C16 Delicious Soup Dumplings

"What's that smell? Why is it so incredibly fragrant?"

"Right? What could be that aromatic?"

"I'm getting really hungry."

While Du Binn was tucked away in the kitchen, savoring the thought of his delicious soup dumplings, the air outside had grown chilly. A jogging team was making their way along the village path, and the young runners couldn't resist glancing over at Du Binn's shop, their pace coming to a halt.

This was the official morning jog for Jiang Jiafei's company employees, who were in the midst of a training session. As they jogged past Du Binn's shop today, the tantalizing scent wafting from the store prompted a collective murmur of curiosity.

"The aroma's coming from that little shop over there," someone in the group called out.

No sooner had they spoken than all eyes turned toward Du Binn's shop.

"What are you all waiting for? Pick up the pace and keep running!"

A stern voice suddenly barked from the back of the group.

The runners glanced behind them and then pressed on, only to see a stern-faced man catching up from behind. This was their trainer, Instructor Wang.

Instructor Wang had caught the scent of the soup dumplings from afar, and as he approached Du Binn's storefront, the aroma grew even more intense.

"So that's why everyone slowed down—they all wanted to eat here."

Instructor Wang couldn't help but salivate at the thought, musing to himself, "I'll wrap up training early today so everyone can have some free time. Then I can swing by and give this place a try."

Ten minutes later, back at the training base, Instructor Wang addressed the perspiring group, "You've all been performing well these past couple of days. As a reward, you're getting half a day off to enjoy as you please."

"Thank you, Instructor!"

The crowd erupted into cheers and made a beeline for Du Binn's shop, with Instructor Wang hot on their heels.

By now, Du Binn had officially opened for business. The moment the door swung open, the rich scent of his cooking billowed out, filling the village path with the irresistible smell of his specialty dumplings.

Wang Jianqiang, passing by Du Binn's shop and enticed by the aroma, strode in confidently.

"Binn, what's this amazing dish you're cooking up? It smells incredible!" Wang Jianqiang exclaimed, swallowing hard in anticipation.

"Qiang, good to see you! I've just whipped up a new recipe today—it's out of this world. Want to try a serving?"

"What's the new dish?" Wang Jianqiang asked, his eyes alight with excitement as he looked at Du Binn.

"Soup dumplings, fresh out of the kitchen."

Wang Jianqiang was about to express his eagerness to try the soup dumplings when he recalled the osmanthus and lotus seed porridge Du Binn had previously sold. A bit sheepishly, he inquired, "Binn, how much are you charging for these soup dumplings?"

"Three hundred and twenty-three yuan per serving."

Wang Jianqiang had braced himself for a steep price, yet the amount Du Binn quoted still took him aback.

"Boss, what other tasty dishes do you have here?"

While Wang Jianqiang was still reeling from the surprise, the trainees hurried over.

"Here's the menu. What would you folks like?"

"What was that delicious smell coming from your place just now?" one of the women asked eagerly, before even glancing at the menu.

"That was the aroma of our new soup dumplings. If you're interested, give them a try—I guarantee you'll be delighted."

Du Binn himself was still savoring the flavor of the soup dumplings and eagerly recommended them to the newcomers.

"I assure you, you've never tasted soup dumplings quite like these."

"Come on, boss, everyone's had soup dumplings," scoffed a short man, eyeing Du Binn with skepticism.

The short man, hailing from a wealthy family, was no stranger to fine dining and was unconvinced by Du Binn's claims.

"I'm not exaggerating. Try them and see for yourself," Du Binn retorted confidently.

"Fine, I'll give them a shot. I'm curious to see what sets your soup dumplings apart from the rest."

As the short man was riled up by Du Binn's challenge, the woman who had spoken earlier tugged at his sleeve.

"Zhang Jiahao, hold on. Look at these prices."

She stared at the menu, incredulous at the cost of the dishes—she'd never encountered such pricey fare.

Zhang Jiahao then turned his attention to the menu in her hands, and his eyes widened in shock.

"Boss, are you sure you didn't miss a decimal point on this menu?"

"The prices are accurate; they're indeed that high."

Now it was Du Binn's turn to regard Zhang Jiahao with a hint of disdain.

Zhang Jiahao gasped in shock, "Have you lost your mind? This food is so pricey, you'd think it was sprinkled with gold!"

"No gold, but it sure is tasty," came the reply.

Du Binn had encountered customers balking at his prices before and was no longer phased by it.

"This place is a rip-off. We should just go back to where we came from," the woman who had spoken earlier suggested.

"Exactly. It's a tiny, rundown joint charging sky-high prices. They must think they're running a five-star hotel."

"It's a total scam. How good can a bun possibly be?"

The crowd started murmuring among themselves, and soon, a throng had gathered around Du Binn's shop.

Du Binn surveyed the crowd with a look of contempt, choosing not to waste words on them.

That's when Wang Jianqiang, who had been observing from the sidelines, couldn't hold back any longer. He stepped forward and addressed them, "What's all this noise about? How can you judge the cooking without even trying it? I'll have you know the owner here is incredibly skilled. It sounds to me like you're just griping about the price because you can't afford it."

"Who says we can't afford it? I just don't want to be taken for a ride."

"Yeah, I bet you're in cahoots with him, trying to con us into eating here."

The barrage of accusations left Wang Jianqiang at a loss for words.

With his limited education and lack of eloquence, Wang Jianqiang was no match for these corporate sharpshooters.

The clamor was giving Du Binn a headache. This commotion in front of his shop was the last thing he needed.

So, Du Binn bellowed, "Enough with the shouting! If you're not eating, then get out of the way. Don't block my business!"

In that moment, Du Binn's gaze turned icy, and the formidable aura he exuded bore down on the crowd.

These young professionals had never encountered such an intense stare, not even from their own boss, Jiang Jiafei.

Realizing that Du Binn wasn't trying to deceive them, the crowd instinctively stepped back.

Just then, Instructor Wang approached. Noticing everyone clustered just outside the entrance, he inquired, "Why are you all standing out here instead of going inside?"

"Instructor, I... we..."

Zhang Jiahao was too mortified to admit that he had been kicked out by the shopkeeper, and his words faltered, leaving him unable to articulate the situation.

Instructor Wang, noticing the distressed looks on everyone's faces, grew concerned. "What's going on with all of you? Why do you look like this?"