I've already reached the Nascent Soul stage, and you're saying I didn't time travel?

Chapter 16 Is there still such an operation?

I had just handed the steamed buns to the middle school student next to the old man in the t-shirt when I saw several more customers arrive:
"Boss, two mushroom and bok choy buns, please."

"I want two too."

I want four.

……

Han Dahai quickly handed over the steamed bun.

Watching them leave happily, and then looking at the empty steamer, Han Dahai was completely baffled.

"Why are people eating steamed buns at midday?"

"Do you still want the bag?"

Cui He asked from inside the house.

Han Dahai hesitated for a moment, glancing at the old man in the t-shirt's retreating figure:

"Take it."

We had just finished steaming three baskets when a whole new batch arrived.

Seeing the steamer basket emptied in an instant, Han Dahai had no time to hesitate:

"Wrap more! Wrap even more!"

"What's going on? Is it Steamed Bun Festival today?"

He simply went in and packed it all together.

Seeing Han Dahai and Cui He working up a sweat, Wei Songlin was happy to watch the spectacle from the sidelines.

"You two need to work harder and pack more. If you don't sell them all at noon, you can continue selling them at night. If you don't sell them at night, freeze them overnight and you can continue selling them tomorrow morning."

"I'm worried that not many people will want to buy your mushroom and bok choy buns later on."

"Mushroom and bok choy buns? Looks like we've come at just the right time! Boss, bring a whole basket!"

Wei Songlin's smile froze.

A young couple walked past him and happily sat down in the shop.

The small shop quickly filled up with people.

Basket after basket of freshly baked mushroom and bok choy buns were served.

Later customers, seeing that there were no seats left, all crowded around the steamer.

As time went on, the number of people did not decrease, but increased, to the point that they were almost crowding onto the curb.

"What's going on?"

"Why are there so many people?"

"I just went to the toilet."

"Damn, I live in the next neighborhood."

"What's next door? I live in the apartment building right behind this shop."

"This is outrageous! I just woke up late and came to buy some breakfast, did you guys really have to surround the steamed bun shop?!"

……

The crowd was chattering and discussing amongst themselves.

At this moment, several customers who had already bought steamed buns walked out from the front with smiles on their faces.

One of them even picked up a steaming hot bun and started eating it right there.

Seeing the look of enjoyment on his face, everyone couldn't help but swallow hard.

An older woman couldn't help but ask:

"Hey bro, is it good?"

"It's not a question of whether it tastes good or not, it's a question of whether I can buy more if I don't buy enough."

As he spoke, he turned around and ran back to the end of the line.

Seeing this, everyone became even hungrier.

Before long, Han Dahai's shouts came from ahead:
"Only two baskets left, don't line up anymore, the mushroom and bok choy buns are almost sold out."

The crowd immediately stirred, and someone shouted:
"Aren't these steamed buns freshly made? I can wait!"

"Don't wait any longer! There's no filling left inside."

Upon hearing this, everyone immediately objected:

"I've been waiting for almost half an hour, and you're telling me the steamed buns are sold out?!"

"The boss is being unfair! Even if you're washing the mushrooms on the spot, you should at least wrap up the buns!"

"Exactly! I drove over 30 kilometers just to eat a bun from your place, do you know how hard that was for me?"

"Aren't there two cages left? I'll take the rest, here's a hundred!"

"What the hell are you talking about, offering a hundred for nothing? I'll pay two hundred!"

"three hundred!"

"one thousand!!"

He pulled a thick wad of cash from his wallet, slammed it on the table without even looking at it, grabbed a basket of steamed buns, and ran off.

Everyone nearby was stunned.

"Holy crap! Is this even possible?!"

Immediately, everyone followed suit, some scanning QR codes, some paying in cash, and immediately started using the self-service system. Some reached for the steamed buns, their eyes watering from the heat, but they didn't let go. Some were fighting fiercely with the people next to them over plastic bags. Others simply followed the example of that man and picked up the steamer basket and walked out.

The scene was chaotic.

"Oh no! My steamer! My steamer!"

"No, you've got the wrong one, that's a beef bun!"

"Brother, you've overpaid. Three steamed buns shouldn't cost a hundred!"

...In just a short while, all the steamed buns were gone, and even the steamers were taken away.

Han Dahai stared in disbelief at the empty steamer.

This is the first time in all my years of selling steamed buns that I've actually sold out the entire steamer basket.

What, are you guys steaming buns too?
While Han Dahai was still in a daze, Wei Songlin, who was nearby, turned his eyes and quickly called out to the remaining customers:

"Everyone come and see! Our shop also sells mushroom and bok choy buns. They taste absolutely amazing! Everyone who's tried them raves about them. They're highly praised by the neighbors!"

Upon hearing this, the crowd immediately became restless:
"They both sell steamed buns, and they're both called Huhu Steamed Bun Shop, so they must be the same company, right?"

"What kind of eyesight do you have? That's a teapot, not a pot."

"Damn, one has 'Ya' on the bottom and the other has 'Ye' on the bottom. Are we playing a game of spot the difference here?"

"Anyway, they're both mushroom and bok choy buns, and they're from next door, so the taste shouldn't be much different, right?"

"No, look at his signboard, you can't buy from the ones with green signs!"

"What's wrong with green signs? Do you find green signs an eyesore like the stock market?"

"They use pork scraps to make buns. You can eat them if you want."

"Damn it, you just avoided gutter oil, and now you're trying to trick me with steamed buns?"

"I can't stand these unscrupulous vendors! I'd rather buy steamed buns to feed my dogs than buy from them!"

……

The public was abuzz with discussion, and the voices grew louder, with various accusations and angry outbursts.

Wei Songlin initially tried to argue his way out, but later there were too many people cursing at him, and he couldn't win the argument at all.

Even the customers who originally bought steamed buns from his shop, after hearing the surrounding discussions, all left with suspicious expressions.

Wei Songlin's face turned pale with anger.

Seeing that Han Dahai's mushroom and rapeseed buns were all sold out, and wanting to make the trip worthwhile, everyone started buying other buns such as beef buns, red bean buns, and braised pork buns.

In no time, they bought out the entire steamed bun shop.

Glancing at his empty shop and seeing Han Dahai and Cui He's smiling faces, Wei Songlin couldn't help but say sourly:
"Business is really good! You've sold out so many buns. I bet if you keep selling them for another year or two, you can raise enough money for Wenwen's surgery."

The smiles on Han Dahai and Cui He's faces froze instantly.

The steamed buns did sell very well and were indeed very popular.

But how long would it take to save enough money for surgery by selling steamed buns?
Wenwen couldn't wait that long at all.

Just as the two were feeling troubled, a middle-aged man in a suit who had been observing from a distance suddenly walked up to the store and asked:
"Boss, are you selling your recipe for mushroom and bok choy buns? I'll offer 100,000 yuan to buy it outright."

"Ten...hundred thousand?"

Not to mention Han Dahai and Cui He, even Wei Songlin standing to the side was stunned, saying in disbelief:

"His recipe for one steamed bun can sell for 100,000? You must be a fraud."

The middle-aged man didn't respond. He simply took out ten stacks of fresh banknotes from his briefcase and placed them on the steamer in front of Han Dahai.

"I just withdrew this money from the bank. If you two are willing, we can make the transaction now."

"If you think there's something wrong with the money, we can go to a nearby bank and have a teller check it."

Han Dahai and Cui He were both surprised and uncertain.

Wei Songlin's mouth dropped open, and he felt as if the whole world had gone crazy and he no longer recognized it.

Buying a recipe for a steamed bun for 100,000 yuan? Are you kidding me?
"Old Chang, it was wrong of you to snatch it away from everyone beforehand."

A fat man came running up, panting heavily.

"Such a big pie, at least let everyone compete fairly."

Upon seeing him and several familiar faces rushing towards them, the middle-aged man in the suit immediately frowned.

The fat man glanced at the money on the steamer, then at the flustered Han Dahai and his wife, instantly understanding the situation, and said with a smile:
"Don't be afraid, brothers and sisters. We're all in the investment circle, specializing in investing money. Your steamed bun shop's mushroom and rapeseed buns have become extremely famous thanks to that person's promotion. We've heard that people from outside the province and even abroad are rushing to buy them. With our help, it will be easy to help you build your brand and open stores all over the country. Don't let a mere 100,000 yuan blind you. Who would you be embarrassed by with such a small amount of money?"

"I can add money!"

The middle-aged man in the suit said in a deep voice.

"Who can't afford to pay more?"

Those who arrived from behind began to speak:
"If you can buy it out, how about I offer a million?"

"One million? Haha, Lao Zhao, you've really gone mad. I'll put up two million, consider it an investment."

"Three million, I only want 30% of the shares."

"Wow, the valuation has already reached ten million so quickly?"

"Even if you don't trust Qi Xuan, you should at least trust those guests who are rushing here like crazy, right?"

"I just bought a few steamed buns from someone at a higher price to try them, and the owner's skills are excellent. I'm investing!"

……

"Gentlemen, please stop for a moment."

Seeing that the argument was getting more and more heated, Han Dahai stretched out his hands and hurriedly called out:
“I think I understand what’s going on now. To be honest, I don’t think our steamed bun shop’s recipe is worth that much money, nor do I think I can run a chain store well. But if you really want to buy it, just buy the recipe. My daughter is currently hospitalized and urgently needs a large sum of money for treatment.”

Upon hearing this, everyone hurriedly said:
"Boss, I have high hopes for you. You can focus on getting your daughter cured first, and then we can discuss the shop's operation later. If you don't have enough money, I can lend you 500,000 yuan first."

"Business is business, and life is life. The child is in trouble, so we have to deal with that first. Which hospital is she in now? I know the director of your provincial hospital. If needed, we can transfer her there."

"Why go to the provincial hospital? I have many friends in Ruijin. They can arrange a consultation with specialists for you directly."

"Then I have to mention Peking Union Medical College Hospital."

"If the condition is complicated, you can also go abroad for treatment. I have some connections in island nations and the United States."

……

Watching them argue and listening to them mention the names of those top hospitals, Han Dahai and Cui He exchanged a glance, suddenly felt a lump in their throats, and tears streamed down their faces.

Wenwen, there's hope!

(End of this chapter)