Sheng Jiu's pot of steamed dumplings yielded five servings.
She didn't have a large steamer basket in her kitchen, she was using two steamer pots, each yielding about five servings.
The pot of steamed dumplings is ready now. If no guests come, the rest are intended to be taken to the hospital for her cousin and the others.
However, since a customer has come, she'll just sell a serving of it.
Sheng Jiu quickly replied, "Eat here or take it back to your shop?"
Li Cheng Xiang didn't want to keep the shop closed for a long time, as it would affect business: "I'll take it back to eat, and I'll bring the plate back to you after I'm done, okay?"
This is how Li Cheng Xiang always does things when he wants to eat food sold by his neighbors.
Sheng Jiu nodded: "Sure, Boss Li, please wait a moment."
The fresh aroma of black shrimp wafted through the steam. Li Cheng Xiang felt that every second he sat there, only able to smell it but not eat it, was torture.
Fortunately, Sheng Jiu quickly brought out his portion.
As the delicious aroma drew near, Li Cheng Xiang felt his life was complete.
Sheng Jiu brought out the plate and placed it at the table where Li Cheng Xiang was waiting. "Please enjoy your meal, Boss Li."
After saying that, Sheng Jiu remembered something and hesitated for a moment before asking, "By the way, I heard that Boss Li has a nephew who is currently in university?"
This was something her Grandpa had mentioned to Sheng Jiu when he was still alive.
When Li Cheng Xiang's sister's son got into university, he even distributed candy to the neighbors.
Li Cheng Xiang's attention was originally on the steamed dumplings. When he heard Sheng Jiu ask about his nephew, he paused for a moment, but quickly nodded, "Oh right, at the Industrial University."
The industrial university is local, and it's an excellent one.
Li Cheng Xiang spoke of his nephew with obvious pride.
After hearing his response, Sheng Jiu thought for a moment before asking, "I have a part time job here, and I was wondering if your nephew has time to take it. If he doesn't have time, that's okay too. Could you help me introduce a few of his classmates?"
Sheng Si Yu was still engrossed in the delicious food when she heard Sheng Jiu's words. She thought that Sheng Jiu was too busy and wanted to hire someone.
She wanted to speak, but was afraid of disturbing Sheng Jiu, so Sheng Si Yu tried hard to control herself.
Moreover, the delicious food was pulling her attention away, after one bite, Sheng Si Yu's rationality completely collapsed, and she couldn't think of anything anymore.
Li Cheng Xiang thought it was really difficult to agree to this directly: "I need to ask my nephew about this, and I'll give you an answer in a bit."
Li Cheng Xiang thought that her restaurant was short-staffed, so she needed people to work part time.
However, Sheng Jiu quickly made her demands: "I need tall, strong men, preferably the kind who look intimidating, and those with sharp tongues are fine too. I'll probably need about five or six people, one or two more won't matter."
Li Cheng Xiang: ?
Sheng Si Yu: ? ?
Working in a restaurant doesn't require much physical strength.
Even in the kitchen, the heaviest work is just washing dishes and moving ingredients, so why are so many people needed?
Seemingly noticing Li Cheng Xiang's confusion, Sheng Jiu quickly explained, "I have a less than respectable part time job that requires people who look intimidating to come and help."
Sheng Jiu briefly explained that she had ordered a banner and planned to go to her little uncle and little aunt's neighborhood tomorrow to unfurl it with great fanfare, making her little uncle and little aunt famous in the neighborhood.
This kind of work isn't easy to do, so it requires a group of people who look intimidating to come.
Finally, Sheng Jiu mentioned the working hours and fees: "The working hours are about two to three hours. Once the atmosphere is right and the place is lively, they can leave. The part time fee is 200 per person."
Sheng Si Yu was stunned after hearing this.
Li Cheng Xiang hadn't expected that Sheng Jiu, who seemed so weak and easy to bully, would be so fierce and ruthless when she fought back!
Li Cheng Xiang opened his mouth, then quickly nodded: "Okay, I'll ask around for you when I get back. I should be able to give you an answer when I bring the plate over later."
Tomorrow is Saturday, and university students are all on holiday, so there should be plenty of time.
On his way back, Li Cheng Xiang's thoughts were half consumed by the delicious food, and half marveling at Sheng Jiu's methods.
Li Cheng Xiang even considered putting himself in her shoes, then suddenly shuddered.
No, no.
He figured it wouldn't hurt to be honest.
Is it really necessary to mess with this niece?
After returning to his shop, Li Cheng Xiang didn't have time to think about anything else.
With such delicious food right in front of him, how could he possibly think of anything else?
He looked down at the round steamed dumplings on the plate, and his mouth watered even more.
Only then did he realize that even the strong aroma of the braised dishes couldn't mask the delicious fragrance of the steamed dumplings.
After noticing the obvious difference, Li Cheng Xiang muttered to himself, "Did she put anything in them? How can they be so fresh?"
He muttered to himself as he picked up a steamed dumpling and put it in his mouth.
The dumpling wrapper was so thin that it broke with the slightest touch of his lips and teeth.
It was amazing that such a thin wrapper could be picked up without breaking.
Li Cheng Xiang thought about it casually, but soon he lost interest in thinking about anything else.
The freshness of the black shrimp, the moment the thin skin reveals the flesh, forcefully rushes into his mouth, leaving him no chance or possibility to refuse.
They roamed forcefully between his lips and teeth, leaving no corner of his mouth untouched.
After that bite of shrimp meat was chewed and swallowed, Li Cheng Xiang felt...
He was completely immersed in its fresh and delicious flavor.
Moreover, he didn't dislike the freshness and aroma. In fact, he was quite absorbed in it.
Li Cheng Xiang mumbled a soft "It's so fresh!"
His mouth didn't stop moving as he spoke.
A steamed dumpling wasn't very big, for an adult male like Li Cheng Xiang, it could be swallowed in two or three bites.
However, this time he controlled his pace, savoring each bite carefully.
It's so delicious, it would be a shame to just taste it and finish it in two bites!
Even so, the eight steamed dumplings were quickly devoured.
Li Cheng Xiang was still engrossed in the delicious food and hadn't come to his senses when he looked down and realized...
The dumplings were gone!
Li Cheng Xiang: ?
What's the difference between this and the sky falling?
Besides, he's still not full!
So, he'll have another serving!
But…
The dumplings are so delicious, the shrimp paste noodles should be good too.
Gulp!
He can't think about it, just thinking about it makes his mouth water.
While enjoying the delicious food, Li Cheng Xiang didn't forget to ask his nephew about the part time job.
Meanwhile, on Sheng Jiu's side, Sheng Si Yu had finished her steamed dumplings.
For her, this amount of food was just right, even a little too much.
But smelling the delicious aroma from the restaurant, Sheng Si Yu almost couldn't help but say, "One more serving!"
If she ate any more, she would feel so full she could vomit after just a few steps.
So, she restrained herself!
Sheng Jiu had already quickly packed up the remaining steamed dumplings and millet porridge.
Only then did Sheng Si Yu realize what Sheng Jiu had mentioned earlier about going to her little uncle's neighborhood tomorrow to put up banner.
Although Sheng Si Yu felt great about this move, for someone like her little uncle who cared so much about his image, the whole banner-hanging ceremony was....
She estimated that he would have to cover his face while walking for half a month!
However, while Sheng Si Yu felt satisfied, she couldn't help but worry about Sheng Jiu: "If you do this, won't little uncle and the others cause you trouble again?"