1984: Starting from a bankrupt Sichuan restaurant

Chapter 105 Feels Like I've Been Set Up by Capital (Bonus Chapter for 2000 Monthly Tickets!)
Zhou Yan said with a smile, "I took a look from afar. The cow that the old man slaughtered today has very long meat fibers and the color of the meat doesn't look red enough. This means that the cow is too old and doesn't have much vitality. The meat will be dry and tough. If you use it for blanching, the taste will be not as good as good brisket."

Zhou Miao nodded after listening. As expected of his son, he had good judgment.

Today Zhou Yan bought eight pig heads, two more than yesterday. Zhang Laosan brought him three more from other knife makers, proving he's a core supplier.

"Zhou Miao, why are you here buying meat? Aren't you slaughtering a cow to sell meat today?" Old Zhang asked Zhou Miao in surprise as he helped load the pig's head into the basket.

Zhou Miao is a well-known iron man; except for three days off during the Chinese New Year, he basically works all year round slaughtering cattle.

Zhou Miao explained, "I no longer slaughter cattle and sell meat myself. Now I help out at Zhou Yan's shop. I only go when someone asks me to slaughter a cow."

"That's right, you're a really capable kid. You and your wife are going to have a good life in the future," Zhang Laosan said with a hint of envy.

During this period, Zhou Yan has been taking a significant amount of meat from him. He's been ordering a lot of second-cut pork, and from one pig's head to four. Today, he even ordered eight pig's trotters. This business is probably too hot to handle.

Moreover, this is only the goods he got from his shop. Zhou Yan is still getting meat from Xu Lao Er, and he probably gets about the same amount as him.

Zhang Laosan's eldest son is about the same age as Zhou Yan. He spends his days wandering the streets, or catching fish and eels, living a carefree life.

This old man was constantly worried about how to get him a job at the factory.

Look at Zhou Yan, he's already old enough to arrange a job for his father.

No, I still have to give that unfilial son a good beating when I get back!
A son is better than a son, it'll drive an old man crazy.

There are still four chickens. The current demand for cold-dressed chicken should be around four. Zhou Yan would rather have a slight shortage than rashly increase the supply. If they can't be sold, it will be a huge loss.

In addition, Zhou Yan also bought twelve catties of pig liver.

One serving of stir-fried pork liver uses six ounces of pork liver, which is enough for twenty servings.

We're launching new products today, just testing the waters first.

After buying groceries and returning to the restaurant, Aunt Zhao had already gotten up, and Zhao Hong and Zhou Lihui had just arrived.

"Didn't I tell you to sleep more and get a good night's rest?" Zhou Miao asked Zhao Tieying, somewhat puzzled.

“I want to sleep too, but it’s not a good time. People who get up at this time every day to work are making me lie in bed staring blankly even more torturous,” Zhao Tieying laughed. “But I’ve slept two hours more than before, and I’m sleeping very comfortably. Why don’t you go kill the chicken? Zhao Hong and I will handle the offal; we’re much more skilled than you.”

"Okay." Zhou Miao picked up the chicken and went outside to bleed it.

"Let's get the chicken blood ready! We'll make some chicken blood pudding for lunch, it'll be delicious." Zhao Tieying took a big bowl and went out, sprinkling a small handful of salt into it.

"Then bring out the chicken giblets too, let's make a stir-fried chicken giblets dish for lunch," Zhou Yan called out.

Four big roosters, their blood and giblets, enough to make two dishes.

After mastering the recipe for stir-fried pork liver, Zhou Yan became increasingly interested in trying different ways of cooking other ingredients.

Chicken giblets hold a place in Sichuan cuisine, and he particularly enjoys eating Qianjiang chicken giblets, which are especially good with rice.

Of course, pickled pepper chicken giblets and stir-fried chicken giblets are also quite delicious.

Since it's just family eating it for work meals, at most it might be overcooked and lack a bit of texture.

He had seen his master make stir-fried chicken giblets before, and he still had some recollection of it. He had a general idea of ​​how to cut them, the order in which to add the ingredients, and the cooking time, so he wouldn't mess it up too badly.

Comrade Lao Zhou is a skilled worker. He cleaned up the four chickens perfectly and also took care of all sixteen pig trotters and eight pig heads, saving Zhou Yan a lot of trouble.

Zhou Yan now understands why top chefs all want an excellent chopping board operator.

That's so convenient!

What a wonderful thing it is for a chef to be able to focus on cooking without having to worry about the basic preparation of ingredients.

"Dad, you don't have any work to do this morning. Take your fishing rod and go sit by the river to fish. Just remember to come back for lunch." After breakfast, Zhou Yan stuffed a ten-yuan note into Old Zhou's hand and said in a low voice, "Take this to buy fishing hooks and lines. Sharpening your axe won't delay your work. We can't skimp on the money we need to spend, otherwise how will we catch any big fish?"

"Okay." Old Zhou immediately put the money in his pocket, went to ask Aunt Zhao for permission, and then happily carried a small bucket and a small hoe out the door.

A man's happiness is that simple.

Excellent employees deserve significant investment.

"Mom, aren't you going to stop me from fishing?" Zhou Yan asked with a smile.

“Your father never slacks off when he’s working, so it’s his turn to relax after he’s done,” Aunt Zhao said with a smile. “Fishing doesn’t cost anything, so let him go have some fun.”

"Mom, you're such a good wife." Zhou Yan gave her a thumbs up.

Fishing isn't entirely free; it's just that my son quietly pays for it.

Before the factory closed at noon, Zhou Yan cut half a pig's trotter for Zhou Momo and moved her special little stool so she could sit and eat at the restaurant entrance.

Then a sign was put up behind her that read: New braised pig's trotters! Shocking price: 1.2 yuan each! Each trotter weighs about 1.2 jin (500 grams).

Then a small arrow pointed to Zhou Momo: She ate half of it!

Final note: A total of 15 units were available today, with 8 already pre-ordered.

The workers were furious when they saw the sign.

"Braised pig's trotters are 1.2 yuan each! That's 30 cents cheaper than what Aunt Zhao said yesterday!"

"Even half of it is this big, it'll be so satisfying to eat! Sister Wu, shall we buy one together?"

"Only seven left after they just went on sale?"

"Aunt Zhao, I want a pig's trotter!"

Limited quantities available, first come, first served, and someone immediately placed an order.

The price of 1.2 yuan shattered most people's expectations.

I was originally going to buy them for 1.5 yuan each, but now they're only 1.2 yuan each. The price gives you the illusion that you're making a profit of 30 cents. And these braised pig's trotters weigh 1.2 jin (approximately 600 grams)!
This price is truly a bargain!

Then look at Zhou Momo, who is intently gnawing on a braised pig's trotter, eating with such relish.

Seven braised pig trotters were practically devoured in seconds.

Zhou Momo hadn't even taken a few bites of her pig's trotters when the braised pig's trotters she endorsed were already sold out.

This speed shocked Zhao Tieying.

what?

Seven pig trotters, all gone in a minute?

Zhou Yan came out and wrote on the board: "Braised pig's trotters sold out today."

The guests who arrived a little later felt as if the sky had fallen when they saw Zhou Momo, who was gnawing on a pig's trotter with her head covered, and the words written on the board.

what happened?
What did they miss?
How come they're sold out so soon after I got off work?!

I feel like I've been set up by capital.

"Aunt Zhao, is there half left?" A female worker pointed at Zhou Momo and asked Zhao Tieying in a low voice.

Aunt Zhao looked at Zhou Yan, who hadn't entered the kitchen yet, and indeed there was still half left.

"Sorry, we offer a service to cut the meat, but we don't sell half of it," Zhou Yan said with a smile.

Half a pig's trotter is the hardest to sell because you can never cut it perfectly in half. Customers will always have the misconception that their half is smaller, which may lead to disputes with the restaurant.

It's different when serving it to guests.

When the sliced ​​braised pig's trotters are served, who eats which half is a matter of internal contradiction among the people.

“Okay…” The female worker was a little disappointed.

Zhou Yan smiled and said, "If you want to eat, you can make a reservation for tomorrow. I will decide how much to braise based on the number of pig trotters reserved, and give priority to customers who have made reservations."

The female worker's eyes lit up: "Great! I'll reserve one for tomorrow noon!"

“Okay, I’ll remember that,” Zhao Tieying replied.

The guests began to order, and Zhou Yan went into the kitchen to get busy.

Wang Wei arrived quite early today; she was thinking about the braised pig's trotter she had reserved while she was on her way to work this morning.

I was a little surprised to see the sign at the entrance; braised pig's trotters were only 1.2 yuan each?
I feel like I've already earned three cents before I've even eaten it.

"MoMo, your braids look so pretty today," Wang Wei greeted Zhou MoMo.

Zhou Momo looked up and gave Wang Wei a greasy smile: "Sister is very well-behaved today too."

Her little face was all greasy from eating, but she still looked so cute when she smiled!

Wang Wei entered the shop and smiled at Zhao Tieying, saying, "Aunt Zhao, I made a reservation for braised pig's trotters yesterday, and I'd also like a small bowl of rice and a dish of pickled radishes."

“Okay, my dear, please have a seat first, I’ll arrange it for you right away,” Zhao Tieying replied with a smile.

Wang Wei sat down, and a bright red braised pig's trotter was quickly brought out from the kitchen and placed in front of her, still steaming.

Then came a bowl of rice and a dish of pickled radishes.

This way of eating is quite tasteful.

The guests at the next few tables immediately cast envious glances at them!
One of the fifteen lucky winners!

The delicious braised pig's trotters unexpectedly fell into her hands.

Sure enough, a woman with guts enjoys the braised pig's trotters first!
Wang Wei ignored the stares of others, as her attention was completely drawn to the pig's trotters in front of her.

This pig's trotter...it's huge!
The bright red color, steaming hot, and the aroma of braised meat wafting through the air—it must have been drizzled with broth when it was done cooking; it's glistening and looks incredibly tempting.

There's a pool of gravy in the middle of the plate, glistening with oil; it would be delicious to mix with rice!
She picked up her chopsticks, preparing to separate the braised pig's trotters and eat them by hand, thinking it would be more elegant that way.

After all... this is a restaurant near the factory gate, and her colleagues and superiors are sitting next to her. As an accountant and a young woman, she needs to pay attention to her image.

But when the chopsticks touched the pig's trotter, the trembling sensation made her stop moving instantly.

and many more!

What am I doing?!

I'm actually going to have to use chopsticks to eat a whole braised pig's trotter that's all mine?

Does eating it like this still feel like gnawing on braised pig's trotters?

What's the point of elegance if you've lost your soul?

This braised pig's trotter cost me almost a day's wages!

The other customers also widened their eyes. How could they enjoy braised pig's trotters without grabbing them and gnawing on them? They almost wanted to go up and help her take a bite.

Wang Wei put down her chopsticks, then solemnly picked up the braised pig's trotter by holding both ends with her hands, and took a big bite.

The pork skin falls off the bone with a gentle touch, and the tendons between the meat and bone are soft and chewy. The aroma of the braising sauce permeates the meat, and one bite sends shivers down your spine.

It smells so good! It's so satisfying!
The pig's trotters were slightly hot, having been specially heated before being served.

It's not greasy at all!
Hot braised pig's trotters!

Who understands?!
PS: Bonus chapter for reaching 2000 monthly votes! Still asking for more monthly votes! More bonus chapters to come!
(End of this chapter)