1984: Starting from a bankrupt Sichuan restaurant

Chapter 218: Doesn't that make Doflamingo a clown? (6k-page compilation)

After trying the snowflake chicken soup, the next dishes served were Mapo tofu and shredded pork with garlic sauce.

"The shredded pork with garlic sauce is so delicious! Sister Yu Yan, could you give me a spoonful?" Zhou Momo pushed her bowl forward and looked at Duan Yu Yan beside her.

"Of course, I'll scoop you a big spoonful." Duan Yuyan smiled and picked up the serving spoon, scooping a spoonful of shredded pork with garlic sauce onto Zhou Momo's rice.

"Thank you~" Zhou Momo said softly, then buried her head and continued eating.

The salty, savory, sour, and spicy shredded pork with garlic sauce is just right for her. It's so delicious with rice; she can eat three bowls of rice with just one dish.

"She's so well-behaved. She can eat by herself at such a young age. My cousin's son is five years old, and his mother still chases after him with a bowl every day to feed him," Song Wanqing said with a smile.

"Yes, she's so cute and has such a sweet tongue, I want to steal her away." Duan Yuyan nodded, her eyes full of doting as she looked at Zhou Momo.

“You’ll have a lovely baby someday too,” Song Wanqing said, looking at her. “After all, you’re so beautiful.”

"Natural childbirth is never as quick or easy as a natural birth."

“I’ve recently been researching how to fight for custody with strangers.”

Duan Yuyan scooped a spoonful of shredded pork with garlic sauce into her bowl, looked up and saw everyone at the table stunned, then waved her hand with a smile: "I was just kidding, don't be nervous, it makes it seem like I'm really going to kidnap someone's child."

Everyone laughed upon hearing this.

"This Mapo Tofu looks really good. It looks a lot like Chen's Mapo Tofu from Rongcheng, it's so similar. When I was in college in Rongcheng, I had a roommate who loved it. Every Sunday she would drag me to eat Mapo Tofu. After graduation, she went to Chang'an, and I haven't seen her in a long time. No one has dragged me to eat Mapo Tofu since. The last time I ate it was during the Spring Festival last year." Song Wanqing picked up a spoon and scooped a piece of Mapo Tofu into her bowl.

The aroma of numbing spiciness is already wafting through the air, with Sichuan peppercorn powder evenly sprinkled on the surface, highlighting its numbing and spicy flavor.

The tofu is sprinkled with green garlic leaves, and is white with a hint of red, glistening with sauce and oil.

This is absolutely perfect with rice. She, who usually eats one bowl of rice, can eat three bowls of rice after going to Chen Mapo Tofu, and comes out holding her belly.

Pick up a piece of tofu and put it in your mouth.

hot!
Expected.

Numbing, spicy, fresh, fragrant, crispy, tender, and chewy! All these flavors come together in one bite.

The beef topping is cooked until tender, and the aroma of the meat is absorbed by the rich broth and added to the tofu, giving it a meaty flavor.

The moment the tofu hit my throat, I quickly shoveled a mouthful of rice into my mouth.

The soft, hot rice was soaked in the broth, and the more you chewed it, the more fragrant it became. In just a few bites, I scooped a hole in the bowl.

She seemed to see again the round-faced girl sitting across from her, who could eat five bowls of rice in one meal, and then go back to school to eat apples and cucumbers for five days, optimistic and always smiling.

She's getting married next May Day, and I definitely want to attend her wedding.

Song Wanqing exclaimed, "So authentic! This Mapo Tofu is even better than the one made by Chen Mapo Tofu! It's spicy, flavorful, and delicious! The beef topping is tender and fragrant."

"Is it really that good?" Song Changhe didn't believe it. He scooped a spoonful into his bowl, tasted it, and his eyes lit up immediately. "Comrade, could you please serve me a bowl of rice too?"

"Okay," Li Lihua replied with a smile, taking the bowl to serve him rice.

"Brother Song, won't you have a drink first?" Wang Yu asked with a smile.

“No, this will not do. Mapo tofu is a dish to eat with rice, not with alcohol. It must be eaten with a bowl of rice to be truly enjoyable.” Song Changhe shook his head and said with a smile, “Tofu should be eaten hot, and a wife should be plump. Mapo tofu won’t taste the same when it’s cold. Let’s finish a bowl of rice first.”

“That makes sense.” Wang Yu nodded and also ladled out a bowl of rice.

Song Wanqing picked up a piece of shredded pork with garlic sauce with her chopsticks. After tasting it, her eyes lit up and she exclaimed, "The shredded pork is tender and smooth, the winter bamboo shoots are sweet and crisp, the wood ear mushrooms are soft, and the flavor is savory, sour, and spicy with a mild taste. This shredded pork with garlic sauce is so delicious!"

Every dish today brought her a great surprise.

The braised dishes are full of aroma, the snowflake chicken soup is fresh and delicious, the beef and bamboo shoots are rich and flavorful, the braised pork ribs are tender and fall off the bone, the spicy and savory Mapo tofu is spicy and numbing, and the shredded pork with fish-fragrant sauce is sour and spicy. Each dish has its own unique flavor and is delicious!

Zhou Yan is so talented!
Each of these dishes, taken individually, could be a signature dish of a Sichuan restaurant.

That was done so well.

Take Mapo Tofu for example. He ate it once at Leming Restaurant, and they used minced pork as the topping. The taste was indescribable. They used Sichuan peppercorn powder like it was free, and all he felt after eating it was a numbing sensation in his mouth.

She went to eat there with her colleagues that time. After eating, her colleagues stuck out their tongues and looked around for water to drink. They told her that it was no wonder it was called Mapo Tofu, because it was indeed very numbing.

It made her incredibly happy, but also a little helpless.

The "ma" in "mapo" clearly refers to the pockmarks on Mapo's face, so how did it become the "ma" in "ma la" (numbing and spicy)?

The final dish, crucian carp with agastache, was served by Zhou Yan himself.

Li Lihua moved the vegetables to the sides and placed them in the middle, where they fit perfectly.

"Is the food to your liking?" Zhou Yan asked with a smile.

"Great! Especially the snowflake chicken soup, the texture is quite unique, and the taste is fresh and delicate, it's delicious." Duan Yuyan nodded, "Thank you for your hard work, sit down and eat."

"Mmm, every dish is delicious. Your cooking is superb. This Mapo Tofu is even better than Chen's Mapo Tofu," Song Wanqing exclaimed, moving slightly to the side and smiling, "Please sit here; it's just right for you."

At the octagonal table, Old Lady Qiu sat alone on one side, Song Changhe and Wang Yu, who were drinking, sat on the other side, and Zhou Momo and Duan Yuyan sat on the third side. So he really could only sit next to Song Wanqing.

"Miss Duan, Teacher Song, you flatter me." Zhou Yan didn't rush to sit down, but first glanced at Song Changhe.

"Please sit down. You've worked hard preparing this table of dishes." Song Changhe nodded slightly.

"It's no trouble at all. I'm glad everyone enjoyed the meal." Zhou Yan smiled and sat down only after confirming that the old man had no intention of drawing his gun.

The eight-immortal table is very large. Two people can sit side by side with plenty of space in the middle. It doesn't feel crowded or awkward at all.

Teacher Song is indeed different; she is poised and elegant, with the demeanor of a great master.

The dishes on the table have all been touched, but none of them have been eaten much yet.

This group of respectable people were ultimately waiting for him, the chef, to serve them.

"Try this crucian carp with agastache. It's a wild crucian carp from the river, and the meat is better than farmed ones," Zhou Yan said with a smile.

He bought these at the morning market early this morning. He happened to come across these two wild crucian carp, each weighing eight or nine ounces, and of excellent quality, so he bought them immediately.

Everyone responded and their eyes all fell on the dish of crucian carp with mint.

The bright red broth, as red as agate, is topped with chopped pickled peppers, ginger, cowpeas, and patchouli, creating a vibrant and colorful combination on two large crucian carp.

The colors are so beautiful!

The aroma of sour and spicy flavors blends with the fragrance of patchouli, creating a very enticing and irresistible scent.

"I don't eat much fish, but I really want to try this wild crucian carp and see what the difference is between it and the farmed one." Duan Yuyan was the first to hand over her chopsticks. She picked up a piece of fish from the belly, dipped it in the broth, put it in her mouth, savored it, and then spat out two small fish bones. She exclaimed with some surprise, "It's delicious! The fish is so tender! It's so fresh! The aroma of the patchouli is a bit strong, but it tastes amazing! The pickled peppers and pickled ginger have a rich flavor, and you can't taste any fishiness at all."

"Let me try it." Song Wanqing picked up a piece of fish and put it in her bowl, carefully sipping it, her expression brightening immediately.

Spitting out the fish bones, he ate a mouthful of rice and nodded, saying, "So fresh! This crucian carp with mint is so good with rice! After we finish the fish, we can save the soup for noodles tomorrow."

"That's a bit too high a compliment," Zhou Yan said with a smile.

For a Sichuanese person to keep the broth for noodles is the highest praise one can give to a dish.

"This fish is really well-cooked. It's not only fresh, but the flavor is also exceptional. The aroma of the patchouli is particularly prominent. It's delicious." Song Changhe nodded repeatedly.

He's not that picky about food, but when he comes across something delicious, he can tell the difference between good and bad.

"Eat as much as you like, don't be shy," said Old Mrs. Qiu. This was one of the few family banquets she had hosted since the founding of the People's Republic of China. If Zhou Yan hadn't been willing to come and cook, and if Duan Yuyan hadn't been so shameless, she probably wouldn't have even thought of it.

Everyone smiled and agreed, then began to eat seriously.

Zhou Yan mostly listened to Song Changhe and Wang Yu reminisce about the past. The two had participated in the entire War of Resistance against Japan, but their paths were somewhat different.

Wang Yu was primarily responsible for purchasing and transporting supplies behind enemy lines, while Song Changhe fought on the front lines, traversing much of China and participating in numerous fierce battles.

Zhou Yan listened for a while and learned that some of the battles Mr. Song participated in overlapped with those of his grandfather.

To be able to return alive from the battlefield, one's destiny must be quite strong.

Song Wanqing would occasionally chat with him, never mentioning Ming Ge in her words, but her conversation was always about Ming Ge.

Zhou Yan could sense her admiration for Ming Ge from her words.

Looking at Song Changhe beside him, his gaze gradually sharpened, making Zhou Yan somewhat uneasy.

its not right.

Ming should be the one who's nervous. Why should he take the blame? Once he figured that out, he immediately relaxed.

Since he was already here and had finally met Old Master Song, it wouldn't be in Zhou Yan's nature not to ask him a few questions.

Zhou Yan smiled and said, "Grandpa Song, your bravery in fighting the enemy on the battlefield makes my blood boil. I heard from my brother that you are also a master of spear fighting in our Emei martial arts. I have long admired you. Why don't you take on any disciples?"

You can't hit a smiling face, and you're beholden to someone who feeds you. Zhou Yan will focus on maxing out his buffs today.

If he had left this door today, he certainly wouldn't have dared to ask these questions directly. Song Changhe looked at him and smiled meaningfully: "Who said I don't take on disciples? I just haven't met the right one yet. If you are willing to become my disciple, I can pass on all the Emei spear techniques I know to you."

Zhou Yan: ?
Wouldn't that make Doflamingo a clown?
He visited Zhuge Liang's thatched cottage three times, but still couldn't get a meeting with him.

He won over Master Song by cooking a meal?

Zhou Yan wanted to laugh, but felt it would be impolite.

Song Wanqing, who was standing to the side, was also stunned after hearing this. She had been worried that Zhou Yan's words would displease the old man, but his words had left her completely speechless.

Didn't he say he wouldn't take on any apprentices? He can't even get a meeting with Zhou Ming, but Zhou Yan just needs to nod his head?

This is such a double standard!
"You have excellent taste! All of us Zhou brothers are in great physical condition; we're all definitely good candidates for martial arts." Zhou Yan seized the opportunity, laughing as he said, "Among my brothers, I'm the weakest. At this age, I definitely can't do a horse stance, backbend, or somersault anymore. But I have an older brother who has practiced martial arts since childhood and even won the national witchcraft championship. I think he'd be quite suitable. How about we have him come and meet you another day?"

“You’re not going to learn? Then forget it. I’m not interested in anyone else for now.” Song Changhe picked up his wine glass, took a sip, and looked at Zhou Yan, saying, “For those who study martial arts, temperament is more important than talent. Your temperament is excellent. No matter what you do, you can make a name for yourself.”

Zhou Yan sighed inwardly. Things were indeed not that simple. It seemed that Ming Ge still had to start with Teacher Song. He didn't have any good ideas.

Lunch ended in a relaxed and pleasant atmosphere, and everyone had a happy smile on their face after eating.

Enjoying delicious food is indeed a joyful thing.

Song Changhe called Zhou Yan aside and said, "Zhou Yan, are you free next Sunday? I'd like to ask you to help me host a family banquet. I'd like to invite a few old comrades-in-arms to my house for a get-together, to have a good drink and a meal."

Of the twenty-odd old comrades from Jiaozhou, only twelve remain. Every meeting is one less. They all call me "Old Squad Leader," and I'm the only one who can organize this gathering.

Don't worry, you won't work for free. Just charge the full price for the banquet, including the cost of cooking at your home. Whatever it is, that's all.

“If that’s the case, then the most important thing next Sunday is your family dinner.” Zhou Yan said seriously, “My grandfather was a member of the Sichuan Army who left Sichuan with Uncle Wang in 1937. He fought in the north and south and finally fell in South Korea. There is still a plaque in our house that he earned with his life to be a first-class meritorious soldier.”

I will put on a good family feast for you. I'll only charge you for the ingredients. If I charge even a penny more than that, I'll feel ashamed before the plaque hanging in my home, and I won't be able to hold my head up high in front of the martyrs' monument.

Song Changhe was stunned for a moment, then looked at Zhou Yan in surprise and said, "Your grandfather is Zhou Yi, the company commander of Suji?"

"Yes." Zhou Yan nodded. "You know my grandfather?"

Song Changhe nodded slightly, his gaze deepening, and said in a deep voice: "In 1938, we were in the same trench in Taierzhuang. At the time, I felt that his accent was familiar, and when I asked, it turned out that he was from the same hometown. I even smoked two cigarettes from him and asked his name. When the bugle sounded, we were scattered."

Later, after the founding of the People's Republic of China in 1949, I returned to Jiaozhou and we met again for the second time, drinking together. He didn't stay long before being recalled to Korea, while I transferred to the armed forces department.

Later, when news came back that Comrade Zhou Yi had held his ground and heroically sacrificed his life on the battlefield, I was among those who presented him with a plaque recognizing him as a first-class meritorious soldier.

"I see. So you and my grandfather were comrades-in-arms." Zhou Yan suddenly realized.

Song Changhe smiled and said, "Your grandfather and I were smoking in that trench when he told me with a smile that his wife's braised pork was the best in the world. I didn't believe him, thinking that braised pork could be that good. But your braised pork was made by your grandmother. She wasn't lying; it really is the best in the world."

Zhou Yan smiled upon hearing this. He thought the old lady would be happy if she knew about this.

“Grandpa Song, there are twelve people, plus you and Teacher Song. I think we’ll need to arrange two tables. I’m afraid I can’t manage it all by myself. I’ll bring an assistant to help out. Is that alright?” Zhou Yan asked.

Song Changhe glanced at him, smiled, and nodded: "Go ahead and bring it."

"Okay." Zhou Yan nodded. He had done his best for Ming Ge.

Zhou Yan followed Duan Yuyan to see Song Changhe and Song Wanqing out.

"How do you know Sister Wanqing?" Duan Yuyan asked curiously. "You two seem to know each other quite well."

Zhou Yan said, "I'm not actually familiar with Teacher Song. She and my brother are classmates. We met once before. My brother brought her some braised meat that I made. She thought it was delicious, so she probably remembered me."

"Sending braised meat? That means you're going out for dinner and a date?" Duan Yuyan's gossip spirit immediately ignited. "Tell me, what does your brother look like? How did he manage to win over the artsy young lady, Teacher Song!"

Zhou Yan smiled and said, "To put it simply, I am about the same height and appearance as you. I have practiced martial arts since I was a child, and I am physically strong. I have won national championships in Emei boxing and Emei sword. Now I am a physical education teacher and martial arts coach at Jiaozhou No. 1 Middle School."

"Sister Wanqing has good taste," Duan Yuyan said thoughtfully. "So, the reason you kept asking Grandpa Song about becoming an apprentice was because your brother wanted to become an apprentice?"

Zhou Yan nodded: "That's right. My brother is currently working on the rescue and protection of Emei martial arts. Many martial arts traditions are facing the danger of being lost. Master Song is a master of Emei spear. My brother wants to become his disciple and inherit the Emei spear technique, or learn from him and pass on the Emei spear technique in written form."

"Hiss, then your brother wouldn't be trying to seduce Sister Wanqing to achieve his goal, would he?" Duan Yuyan raised an eyebrow, her mind already starting to conjure up a grand drama of a phoenix man seducing a martial arts family's daughter to steal martial arts secrets.

"If he had that kind of brain, I wouldn't be wasting my time trying to come up with a solution for him," Zhou Yan sighed.

“Interesting. If they get together, give me a call and tell me the details. Maybe I’ll even fly back for their wedding.” Duan Yuyan and Zhou Yan walked into the courtyard, took out paper and pen, wrote down a phone number, and left their names at the end. “If you encounter any difficulties, you can also call me. I’m a general manager now, no less.”

"Okay, I'll tell you later." Zhou Yan folded the paper and put it into his chest pocket.

Exchanging contact information means saying goodbye.

They're going to Chengdu to catch a flight on Friday, and who knows when they'll see each other again.

"By the way, I suddenly had a somewhat immature idea while I was eating." Duan Yuyan looked at Zhou Yan and said seriously, "I think it's a waste for your cooking skills to only earn six cents or a dollar in Suji Town. How about we partner up and open a Sichuan restaurant in Central, Hong Kong?"
We'll go for the high-end market. A plate of twice-cooked pork will cost 88, a bowl of braised beef with pork knuckles will cost 108, and the snowflake chicken soup—that's a high-end dish—will cost 666. We'll set a minimum charge of 6,600 for a private room. We'll definitely earn more than you would in mainland China.”

Zhou Yan was stunned. What kind of fairy tale was this rich young lady telling?

Although he had never been to Hong Kong, he had certainly been to Shanghai to broaden his horizons.

Even Shanghai dollars shouldn't be spent like this, right?
The dishes on this table today only cost a dozen yuan.

Can it be worth a hundred times more in Hong Kong?
It does sound rather immature.

"Isn't this price a bit outrageous?" Zhou Yan voiced his true thoughts.

Duan Yuyan shook her head: "What's so outrageous about that? My girlfriends and I go out for afternoon tea in Central, and with just a couple of coffees and a few desserts, it costs 888."

In upscale restaurants, it's common for a banquet to cost over ten thousand yuan. If you add seafood and abalone dishes, it can easily exceed ten thousand.

In my opinion, your food is just as good as, if not better than, those high-end restaurants. Let's make the decor more upscale, and after we open, we can hire some food critics to write some food reviews praising it. We're sure to have plenty of customers.

Seeing Duan Yuyan's serious expression, Zhou Yan nodded in agreement.

This sounds like a flawless plan, but it doesn't hold up to scrutiny.

He was a young chef with no reputation, and he was going to support a high-end Sichuan restaurant and compete with those restaurants that had been around for decades.

This isn't something that can be achieved simply by having a food critic write a few beautiful articles.

Where should the store be located?
How much is the rent in Central per month?
To match the standards of a high-end banquet, how many waiters would you need?
What revenue level is needed to achieve profitability, considering all expenses and costs?

Miss Duan clearly hadn't considered these issues at all.

This is far less reliable than the partnership plan that Qian Siyuan proposed to him and his master last time.

Qian Siyuan truly lives up to his reputation as a first-generation entrepreneur; his business acumen is far superior to that of a second-generation rich kid like Duan Yuyan.

"I've already thought of a cooperation plan. I'll provide the money, you provide the labor, I'll give you 60% and you 40%," Duan Yuyan said, looking at him. "What do you think?"

Zhou Yan was silent for a while before speaking, "Why don't you take this money and go up north to buy a house? Stock up on several courtyard houses. I think that's more reliable than opening a Sichuan restaurant in Central."

"Huh?" Duan Yuyan was taken aback. "My dad did buy a few courtyard houses in the capital at the beginning of the year, but those houses are old and dilapidated. What's so good about them?"

“Some things, you have to put them aside and look at them again, and then you’ll know how good they are,” Zhou Yan said with a smile. Old ginger is spicier, and Old Duan has already bought up all the courtyard houses in the capital. That Miss Duan will never be poor for the rest of her life.

"So, are you willing to open a restaurant in the area where we cooperate?" Duan Yuyan asked.

“Why don’t you wait until you get back to Hong Kong, check out the market, and consult with your friends who own restaurants? If you still think it’s feasible, then we can consider the next step,” Zhou Yan said earnestly. “I think your idea is good, but it’s not quite mature yet. It’s also a good opportunity for me to hone my cooking skills so I don’t embarrass you when I go to Hong Kong.”

“You’re right, let’s do it your way. I’ll go back and ask my friends about the market first, and find a real estate agent to look at the shops and such. Once I have a clear understanding, I’ll call you and we can discuss it in detail.” Duan Yuyan nodded in deep agreement.

“Okay.” Zhou Yan nodded, not in a hurry to refuse.

“We can bring Aunt Zhao, Uncle Zhou, and Momo along too. It would be nice if your whole family could be together,” Duan Yuyan said with a smile. “Don’t worry about Momo’s schooling; I can take care of that.”

Zhou Yan: ...

to be frank.

I'm a little tempted.

It doesn't matter whether I make money or not.

Zhou Yan was confident that Miss Duan would not let herself go hungry.

"Can we enter Hong Kong through legal channels now?" Zhou Yan asked, looking at her.

“This…” Duan Yuyan thought about it seriously, “I’ll call my dad later and ask him.”

Upon hearing this, Zhou Yan roughly understood the situation. He decided to focus on earning money steadily, starting with six cents and one dollar a month, so that at least his identity would remain clean.

It's not too late to make plans if there's a real opportunity in the future.

Back in the courtyard, Grandma Qiu and Grandpa Wang were sitting under the winter plum blossoms in the corner, drinking tea. They were talking softly, both with faint smiles on their faces.

“That’s wonderful. I’ve been in Jiaozhou for almost a year, and during that time I’ve seen my grandma smile the most.” Duan Yuyan said softly, “The fact that she can happily come to Hong Kong with me is something I never dared to dream of before.”

　P.S.: Extra chapter added! Please vote with monthly tickets!
　　
　
(End of this chapter)