1984: Starting from a bankrupt Sichuan restaurant

Chapter 225 I think your mother will have to come sooner or later (Bonus chapter for monthly votes: 434)

"You wouldn't believe it, this girl came back without even saying goodbye to me, and without waiting for me. She went straight to Zhou Yan's restaurant for dinner. She even made some friends. A bunch of kids sat at one table, and I paid their bill..." Lin Zhiqiang said as he walked beside Meng Anhe.

"Alright, just tell me how much you want reimbursed," Meng Anhe interrupted him.

"Ten yuan and twenty cents."

Meng Anhe took out a red wallet from her bag, pulled out two ten-yuan bills and handed them over, saying, "You'll pay the bill tonight too."

"Okay, wife, you're in charge." Lin Zhiqiang happily took the money and then took Meng Anhe's bag as well.

"Cousin Yao Yao is finally here! Mom, can we eat out every day from now on?" Lin Jingxing asked expectantly.

"Really?" Lin Bingwen's eyes lit up. "I love Cousin Yao Yao! I want to be her family!"

"Come on, eating out every day, your dad's salary isn't even enough to cover your food." Meng Anhe rolled her eyes at them and said with a smile, "Today is to welcome your sister Yaoyao back, so we're eating out. Tomorrow morning we'll have porridge at home. I brought the jars, and I'll have Zhou Yan pack some pickled radishes for you later."

"Pickled radishes are good, I love pickled radishes." Lin Jingxing nodded.

"I want to eat noodles! Zhou Yan's noodles are so delicious!" Lin Bingwen shook his head, ran up and took Meng Anhe's hand: "Mom, Dad went to eat noodles by himself and didn't take us with him."

“Nonsense, that’s not true.” Lin Zhiqiang said seriously.

Lin Bingwen said, "You were talking in your sleep yesterday! And you were smacking your lips! Super loud! I thought it was thunder."

“I heard it too!” Lin Jingxing nodded in agreement. “Dad said: This noodle smells delicious! We’ll eat it again tomorrow.”

Lin Zhiqiang pursed his lips, looking somewhat embarrassed.

Meng Anhe smiled. She knew that Lao Lin loved noodles. She looked at him and said, "I'll take them out for a bowl of noodles tomorrow morning before sending them to school."

"Okay." Lin Zhiqiang nodded, looking at his two sons, he felt an urge to whip them with his belt.

"Have you spoken to Lao Du yet?" Meng Anhe asked.

"I talked to Lao Du this afternoon. Sichuan Fine Arts Institute only has one intern, Yao Yao, this time. Their marketing department values ​​her quite a bit and hopes to use her professional skills to advance the brand building process." Lin Zhiqiang said with a smile, "Lao Du is also under a lot of pressure. He knows how to sell goods and how to negotiate with clients, but asking him to tell a good story about the product and build a brand is too difficult for him. His hairline has receded quite a bit lately, and he can't find the right direction."

"If they can't handle it, we can't expect our hopes to be pinned on interns who haven't even graduated yet, can we?" Meng Anhe frowned slightly. "You should still remind Lao Du not to put too much pressure on Yao Yao."

"Don't worry, Lao Du knows Yao Yao is your own niece, how could he dare?"

Lin Zhiqiang didn't take it seriously and lowered his voice a bit: "But, did Yao Yao really choose the textile factory for her internship this time because of Jiading silk?"

Meng Anhe laughed and said, "You think it's for Zhou Yan's food? Don't assume everyone is as greedy as you, always thinking about that bowl of noodles."

Lin Zhiqiang shrugged: "There's nothing we can do about it. Zhou Yan's noodles are truly unbeatable. Besides, Zhou Yan isn't just a great cook; he's handsome and quite insightful too."

"Yaoyao isn't that shallow; she doesn't judge a man by his looks."

……

"Yes, I came here specifically for Zhou Yan's cooking. Auntie, you have no idea, I've been thinking about his braised pork ribs every day lately, I've even dreamed about them twice." Xia Yao, who came down from the dormitory, linked arms with Meng Anhe, her eyes crinkling with laughter: "He's introduced so many new dishes! The shredded pork with garlic sauce is delicious, and the braised vegetarian dishes are also amazing! Especially the braised tofu skin, I think it's even more fragrant than meat."

Meng Anhe: ...

Lin Zhiqiang stood to the side, smiling smugly.

See? We're all the same!
Who can resist delicious food?

We're all interns, who wouldn't want to eat well?
"So... do you think Zhou Yan is handsome?" Meng Anhe asked, looking at her.

Xia Yao looked at her and asked, "Auntie, what's your perspective from a professional standpoint?"

Meng Anhe thought for a moment and said, "The skull is very straight, the proportions of the three courts and five eyes are perfect, the shoulders are broad and the waist is narrow, the body is nine heads tall, the muscle lines of the arms are very beautiful, and there should be abs."

Xia Yao smiled slightly: "I've also studied painting for twenty years and won first place in the academy's sketching competition for two years."

Hearing this, Meng Anhe laughed and nodded, saying, "Alright, alright, I know you have a good eye for people."

"Uncle's facial proportions are also very good. Auntie has a good eye for people," Xia Yao teased.

Meng Anhe nodded in deep agreement: "You know what, when he was young, he had broad shoulders, a narrow waist, six-pack abs, and a very angular face. Wearing gold-rimmed glasses and a trench coat, I could spot him in a crowd at a glance."

Lin Zhiqiang was a little smug after hearing this: "That's right, when I was young, quite a few female classmates slipped me love letters."

"Men's prime is short-lived. His six-pack abs have now merged into one." Meng Anhe reached out and patted Lin Zhiqiang's slightly protruding belly, making it jiggly.

“It’s a sign of happiness for a man to gain weight in middle age,” Lin Zhiqiang grinned. “Mainly because your aunt has taken such good care of me.”

"You've been cheating on me quite a few times, haven't you?" Meng Anhe denied it, looking at Xia Yao and saying, "I remember you said you didn't care about a man's looks."

"But he's not just good-looking. He's a good listener, enjoys sharing, and is always clean and tidy. He's self-disciplined, ambitious, and has a long-term vision, always coming up with amazing ideas." Xia Yao asked with a smile, "Auntie, don't you think he's special?"

Meng Anhe looked at her and sighed with a hint of helplessness, "I think your mother will have to come sooner or later."

Lin Zhiqiang could no longer suppress his smile.

They arrived at Zhou Erwa Restaurant, and there happened to be a table available for the second round.

"Director Lin, An He, Xia Yao, you're here. Please sit here; there's a table available." Zhao Tieying invited the family to sit down.

"Hello, Aunt Zhao." Lin Jingxing and Lin Bingwen greeted each other politely, their eyes already wandering around the shop.

"Sister Yao Yao!" Zhou Momo jumped out from the side, went to Xia Yao's side, and greeted everyone: "Aunt Meng, Uncle Lin, and Jingxing and Bingwen~~" "Momo, so good." Meng Anhe smiled and pinched her cheek. The little one was so cute, so soft and small. Every time she came, she would greet her warmly.

"MoMo!" The Lin brothers, Jingxing and Bingwen, couldn't sit still any longer. They got up and went to the little one's side, taking out their pockets to share their most treasured toys with her.

"Auntie, why don't you give them a little sister? They'll spoil her rotten," Xia Yao said with a smile.

"Let's not even talk about who will take care of the baby after it's born. Who would dare to have a baby these days? Even if you're eight months pregnant, they can still arrest you and force you to have an abortion, and you'll lose your job." Meng Anhe shook her head and looked at Zhou Momo with a smile, "Other people's babies always seem so wonderful. But when you actually have one in your own hands, it's a different story."

When Zhou Yan served the dishes, he came out to say hello and said that dinner would be on him, but in the end Lin Zhiqiang still paid the bill.

After closing for the evening, Zhou Yan changed her clothes and went out for her usual run.

From afar, Xia Yao and Lin Zhiqiang, dressed in sportswear, could be seen warming up at the entrance of the family compound. Upon seeing Zhou Yan, Xia Yao smiled and waved, "Zhou Yan!"

"Yes," Zhou Yan replied and ran over.

Xia Yao was wearing a blue tracksuit with the word "China" printed on the chest. Three white stripes ran from the sleeves to the shoulders and along the sides of the trouser seams. It was a classic Plum Blossom brand tracksuit, and she wore Warrior canvas shoes.

Her hair was tied in a high ponytail, revealing her smooth forehead. Her fitted sportswear made her legs look exceptionally long, and she exuded youthful energy.

"My uncle said you two often run together. I also really enjoy running, so let's run together?" Xia Yao said with a smile.

“Sure.” Zhou Yan nodded, and the three of them ran along the riverbank together.

After running for a while, Lin Zhiqiang slowly stopped and called out to Zhou Yan, "My foot isn't feeling too well today. Zhou Yan, you run with Yao Yao and remember to take her back to her dorm."

"Okay." Zhou Yan replied, watching Lin Zhiqiang turn and walk away, and continued running forward with Xia Yao.

Xia Yao slowed down and said to him, "While we were eating just now, I suddenly had an idea. I think the story of Jiading silk should start from its origins. Compared to the technology, I think..."

……

"Why are you back so soon after leaving home? You haven't even broken a sweat." Meng Anhe looked at Lin Zhiqiang as he entered, somewhat surprised.

“Let the young people run it. I’m stuck in the middle. I’m uncomfortable, and so are they.” Lin Zhiqiang closed the door, smiled, put his arm around Meng Anhe’s waist, and whispered, “Besides, you’re back today. I need to save some energy for tonight.”

"Tsk, the kids aren't asleep yet!" Meng Anhe pinched his waist, a blush creeping onto her pretty face.

"It's alright, they're more focused on their homework than they're on sleeping," Lin Zhiqiang said with a smile. "I'll go take a shower first."

"Wait a minute." Meng Anhe turned to look at the room next door and said softly, "I'll go with you."

……

Zhou Yan and Xia Yao ran along the river and chatted the whole way. He learned that even before Xia Yao had started working, the director of the marketing department had already entrusted her with the important task of building the Jiading silk brand.

For an intern who hasn't even graduated from university to be entrusted with this important task is like asking someone to fly a plane right after enlisting in the army.

However, Xia Yao, as expected of an outstanding college student, had already begun to seriously devise a plan for the important task she had just received at noon. Moreover, she had discussed many ideas with Zhou Yan along the way, which were quite practical.

Zhou Yan primarily listened, occasionally offering his own thoughts and insights.

Brand building requires a good story, a thousand-year-old craftsmanship and culture, and sufficiently advanced manufacturing technology. It should highlight the long history and profound culture of Jiading silk, as well as showcase its innovative vitality and the advanced nature of its products.

By the time I got back to the dormitory building, it was almost dark.

Xia Yao's forehead was covered with fine beads of sweat, her face was slightly flushed, and her eyes were full of excitement: "I think what you said is so good. My original idea was too focused on exploring heritage and history, but to make customers and users feel that it is high-end, innovation and advancement are also very important. It needs to have both cultural depth and trendiness."

Zhou Yan smiled and said, "I was just offering my own idea. You are very talented and will definitely be able to build the brand of Jiading silk."

"Goodbye, I'm going to write down and draw all the thoughts in my head, I'm afraid I'll forget them later." Xia Yao waved her hand and turned to run upstairs.

Zhou Yan saw the light on in the second room on the third floor, then turned and ran towards the restaurant.

……

The next morning, Comrade Xiao Zhou got up early and went out to buy groceries with Comrade Lao Zhou.

Old Zhou watched as the beef was being cut, while Zhou Yan returned to the old house.

The old lady got up early and was already cooking pig feed for the pigs, chickens, and ducks.

After knocking on the door, Zhou Yan got straight to the point and asked, "Grandma, I want to braise pork intestines. Is it necessary to make a separate pot of braising liquid?"

"How much do you plan to braise?" the old lady asked him, still holding a large ladle in her hand.

"I plan to braise about five jin (2.5 kg) today to try it out."

"There's no need to make a separate braising pot for five catties. You can just braise it all in one big pot. This way, the braised intestines will be more fragrant and taste better. The braising liquid won't change flavor, there won't be any problems." The old lady said with a smile, "With the amount of pig head meat you braise every day, the amount of braised intestines in one pot is no more than fifteen catties. You don't even need to make a separate braising liquid for the intestines. Braising them separately will actually make them taste better than braising them all in one pot."

"Okay, I understand." Zhou Yan nodded with a smile.

The old lady looked at him and smiled, "What's wrong? Something good happened lately? You look so relaxed and smiling. Are you having some luck with women?"

Huh? The old lady could tell that?
Zhou Yan felt a little guilty for some reason and said with a smile, "I bought a house in Jiaozhou these past two days. Do you remember Miss Qiu Qi? The old house of the Qiu family, the family you delivered braised beef to."

　3.6k, here's an extra chapter to make up for the few hundred words missing from the previous chapter.

　　I'm writing until 3 AM, please vote with a monthly pass!
　　
　
(End of this chapter)