“I say, Third Sister-in-law, are you making fun of me again? Even if my cooking skills aren’t the best, how could the meat-filled buns not be delicious?”
“Mom, stop teasing Third Aunt. And don’t say Third Aunt dislikes your cooking. Have you forgotten the last time you made meat buns, they even made your grandson throw up.”
“You little rascal, whose side are you on? Was he really repulsed by the meal I made, or was it simply because he ate too much?”
“Alright, alright, your cooking is delicious, so delicious that it made the kid overeat…”
The man hurriedly begged for mercy, while Third Uncle and Third Aunt burst into laughter beside him, creating a lively scene.
Suddenly, the man turned his head and saw the woman on the opposite side. His eyes widened, and he stopped goofing around with his family. He shouted loudly, “Boss Lin is here, Mom, the Boss Lin who taught me how to make buns is here. I knew it; she would definitely come for the opening of the Bun Shop, Boss Lin promised me.”
After speaking, Jia Yuanliang was about to run across the street, but then he remembered something and turned back to shout into the house, “Brother, Big Brother, Boss Lin is here…”
After shouting, he then rushed across the street.
Meanwhile, they also saw the woman on the other side, tall and slim, dressed simply in black pants and a white shirt, her hair tied up in a bun at the back of her head, which highlighted her slender, fair neck.
Her face was also delicate and beautiful, with skin as white as a peeled egg, a complexion rarely seen in their area, even more beautiful than movie stars on TV, exuding a unique aura.
In the common folks’ words, the girl standing there looked like a leader, her presence making you overlook her age and her superior appearance.
“My goodness, how does Liangzi know such a person? Sister-in-law, aren’t you going to say hello?”
Jia Yuanliang’s mother shook her head, “I’d rather not, it makes me nervous.”
“There’s a time when you get nervous, too,” laughed Third Aunt.
At this moment, Jia Yuanliang inside the house heard the noise outside and came out from the shop. He immediately saw the woman across the street.
A knowing smile appeared on his face as he walked over briskly.
“Big Sister, it really is you.”
Lin Chuxia extended her hand and shook hands with Jia Yuanliang. “Brother Jia, please forgive me.”
It was an apology for her previous intentional omission.
Jia Yuanliang didn’t take it to heart at all. Lin Chuxia was so young, if she had told him outright that the Bun Shop was hers, he might not have even sent his brothers to Ancheng County.
Promoting her own shop for no reason, even if sincere, could easily be mistaken for a scam.
“Big Sister, no need to explain. Your coming today is a great honor for us brothers. Please, come inside, it’s almost the auspicious hour.”
Jia Yuanliang was very happy. When he went home, he told his elder brother about Lin Chuxia, and his elder brother guessed that Boss Lin was the person he had met before.
He was right.
“Big Brother, I told you Boss Lin is a trustworthy person. If she said she would attend the opening ceremony of the Bun Shop, she would definitely come.”
Jia Yuanliang also showed a simple, honest smile. His brother was like a little fanboy of Lin Chuxia.
This morning he was listless. Now seeing Lin Chuxia, his whole spirit was different.
Jia Yuanliang personally took Lin Chuxia on a tour of his bun shop and shared his experiences renovating the shop.
While looking around, Lin Chuxia affirmed some aspects and even made some suggestions. Overall, the template was still modeled after their own bun shop, and in that sense, the general direction was correct.
Soon, the auspicious time was about to arrive. Jia Yuanliang had already set up firecrackers at the entrance of the bun shop and even erected a stage there.
Jia Yuanliang got on the stage and briefly spoke, “Thanks to all the folks who came today. Yuanliang Steamed Bun Shop is opening today. Our meat buns continue the secret recipe passed down through generations. Everyone, feel free to come and try.”
Lin Chuxia watched Jia Yuanliang on the stage, noticing how clean and tidy he looked today, even his hair was neatly combed, and there was not even a hint of stubble on his chin. He really took her advice about focusing on image and food hygiene seriously.
As she was observing Jia Yuanliang, he suddenly shifted his speech towards her.
Jia Yuanliang invited her to say a few words on the stage.
Lin Chuxia came just for fun, after all, she had promised him and it was also a chance to visit Qin Yang.
Moreover, although Jia Yuanliang’s bun shop uses their secret seasoning packages, there are officially no ties to Qin’s Steamed Bun Shop or Xiangyang Food Company.
Lin Chuxia didn’t really know what to say when asked to speak.
But seeing Jia Yuanliang’s excited look, Lin Chuxia didn’t want to hurt his feelings, so she went on stage and briefly spoke a few words.
After she finished speaking, Jia Yuanliang handed her the match.
“Boss Lin, you light the first firecracker.”
Jia Yuanliang also chimed in, “Big sister, coming today to participate in Yuanliang Steamed Bun Shop’s opening ceremony is a great honor for us brothers. You must light the first firecracker.”
Lin Chuxia smiled slightly, “Initially, Brother Jia trusted me so much, that was also our fate. Yuanliang is the boss, today is his main stage, this first firecracker should be lit by the boss.”
But Jia Yuanliang insisted, “Although I am the boss, without Boss Lin’s guidance, my bun shop couldn’t have gotten started. I’ll need Boss Lin’s help a lot in the future. In my heart, you are always my boss. This first firecracker should definitely be lit by Boss Lin.”
Unable to refuse, Lin Chuxia directly suggested that the two of them light one firecracker each, on the left and right.
“That’s a good idea, let’s do it that way,” Jia Yuanliang finalized.
Lin Chuxia was on the left, and Jia Yuanliang on the right, both simultaneously struck the match and lit the firecrackers.
The crackling sound of the firecrackers added to the lively atmosphere in front of the bun shop.
This was what Qin Han had advised Jia Yuanliang, to really boost the atmosphere on the opening day, the more lively, the better. This was also Qin Han’s biggest impression from the opening day of Qin’s Bun Shop.
Making the opening day impressive helps more people know that their bun shop has opened. Even if some people might not come right away, they would have left an impression in their minds.
When one day they think about eating out, they would think of the bun shop that left the strongest impression.
After Lin Chuxia and they finished lighting the firecrackers, they stepped back to the front of the bun shop, looking at the lively crowd and a jubilant Jia Yuanliang, she felt a wave of emotion.
After all, this counted as another bun shop she planted in the Northwest, even if it didn’t carry the Qin’s Bun Shop name, it also marked another market she had tapped into. She thought about expanding the bun shops to every corner of the country, and this was a small step forward.
Jia Yuanliang saw the crowd of onlookers growing, and he was full of confidence about the future of the bun shop.
Sister-in-law Song, hearing the commotion up front, pulled Jiang Hong through the crowd. Seeing a newly opened bun shop offering a 20% discount on opening day, she immediately suggested to Jiang Hong.
“Shall we buy a few meat buns to take home? Our man always complains about my cooking, and knowing that Mrs. Qin came yesterday, he nagged me for half a day.”