1984: Starting from a bankrupt Sichuan restaurant

Chapter 236 Happy Birthday, Comrade Xia Yao (6k-page compilation)

For a moment, Zhou Yan felt like a greenhorn in front of Zhou Momo.

The little guy really understands what it means to have good intentions.

They even understand that beautiful flowers are scarce this season.

When she said she wanted to give Xia Yao a sea of ​​flowers, Zhou Yan felt that this sentiment was unparalleled.

Zhou Yan stepped forward, and the wildflowers blooming all over the mountainside looked just like the wildflowers blooming on the mountain behind her grandmother's house.

A little girl, accompanied by a cat and a goose, strolls among the flowers, creating a beautiful scene.

"Brother, can you write a sentence for me?" Zhou Momo held up the crayon in her hand and handed it to him.

"What should I write?" Zhou Yan asked with a smile as he took the pen.

The little guy tilted his head and thought for a while before saying, "I wish Sister Yaoyao happiness every day and a long and healthy life."

"Write it here!"

Zhou Yan held a crayon and wrote her best wishes on the spot where the little one's finger was, smiling as she said, "It's beautiful, she'll definitely like it."

"Have you bought it?" Aunt Zhao asked with a smile.

"I bought a bracelet." Zhou Yan took out a brocade box from the cloth bag and prepared to open it.

"No need to open it, lest it get dirty," Aunt Zhao shook her head, glanced at the Lao Feng Xiang logo on the brocade box, and nodded with a smile: "It's fine."

She didn't look at it or ask the price.

Zhou Yan put the brocade box into the cabinet, then went back to the kitchen to knead a small ball of dough.

Longevity noodles have a beautiful meaning; you don't need too much, but you must have some.

Once the dishes were prepared, the guests began to arrive one after another.

"Boss Zhou, do you still have salted braised pork belly?"

"Yes, they say your braised pork belly is delicious! Even the factory director said it's better than your master's."

Many customers ask for the salted braised pork belly as soon as they enter the store, their eyes full of anticipation.

"I only made ten servings today, but I'll make more tomorrow," Zhou Yan said with a smile.

As for the truthful remarks that tried to sow discord between them, he did not respond.

So as not to break the master's guard if he heard it.

There are still more bad people in this world.

The guests were disappointed, but they had no choice but to give up.

Zhou Yan is always like this; he's overly cautious every time he introduces a new dish, making a small quantity so that if you arrive late, you can't get any.

"Boss Zhou, next time you come up with a new dish, could you give me a heads-up? I'd love to leave work early and queue up for it." Zhao Dong said with a hint of resentment. This afternoon he had run into Lin Zhiqiang and described in detail how delicious the salted braised pork belly was.

孽 孽!
He absolutely loves salty braised pork belly!

Second only to stir-fried pork liver and kidney.

Ever since Xiao Lei stopped taking over steamed dishes, the salted braised pork belly in the factory canteen has never tasted good.

Liu Erpangzi can steam meat until it's tender, but this kid is too heavy-handed with seasonings; he's practically a salt tycoon.

"Okay, I'll tell Director Zhao in advance next time." Zhou Yan nodded with a smile and turned to go into the kitchen to get busy.

"Uncle, come sit here." Huang Ying and Huang Bing arrived early and were already seated. They greeted Zhao Dong when they saw him.

"You two are here early." Zhao Dong walked over and sat down.

"Yes, how did you know we had delicious salted braised pork belly for lunch?" Huang Bing nodded with a smile.

Huang Ying continued, "The pork belly is fried until it has a tiger-skin pattern, and it tastes fragrant, tender, and flavorful. The taste is absolutely amazing! The bean sprouts are especially authentic, absorbing all the meat oil. After finishing the meat, you can mix the bean sprouts with rice, and the taste is simply incredible!"

Zhao Dong remained silent, only continuing to unbuckle his belt.

"Hey, Uncle, I've noticed you're a really serious person." Huang Bing quickly grabbed his hand and said with a grin, "Don't worry, we'll treat you to a meal."

Zhao Dong paused, looked at him and said, "Then I'll have to order."

"Let's order some. After we finish eating, we can bring some braised meat and vegetables back for my cousins ​​to enjoy." Huang Ying nodded with a smile.

"Yingying is so thoughtful." Zhao Dong put down his shirt, covered his belt, and smiled again. "How's business at your restaurant lately?"

Huang Ying nodded: "It's alright. My mom said she'd like you to bring your aunt and grandma up for dinner on Sunday. She's been too busy lately and hasn't had time to come down. Since we ran into you today, we won't go to your house to talk about it."

“Okay, I’ll bring them up on Sunday then.” Zhao Dong nodded.

Before long, the restaurant was full.

The sounds of ordering food, chatting, and exclamations of praise rose and fell, creating a lively atmosphere.

There were still many workers waiting in line at the entrance.

They weren't in a hurry; they stood or sat in small groups, chatting away, many waiting for the people they had invited to dinner.

Tuesday's dinner at the Wahaha Restaurant is too busy on Sundays, so many people have moved their gatherings to weekday evenings.

Everyone gets off work around the same time, but young women might need to go home to change clothes and get ready, which creates a time difference.

Meng Anhe went to the Jiaozhou construction site for an inspection today. There was also a meeting on site. She bought a small cake in Jiaozhou and got home around six o'clock.

Pushing open the half-closed door, Xia Yao was sitting in the living room checking Lin Jingxing and Lin Bingwen's homework, while Lin Zhiqiang sat to the side reading the newspaper.

"You're back." Lin Zhiqiang stood up, took the bag from her shoulder and the cake from her hand, and said with a smile, "You must be tired from running around today."

"There wasn't much to do, but the road was so bumpy, it felt like I was going to fall apart," Meng Anhe said with a hint of helplessness.

"Auntie, are you going to the construction site again tomorrow?" Xia Yao brought over a glass of warm water and handed it to Meng Anhe.

Meng Anhe took a sip of water, smiled and shook her head: "I'm going back to Chengdu tomorrow, and I'll probably stay for a few days."

"Mom, can we have dinner with Cousin Yao Yao?" Lin Jingxing asked, looking up.

"Let's go eat at Momo's shop!" Lin Bingwen's eyes lit up immediately.

Looking at the two of them, Meng Anhe couldn't help but laugh and said, "What's wrong? You can't stand the food from the cafeteria anymore? You've become so picky about food. How will you live without Zhou Yan's cooking in the future?"

"Mom, the food in the factory canteen isn't as good as what Brother Zhou Yan makes," Lin Jingxing said sincerely.

“Exactly!” Lin Bingwen nodded in agreement. “If you send your brother to learn to cook, then our family will be able to live the same good life as Momo.”

Meng Anhe waved her hand: "Alright, alright, hurry up and wash your hands. It's time to go out for dinner. Today is your sister Yao Yao's birthday."

"okay!"

"There's cake!"

The two responded and ran off to wash their hands excitedly.

"Thank you, Auntie, for going out of your way to buy me a cake," Xia Yao said with a smile.

“It’s been eight years since I last celebrated your birthday. This internship just happened to coincide with it, so I definitely want to give you a proper celebration.” Meng Anhe smiled as she opened the bag Lin Zhiqiang was carrying and took out a small box, handing it to Xia Yao.

"A gift?" Xia Yao took the box, opened it to find a pair of delicate silver earrings, and said with a smile, "What beautiful earrings! Thank you, Auntie!"

Meng Anhe looked at her and said with a smile, "I see you always go out without makeup. Now that you've started working, you can wear some small and delicate jewelry."

"Okay, I'll wear it tomorrow." Xia Yao picked up the earrings, looked at them, and then carefully put them back in the box and into her bag.

"Let's go out for dinner. There should be seats available now," Lin Zhiqiang said, glancing at his watch. The group then went out and downstairs.

"MoMo!" Lin Jingxing and Lin Bingwen jogged over and greeted Zhou MoMo first.

"Wait a minute, Sister Yao Yao!" Zhou Momo skipped over them and ran straight to Xia Yao, looking up at her and saying in a childish voice, "Happy birthday!"

"Thank you, Momo." Xia Yao smiled, bent down, and pinched her chubby cheeks, somewhat surprised. "How did you know it was my birthday today?"

“That’s what Guoguo said,” Zhou Momo said.

"I told Zhou Yan when I ordered the food, otherwise there wouldn't be much left at this time," Lin Zhiqiang explained.

"Oh, I see." Xia Yao said in surprise, and took Zhou Momo's small hand. "Let's go, let's go eat."

"Yaoyao, you're here." Zhao Tieying wiped her hands on her apron, looked at Xia Yao and said with a smile, "It's your birthday today, happy birthday!"

"Thank you, Aunt Zhao," Xia Yao said with a smile.

Meng Anhe and Lin Zhiqiang also smiled; Zhou Yan's family was easy to get along with.

They found an empty table and sat down.

Lin Zhiqiang said, "Sister Zhao, let's serve the dishes we ordered."

"Okay, I'll tell Zhou Yan." Zhao Tieying replied and went into the kitchen.

"Sister Yao Yao, this is for you." Zhou Momo took out her painting from behind the counter and ran over to hand it to Xia Yao.

"Did Momo draw this especially for me?" Xia Yao took the painting, looked at the sea of ​​flowers on the hillside, and the little girl, cat, and goose among the flowers, and couldn't help but smile: "The sea of ​​flowers is so beautiful! This is Momo with your cat and goose, so cute, I like it very much!"

"There are no flowers left now, so I'm giving you a sea of ​​spring flowers." Zhou Momo looked at her and offered her sincere blessings: "Sister Yaoyao, may you be happy every day and live a long and healthy life."

"Thank you, you're so kind." Xia Yao reached out and pulled her into her arms, kissing her cheek, feeling a little touched.

"You're welcome~" Zhou Momo smiled and kissed her.

"She's so well-behaved, and the drawing is so thoughtful." Meng Anhe looked at the drawing, her eyes full of smiles.

Lin Zhiqiang sighed, "It really comes down to daughters! Look at these two, all they ever think about is 'What are we eating today?' 'What are we eating tomorrow?'"

Lin Bingwen: "Dad, what are we having for dinner tonight?"

Lin Jingxing: ...

My foolish brother, please stop talking!

The dishes Lin Zhiqiang ordered started arriving one after another.

The two brothers buried themselves in their food and ate with great relish.

Lin Zhiqiang said to Meng Anhe, "Zhou Yan served salted braised pork belly. The factory manager treated us to lunch today, and we had a serving. It was so delicious, even better than what Chef Xiao makes."

"Mmm, it's really delicious. It's fatty but not greasy, and the bean sprouts go very well with rice." Xia Yao nodded in agreement.

Meng Anhe looked at the dishes on the table, then at Lin Zhiqiang: "Why don't you order some for me to try tonight?"

Lin Zhiqiang shrugged: "That's all. There are only ten servings of the new dishes that were served today. You'll have to wait until you come back next time to eat them."

Meng Anhe was so angry she gritted her teeth: "If you dare to keep me in suspense again, I won't reimburse you!" She ate only half full.

Zhou Yan came out of the kitchen carrying a bowl of noodles. It was a small bowl with a poached egg on top, a few pieces of braised pork ribs, and a few tender green scallions. He placed it in front of Xia Yao and smiled, saying, "Uncle Lin ordered longevity noodles for you. Happy birthday."

"Thank you," Xia Yao said, looking up at him with a smile.

"You're welcome. Please enjoy your meal." Zhou Yan nodded slightly, then turned and went into the kitchen to cook the last few dishes.

Meng Anhe looked at her and said, "Eat up, you must eat longevity noodles."

"Okay." Xia Yao nodded, first tasting the noodle soup. It was still a delicious bone broth, and the noodles were chewy and smooth, paired with her favorite braised pork ribs.

Take a bite of the poached egg; it's fried until fluffy and soft, and soaking it in the bone broth makes it incredibly fragrant.

She was already half full and was planning to eat a few more bites, but once she started eating, she couldn't stop. She ate one bite after another, and eventually even finished the noodle soup.

Sure enough, she couldn't resist a bowl of delicious braised pork rib noodles, especially one made by Zhou Yan.

She put down the bowl and let out a small burp.

Now I'm really full.

They were the only customers left in the restaurant.

Zhou Yan took off her apron and came out of the kitchen.

"Come on, let's cut the cake." Lin Zhiqiang placed the cake on the table.

"Then let's clear the table." Aunt Zhao beckoned Zhao Hong and Li Lihua to come forward, and they quickly cleared the table and wiped it clean.

Upon opening the plastic box, a beautifully decorated cake was revealed, adorned with pink flowers and exquisite patterns, exuding refinement in every detail.

The three children's eyes lit up immediately.

Aunt Zhao and the others couldn't help but take a second look.

Cakes weren't cheap these days, and you could only buy freshly made ones in the city. The cakes from the supply and marketing cooperative came in small pink boxes, which were nothing like this big cake.

Lin Zhiqiang inserted a small candle in the middle, took out a match, lit it with a hiss, and lit the small candle.

"Would you like to make a wish?" Meng Anhe asked with a smile.

Xia Yao clasped her hands together, closed her eyes, and then blew out the candle.

"Sister Yao Yao, what did you wish for?" Lin Bingwen asked curiously.

"Idiot, your wishes won't come true if you say them out loud." Lin Jingxing shook his head.

"Let's cut the cake." Xia Yao picked up the small plastic knife that came with the cake and cut it into small triangular pieces.

The first piece was handed to Zhou Momo, who was sitting obediently to the side: "Here, Momo, you're the youngest, you eat first."

"Thank you, Sister Yao Yao!" Zhou Momo happily held the cake and sat down on a small stool.

She then cut a piece for each of the eagerly waiting Lin Jingxing and Lin Bingwen brothers, and also shared some with Lin Zhiqiang and Meng Anhe.

Then he cut the cake into several small pieces and served one piece to each of Zhao Tieying and the others: "Aunties and uncles, you should try some too."

"Thank you, then we'll take a taste." Zhao Tieying smiled and accepted it.

"Yours." Xia Yao handed a piece of cake to Zhou Yan.

"Thank you," Zhou Yan said with a smile as she accepted the gift.

"You're welcome." Xia Yao left herself a small piece; the bowl of noodles had really made her feel quite full.

"The cake is so delicious! It's sweet and soft!" Zhou Momo couldn't help but exclaim, her little face filled with astonishment.

This was the first time she had ever eaten cake.

Zhou Yan took a bite. The cream was on the firmer side, melting slowly in his mouth. It was sweet and fragrant, quite different from other creams.

In this era of sweet scarcity, this is definitely a unique and delicious experience.

Zhao Hong ate a couple of bites, put the rest on the counter, and then went to clear the table.

"Sister Zhao, let's settle the bill." Lin Zhiqiang took out his wallet.

"No need to settle the bill. Consider tonight's dinner my treat for Xia Yao's birthday," Zhao Tieying said, shaking his head.

"That won't do. It's Yao Yao's birthday, we should definitely pay the bill," Lin Zhiqiang said, shaking his head.

Meng Anhe nodded in agreement: "That's right, let me take a look at the menu..."

"Director Lin, An He, please don't stand on ceremony with me." Zhao Tieying said with a smile, but her attitude was very firm: "Xia Yao brought us a lot of things this time, and even bought such expensive crayons for Momo. It is only right that I treat her to a meal on her birthday. If you refuse, then I will not dare to accept anything next time. I will be known as a miser who only takes and never gives, which is very shameful."

"Thank you, Auntie," Xia Yao said sweetly.

"You're welcome, it's nothing." Zhao Tieying said with a smile.

Lin Zhiqiang and Meng Anhe exchanged a glance and smiled helplessly.

"Zhou Yan, are you going for a run tonight?" Xia Yao asked, looking at Zhou Yan.

Zhou Yan looked at her and smiled, "You just finished eating, why don't you go for a walk?"

“Okay, I happen to have a new idea I’d like to talk to you about today.” Xia Yao nodded.

"Wait a moment, I'll go change my clothes," Zhou Yan said, turning and going upstairs.

"Xia Yao, you go for a walk with Zhou Yan. We'll head back first; they haven't finished their homework yet," Lin Zhiqiang said, pulling Meng Anhe and their two sons away.

Zhou Yan changed out of his chef's uniform, went downstairs, and went out.

The sun had already set halfway down the mountain, and the sky was ablaze with red clouds, turning it pink.

Xia Yao stood under the tree, wiping the cream from Zhou Momo's lips with a sweet smile.

“Brother, I want to too…” Zhou Momo raised her hands when she saw Zhou Yan.

"If you don't want to, I'll take you to take a bath; you've got rashes." Aunt Zhao swept her away like a gust of wind.

"But Mom, I just took a bath yesterday..."

"You can take a bath every day, so people will say you smell nice."

"Let's go then," Zhou Yan said.

“Okay.” Xia Yao nodded, a smile playing on her lips, and walked along the riverbank with Zhou Yan. “Today I went to the library to look up a lot of information about Jiading silk, and I also chatted with the old man at the library. He knows a lot about Jiading silk.”

“Uncle Wang?” Zhou Yan’s eyes dimmed slightly, and he said with a touch of emotion, “As far as Su Ji is concerned, he should be one of the people who understands Jiading silk the most.”

Back then, the Wang family was a major silk merchant in Suji, controlling the largest silk shop in Suji. At that time, Jiading silk was sold as far as Southeast Asia and had a great reputation.

Unfortunately, the fire that night killed all of the more than one hundred members of the Wang family, leaving only Wang Yu alive.

"His surname is Wang. Looks like I've found the right person." Xia Yao's eyes lit up. "You're very familiar with him?"

"We're quite familiar with each other." Zhou Yan nodded, looking at her and saying, "Do you remember Qiu Qi and Wang Yu, whom I mentioned in my letter to you?"

Xia Yao paused, a look of surprise in her eyes: "You mean... Grandpa Wang from the library, is Wang Yu?! The Wang Yu who missed Miss Qiu for over forty years before finally reuniting?"

“It’s him.” Zhou Yan nodded with a smile.

"Oh my god." Xia Yao was stunned for a moment, then said with a look of regret, "Talking with him, I could tell he was an exceptionally talented and gentle old gentleman. Such a good person, why did he have to go through so much pain..."

"Life is unpredictable, but he eventually met Miss Qiu again, which can be considered a good ending." Zhou Yan smiled and said, "He has been quite happy during this time."

“You can tell he always has a smile on his face.” Xia Yao smiled too, then thought for a moment and suddenly looked at Zhou Yan and said, “By the way, he said there’s a young man who often comes to him to borrow books. He’s of good character and kind-hearted, but he’s a bit reserved and blushes when he sees girls. Could it be… you?”

"No, I'm thick-skinned, I don't blush when I see girls," Zhou Yan shook his head.

Xia Yao smiled, her eyes crinkling. He was really funny.

"Happy birthday, Comrade Xia Yao." Zhou Yan took a box out of his pocket and handed it over.

"You prepared this for me?" Xia Yao looked at Zhou Yan, somewhat surprised.

Zhou Yan nodded.

Xia Yao carefully opened the box, inside was a silver bracelet. Her eyes lit up, and she exclaimed in surprise, "So beautiful!"

"Could you hold this for me?" Xia Yao reached into the box, took out the bracelet, handed the box to Zhou Yan, unbuttoned her shirt, rolled up a sleeve, and put on the bracelet.

Her wrists were slender and fair.

The bracelet on the dress even sparkled a bit.

She raised her hand and waved it in the direction of the setting sun, her smile exceptionally radiant.

A blooming lotus flower, adorned with multifaceted small pieces of silver, shimmering in the light, and a small plaque inscribed with the words "Joy and Happiness".

"Full of blessings and good fortune, the meaning is so beautiful." Xia Yao put down her hand, looked into Zhou Yan's eyes, and said with a smile, "Comrade Zhou Yan, thank you for your kindness. This is the first bracelet I have ever received. I like it very much and I will wear it all the time."

"You're welcome," Zhou Yan said with a smile.

This was the first time he had ever given a gift to a girl.

The process of choosing a gift is itself very ceremonial. When choosing, you think about her reaction when she receives the gift and whether she will like it.

Xia Yao's feedback provided ample emotional value.

Make him feel it's worthwhile.

“I’ve always felt that I don’t need to wear anything on my hands, but this looks really good. You have great taste.” Xia Yao swayed the bracelet, her steps seeming to lighten a bit.

Zhou Yan walked beside her, a slight smile playing on his lips, and asked curiously, "Don't you like wearing watches?"

Xia Yao nodded: "Yes, I like to daydream and I also like to draw quietly. Wearing a watch makes me too concerned about the passage of time, which makes me feel anxious and not immersed enough."

It has to be Aunt Zhao! I almost gave the wrong gift; experience truly matters.

After walking for a while, Xia Yao said, "I researched a lot of information today. Jiading silk is famous for its local silk brocade, which is made from local silk threads. It is known for its lustrous and smooth texture, dense and soft fabric, and bright and vibrant colors."

Currently, Jiaozhou Textile Factory mainly exports silk, and its sales of satin and ready-made garments are also good. However, the reputation of Jiading silk is not prominent, and its main brand is Jiaozhou Textile Factory.

"Do you think I should firmly establish Jiading silk, or leverage its existing reputation to build the Jiaozhou Textile Factory?"

Zhou Yan remained silent for a while. In later generations, Suji was famous for its "Qiaojiao Beef". After the Jiaozhou Textile Factory went bankrupt due to blocked overseas sales, Jiading silk became an eternal memory for the people of Jiaozhou.

He thought for a moment and said, "Jiazhou Textile Factory doesn't have a very good reputation overseas either. Their products aren't particularly competitive or irreplaceable, and they might be eliminated in the next industry upheaval."

If we can successfully build the brand of Jiading silk, we might be able to obtain a higher brand premium and differentiate ourselves from other silk factories of the same type.

　I'm going to a banquet in the countryside tomorrow, so I'll only be updating twice today. I'll start updating more frequently from the day after tomorrow. Please vote with my monthly tickets!
　　
　
(End of this chapter)