1984: Starting from a bankrupt Sichuan restaurant

Chapter 181 Rare Reward: [Fish-Flavored Shredded Pork] (6.2k words in two parts)

Zhou Yan paused, realizing he had completely forgotten about this side quest.

But what does this influence calculation mean?
Are they still calculating the long-term potential of the "Sichuan Cuisine" magazine?

Influence, in essence, is measured by where it spreads.

It's been three days since this new issue was released, and I reckon most people who wanted to buy it have already done so.

Logically speaking, if the settlement isn't made today, it should be made tomorrow.

I don't know what the reward is yet, but this has piqued my interest and I'm starting to look forward to it.

Zhou Yan hoped it would spread more widely so he could get a rarer reward, like a high-end dish.

He plans to buy a few more magazines when he goes to Jiaozhou sometime.

These past few days, customers who have come to the restaurant have been unable to resist flipping through the magazines on the menu wall and then showering the restaurant with compliments.

You know what, it feels pretty good.

Because of the magazine, the number of customers ordering "Qiaojiao Beef" has increased in the past two days.

With the endorsement of a professional magazine, the originally ordinary Qiaojiao Beef suddenly seems to appear high-end and classy.

The price of six cents suddenly became quite affordable.

Even regular customers who often eat at Qiaojiao Beef specifically asked if the price would increase after Zhou Yan was featured in the magazine.

The price will rise, but definitely not this year.

Those days when you could eat a bowl of braised beef for just six cents wouldn't last two years.

“Brother Bing, look at my marble.” Zhou Momo ran over and proudly held up a glass marble, “Bingwen gave it to me.”

"Hmm, it looks really pretty." Zhou Yan smiled and patted her head. The little girl's leather jacket had been changed back into a floral padded jacket by Aunt Zhao, and her hat was hanging behind the counter.

Such nice clothes should be worn on appropriate occasions. If she wears them to play on a seesaw, she'll soon have two slits in the leather jacket.

Zhou Yan changed her clothes and went out for a run.

They ran into Lin Zhiqiang, who had just left home, and the two chatted as they jogged along.

"Xiao Zhou, could you save me two jin of braised vegetables next Monday at noon? My wife wants to take some to her colleagues to try, especially the braised tofu skin. Save half a jin for her," Lin Zhiqiang said.

"No problem, Uncle Lin, I'll definitely save it for you," Zhou Yan replied with a smile. He was determined to make sure that the goods Sister Meng wanted were properly arranged.

"Congratulations on being featured in a magazine! You're only twenty and already in an industry magazine. You have a bright future ahead of you." Lin Zhiqiang looked at Zhou Yan with admiration. "I was thirty when I first appeared in a newspaper."

“Uncle Lin gets published in newspapers and magazines for his technological innovations, and he’s won provincial and national awards. He’s not even on the same level as a food magazine like mine,” Zhou Yan said with a smile. “You flatter me too much.”

“What’s the difference? We’re all shining in our respective fields.” Lin Zhiqiang waved his hand and said seriously, “You perfectly replicated the recipe for Qiaojiao Beef from a damaged recipe and even upgraded and improved the process. That’s technological innovation. This article is really well written, making it easy for us laymen to understand your skill.”

Zhou Yan blushed after hearing this. It was a little embarrassing to hear a story he had made up on the spot being praised by an acquaintance.

"You may not even realize it, but this is your resume. You've made a name for yourself in the industry. In the future, when people talk about chefs in Jiaozhou, they will inevitably mention Zhou Yan from Suji." Lin Zhiqiang said with a smile, "If Qiaojiao Beef can go beyond Suji and become a famous dish in Jiaozhou, as the article said, then when people in the industry mention this dish, they will think of you. That's the real value of this interview."

Zhou Yan nodded thoughtfully; such deep consideration was indeed something he hadn't taken into account.

At first, he just wanted to be featured in a magazine to advertise his small restaurant, so that he would have a stepping stone when he went to Jiaozhou in the future.

Lin Zhiqiang changed the subject: "By the way, a big client is coming to the factory for an inspection in a couple of days. The factory manager asked me to be in charge of receiving him. What do you think I should take him out to eat that will leave a lasting impression and increase his willingness to sign a contract?"

"Isn't Uncle Lin in charge of technology? How come he's also in charge of reception?" Zhou Yan asked, somewhat surprised.

"The clients were from overseas, second-generation overseas Chinese. There weren't many people in the factory who spoke English, and the factory manager was worried about communication barriers. He was also afraid that they would feel slighted because he wasn't high enough in rank, so he put me in charge." Lin Zhiqiang's smile revealed a hint of helplessness. "I'm just a technician, how would I know anything about hospitality? But there really was no one else who could handle this, so I had no choice but to bite the bullet and take on the responsibility."

"Which country are you from? And where is your ancestral home?" Zhou Yan asked.

“She’s from the United States, and her ancestral home is said to be Hangzhou,” Lin Zhiqiang said with a smile. “The factory manager asked me to host her for another reason: Anhe’s hometown is in Zhejiang Province, and he felt that I would know more about her.”

Zhou Yan thought for a moment and said, "Many overseas Chinese retain some of their lifestyle habits. Uncle Lin studied abroad, so he should know this better than I do. If this client's taste is more like that of Zhejiang Province, then he will prefer relatively light food. You can't go wrong if you follow Sister Meng's taste. Unless he asks for it himself, try to take him to eat some light food so that he doesn't feel uncomfortable."

“If the other party is a businessman, you can take him to visit the Leshan Giant Buddha. Many business people are willing to pay their respects. You can even take him to Mount Emei. Climbing the mountain will definitely leave a deep impression on him.”

"The textile factory's products are one aspect, but if we treat the other party well and make them happy, we should be more willing to sign the contract."

Lin Zhiqiang nodded repeatedly after listening, "That makes sense, you've thought it through very well."

After running and returning to the hotel, covered in sweat, Zhou Momo was sitting under the lamp drawing. Old Zhou was sitting next to her, holding a palm-leaf fan to help her swat away mosquitoes, his usually stern face now bearing a simple, honest smile.

The autumn mosquitoes these past few days are nearing the end of their lifespan and are extremely rampant.

Even someone like Zhou Yan, who sleeps so well, was bitten awake three times last night.

They fought mosquitoes all night, ending in a draw. Neither mosquito nor Zhou Yan got enough to eat.

"What are you drawing?" Zhou Yan walked over and saw that the drawing was of a small car, with a long-legged girl wearing a hat standing next to the car, and another little girl with pigtails, also wearing a hat.

The crayon drawing isn't exactly exquisite, but the colors are so beautifully combined that the resulting image is surprisingly vibrant.

Zhou Yan doesn't have much appreciation for paintings, but whether something is good or not is a matter of feeling.

He thought the painting was quite beautiful.

“It’s Sister Yuyan.” Zhou Momo looked up at him and said with a smile, “Next time she comes, I’ll give it to her.”

"You're so young, yet you already know how to reciprocate. I'll buy you a frame for it tomorrow and give it to someone as a gift," Zhou Yan said with a smile. He could already imagine how happy Duan Yuyan would be to see the painting.

"Brother, hasn't Sister Yao Yao written to you yet?" Zhou Momo's big eyes were full of anticipation. "I miss her so much. When are we going to Shancheng to see her? How about tomorrow? I drew two pictures to give to her."

"We can't go tomorrow. The shop is too busy. We don't have the means to go on a trip to the mountain city yet." Zhou Yan shook his head with a smile. The little guy really dares to think and say things.

Besides, he and Xia Yao were only pen pals, and it would seem a bit presumptuous of him to suddenly go to the mountain city to see her.

Zhou Yan thought that he would go to pay respects to his grandfather in a couple of days and then stop by Jiaozhou to buy some magazines, and send one to Xia Yao.

Uncle Lin is right, this is something that can only be encountered by chance and is worth sharing.

This is more impressive and shows more sophistication than earning 300 a day.

"Will she come to see us?" Zhou Momo asked again.

"Maybe...maybe." Zhou Yan's tone wasn't so certain.

Xia Yao is still worried about her job prospects after graduating next year. She will definitely go back to Hangzhou for the Spring Festival during the winter break. In the second semester of her senior year, she will be busy with internships and job hunting, so it is even less likely that she will come to Suzhou.

“Okay, then next time you write to her, you have to tell me, okay? I want to give her my painting.” Zhou Momo lowered her head and continued painting.

"Okay," Zhou Yan replied with a smile, then went upstairs to get her clothes and take a shower.

……

"Zhou Kunkun, you still know how to stay at home? I thought you could fill your stomach by playing cards!" Gao Cuihua sat in the main room, glancing sideways at her husband as he entered.

"Eating gunpowder in the middle of the night?" Zhou Kunkun was taken aback. He came in and first untied the lid on the table. Looking at the half-eaten plate of pickled vegetables left over from lunch, he sighed, "Where's the food? Are we eating the table?"

"Am I your servant? You go out to play cards all day, and when you come home you're expected to cook? Don't you have hands or feet? You're ugly, have no sweet tongue, are plain-looking, and have no money. You've got a lot of dreams, haven't you?" Gao Cuihua put her hands on her hips and glared at Zhou Kunkun.

"Do you know that Zhao Tieying's husband bought her two gold earrings, from Lao Feng Xiang! Tell me, why can't I be so lucky? I'm just as good as him in every way!"

Zhou Kunkun shrank back and mumbled, "Zhou Laosi's house collapsed and he doesn't even have money to repair it, how could he possibly buy his wife gold earrings? Don't listen to what others are saying. It's more important for us to live our own lives behind closed doors!"

"Damn it! I saw it myself! It's so big, it almost blinded me!" Gao Cuihua slammed her hand on the table, causing the plates on it to jump half a foot high.

There was a noise outside the door. Zhou Liangliang and Wu Guihua walked in, glanced at Zhou Kunkun who was huddled to the side, and grinned, "Old man, lost at cards again?"

"What are you laughing at! Zhou Yan's soup pot is on a magazine cover, and you son of a bitch have been cooking soup pot for three years and can't even sell a few bowls a day. What have you been doing all day long?" Gao Cuihua's gaze shifted to Zhou Liangliang, and her voice suddenly rose several decibels: "The New Year is almost here again, how much money do you have in your crotch, son of a bitch? When are you going to pay me back the money I borrowed from you? Everyone else is getting better every year, but what about you? You're getting older every year!"

Zhou Liangliang stopped laughing and glanced at his wife beside him with a pleading look.

Wu Guihua turned and left, saying, "I'm going to cook!"

"Mom, you said Zhou Yan is in a magazine? What magazine? He just runs a small restaurant, how could he be so fierce?" Zhou Liangliang said, forcing a smile.

Gao Cuihua said angrily, "The photos are printed on it, how could it be fake! They say it's some kind of 'Qiaojiao Beef,' but it's just a soup pot with a different name. They say business is booming, and they can sell more than a hundred bowls a day."

Zhou Liang nodded and said, "That's true. Zhou Jie and his team have changed their signboard to Zhou Ji Qiaojiao Beef. A bowl of Qiaojiao Beef costs six cents and they sell about a hundred bowls a day. They also sell about twenty catties of braised pig's head meat."

Gao Cuihua's eyes widened upon hearing this: "That's going to make a lot of money!"

"It's at least thirty yuan a day, more than a thousand yuan a month, and ten thousand yuan a year..." Zhou Liangliang gasped.

Zhou Kunkun exclaimed in surprise, "You earn ten thousand yuan a year! You make that much just by selling soup pots!"

"If Zhou Hai and Zhou Jie each take half, that's half a ten-thousand-yuan household," Zhou Liangliang muttered. This calculation really couldn't be done too meticulously.

"Then Zhou Yan's family must be making even more money! No wonder they have gold earrings, Shanghai brand watches, new clothes, and new leather shoes!" Gao Cuihua gritted her teeth in anger and asked Zhou Liangliang, "You sell soup pots and noodles now, how much money can you make in a day?"

"On a good day, I can earn six or seven yuan, and even on a bad day, I can still make four or five yuan, which is much better than before," Zhou Liangliang said.

"I'm afraid it won't even be a fraction of what Zhou Yan got." Gao Cuihua sighed, getting angrier as she thought about Zhao Tieying's smug face today.

Zhou Kunkun's eyes suddenly lit up: "Zhou's Braised Beef! They can use that name, so can we! She said Braised Beef is a famous dish passed down from our Zhou Village, and we're not even surnamed Zhou! If we change the name, maybe customers will come to us." "That makes sense!" Zhou Liangliang couldn't help but clap his hands upon hearing this. Instead of going to the textile factory to compete with Zhou Yan, he would set up his stall properly at the dock.

The "Qiaojiao Beef" dish sounds a bit more special than a soup pot.

Zhou Yan is in a magazine, that means he's famous.

Then they can benefit from it!
“Great! Let’s change our name too!” Gao Cuihua’s eyes also lit up. “Go all out! If you can’t handle it, your father and I will help you! We can split the profits in half!”

"Okay! I'll change the sign tonight!"

……

Sichuan Mei, classroom.

The first class this morning was taught by Professor Su Jun, and Deng Hong, Xia Yao, and Zhu Yuyu sat in the middle.

Xia Yao was listening attentively to the lesson, her pen scribbling notes in her notebook, while Zhu Yuyu next to her was also listening very attentively.

Deng Hong glanced at Teacher Su, who was writing on the blackboard, took out an oil paper package from her schoolbag, carefully tore open the seal, and pulled out a magazine.

As a seasoned foodie, she has never missed an issue of Sichuan Cuisine magazine since its inception. She just picked up the fourth issue before class today and hasn't had a chance to open it yet.

Teacher Su's theory class today was quite good, but a bit boring. She decided to find some fun for herself by seeing what cooking tips the masters would share, and what delicacies are available in various parts of Sichuan and Chongqing. She can do her homework in advance for her next sketching or travel trip.

She and Ma Xingye had already made a promise that after the winter vacation started, they wouldn't rush home. Instead, they would go on a trip together, have fun, and then go home separately for the Chinese New Year.

With just over a month left before the holiday, she needs to do some research in advance. She'll be interning at a factory next week, which won't be as relaxed and carefree as school.

The magazine cover is as exquisite as ever. The color-printed cover features a beautiful blue and white porcelain bowl containing a bowl of clear beef soup. The tender beef and tripe with a raised corner look crispy, while the glistening beef tendon looks soft and chewy. A dish of dried chili powder is also served on the side.

and many more……

This beef soup looks kind of familiar...
Deng Hong's eyes widened slightly. She glanced at her sister who was studying hard beside her, hesitated for a moment but didn't dare to disturb her. She opened the magazine cover and quickly found the cover label—"Qiaojiao Beef".

"It really is 'Qiaojiao Beef'!" Deng Hong's hand trembled slightly as she quickly scanned the catalog and soon found it among the four featured sections:
A new way to eat beef—Suji Qiaojiao Beef…He Zhiyuan (18)

Deng Hong's hands trembled slightly, and her breathing became heavier. She quickly flipped to page eighteen, and her eyes widened when she saw the picture. She covered her mouth to keep herself from making a sound and gently nudged Zhu Yuyu beside her.

Zhu Yuyu subconsciously turned around and saw the magazine that Deng Hong handed her. After seeing the photos and the headline, her eyes widened and she instinctively opened her mouth.

Deng Hong reacted quickly, covering her mouth and whispering, "Sis! We're in class, don't shout!"

Zhu Yuyu nodded obediently, and Deng Hong withdrew her hand. The two of them huddled together and finished reading the interview. They looked up and exchanged glances, both seeing shock in each other's eyes.

Zhou Yan was featured in a magazine, including a two-page interview, and more importantly, he was on the cover!
This is too explosive!
Is this the kind of achievement a small restaurant owner in a rural town can attain at this age?

"Should we show it to Yao Yao?" Zhu Yuyu whispered.

Deng Hong nodded.

The two were about to close the magazine.

"What are you looking at?" The girl sitting next to me peeked out and immediately exclaimed, "Wow! Isn't that the boss from Suji last time? He's in a magazine?"

Deng Hong's vision went black; those Northeastern girls in the next dorm were really something else.

Sister, you're in class!

Professor Su was explaining the latest advertising case when the girls suddenly yelled, silencing the entire classroom, which then erupted in laughter. Everyone turned to look at Deng Hong and her friends, grinning broadly.

Deng Hong covered her face, unable to face the stares of her classmates.

Zhu Yuyu lowered her head and read her book intently, pretending that nothing had happened.

The culprit, Wan Jingyi, also looked embarrassed and somewhat at a loss.

Xia Yao turned her head to look at the three of them, a puzzled look on her face. Boss Su Ji? Magazine? What's going on?

On the podium, Su Jun narrowed his eyes and asked, "Wan Jingyi, what's going on? What magazine? What boss?"

Wan Jingyi, who was called out, had no choice but to stand up and wave at Deng Hong with her hands hanging down.

The latter immediately shoved the magazine into her hand; this woman is really loyal!

Wan Jingyi picked up the magazine and said apologetically, "Teacher, the magazine in my bag just fell out by accident. When I turned to the page, I found a familiar face. I didn't expect to see him in the magazine. I couldn't control my emotions and got a little excited. I'm sorry."

She spoke with a strong Northeastern accent, which amused Su Jun, who asked with a smile, "You know someone in the magazine? Tell me, who is it?"

The students also showed expressions of curiosity.

“Everyone knows him.” Wan Jingyi opened the magazine and showed it to everyone: “Zhou Yan, the owner of the restaurant in Suji, the one where we ate noodles twice last time, he’s in the magazine.”

These words immediately caused an uproar in the classroom.

The students craned their necks to look, and some couldn't help but stand up.

"Zhou Yan?!" Xia Yao's eyes lit up upon hearing this, and she also looked at the magazine in Wan Jingyi's hand. They had gone with Deng Hong to pick up the magazine that morning, so he was featured in "Sichuan Cuisine" magazine?
"It really is that boss! He's not as handsome in the photo as he is in person."

"Wow, that's amazing! You've already graced the cover of a magazine at such a young age."

"His noodles and braised beef are so delicious, he should be in a magazine! When I come back to eat Chongqing noodles, they just don't taste the same."

The students were discussing it animatedly. Of all the things that impressed them most about their trip to Suzhou, the small restaurant at the entrance of the textile factory was the one that left the deepest impression.

Su Jun was also somewhat surprised to hear this, as he was equally impressed by Zhou Yan.

Not only did he bravely rescue Xia Yao from drowning, but he also has excellent cooking skills and remarkable insights and applications of advertising.

But this young man is only twenty years old, right?
He's already in a magazine?

"Not only was there an interview, but his braised beef with 'Qiaojiao' (a type of Sichuanese noodle dish) also made it onto the cover of 'Sichuan Cuisine' magazine. This is the most professional culinary magazine in the Sichuan-Chongqing region. Chefs who can be featured in this magazine are usually first-class or top-class chefs," Deng Hong couldn't help but add.

"A professional journal!"

"He's only in his early twenties, right?"

"It's incredibly fierce!"

Everyone was immediately amazed.

Zhou Yan and they are the same age. They haven't even graduated from university yet, but they have already appeared on the cover of industry magazines.

Xia Yao's lips curled up slightly, and the pen in her hand drew a wavy line on the paper, just like her happy mood at the moment.

"Wan Jingyi, bring the magazine up. You're not allowed to read magazines during class," Su Jun said.

"I'm sorry, teacher, I was wrong!" Wan Jingyi took the magazine, placed it on the podium, and returned to her seat with small, quick steps.

Su Jun picked up the magazine, glanced at the cover, then flipped to the two pages with the interview and skimmed through them. His gaze fell on the end, and he said earnestly, "See, excellent works are the most vivid and charming advertisements."

"A chef's dishes are his masterpieces!"

"It is no different from your paintings and designs."

"Endorsed by an authoritative magazine, this article delves into and expands on the background story of Qiaojiao Beef, adding a difficult and winding tale of the inheritance of ancient techniques to highlight its preciousness and rarity. After reading this article, everyone will be curious about what Qiaojiao Beef tastes like and whether it really has such magical effects."

"Based on this article and with the help of the magazine's extensive publicity, Zhouji Qiaojiao Beef has, to some extent, completed its branding."

"Although Zhou Yan is a chef, I think he is also a genius advertising designer! His sense of smell is so sharp that even the interviewer may not realize it."

"A keen sense of brand building is an important talent that will enable you to become excellent advertising designers in the future."

"Perhaps you can all buy a copy of the Sichuan Cuisine magazine. You have been to Suji, seen the short stories written on the stove, and tasted the flavor of Qiaojiao Beef. By comparing them, you will have a deeper understanding."

The students thought Wan Jingyi and Deng Hong would be criticized, but to their surprise, Professor Su, who received the magazine, praised Zhou Yan instead and gave everyone a lesson.

The classroom was quiet for a moment, and the students, deep in thought, began to applaud.

Xia Yao clapped along, unable to suppress the smile on her face, a strange sense of pride creeping over her.

She had always known that he was just that dazzling.

The applause from her classmates was for Zhou Yan, but he didn't hear it. However... she could draw it for him.

Deng Hong's mouth opened slightly, and she exclaimed softly, "Professor Su is so good to Zhou Yan!"

……

Zhou Yan had just added a piece of firewood to the stove when he suddenly felt a tickle in his nose and sneezed as he turned to the side.

"Who's insulting me?" Zhou Yan sniffed and muttered to himself.

[Ding! Side Quest: The previous issue of "Sichuan Cuisine" magazine has been completed!]

[Influence Calculation Completed: Successfully Leaving Sichuan!]

[Reward obtained: Shredded Pork with Garlic Sauce]

　Please vote for me with your monthly tickets!

　　
　
(End of this chapter)