1984: Starting from a bankrupt Sichuan restaurant

Chapter 277 Tsk, you're such a nice person (Bonus chapter for monthly votes: 285)

Xiao Lei and Zheng Qiang were both shocked to hear this.

"You're cooking two dishes by yourself? Master Zhou, you're so fierce!" Zheng Qiang exclaimed in surprise. "Master Yue only cooks one dish, ox head stew, right?"

"Which two dishes will Chef Zhou be making?" Xiao Lei asked curiously.

"One dish of braised beef, and one dish of snowflake chicken soup," Zhou Yan said.

"One cold dish and one hot dish, it's quite unusual to ask you to cook two dishes! You truly deserve to be called Master Zhou!" Zheng Qiang exclaimed in amazement.

Xiao Lei laughed upon hearing this: "As for cold dishes, there really isn't a better braised dish in Jiaozhou than Master Zhou's. Snowflake Chicken Noodles is a common dish in high-end banquets, and only Master Zhou in Jiaozhou can make it. So it makes sense. Master Zhou's irreplaceability is too high."

Lin Qing listened to their casual conversation and found it amusing. She then said, "That's right, that's exactly what we considered, which is why we asked Chef Zhou to cook two dishes."

"So what are we going to do with you later?" Zheng Qiang asked.

"Master Zheng is in charge of cutting the beef and plating it, while Master Xiao is in charge of killing the chicken." Zhou Yan assigned the already limited tasks to the two of them.

"Get it!"

The two nodded.

Lin Qing: "..."

Well, that's fine. Zhou Yan and his mother insisted on not charging him for the steamed buns they ate this morning, and they even invited him to lunch together, which they also definitely didn't charge him. What could he say?

When the store opened at noon, Zhou Yan put up a sign at the entrance saying that the store would be closed that evening.

Considering we're not open for business in the evening, we're not preparing much braised food today.

Unexpectedly, it sold out in noon.

The workers understood that since it was cold, they could pack the food first and take it home that evening without any problem.

Hearing that the restaurant wouldn't be open at night, the workers who had originally planned to come for dinner all flocked there.

Compared to usual, all kinds of ingredients sold out much earlier, and even the crucian carp in the fish tank did not survive.

Crucian carp is a barometer of Zhou Erwa's restaurant's revenue. The better the crucian carp with mint flavor sells, the better the business is. If customers really can't order any other dishes, the remaining crucian carp in the fish tank will be ordered.

Xiao Lei and Zheng Qiang were already used to it, but Lin Qing was a little shocked after watching the whole thing.

This morning we sold 500 steamed buns, 100 bowls of noodles, and dozens of bowls of braised beef. This afternoon, all 19 tables were occupied. We were busy until the kitchen ran out of ingredients and all the menus on the wall were moved to the clearance section.

How much money must that make?!

Lin Qing graduated from the mathematics department and is quick-witted.

The revenue from morning and noon alone is over four hundred.

Zhou Yan's menu prices are similar to those of large restaurants in Jiaozhou, but higher than those of typical rural restaurants, so the profit margin should be around 50%.

You must earn at least two hundred yuan a day!

Including dinner, it might reach 300.

A self-employed individual runs a small restaurant in a rural town, earning 300 yuan a day, and can become a 10,000-yuan household in a month.

Lin Qing was deeply shocked, and the way she looked at Zhou Yan changed.

Three years after graduation, his family had paved the way for him, and he could simply follow the established path to advancement.

But his monthly salary is less than fifty yuan.

The money Zhou Yan earns in one day would take him half a year to earn.
This truth left him momentarily dazed.

He works at the Municipal Economic Commission and usually comes into contact with Hong Kong and foreign businessmen who are worth millions or tens of millions of yuan. But that's because other countries and regions have developed their economies earlier and faster, so he doesn't feel much excitement.

But Zhou Yan is from Suji Zhou Village, and he is only twenty years old this year, even younger than him.

Because it's real, it's even more shocking.

No wonder there's been a surge in people leaving their hometowns to start businesses in the last two years; it's really easy to make money in this market since the reform and opening up.

Of course, despite his envy, his resolve remained firm.

He didn't return to Jiaozhou after graduating from the capital to just coast along; he came back with the ideal of contributing to the economic development of Jiaozhou, a small third-tier western city.

Money cannot test him at all.

"So you won't be running tonight?" Xia Yao and Wang Wei came to the restaurant specifically to ask Zhou Yan after they finished their walk to digest their food.

Zhou Yangang had just finished packing up his knives and was preparing to head to Jiaozhou when he nodded and said, "Yes, I don't know when I'll be back tonight. If you want to run, you can ask Uncle Lin to go for a run with you; he'll be there earlier."

"Okay." Xia Yao nodded, her voice soft and sweet. "Then, I wish you all the best."

Xiao Lei, Zheng Qiang, and Lin Qing were all dumbfounded: "..."

No, bro, you're eating so well?

"Wait a moment." Zhou Yan turned around, took a lunchbox from the counter and handed it to Xia Yao: "I left you a plate of braised vegetables and a plate of braised beef. I was originally going to have my mom give them to you, but I'm giving them to you now."

"There's even braised food! You're so kind. Thank you." Xia Yao happily took the lunchbox with both hands. "I'm off now."

"Goodbye." Zhou Yan smiled and nodded.

Xia Yao greeted Teacher Xiao and Aunt Zhao, then happily left with her lunchbox.

“Tell me, this is just your sister, not someone from the third generation,” Zheng Qiang said, looking at him.

"When are you having the banquet? Your master will host it for free, and he'll even cover all the food." Xiao Lei's eyes crinkled with laughter, his joy visibly evident. "It's still early, I haven't even graduated from university yet." Zhou Yan waved his hand, a smile playing on his lips.

"Still a college student! My goodness!" Zheng Qiang exclaimed in disbelief. "Teacher Zhou, it has to be you. Successful in both business and love. Tsk, you're such a good person."

"Tsk, you're such a nice guy," Xiao Lei said sarcastically.

"Tsk...how come it's different!" Lin Qing scratched her head: "Shouldn't it be: You son of a bitch, you still remember your old mother?"

"Hey! This tastes just right!" Zheng Qiang's eyes lit up, and he clapped his hands.

Xiao Lei looked at the two of them and curled his lips: "What's there to be happy about? Look at the girlfriend he found. She speaks softly and has a generous personality. In the future, Zhou Shi will be able to make the decisions in this family and will be a head of the family just like me."

"Uncle-Master, does your aunt talk to you like this at home too? I've been to your house before and eaten quite a few meals there." Zheng Qiang's expression was a bit strange.

“Look at you, you can’t just look at the surface of things, you can’t just look at what people say, you have to look at what they do.” Xiao Lei said seriously, “In our family, my wife makes the decisions on small matters, and I make the decisions on big matters. We agreed on our positions in the family a long time ago, otherwise I would not have agreed to get a marriage certificate with her.”

Zhou Yan pondered for a moment and asked, "Master, has anything major happened in your family all these years?"

Xiao Lei's expression froze instantly, and he coughed lightly: "Not yet, but it doesn't affect my status at all."

Hearing this, everyone couldn't help laughing.

"Don't spread rumors. We're just friends right now," Zhou Yan said as he pushed his bicycle out the door, taking the opportunity to clarify the situation.

“If you put it that way, then it’s highly likely that we’re more than just friends,” Zheng Qiang said.

“That’s what I said when I was dating my wife,” Lin Qing nodded. “Also, my wife spoke quite gently back then, and sometimes she would even speak in a low voice.”

"Look, everyone here is very experienced, you don't need to explain too much," Xiao Lei said with a smile.

Zhou Yan felt a little helpless and didn't bother to explain any further to them.

The three of them got on their bikes and followed Lin Qing towards Jiaozhou City.

Today's banquet is being held at the city guesthouse, which has a dedicated banquet hall for receiving guests.

Zhou Yan's basket contained a piece of beef and two chickens, placed separately on either side.

The beef is packaged in an insulated container and sealed to ensure cleanliness and hygiene.

Zhou Yan had washed his chef's uniform in advance. Last night, Aunt Zhao ironed it for him with an enamel mug until it was very crisp. He was wearing his corduroy jacket over it and leather shoes.

My hair has grown a bit longer than before, but it still looks neat and I look energetic. I'm planning to get a buzz cut later.

The advantage of short hair is that it is easy to wash and style.

In the dead of winter, without a hairdryer, long hair is not easy to dry after washing.

Zhou Yan cooks all day and also likes to go running. He has to wash his hair every day, otherwise it gets so oily that he can't stand it.

That's one of the advantages of being handsome; you don't need hair to enhance your looks, you're good-looking from every angle.

When he no longer needs to cook, he'll get a perm and dye his hair blonde, and let the old man reminisce about his youthful days.

The group chatted along the way and arrived at the guesthouse in about half an hour.

A red banner hung on the gate of the guesthouse, and a square of red paper with black characters read: "Warmly welcome Hong Kong and foreign businessmen to visit Jiaozhou for inspection, investment and business development!"

"It looks quite formal." Xiao Lei looked up at the banner, his tone tinged with emotion: "The last time I came to an occasion like this, I was with your master. I never expected that after ten years, I would be coming with my apprentice."

"After more than ten years away, you're still the same as before, Master Xiao?" Zheng Qiang said with a smile.

Xiao Lei nodded: "I was able to become a benchwarmer because of Teacher Zhou."

Zhou Yan silently turned her head away; she wasn't very familiar with them.

Two lousy guys.

He looked inside and saw some chefs in chef uniforms being led by staff towards the kitchen; they looked quite professional.

Lin Qing often came to discuss work and was familiar with the gatekeeper. After handing over the supporting documents, he led Zhou Yan and the others to ride into the guesthouse.

The bicycle was parked in the employee parking area.

"It's fine to park here, no need to pay." Zheng Qiang said with a smile, locking his old bicycle and Xiao Lei's together.

"The city guesthouse doesn't charge any fees, but you can't get in without a pass," Lin Qing explained with a smile.

Zheng Qiang said, "At Rongcheng Restaurant, you don't need to pay a parking fee if you eat there. Just show the receipt to the old man who watches the bicycles."

Lin Qing looked at Xiao Lei and said, "Master Xiao, you're in charge of killing the chicken. I'll take you to the slaughtering area. Their kitchen rules state that live poultry doesn't go into the kitchen; there's a special slaughtering area. Let's send this chicken over there to be kept there, and you can go and kill it when it's time."

“There must be a lot of good stuff locked up there. I want to go and see for myself and broaden my horizons,” Zheng Qiang said, picking up two live chickens from his basket with eagerness.

“There are indeed some good things there. There are two crocodiles in the tank, as long as this. Let me take you to see them,” Lin Qing said, gesturing.

“Then I’ll go take a look too.” Zhou Yan took out a basket containing a thermal box from another carrying basket and uncovered the gauze covering it.

Lin Qing handed a badge to Zhou Yan: "Master Zhou, you need to take the beef to the kitchen for storage first. This is your work badge. I just told my colleagues, and staff will come to pick you up soon."

"Okay." Zhou Yan took the certificate, looked at the three big characters "Chef's Certificate" on it, and casually tucked it into his chest. He could only wait here patiently.

“Master…” a voice sounded from behind.

Zhou Yan turned around.

"Zhou Yan! It really is you? What brings you here? Are you here to help your master carry things?" A short, stout figure strode forward, looking at Zhou Yan with surprise and delight.

(End of this chapter)