1984: Starting from a bankrupt Sichuan restaurant

Chapter 261 This is my own brother! (Bonus chapter for 964 monthly votes)

Liu Fen stared blankly at Zhou Erwa's restaurant across the street, where baskets of steamed buns were being stacked on the stove. Her voice trembled.

"What did you do, you freak out?" He Ermao put down the bun wrapper in his hand and asked with a smile.

"Look! They're steaming buns in the steamer across the street! They're selling buns now!" Liu Fen said, pointing in the direction of Zhou Erwa's restaurant, her expression showing a hint of panic.

"Sell them if you want, what's there to be afraid of! It'll just make our buns stand out from the crowd!" He Ermao said confidently. "I'm not a bachelor, my buns are definitely the best in Suji Town! The buns at the bridgehead are so awful, but people still buy them. The textile factory workers will definitely be fighting over my buns."

Liu Fen breathed a slight sigh of relief upon hearing this.

Yes, she had tried He Ermao's steamed buns, and they were indeed quite delicious, much better than the ones at the bridgehead.

Zhou Yan ruined her noodle business, leaving her with psychological trauma. Today, she had just started selling steamed buns when she bumped into Zhou Yan, who was also selling steamed buns. Her heart pounded, and she felt very flustered.

"Today's dough and filling can make three hundred buns. If we sell them all, we can make forty-five yuan," He Ermao said in a low voice.

"Three hundred?" Liu Fen was startled. She glanced into the distance instinctively and whispered, "You... didn't you say two hundred this morning?"

"That was for Wang Laowu's ears. I'll split the money from the two hundred with him, and the extra hundred will be split between the two of us," He Ermao said with a smile. "Fifteen yuan, I'll give you seven yuan and fifty cents. You can buy whatever you want."

"No... this is no good..." Liu Fen clenched her hands and shook her head like a rattle drum.

“Alright, this is what you worked hard to earn, it’s yours to take and spend.” He Ermao handed her the bun wrapper, scratched her hand with his fingers, and said with a smile, “Is Wang Laowu as generous to you as I am?”

"You...you shouldn't do this, I'm a traditional woman." Liu Fen withdrew her hand, a blush appearing on her face, her heart fluttering.

Wang Laowu is a real miser. Even after being married to her for so many years, he's always been wary of her and basically doesn't let her touch any money.

He's usually stingy, giving her only small amounts of money, like 50 cents or a dollar. He says he's afraid she'll lose the money, but actually he just doesn't want to give her any to spend.

He Ermao, on the other hand, gave her a dollar the day before yesterday, and today he said he would give her seven dollars and fifty cents. He is much more generous than Wang Laowu.

“I know, I know you’re traditional.” He Ermao grinned. “The more traditional you are, the more I like you. You’re so charming.”

"Don't gossip, or others will think we're not serious!" Liu Fen glared at him.

Ever since she married Wang Laowu, he has kept a close eye on her. There has never been another man around her, and no one has dared to speak to her so boldly.

But He Ermao was very bold in his speech, which made her feel embarrassed, but she was secretly pleased.

Which woman doesn't like to hear such compliments? Unlike Wang Laowu, who was always putting her down, saying she was dark-skinned and had a big nose.

He Ermao looked at Liu Fen, a slight smile playing on his lips, and continued, "Don't worry, this restaurant owner is too greedy. He wants to do everything, but in the end, he does nothing well. I might not be as good at making noodles as he is, but when it comes to making steamed buns and mantou, I'm in no way inferior to him! Just wait and see how I deal with him!"

Liu Fen nodded. He Er Mao's words reassured her a lot, and she continued to focus on making steamed buns.

Zhou Yan had already prepared six steamers of buns. She brushed oil on the bottom of the steamers and placed the wrapped buns in with some space between them.

One basket can hold twenty-five buns, and eight baskets filled with them will hold two hundred buns.

The others are done and set aside for now; they will be steamed in batches later.

Steamed buns taste best when they're freshly steamed and right out of the steamer; their soft texture and piping hot flavor are irresistible.

"Put the ones that look bad in this steamer. We'll steam a separate steamer for ourselves later. The rest are up to you. I'll go stir-fry the toppings and meat sauce so we don't run out of time later," Zhou Yan said to Li Lihua and Zhao Hong, glancing at his watch.

“Okay, go ahead.” Li Lihua nodded. After making dozens of them, her skills had become more and more proficient, and the buns she made were quite presentable.

As for what Zhao Hong did.

It looks like a steamed bun too.

Consider it breakfast for everyone.

Wear and tear is inevitable during practice, and employees like Li Lihua who secretly practice their skills at home and make their bosses worry-free are still a minority.

Zhou Yan really found a treasure from Old Lady Qiu.

By the time Zhou Yan finished stir-frying the toppings, the buns were also wrapped.

Zhou Yan came out and glanced at each cage, picking out a few that were not up to standard and putting them into the failure cage.

He made about a hundred of them, each one round and plump, with a thin skin and a generous filling.

Li Lihua has done about a hundred of them, and they are all pretty good, with a trend of getting better and better.

Having worked in the kitchen for two years and having previously made wontons, his skills are indeed reliable.

Zhao Hong's twenty or thirty attempts were mostly failures, but her progress was visible to the naked eye, and they were starting to look more and more like steamed buns.

"Sister Li did a great job! I need to practice my technique when I get back. This is so ugly, such a waste of meat and flour." Zhao Hong rubbed her hands together, a little embarrassed.

"It's alright, sister-in-law is improving very quickly, she'll be a master in a few more days." Zhou Yan said with a smile, "Besides, it's not a waste if we eat it, and you've solved our breakfast problem."

"Wow! Are we having meat buns for breakfast today?!" Zhou Momo had just gotten up when she ran into the kitchen, tiptoed to look at the buns on the cutting board, and her eyes lit up. In her childish voice, she said, "I want three big meat buns!"

"Alright, alright, as long as you can eat it." Zhou Yan said with a smile, looking at the ahoge sticking up on her head.

"I'm sure..."

"Come on, let's comb your hair." Before Zhou Momo could finish speaking, she was pulled away from behind by a large hand. The failed steamer was put on a separate pot to steam first. Zhou Yan glanced at the time, then glanced at the stall across the street.

It was already daylight by then, and He Ermao and Liu Fen had finished making the buns and steamed them in the pot, steaming sixteen baskets in one go.

Zhou Yan raised an eyebrow. He Er Mao seemed quite professional at making steamed buns, but he seemed to lack experience in setting up a stall.

It was 6:30. Sixteen steamers were put into the pot to steam at once. By the time they were done, it wasn't yet the workers' rush hour.
By the time the morning rush hour starts at 7:30, the taste of his steamed buns has completely fallen apart.

I guess she was influenced by him after he started steaming it?
He was steaming his work lunch.

This skill likely came from the kitchen of that big restaurant, or was learned in that kitchen.

Zhou Momo washed her face, tied her hair in a small bun, moved her little stool, and sat down in front of the steamer. She picked up small twigs from the ground and threw them into the steamer, muttering, "Good morning, stove! I'm feeding you some food. You have to steam me lots of meat buns, okay? My pot's buns are so delicious! Do you want some?!"

Zhou Yan sat next to him, unable to hide her smile.

My sister is so cute!
Zhou Momo turned to look at him: "Brother, should we save two meat buns for Brother Jingxing and Brother Bingwen? They really like meat buns too."

"Yes, if they come, we'll eat together." Zhou Yan nodded with a smile. The two brothers had been craving the bean sprout and pork buns and had asked about them several times already.

"Brother Zhou Yan!"

"Brother Yan! We're here!"

Just then, the two little ones ran into the store with their schoolbags on their backs.

He was panting heavily as he stared wide-eyed at the steaming basket.

"Steamed buns! Are they steamed buns?!" Lin Jingxing exclaimed in surprise.

"It must be! I can smell the aroma! Great, it's steamed buns! We're saved!" Lin Bingwen exclaimed excitedly.

"Slow down, why are you running so fast?" Meng Anhe entered the room, followed by Lin Zhiqiang.

"Mom, look! It's steamed buns! Those really, really delicious steamed buns!" Lin Bingwen exclaimed excitedly.

"Sister Meng, Uncle Lin," Zhou Yan stood up and greeted them with a smile.

Meng Anhe wore a long black coat today, and her hair was styled in an updo, making her look sophisticated and neat.

“Pretty auntie~~” Zhou Momo stood up and looked up at Meng Anhe, “You look so pretty today.”

"MoMo is so cute today too." Meng Anhe smiled, her eyes crinkling. The little one was tiny, but her words were so sweet, and her mood instantly brightened.

"Thank you~" Zhou Momo replied obediently.

"How about me? How's Uncle doing today?" Lin Zhiqiang straightened his black jacket and asked with a smile.

"Hmm... Uncle is quite clean." Zhou Momo thought for a moment and said:

Everyone present burst into laughter.

Lin Zhiqiang laughed the loudest. It's okay, he was praising his wife, so he was happy too.

For men, being clean is enough.

Daughters are so much better; little girls have such soft voices, they're so cute.

"Xiao Zhou, Sister Zhao." Meng Anhe greeted Zhou Yan and Zhao Tieying, smiling as she said, "The steamed buns are officially on sale today? These two little ones have been talking about it for days."

"Yes, we're officially opening for business today." Zhou Yan nodded with a smile. "This first batch is just for practice, so the appearance might be a little less appealing, but the taste won't be too different. It'll be ready soon. If you don't mind, Sister Meng, please join us."

“I don’t mind! I don’t mind! I love eating them all!” Lin Bingwen said eagerly.

“I don’t mind! I love all the steamed buns from Brother Yan’s shop!” Lin Jingxing nodded in agreement.

Meng Anhe smiled and said, "Of course we don't mind, but we have to pay. We can't just come here to eat for free every day."

“I won’t take the money. I’ve already made an agreement with the two little ones. If they call me ‘brother,’ they can come to my place for breakfast for free.” Zhou Yan shook his head with a smile, his attitude firm. “The two little ones can’t eat much.”

“Yes, this is my brother Yan!” Lin Jingxing nodded.

"This is my own brother!" Lin Bingwen had already hugged Zhou Yan's leg.

Meng Anhe looked at her two silly sons with a helpless expression. How could they have become so shameless?

"I've been thinking about it for days too. I love steamed buns, but the ones in the cafeteria are just so-so, and the ones at the bridgehead are even worse," Lin Zhiqiang said with a smile.

"Anhe, Zhiqiang, sit down, the buns will be ready soon," Zhao Tieying said with a smile. "Don't be shy, these two kids are very well-behaved."

"Okay." Meng Anhe replied with a smile, sat down at the next table, and looked at Zhou Yan, saying, "Little Zhou, Yao Yao said you bought an old house in Jiaozhou and are planning to demolish and rebuild it?"

“Yes, I bought an old house built during the Republic of China era. I want to tear it down and rebuild it to open a restaurant. I was also thinking of asking you for some advice when I see Sister Meng someday,” Zhou Yan replied.

Meng Anhe said, "I'm resting these few days. On Sunday, you can take me to take measurements, and then I'll give you a set of construction drawings. You can just build it according to those drawings."

　I'll add an extra chapter first, then write the full update! Please vote with monthly tickets!
　　
　
(End of this chapter)