1984: Starting from a bankrupt Sichuan restaurant

Chapter 151 Damn you! (Bonus chapter for monthly votes: 129)

After putting the dried bean curd back at the restaurant, Zhou Yan first took the old lady back to Zhoucun.

On his way back, he went to the supply and marketing cooperative and bought ten catties of dried kelp.

"Oh my, we're buying seafood today!" Zhou Yan pushed the cart into the restaurant, and Zhao Tieying came up and looked at the large bundle of seaweed on the back of the cart with a curious expression.

Zhou Yan glanced at her, unsure if Aunt Zhao was being sarcastic.

After all, if someone in later generations said they were taking someone to eat seafood and ended up with a plate of seaweed, they would definitely get beaten up.

Aunt Zhao asked earnestly, "How much is it per pound? I haven't bought it for many years. When we were kids, we couldn't even afford a plate of seaweed during the New Year or other holidays."

"Dried, 8.5 yuan per jin."

"It's so much cheaper!" Aunt Zhao exclaimed in surprise. "It's really great! I'll buy some to stew with meat for Chinese New Year this year. It'll be so comfortable."

Zhou Yan was certain that Aunt Zhao was serious, and said with a smile, "No need to wait until the New Year, I've already bought them all. You can eat them whenever you want."

"Why are you buying so much? It's still a long way from the New Year," Aunt Zhao said, still puzzled.

As Zhou Yan untied the kelp, he said, "I plan to start making braised vegetarian dishes tomorrow. I bought dried bean curd sticks from my aunt and ordered dried tofu. Knotted kelp can also be used as a vegetarian dish. I'll also make some potatoes and lotus root. Let's try it out like this first."

“Your potatoes and lotus root are vegetables, and dried tofu is barely considered one, but dried bean curd sticks and kelp are so expensive. How can you sell them mixed with vegetables?” Aunt Zhao shook her head repeatedly: “Good heavens, kelp is seafood!”

Zhou Yan pursed her lips, wanting to laugh.

But seeing Aunt Zhao's serious expression, I didn't dare to laugh.

This reminded him of an old story. He had interviewed an old chef who talked about how seaweed was more expensive than gold in the 1960s. At that time, ordinary people couldn't afford or eat seaweed at all, and it was all imported. The price was even higher than that of shrimp.

Later, an academician surnamed Zeng popularized kelp farming technology, which led to a surge in domestic kelp production, allowing this seafood to enter thousands of households.

Judging from the price, it should have been widely available for several years.

However, it's clear that seaweed still holds a significant place in the hearts of ordinary people.

“There must be a price difference, otherwise everyone would choose dried bean curd sticks and kelp.” Zhou Yan nodded and said, “Lotus root and potatoes sell for 40 cents a pound, dried tofu sells for 60 cents a pound, and dried bean curd sticks and kelp sell for 80 cents a pound. The net profit can reach about 50%.”

They are still following the path of low profit margins and high sales volume.

Of course, the main consideration is purchasing power.

The price of meat has just dropped to one yuan per kilogram.

If the price of braised vegetarian dishes is higher than that of meat, customers may not be as accepting.

Moreover, the 40 cents per pound of braised vegetables might attract some price-sensitive customers, thereby expanding the market.

That's what the food is like.

When you find braised vegetarian dishes delicious, you'll naturally become curious about the rich, meaty aroma in the braised dishes.

Curiosity is the beginning of being captivated.

It begins with a braised vegetarian dish, but it will never end with a braised vegetarian dish.

Zhou Yan has absolute self-confidence.

The old men who love to drink have reached their limit; now we need to rely on braised vegetarian dishes to tap into the rich mine of female textile factory workers.

Female workers make up a full 70% of the workforce in textile factories.

Working women who hold up half the sky in this era tend to be more meticulous in their daily lives.

I might occasionally buy braised meat for 2.5 or 3 yuan per pound, but I also think more about the daily necessities at home.

Braised vegetables cost four cents a pound, but you can get half a pound for just two cents. Bring them home to share with your kids and family, and I doubt anyone could resist.

"Okay, as long as you know what you're doing, you definitely know more than I do." Aunt Zhao nodded and stopped worrying about it. Instead, she helped to clean up the seaweed and swept away the salt that had fallen on it.

Today's trip was very fruitful for Zhou Yan.

Not only did we gain a cousin, but we also secured a supplier for tofu products immediately, and the braised vegetarian dishes we were still considering were also quickly finalized.

Zhou Yan couldn't guarantee how much tofu he could sell in a day.

But as long as his braised dishes sell well, the dried bean curd and tofu alone are enough to keep the grandmother and grandson busy.

……

As expected, the braised beef sold out quickly after the factory closed for the evening.

In less than ten minutes, the remaining six pounds of braised beef were sold out.

Many customers are clamoring to make reservations.

However, Zhou Yan did not open reservations for dishes other than braised pig's trotters, but promised to double the supply tomorrow so that everyone could buy braised beef as much as possible.

Ten pounds of braised beef has not yet impacted the market for braised pork products.

However, Zhou Yan has already reduced the order for tomorrow's pig head by one, because if the order for braised beef is increased by another ten jin, it will inevitably impact the braised pork products.

He needs to control the losses.

After closing for the evening, Zhou Yan went for a run with Lin Zhiqiang.

"Uncle Lin, you've got new sneakers again?" Zhou Yan looked at Lin Zhiqiang's white Feiyue sneakers and couldn't help but laugh. "Sister Meng really treats you well."

Lin Zhiqiang said with a hint of pride, "That's right, I run every day and my body is in great shape, so she...she's happy too."

Zhou Yan was baffled by Meng Jie's reaction to these words.

"Have you been in contact with Xia Yao lately?" Lin Zhiqiang asked casually, but his eyes were carefully watching him, trying to see something different from his expression.

"We exchange letters occasionally, she must be quite busy," Zhou Yan replied with a smile, his expression largely unfazed.

"That's great. Young people should stay in touch and visit each other often so that their friendship doesn't fade. If you don't understand anything, just ask me. I have a lot of experience," Lin Zhiqiang said with a smile.

"Okay, I'll definitely ask Uncle Lin for advice later." Zhou Yan nodded.

After exchanging a few words, the topic turned to the current political situation.

"I heard that China and Britain are going to sign a joint declaration. Everyone's been talking about it lately. Hong Kong is about to be returned to China..."

The two chatted all the way, and Lin Zhiqiang was quite surprised and agreed with Zhou Yan's deduction. Zhou Yan responded with a slight smile.

He doesn't remember anything else, but the return of Hong Kong to China is a key point he can't forget.

Lin Zhiqiang ran home covered in sweat and looked at Meng Anhe, who was practicing Baduanjin in the living room, and said, "Zhou Yan is such a cultured young man. If I had a daughter, I would definitely arrange for her to marry him."

Meng Anhe continued her movements unhurriedly, saying calmly, "You don't need to tell me this, go tell my sister and brother-in-law."

"Then I'll go write the letter." Lin Zhiqiang turned and headed towards the study.

"Stand still!" Meng Anhe glared at him. "Go take a shower first, and don't get your sweat on the desk and chair. Also, if you're going to write, just write, but don't mention me, okay? I don't want to take responsibility."

"Huh? Anhe, aren't we husband and wife one, of one mind?" Lin Zhiqiang was a little hurt.

Meng Anhe calmly said, "This is the result of your investigation. I only know that Zhou Yan is a good cook. I have already told my sister about this. I haven't had much contact with him in other aspects yet."

"Okay, I'll write again next time. Let's see when Lao Xia can't resist writing to me. The last letter was back in June." Lin Zhiqiang turned around, grabbed his enamel basin and clothes, and went to take a shower.

“Zhou Yan really has won his heart…” Meng Anhe couldn’t help but shake her head with a smile.

……

Soaking dried bean curd sticks in cold water for about three hours beforehand is enough. Soaking them for too long will make them too soft and mushy, thus losing their essence.

Kelp only needs to be soaked for six hours.

Considering that the braising time for vegetables is relatively short and they don't need to soak in the braising liquid for too long, it's fine to soak them after I get up tomorrow morning.

Now I soak dried bamboo shoots overnight every day.

Zhou Yan took a bath, soaked the dried bamboo shoots, and then engaged in a fierce three-hundred-round battle with Old Zhou, the notoriously bad chess player. Both sides won and lost, and they parted ways in high spirits.

Zhou Yan didn't rush to sleep. He found a piece of wood about 40 centimeters long and 30 centimeters wide, sketched it out with a pencil, made a simple design, and started writing the sign.

First, use a large red paintbrush to write eight big characters: Xiba Tofu! 2 cents a pound!
Then, write the words "Silent Tofu Stall" in smaller yellow paint below.

Then, using a small brush dipped in black paint, he wrote a few lines of small characters: "Xiba Sunji Tofu, a family business with hundreds of years of history, is tender and chewy. It can be pan-fried, deep-fried, or boiled without falling apart. Welcome to try and buy it."

Final note: I am deaf and mute. Tofu is 2 cents a pound. No bargaining or credit.

I can't hear your voice, but I can understand your smile.

A wooden board, covered with writing.

But the primary and secondary aspects are clearly distinguished.

Key information has been bolded and enlarged.

He also elaborated on the characteristics of Xiba tofu, which was Zhou Yan's own evaluation after purchasing and cooking it, and was considered quite fair.

As for the final annotation, it is meant to awaken the softness in people's hearts.

Is it a bad sale?
Sort of.

But Laifu is indeed quite pitiful. He is rather handsome, looks very thin, and is deaf and mute, which makes it easy for people to feel pity for him.

This is just bad timing; otherwise, Zhou Yan would have given him the online name 'Fu Gui'.

If I edit and explain the situation truthfully, I'll never have to sell tofu again.

Just sit in front of the stone mill every day to grind soybeans, and occasionally hold up a sign that says: "Thank you, brother!"

And now, his cousin Laifu.

Every day, with his frail body, he grinds, filters, boils, and coagulates the soy milk before pressing it into shape to make a block of tofu.

After making them, they have to carry them to town to sell. After selling them, they go back to continue cooking dried bean curd sticks and drying tofu.

Despite the exhaustion, Zhou Yan felt that Lai Fu would enjoy this sense of security even more.

Of course, labeling someone as deaf or mute is also to reduce trouble for them; otherwise, if they can't understand the sign language gestures, the customers will just leave.

The pillars and base are ready. Tomorrow morning, I'll hammer in a few nails, and a lightweight and eye-catching billboard will be completed in no time.

Since he had made a promise to Grandma Sun, Zhou Yan would definitely handle this matter perfectly for her.

It's just a block of tofu; Zhou Yan doesn't believe it can't be sold out.

……

The next day, just as dawn was breaking, Comrade Xiao Zhou took the billboard to the riverbank and nailed it up with a clang.

When placed on the ground, the tripod structure is quite stable.

Moreover, it wasn't too heavy to carry. He also brought a rope so that Laifu could tie the billboard to the basket on his back. It was a walking billboard that didn't affect the tofu inside the basket.

"Your billboard is really well written. It's eye-catching and attractive, and it explains things clearly." Old Zhou nodded as he looked at the signboard that Zhou Yan had placed in the backpack on the back of the seat.

"I definitely need to put in some effort. I want him to sell his tofu well more than anyone else." Zhou Yan smiled and rode forward. He was counting on Lai Fu to learn and practice hard so that he could master Mapo Tofu as soon as possible.

Along with twice-cooked pork and Kung Pao chicken, it is one of the three giants of Sichuan cuisine.

Zhou Yan was really looking forward to this dish.

After buying all the meat, Zhou Yan parked his bicycle at the bridgehead, leaving Old Zhou to watch over it. He then carried the wooden signboard along the riverbank, already looking forward to Lai Fu's expression when he saw it.

His eyes swept over the vegetables displayed in front of the vendors. He bought two bunches of fresh bok choy and set his sights on four cabbages, planning to come back and buy them later.

As Zhou Yan approached the tofu stall, he suddenly heard two rather jarring sounds:

"Don't set up your stall here! I was here first! If you dare to set up your stall here, I'll overturn it all."

"Exactly! So what if you're mute? I've been selling tofu here for three years, so hurry up and carry your tofu away!"

Zhou Yan turned his gaze away from the vegetable stall and looked up.

Laifu stood behind the small table, protecting the tofu, his neck hunched, looking somewhat flustered.

Standing in front of him were a man and a woman, their expressions arrogant and domineering. The fat young man in the floral shirt even reached out to grab the basket on Laifu's back.

"Fuck your mother!"

Zhou Yan cursed angrily, then shouldered the signboard and charged out!
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(End of this chapter)