment."
Lin Meimei was startled and looked up at Lu Feng with a puzzled gaze.
"Please pay first."
Lu Feng showed his payment QR code.
"...I'm not going to run away."
Though she said that, Lin Meimei still obediently scanned the code and paid.
【Weixin successfully received payment, fifty yuan.】
"Thank you for your patronage. Please enjoy."
Receiving the first payment from a customer, Lu Feng finally had a hint of a smile on his face.
"And you."
He then walked over to the still-dazed Li Jiang, shaking the payment QR code in his hand.
"Are you even human? I just suffered such a huge blow. Shouldn't you treat me to something to comfort me?"
Li Jiang clutched his chest and spoke, looking heartbroken.
"I don't have free food here. If you're not eating, I'll take it away."
"Fine, you're ruthless!"
Li Jiang gritted his teeth and pulled out his phone to pay.
On this side, Lin Meimei lifted the lid of the xiaolongbao (soup dumplings) steamer, and a puff of white steam mixed with a rich, savory aroma wafted towards her.
This taste was completely different from the Li's Xiaolongbao she had eaten before; the aroma immediately made her mouth water uncontrollably.
So fragrant!
Looking into the steamer, six xiaolongbao (soup dumplings) were neatly arranged, each appearing to be identical in size and shape.
The translucent wrapper enveloped the tender pink meat filling, and she could faintly see the soup inside gently sloshing.
It was her first time seeing such exquisitely presented xiaolongbao (soup dumplings). It wouldn't be an exaggeration to call them works of art; just looking at them made one want to eat!
Lin Meimei eagerly picked up her chopsticks and carefully took one xiaolongbao (soup dumplings).
The wrapper, which looked as thin as a cicada's wing, didn't break easily when picked up with chopsticks.
Lin Meimei couldn't resist any longer and took a bite, her eyes widening involuntarily.
"Mmm!"
In an instant, the meat filling inside the xiaolongbao (soup dumplings), along with the soup formed from the melted pork skin jelly, burst forth in her mouth.
The rich aroma of the meat filling combined perfectly with the flavors of green onion and ginger. Even the pickiest eater would find no fault with it.
The xiaolongbao (soup dumplings) wrapper was also perfectly soft, with a subtle, almost imperceptible sweetness with each chew, making the xiaolongbao (soup dumplings) even richer in texture.
"Oh my goodness! This xiaolongbao (soup dumplings)... it's too delicious!"
Lin Meimei couldn't help but exclaim.
At this moment, her brain had stopped thinking, only giving commands to her right hand, ordering it to quickly put the xiaolongbao (soup dumplings) into her mouth.
As for the previous unpleasantness, resentment, and so on, she had completely forgotten them. Now, in her eyes and heart, there was only delicious xiaolongbao (soup dumplings).
Her hands moved incessantly, like a whirlwind.
It was hard to imagine a beautiful university student eating so unreservedly from a basket of xiaolongbao (soup dumplings), looking like someone who hadn't eaten in three days.
Li Jiang, who had been feeling down, watched Lin Meimei's somewhat exaggerated eating, his face full of disbelief.
It couldn't be real, could it?
He had witnessed Lu Feng's cooking skills, and even if he tried to fake it, he couldn't replicate that expression.
With deep doubt, Li Jiang also picked up a xiaolongbao (soup dumplings) and put it in his mouth to chew.
"Holy cow! What kind of divine xiaolongbao (soup dumplings) is this!"
Li Jiang was utterly shocked now. Was this unprecedented delicious taste really made by Lu Feng?
Eat! Keep eating!
All the delicacies he had eaten before paled in comparison to the xiaolongbao (soup dumplings) in front of him!
Li Jiang simply discarded his chopsticks and used his hands, one after another, stuffing his mouth full.
His right hand suddenly found nothing, and Li Jiang, immersed in the deliciousness, then realized that the steamer basket was already empty.
It's gone? My appetite just opened up, and it's gone?
Absolutely not!
"Feng Zi! Give me three more servings... no! Make it ten!"
Li Jiang slapped the table and shouted loudly.
"I... I want some too!"
Lin Meimei followed closely, also raising her right hand high.