1984: Starting from a bankrupt Sichuan restaurant

Chapter 138 They're all old foxes pretending to be from a ghost story (6.2k words, two parts combined)

Duan Yuyan ordered three bowls of "Qiaojiao Beef" (a type of beef hot pot), never expecting to end up eating clear broth beef hot pot in the small town of Jiaozhou.

So fresh!
After drinking another small bowl of soup, I was already about three-tenths full.

No wonder this little restaurant is so popular; this soup is much better than the bone-strengthening soup at Feiyan Restaurant.

She had tried the bone-strengthening soup at Feiyan Restaurant once, and she insisted on ordering it, even her grandmother couldn't stop her.

It was a bit greasy, and the herbal flavor was too strong, masking the meat's aroma. It tasted like drinking Chinese medicine, which she definitely didn't like.

On the contrary, she quite liked the beef soup.

Yan Fei, standing to the side, finished the last bowl of soup in one gulp and let out a small burp.

fresh!
This soup is absolutely delicious!
He was initially hesitant about the three bowls of braised beef, as the portion was quite generous, and none of the other dishes they had ordered had even arrived yet.

Then he drank a small bowl of soup and ate a piece of beef tendon and a piece of beef intestine.

Mmm! It tastes amazing!

The young lady doesn't like beef intestines, but after rolling them in chili powder, they become soft and tender, filled with a rich, savory oil. One bite, and the aroma and spiciness are simply amazing!
The beef tendon is incredibly soft and chewy, becoming more fragrant the more you chew it, and it's a perfect match with chili powder.

Even the cabbage underneath, after soaking up the meat broth, became exceptionally sweet and delicious.

He was also secretly surprised that Su Ji's small restaurant could have such delicious beef soup. How come he had never heard of it before?
Duan Yuyan put down her chopsticks. While waiting for the food to come, she got bored and couldn't help but strike up a conversation with the old man: "Sir, how many years have you been a librarian? You must have read a lot of books, right?"

After a moment's thought, Grandpa Wang smiled and said, "It's been eight years. I've read almost all the books on the bookshelf. I wonder if the county will send over a batch of new books at the end of the year."

"You've read them all?" Duan Yuyan exclaimed in surprise, then asked curiously, "How many books does the town's library have?"

Without hesitation, Mr. Wang replied, "The collection has 2,823 books. It has increased quite a bit in the last two years, and the categories have also become more diverse."

"You're really amazing!" Duan Yuyan couldn't help but exclaim.

The library's collection isn't large, but it's still quite substantial for a small town library like this.

As for the individual, I read more than 2,800 books in eight years!

This is really awesome!

She stayed in Jiaozhou for half a year, reading for three hours every day. So far, she has only read about eighty books, and she expects to finish one hundred books before returning to Hong Kong.

"He's just an old man so bored that all he can do is read books," Grandpa Wang said with a smile, shaking his head with a hint of self-deprecation.

Duan Yuyan then chatted with Grandpa Wang about books, from philosophy to history, from Mao Zedong's Selected Works to Marx. Grandpa Wang could handle almost any topic she raised, and the conversations were quite insightful and profound. Some of his insights even gave her a refreshing feeling.

His reading is so extensive that it probably extends beyond the 2,800 books in the town library. He has even read foreign classics and history books, some of which have not yet been translated and published in China.

Duan Yuyan hesitated and asked, "You... studied abroad?"

"I never studied abroad." Grandpa Wang shook his head and said with a smile, "But I did business with foreigners back then and learned some foreign languages. I had no problem with basic communication and reading. I would read books when I had nothing to do, which helped me forget a lot of things."

Duan Yuyan nodded slightly. The fine lines on the old man's face held many experiences and stories.

The twice-cooked pork with garlic sprouts that Grandpa Wang ordered was served first. He looked at it, smiled and nodded: "This twice-cooked pork is authentic. The stir-fried pork belly is well done, and the color is beautiful. This kid really has some skill."

Duan Yuyan smelled the aroma of the pork belly and swallowed hard.

The meat was half lean and half fat, which was completely unacceptable to her.

It smelled so good, the aroma of garlic mixed with the smell of meat was irresistible, and there was nowhere to escape once you were on the table.

"Try it? This is authentic twice-cooked pork with garlic sprouts, made with local pigs from the countryside. You'd be hard-pressed to find this anywhere else." The old man smiled and pushed the plate a little towards Duan Yuyan.

"Please eat. I've never liked fatty meat since I was little, this is a bit too fatty for me," Duan Yuyan quickly waved her hand.

When it's just her and her grandmother, she can eat only lean meat and get a taste of it.

Grandma has a small appetite, and we never force her to finish her food.

She wouldn't dare to eat out and freeload, not wanting people to gossip about her behind her back.

Grandpa Wang didn't say much. He picked up his chopsticks and took a piece of twice-cooked pork. It was shiny with oil and trembling. He nodded slightly as he watched. He picked up a garlic sprout in the middle, put it in his mouth and chewed it. The corners of his mouth had already turned up involuntarily.

After chewing and swallowing, he shoveled two mouthfuls of rice into his mouth, then picked up another piece of meat and fed it to himself—one bite of meat, two mouthfuls of rice.

He didn't speak, but the upturned corners of his mouth and the constant chopsticks said it all.

"Does it smell good?" Duan Yuyan couldn't help but ask.

The old man slowly chewed and swallowed the noodles in his mouth before speaking unhurriedly: "Hmm, spicy and fragrant, rich but not greasy, with a soft and glutinous texture. It's tender and melts in your mouth. If you eat a piece of garlic sprout in the middle, it has a unique aroma of garlic sprouts, making the flavor even better."

Duan Yuyan was already a little envious watching the table next to her eat twice-cooked pork. There was a plate of it on the table, and the old man was eating it so deliciously, even describing the texture and taste to her in detail. She couldn't help but swallow her saliva again.

"Help yourself if you want, don't be shy," Grandpa Wang said with a smile, and then continued eating by himself.

The pork belly, curled up like a lamp wick, was sliced ​​thinly and evenly. It was probably cooked with chili oil made from fermented broad beans, which gave the fat a bright red color. It didn't look greasy at all, and the contrast with the white garlic stalks and green garlic leaves made it look refreshing.

"Then... shall I try a piece?" Duan Yuyan picked up her chopsticks, imitating Grandpa Wang, and picked up a piece of twice-cooked pork with a piece of garlic stalk rolled inside. She mentally prepared herself and put it in her mouth in one bite.

With a gentle bite, the skin is fragrant and chewy, the fatty meat melts in your mouth, and the lean meat is not dry at all, with a slightly springy texture. One bite is rich but not oily, fragrant but not greasy.

The garlic sprouts, once bitten open, release a unique, refreshing aroma, adding even more flavor.

It smells so good!
She was surprised that fatty meat could be cooked so deliciously.

She's the kind of person who doesn't even eat fatty meat when eating braised pork.

Yan Fei, being very perceptive, served the young lady a bowl of rice.

Duan Yuyan picked up her rice bowl and shoveled a mouthful of rice into her mouth.

Ah!
This rice is fluffy, sweet, and has a subtle woody aroma, making it a perfect match for twice-cooked pork.

good to eat.

After eating two pieces, Duan Yuyan felt a little embarrassed to take any more.

Fortunately, their dishes, including stir-fried beef with double peppers, braised pork ribs, cold chicken salad, and braised pig's head, were all served at once.

"Uncle Wang, please join us. We have quite a lot of dishes," Duan Yuyan said with a smile. "That way, I can eat the twice-cooked pork you ordered without feeling guilty."

"Okay," Grandpa Wang replied with a smile.

Duan Yuyan tried them all: the braised pork ribs that fell off the bone with a single bite, the spicy and crispy double-pepper minced beef, and the cold chicken with crispy skin and tender meat. Each had its own unique flavor, and they were all surprisingly delicious.

Duan Yuyan really loved every dish she tried; she was genuinely amazed.

Especially the cold chicken salad, which looks bright red, but tastes spicy, savory, and sour, with a perfect balance of five flavors and a slightly sweet aftertaste. The texture is very smooth.

She ate several pieces in a row. The skin was so crispy and the meat was so tender. The chicken was coated with sesame seeds and chili oil. When you chewed on the sesame seeds, it was like biting into a fragrant bomb. It was so delicious!
She loves chicken, especially poached chicken, and goes to a Cantonese restaurant almost every week.

But poached chicken and this cold chicken salad are completely different experiences; one is light and refreshing, while the other is spicy and refreshing.

But they're all delicious!
After trying them all, her gaze fell on the plate of braised pig's head.

The braised pig's head meat, cut into pieces the thickness of copper coins, gleamed with a bright reddish-amber luster. The thickness was very even, but the plating was a bit casual, not as exquisite as that of Feiyan Restaurant.

The portions are about the same; a serving costs 1.6 yuan at Feiyan Restaurant, but only 1 yuan at this small restaurant.

The pricing is actually not a problem. Feiyan Restaurant's labor costs and maintenance costs are much higher than those of this small family restaurant.

Duan Yuyan was curious about the connection between this braised pig's head and Feiyan Restaurant.
Why did her grandmother ask her to come to Suji to find Zhang's braised food?
What exactly is the relationship between Zhou Yan, the heir to Zhang's braised food business, and his grandmother?

With all sorts of thoughts in mind, she picked up a piece of braised pig's head.

The color was almost indistinguishable from the braised pig's head I had last night, a bright red like amber, soaked in the braising sauce.

Feed it to your mouth, chew it slowly, and savor it carefully.

Soon, her expression changed.

Same as above! It's the same braised pig's head!

If she had randomly visited these two restaurants at different times, she might have thought that the braised pig's head at both restaurants was quite delicious.

But she ordered the braised pig's head with doubts and scrutiny.

These two servings of braised pig's head should have come from the same pot of braising liquid, meaning they were made by the same person.

Duan Yuyan looked at Zhou Yan, who was cooking in the kitchen, and narrowed her eyes slightly. Good heavens, he actually provides braised meat to Feiyan Restaurant!
This deduction is not difficult; Feiyan Restaurant has just introduced a new type of braised meat.

The reputation of Zhou Erwa's braised meat restaurant has spread far and wide, and even the locals in the town know about it.

So, the braised pig's head and braised beef that her grandparents loved decades ago didn't come from Feiyan Restaurant, but from Zhou Yan's grandmother, Zhang!
The menu on the wall didn't include braised beef, so Feiyan Restaurant naturally wouldn't have it either.

Duan Yuyan felt that she had obtained a very exciting inside information. What would the guests of Feiyan Restaurant think if they knew about this?
"Huh? Didn't Grandma know that decades ago? But she and Grandpa still eat at Feiyan Restaurant and always order braised dishes." Duan Yuyan thought for a moment and understood the reason.

Perhaps they don't care.

The braised meat is delicious. Sitting in an elegant private room, enjoying the exquisitely plated braised meat, they are happy to pay a little extra for it.

They wouldn't make a special trip to a braised food stall in Suji just for a serving of braised pork.

A certain tacit understanding has been formed.

Zhangji Braised Food and Feiyan Restaurant made money, and diners enjoyed delicious braised meat, so they all felt they had gotten a good deal.

Zhang!

Duan Yuyan felt she had grasped a very important piece of information; perhaps she could find the answer she sought through another elderly person from the same era as her grandmother. She stared intently at Zhou Yan, who had inherited the Zhang family's braised food craft. Zhou Yan must have a good relationship with his grandmother; she could meet Zhang through his introduction.

Then, a little girl with blinking eyes appeared in her line of sight, suddenly popping up and standing behind Zhou Yan.

Their eyes met, and they both paused for a moment.

The little girl had two braids, and her face was so delicate and beautiful!

No, wasn't she just dozing off by the stove?
The moment their eyes met, Duan Yuyan felt embarrassed as if she had been caught red-handed, and quickly looked away while taking a bite of the cold chicken salad.

Zhou Momo skipped over and stood by the kitchen doorway, tilting her head to look at Duan Yuyan with bright eyes: "Sister, you're so good! Your hat is so pretty."

The little guy's voice was soft, with a touch of babyishness, and his tone was pure praise, without a hint of flattery.

Duan Yuyan's lips unconsciously curled up. Since she became an adult, she had heard too many compliments from men. Those praises given for money or sex rarely made her happy.

But the praise from this little girl was a pure and heartfelt appreciation, making it hard not to like her.

"Thank you, you're very well-behaved too." Duan Yuyan smiled at her and asked, "What's your name?"

Her beret today was a special accessory; it was bought on a roadside stall in Central and was the cheapest accessory she had on her entire outfit, yet it was her favorite hat of the year.

But the young girl doesn't care about Gucci bamboo bags or Cartier watches; she only cares about her feelings.

Well, I guess I've developed a certain resonance with her.

"Zhou Momo," the little girl said, then after thinking for a moment, introduced herself again, "I'm my boyfriend's sister."

Duan Yuyan couldn't help but cover her mouth and laugh. This little guy is so cute! What kind of strange way of introducing himself is this?
So that's his sister. No wonder she's so cute and beautiful.

Her face is so chubby, I just want to pinch it!
But aren't they too far apart in age?

I'm twenty years old and I have a little sister who's about three years old?

She has two older brothers, one three years older than her and the other two years older. They are close in age and have been fighting since they were little.

"Have you eaten?" Duan Yuyan asked with a smile.

"I've already eaten, sister, you should eat first." Zhou Momo smiled at her, turned around and ran back to the kitchen, then obediently sat down behind the stove.

So well-behaved! So sensible!
Duan Yuyan looked away and continued eating with a smile.

She ate slowly and was one of the second-round customers. By the time she put down her chopsticks, there were only two or three tables left in the restaurant.

Yan Fei only started the "Clean Plate Campaign" after confirming that Duan Yuyan had eaten her fill.

It wasn't as difficult as he thought.

Miss Duan ate most of the cold chicken salad, leaving him only five or six pieces.

The braised pork ribs were the same; only three pieces were left.

The double-pepper minced beef was a bit spicy, so there was a lot left over. He mixed it with rice and ate two bowls.

There was still half a braised pig's head left. It was delicious, but he was too full to eat any more. With Miss Duan's permission, he packed it up to take home for dinner.

I'll stop by tonight and let my wife and kids try this delicious braised pig's head. You can't buy it in Jiaozhou city.

Grandpa Wang had finished eating a while ago and was standing at the door chatting with Zhou Yan, who had just finished working in the kitchen.

"I didn't expect you to be so good at not only braised dishes, but also stir-fries and stews." Grandpa Wang looked at Zhou Yan, his tone full of admiration.

"You flatter me, Master. I don't know much, and I still need to keep working hard," Zhou Yan said with a smile.

"Then I'll head back. Let me know when you make braised beef, and I'll come back for dinner." Grandpa Wang gently patted Zhou Yan's arm, glanced back at Duan Yuyan who was facing away from the door, and rode away on his bike.

Zhou Yan watched him leave, then turned to look at Duan Yuyan, pondering how to get the capitalist's daughter to talk and see if he had any chance of taking over the Qiu family's old house.

Duan Yuyan got up and walked towards the door. Yan Fei quickly shoveled all the rice out of his bowl in two bites and then got up as well.

"Auntie, the bill, please." Duan Yuyan opened her bag and took out her wallet.

"That gentleman already paid for your bill," Aunt Zhao said with a smile.

"What?" Duan Yuyan was surprised when she heard this. She quickly walked to the door, but the old man was no longer in sight.

Zhou Yan was also somewhat surprised. When he came out of the kitchen, Grandpa Wang had already paid the bill, so he didn't know about it.

The young lady spent 6.4 yuan on this meal, and when they shared a table, the old man secretly paid the bill.
That old man is confused!
Even with a retirement pension, you can't just squander it like this, can you?

But on second thought, the old man was indeed a man of strong character.

While busy cooking in the kitchen, Zhou Yan still managed to overhear some of the conversation between Duan Yuyan and the old man.

The exchange between cultural figures and the clash of philosophies left him stunned.

The young lady is no fool. Her refined manners reveal her cultural background, the confidence instilled by her family, and the abilities cultivated by her elite education, far surpassing those of ordinary people.

At most, Zhou Yan could only ask for a book list in front of a master.

Duan Yuyan chatted with the old man about Mao Zedong's Selected Works, Shakespeare, Dream of the Red Chamber, and One Hundred Years of Solitude, and they had a very enjoyable conversation.

It makes sense for the old man to pay the bill.

It's rare to find a true friend in life, and this old man looks like a carefree person.

Duan Yuyan didn't hesitate. Since she knew that Grandpa Wang was a librarian in town, she could treat him to a meal next time she came to Suji.

She turned to Zhou Yan and smiled, "Hello, my name is Duan Yuyan."

"Hello, Zhou Yan," Zhou Yan replied with a smile. The other person initiated the conversation, so the initiative was in my hands.

"My grandma loves Zhang's braised beef. I wonder if you know how to make it? I didn't see it on the menu," Duan Yuyan said bluntly.

Braised beef again? Why do I keep thinking about braised beef?

Zhou Yan was a little surprised, but when he heard that it was Duan Yuyan's grandmother, a hint of joy flashed in his eyes.

Grandma Qiu loves braised beef? That's wonderful! I was just wondering how to get in touch with her, and here it is, delivered right to my doorstep.

"I'm still practicing making braised beef, and I haven't fully mastered it yet." Zhou Yan smiled and said, "You're quite filial, making a special trip to Suzhou for your grandma. You can give me your address, so if my grandma makes braised beef next time, or if I've mastered it, I can deliver it to her home."

"Isn't this a bit too much trouble for you?" Duan Yuyan looked at him and said, "Could I go see your grandmother? I'm doing research on Sichuan cuisine and I'm very interested in these old craftsmen."

"I'm sorry, my grandma hasn't run a stall for over twenty years. She doesn't usually see many customers. If you have any questions, you can tell me, and I'll pass them on for you," Zhou Yan politely declined with a smile.

Well, it seems he wants more than just braised beef.

They specifically traveled from Jiaozhou to find Su Ji, and even visited his shop.

Now I want to see the old lady again.

Zhou Yan suspected that Old Lady Qiu's unresolved issues might be related to the old lady.

He naturally couldn't let Duan Yuyan meet the old lady directly. He still had his eye on the Qiu family's old house and needed to get more leverage before he could sit at the negotiating table.

I was worried about not having a clue before, but now the opportunity has come knocking on my door, and I must seize it!
Duan Yuyan stared at Zhou Yan, biting her lip. Why wasn't this guy cooperating? She just wanted to ask Zhang Shi about the situation and didn't want too many people to know.

Zhou Yan smiled; he had to intervene.

They're all old foxes, what are they pretending to be from a ghost story?

He studied Sichuan cuisine; that's what he did in his past life.

You're a rich girl from a literature department, what are you researching?

Duan Yuyan glanced at Aunt Zhao and Yan Fei, who were listening intently to each other, and looked at Zhou Yan, saying, "Shall we talk in private?"

“Okay.” Zhou Yan nodded.

The two went out and walked towards the riverbank.

Yan Fei hesitated for a moment, then stood at the restaurant entrance without following, but kept a wary eye on Zhou Yan.

“I want to talk to your grandmother about my grandmother’s life when she was young.” Duan Yuyan stopped by the railing by the river and looked at Zhou Yan directly. “She’s getting old, and we’re worried about her staying alone in Jiaozhou. We’d like to bring her to Hong Kong to live with us.”

But she seems to have some unresolved issues and is unwilling to leave the Qiu family's old house. I tried to persuade her for half a year but failed. So I wanted to see if her grandmother, who is of the same generation, knew anything about it and could help her resolve her inner conflict.

Yesterday, after she ate braised meat at Feiyan Restaurant, she asked me to buy braised beef from Zhangji Braised Food near Suji Bridge. I've been in Jiaozhou for six months, and this is the first time she's asked me to do her a favor. I feel this is unusual; it must be an important clue.

No! Feiyan Restaurant has been exposed? Zhou Yan raised an eyebrow. This Huang He wants the exclusive right to supply beef?

"Don't worry, neither my grandmother nor I are gossipy people. I'll be back in Hong Kong in two months at most, and we won't spread any rumors that could harm your cooperation." Duan Yuyan seemed to have seen through Zhou Yan's thoughts and reassured him.

Zhou Yan didn't respond, but instead asked, "Is it the Qiu family's old house facing the main gate of Jiaozhou Port?"

Upon hearing this, Duan Yuyan's eyes widened slightly. This guy was definitely up to something!

They even know the location of the Qiu family's old house!
The Qiu and Duan families have no relatives in Suji, and the Qiu family's old house is not luxurious. How could a young man who runs a restaurant in Suji Town determine the location of the Qiu family's old house in a single sentence?
Could it be that he had long harbored the intention to seize the property?!

"How did you know? Could it be... that you have some relationship with my grandmother? Or do you know something?" Duan Yuyan asked, trying to control her emotions, her hands clenched into fists.

“You misunderstood. Last weekend, I took my parents for a stroll on Dongda Street. When we were buying braised food at that braised food shop at the end of the street, the owner chatted with me and mentioned that the Qiu family's old house was for sale. I happened to be thinking about buying property in Jiaozhou, so I asked a few more questions out of curiosity. The owner mentioned that the old lady's Hong Kong businessman son and granddaughter wanted to take her to Hong Kong to enjoy a comfortable life.” Zhou Yan looked at Duan Yuyan and explained with a smile:
"Miss Duan speaks with a strong Cantonese accent, is dressed in luxury goods, has bodyguards, and mentioned the Qiu family's old mansion. I think it's unlikely that there's a second one."

"So it's a coincidence." Duan Yuyan nodded slightly upon hearing this, but she quickly stared at Zhou Yan again: "The braised meat sold at that braised meat shop is so bad that even I think it's terrible. Your braised meat is so good, would you even go out of your way to buy braised meat when you go to Jiaozhou?"

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(End of this chapter)