1984: Starting from a bankrupt Sichuan restaurant

Chapter 257 Now there's probably no end to the cuckolding (Bonus chapter for monthly votes: 764)

Meng Anhe's expression was somewhat serious.

Lin Zhiqiang continued working, explaining with a smile, "We happened to have some steamed buns the other day. Xiao Zhou made extra bean sprout and pork buns, and Yao Yao took the two kids out for breakfast, so Xiao Zhou gave each of them a few to try."

These two shameless boys had already started discussing how they could eat such delicious steamed buns with Xiao Zhou's family every day. Zhou Yan told them they could come for breakfast anytime, free of charge.

Later, Yao Yao took them to have breakfast, and Xiao Zhou and Sister Zhao insisted on not charging them, but these two gluttons in our family wanted to go every day.

Meng Anhe laughed upon hearing this, "Xiao Zhou really spoils them. Next time you take them, you still have to pay them. They can't just eat for free every day."

Lin Zhiqiang shook his head: "I took him there this morning, but I didn't pay. They just charged me six mao for the bowl and gave me an extra two liang of noodles."

"Do you think Zhou Yan really likes Xia Yao?" Meng Anhe turned to Lin Zhiqiang and asked.

“It gets dark early these days, so I’ve been going for a run beforehand. Zhou Yan and Xia Yao run together every day, but as for how things have progressed, I’m not sure.” Lin Zhiqiang shook his head.

"Old Lin, you really know how to create opportunities for them!" Meng Anhe glared at him, then said with some concern, "Running in the dark is so dangerous for a young girl! Xia Yao is so pretty, what if those scoundrels target her?"

"Don't worry, Xia Yao is very smart. If Zhou Yan doesn't run, she'll draw for a while downstairs and then go back to her dorm. I've told her this several times; she's not the kind of girl who would put herself in danger." Lin Zhiqiang said with a smile, "They arranged to run together themselves. It would be awkward for me to run with them. When we're dating, how can we feel comfortable if your dad is watching us?"

Meng Anhe couldn't help but laugh and said, "Then we still have to get something for Xiao Zhou and the others. We can't just eat for free. Those two kids can eat quite a lot."

"How about my brother sends some vinegar later, and we can give Zhou Yan two jugs?"

"Old Lin! You really are something else. You can keep that aged vinegar for yourself, I can't bring it out." Meng Anhe rolled her eyes at him.

“How can this be considered unpresentable? This is vinegar used at state banquets; even the leaders praised it. Anhe, that’s prejudice; you need to change it,” Lin Zhiqiang said, somewhat unconvinced.

Meng Anhe took a sip of water and ignored him.

"By the way, I heard from Yao Yao that Xiao Zhou bought an old house in Jiaozhou and said he wants to demolish and rebuild it, and then move the restaurant from Suji to Jiaozhou," Lin Zhiqiang said.

"You bought a house in Jiaozhou so quickly? And you're going to rebuild it? Xiao Zhou's restaurant must be making a lot of money." Meng Anhe was a little surprised when she heard this.

"I heard it has more than a dozen rooms and is quite large." Lin Zhiqiang nodded. "He also bought a plot of land next to it, intending to move some materials from the old house to the plot next to it to build a small courtyard."

“This job is no simple matter; it’s more complicated than building a new house. We also need to check if the materials used in the old house meet the standards.” Meng Anhe frowned, thought for a moment, and said, “I happen to be off these few days. Why don’t I go and take a look for him?”

"I think that's a good idea." Lin Zhiqiang nodded. "Consider it payment for those two kids' breakfast."

"By the way, is Yao Yao settling in well at the factory?"

"I ran into Lao Du today. He immediately started praising Yao Yao, saying she has solid drawing skills, is talented, and hardworking. She's only been here a few days, but she's already made progress on the Jiading silk project. She's also now studying fashion design in the design department to assist the designers," Lin Zhiqiang said with a smile. "When she's working, she's just like you, very driven."

“This girl has always been like this since she was little.” Meng Anhe put the water glass on the table, reached out and held Lin Zhiqiang’s hand, and said with a smile, “She’s quite strong. Looks like she’s been exercising a lot these past few days.”

"Aren't you tired? I'll get you some hot water so you can take a bath and get some rest."

"I suddenly felt less tired when I got home. Come on, let's go take a shower together, and you can scrub my back."

"it's not good."

"Ok?"

"I bought a new bath towel in Chengdu, let me show you."

"it is good."

"Then we don't need to bring the family planning supplies, right?"

"You want a third child?"

……

The vendors at the entrance of the textile factory came and went, one generation after another.

With the booming development of the individual economy, compared to the textile factory shops with a monthly rent of ten yuan, the stalls at the entrance of the textile factory with a monthly management fee of one yuan seem particularly cost-effective.

Seeing others making money by setting up stalls, everyone became envious and thought about using their own skills to get a share of the profits.

Little did people know that the catering industry may seem to have very low barriers to entry, but the real barriers are inside the door.

Whether it tastes good or not, customers will know after taking a bite.

Especially in places like textile factories, if you make something that tastes bad, once one worker has tasted it, all the other workers on the production line will know about it very quickly, and within a day, the whole workshop will know.

You can't even get a few customers in a one-off deal.

Sure enough, Wang Laowu's stall, which used to be run by a different person selling wontons, saw business plummet after half a month. Right now, he's negotiating the transfer with a middle-aged man with a buzz cut, while a middle-aged woman with braided hair stands beside him.

"Isn't that Wang Laowu's wife, Liu Fen?" The shop had just finished its morning business, and Aunt Zhao frowned as she looked at the middle-aged woman with braided hair. "Why is she with another man? Who is that? Wasn't he the one who was squatting there with Wang Laowu yesterday?" Zhou Yan stepped forward upon hearing this, curiously looking at the middle-aged man with a buzz cut beside him.

The man had a long face, a buzz cut, and was around forty years old. He wore a worn-out cotton coat, his back was slightly hunched, and he had a somewhat sleazy air about him.

“The one yesterday looked like a homeless person, with messy hair and tattered clothes. He doesn’t seem like one,” Aunt Zhao shook her head.

"I'll go take a look." Zhou Yan grabbed a handful of pumpkin seeds and went straight forward.

He was also curious about what Wang Laowu was planning to do—was he making a comeback? And what did this man do?
"It will cost at least twenty yuan. I spent sixteen yuan building this stove and buying these two big iron pots. These small tables and stools also cost a lot of money. You have to let me recoup some of my losses." The boss looked at He Ermao and Liu Fen with a bitter expression.

"Eighteen, not a penny more. Your stove is useless; it'll just be smashed and sold for scrap. Those little stools you made yourself, what money can they possibly make? I only offered to take over your stall because I saw how hard you were doing; otherwise, you'd be losing even more." He Er Mao took a drag of his cigarette, blew the smoke into the shopkeeper's face, and pulled two ten-yuan bills from his pocket, laughing, "Cash. Thought it over?"

The boss sighed deeply, but still nodded: "Eighteen it is!"

He Ermao handed over the money, took the two yuan change and put it in his pocket, smiling with satisfaction: "From now on, this stall is mine."

"I'll pack a few things..."

"What are you buying? I'll buy it all for eighteen yuan, and all the salt jars on the stove will be mine!" He Ermao said fiercely, clenching his fist and gesturing at the boss, "Come on! If you touch me again, I'll beat you up."

"You...you bastard..." The boss was so angry that his hands were shaking.

"You said it was all-inclusive, what are you trying to back out of?" He Ermao sneered. "Let me tell you, I've only been out of jail for two days. You'd better think carefully before you try to cheat me!"

Upon hearing this, the boss immediately backed down, clutching two ten-yuan bills, and stormed off in a huff.

"Look, we bought it for less than twenty yuan." He Ermao smiled smugly at Liu Fen. "Am I better than Wang Laowu?"

"It's alright," Liu Fen said indifferently.

“Tell him it cost twenty yuan, so we can each take one yuan from these two yuan.” He Ermao took out a yuan from his pocket and handed it to her.

"No, you can't do this." Liu Fen shook her head.

“Wang Laowu is such a miser, he probably would never give you money to spend on his own initiative, right?” He Ermao waved the money in his hand and looked at her with a smile, saying, “You are young and beautiful, but you are living such a hard life with him. This money was earned by you two together, so it is yours to spend.”

Liu Fen hesitated for a moment.

“If you don’t tell, and I don’t tell, Wang Laowu won’t know. Take this and buy some hand cream. Look at your hands, they’re all cracked. They were such beautiful hands, it breaks my heart to see them like this.” He Ermao stuffed the money directly into her hand, looking at her hands with a pained expression.

"You...you shouldn't talk nonsense. I'm a traditional woman." Liu Fen quickly put her hands in her pockets, lowered her head, but the corners of her mouth unconsciously turned up.

He Ermao's smile grew even brighter: "That's right! From now on, it'll just be the two of us at this stall. We'll decide how much we sell and how much we earn."

Liu Fen wanted to say something, but when she saw Zhou Yan eating sunflower seeds next to her, she immediately shut her mouth and turned away awkwardly.

He Ermao also noticed Zhou Yan, his face darkened, and he said coldly, "What are you looking at! Believe me or not..."

"You want claws?" Zhou Yan laughed, took a step forward, and stared into He Ermao's eyes. "You just got out of jail? Unfortunately, I just sent four in. They should be eating peanuts in a couple of days."

Zhou Yan is half a head taller than He Ermao. Recently, he has been kneading dough, pulling noodles, and running every day. His back is straight and his figure is quite intimidating.

He Ermao subconsciously took a half step back, his gaze becoming somewhat evasive, and his tone becoming more timid: "I won't do anything, do you know we live in a society governed by law? If you dare to touch me, you'll be going to jail..."

"I thought he was some tough guy, but he's just a pushover." Zhou Yan pouted, stared at him for a few moments, and then turned and walked towards the restaurant.

What kind of game is Wang Laowu playing?
partner?
It seems he's found someone who shares his interests.

Now he'll be wearing an endless string of green hats.

He tested him and found that he was also a coward who bullied the weak and feared the strong.

I've taken over this stall, but I don't know what to do with it. Am I going to start selling noodles again?
He wasn't afraid of competition. Back then, Wang Laowu suffered a crushing defeat and had to leave the market. Later, three noodle stalls came to the entrance of the textile factory. Currently, only one stall selling MSG noodles for two cents a bowl is still open.

"What's going on?" Aunt Zhao asked curiously.

"I don't know yet, but it's fine. Let them do whatever they want. In the end, it'll be Wang Laowu who regrets it," Zhou Yan said with a smile.

"Look, I scared him away." He Ermao smiled again and looked at Liu Fen, saying, "Now that we have a stall, we'll go buy steamers and flour tomorrow, and we can officially start business the day after tomorrow."

My steamed bun-making skills were learned properly from a high-end restaurant in Chengdu. You know Chengdu restaurants, right? My master is now the head chef of the pastry section there. Just wait to rake in the money!

Liu Fen's stern face softened with a smile, and she nodded, saying, "Okay."

……

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(End of this chapter)