radiothebook Chapter 11 Chen's Steamed Bun Shop
Chapter 11 Chen's Steamed Bun Shop
Chen Yuan was somewhat surprised: "This isn't very nice, it makes you sound old all of a sudden."
Su Qingxue said, "How could that be? Besides, I call you Senior Brother, she calls me Sister, and then she calls you Dad. Wouldn't that be a mess?"
Chen Yuan thought about it and agreed, so he corrected him.
"Alright, since your Aunt Xiaoxue insists so much, you can just call her Auntie."
Chen Youyou nodded obediently and called out sweetly.
Good morning, Aunt Xiaoxue!
Good morning to you too.
Su Qingxue really likes Chen Youyou.
Soon more people arrived, keeping Chen Yuan extremely busy.
She then held Chen Youyou on her lap and helped her wash up and braid her hair.
His expression was both gentle and attentive.
After Chen Yuan finished cleaning, it was time to take his child to school. He looked at the two cute braids on Chen Youyou's head and said with a smile.
"Your braids look much better. The ones I've been doing these past few days are all messed up."
"That's alright, I can do the acupuncture for her from now on."
Chen Yuan paused.
He looked at the girl's eyes with some surprise, but found that he couldn't see through them.
Wait, it can't be what he thought it meant, right?
Chen Yuan was stunned for a moment, but then he realized what was happening and said to himself with a wry smile.
"How could a college student like her possibly be interested in an old man like me who's almost thirty? She's overthinking it, really overthinking it."
Seeing that Chen Yuan was about to close the door, Su Qingxue got up to say goodbye and said...
"Senior, your breakfast is so delicious! I'll come back to buy more tomorrow. Remember to save a few extra for me so I can take them to my friends."
"Okay, no problem."
"Well...see you tomorrow."
"Okay, see you tomorrow."
Watching Su Qingxue's graceful figure as she left.
Chen Yuan realized once again that he was overthinking things.
Just as he was about to leave with Chen Youyou, they were stopped by an old lady coming from the opposite direction.
Chen Yuan looked closely and recognized her as the old woman who had tried to force her way into his kitchen yesterday and had been rude and long-winded.
The old lady had probably run there; she was slightly out of breath and clung to Chen Yuan's arm, refusing to let go.
"You, you... Ugh, I'm exhausted. You closed so early?"
"Quickly steam a few more buns for me. My grandson had another episode at home today. He won't go to school unless he eats the buns you make, and he's cried until his voice is hoarse."
The old lady finished speaking in one breath, looked at Chen Yuan who was not moving in front of her, and said with great displeasure.
"What are you doing? Hurry up and go! What are you dawdling about?"
Chen Yuan had nothing to say to this kind of old man who was taking advantage of his kindness, and coldly spoke up.
"I don't have time. We've sold out of steamed buns for today. If you want some, come earlier tomorrow. I need to take my child to school now, so please make the effort."
"Hey! How dare you talk to me like that? I just asked you to steam a few buns for me, what kind of attitude is this?"
"I didn't really have a stance; I was just telling you there's none left."
"I know there aren't any left. If there aren't any, then hurry up and make some!"
As she spoke, the old lady pulled out a 12-yuan bill from her pocket, looking extremely unhappy.
"Three yuan each, four in total. Hurry up, my grandson is waiting at home to eat them."
In all his years in the industry, Chen Yuan has never seen anyone more shameless than her.
Is this old lady treating his family's breakfast shop like her own private kitchen?
Chen Yuan said quite bluntly.
"I told you I didn't have time, I had to take my child to kindergarten, and you should buy steamed buns from another store."
With that, Chen Yuan took long strides and quickly carried Chen Youyou away.
After walking about seven or eight steps, Chen Yuan could clearly hear the old woman's shrill and sharp cursing voice coming from behind him.
"You bastard, you have no manners! You have absolutely no upbringing! Is this how you treat the elderly? I'm telling you, your business will go bankrupt soon!"
"Sell it or don't, it's up to you! You're not the only one selling steamed buns! I don't even care to buy from you!"
Chen Yuan pretended not to hear and strode away.
The old lady was so angry at Chen Yuan's attitude that she almost fainted. She angrily stuffed the money into her pocket, stomped her foot, and walked towards another steamed bun shop further away from the neighborhood.
Chen's Steamed Bun Shop.
A plump woman, wearing an apron stained with oil, her sleeves stained with oil, and her hair greasy and matted, walked out carrying a large steamer of buns, talking as she went.
"Old Chen, what's going on today? We still haven't sold all these steamed buns. They're usually sold out by 7 pm. Today's really weird!"
The woman speaking was Zhao Dan, the owner of Chen's Steamed Bun Shop.
The man standing at the entrance of the steamed bun shop, looking out, is the owner, named Chen Hui.
He was short and fat, with a belly that looked like it had a swimming ring around its waist. His stubble was unkempt, and his face looked unwashed, making him appear somewhat slovenly.
Chen Hui took the steamer of buns and poured them onto the tray outside.
"That's true. Usually these buns are sold out long ago, why haven't we sold any today?"
"That's really strange."
The couple complained to each other.
At this moment, Chen Hui looked at the remaining filling for the buns and then said.
"Looks like they won't sell. Don't pack the rest. Put them in the freezer and we can use them tomorrow."
Zhao Dan responded and then picked up a pair of chopsticks.
He picked up a little bit of minced meat with the tip of his chopsticks, smelled it under his nose, and then frowned as he spoke.
"Oh dear, this filling is leftover from yesterday. I just smelled it, and it seems a little sour. Can we still use it tomorrow?"
"Why can't we use it? We can't just throw away perfectly good ground meat, can we?"
"But what if customers can tell the difference if we use it?"
"You're such a pig-brain! You just don't get it. Just add more seasoning, more light and dark soy sauce, and cover up the flavor, isn't that enough?"
Zhao Dan rolled her eyes, casually put her chopsticks aside, and said.
"You think you're so smart? If you add dark soy sauce and light soy sauce, wouldn't the flavor be too strong? How can anyone eat something so salty?"
Chen Hui sighed heavily, sluggishly moved his heavy body to the freezer in the back kitchen, rummaged around, and pulled out a bag of frozen chopped cabbage.
"Once this is thawed, I'll mix it with the minced meat tomorrow and make cabbage and pork buns. Won't it be less salty when we mix them together?"
"You're the one who has a solution."
Zhao Dan turned around and went into the house.
Chen Hui was counting the remaining buns when an angry old lady walked over and slammed the money on the table.
"You didn't close the door, did you?"
"Give me four pork buns!"