1984: Starting from a bankrupt Sichuan restaurant

Chapter 266 The eldest and second eldest brothers fight, and the third eldest suffers (6.5k words, two chapters combined)

This is probably how girls' friendships are built.

Zhou Yan looked at Huang Ying and Xia Yao, who were chatting away at the door, and couldn't help but smile. Girls like her always manage to win people's favor.

"Sisters, you two can chat for a while, I'm going to work," Zhou Momo said as she slid off the stone bench.

"what?"

"work?"

Huang Ying and Xia Yao looked at the little guy with puzzled expressions.

"Brother, I want a meat bun!" Zhou Momo ran up to Zhou Yan and held up her little hand.

"Okay, I'll pack it for you." Zhou Yan replied, took out her special small bowl, and picked up a bean sprout and pork bun from the steamer for her.

The little one had already run to the side, moved her little stool out, and placed it in front of the notice board. Then she ran over and took the steamed bun from Zhou Yan's hand, obediently sat down on the little stool, and focused on eating the steamed bun.

Xia Yao and Huang Ying were stunned. When they figured out what she was doing, they couldn't help but laugh.

So the little guy eating steamed buns at the door is considered working!
"Boss Zhou, you're a real talent!" Huang Ying couldn't help but exclaim. Compared to Huang Bing, who rode his motorcycle through the streets and alleys, Zhou Momo was much more endearing.

I can't help but take a second look when I pass by the restaurant.

Watching her eat steamed buns and gnaw on pig's trotters is so tempting. She holds them with her two little oily hands and eats with such focus and seriousness. Whether she likes them or not is written all over her face. No need for any extra explanation.

"It's her hobby; I just provided her with a platform," Zhou Yan explained earnestly.

Xia Yao and Huang Ying couldn't help but laugh when they heard this.

"Boss, two steamed buns, please!"

"Boss, I'd like a bowl of noodles and a steamed bun."

As it approached the start of the workday, customers began to arrive one after another. Huang Ying chatted for a few minutes before going inside to eat steamed buns.

"Then you go ahead with your work, I'll go to my office to draw some diagrams," Xia Yao said to Zhou Yan with a smile.

“Okay.” Zhou Yan nodded, lit the fire in the other pot, told Aunt Zhao to watch the fire, and then turned and walked towards the kitchen.

In no time, the restaurant was filled with customers.

People were eating steamed buns and noodles, busy as bees.

After a day of positive word-of-mouth, the bean sprout and pork buns at Zhou Erwa Restaurant saw a surge in popularity this morning.

The meat buns cost 15 cents each, which is 5 cents more expensive than those in the factory canteen, but they are the cheapest item at Zhou Erwa's restaurant.

Female workers with smaller appetites can be full after eating two or three.

Of course, there's no limit to how much one can eat if they have a big appetite.

For example, Director Zhao Dong, who was treated by his nephew today, has already eaten five bean sprout and pork buns. He picked up the sixth one while burping and nodded repeatedly, saying, "Awesome! These bean sprout and pork buns are so fragrant. The dough is soft and fluffy, and the stir-fried bean sprouts and pork are even more delicious. They taste so oily and fragrant!"

"Uncle, you have an even bigger appetite than me!" Huang Bing was somewhat shocked; he couldn't eat any more than four.

“This is nothing. Back when I was carrying bags in the workshop, I could eat five or six steamed buns this big. This bun is mostly filled with meat, so it’s nothing,” Zhao Dong laughed, looking at the steamed bun in his hand with some emotion. “It’s not like that now. I can only eat three old-fashioned steamed buns at most. I can’t fit any more.”

"Uncle, does Grandma like steamed buns? Should we bring her a couple later?" Huang Ying asked.

Zhao Dong nodded and said, "I didn't even realize it until you mentioned it. Your grandma really likes these steamed buns and mantou. Her hometown is Yibin, so she'll definitely love these pickled mustard green and pork buns. If you're going to visit her, bring her a couple."

“Okay, we’ll bring it to her after she’s eaten.” Huang Ying nodded.

Compared to the packed business at Zhou Erwa Restaurant, He Ji Steamed Bun Shop remained deserted.

"What the hell? What's so special about Zhou Yan that all the customers flock to him?" He Er Mao was furious. Unwilling to sit idly by, he tore open a bun, walked to the stall, and started shouting at the top of his lungs: "Fresh pork buns! Fresh pork buns! Thin-skinned and generously filled fresh pork buns! Hot, fragrant buns! Fifteen cents each, and they taste absolutely delicious!"

The loud shouts did attract some attention, but the customers continued to flock to Zhou Erwa's restaurant.

The herd effect was so strong that nobody went this way.

After all, customers have to consider why so many people eat the steamed buns at Zhou Erwa Restaurant, and why no one eats the steamed buns at He Ji Steamed Bun Shop.

At the same price of 15 cents each, what reason is there to give up Zhou Erwa Restaurant, which has such a great reputation?

This is why you often see two shops selling the same things next to each other, one bustling with customers while the other is deserted.

Today, Aunt Zhao was too busy to even bother with his sales pitches, as she was simply too preoccupied with serving buns to the customers.

When the four baskets of steamed buns sold out, the six baskets next to them were just cooked. They were opened and put on sale, while another stove was lit and four more baskets were put on to steam.

He Er Mao was envious, and even after shouting until his voice was hoarse, he still couldn't attract a single customer, which made him increasingly anxious and frustrated.

"Have some water. This can't be rushed. Once customers decide their food is good, it's hard to attract them by shouting unless you lower the price." Liu Fen handed him a glass of water, her attitude much more relaxed.

Having gone through it once, I've come to terms with reality.

“Lower the price…” He Ermao, still holding the water, looked indignant. “Why do I have to lower the price to sell it, while he can sell it for 15 cents?”

Liu Fen hesitated and said, "Could it be that his pickled mustard greens and pork buns do taste better?"

He Er Mao fell silent upon hearing this, took a couple of sips of tea, and said in a slightly hoarse voice, "How about we go buy one and try it?"

"Are you going or should I go? We've become mortal enemies, I'm too embarrassed to go," Liu Fen said, looking at him.

He scratched his head awkwardly, looking a little embarrassed.

"A price reduction?" Liu Fen asked.

"Lowering prices again would be pointless. Yesterday you said it was a grand opening sale, and today you're saying it's another grand opening sale? Wouldn't that make you a laughingstock? Doing business is about making money. What's the point of being a philanthropist if you can't make money?" He Ermao shook his head, his tone firm.

"One flavor can't beat him, so next Monday I'm going to make three flavors of buns to compete with him! I don't believe that the workers don't get tired of eating pickled mustard greens and pork buns every day. I'm going to make beef buns and cowpea buns. I don't believe they won't want to eat them when they smell them."

"So... what should we do with all these steamed buns today?" Liu Fen asked, looking at him.

He Ermao put the cup in his hand on the stove. "I'll take these four baskets to the bridge to sell while they're still hot. You steam the rest of the buns. I'll come back to get them after I sell these four baskets. We can't waste any more today. Let's make money from these two hundred buns first!"

"Okay." Liu Fen nodded, her eyes also full of enthusiasm.

He Ermao and Wang Laowu are indeed different. If it were Wang Laowu, he would definitely have already started lowering the price. If he couldn't sell it for 15 cents, he would sell it for 10 cents, and if he couldn't sell it for 10 cents, he would sell it for 8 cents.

He was willing to do anything to prove Zhou Yan right.

Liu Fen tried to persuade him, but instead got scolded.

He Ermao is resourceful and adaptable.

Yes, people go out to do business in order to make money.

You can't do business well if you're always watching what others are doing.

Such a simple truth, yet she and Wang Laowu couldn't understand it before.

He loaded the steamer onto the tricycle, covered it with a tattered cotton cloth, and rode off on the tricycle.

"Huh? You're up so early today?" Aunt Zhao peeked out and looked on, somewhat surprised.

She was already prepared for the other side to start drastically lowering prices again, using all sorts of fancy sales pitches, or even directly arguing with her.

This guy is quite different from Wang Laowu.

He Ermao rode his tricycle to the bridgehead and stopped directly in front of Sun's Steamed Bun Shop. He opened the steamer lid and started shouting to attract customers.

"Young man, you're here again. Give me two more steamed buns, these are really good." The old man from yesterday, carrying groceries, came over as soon as he heard the call, and said while taking out his money.

"Okay, thank you, sir." He Ermao smiled as he took the money, put another bun into the oil paper bag, and said in a slightly lowered voice, "I'll give you an extra one."

"You're such an honest and kind person." The old man laughed, took out a steamed bun, took a bite, and exclaimed, "Oh my! This steamed bun is full of meat filling, thin skin and lots of filling, it's absolutely delicious!"

The old man's praise was more effective than He Ermao's shouts, and immediately many people, whether they were setting up stalls or buying vegetables, came over to buy steamed buns.

He Ermao came to sell it yesterday, and many people who tried it said it was good.

Anyway, it's better than Sun's steamed buns across the street. You can't even find meat filling in Sun's buns. Buying meat buns is like eating steamed buns – it's a waste of time.

Upon hearing this, the customers who were originally buying steamed buns from Sun's shop all turned around and walked towards He Er Mao's shop.

"Old man, he's here again!" Sun Laosan's fat son said anxiously.

"You little bastard! Where did you drag these buns from? You're here to steal our business!" Sun Laosan, wearing an apron and holding a lump of dough in his hand, glared at He Ermao through gritted teeth.

"What happened? He snatched all the customers?" Fatty looked at the customers surrounding He Er Mao buying steamed buns and whispered, "Old man, did I really put too little meat in my buns?"

Sun Laosan rolled his eyes at him: "What do you know? If we put too much meat in, how are we going to earn money to get wives for you three brothers!"

The chubby boy shrank back, not daring to speak.

Sun Laosan stared at He Ermao for a while, then whispered, "He looks unfamiliar to me. When he rides away on his tricycle, follow him and see where he got the steamed buns from and what his background is."

"Okay." The chubby boy nodded.

The hundred steamed buns that He Ermao brought were quickly sold out.

I arrived earlier than yesterday, right at the busiest time of the market. There were many parents dropping off their children for school, and customers crowded around, scrambling to buy things.

Although they were sold out in small quantities (one or two at a time), the sheer number of people meant they sold out quickly, leaving many without being able to buy any.

"Don't rush! Wait ten minutes, I'll go get another hundred steamed buns! They're all freshly steamed, hot buns, guaranteed fresh and delicious!" He Ermao called out, then hopped on his tricycle and headed towards the textile factory. He was finally experiencing what Zhou Erwa's restaurant was like—customers flocked to buy, and everyone who ate said it was great. It was a truly wonderful feeling!
In the kitchen of Rongcheng Grand Hotel, he was an inconspicuous pastry chef. When important guests came, he didn't even have the chance to cook, let alone hear their praise.

But in this small town, the guests who think it's delicious really mean it.

Of course, if someone finds the food unpalatable, they can be quite scathing in their criticism. For example, he was given a severe dressing-down yesterday.

"Sold out?" Liu Fen looked at He Ermao, who was riding back on a tricycle, with some surprise.

"Yes, they're all sold out. Are the remaining buns ready?" He Ermao nodded with a smile.

Liu Fen nodded: "They were just steamed. I counted them, one hundred and twenty."

“I’ll carry it and then haul it to sell. You come with me to collect the money.” He Er Mao carried the empty steamer down and then loaded the steamed buns onto the tricycle. He smiled at Liu Fen and said, “Get on, I’ll take you to experience what it feels like to have customers scrambling to buy.”

"Okay." Liu Fen picked up the money box, smiled, and got into the tricycle.

"Once we're done selling them, tell Wang Laowu we sold 150 today. We'll split the extra ten yuan each," He Ermao said to Liu Fen as he pedaled his tricycle toward the bridge. "I guarantee I'll sell them all today!"

Liu Fen watched his retreating figure, a slight smile playing on her lips, and softly hummed in agreement.

He Ermao's round trip took exactly ten minutes, and there were still guests waiting in the same spot.

He lifted the quilt, opened the steamer, and started selling steamed buns while calling out his wares. He was doing quite well.

Liu Fen was careful; she took 10.5 yuan and put it away first, then put the rest of the money into the money box, her smile never fading.

He Ermao wasn't bragging; his steamed buns were indeed quite popular. He just happened to run into Zhou Yan at the entrance of the textile factory.

Fatty returned to the steamed bun shop and whispered to Old Man Sun, "They set up a stall at the entrance of the textile factory, it's called something like He Ji Steamed Bun Shop."

Old Sun's eyes widened, his face full of confusion: "Why is the steamed bun stall outside the textile factory setting up in front of our shop instead of outside the factory?"

"It seems there's a Zhou Erwa restaurant across from their stall that also sells steamed buns. It's doing really well; workers line up to buy them," Fatty said, scratching his head.

"Even someone as good as him can't outsell us? Does he think we're easy to bully?" Old Sun got angrier and angrier. He took out three cents and handed them to Fatty: "Go buy two steamed buns and try them. I want to see how he makes these buns. Why have all our regular customers left?"

Fatty responded and went to buy two steamed buns. He handed one to Sun Laosan, took one and took a bite. His eyes lit up immediately: "Delicious! You can taste the meat in one bite! And the meat tastes so good."

"Shut up!" Sun Laosan glared at him, then picked up a steamed bun and took a bite. His expression immediately became somewhat complicated.

Sun Laosan looked down at the bun, took another bite, looked down again, took another bite, looked at the half bun left in his hand, sighed and said, "If it were me, I would also think we should buy this bun. It tastes much better than ours."

"Where are you going?" Sun Laosan asked, watching the chubby boy turn and walk towards the door.

"I'm still hungry, go buy two more," the chubby boy said without turning his head.

"I really gave birth to a son of a bitch like you!" Old Man Sun was furious.

Fatty came back with two steamed buns, handed one to Old Man Sun, and asked curiously, "Old man, you said his steamed buns are so delicious that he has to come all the way to our bridge to sell them. How delicious must the steamed buns at Zhou Erwa's restaurant be?"

Sun Laosan, who was biting into a steamed bun, was stunned when he heard this, and his eyes widened.

The chubby boy continued, "I estimate the gap is quite large, perhaps as big as the difference between us and them. Otherwise, with so many workers in the textile factory and such high wages, why wouldn't they just sell at their stalls? Why would they make the products and drag them to the bridgehead to sell them?"

"Wow, you're quite something, kid. You can even think of these things." Old Sun looked at him with surprise.

"Old man, I'm just fat, not stupid," the chubby boy said helplessly. "Tell me, if our customers knew that the steamed buns outside the textile factory tasted even better, wouldn't our business be even harder to do?"

"Damn it! He can't beat Zhou Erwa's restaurant, so he's come here to bully us! When the eldest and second eldest fight, the third eldest suffers!" Sun Laosan sighed upon hearing this, looking at He Ermao and Liu Fen who were already preparing to close up shop outside, and felt that the steamed buns in his hand no longer tasted good.

He Ermao handed the last steamed bun in the steamer to Liu Fen, smiling and saying, "I'm not selling the last one, you can have it. You must be tired after a busy morning."

"Brother Er Mao, you eat, I'm not hungry. You're the one who's really tired from running back and forth." Liu Fen shook her head, her smile filled with sweetness and joy. "Great, all two hundred-plus buns sold out today! Business is much better than at the textile factory gate."

“That makes sense, but we can’t give up the stall at the textile factory entrance. Otherwise, Wang Laowu will be watching us every day, which is really annoying.” He Ermao grabbed Liu Fen’s hand and stuffed the bun into her hand, saying gently, “Eat it. I’m not hungry. I ate the bun I just tore open.”

"Okay." Liu Fen nodded, blushing as she took a bite of her steamed bun. She looked up and saw Wang Laowu walking towards her. Her expression immediately became flustered, and she whispered, "Wang Laowu... he's here."

"Come on then, what's there to be afraid of?" He Ermao laughed.

"Keep the money with you first, so he won't search my pockets when he gets back." Liu Fen moved closer to him, stuffed the money she had previously collected into He Er Mao's hand, then stepped back a little and continued eating her steamed bun.

"This guy even searched you? He's not a real man!" He Ermao said angrily after hearing this.

"You spendthrift woman, you're eating the buns that were meant to be sold!" As soon as Wang Laowu arrived, he saw the half-eaten bun in Liu Fen's hand and immediately cursed angrily.

“I gave it to her, so what are you cursing about!” He Ermao stepped forward, blocking Liu Fen’s way, and said, “She’s been busy since this morning, and after selling everything, there’s only one bun left. Why can’t she eat one? Wang Laowu, I’ve discovered that you’re a real miser, not giving a penny away.”

"Sold out?" Wang Laowu glanced at the empty steamer, then smiled again. "It's good that it's sold out, it's good that it's sold out. I was just worried that you, Brother Ermao, would feel like you'd lost out."

After saying that, he immediately picked up the money box from the tricycle, counted the money, and his smile became even brighter: "Not bad! Not bad at all! Yesterday we broke even, and today we really made money!"

"Did you make a lot?" He Ermao asked.

Wang Laowu's eyes darted around, and he said with a smile, "I made... about four yuan. That means each of us can get two yuan."

"More than that, right? One hundred and fifty buns, sold for more than twenty-two yuan, and you only made four yuan? You can't fool me!" He Ermao glared at him. "I know how much meat costs and how much flour costs per pound, you can't fool me."

"Really? Let me calculate again..." Old Wang's expression changed slightly. He counted again and said with a smile, "I've calculated it. I think there's about eight yuan to be made. We can each get four yuan."

"That's more like it," He Ermao finally nodded.

"Come on, let me go buy some meat." Wang Laowu pulled Liu Fen to buy some meat, and whispered, "Did you sell 150 steamed buns?"

Liu Fen nodded: "Yes."

“Selling steamed buns is not bad. It’s only just started, and he’s already making four yuan a day, which is 120 yuan a month. It’s not worse than selling noodles. He Er Mao is quite capable, but he’s a bit reckless. He didn’t even realize I’d taken 50 cents from him.” Wang Laowu rubbed his hands and laughed.

Liu Fen glanced at him, her eyes filled with disgust and mockery, wondering who the real brute was.

Wang Laowu returned carrying meat, and He Ermao, carrying a bottle of wine, smiled at him and said, "Wang Laowu, have a couple of ounces when you get back at noon."

"Sure!" Old Wang grinned from ear to ear, he was sure he'd drink the free wine.

……

"All three hundred or so steamed buns are sold out, and so is the dough. Customers bring in other customers. Making these steamed buns is tiring, but they really sell well," Aunt Zhao said with a touch of emotion as she looked at Zhou Yan coming out of the kitchen.

"Of course! People love to join in the fun. The busier the store, the more people are tempted to spend money," Zhou Yan said with a smile. Zhou Erwa Restaurant was also brought to another peak period of customer traffic by the steamed buns.

The last time there was such a strong driving effect was when braised dishes were first introduced.

"Did they take their steamed buns to sell elsewhere again?" Zhou Yan asked with a smile, glancing at the empty steamed bun shop across the street.

"He was dragged away early this morning. This guy is more decisive than Wang Laowu." Aunt Zhao nodded, then lowered her voice a bit and said, "However, I think there's something going on between him and Wang Laowu's wife."

"Right, right! I don't think it's quite right either!" Zhao Hong joined the group chat, gossiping, "When that man was making steamed buns, he often peeked at Wang Laowu's wife. Wang Laowu's wife would serve him tea and water, always smiling. But when she was with Wang Laowu, I never saw her smile."

"Not only that, I saw she also wore blush today, and her lips were painted red too. Do you believe she's putting on makeup for Wang Laowu?" Aunt Zhao added.

Zhou Yan and Zhao Hong both shook their heads.

All three of them simultaneously revealed meaningful smiles.

This class is really interesting; there's even this kind of gossip to be had.

He glanced at the quest progress: [Side Quest: Sell 1000 bean sprout and pork buns. 512/1000]

The progress is encouraging.

This task will be completed in two more business days.

Tomorrow I'm going to take measurements at the old house; the renovation of the old house has now entered the design phase.

……

"Oh dear, this Wang Laowu doesn't look tall, but he's incredibly heavy to carry." He Ermao and Liu Fen worked together to lift the drunk Wang Laowu onto the bed. Both of them were panting heavily, and when their eyes met, the atmosphere suddenly became a little unsettling.

“Liu Fen…” He Er Mao grabbed Liu Fen’s hand, “I… I like you.”

"What nonsense are you talking about? I have a husband! I'm a traditional woman." Liu Fen blushed, quickly waved her hand, pulled the blanket over Wang Laowu, and looked away.

He Ermao grew anxious and pointed at Wang Laowu, who was snoring on the bed, saying, "What's so good about an old bastard like Wang Laowu? He's lazy and good-for-nothing, he beats and scolds you. A good woman like you would suffer every day with him! If you come with me, I'll give you all the money to manage. You can buy whatever you want and spend it however you want..."

"Stop talking..." Liu Fen interrupted He Er Mao and turned her head away.

“I know you’re a traditional woman, but I like women like you. If you’re willing to come with me, I’ll take you away, far away. I have skills, and you’re hardworking. We’ll definitely make a good life together.” He Ermao took out a handful of money from his pocket and stuffed it into Liu Fen’s hand. “You and Wang Laowu still don’t have a child. It must be that bastard’s fault. If we’re together, we can have a baby. That’s better than anything else.”

Liu Fen looked at the money in her hand, then looked up and said, "Too much..."

“It’s all yours. I told you, you can manage all my money.” He Ermao got up and walked out: “I won’t force you. Think it over slowly and then tell me.”

Liu Fen sat on the edge of the bed, clutching the money in her hand, lost in thought for a long time. Looking down at Wang Laowu, who was snoring loudly on the bed, she became angrier and angrier. She raised her hand and slapped him hard twice.

Wang Laowu sat up, grimacing, and looked around blankly, asking, "What...what happened?"

"There was an earthquake, but it's nothing serious, go back to sleep." Liu Fen pressed him back down.

The snoring started again soon after.

……

　There will be another update later.

　　
　
(End of this chapter)