1984: Starting from a bankrupt Sichuan restaurant

Chapter 273 "From Beginner to Burial" (6k words, two chapters combined)

"This is it! It's my godmother's restaurant! Their steamed buns are so delicious! Let me tell you, I can eat three in one sitting!"

"My brother is right! I can eat two!"

Lin Jingxing and Lin Bingwen, along with five or six primary school students, pointed to the stacks of steamers outside Zhou Erwa's restaurant and said with considerable pride.

"Really?"

"It tastes better than the steamed buns in the factory canteen?"

"If you're lying, Lin Jingxing, you're a dog!"

Several boys looked at the steamer, eager to try it out.

Following behind were Lin Zhiqiang, Meng Anhe, and several parents of the children.

They all lived in the same residential compound, were leaders of a textile factory, and their children were about the same age. They would play together after finishing their homework, and their parents were also quite familiar with each other.

The others were somewhat surprised to hear what the two children said.

"Director Lin, have you adopted guardians for these two children?" Deputy Director Niu from the office asked curiously.

The others also looked at Lin Zhiqiang and Meng Anhe, all of them somewhat curious.

Lin Zhiqiang became the deputy factory director at a young age. He had studied abroad and was technically skilled. After arriving at the textile factory, he took the lead in overcoming several technical difficulties and created great benefits for the factory. Everyone said that in two years, when Director Wang retired to the second line, Lin Zhiqiang would definitely be promoted to the position.

Meng Anhe is no ordinary woman either; she's a true powerhouse. As the vice president of the provincial architectural design institute, she oversees major projects and is always provided with a private car to pick her up and drop her off when traveling to and from Chengdu.

These two usually live a secluded life, and apart from being close to Director Zhao Dong of the silk reeling workshop, they only nod and greet each other politely.

How did you suddenly become related to the owner of Zhou Erwa Restaurant this week?

"Yes, the two children have recognized the boss's wife, Sister Ying, as their godmother." Lin Zhiqiang nodded with a smile, but didn't explain much more.

Actually, the couple didn't know that the two kids had brought the other kids from the courtyard to eat steamed buns today. When they went downstairs and saw a group of children waiting at the entrance of the courtyard, wanting to eat steamed buns together before going to school, they found it a bit funny.

"Alright, I just became her godmother yesterday, and I'm already bringing her business today," Meng Anhe whispered, covering her mouth.

"The key is that they don't take advantage of others." Lin Zhiqiang laughed along, "These two kids are quite good at interpersonal relationships."

"Godmother! Brother Yan!" Lin Jingxing and Lin Bingwen entered the store and greeted Zhao Tieying and Zhou Yan first.

"Oh, Jingxing and Bingwen are here! Come on in and have a seat. These steamed buns are just coming out of the oven," Aunt Zhao said cheerfully, inviting the two to sit down.

"Godmother, we brought the kids to eat steamed buns for you." Lin Jingxing said proudly.

"Hello, Auntie!" The children greeted Aunt Zhao one after another.

"Oh, hello everyone, hello everyone, please have a seat too." Aunt Zhao was overjoyed.

"Not bad, you two." Zhou Yan couldn't help but laugh when he saw the parents following behind. These two kids really didn't eat the steamed buns for nothing.

"Brother Yan, where's Momo?" Lin Jingxing asked.

"Coming, coming~~" Zhou Momo came out from behind the counter, carrying her bowl and running over, her two little braids swaying back and forth, her eyes full of cuteness: "Is dinner ready?"

"Look! This is my sister, isn't she cute?" Lin Jingxing proudly introduced her to his friends.

"so cute!"

"She's so tiny!"

The young boys and girls nodded in agreement, looking at Zhou Momo with curiosity.

"This is also my sister!!" Lin Bingwen added proudly.

Jingle bell bell~!

The alarm clock next to me went off.

Aunt Zhao reached out and turned off the alarm clock, then opened the steamer lid.

The steam, carrying the aroma of meat buns, wafted out, half of it going outside and half of it rolling into the restaurant.

"Wow! It smells so good!"

"Gulu~~"

The children's eyes lit up immediately, and some even couldn't help but swallow.

As soon as the parents arrived at the restaurant entrance, they stared intently at the steamer basket.

Inside the steamer, steaming buns, their white dough glistening with a little oil, and filled with bean sprouts and meat, exuding the aroma of wheat, wafted out with the heat. On a cold winter morning, who could resist such a treat?

They couldn't help but swallow hard.

"Oh my, these buns look really good, with pickled mustard greens and pork filling. I heard them talking about them the other day, but I haven't had a chance to try them yet." Director Niu, a balding and overweight middle-aged man, exclaimed, "I have to have a good taste of them today."

"It's pretty good. It's my first time eating here, and I ate five." Lin Zhiqiang nodded with a smile.

"Sister Ying, we're here again." Meng Anhe had already entered the store, took out a delicate little box from her handbag, and handed it to Zhao Tieying, "A little gift for you."

"Anhe, what gift are you going to give me? I haven't prepared anything." Zhao Tieying quickly waved her hand.

“When the two children are getting to know each other, we won’t go through those complicated formalities, but we as parents should still show our appreciation.” Meng Anhe said with a smile, “It’s a silk scarf. I bought it at a trade fair when I went to Guangzhou for a meeting last time. It’s just a small token of my appreciation.”

Zhao Tieying rubbed her hands on her apron several times before taking the box with a smile. "Then I'll accept it," she said. "You picked it out, it must be beautiful. I'll knit you a scarf later too."

Meng Anhe thought of the six-fingered gloves and quickly shook her head: "No need, you're so busy at work every day, just rest after get off work."

Zhou Yan noticed Meng Anhe's predicament and smiled as he continued, "Sister Meng, how many steamed buns do you want to eat today?"

Meng Anhe looked at him and said, "I'm not eating steamed buns today. I want a bowl of braised pork rib noodles with less chili. I have to go to Rongcheng after I finish eating, and if I eat too much oily food, I'll feel uncomfortable on the way. Just give each of them two steamed buns first, and you can add more if they're not full."

Lin Zhiqiang said with a smile, "I need four. I need to inspect the workshop this morning for routine maintenance. I have to keep an eye on it the whole time. It's physically demanding, so I need to be prepared."

"Okay, I'll serve you." Zhou Yan nodded with a smile, then looked at the guests who followed in, "Please have a seat, everyone. Would you like steamed buns or noodles?"

"Steamed buns! Hot steamed buns!"

"Old man, I want three!"

Before the parents could even speak, the kids had already eagerly blurted out their answers.

"Then let's eat steamed buns. Give him three, and I'll take four," Director Niu said with a smile.

The others also ordered food with smiles on their faces.

“Okay, please sit down, I’ll serve you.” Zhou Yan replied, packing the buns while instructing Aunt Zhao to light the stove next to them and start steaming the next batch of buns.

The steamed buns were originally intended for their own breakfast, but Lin Jingxing and Lin Bingwen's group of children and parents bought them all at once.

Fortunately, Li Lihua and Zhao Hong's steamed buns are now of a very high standard and presentable to the public.

"Mmm! This steamed bun is so delicious!"

"It smells so good! Lin Jingxing wasn't lying! These buns are much better than the ones in the factory canteen."

The children have already started eating the steamed buns, and they are full of surprises.

"I told you they were delicious! When have I ever lied to you?" Lin Jingxing said proudly. "These are steamed buns made by my brother Yan!"

"That's right, that's right, my brother Yan is an amazing cook!" Lin Bingwen nodded in agreement.

Director Niu picked up a steamed bun, took a bite, and his round face lit up instantly. This steamed bun smells so good!
He looked down at the half-eaten bun in his hand, the bulging bean sprout and meat filling almost overflowing. The bun skin was very thin, the meat filling had both lean and fatty parts, and the bean sprouts had absorbed all the oil, glistening with an enticing sheen.

"Oh my, these bean sprout and pork buns are absolutely delicious! The bean sprout and pork filling smells so good, the dough is soft and fragrant, and the skin is so thin while the filling is so generous!"

Director Niu swallowed the bun in his mouth and couldn't help but exclaim in admiration.

"Delicious! The taste is absolutely fantastic!"

"The steamed buns in the factory canteen are soggy and don't taste as good as these freshly steamed hot buns."

"No wonder Director Lin's two children can't forget him."

The others also praised it repeatedly.

Aunt Zhao listened with a beaming smile; these factory leaders really knew how to speak nicely.

The steamed buns had just been steaming for a short while when Luo Weidong, the head of the security department, with dark circles under his eyes and half a cigarette between his fingers, came over with an officer and asked Zhou Yan through the steamer, "Xiao Zhou, are the steamed buns ready yet?"

"It's only been steaming for a little while, it'll take about ten minutes," Zhou Yan said. "Section Chief Luo, would you like to wait a bit, or should I bring it over to you later?"

"Okay, then bring them over to us later. We're having an early meeting." Luo Weidong took out his wallet and said, "We need thirty-two. You can pack them in bags of four. That's a lot of money."

“Thirty-two, four yuan and eighty cents,” Zhou Yan said.

Luo Weidong handed the money to Zhou Yan and then greeted a familiar manager in the store.

"Section Chief Luo, the thief still hasn't been caught? Judging from your appearance, you probably stayed up all night again yesterday," Director Niu asked casually, munching on a steamed bun.

Upon hearing this, everyone else also looked at Luo Weidong, their faces showing the same concern.

"Damn it, these petty thieves are still somewhat wary." Luo Weidong's smile revealed a hint of helplessness, and his bloodshot eyes could not hide his fatigue. "You guys take your time eating, I'm going back to the morning meeting."

"Okay," Director Niu replied.

“These thieves are really bold, stealing from a textile factory. I heard the losses are quite significant, with two machines being damaged.” Director Niu gritted his teeth and said, “It has affected our production plan, so they should be severely punished.”

"Director Lin, have those two machines been repaired?" someone asked Lin Zhiqiang.

"We've already requested the parts from the manufacturer and sent a special vehicle to pick them up. If all goes well, they should be back in the next couple of days. We can only start repairs once they arrive," Lin Zhiqiang said.

"These guys are reckless. They still dare to come out and steal. If they get caught, they'll be in big trouble."

"Everyone knows that our textile factory is very profitable, and you can make a lot of money by stealing even a little bit of stuff, so some thieves will take the risk."

"We still need to be careful. I heard that two female workers had their bags snatched on their way home from get off work a couple of days ago. It was dark, and they were wearing hoods, so I couldn't see who it was."

The group ate breakfast and discussed the matter in hushed tones.

After listening for a couple of minutes, Zhou Yan went into the kitchen to make noodles.

He also had to be careful about this. Those thieves who dared to steal from the textile factory right under the noses of the security department were probably not simple.

However, their restaurant was next to the security guard post, which should be the safest place in the entire textile factory.

He also needs to be careful about theft and robbery.

When running at night, you need to plan your route carefully and go to places with lots of people. As soon as it gets dark, you have to take Xia Yao back to her dormitory.

He wasn't afraid of being alone; he took off running, and most thieves probably wouldn't be able to catch him.

But Xia Yao is different.

Zhou Yan didn't want her to be in any danger.

I put that matter aside for now and focused on making ramen.

Li Lihua was still making steamed buns nearby, and there weren't many left, so she was in charge of finishing them up.

"Boss, with so many steamed buns made today, will you be able to sell them all?" Li Lihua asked.

"A good start today, I think the chances are pretty good," Zhou Yan said with a smile.

The children brought by Lin Bingwen and Lin Jingxing bought out a whole basket of steamed buns, and Luo Weidong bought more than a basket. This was a huge success right from the start, everything went so smoothly.

Even if we sell all 500 buns, there's still hope.

"His business is too good to be true! Students and their parents come to eat here, and the security department orders basket after basket. How much money must he make in a day?" He Ermao looked at Zhao Hong carrying a tray and delivering the portioned buns to the security department with a face full of envy.

He hadn't even opened for business yet, and Zhou Yan had already sold out three baskets of steamed buns.

This gap...

I feel terrible and want to cry.

"This family is really something." Liu Fen's expression was also somewhat complicated.

Wang Laowu has a sharp tongue. Ever since Zhou Yan's restaurant opened, he has been gossiping and talking badly about him behind his back.

However, Zhou Yan is truly extraordinary. The restaurant was on the verge of collapse when he jumped into the river to save the factory manager's niece. It was as if he suddenly had a breakthrough, and he switched to making noodles, which revitalized the restaurant.

They had been running their stall for two years, but he managed to drive them out of business.

Unexpectedly, when they asked He Ermao to make steamed buns, they bumped into him again.

The saying "enemies are bound to meet" is absolutely true.

"So, how are we going to sell these three hundred buns we made today? Should we hawk them here, or go directly to the bridgehead?" Liu Fen asked He Er Mao.

"Let's skip it today and avoid his brunt. I'll steam a hundred and send them to the bridge to sell. You wait about ten minutes and start steaming the second batch. I'll come back and get them." He Ermao watched as the opposite side gradually filled with customers. "Tomorrow, I'll make the beef buns. I'll show him what a real pastry chef is!"

"Okay, whatever you say." Liu Fen nodded and started the fire.

That's one good thing about He Ermao; he knows how to respond to different situations.

Unlike Wang Laowu, that stubborn old mule who wouldn't turn back even after hitting a wall, and insisted on going against Zhou Yan.

If we had set up the stall at the head of the stone bridge from the beginning, we wouldn't have had to go through all that trouble of carrying steamed buns back and forth in a tricycle.

These buns taste even better if they're fresh out of the steamer.

He Ermao loaded the steamed buns onto the tricycle, and Liu Fen helped carry them.

“Here, you can have the first one.” He Ermao lifted a corner of the steamer, took out a bun, and handed it to Liu Fen.

Looking at the steaming buns, Liu Fen shook her head and said, "I'm not hungry. I'll keep these buns to sell."

“You can never earn enough money. You have to eat this first bun first. A hot bun will warm you up.” He Ermao shoved the bun into her hand and said with a simple smile, “Besides, you need to be full to have the energy to work.”

Holding the hot steamed bun, Liu Fen watched He Er Mao ride away on his tricycle. She turned her face away and silently wiped away her tears. She took a bite of the bun and couldn't help but smile.

That idiot, how come he's different?

Wang Laowu always eats the best things for himself first; he would never think of her.

In this world, no one has ever cared for her, and no one has ever been so kind to her.

Liu Fen sat in front of the stove, eating steamed buns one bite at a time, staring blankly at the leaping flames in the stove, lost in thought.

After two days of positive word-of-mouth, coupled with Momo's authentic mukbang video last week, Zhou Erwa's steamed buns have seen a surge in popularity today.

"No more noodles? How about three steamed buns?"

"I'd like two steamed buns. There's no room left. Just pack them up for me, and I'll eat them."

Zhou Yan's strategy of reducing the amount of noodles also achieved good results.

As he expected, customers who didn't get noodles opted for steamed buns instead, and almost all of them ordered at least three.

The steamed buns in the steamer were sold out before the work bell rang.

[Ding! Side quest: Sell 1000 bean sprout and pork buns, complete!]

[Received the book "From Beginner to Burial"]

[Due to the high efficiency in completing the task, a hidden reward has been triggered: Sweet Potato Congee]

Zhou Yan came out of the kitchen carrying a bowl of noodles, and a notification sound was already ringing in her ears.

Become!

It also comes with a recipe for sweet potato porridge.

"Sweet potato porridge? This hidden reward is too random, isn't it?" Zhou Yan raised an eyebrow, his expression a little strange.

Sweet potato porridge is probably the most common type of porridge on the Sichuanese dining table. Compared to plain white porridge, porridge with sweet potato is more likely to make people feel full.

In other words, it means being full.

Porridge is a common breakfast dish for people all over the country.

In Zhejiang Province, there is a way to eat white porridge with sugar, Guangxi has a distinctive sour porridge, and Northeast China's corn porridge is mainly for filling the stomach.

When it comes to congee, the most delicious options are found in Guangdong province, such as boat congee, clay pot congee, and pork offal congee, all characterized by their freshness, sweetness, and variety.

Okay, let's make a recipe based on the high and low prices.

When the steamed buns went on sale, some customers did ask if they could be served with congee.

However, whether or not to put sweet potato porridge on the menu, and how to price it, are things Zhou Yan really needs to seriously consider.

Porridge with sweet potato shouldn't be more expensive than steamed buns with meat, right?

However, if a customer orders congee, they will have to eat at least one less steamed bun, and they will also have to sit down to eat it, further squeezing out the space for customers eating noodles.

From an economic perspective, this sweet potato porridge is not suitable for the time being.

Let's treat this as a technical reserve and talk about it later.

His gaze fell on the book "Baozi from Beginner to End," and he was somewhat looking forward to seeing what flavors of baozi this recipe would offer.

"Sold out! All five hundred buns for today are sold out." Aunt Zhao counted the money, her expression revealing her excitement.

The guests arrived so quickly and in such a dense crowd that they didn't even have time to eat breakfast, so they gave the steamed buns to guests who needed them.

"Come on, we're not having steamed buns today, we're having noodles," Zhou Yan said.

Zhou Momo ran over and looked at him expectantly.

"Stop looking, you've already eaten two steamed buns, you're full." Aunt Zhao put the money box on the counter, walked over and sat down, smiling as she spoke to her.

I picked up my chopsticks and slurped up a big mouthful of noodles. After a busy morning, I was indeed a bit hungry.

"Can I have a piece of pork rib, okay, Mom?" The little one came over and hugged her arm, acting all cute and affectionate.

"Here, have some." Aunt Zhao put a piece of pork rib on her plate.

"Thank you, Mom~" The little guy came over, blew on it, and then picked it up with his hands and went to eat it on a small stool.

"That guy and Wang Laowu's wife are really flexible. They made three trips back and forth carrying steamed buns, with only short intervals between each trip. It seems he's doing quite well selling them at the bridgehead," Aunt Zhao and Zhou Yan said.

Zhou Yan laughed and said, "For Sun's Steamed Bun Shop, the steamed buns made by professional pastry chefs are a game-changer, and they definitely can't compete with them for business."

"That Wang Laowu is living a comfortable life, sitting at home like a boss with his legs crossed, while his wife and others help him make money. They probably earn ten yuan a day, which is no less than what he used to earn selling noodles," Aunt Zhao said with a sneer.

“He’s not worried about the money at all. Judging from the way those two are acting, Wang Laowu is practically green with envy,” Zhao Hong laughed. “I even saw her wiping his sweat this morning. She’s really not shy at all.”

“Right, I think they’re acting strange too.” Aunt Zhao nodded in agreement.

"Will they get divorced? A couple in our village just got divorced last month," Li Lihua joined the gossip.

Zhou Yan was eating noodles and watermelon at the same time. He was busy in the kitchen and didn't see anything.

He was also quite curious about which direction this matter would take.

Wang Laowu turned a blind eye and stayed at home content to be a cuckold, and the three of them lived a good life.
Will they still have a huge fight and go their separate ways?

After breakfast, Zhou Yan went upstairs to collect his reward.

Upon opening "From Beginner to Burial," a flood of information rushed into Zhou Yan's mind. He lay on the bed with his eyes closed.

When he opened his eyes again, his expression was a mixture of joy and melancholy.

This recipe does indeed cover a wide variety of steamed buns, from pickled mustard greens and pork buns to regular pork buns, braised beef buns, and even Tianjin Goubuli steamed buns, Jingjiang crab roe buns, Kaifeng soup dumplings, Cantonese char siu buns, Shanghai pan-fried buns, and Yunnan crispy buns...

That's incredibly complete.

but……

He locked it!

Currently, only four types of buns are available: fresh pork buns, braised pork buns, beef buns, and cowpea and pork filling buns.

The status of other buns is displayed as: Go to the origin to unlock.

Emmm...

Let's say we lock half of it.

The conditions aren't too demanding; you just need to go to the origin to unlock it.

However, given the current level of transportation convenience, it's uncertain when all of them will be unlocked.

Fortunately, the various types of steamed buns that sell well in Sichuan were directly made available to him.

The beef buns are even divided into spicy beef buns and braised beef buns, which is quite detailed.

As for buns like crab roe buns, even if you unlock them for him, it won't make a difference.

Even setting aside supply chain issues, once it's actually made, it might not sell well.

It's good, it's enough!

Zhou Yan blinked, digested the recipes for several types of steamed buns, and then went downstairs to make braised dishes.

Lin Qing came over in the middle to confirm some details of tomorrow's banquet with him.

Tomorrow morning, Lin Qing will come to the hotel to go with Zhou Yan to buy beef and supervise the whole process. He will stay at the guesthouse tonight.

Zhou Yan had no objection to this, since it wouldn't affect his selling breakfast and lunch tomorrow.

These staff members are indeed quite busy and have a tough time planning these events.

Tomorrow he plans to show off his fresh meat buns and spicy beef buns, giving He Ermao a little surprise.

It would be best if he could back down when things got tough, since the main strategy was to suppress him anyway.

The ingredients for these two types of buns are easy to obtain; there's no need to search for them separately.

Today we sold 500 steamed buns, and the revenue from steamed buns alone reached 75 yuan, which is equivalent to the revenue from selling noodles before.

I've been busy, but I've certainly earned a lot.

It's better to be busy.

……

　Asking for a monthly ticket~
　　
　
(End of this chapter)