1984: Starting from a bankrupt Sichuan restaurant

Chapter 135 Elegance is etched into one's bones (Bonus chapter for 4.4k monthly votes and 5000 monthly votes!)
Tonight's dinner consists of braised fish chunks and stir-fried cabbage with pork cracklings.

The star of the show is undoubtedly the braised fish chunks!

A decent braised fish fillet

A line of identification results flashed across Zhou Yan's eyes.

It is quite different from the perfect crucian carp with patchouli.

But for his first time cooking carp, especially using a braising method he had never practiced before, Zhou Yan was quite satisfied with the result, which he considered "good".

This shows what?
He's no longer a useless nobody who can only rely on the system!
After mastering a dish, he thoroughly absorbed the kitchen filming experience he had accumulated in his previous life, and combined it with Xiao Zhou's two and a half years of culinary learning experience, he was already able to adapt and create some new dishes.

For example, this braised fish chunks are quite good!

This level of dish is too complicated to prepare and requires high-quality fish. He wouldn't put it on the menu and create trouble for himself unless it received an "extremely good" rating.

But it's still quite good for showing off your cooking skills at family gatherings or to change things up.

This progress was quite fulfilling and exciting for Zhou Yan.

A bowl of rice has already been served to each person. Looking at such a delicious dish, no one can resist having a bowl of staple food first.

This love and obsession with staple foods is ingrained in one's very being.

"Would you like me to rinse the fish in rice water? It might be a little spicy." Zhou Yan asked Zhou Momo.

Zhou Momo nodded: "Yes!"

Zhou Yan smiled and went into the kitchen, poured out a bowl of rice porridge, and placed it in front of Zhou Momo.

Aunt Zhao picked out a piece of fish belly meat, dipped it in the rice soup, and put it in her bowl, reminding her, "Eat less if it's spicy, and be careful of fish bones."

"Mmm." The little guy nodded and took a bite.

Unlike crispy fish noodles, this fish has a soft outer shell that's easy to bite into, and the fish meat inside is very tender. It's slightly spicy but very fragrant and delicious!
I took a small bite of the fish, sucked out the bones, and then shoveled a big mouthful of rice into my mouth.

A bite of fish, a bite of rice—it tasted so good!

Aunt Zhao also picked up her chopsticks, took a piece of fish, and took a bite.

Hey!
Spicy and savory! The flavor explodes on your tongue in an instant.

The fish pieces, coated in flour and shaped in the oil, are slowly softened and coated in a thick broth while simmering over low heat. They tremble precariously when picked up, and easily break and fall back onto the plate if not handled carefully.

With one bite, the crispy crust is soaked in the broth, making it soft, while the fish meat is exceptionally tender and smooth. With a slurp, it slides directly into your mouth.

The tangy aroma of pickled radish, the unique sour and spicy flavor of pickled ginger and pickled peppers, blend perfectly with the spiciness of dried chili peppers and the numbing sensation of Sichuan peppercorns—it's incredibly satisfying!
"Delicious! It's so tender and juicy, and the fish is so fresh and tender. It's just as good as the crucian carp with mint!" Aunt Zhao gave it a very high rating.

"Mmm, this broth is so spicy and fragrant! The taste is simply amazing!" Zhao Hong nodded enthusiastically in agreement.

"The texture of wild carp is really different. It doesn't fall apart even after being cooked for so long, and it's cooked very well," Old Zhou exclaimed. He had also recovered and was able to eat wild carp thanks to his youngest daughter.

Everyone had extra rice for dinner tonight.

They even used the broth to mix with rice.

This can be considered a high evaluation.

"Old Zhou, let's see if you can catch such a big carp next time." Aunt Zhao said to Comrade Old Zhou with a smile, "Whether we can still eat braised fish chunks depends on you."

"Okay, I'll try my best next time." Comrade Zhou nodded, quite confident.

“I wouldn’t waste this oil if it weren’t for this high-quality wild carp,” Zhou Yan said with a smile, adding a touch of embellishment.

Old Zhou is fine buying some crucian carp at the market; the quality is good, and he can make it into braised crucian carp with mint for his guests. But if he were to buy a large farmed carp, he really wouldn't want to waste oil and go through all that trouble.

Just as everyone finished eating, Huang Ying and her brother Huang Bing arrived.

As soon as Huang Ying entered the shop, she sniffed and said, "It smells so good! What delicious food have you cooked? It smells like fish, but it's not the kind of crucian carp with mint, is it?"

"Goodness, you have a really good nose. This afternoon, Momo caught a big carp weighing five pounds and eight ounces." Zhao Tieying said with a smile as she cleared away the bowls. "Zhou Yan made braised fish chunks. If you had come five minutes earlier, you could have had a piece to try."

"My goodness! A five-pound carp? Where did you catch it?" Huang Bing looked at Zhou Momo in shock. "Can you take me next time?"

"Five minutes! It's all Huang Bing's fault for going to the outhouse before leaving! He missed out on a braised wild carp..." Huang Ying said with a regretful expression, clenching her fist and giving Huang Bing a whack.

Huang Bing easily dodged the attack and looked at Zhou Momo, continuing, "I have a friend who also likes fishing, but he has never caught a fish. Could you please tell me how he caught this five-pound, eight-ounce carp?"

“That’s how it is.” Zhou Momo grabbed a chopstick and demonstrated to him, “Like this, you drop it in, and it sinks right away, then you fish it up.”

Huang Bing fell silent and glanced at Zhou Miao beside him.

Zhou Miao was silent for a moment, then nodded and said, "She's right."

See? Which fisherman wouldn't fall silent after hearing that?

"Is the braised fish delicious? When will it be on the menu?" Huang Ying leaned close to Zhou Yan and asked expectantly, her eyes filled with longing for the food.

"It's not bad, but I think this dish needs more practice. It requires high-quality fish, so it probably won't be on the menu for a while. It's more of a private dish," Zhou Yan said with a smile.

"Private kitchen, so that means there are conditions for unlocking it?" Huang Ying asked thoughtfully, then pressed on, "If I buy a wild carp next time, can I ask you to cook it for me? I'll pay you a processing fee!"

“This…” Zhou Yan pondered, and realized it was indeed a new business opportunity that could be developed. He nodded and said, “If I have time, that’s fine. We can discuss the price later.”

"Great!" Huang Ying smiled contentedly. She would get to eat the braised fish sooner or later, even though she hadn't had the chance this time!
In the evening, Huang Ying ordered a dish of crucian carp with agastache to satisfy her cravings.

Huang Bing has made beef soup twice a day a regular dish. Perhaps he loses too much water from cycling every day, because he prefers beef soup to water.

He can have more; he can drink one and a half bowls at a time.

As the factory closed and more customers started arriving, Zhou Yan returned to the kitchen to get busy.

Zhao Dong was buying braised pig's head at the door when he spotted his two nephews sitting inside the restaurant. He took the braised meat and came in with a smile: "Yingying, Huang Bing, do you two really come here to eat three times a day?"

“Yes, my mom gave us money for meals and told us to come and eat three meals a day, not to miss a single one.” Huang Ying smiled and invited, “Uncle, would you like to sit down and eat with us? We ordered crucian carp with minced pork and minced beef with double peppers, which is enough for the three of us.”

"I won't eat it. I bought some braised pig's head to take back and eat with your grandma and aunt," Zhao Dong said with a smile, preparing to leave.

Their crucian carp with mint flavor just arrived.

When Huang Ying saw the lunchbox he was carrying, she quickly grabbed him and said, "Wait a minute, pack up a crucian carp with mint and take it back for Grandma and my cousin to eat together. We have too much food here."

"No need, no need, you guys eat." Zhao Dong waved his hands repeatedly; he had only come to say hello.

However, Huang Ying had already taken the lunchbox and opened it. Huang Bing then picked up the plate, sliced ​​a crucian carp into the lunchbox, and put it in the lunchbox along with the toppings and broth. It looked quite presentable, and the packaging was very successful.

"Uncle, be careful not to spill the soup." Huang Ying smiled and handed the lunchbox back to Zhao Dong. "Tell Grandma to be careful when eating fish. This crucian carp with mint is really good. She loved it last time."

"You two kids..." Zhao Dong was both amused and exasperated. He picked up his lunchbox and said, "I'm off then. Have some breakfast before heading back, it gets dark early these days." "Okay!" the two replied with smiles, watching Zhao Dong leave and giving each other a high five for their cooperation.

"What happened to your hand?" Huang Ying picked up her chopsticks and glanced at Huang Bing, who had a hemostatic patch on his hand.

"I accidentally cut myself while practicing my knife skills. It's just a tiny cut, nothing serious," Huang Bing said casually, first serving himself a bowl of soup.

"No, you're really planning to sell braised meat?" Huang Ying looked at him with surprise and a hint of teasing. "Don't torture Master Sun. He works hard enough."

"Shut up! Eat your food!" Huang Bing gritted his teeth. "Thirty years east of the river, thirty years west of the river! Don't underestimate a young man's intelligence!"

“Poverty can be changed, but stupidity is for life, brother. You should read more books,” Huang Ying sincerely suggested.

"roll roll roll!"

……

Feiyan Restaurant stands on Yutang Street.

As soon as it got dark, the neon lights illuminated the signs with a dazzling array of colors, making them quite eye-catching.

A pedicab carrying passengers stopped in front of the restaurant.

A young woman with permed hair got off the car first. She was wearing a black wool sweater, a dark brown wide-shouldered blazer, and light-colored jeans. She had long legs, a thin Gucci belt around her waist, and a double G bamboo handbag in her hand.

She has a beautiful face, and her hair, tucked behind her ears, reveals exquisite diamond earrings, making her look very fashionable and elegant.

Then an elderly woman with silver hair got off the car, and the young woman quickly reached out to help her.

The old lady was wearing a black three-quarter sleeve cheongsam and embroidered shoes. She was tall and slender, with a white pearl necklace around her neck, her silver hair tied up and a peach wood hairpin inserted diagonally, and a beige tassel shawl draped over her shoulders. She helped the young woman out of the car, exuding a calm and elegant demeanor.

In contrast, the fashionable young woman dressed in designer clothes that you wouldn't even see in the Guomao department store was completely overshadowed in terms of style.

"Thank you, Master," the old lady said, her voice slightly cold.

"You're welcome!" the driver replied, pedaling away.

"Grandma, let's go, I'm starving," Duan Yuyan said with a smile, taking the old lady's hand.

"Okay." The old lady nodded and walked into the restaurant together.

Huang He, who was sitting behind the counter, spotted the two of them at a glance and quickly got up to greet them.

"Mrs. Qiu, Miss Duan, you've arrived." Huang He greeted them with a smile, his tone and attitude more respectful than usual.

Old Mrs. Qiu, whose real name is Qiu Qi, has been a regular customer of Feiyan Restaurant for decades. Before the founding of the People's Republic of China, the Qiu family were frequent customers of Feiyan Restaurant. After Old Mrs. Qiu married into the Duan family, she often came to the restaurant with Mr. Duan for meals.

The business was inherited from his father. This elderly lady, whose life story is quite legendary, was a distinguished guest whom his father repeatedly instructed him to treat well before he passed away.

Huang He had seen Mrs. Qiu when he was a child. She was truly the most beautiful woman in Jiaozhou City. Her wedding with Mr. Duan attracted crowds of people of all ages in Jiaozhou City.

Decades have passed, her hair has turned gray, and her face has many wrinkles, but she remains as elegant as ever.

He had heard that Mrs. Qiu's son was looking for his relatives and wanted to take her to Hong Kong to enjoy a better life. He also coveted the location of the Qiu family's old house. He just didn't know what the old lady's knot was and how to resolve it.

As for the rumored price of 10,000 yuan, he is willing to pay that price if the seller is willing to sell.

Mrs. Qiu's granddaughter, Duan Yuyan, is in her early twenties and a true Hong Kong socialite. Looking at the clothes and jewelry she's wearing, he couldn't even recognize the brands; he'd only seen celebrities wear them on TV, so they must be incredibly expensive.

Although she was also beautiful, she was still somewhat inferior to Mrs. Qiu back then.

Money can make a person look wealthy, but elegance comes from within.

Huang He grew up in Feiyan Restaurant and had met most of the famous people in Jiaozhou, including many elegant gentlemen and ladies.

Mrs. Qiu and Mr. Duan are first-rate.

"Mr. Huang, are there any private rooms available on the second floor?" Old Mrs. Qiu asked.

“Yes, the private room you usually sit in, Xiaoxue, is empty. Please come upstairs, both of you,” Huang He quickly replied.

Grandma Qiu nodded slightly and went upstairs with her granddaughter at a leisurely pace.

Huang He quickly followed, took the menu from the waiter on the second floor, and personally served him.

Grandma Qiu casually flipped through a few pages of the menu and leisurely ordered a few of her usual dishes.

Just as she was about to close the menu, Huang He spoke up: "Mrs. Qiu, we've reinstated a few braised meat dishes today. Would you like to try some? I remember you and Mr. Duan used to really enjoy ordering braised meat."

Upon hearing this, Old Lady Qiu's hand trembled slightly, and she looked up at Huang He, "Braised meat?"

"Yes, look at this page." Huang He turned two pages back on the menu, which had added a braised meat category with three new dishes: braised pig's head, braised pig's ears, and braised pig's snout.

"What's so good about braised meat?" Duan Yuyan muttered with a slight frown. She didn't like preserved or braised meats.

Grandma Qiu looked at it carefully for a while, then looked up at Huang He and asked, "Why isn't there any braised beef?"

Huang He's memory seemed to have been unlocked, and he suddenly recalled some past events.

Back then, Mrs. Qiu and Mr. Duan often came to the restaurant for meals, and they would sit in this private room.

Mr. Duan often alternates between braised pig's head and braised pig's ears, while Mrs. Qiu always orders a plate of braised beef.

From the time he could remember until braised meat disappeared from the menu of Feiyan Restaurant.

Mrs. Qiu would often ask about it when the braised meat was first cooked, but she never mentioned it again after that.

For more than a decade, he did not see Mrs. Qiu. Some say it was because Mr. Duan's work was confidential and Mrs. Qiu went to the capital with him, while others say she went to the Northwest.

A few years ago, Mrs. Qiu and Mr. Duan returned to Jiaozhou and would come to Feiyan Restaurant for dinner once or twice a month.

After Mr. Duan passed away in 1981, Mrs. Qiu would come to Feiyan Restaurant once a month, order one dish, sit for two hours, and then leave, usually without even touching the food.

Until six months ago, when her son and granddaughter came to look for her relatives, Old Mrs. Qiu brought them to Feiyan Restaurant more often and ordered more and more dishes.

There wasn't much food, but the young lady wanted to try everything.

"I'm not quite skilled at making braised beef yet, so it will be a while before it's served," Huang He explained with a smile.

Grandma Qiu seemed to be thinking for a moment, then said, "Then let's add a serving of braised pig's head."

"Alright, please wait a moment, I'll have them prepare your dishes." Huang He took the menu and left the private room with a smile.

"Grandma, braised pig's head is so fatty, don't you never eat fatty meat?" Duan Yuyan looked at her in confusion.

"When your grandfather was alive, his favorite food was their braised pig's head." Grandma Qiu smiled slightly, "I just don't know if it still tastes the same as it did back then."

(End of this chapter)