Chapter 117: The Favor of Steamed Buns

Thinking about how she still struggled daily just to have enough to eat, Jing Xi sighed. Truly, the most important choice in life was the family one was born into.

Unfortunately, that was not something she could decide for herself.

After finishing her meal in her space, she returned to the village.

During the few days she had been absent, the steamed bun shop had hired a new employee.

She needed to settle the matter and bring it to a proper conclusion.

When she arrived, the young man was wearing an apron, helping Zhao Shunli clean up the stall.

He was tall and well-built, capable of carrying multiple bamboo steamers in one hand.

No wonder people often said that men were naturally good at household chores.

Seeing Jing Xi approach, Zhao Shunli quickly came over. “Xiao Jing! Do you know that you’re famous now? Your rescue plan has been all over the newspapers and the news. You really made a name for yourself!”

Jing Xi scratched her head, feeling a bit embarrassed. “Really? I haven’t been paying much attention.”

“You’re about to become a local celebrity! I’m sure the government will reward you!”

“Haha, just doing my duty to serve the people! It was just luck, really, like a blind cat catching a dead rat!”

“You’re too modest!”

Jing Xi laughed it off and started helping to clean up the tables.

The new guy also came over to greet her.

His name was Chen Lijun, twenty-one years old, and surprisingly, a distant relative of Zhao Shunli.

After Chen Lijun went to the kitchen to help Tian Jun, Zhao Shunli explained, “This kid’s had a tough life. He went south with his parents to work, but they got into a car accident as soon as they arrived. He was the only survivor.

Our relatives searched for a long time before bringing him back. I was looking for help anyway, so I figured I’d let him work here. He’s a steady kid.”

Jing Xi was genuinely happy for Zhao Shunli. “Big Brother, you’re a good man! This makes me feel better too—now I can leave without worrying about you and Sister-in-law being overwhelmed with work.”

Zhao Shunli nodded. “Go say hello to your sister-in-law. She’s been talking about you for days!”

Jing Xi quickly went inside.

As soon as Tian Jun saw her, she rushed over with concern, asking about the coal mine incident in detail.

Jing Xi also inquired about her family, relieved to hear that everything was fine.

When it was time to say goodbye, Tian Jun grabbed her hand. “Xiao Jing, do you still have that chicken-flavored seasoning? Sell some to me!”

Of course, Jing Xi had some!

“Yes! Sister-in-law, how much do you want? I can get you however much you need!”

Tian Jun thought for a moment. “Fifty pounds!”

That much?!

Jing Xi hesitated. “If it’s fifty pounds, I’ll have to make it fresh. It’ll take about three days. Can I bring it to you then?”

Tian Jun readily agreed and handed her fifty yuan on the spot.

Back home, Jing Xi checked her inventory.

Her space had some stock, but not nearly fifty pounds.

She would have to make it herself!

Why not just follow the recipe and mix it from scratch?

She spent an entire day researching and successfully recreated the exact same Orleans-style seasoning.

She then steamed a batch of buns to test the flavor. Once she was sure everything was perfect, she delivered the seasoning to Tian Jun.

After the delivery, she lingered outside for a while and noticed that the chicken-filled buns were selling the fastest!

No wonder the Orleans seasoning was being used up so quickly.

As she was about to head home, she spotted Zhou Jiwen in the distance, riding his bicycle to buy some buns.

When he found that Jing Xi wasn’t there, he asked Tian Jun, “Sister-in-law, isn’t Jing Xi coming anymore?”

Tian Jun nodded. “She won’t be coming back. My distant nephew will be helping out from now on.”

A trace of disappointment flashed across Zhou Jiwen’s face. He bought his buns and left.

Jing Xi didn’t miss his expression.

But as he left, she spotted another familiar figure—Liang Chen.

He had also come to buy buns.

“Sister-in-law, do you still have chicken buns? I want ten!”

Tian Jun sighed. “Ah, they’re sold out. Can you wait until tomorrow?”

Liang Chen scratched his head, troubled.

Fourth Master specifically wanted these buns, but now they were sold out after he had come all this way.

“Sister-in-law, how long would it take to steam a fresh batch?”

Tian Jun glanced at the kitchen. “We’re out of meat for today. The next delivery of chicken won’t arrive until early tomorrow morning.”

Liang Chen nodded. “Alright then, forget it.”

Disappointed, he turned and left.

Jing Xi watched as Liang Chen didn’t return to his residence but instead drove straight toward the southern town.

She remembered Long Yuezhi saying he liked these buns.

Could it be that he was the one craving them?

After hesitating in her space for a long time, she finally decided to steam a batch.

She wasn’t sure why, but the thought of Long Yuezhi drinking that bitter medicinal soup every day made her feel a little sorry for him.

What good were wealth and power if one didn’t even have the health to enjoy them?

As she steamed the buns, she couldn’t help but wonder why she was feeling sorry for him at all.

The man clearly lived a much better life than she did.

Her overflowing sense of empathy was truly a mystery.

When kneading the dough, she deliberately used only spring water.

The steamed buns came out of the pot, steaming hot.

To make it look like she had traveled a long distance, she waited for the buns to cool before heading out.

She exited her space through the back door of the place where Long Yue Zhi was staying. It was a blind spot—no one could see her.

Then, she carried her small basket and walked back and forth several times, making sure to work up a bit of sweat before finally heading toward the hotel.

But halfway there, she stopped.

She wasn’t related to Long Yue Zhi in any way, so why was she being so nice to him?

She took one step forward, then one step back.

She took two steps forward, then three steps back.

Jing Xi hesitated for over ten minutes, and in the end, she was 98% ready to give up and leave.

Just as she was about to retreat, a familiar male voice called out from above her.

“Hey, what are you doing, pacing around like that?”

She looked up to see Long Si’s teasing expression and gaze.

Jing Xi froze, suddenly remembering that Long Yue Zhi’s back window was right there. She hadn’t expected him to notice her.

“I, uh… nothing, nothing at all.”

Long Yue Zhi’s eyes landed on the small basket in her hand, which was covered with a clean white cloth. “What good food do you have there?”

How did he know it was something delicious?

Jing Xi: “……” Well, there was no hiding it now.

“Wait there, don’t move. I’m coming down.”

Before she could respond, he had already disappeared from the window.

Jing Xi waited for barely twenty or thirty seconds before Long Si came running over.

She immediately caught a whiff of a faint medicinal scent from him, and the next second, her basket was snatched away.

“Steamed buns! Damn, I was just craving these today! I told Liang Chen to buy some, but he couldn’t find any. Who would’ve thought you’d bring them?”

With that, he gestured for Jing Xi to follow him upstairs while carrying the basket himself.

Jing Xi trailed behind, unsure of what to say. The courtyard was filled with his men.

As they neared the room, she noticed that Yu Er, Chen Gang, and Liang Chen were all there too, watching her.

Why weren’t they helping Long Yue Zhi carry the buns?

Was he really so impatient that he had to do it himself?

“Xiao Jing! What brings you here?” Xiao Jie asked warmly.

Jing Xi thought to herself, Can I just say I came to deliver steamed buns to Long Si?

Would that sound inappropriate?

“She brought me steamed buns,” Long Si answered directly.

He entered the room, washed his hands, and as soon as Yu Er set the plates, he started eating heartily.

Despite his eagerness, his eating manner remained refined.

Meanwhile, Jing Xi stood awkwardly behind him.

Under the ambiguous gazes of Yu Er and the others, she could only pretend not to notice.

Xiao Jie commented, “Did you come from Beizhen? What a coincidence! If we’d known, we could’ve had Liang Chen bring you along!”

Jing Xi let out an awkward chuckle. “I was out running errands and just happened to pass by… I didn’t expect…”

Before she could finish, Long Yue Zhi suddenly stopped chewing.

“Running errands? So you’re saying… you didn’t come here specifically to bring me steamed buns?”

In her heart, Jing Xi screamed yes, but she couldn’t say it out loud.

With so many people watching, what if they misunderstood?

“No!” she denied immediately.

Long Si abruptly put down the bun, his expression turning odd.

“Then why were you standing under my window? Who are these buns for? That little cop? The one named Zhou? Or is it Li?”