1984: Starting from a bankrupt Sichuan restaurant

Chapter 173 Mapo Tofu is in hand! (Bonus chapter for monthly votes: 1033)

Zhou Yan raised an eyebrow. The progress bar had jumped by 25%!
The strong support from her maternal family seems to have given Grandma Sun a great deal of confidence and comfort.

Smiles appeared on everyone's face in the courtyard, as if they had just won a battle.

Of course, the fact is also true.

"Third Sister, look how I stopped him with a stick just now, wasn't I heroic?" Zhang Zhengping said with a hint of pride.

"She does look somewhat like she did when she was young," Zhang Shufen nodded with a smile.

“I’m not kidding, I was a military doctor back in the day, so I definitely wouldn’t have been left with diarrhea.” Zhang Zhengping became even more smug after hearing this, and looked at Sun Lihua and said, “Lihua, you’re still a bit crooked, aren’t you? You know how to hide the money and not give it to that bastard.”

“This money is for winter,” Sun Lihua said with emotion. “If it weren’t for Sister Fenfen and Cousin Zhengping coming today, I don’t know what I would have done.”

The three older people were already chatting enthusiastically, their faces beaming with smiles.

"Your family is truly formidable. Faced with such scoundrels, I felt somewhat powerless today," He Zhiyuan couldn't help but praise.

Xiao Li nodded in deep agreement.

“Editor-in-Chief He, you two are like scholars meeting soldiers, you can’t reason with them. Only people like us with bent legs can handle this kind of person.” Zhou Yan laughed, looking at the two of them: “Didn’t you say you were going up at noon? Why are you still in Shangshui Village?”

“We came back with Laifu for an interview, and Grandma Sun insisted that we stay for lunch. But as soon as we put down our bowls, those two wretches showed up. We were worried about Grandma Sun and Laifu, and we were trying to persuade them to stay. Luckily, you guys came.” He Zhiyuan said with a hint of helplessness, “We just didn’t have the right to do anything. Otherwise, with my temper, I would have already taken action.”

"It makes me want to take action," Xiao Li said, clenching his fist.

Looking at the refined and gentle Xiao Li, Zhou Yan was so angry that he wanted to hit him, which showed how despicable Gu Changgui and his wife were.

"I still want to thank you for speaking up for me," Zhou Yan said with a smile, glancing at his watch. "Are you going back to Rongcheng today? It's probably too late to get a ride to Jiaozhou at this hour, right?"

“I can’t go back to Rongcheng today. I’ll go back to Jiaozhou first, and then I’ll go find your grandmaster to supplement some information and have a meal while I’m at it.” He Zhiyuan glanced at his watch and said with a smile, “Then I’ll leave this place to you. We’ll just go outside and wait for the bus.”

"I'll see you out." Zhou Yan nodded.

He Zhiyuan greeted Grandma Sun, Laifu, and Grandma Zhang, then left with Xiao Li.

Zhou Yan walked them to the main road, and after waiting for more than ten minutes, they saw a bus swaying and wobbling as it drove by, kicking up clouds of dust.

He Zhiyuan waved for the bus to stop, looked at Zhou Yan and said, "Goodbye, Zhou Yan. If you ever come to Chengdu, come visit me at the magazine office."

"Okay, see you later." Zhou Yan smiled and waved, watching the two board the bus and leave.

When Zhou Yan returned to the courtyard, Grandma Sun was sitting in a chair with five silver needles inserted into her right knee.

Zhang Zhengping stood there, with a cloth bag spread out on a stool next to him, containing rows of silver needles.

“Lihua, you have knee arthritis. It’s probably caused by a previous injury and frequent exposure to cold.” Zhang Zhengping looked at her and said, “I have this problem too. Everyone gets like this as they get older. The knee joints degenerate, and the mobility gradually decreases. Acupuncture can relieve some symptoms, but it can’t cure it.”

"Brother Zhengping, it's nothing serious. Liwei took me to see a doctor last year, and that's what he said too. It's good enough that I can still move one leg now," Grandma Sun said with a carefree smile.

"That's not quite true. It can't be cured, but we can slow down how much it gets worse," Zhang Zhengping said earnestly. "For example, you shouldn't do heavy lifting like squatting, standing up, climbing stairs, or going uphill. You can direct the younger people to do those things. Keep your knees warm. You can sew an extra piece of cloth inside both knees and apply a hot towel before bed to relieve the pain."

Zhou Yan took notes with a pen, then tore off a piece and handed it to Lai Fu, who was standing to the side with a worried look in his eyes.

Lai Fu read it carefully, then smiled and nodded at Zhou Yan.

This child is sensible. Zhou Yan gave him the doctor's orders, and he will definitely be able to take good care of his great-aunt.

"Uncle, can you see my aunt's eyes?" Zhou Yan asked.

"Give me the paper and pen," Zhang Zhengping said, holding out his hand.

Zhou Yan quickly handed it over.

Zhang Zhengping quickly wrote out a prescription, signed his name at the bottom, and handed it to Zhou Yan: "Zhou Yan, go to the clinic or factory hospital and buy me two kinds of medicine, a box of eye drops and a box of anti-inflammatory medicine. I'll teach your aunt how to use them."

Zhou Yan took the notebook, his expression slightly strange, and said, "Uncle, aren't you a traditional Chinese medicine doctor? Why are you prescribing Western medicine?"

“This is called combining traditional Chinese and Western medicine.” Zhang Zhengping laughed heartily. “Prescribing Chinese medicine can help, but it will take at least half a month. Eyes can’t be delayed. Lihua’s eye inflammation is quite serious. If it’s delayed for too long, she might go blind.”

"Okay, I'll go right away!" Zhou Yan tucked his notebook away, quickly went out, got on his bicycle, and left.

“This kid is good at talking and doing things, and he can be called upon. He’s much better than my grandsons.” Zhang Zhengping said with a sigh, “The main thing is that he’s as handsome as I was when I was young. I wonder which crooked woman will end up with him.”

“If it weren’t for Zhou Yan, Lai Fu and I don’t know how we would have survived.” Sun Lihua also looked very grateful.

“As long as Laifu learns your skills, making tofu may be hard work, but you’ll definitely live a good life.” Zhang Shufen gently patted her hand and said softly, “Get your eyes treated and take good care of your legs. Look ahead, there are many good days ahead.”

“That’s right, don’t look back. At our age, we should live one more day at a time.” Zhang Zhengping also said with a smile, “You still have to watch Laifu find a wife. You have to have good eyesight so that you can help him pick a kind-hearted but wicked woman, preferably like Tieying. Then the family will have a person in charge.”

Zhang Shufen laughed upon hearing this: "You have a good eye for people. Back then, I saw that Tieying was a girl with her own opinions. She could be a little unconventional, but she knew her limits. She was also kind-hearted. That's why I rushed to Sanshui to arrange the engagement."

"Otherwise, this quiet type will only know how to draw his sword when something happens, and who knows how much trouble he will cause."

"When choosing a wife, choose a virtuous one. The old saying is quite true. My Tieying can resolve so many issues with just a word, without Sanshui ever having to get involved."

The old lady was incredibly proud when she talked about her daughter-in-law.

Zhou Miao, who was listening nearby, chuckled to himself and quietly put his clothes down to cover the knife handle.

“You’re right, we need to look forward.” Sun Lihua nodded, a smile appearing on her face. Looking at Laifu, who was standing obediently to the side, she said, “Liwei and Qiaoqian entrusted Laifu to me, so I have to watch him get married and start a family. Only in this way can I give them a proper explanation.”

Zhang Zhengping and Zhang Shufen exchanged a glance, and smiles appeared on their faces.

Over there, Zhou Yan had just come out of the factory hospital with his medicine when a glint of gold flashed in the corner of his eye:
[Ding! Side Quest: The Battle to Protect the Heritage of Xiba Tofu! Progress: 100%! Sun Lihua has made up her mind to pass on the recipe for Xiba tofu to her grandson, Laifu!]

【mission completed! 】

[Reward: Mapo Tofu!]

Zhou Yan squeezed the brakes, and his eyes immediately lit up.

The recipe for Mapo Tofu is now available and can be claimed.

"My God! What happened? Are the older generation really that powerful?!"

Zhou Yan found it somewhat unbelievable.

What happened during the twenty-odd minutes he was gone?
It's always the older generation that has to comfort the older generation; there's always a generation gap between young people and the younger generation.

Zhou Yan's spirits soared as he finally got his hands on the Mapo Tofu he had been longing for.

It was difficult to drive on the road, so Zhou Yan rode his bike towards Shangshui Village first.

When they returned to the courtyard, Zhang Zhengping was teaching Sun Lihua some beauty exercises.

Grandma Sun's face showed less bitterness, and her expression looked much brighter.

Zhou Yan guessed that it was probably a change in his state of mind.

Zhang Zhengping took the medicine and began to explain to Sun Lihua how to use it: "Lihua, look, take three pills a day. Tilt your head back and drop the eye drops two or three times at a time. I bought you three vials. Keep the medicine box. If your eyes are still uncomfortable after you finish using them, have Laifu take the box to the clinic to buy more. It's 50 cents a vial."

On the other side of the courtyard, Laifu was pressing tofu.

The old lady stood to the side watching, a smile playing on her lips.

Zhou Yan walked over and said with a smile, "Is this the tofu you're going to use to make dried tofu?"

The old lady nodded: "That's right, he's not quite skilled at adding the braising liquid yet, so his grandma has to keep an eye on him. But he does everything else quite well."

Zhou Yan glanced at the time and said, "Then let's cut a piece and make Mapo Tofu after this block of tofu is ready."

"You've even learned how to make Mapo Tofu?" The old lady looked at him with some surprise. She had eaten it once in a Sichuan restaurant in Jiaozhou when she was young, and it was alright. The one made at the Suji State-run Restaurant wasn't very authentic, and she didn't think it could be called Mapo Tofu.

Zhou Yan, without batting an eye, said, "I went to Jiaozhou a couple of days ago to attend a chef exchange meeting. I learned some skills from my grandmaster and uncles. My great-uncle is here today, so I'll show him what I can do." The old lady smiled and nodded, "Alright, let me see if you've learned your skills well."

"Zhou Yan," Grandma Sun called out to him.

"Auntie, what's wrong?" Zhou Yan responded and quickly walked over.

Grandma Sun handed him a piece of paper.

"What is this?" Zhou Yan took the paper and saw the words "IOU" written on it, and then looked at the amount: 184.5 yuan.

Grandma Sun said with a smile, "I asked your great-uncle to write the IOU for me, and the cost of the medicine is included. Please keep it safe. Laifu and I will make dried tofu and bean curd sticks to pay off the debt."

“Okay.” Zhou Yan carefully put away the IOU and said with a smile, “Auntie, starting tomorrow, in addition to dried tofu and bean curd sticks, I will also need twenty catties of tofu every day. I’m going to start selling Mapo Tofu.”

"Twenty pounds?" Grandma Sun looked troubled and glanced at Laifu, who was pressing tofu. "I don't know if he can carry it."

“Auntie, starting tomorrow, I’ll ride my bike to pick up the goods, so Laifu won’t have to carry them around. It only takes about ten minutes by bike,” Zhou Miao offered.

Grandma Sun thought for a moment and nodded, "Okay, then Sanshui, I'll trouble you to get the dried tofu and bean curd sticks. Let Laifu carry the tofu. You've never transported tofu before, so we don't want it to get damaged on the way."

“It’s no trouble at all. What trouble could we possibly have with family?” Zhou Miao said.

"Auntie, the tofu I want needs to be of high quality. I might need you to give me some pointers on how to make it." Zhou Yan stated his requirements. Mapo tofu is meant to be sold to customers, so he had to ensure its quality.

Grandma Sun nodded and said, "I know. Your restaurant sells to customers. If the food isn't good, they certainly won't send it to your restaurant."

"Zhou Yan, do you perhaps think that Lai Fu's own cooking is inferior?" Zhang Zhengping asked with a smile.

“Uncle, you’re a professional when it comes to treating patients, but I’m a professional when it comes to cooking. Laifu’s tofu is quite good, better than the other tofu vendors in Suji Town. But for me, the tofu made under Aunt’s guidance is definitely of the best quality.” Zhou Yan explained with a smile, “When Laifu’s tofu is as good as Aunt’s, then I won’t ask for anything more.”

“That makes sense. I’m not good at cooking, but I’m good at eating.” Zhang Zhengping looked at him with a smile and said, “Our Niuhua is famous for its tofu pudding, and the tofu is also quite good. I grew up eating tofu. I want to see if your tofu is worthy of your aunt’s tofu.”

When I worked in Chengdu, there was a restaurant near the back gate of the hospital. The chef there had worked at Chen Mapo Tofu, and his Mapo Tofu was absolutely delicious.

“Since my uncle has said so, then we’ll just have to see who has the best skills,” Zhou Yan said with a smile.

After chatting for a while, when the first batch of tofu had been pressed for the right amount of time, the gauze was removed, revealing a piece of white jade-like tofu.

A perfect slab of tofu

Zhou Yan has already seen the quality.

As expected of a master in the world of tofu, with just a little guidance, his apprentices can make tofu of such perfect quality.

Zhou Yan asked Lai Fu to cut two jin for him. The cut was smooth and delicate, without any hollows. It trembled slightly when he picked it up, steaming hot, and had a rich aroma of soybeans.

Zhang Zhengping had already gotten two bowls, cut a small piece for Zhang Shufen and himself, took a bite with his chopsticks, and nodded repeatedly: "Mmm! Authentic Xiba tofu! So tender, so fragrant, and a little sweet. It would be even better with a spoonful of chili sauce."

"I haven't had freshly made soft tofu in many years. It's still so fragrant. It's sweet and delicious without any added ingredients. I just can't find another tofu stall in Suji that can match this level."

The two men's conversation made Zhou Yan's mouth water. Just as he was about to get a bowl, Lai Fu came out with two bowls, cut two pieces of tofu, and handed them to Zhou Yan and Zhou Miao with a smile.

My great-uncle was right. He couldn't hear or speak, but he understood everything.

Zhou Yan raised his right fist, pointed it at Lai Fu, and bent his thumb twice.

Laifu's eyes lit up immediately, and a happy smile appeared on his face.

Zhou Yan smiled, picked up his chopsticks, and took a bite of the tofu.

The freshly made tofu was indeed exceptionally tender, with a smooth texture and a rich bean flavor. It slid down my throat in one go, leaving a lingering fragrance on my lips and teeth.

Compared to tofu pudding, it has a slightly firmer texture and doesn't fall apart at the slightest touch.

He finished half a bowl of tofu in just a few slurps.

Good tofu is like this; it's already a pretty good food in itself.

Zhou Yan took out four cents and put it on the stool, and everyone prepared to go back.

"Lihua, I'll come over every other day to give you acupuncture. After three sessions, your condition should improve. I won't say you'll be able to walk like the wind, but at least you won't be in so much pain." Zhang Zhengping patiently instructed Grandma Sun, "Remember not to do heavy work and keep warm."

"Okay, then I'll have to trouble you, Cousin Zhengping." Grandma Sun said with an embarrassed expression.

"What trouble could there be among family? I'm staying at Third Sister's for a whole week this time. I've already told my wife." Zhang Zhengping waved his hand dismissively and went out.

"Old man, go to the Armed Forces Department and tell your uncle to come to the restaurant for dinner after work, so he won't go home hungry," Zhou Yan said to Zhou Miao on the way back.

"Okay," Zhou Miao agreed.

Zhou Yan, along with Zhang Zhengping, carried the tofu back to the restaurant first.

As soon as Zhou Yan stopped his bicycle, Zhou Momo ran over, pouting and saying in a childish voice, "Brother~ where did you go? I couldn't find you when I got back..."

The little guy became more and more aggrieved as he spoke, and his big eyes were already filled with tears.

"I went to see my great-aunt," Zhou Yan said hastily, feeling like a heinous criminal.

"Then...then why didn't you take me?" The little guy looked even more aggrieved, took out two fruit candies from his pocket, sniffed, and said, "I also want to see my great-aunt. Mom said my great-aunt is sick, and I even prepared candies for her."

"It's my fault, I'll take you next time." Looking at the candy in the little one's hand, Zhou Yan felt even more guilty. How could she be so considerate at such a young age, even knowing to visit her sick great-aunt?

"This must be Zhou Momo, right?" Zhang Zhengping got out of the back seat, looking at the adorable little girl in front of him with eyes full of admiration: "Oh my, she's so cute! Your Zhou family is full of tall, strong sons, how come you have such a lovely little girl?"

Zhou Momo stared at Zhang Zhengping for a moment, then subconsciously moved closer to Zhou Yan's legs, asking with a hint of curiosity, "Grandpa, who are you?"

Zhang Zhengping said with a smile, "I'm your grandmother's younger brother, so you should call me great-uncle."

“Uncle!” Zhou Momo called out in a clear voice.

"Oh! So good!" Zhang Zhengping grinned from ear to ear, rummaging through all six pockets on his body, but couldn't find anything suitable to give to Zhou Momo. Finally, he simply took out a yuan and handed it to Zhou Momo, saying with a smile, "This is a red envelope from last year's Chinese New Year, take it."

"One piece." Zhou Momo glanced at it, didn't reach out, and shook her head, saying, "That's too much, I don't want it!"

"Hmm, you're so young, yet so sensible." Zhang Zhengping's smile grew even brighter as he handed the money forward again. "However, I always give my youngest grandson a one-yuan red envelope. You can take it and use it to buy some candy."

Zhou Momo turned around and looked at Aunt Zhao standing at the door.

"Just accept the red envelope when your great-uncle asks you to," Aunt Zhao said with a smile.

Zhou Momo then reached out and took it, bowed to Zhang Zhengping, and said in a childish voice, "Thank you, Uncle. Happy New Year and may you prosper."

Well, once the red envelope is received, the keyword is triggered.

The adults couldn't help but laugh.

"Good boy, you're welcome." Zhang Zhengping waved his hand repeatedly. This one-yuan red envelope was well worth it. The little guy had given enough emotional value, unlike his own unruly grandsons who would take the red envelope and run off to buy firecrackers faster than anyone else.

"Mom, let's have Mapo Tofu for dinner," Zhou Yan said to Aunt Zhao as he pushed his bicycle into the restaurant.

"Don't you not know how to make Mapo Tofu?" Aunt Zhao asked, puzzled.

"I just learned this a couple of days ago. I'll show you how to make it tonight. If it tastes good, I'll put it on the menu tomorrow," Zhou Yan said with a smile, carrying the tofu towards the kitchen.

He placed the tofu on the cutting board, and on a whim, he opened the recipe for Mapo Tofu.

……

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(End of this chapter)