1984: Starting from a bankrupt Sichuan restaurant

Chapter 154 The Sensational Effect of Braised Vegetable Dishes (6k-in-1)

Wang Wei and Xiao Huang each ordered four cents worth of braised vegetarian dishes, ending the dispute.

A plate of mixed spiced vegetables and a plate of mixed spicy vegetables were placed on the table. The two looked at each other and smiled at the same time.

"I think your spiced braised vegetarian dish looks really good."

"I think your spicy vegetarian dishes look pretty tempting."

"Comrade Xiao Huang, come on, come on, let's eat together!"

"Comrade Xiao Wang, please don't be shy, help yourself."

Before the other dishes were even served, the two had already picked up their chopsticks and started eating heartily.

Crisp and flavorful braised lotus root, soft and tender braised potatoes, the joy of four cents a pound is almost unimaginable at Zhou Erwa Restaurant.

The exquisite texture and flavor of braised tofu skin, along with the crisp and delicious braised kelp, are truly exceptional.

"This is absolutely the best braised vegetarian dish I've ever eaten!" Xiao Huang exclaimed. "I thought that the braised food I had at Zhao's in Jiaozhou City last time was the best, but it's nowhere near as good as this braised vegetarian dish."

"Don't even mention Jiaozhou, I've never had such delicious braised vegetarian dishes in Chengdu either." Wang Wei took a bite of seaweed, glanced in the direction of the kitchen, and exclaimed, "Zhou Yan is really amazing. His braised pig's trotters are also super delicious. You must try them next time. The satisfaction of eating a whole one by yourself is unparalleled."

"Hmm, a pig's trotter costs 1.2 yuan. I'm not as carefree as you; I have a little one at home who needs to be fed." Xiao Huang shook his head with a smile, glanced at the steaming pig's trotters that had just been served at the next table, and couldn't help but swallow. He hesitated and said, "How about next time you want some, just call me, and we can each have half?"

"Come on, both of you work," Wang Wei said with a smile. "Then let's come eat here tomorrow, I'm craving it too."

"Okay!" Xiao Huang nodded.

Tasting the braised vegetarian dishes was like throwing a stone into a calm lake, creating quite a few ripples.

Two cents can buy a bag of braised lotus root and potatoes, wrapped in an oil paper bag, plus two bamboo skewers—perfect for an afternoon snack.

For an extra two cents, you can enjoy meaty tofu skin and crisp seaweed.

Zhou Erwa Restaurant, which is usually known for its high prices, made textile factory workers feel that it was affordable and cost-effective for the first time.

Of course, the most important thing is that it tastes good!
No one can resist paying after tasting it.

Those bowls of vegetarian dishes looked like a lot, but the people gathered around were actually paying for them.

"Give me three mao, give me four mao," and before we knew it, half a bowl of spicy braised lotus root was gone.

This prompted customers who originally planned to buy it after get off work in the evening to rush out of their pockets.

Arrive late and you won't be able to buy anything, even if you have money. This kind of thing is not uncommon at Zhou Erwa Restaurant.

Many customers who dine in the restaurant also choose to order a side dish.

There's not much difference between ordering spicy braised vegetables and cold dishes; a mixed plate costs only about 60 cents, which is quite affordable.

After the Huang siblings sat down, they ordered two dishes, one spiced and one spicy, and selected a little of each.

"Wow! These lotus roots and potatoes are amazing! And this dried bean curd sticks taste even better than meat, and the price is so cheap!" Huang Ying exclaimed, her mouth bulging.

Huang Bing ate one bite after another, nodding and saying, "It's delicious! This braising liquid is so good, it feels like even the soles of shoes would taste good if you put them in it."

"You know nothing. The braising liquid is one thing, but the braising technique is also very important." Huang Ying rolled her eyes at him, picked up a piece of potato and said, "Look at this potato. It's braised until it's soft and flavorful. It's so soft and mushy that it would fall apart if you picked it up with chopsticks, but it's a whole piece on the plate. It looks much better."

These thick-cut lotus root slices need to be both flavorful and slightly crunchy, which requires a high level of skill in controlling the heat and cutting. Do you think you can just throw them into the braising liquid and scoop them out?

And don't even mention dried bean curd sticks; if you braise them for even a minute longer, they'll fall apart in the pot.

Huang Bing was stunned for a moment, then silently gave Huang Ying a thumbs up: "You talk too much, I believe you."

"It's delicious. I'll bring some back for my parents later," Huang Ying said.

"Do you perhaps intend to sell braised vegetarian dishes in our restaurant as well?"

Huang Ying shook her head and whispered, "That won't work. Most of our restaurant's guests are either booking banquets or hosting parties. Although braised vegetarian dishes are good, they don't really go well with our dishes and aren't very presentable. We can just take them back for them to try."

"I think this dried bean curd and seaweed is pretty good. If this dish were on the table, I would definitely take a few more bites." Huang Bing picked up a piece of dried bean curd and put it in his mouth. "Wouldn't it be great as a cold dish?"

"Then let Mom and Dad decide," Huang Ying said.

After finishing their meal, the two packed two portions of braised dishes and rode their bikes back home.

After the business closed at noon, Zhou Yan looked at the few bowls of vegetarian dishes that had been brought into the kitchen; they were almost empty.

In particular, the spicy braised lotus root and braised potatoes are sold out.

Dried bean curd sticks and kelp also sold very well; I roughly estimated that less than a third remained.

"It's selling so well! Everyone's buying it by the half-pound or the pound, saying it's delicious." Aunt Zhao smiled broadly, still a little incredulous, and asked Zhou Yan, "Want some more this afternoon?"

"No need, these are enough to sell. I'll relax this afternoon, otherwise I feel like I'll never finish all day." Zhou Yan shook his head, refusing to work overtime in the afternoon.

Braised food is a long-term business; there's no need to rush.

However, the fact that it became so popular right after its release at noon today was a pleasant surprise to him.

The tasting strategy was executed quite successfully, and according to Aunt Zhao's observation, female workers accounted for 70% of the buyers.

This proportion is already close to that of female workers in textile factories.

Previously, female workers accounted for only about 40% of the customers who bought braised meat.

The more affordable prices have clearly successfully attracted a larger number of female workers.

Word of mouth spread quite quickly.

Some workers came out specifically to buy the braised dishes that their coworkers brought back to the factory after tasting them.

This is no longer considered a dish, but rather a snack.

After soaking and braising, the price of dried bean curd sticks and kelp more than doubled; absorbing enough braising liquid translates into profit.

If this pot of braised vegetables sells out today, the revenue should reach thirty yuan, and the profit should be around fifteen yuan.

This is only the first day, and there are only four vegetarian dishes.

Once we have dried tofu tomorrow, we'll consider adding dried bamboo shoots as well. With a wider variety, we expect it will sell even better.

……

"Braised vegetables! Made by Zhou Yan? Oh, this is good! This is really good!"

In a private room at Feiyan Restaurant, Huang He looked at the two plates of braised vegetarian dishes and couldn't help but clap his hands in approval, his expression showing excitement.

Zhao Shulan looked at it for a while and nodded, saying, "This vegetarian dish looks quite good."

"Not only does it look delicious, but it tastes amazing too." Huang Ying handed over two pairs of chopsticks, smiling, "Would you like to try some?"

"You wouldn't believe it, when I was little, I loved going to Suji with your uncle to get braised meat, just for this vegetarian dish. We'd buy half a pound each time, and I'd eat it slowly on the way. The carriage would leisurely sway all the way to the restaurant, and we'd finish eating right there. It was so wonderful!" Huang He took the chopsticks, his face full of emotion, and first picked up a piece of dried bean curd and put it in his mouth.

The tofu skin, soaked in braising sauce, bursts with savory flavor with every bite. It's soft yet firm, with a slightly chewy texture that gives you the illusion of eating meat.

No, it's even more fragrant than meat.

The perfect blend of savory and bean flavors, even the texture of the dried bean curd sticks is the same.

More than 30 years have passed in the blink of an eye, and many details have become blurred. He only remembers that in the carriage filled with the aroma of braised meat, there was a carefree child holding a bag of braised vegetables, eating with his hands and face covered in oil, his mind and eyes only on that bag of braised vegetables.

He could only go once every five days, which became one of his happiest childhood memories.

He tried the braised lotus root, braised potatoes, and braised kelp one by one. Except for the kelp, the potatoes and lotus root still tasted just like he remembered.

Putting down his chopsticks, Huang He sighed, "Braised beef is the signature dish of our Feiyan Restaurant, but for me, the memories of braised vegetarian dishes are more profound and nostalgic."

"Old man, how about we sell braised vegetarian dishes? I think this dried bean curd and kelp are quite good, they would make a nice vegetarian dish," Huang Bing suggested.

Zhao Shulan was still eating lotus root when she heard this and looked at Huang He.

Huang He pondered for a moment, then shook his head: "Not for sale."

"Why?" Huang Bing asked, puzzled.

Huang He's expression became more solemn as he said, "Zhou Yan said that he might open a restaurant in Jiaozhou a year from now. With his culinary skills, the business will definitely be good."

Braised beef and braised pig's head meat may differ in their cutting methods and plating, but we can still insist that they are made using the century-old braising sauce passed down from Feiyan Restaurant. Delicious braised meats have something in common.

But if we just sell whatever Zhou Yan offers, the dishes will be the same, the taste will be the same, and the customers aren't stupid, they'll be able to tell the difference.
Reputation is built up over generations, so every decision must be made with caution. For Feiyan Restaurant, braised food is an added bonus; let's not put the cart before the horse.

Huang Bing seemed to be deep in thought.

Huang Ying asked curiously, "Old man, did Grandpa say the same thing to you back then?"

Huang He's expression stiffened, and he smiled awkwardly: "Yes, when I ate Aunt Zhang's braised vegetarian dishes back then, I was amazed. I presented them to your grandfather like a treasure, and he happily finished them. Then he said something similar to me."

Running a restaurant requires having your own unique characteristics and staying true to yourself. If you think you can run a successful restaurant by taking shortcuts from one place and another, you're oversimplifying things.

……

"This lotus root is so crisp and refreshing! It's only four cents a pound, and it's braised in such good brine that it still tastes like meat. This owner is so kind! Isn't it said that Zhou Erwa's restaurant is very expensive? A bowl of noodles costs six cents!"

"Yeah, I heard them say that braised pig ears cost three yuan a pound! Tsk, one pound can buy three pounds of pork belly. How come braised vegetables are so cheap?"

"The five-spice flavor is so delicious. My kids don't like spicy food, so I'll buy a pound tonight. The three of them will be thrilled."

"Director Zhao, our group won the Outstanding Production Team award last month, and you only rewarded us with a pack of braised vegetables? You should at least add some meat."

"Exactly! Director Zhao is still too stingy."

During the break, seven or eight female workers sat on a bench at the workshop entrance, enjoying two packets of braised vegetables, and occasionally teasing Zhao Dong who was standing to the side.

"This is a reward from my own pocket, you know. The factory has given you all the same bonuses you received," Zhao Dong said with a smile. "But let me tell you this: if you can get the Outstanding Production Team award this month, I'll buy you pig's head meat next month."

"Get it!"

"Director Zhao is truly impressive!"

The female workers responded with smiles, creating a warm and cheerful atmosphere. "You all enjoy your meal, I'm going to check out the workshops," Zhao Dong said, not daring to linger, and turned to walk into the workshop.

These women, when they're free, chat about anything and everything, and even he, a man, sometimes finds it hard to bear.

In the entire textile factory, women outnumbered men; the female workers held up not just half the sky, but a full seven-tenths of it.

As the workshop director, he went to great lengths to motivate the workers.

However, since they won the Outstanding Production Team award, he, as the director, not only felt honored but also received a bonus.

For example, last month I gave him a bonus of ten yuan.

I bought them two packs of braised vegetables today, which cost two yuan, and they seemed quite satisfied.

He had been thinking about this for several days, and originally planned to give each person a towel.

He ate lunch in the cafeteria today and happened to run into Zhu Zhe, that scoundrel, who was eating alone and came back with a bag of braised vegetables.

He naturally wouldn't let it pass, and ate several pieces, shocked by the taste and price of the braised vegetables.

The braised lotus root and braised potatoes, which cost only four cents a pound, were surprisingly delicious!

They immediately changed their minds and replaced the towels with two packs of braised vegetables so everyone could have a taste.

"Zhou Yan is really amazing, he can make everything taste so good!" Zhao Dong couldn't help but exclaim.

"What's Old Zhao muttering about?" Lin Zhiqiang asked with a smile as he came down from the workshop.

Zhao Dong looked at Lin Zhiqiang and replied with a smile, "Director Lin, I think Zhou Yan's braised vegetarian dishes today are really good. I'll bring some back for the two kids to try tonight."

"He's even launched braised vegetarian dishes?" Lin Zhiqiang was a little surprised. He hadn't heard Zhou Yan mention it while running yesterday.

"That's right, and they're very cheap. Braised lotus root and braised potatoes are only 40 cents a pound, and braised dried bean curd and kelp are only 80 cents. They taste great. If you're buying them for your two kids, buy the original five-spice flavor. I think it tastes even better than the spicy flavor."

Lin Zhiqiang smiled and nodded: "Okay, I'll go buy some after get off work. My wife isn't home today, so I can cook one less dish."

……

Sheung Shui Village.

In the courtyard where the house was half collapsed.

Grandma Sun sat on a small stool, holding a small stick in one hand. She rolled the stick in the large pot of boiling soy milk, and a piece of dried bean curd was immediately wrapped around the stick and then hung on a short bamboo pole next to her.

There were three pots boiling around her, and she was quite skilled at it, rolling and picking at the food.

The bamboo poles in the yard were already covered with dried bean curd sticks, swaying gently in the breeze, filling the yard with the aroma of beans.

When she got to work, she seemed to forget her pain, and her hands and feet were surprisingly nimble.

Under the eaves, Laifu sat on a high stool, pouring soybeans into the stone mill hole with a spoon in one hand, and grinding tofu by turning the millstone with a wooden handle in the other.

The white soy milk collected in the wooden bucket below, which was already more than half full.

He was wearing a loose white vest covered in holes and patches. He was so thin, like a stick. His hands, gripping the wooden handle, were raw and bleeding. He wrapped them in a rag and continued rubbing.

His expression was focused and serious, and his clear eyes were full of energy.

Soon, a bucket of soybeans was ready, and Laifu carried it to Grandma Sun's side.

Grandma Sun smiled and shook her head, gesturing as she said, "We won't make the dried bean curd today. Just finish these three batches, there's no more room to hang them. Take this bucket of soy milk and use it to make tofu. Dry the dried tofu tonight and send it to your cousin tomorrow."

The old lady's sign language wasn't standard, but Laifu understood it at a glance.

Nodding, he carefully lifted the bamboo pole covered with dried bamboo and put it back on the shelf. He then took the last empty bamboo pole and placed it next to Grandma Sun, and poured her a glass of water.

Grandma Sun took a couple of sips of water from her enamel mug, looked at the dried bean curd hanging all over the yard, and a relieved smile appeared on her face: "That's great, Zhang's braised food has been passed down, we're saved."

Laifu smiled too, his eyes shining just as brightly.

……

Just as Zhou Yan had predicted, the remaining braised dishes were sold out in less than ten minutes after the factory closed.

Zhou Momo, who was sitting at the doorway with a small bowl, eating lotus root and potato slices, sold out before she even had a chance to demonstrate her sales skills.

The workers who arrived late glanced at the eight empty basins, then at Zhou Momo, who was sitting on a small stool, happily munching on lotus root slices and swinging her short legs contentedly, and they all swallowed hard.

A three-and-a-half-year-old child doesn't lie.

If even my own kids eat it with peace of mind and enjoy it so much, then this braised vegetarian dish must be pretty good.

The little guy buried his head in his food, occasionally muttering, "The potatoes are so soft and delicious!"

"Boss, please make more vegetarian dishes tomorrow," the female workers said with a hint of resentment.

"Okay." Zhou Miao nodded in agreement, forcing a smile.

The word-of-mouth for this braised vegetarian dish has spread so quickly that it has already created a sensation.

Lin Zhiqiang came out of the store, took a soup pot and packed a portion of braised beef. He had arrived early and also packed six cents worth of vegetables. He happily rode away on his old bicycle.

That's the good thing about being a leader. After inspecting the workshop, it's perfectly reasonable for them to come and inspect the security department, right?
As soon as the bell rang to signal the end of the workday, he was the first to arrive at Zhou Erwa Restaurant, where there were still vegetarian options available.

When I got home, carrying lunchboxes and groceries, the two kids had already finished most of their homework.

"Dad! Did Momo's family bring this back as takeout?"

"Dad, what's for dinner today?!"

Lin Jingxing and Lin Bingwen put down their pens and immediately came over.

"One soup and one braised vegetable dish. Go wash your hands and bring the bowls over," Lin Zhiqiang said as he took the dishes.

The father and his two sons usually dealt with in a simple way.

Before, they got their food from the factory canteen, but recently they've tasted the delicious food at Zhou Erwa's restaurant, and their two sons crave it every day.

When the parchment paper was opened, they saw that it was all vegetarian food, and both sons sighed at the same time.

"Dad, why isn't there any meat?" Lin Jingxing looked up at him.

"Are we out of money?" Lin Bingwen asked with a worried expression.

"There's meat in the soup, this is a newly launched braised vegetarian dish, hurry up and eat." Lin Zhiqiang divided the rice from the lunchbox into their bowls and said with a smile that was a little annoyed.

The two little ones first picked out a few pieces of meat from the soup to eat, and only when all that was left was cabbage did they look at the braised vegetables with little interest.

Lin Zhiqiang didn't care about them and ate with great relish. Zhao Dong was absolutely right; these braised vegetarian dishes were indeed delicious. In Sichuan dialect, they were "absolutely delicious!"
"Dad, is it really that delicious?" Lin Jingxing asked with some skepticism. He picked up a piece of potato and put it in his bowl. With a little force, he broke the potato in two with his chopsticks. He picked up a piece and put it in his mouth. His eyes lit up immediately.

This potato looks so meaty!
It's soft and melts in your mouth with just one bite, with a smooth texture and a rich meaty flavor. So delicious!
He chewed and swallowed, then ate a mouthful of rice and the remaining half. His chopsticks then picked up a piece of dried bean curd stick, a wrinkled piece he didn't know what it was, but it looked pretty good.

"Brother, is it good?" Lin Bingwen didn't like vegetables and was still looking for scraps of meat in his bowl. Seeing his brother eating one piece after another, he asked curiously.

"It's not tasty. Why don't you look for some meat? I think there are still two pieces of beef in the bowl." Lin Jingxing didn't even look up as he fed the dried bean curd into his mouth and chewed it in small bites.

Is this meat?!
It tastes just like meat! The texture is similar too! It's even tastier than meat!
Lin Jingxing was overjoyed, but he had to put on an expression that said, "It's nothing special," which was quite a feat for him.

Without hesitation, the chopsticks picked up the next piece of dried bean curd.

"Really?" Lin Bingwen immediately stood up, leaned over the soup bowl and carefully searched for it. In the end, he actually found a small piece of tendon. He sat down contentedly and ate it slowly.

Lin Zhiqiang helplessly picked up a piece of dried bean curd and put it in his bowl: "Idiot, if you don't eat it, your brother will eat it all."

"Give it to my brother, I'll just eat the meat." Lin Bingwen then picked up the dried bean curd and put it into Lin Jingxing's bowl.

"Hmm, my good little brother, let me help you eat." Lin Jingxing reached out and patted his head, then ate another piece of dried bean curd.

"Thank you, brother."

Lin Jingxing couldn't suppress the smile on his face; look, he's even thanking us.

The dried bean curd sticks smell so good!
Lin Bingwen shoveled a mouthful of rice into his mouth. There was a little bit of tofu skin left in it. As he chewed, his expression changed. There was no meat in the bowl, so why did it feel like he had eaten a piece of meat? Right, there was a small piece of tofu skin.

He was a little unsure and looked at his brother.

My brother ate a piece of dried bean curd, a piece of seaweed, a potato, and a lotus root in one bite, eating so quickly and deliciously.

Something is wrong!

My brother clearly doesn't like eating vegetables either.

Lin Bingwen realized what was going on and picked up the last piece of dried bean curd from the plate with his chopsticks.

Lin Jingxing paused with his chopsticks, looked at him and said with a gentle smile, "Little brother, let me help you eat."

Lin Bingwen immediately fed it to him, chewed it a couple of times, and his expression changed instantly; tears immediately streamed down his face: "Meat! You ate meat without telling me! Ah—"

"This isn't meat, it's vegetables. You don't like them, do you?" Lin Jingxing turned to pick up a potato, a hint of smugness in his smile. "You even picked it up for me yourself, and said thank you, brother."

Lin Zhiqiang was also overjoyed, laughing and saying, "If you keep crying, you won't even be able to eat potatoes later."

Lin Bingwen immediately stopped crying, quickly finished chewing and swallowing the dried bean curd in his mouth, shoveled a big mouthful of rice, and then imitated his brother by picking up potatoes.

Potatoes are delicious too! They even taste like meat!
"Dad, did Momo's brother cook the meat into potatoes?" Lin Bingwen asked, sniffing.

"Maybe." Lin Zhiqiang nodded with a smile.

"Then send your brother to be a chef. I want to eat such delicious food every day," Lin Bingwen pleaded.

Lin Jingxing pouted: "If you're as cute as Momo, I'll go."

……

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(End of this chapter)