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Chapter 38 - Boss Lu, Can You Be My Brother-in-Law?
Chapter 38 - Boss Lu, Can You Be My Brother-in-Law?
Chapter 38. Boss Lu, Can You Be My Brother-in-Law?
“Why are you suddenly asking about this?”
Chef Xiong responded, “A customer asked about the crystal cake today. I had never heard of it before, so I thought I’d ask my mentor.”
“I’ve only heard about it too, never had the chance to taste it up north,” the mentor replied.
Chef Xiong continued, “Apparently, we have it here in Jiangcheng. That customer lost all interest in my pea cake after having the crystal cake.”
“Oh? Well, if I get the chance, I’ll definitely have to try it myself.”
After hanging up, Ma Dejun put his phone away, only for it to start buzzing again.
“Who’s bothering me now? Can’t an old man enjoy his weekend in peace?”
“Hello?”
“Old Ma, it’s me, Old Ge!”
“Oh, it’s you. If you’re calling for a drinking session, count me out. I quit long ago.”
“No drinks, just a meal.”
“A meal, huh? You know I’m picky about food.”
“I guarantee it’ll be good.”
“When?”
“Tomorrow morning at 9.”
“For lunch?”
“No, for breakfast.”
“Breakfast?!”
…
Shen Muyan had finally finished her meeting, but she still had department rounds to make. Her diligent, workaholic attitude left Fang Ya speechless.
“When will this workaholic learn to enjoy life?” Fang Ya sighed. It looked like she would be going to the University Town night market alone that evening. She opened the QQ group, but it was still muted, with no updates from Lu Qin about his stand. Fang Ya was craving crystal cake. The last time she only got a small taste before Shen Muyan devoured most of it.
Unable to satisfy her cravings right away, Fang Ya decided to head to the night market by herself, determined to finally try the famed stir-fried noodles.
…
For dinner, Lu Qin made stir-fried pork, and for the first time, little Lu Xiyao was so excited that she nearly bit her tongue.
“Daddy, this stir-fried pork is so good!”
Lu Qin smiled and gave her a chopstick-full of vegetables, reminding her.
“Don’t just eat the meat. You need to eat your vegetables too.”
“I know!” She replied.
She eagerly ate a fatty, tender piece of pork, then shoveled rice and vegetables into her mouth. But in the face of such delicious stir-fried pork, the vegetables and rice felt more like filler than actual food.
After polishing off all the dishes, the father and daughter were stuffed. Xiyao even licked the plate clean, her face covered in grease.
“Daddy, it was so delicious! Can I take some stir-fried pork to kindergarten tomorrow?”
“Sure, but you can’t just eat meat.”
“I know, kids have to eat vegetables too, for balanced nutrition, so they can grow big and strong!” Xiyao said seriously.
Lu Qin chuckled and got up to wash the dishes.
“Daddy, I’ll help you!”
Lu Qin washed, and little Xiyao dried the plates.
At 6:30, they hopped onto their three-wheeled food cart and headed out to set up their night stall.
…
On Changlin Road, at University Town’s night market street, the owner of Hot Spicy Girl Hot Pot stood at the entrance, watching the sea of customers crowding the alley. His heart was racing.
“Wow! This crowd is insane!”
One of the hot pot restaurant’s waiters, just off his shift, snuck out the door to get in line for food.
“Hold up,” the owner called after him.
“Boss, my shift’s over. You’re not making me stay, are you?”
“No, just grab me an order of stir-fried noodles and a mung bean smoothie.”
“Huh?”
The hot pot owner had been craving Lu Qin’s food for days, but the stall was always so busy that he would never get the chance to buy anything. He had been salivating over it for too long.
Lu Qin had only been setting up his stir-fried noodle stand in this alley for three or four days, but its popularity had exploded beyond anyone’s expectations.
Old Liu, who had been running his noodle stand at the entrance for five or six years, was so shaken by the frenzy that he had packed up and moved far away.
Half of the other stalls in the alley had disappeared. None could shake the dominance of Lu Qin’s stir-fried noodle stand.
The number of members in the QQ group had now exceeded 320. Twenty minutes earlier, Lu Qin had lifted the chat restrictions and posted an announcement. It seemed the members had been holding back all day, as the chat window exploded with messages.
[Finally! Boss Lu’s setting up shop again! Let’s go, guys!] [Same spot at the night market. Bring your utensils and get over here!] [Haha! I’m already here! Nailed the prediction!] [They have stir-fried pork tonight! Awesome! I’m bringing my own rice!] [I skipped both lunch and dinner, just waiting for Boss Lu’s noodles! I’m coming~!] [I’m living solely on Boss Lu’s food these days!] [Boss Lu, could you be my brother-in-law? My sister is a campus beauty—fair skin, pretty face, long legs, sweet but feisty!] [Get lost!]…
As Lu Qin’s three-wheeler entered the alley, a round of applause erupted.
“Boss Lu, finally you’re here!”
“I’m about five minutes away from starving to death—hurry and save me!”
“Everyone, step aside and line up properly. Don’t hold up Boss Lu setting up his stall!”
The line quickly straightened out, looking as orderly as a military parade.
Little Xiyao, sitting excitedly on the three-wheeler, waved her small white hands enthusiastically. She wasn’t shy at all and had quite the bold personality.
“Hello, brothers, sisters, uncles, and aunts~!”
“Thanks for waiting~!”
“Thank you for supporting my daddy’s business~!”
“Make sure to eat lots~!”
Her sweet, childish voice melted everyone’s hearts.
“Oh my gosh! This little cutie is too adorable!”
“There’s Boss Lu’s daughter again! She’s as precious as ever!”
“Whose little princess is this? I want to kidnap her!”
“Let me pinch those cute cheeks!”
…
Lu Qin didn’t have to find a spot. His early-arriving customers had already secured one for him—10 meters from the alley entrance. The area was spacious, with no other stalls on either side.
As soon as Lu Qin parked, a few customers came over to help him set up the stall. He barely had to lift a finger.
Once the small whiteboard was hung up, the business officially started.
“Boss Lu, fire it up! Three orders of stir-fried noodles, five cups of mung bean smoothie, and two boxes of crystal cake!”
“I’ll have the same, plus an order of stir-fried pork!”
“Boss Lu, give me five orders of stir-fried noodles, one stir-fried pork, three mung bean smoothies, and two boxes of crystal cake!”
“Hey, you up front, one box of crystal cake is enough! There’s still a line of people behind you!”
“Exactly! Let’s be fair here!”
Lu Qin was used to the banter between customers and didn’t pay much attention. While stir-frying the noodles, he kept an eye on little Xiyao.
She was behaving well, sitting on her small folding stool nearby. Occasionally, she stood up and directed the queue.
“Big brother, stand in line properly! Your butt is sticking out~!”
“Please scan the QR code to pay! We accept Alipay and WeChat~!”
“Big sister, stop staring at my daddy! It’s distracting him from working~!”
Her cheeky comments had the crowd laughing.
“Boss Lu’s daughter is just too adorable, haha!”
“Haha, miss, looks like you’re aiming to be her stepmom!”
“With Boss Lu being so handsome and his kid so cute, being a stepmom sounds like a great deal!”
…