Chapter 32

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Protagonist:

Lu Feng

The red bean paste was dense and fluffy to eat, with a slight graininess that greatly enriched the texture.

The sweetness was just right; chewing it together with the soft skin of the xiaolongbao, the sweetness seemed to rise slowly.

Truly, every bite yielded a different flavor.

The fragrant, sweet, and delicious red bean paste xiaolongbao were simply too delicious!

So delicious that even Lu Feng, who didn't like sweet food, deeply fell in love with this taste.

Who said men can't eat sweet things?

Lu Feng not only wanted to eat them, he even wanted to eat ten.

In two or three bites he finished five red bean paste xiaolongbao; Lu Feng picked up the last one, and couldn't help feeling a pang of sadness.

This sweet taste that brings happiness — is there only the last one left?

This one must be savored carefully!

Just as he was about to take a small bite and taste it slowly, a diner's shout came from outside Lu Feng's shop door: "Boss Lu! It's nine o'clock! Time to open for business!"

Lu Feng snapped out of his reverie; glancing at the time, it was indeed business hours, so he hurriedly stood up with the xiaolongbao in his mouth and opened the shop door.

The moment the door opened, the diners at the front of the line caught sight of the red bean paste xiaolongbao in Lu Feng's mouth at a glance.

"Yo! Boss Lu, you've already eaten?"

"Eh? Boss Lu, are you eating a mantou? How come it's so small?"

Lu Feng showed them the half-bitten red bean paste xiaolongbao and said with a smile: "Not a mantou; this is today's new flavor, xiaolongbao with red bean paste filling."

Hearing there was a new flavor again today, the diners instantly perked up with interest.

"Red bean paste filling? Great! I love red bean paste buns the most!"

"I've been wondering why there weren't sweet xiaolongbao; didn't expect there to be some today!"

"Sweet? I don't like sweet food; Boss Lu, next time make savory ones instead!"

"Sweet stuff is so cloying; savory xiaolongbao are better."

"What's wrong with sweet? If you don't understand, don't talk nonsense! Sweet ones are the tasty ones!"

…

Listening to the diners' argument, Lu Feng found it quite interesting.

Just like watching people online argue over whether sweet tofu pudding or savory tofu pudding is better.

When their arguing quieted down a bit, Lu Feng shouted loudly to the diners:

"Everyone quiet down; today's first pot is red bean paste xiaolongbao. Those who don't like it can wait for the next pot; the next pot will have all three flavors, and you can still choose single flavor or the trio."

After Lu Feng finished speaking, he went into the shop, took the xiaolongbao he hadn't eaten for dinner into the kitchen, quickly finished eating them there, and then began serving the diners outside.

The diners queued in an orderly fashion in the hall; a few at the front who didn't like sweet food stood to the side waiting for the next pot of xiaolongbao.

Ma Wenliang came relatively early today.

To eat xiaolongbao a bit earlier, he didn't even nap after lunch, coding furiously.

He finally managed to advance the progress by evening; after greeting Manager Wang, he left half an hour early to buy xiaolongbao.

But hearing the first pot today was sweet, he felt a pang of disappointment.

Since childhood Ma Wenliang disliked sweet food; not only that, he wouldn't eat anything with even a hint of sweetness.

But the next pot of xiaolongbao, from wrapping to steaming done, would take twenty minutes; going back would definitely make him late.

He'd finally come early once; leaving on an empty stomach like this would be too much of a loss.

Yet he really didn't want to eat red bean paste xiaolongbao.

It stayed like this until it was his turn to buy; Ma Wenliang was still hesitating, standing there frowning in deep thought.

"Hey! Handsome guy in front, are you buying or not? If you don't want the red bean paste filling, can you let the people behind buy first?"

Seeing Ma Wenliang not moving for a long time, the diners queuing behind urged impatiently.

"You don't like sweet food?" Lu Feng saw Ma Wenliang's hesitation and said with a smile: "I originally didn't like sweet food either, but you can try today's red bean paste xiaolongbao — it absolutely won't disappoint you."

Hearing Lu Feng say this, Ma Wenliang wavered a little.

"Alright! Boss, give me one steamer of red bean paste ones!"

Ma Wenliang ultimately chose to trust Lu Feng.

He was also a bit curious: could the red bean paste xiaolongbao made by a boss who could make xiaolongbao this delicious conquer someone like him who never ate sweet food?

Carrying the steamer basket, he found a table and sat down; Ma Wenliang lifted the lid, and a burst of fragrant sweet white steam rose up.

Ma Wenliang sniffed and felt that sweet scent was actually quite fragrant.

After admiring the round red bean paste xiaolongbao for a short while, he picked up his chopsticks with anticipation, picked up one, and carefully took a bite.

Dark red, sticky red bean paste flowed down like honey.

This taste!

Ma Wenliang widened his eyes in some disbelief.

The dense texture of the red bean paste filling seemed to melt in his mouth.

The unique texture and superb flavor seemed to open a door to a new world for him.

Rich bean fragrance and just-right sweetness intertwined in his mouth, bringing a taste enjoyment he had never experienced before.

This taste was sweet but not cloying; every bite left an endless aftertaste, making him unable to stop.

Ma Wenliang knew he had been conquered by this red bean paste soup dumpling.

He had never thought before that sweet food could be so delicious!

Delicious! So delicious!

Ma Wenliang impatiently picked up a second red bean paste soup dumpling with his chopsticks, and now he felt that this steamer basket right before him was simply not enough to eat.

If Lu Boss didn't limit the quantity, he could eat these red bean paste soup dumplings in one breath until he was stuffed!

Seeing the diners ahead who had bought red bean paste soup dumplings, their faces at this moment looked as if happiness was about to overflow.

The diners behind finally understood that the taste of this red bean paste filling was absolutely not bad!

So the diners who had originally not been interested in red bean paste buns were now all changing their minds one after another.

Those few waiting by the side for the next pot of soup dumplings were now also feeling a bit regretful.

But it was too late for them to regret, because there was only one portion of red bean paste soup dumplings left.

At this moment, the one still at the front of the queue was that old man whose hair was combed meticulously.

"Hehe, Young Man, is there a new flavor again today?"

The old man still had a kind face today, sniffing the sweet fragrance in the air, looking eager to try.

Many elderly people liked sweet food, and the old man was no exception.

"Yes, Grandpa, do you want to try a portion today? It just happens to be the last portion." Lu Feng smiled and responded.

This old man had eaten only fresh meat filling for three consecutive days; today he should change the flavor, right?

"Young Man, can you make an exception for Grandpa? Give me one portion each of red bean paste filling and fresh meat filling."

The old man's throat moved, looking at the red bean paste soup dumplings before him, and he tried to ask.

"This..." Lu Feng did not answer, only smiling bitterly and gesturing for the old man to look at the diners queuing behind him.

The old man understood without looking back, and could only sigh: "Forget it, just give me one portion of fresh meat filling."

Lu Feng was a bit puzzled in his heart, not knowing why this old man was so obsessed with fresh meat filling.

But he didn't ask further; everyone had their own preferences, he just sold his soup dumplings and should respect the diners' choices.

"Grandpa, I bought fresh meat filling; how about you buy this portion of red bean paste from me, and I'll exchange with you later, okay?"

Among the few diners waiting by the side for the next portion, a young man wearing glasses suddenly said.

"Go away! I haven't even spoken yet while standing in front of you, how is it your turn?" Another diner came close: "Grandpa, exchange with me!"

"Hey! Why are you guys like this? The next one is my turn; this last portion of red bean paste soup dumplings is mine!" A cute young girl behind Grandpa got anxious and shouted loudly.