CHAPTER 37: CHAPTER 37: I GUESS THIS MAKES UP FOR PAST REGRETS

The fact that the First Canteen also sells soup dumplings was just a minor episode in Jiang Yu’s busy life. He heard about it and didn’t really pay much attention.

In fact, Jiangzhou University spans a vast area. Just the main road that runs from south to north across the campus takes nearly an hour to traverse from end to end, let alone going around the entire campus.

And the six canteens on campus are scattered across different areas, not close to each other, each with its own relatively fixed customer base.

This is precisely why the competition among the six canteens isn’t actually that fierce.

As for canteens, the taste is pretty much the same everywhere, so there isn’t much of a difference between eating at one place or another.

Given that, it’s natural to eat wherever is closer, as the goal is simply to fill your stomach.

If you really want to change your taste buds, it’s better to gather some friends on the weekend and go to the city for a big meal!

Even now, with the sudden appearance of the "Jiang Family Soup Dumplings" shop in the Second Canteen, which has driven the food lovers of the school into a frenzy, it doesn’t actually affect too much.

After all, the "Jiang Family Soup Dumplings" shop is too small, with only four people on site, including the owner Jiang Yu and "temp worker" Hu Zhihai.

With just a few people running such a small shop, no matter how delicious the food is, how many students can they possibly feed?

Let’s not forget, Jiangzhou University has nearly 40,000 faculty and students!

...

After finishing the elective class, it was almost noon by the time Jiang Yu returned to the Second Canteen.

The canteen was, as usual, bustling with people, lively and brimming with the aroma of various foods in the air, making one’s mouth water.

A long queue remained in front of the dumpling shop window, with students stretching their necks, eyes filled with a bit of impatience and eagerness, leaning forward as they occasionally urged,

"Hurry up in front, everyone’s waiting!"

"What are you dawdling for? Like a woman!"

"After buying, quickly step aside, don’t block the way, everyone’s starving!"

"..."

The tone had a slight edge, but no one took it to heart.

After all, anyone would have a hard time keeping their temper in check when hungry.

As they say, nothing is more important than food.

As he walked through the canteen, Jiang Yu saw a sturdy male student with a buzz cut sitting at the table, eating heartily.

In front of him were two trays of soup dumplings and a bowl of hot and sour soup. At that moment, one tray of dumplings was gone, and there was only half a bowl of soup left.

"This fellow has quite an appetite!"

Jiang Yu remarked to himself, ready to walk past.

It’s rare to see someone in the canteen eating two trays of dumplings. One tray along with a bowl of soup is already quite filling for most people.

As for those who can eat three trays and still down a large bowl of soup, aside from that tall student in the morning, there are none.

That tall student didn’t fare well either, ultimately ending up in the hospital after overstuffing himself!

At this moment, another person sat opposite Brother Ping and asked in surprise,

"Eh? Why are you eating alone? Where’s your girlfriend?"

"Girlfriend? We broke up!"

"Broke up? Are you kidding me? Didn’t you eat together in the morning?"

"We broke up right after morning breakfast."

"Ah? What happened?"

"You know, ever since the soup dumpling shop opened here at the Second Canteen, it’s mostly been me coming early to line up and buy the food. I buy it before she leisurely arrives."

Brother Ping stuffed a dumpling into his mouth, chewed a few times, swallowed, then continued,

"This morning, I bought two trays of dumplings and two bowls of soup, but after waiting for a while, she didn’t show up, and I couldn’t resist eating them myself.

I finished my portion but still felt a little hungry, so I had one of hers.

When she finally arrived, her face changed. She said I didn’t love her, that other boyfriends wouldn’t eat themselves, always letting the delicious food go to their girlfriends, but I always share everything with her!

Sharing was bearable, but today was just too much, even stealing one of her dumplings!"

The person across was stunned: "Just, just over a dumpling?"

"Uh-huh! She said if I can’t even let her have a bite, always competing with her, how can I claim to love her? Might as well break up!"

The person across was silent for a moment, then suddenly slapped the table and exclaimed,

"Good riddance to bad rubbish!"

"Hmm?"

"I mean, your girlfriend—no, ex-girlfriend! Your ex was too self-centered. These dumplings you queued up for, why should she get to eat them and not you?"

"You mean breaking up was right?"

"Of course! Such a girlfriend isn’t worth it! Look at you now, with these tasty soup dumplings, eating two trays by yourself—aren’t they delicious?

If you have a girlfriend, you’d have to split it, and she’d still complain you’re not letting her have them. Who needs that kind of girlfriend?"

"You make a lot of sense!"

"Trust me, you won’t regret it!"

"..."

Nearby, Jiang Yu listened in astonishment. Brother Ping’s classmate has quite the skills at persuasion, doesn’t he?

However, he wondered whether if Brother Ping couldn’t find another partner in the future, he’d be so angry he’d end up beating him up.

Shaking his head, Jiang Yu didn’t dwell on it further. He just felt a bit reflective; life on campus is indeed colorful and rich. Back then, he was so busy working part-time for some income that he couldn’t pause and enjoy it.

Now that he’s opened a shop in the Second Canteen, he no longer has to keep his head down and race forward, and can finally take some time to savor life.

Isn’t this making up for past regrets?

Returning to the shop, Hu Zhihai and Yan Tongtong were busy with the operations, the place was bustling with activity.

Seeing the two of them working in perfect sync, one serving the steamed soup dumplings from the pot while the other ladles out the hot and sour soup, Jiang Yu decided not to get in their way.

Heading to the back kitchen, Lu Shuwu was still seated at the countertop, systematically making the soup dumplings.

Seeing Jiang Yu come in, he didn’t get up but glanced over, a flash of delight crossing his face, and said,

"The boss is back! By the way, about that new dish you mentioned..."

"No rush, you’ll find out soon enough."

Jiang Yu placed his backpack in a corner, walked to the sink to carefully wash his hands, dried them, then sat down next to Lu Shuwu, picking up a rolling pin to start rolling out dough,

"I see the dumplings in the front are almost sold out; let’s speed up and make a few more so the students in line don’t have to wait too long."

"Oh, okay!"

Lu Shuwu responded and didn’t say much else, speeding up his work considerably.

"It’s about time to introduce a new dish, or else it might be hard to keep it going."

While skillfully rolling out dough, Jiang Yu pondered to himself,

"The question is, what dish should be added?"

Thinking and thinking, he couldn’t resist pulling up the virtual panel from his mind.