When Huang Tao arrived at the kindergarten, there were still 5 minutes until school was out.
But outside the kindergarten gate, many parents were already waiting.
They were lined up in several rows.
Huang Tao queued at the back of the line.
Next to him, several grandmotherly parents from the next class were chatting!
"Let me tell you, my friend said there's a small restaurant over at West City Old Street, their pan-fried buns are so delicious."
"Oh! Which restaurant are you talking about?"
"Is it that breakfast place at the street corner? Their pan-fried buns are just so-so!"
"It shouldn't be that breakfast place! I heard from my friend that this place just opened today. When I get back, I'll ask her again. I remember she told me her granddaughter, who usually doesn't eat much, gobbled up five in one go and even asked for more after finishing!"
"Are they really that good?"
Huang Tao listened casually.
He didn't expect to hear rumors about pan-fried buns even at the kindergarten gate.
This is the power of word of mouth!
...
"The king told me to patrol the hills, I'll turn the world around, playing my drums, beating my gongs, life is full of rhythm..."
A light melody started playing inside the kindergarten, signaling that school was out.
Under the guidance of Teacher Ye and Xu Weiwei, Xuanxuan carried her little backpack and slung her small water bottle over her shoulder, forming a neat line with her classmates as they left the classroom.
They reached the kindergarten entrance.
At this moment, outside the kindergarten, it was crowded.
Where's Daddy?
Standing among her classmates, Xuanxuan was on her tiptoes, as usual, trying hard to spot her dad in the crowd of people waiting in line.
"Xuanxuan!"
"Daddy's here!"
Suddenly, a voice, more familiar than any other, reached her ears.
She immediately looked in the direction of the voice...
And spotted Huang Tao at once.
"Daddy!"
Her eyes lit up, her face breaking into a radiant smile, she wanted nothing more than to run straight into her daddy's arms.
But obedient as ever, she held back, stood quietly in line, waved at Huang Tao, and waited for the teachers to call her name.
When it was Huang Tao's turn, Ye Wen and Xu Weiwei, both smiling, greeted him: "Xuanxuan's Daddy, hello! Does your shop sell pan-fried buns at night?"
"Huh?"
Huang Tao was momentarily stunned, then nodded: "We do sell them at night. If you two have time, do come by and try some."
"We were just thinking about it!"
Their eyes gleamed with anticipation.
During their afternoon snack, they had deliberately asked Xuanxuan for the shop's address, but Xuanxuan wasn't sure if her dad was open in the evening, which worried them for hours!
Now that they had definite information, their anxieties were eased.
They suddenly felt relieved and cheerful.
Huang Tao smiled slightly: "Alright, then I'll save some for you."
"Thank you, we'll swing by after work to buy some."
Teacher Ye's lips curved into a joyful arc. She waved at Xuanxuan, signaling she could go home: "Xuanxuan..."
Upon hearing the call, Xuanxuan hurriedly ran toward her dad.
"Slow down..."
Huang Tao quickly stepped forward, reaching out with both hands to scoop her up into his arms.
"Teacher Ye, Teacher Xu, I'll head back to the shop first. You can come over after you finish work."
"Mmm, alright."
"Goodbye, Teacher Ye, goodbye, Teacher Xu."
Xuanxuan wrapped one arm tightly around Huang Tao's neck, waving at the teachers with the other, politely bidding them farewell.
Then, she whispered into Huang Tao's ear: "Daddy, I dreamed of pan-fried buns."
"Did you now! When we get home, Daddy will make some pan-fried buns for you, along with some pork congee with century egg!"
"Yay! Yay! Going to eat pan-fried buns..."
Xuanxuan's joyful cheers floated over to Qianqian and the others.
They were so envious of Xuanxuan, being able to eat such delicious pan-fried buns every day.
They cast their gazes at Huang Tao, who stood tall and handsome, and who made such delicious pan-fried buns, their eyes filled with longing.
Qianqian looked up at her own messy-looking dad with his unkempt beard and couldn't help but pout.
Sigh!
Another day wishing for a different dad.
Mr. Qian, caught off guard by his daughter's gaze, Jiangling: (•ิ_•ิ)?
Jiangling instinctively touched his own face, surprised: "Qianqian, is there something on Daddy's face?"
"Nope!"
Qianqian shook her head, honestly expressing her desire: "Daddy, Qianqian wants to eat pan-fried buns."
"Wanting to eat pan-fried buns is easy! Daddy will take you to Fuji to eat!"
"No, no! Qianqian wants the pan-fried buns made by Xuanxuan's Daddy. Qianqian wants to go to Xuanxuan's Daddy's place to eat..."
Jiangling: "..."
Sweetheart, you're making things difficult for your old dad on purpose!
Jiangling, who didn't know that Huang Tao had opened a restaurant, was quite troubled by his daughter's request.
"Qianqian, Daddy can't agree to this request. Be good, Daddy will take you to Fuji to eat pan-fried buns, and you can eat as many as you want."
"No, no, Qianqian doesn't want that. Qianqian wants only the pan-fried buns made by Xuanxuan's dad."
Qianqian shook her head stubbornly.
Oh dear little ancestor!
What are you making a fuss about? Do you really think causing a scene will make Xuanxuan's dad cook pan-fried buns for you?
Jiangling held Qianqian's backpack, looking helpless.
Actually, this scene wasn't just happening with Jiangling and Qianqian. Outside the kindergarten gate, there were several kids clamoring for the pan-fried buns made by Xuanxuan's dad.
They were all Qianqian's classmates.
Among them, Haohao made the loudest, most pitiful noise!
"Why are all these kids shouting about wanting to eat the pan-fried buns made by Xuanxuan's dad?" The parents couldn't help but ask existential questions.
"Parents, don't worry, here's what happened..."
Fortunately, Teacher Ye Wen, who knew a bit about the situation, explained to the parents how Xuanxuan had shared delicious food with her classmates that morning.
After hearing what Ye Wen said, the parents smiled wryly.
"So, it turns out that after eating Xuanxuan's pan-fried buns, my child is now fixated on them!"
"Parents, if your kids want to eat them, you can take them to Xuanxuan's dad's restaurant. It just opened today. I checked, and they're open tonight too."
If it's available for purchase, then it's not a big deal!
"That's great! Teacher, could you tell us where Xuanxuan's dad's restaurant is located?"
"It's over on West City Old Street. The restaurant's name seems to be... So Delicious."
"Alright! I'll take the kid over there now."
Before the words were even fully spoken, all the parents took their kids and got into their cars.
Heading toward West City Old Street.
...
In front of Huang Tao's small shop, customers had already started to arrive.
The first to arrive was veteran driver Yang Zhi. He had something to do at noon and couldn't come, so he made a point to come before his shift change to have a good meal to make up for missing the pan-fried buns at noon.
But no matter how much he hurried over, what greeted him was a locked door.
There was no information on the door.
"Damn! They aren't open tonight, are they? Is this owner only doing breakfast business..."
He regretted not asking Huang Tao about the business hours this morning.
What should he do now?
Since he's already here, he might as well wait and see.
Other customers who came for the pan-fried buns also found the door tightly closed.
So they all started discussing it enthusiastically.
"Huh? Where did the owner go? Why's the door closed?"
"What's going on? They were open at noon, why aren't they open now?"
Upon hearing this, Yang Zhi hurriedly asked, "You mean the owner was open at noon?"
"Yeah! They even launched a new preserved egg and lean meat porridge at noon! The taste, clicking tongue... incredible." Lao Liu smacked his lips, reminiscing.
Old Qin lightly shook his folding fan and leisurely explained, "The preserved egg and lean meat porridge is soft and glutinous in the mouth, the pork is chewy, the preserved egg is smooth and appetizing, the greens are soft and fragrant, and together, it's like an electric current sparking on the tongue..."
Yang Zhi: "..."
Feeling like he missed out on a fortune!
"Of course, compared to me, it's still a tiny bit lacking..." Old Qin shook his fan, looking like a worldly wise man.
Lao Liu, who couldn't stand Old Qin's pretentious manner, bluntly exposed him: "Old Qin, that's not what you said at noon..."
Old Qin glared at Lao Liu: I'm at least a five-star chef, don't I have any dignity!
"Old Qin, why are you glaring at me? I'm just speaking the truth. You clearly said at noon that the owner's preserved egg and lean meat porridge compared to yours is..."
Before he could finish, Old Qin covered his mouth.
Old Qin whispered in Lao Liu's ear, "Lao Liu, give me some face, don't say it, alright? I'll treat you to this meal."
What do you take me for, Old Liu thought?
Would I lose my conscience for a meal?
Lao Liu proudly extended two fingers.
Old Qin nodded: "Two meals, two meals, deal!"
The customers paid no attention to the old guys' antics.
They only cared about when Boss Huang would return.
An easygoing old grandpa suggested, "The owner should be back around meal time. After all, who would miss out on good business?"
Old Jiang nodded in agreement, "Yeah! It's only a little past 4 o'clock now, still early!"
"Then why did you come so early, Old Jiang?"
"I... I missed it at noon, so I made a special effort to come early!" Old Jiang looked regretful.
"What a coincidence, I missed it at noon too."
Hearing what these two old men were saying, Yang Zhi felt slightly more balanced inside.
But Boss Huang, do you know I'm waiting here for you...
Please come back, come back. We're waiting for you! We're waiting for your pan-fried buns...