1984: Starting from a bankrupt Sichuan restaurant

Chapter 238 In short... it was awesome! (Two chapters combined)

Aunt Zhao counted the keys one by one, each key representing one room, a total of twelve keys. There was also a bunch of smaller keys, which looked like keys to cabinets and drawers, each labeled with which cabinet it belonged to.

"So many rooms, how comfortable!" Aunt Zhao said to Comrade Zhou with a smile.

"That's right." Comrade Zhou also had a big smile on his face.

A property certificate is nothing compared to a key. Holding the key in your hand gives you the real feeling of owning a new house, meaning you can go to Jiaozhou anytime to open that door and move in.

"Fourth Aunt, you bought a house in the city?" Zhao Hong was shocked. She knew that Zhou Yan's restaurant was quite profitable, but she really didn't know when he had bought a house in Jiaozhou.

"The house is very big, with more than ten rooms and two courtyards, one in the front and one in the back," Li Lihua said with a smile. She had worked at the Qiu family's residence for two years and cleaned every room herself, so she knew the place better than anyone.

"Buying such a big house! That's amazing!" Zhao Hong was even more shocked, but a smug smile quickly appeared on her face. "Let's see who in the village dares to say that Fourth Auntie's house collapsed and you didn't have the money to repair it! It's not that you didn't have the money, it's that you simply didn't want to repair it! You just bought a big house in the city!"

"Keep it low-key, lest some people have trouble sleeping at night after hearing this," Aunt Zhao said, gesturing with her hand.

Zhao Hong said, "Fourth Aunt, you're free this afternoon. Why don't you take yesterday's newspaper, hang your keys, and go back to the village for a stroll?"

“That’s exactly what I was thinking.” Aunt Zhao couldn’t suppress the smile on her face.

Three women's smug laughter, like that of snake spirits, echoed through the restaurant.

"Our new house has a big swing! It swings really high~~ It's so much fun!" Zhou Momo clapped her hands, her little face full of smiles.

Zhou Yan brought out the noodles, a smile on her lips.

The house was bought for 10,000 yuan, but the family's reaction has already made it worth 8,000 yuan.

Yan Fei smiled as he watched this scene. The meaning of hard work is to make his family happy, isn't it?

Zhou Yan, at such a young age, spent 10,000 yuan to buy such a big house in Jiaozhou City.

Mr. Duan spent half a year trying to resolve the old lady's inner conflict, but he managed to get her to agree to go to Hong Kong in less than a month.

Miss Duan left cleanly and decisively, without any lingering attachment to Zhou Yan.

"You're pretty good." Yan Fei looked up at Zhou Yan and said with a smile.

"You flatter me," Zhou Yan said with a smile. He didn't know why Yan Fei suddenly said that, but he was still quite pleased with the highest praise a man could receive. He casually asked, "Brother Yan, if you're not going to be a driver, what are you planning to do next?"

Yan Fei said, "Miss Duan arranged for me to work at a factory in Rongcheng, where I will be responsible for guarding the gate."

“That suits you quite well, it’s a good match for your major.” Zhou Yan nodded.

Yan Fei: ...

For a moment, he couldn't tell whether Zhou Yan was praising him or making a sarcastic remark.

"Stir the noodles from the bottom up, make sure they're well mixed before eating, it'll taste even better." Zhou Yan said, smiling as he walked towards the kitchen. Today he had to make twenty bowls of salted braised pork belly, and also supply braised meat for thirty tables of banquets for his master and the others, he didn't dare to stop for a moment.

Following Zhou Yan's instructions, Yan Fei mixed the noodles from bottom to top, coating them evenly with shredded beef. He then picked up a piece and slurped it up.

"Hmm!" Yan Fei's eyes lit up immediately.

These noodles are chewy and smooth, and they hold the seasonings and meat sauce perfectly. Take a bite with the oily soup, and the taste is absolutely amazing!
He knew that Zhou Yan's dishes and his signature braised beef were delicious.

I never imagined that noodles could be made so delicious!
One bite after another, I couldn't stop.

So delicious!
It completely blows away the noodle shop they've been eating at for ten years at the corner of their alley.

"Eat slowly, okay?" Aunt Zhao brought him a bowl of noodle soup with a few chopped green onions sprinkled in it.

"Thank you, Auntie," Yan Fei said, taking a sip of the refreshing noodle soup, which tasted even better.

After finishing his noodles, Yan Fei paid the bill, got on his bike, and left.

He has a three-day holiday. He will go home to reunite with his wife and children, then go to Chengdu to look at houses, and then go to the factory to guard the gate.

Miss Duan assigned him to a management position. The joint venture's security department was self-built and mainly staffed by veterans, responsible for maintaining the safety of factory property.

Ms. Duan also said that if she comes to Jiaozhou again next time, she will ask him to drive her.

He loves driving!
It costs eight hundred yuan a month!

The factory paid him well, with 200 yuan a month, which was considered a high salary.

……

After the business closed at noon, Zhou Yan came out of the kitchen and saw Xia Yao and Zhou Momo squatting in front of the sand by the door, each holding a twig and drawing.

The two, one big and one small, stood head to head, both with smiles on their faces.

"What are you drawing?" Zhou Yan asked with a smile as he stepped forward.

Zhou Momo looked up and said, "It's a restaurant that I drew. Yao Yao and I each drew half of it."

Zhou Yan looked closely and saw that it really was a restaurant. The signboard at the entrance, the iconic earthen stove, and the various people inside were simply sketched on the sand, creating a rather charming scene.

Xia Yao smiled as she stood up, looked at him and asked, "Are you done with your work?"

"Yes, once the last table of customers finishes their food, our lunch service is over." Zhou Yan nodded. There were still two or three tables of customers who hadn't finished eating, but they weren't ordering any more dishes, so his job as the chef was considered done.

"Aren't you going to take a nap?" Zhou Yan took out his watch and glanced at it. It was already 1:30 in the afternoon, and the textile factory would be open for work soon.

Xia Yao smiled and said, "I'm waiting for the shuttle bus. I got a leave slip from the director. I'm going to Jiaozhou Department Store this afternoon to buy paint. I've run out of the paint I brought, and I can't buy any at Suji Supply and Marketing Cooperative."

“Then I’ll take you there. I also happen to be going to Jiaozhou, so it’s on my way,” Zhou Yan said.

"You've been busy since this morning, aren't you going to take a break?" Xia Yao asked, looking at him.

"It's okay, I'm used to it. Sleeping too long at noon actually affects my sleep quality at night. Wait for me a moment, I'll go change my clothes and come right back." Zhou Yan turned and walked into the store.

Zhou Yan went upstairs to change his clothes, took out the bunch of keys from the closet, took off the two keys for the front door and the study separately and put them in his pocket, told Aunt Zhao, took off the backpack from the back seat, and pushed his bicycle out the door.

"Brother, brother, I want to go too!" Zhou Momo came closer, opened her arms to him, and said with a hint of grievance, "Don't call Mommy to take me away~~"

"Take Momo with you, she said she'd take me to eat sweet tofu pudding," Xia Yao said gently, reaching out to pick up Zhou Momo and placing her on the front bumper.

Aunt Zhao had already rushed forward half a body length before she urgently retreated.

"Sister Yaoyao is the best!" The little guy gripped the handlebars, swinging his short legs happily.
"Go ahead." Zhou Yan nodded with a smile. After Xia Yao got on the car, he then got on his bicycle and rode towards Jiaozhou.

"Is the design progressing smoothly?" Zhou Yan asked casually.

"I met with the design department today and spent the whole morning communicating with the fashion designers. We're planning to design a 'Jiading Silk' ancient style pattern series, and then work with the design department to design a few outfits to see the effect," Xia Yao smiled. "So I went to buy a lot of paint today; I expect next week's workload will be quite heavy. I already have the general concept and have drawn a few sketches, but I still need to color them and see the effect..."

When it comes to design, Xia Yao speaks eloquently.

Although Zhou Yan couldn't see her face, he could imagine her looking radiant and with a sparkle in her eyes.

A career you love can bring you happiness beyond just the financial reward.

Once they entered the city, Zhou Yan first took her to a department store.

She bought several boxes of paint, several sketchbooks, and a large bag of stuff.

"Does the factory reimburse me?" Zhou Yan asked, taking out the items that were tied with rope.

"Special reimbursement is approved, but you have to take the receipts back with you, and any unused receipts must be returned to the factory."

"That's alright." Zhou Yan nodded with a smile. These paints and paper cost several tens of dollars. Artists' stuff is indeed expensive!
He tied the items to the basket with rope, and then regretted taking apart both of the carrying baskets; he had been too hasty.

"Brother, shall we go eat tofu pudding now?" Zhou Momo asked expectantly.

"Can you really eat sweet tofu pudding in Jiaozhou?" Xia Yao looked at him with curiosity.

"Following Zhou Momo, you'll always unlock some hidden ways to eat." Zhou Yan nodded with a smile, as long as you're shameless enough.

Zhou Momo inherited his thick skin.

I got on my bike and headed towards East Street.

You can find tofu pudding in many places in Jiaozhou, but for sweet tofu pudding, there's currently only the Emei Tofu Pudding shop on Dongda Street, which requires a little guy to scan his face to unlock it.

Xia Yao grew up in Hangzhou and should be a fan of sweet romance.

Zhou Momo, this outlier who emerged from the "salty and spicy" faction, has now found her tribe.

“Last time we visited the Jiaozhou Buddha, we came here on the cruise ship. The whole street was full of snacks, which left a deep impression on me.” Xia Yao said with a smile from the back seat, “But Deng Hong bought a braised pork dish, which was quite unpalatable. When we got back to the guesthouse, she was furious.”

Zhou Yan asked with a smile, "Is it on this street, right across from that braised food shop at the dock?"

Xia Yao was somewhat surprised: "You've been scammed before too?"

"I suppose so." Zhou Yan laughed. Qi Laosi really was a master at ripping people off.

The bicycle stopped in front of Ganji Emei Tofu Pudding stall.

"Auntie, Uncle, I'm here again~~" Zhou Momo greeted the landlady and the owner sweetly before even getting out of the car.

"Wow, you're here!" The two of them immediately put on smiles and looked at Zhou Momo with doting eyes.

Zhou Momo nodded: "Yes, I brought Sister Yaoyao to eat sweet tofu pudding."

The smiles on their faces froze instantly, and they couldn't smile anymore.

Selling sweet tofu pudding to Zhou Momo was already a decision that went against the ancestors' wishes.

This little guy is something else. He eats by himself, and last time he brought a beautiful capitalist's daughter to eat sweet tofu pudding. Today he brought another pretty girl to eat it.

That's really disrespectful to their signboard!

"Is it okay?" Zhou Momo looked at the two of them and blinked. "Please, please~~"

"No problem! Sweet is fine, I'll arrange it for you right away!" The boss waved his hand and was the first to abandon his principles.

"Thank you, boss." Xia Yao pursed her lips, trying her best not to smile.

The little guy is so good at being affectionate that the boss simply couldn't refuse him.

"It's alright, please sit down." The proprietress nodded with a smile, then wiped the table and chairs again with a towel, as if afraid that the red oil would stain her clothes.

This girl is truly beautiful, with fair skin and a clean, delicate appearance. She wore a shirt with black trousers, simple Mary Jane shoes, and a pair of simple yet exquisite silver earrings. Her demeanor was exceptional; she exuded elegance and sophistication. Her soft voice suggested a kind and gentle personality. Zhou Yan standing next to her was a pleasing sight to behold—a perfect match.

Not only him, but even the customers eating at the food stalls next to him couldn't help but take a second look.

Then look at Zhou Momo, so tiny and delicate, you'd think she was their baby if she hadn't called out "sister".

This family is so good-looking!

Zhou Yan sat down and told the owner of the Niuhua Tofu Pudding shop next door that he wanted a bowl of beef tofu pudding.

"Wouldn't this be inappropriate?" Xia Yao moved closer to him and asked softly.

She noticed that the signboard didn't mention sweet tofu pudding, and Zhou Yan even ordered a bowl of tofu pudding from next door. The owner's expression was a little subtle.

“It’s alright, I always order this much every time I come here,” Zhou Yan said with a smile. “The boss is from my mother’s hometown, like an elder in the family, so there’s no need to be polite.”

He didn't muffle his words, and the boss and his wife could hear him clearly.

“Mmm, Auntie and Uncle are so nice~” Zhou Momo nodded in agreement.

Upon hearing this, the boss and his wife's lips curled into wide smiles.

She's almost been coaxed into pouting.

The owner added another spoonful of sugar to the bowl.

Two bowls of tofu pudding were served.

Xia Yao's eyes lit up immediately.

Since she went to university in the mountain city, she can only eat sweet tofu pudding when she returns to Hangzhou during winter and summer vacations.

The tofu pudding in the mountain city is salty and spicy, which she doesn't like.

Jiaozhou's tofu pudding is even more outrageous; it can be topped with anything from crispy pork and beef to other toppings.

She hadn't had a bowl of this white and tender tofu pudding, sprinkled with just a little sugar, in a long time.

"Mmm, so sweet! So delicious!" Zhou Momo took a bite and shook her little head.

Xia Yao picked up a ladle, scooped a spoonful, and put it in her mouth. The white sugar and the delicate tofu pudding melted together in her mouth, the light and elegant bean fragrance and the smooth texture made her feel very happy.

"It's so delicious, the tofu pudding is especially fragrant," Xia Yao said with a smile.

"That's right, our tofu pudding is all handmade." The proprietress's smile carried a hint of pride; the lighter the flavor, the more it showcased her skill.

These two girls have such sweet tongues.

We'll sell to them again next time.

Zhou Yan also brought him Niuhua Tofu Pudding, topped with beef broth and a spoonful of braised beef, making it a bright red bowl.

"Isn't this spicy?" Xia Yao asked curiously as she watched Zhou Yan stir the tofu pudding from the bottom up with a spoon.

"Actually, it's spicy, but not too spicy. You can try a bite. You must try this." Zhou Yan pushed the stirred tofu pudding a little towards her, extending an invitation.

Sweet potato starch is the base of Niuhua Tofu Pudding. Last time he ordered the pork intestine tofu pudding, but today he changed it to beef.

It's less like tofu pudding and more like a bowl of tofu pudding noodles.

Xia Yao hesitated for a moment, then shook her head: "You eat it. I think sweet tofu pudding is quite delicious."

The sweet party rejected the temptation of heresy.

Zhou Yan didn't insist, and pulled the bowl over to slurp up a mouthful of noodles first.

Sweet potato starch coated with starch paste and tofu pudding is both smooth and bouncy.

Spicy and savory, with a hint of sweetness amidst the sourness, paired with the meaty aroma of beef broth, the flavor is incredibly rich.

good to eat!

“The shumai from that shop up ahead is pretty good too, would you like to get a basket to try?” Zhou Yan asked Xia Yao.

Xia Yao said, "I'm a little full after eating the tofu pudding. If you can still eat, you can order a basket and I'll try one."

"I can try three!" Zhou Momo raised her hand and made a peace sign. "I love shumai!"

"Okay, I'll go buy it." Zhou Yan got up and soon returned with a basket of fresh pork shumai and two red oil dipping sauce dishes.

Xia Yao's eyes lit up as she looked at the shumai: "These shumai are a little different from those in Hangzhou. The shumai in Hangzhou are filled with glutinous rice and meat, and the skin is also thicker."

"Try it, it tastes pretty good," Zhou Yan recommended, picking one up for Zhou Momo first.

The little guy grabbed the thin wrapper of the shumai with his hand, took a bite, and ate it with his mouth full of oil.

Xia Yao picked one up, without dipping it in chili oil, took a bite, and her eyes immediately lit up. She finished the shumai in a few bites and exclaimed, "Thin skin, big filling, and the taste is especially fresh. It's really delicious."

This shumai somewhat overturned her understanding of the world.

"Xiao Zhou, I heard that the house on the street you asked about last time has been sold. They said it sold for ten thousand yuan," the landlady said to Zhou Yan. "I wonder which boss is so rich that he can come up with ten thousand yuan."

The owner smiled and said, "Ten thousand yuan is not expensive. Such a good location and such a big house. Several bosses have inquired about it. It is said that the owner of Feiyan Restaurant wanted to buy it but failed. He spent eight hundred yuan to buy a dilapidated tile-roofed house in advance, but now he is stuck with it. He has put it up for sale again in the past two days."

"Boss Huang of Feiyan Restaurant also wants to buy it?" Zhou Yan was a little surprised when he heard this.

Is Huang Xiaoji planning to expand Huanghe Restaurant?

They're planning to spend 10,000 yuan to buy the Qiu family's old house, and they've even bought the houses next door in advance. They're determined to get it.

Unfortunately, he snatched it away.

Thinking of Huang Xiaoji's exasperated look, he couldn't help but laugh.

"That's right. There's also a boss from Chengdu who came to inquire a few times. I heard he also wanted to buy it to open a restaurant, but it seems the deal didn't go through." The boss nodded and said with a smile, "Don't be discouraged. These big bosses can't even buy these houses, and the prices are so high. We definitely can't compete with them."

Xia Yao ate her tofu pudding, glanced at Zhou Yan, and smiled slightly.

The letter Zhou Yan wrote to her was never sent, but it was delivered to her.

So she knew that Zhou Yan had bought the Qiu family's old house.

However, there are some details that were not mentioned in the letter, such as the fact that it would cost 10,000 yuan to buy this old house.

Ten thousand yuan is no small sum.

"I'm not discouraged, I already have the key anyway." Zhou Yan took out his wallet from his pocket to pay the bill, and casually took out the key and waved it.

"That's right... wait, what did you say?" The boss's eyes widened as he looked at the key dangling in Zhou Yan's hand.

"The key? You...you bought the Qiu family's old house?" the landlady asked in shock.

“Yes, we’ll be neighbors soon.” Zhou Yan smiled and took out some change to hand over.

The two of them held the money and watched Zhou Yan push his bicycle away with Xia Yao and Zhou Momo, their expressions still somewhat shocked.

"A house for ten thousand yuan, bought just like that?" the landlady murmured.

The owner was also shocked and said, "Didn't his mother say that his family ran a small restaurant? Maybe she was being modest. They must own a big restaurant! They're fucking rich!"

"What did he just say? He bought the Qiu family's old house?" the owner of the Niuhua Tofu Pudding shop next door couldn't help but ask.

“Yes.” The boss nodded. “So many bosses couldn’t buy it, but he bought it. This young man is really capable.”

"Boss Huang spent over a hundred yuan on information; now this is a laughing stock..."

The bosses were gossiping behind his back, but Zhou Yan paid no attention.

“Zhou Yan, take me to see your new house.” Xia Yao said, her eyes full of anticipation. “I want to see the place where Miss Qiu grew up. The story of ‘Qi Yu’ started here and ended here. It’s so meaningful.”

“Okay, I’m going to go take a look too.” Zhou Yan nodded.

Well, even "Qi Yu" has a CP (couple) fanbase.

Zhou Yan led Xia Yao to stop in front of the Qiu residence, took out his key, and unlocked the large lock hanging on the door.

Xia Yao glanced at the braised food shop next door. Qi Laosi was standing inside the door watching them with a somewhat resentful expression, so she quickly looked away.

Zhou Yan pushed open the heavy vermilion door. It was a bit heavy, but very smooth, without any obvious resistance, and he could tell that it was well maintained.

The old house came into view again, but this time the feeling was different.

The first few times they came, they were guests and were always very careful when entering the house.

But today is different; I'm opening my own front door, and the feeling is completely different.

Anyway...

It’s just cool!
He locked his bicycle at the door and carried the things in the basket inside.

Xia Yao led Zhou Momo through the door, and the vermilion gate slowly closed behind them.

"The owner of that braised food shop doesn't seem to like you very much?" Xia Yao said.

Zhou Yan locked the door and said with a smile, "His braised food is so bad that I told him to cancel the lease before the New Year to avoid ruining my reputation. No wonder he likes me."

“No wonder…” Xia Yao smiled upon hearing this.

However, Zhou Yan was telling the truth; the braised food he made was indeed terrible, and it made Deng Hong cry.

If Zhou Yan gets punished, she deserves it.

She walked into the courtyard, looked around, and said with some surprise, "This courtyard has a bit of the feel of Suzhou gardens. There are some unique little landscape features. The original owner must have been to Suzhou. It's a pity that the courtyard is a bit small and can't have a water feature."

"The courtyard is quite nice, and there's a small courtyard in the back," Zhou Yan nodded.

"There's a swing in the backyard, Yao Yao! I'll take you to swing!" Zhou Momo took Xia Yao's hand and walked towards the backyard.

(End of this chapter)