1984: Starting from a bankrupt Sichuan restaurant

Chapter 290 Wow~ So beautiful! (6k words combined)

The fatty meat is tender and juicy, with a rich, fatty aroma. The lean meat is soft and tender, not dry at all, and flavorful in every bite. The skin is slightly crisp and chewy, with a gelatinous texture that sticks to the lips. The aroma of the braising sauce permeates the meat. This braised pig's head is truly more fragrant the more you chew it, rich but not greasy.

Zhuang Huayu owns a shop that also sells braised meat, with braised duck as its specialty, and it is quite famous in Hong Kong.

But the old braising liquid in his shop, which was over ten years old, was really not as good as Zhou Yan's.

The aroma of the braising liquid is very rich and the layers of flavor are quite surprising. The braised pig's head meat tastes amazing after being put into this pot of braising liquid.

Of course, Zhou Yan's control over the heat was also quite superb.

Overcooking will result in a loss of texture, while undercooking will make it tough and difficult to chew.

It tests the experience of the braised food chef.

If this braised pig's head were served in his shop, customers would definitely love it.

Including the braised beef from yesterday, that's another dish that could be considered a signature dish.

The unit price would be at least two hundred.

At Zhou Yan's place, a serving of braised pig's head only costs one yuan.

The desire to recruit Zhou Yan reached its peak at this moment.

"Mmm, this braised pig's head smells so good, it's so juicy and flavorful, perfect for drinking with." Yao Licheng raised his glass. "Old Zhuang, come on, let's toast the old lady."

"Yes, let's toast the old lady." Zhuang Huayu raised his glass and toasted the old lady.

The old lady picked up her wine glass, took a sip, and said with a smile, "Don't be shy, treat me like you're at home. Eat and drink well."

"Okay." The two nodded with smiles.

Setting down his wine glass, Zhuang Huayu handed his chopsticks to the platter of braised vegetables beside him.

The braised vegetarian dish consists of four items: dried bean curd sticks, dried tofu, lotus root, and bamboo shoots. They are cut into small pieces and arranged in sections on a plate.

After tasting a piece of dried bean curd, Zhuang Huayu's eyes showed a hint of surprise. This braised vegetable dish must have just been taken out of the braising liquid not long ago; it was still warm.

The dried bean curd sticks are soft but not mushy, and they are soaked in the braising liquid. When you take a bite, the braising liquid bursts in your mouth, and the aroma of meat and beans blend together. Although it is a bean product, it tastes even better than meat.

Good heavens, if vegetarian diners found this out, they'd scream!

So delicious!
The amazing feeling it brought him even surpassed that of the previous braised pig's head.

Tofu skin is a bean product with a rather complex production process and a relatively high price.

But at Zhou Yan's place, braised tofu skin only costs 80 cents a pound.

It was so cheap that he found it unbelievable.

The quality of this dried bean curd stick is quite good. It has a golden color, a rich bean aroma, and does not fall apart or become too soft after being braised. It looks excellent.

A chef's skill level is also reflected in their ability to source ingredients.

Next comes a piece of dried tofu. This dried tofu is obviously made from large pieces of tofu that have been braised and then cut into long, thin strips. The bright red color fades from the outside to the inside, just enough to soak through.

The outer shell is slightly charred and fragrant, while the inside is as tender as dried egg, creating an extreme contrast in texture, paired with a rich braised aroma.

Whether eaten as a snack or enjoyed with drinks, it's absolutely amazing!
The quality of the dried tofu is beyond doubt; it and the dried bean curd sticks are likely from the same manufacturer.

The lotus root was crisp, with a good texture and taste, but it didn't have the same wow factor as the dried bean curd and tofu skin; it was just average.

Braised fresh bamboo shoots are not uncommon, but they should be winter bamboo shoots this season, right?

The notice board that was previously placed at the entrance announced a new product that was just added today: braised winter bamboo shoots, 80 cents a pound.

In Hong Kong, fresh winter bamboo shoots with their shells still on would cost over ten dollars per pound.

It's a pity that fresh goods can't be transported from Sichuan to Hong Kong, otherwise the profits would be enormous.

Click!

The fresh bamboo shoots have a crisp texture, and the unique sweetness of winter bamboo shoots blends with the aroma of the braising sauce, resulting in a refreshing and fragrant flavor.

good to eat!

Place this piece on a large white plate, then scrape two lines on the plate with sauce.

It's a trendy new dish from his fusion restaurant.

That's right, not a single piece more is acceptable.

"The vegetarian dishes are so well braised, especially the dried bean curd, tofu skin, and winter bamboo shoots. They were all braised in the same pot of braising liquid, but they have different textures and flavors." Zhuang Huayu looked at Zhou Yan and gave him a thumbs up. "From the selection of ingredients to the control of the braising heat, and the preparation and maintenance of the braising liquid, everything has been done to perfection."

"Mr. Zhuang, you flatter me." Zhou Yan smiled, picked up a piece of winter bamboo shoot and tasted it. The texture was crisp, refreshing and sweet, and it was indeed unique. Moreover, it was a winter limited edition, and it was no exaggeration to say that it was a high-end alternative to lotus root.

The price is twice that of lotus root, so kids who usually love lotus root will probably be deterred from buying it.

"Your old brine is so well aged, it must have been around for quite some time, right?" Zhuang Huayu asked curiously. "I also have a pot of old brine in my shop, it's been 18 years, mainly used for braising duck, but the flavor isn't as rich or fragrant as yours."

“This pot of old braising liquid was passed down to me by my grandmother; it’s been around for quite some time,” Zhou Yan nodded.

"Ah, it was raised by the old lady." Zhuang Huayu suddenly realized, picked up his wine glass and said, "Grandma, your braising liquid is so good, the aroma is rich and the taste is salty and delicious."

"Judging from your voice, you also own a restaurant?" The old lady picked up her wine glass, took a sip, and asked him.

Zhuang Huayu nodded with a smile: "Yes, I have six restaurants in Hong Kong, the longest of which has been open for twenty years. I love to eat, but after a while I felt there wasn't much good food left, so I started thinking about opening my own restaurant, and it's been open for more than twenty years now."

"Oh, that's definitely a big boss." The old lady nodded, then asked, "Is it easier to make money in Hong Kong than on the mainland? How much would a plate of braised pig's head like this cost in your shop?"

"We don't sell braised pig's head in our shop. In a regular restaurant, a serving of braised pig's head would cost around thirty yuan," Zhuang Huayu said.

"Thirty!" Aunt Zhao's voice trailed off, sounding somewhat shocked. "We only sell it for one dollar a serving in our shop! This one is thirty times more expensive! People in Hong Kong are really rich."

Others were also somewhat astonished. They all said that Hong Kong was rich and well-developed, but those living on the mainland had little contact with it and had no concept of it.

But a serving of braised pig's head that costs one dollar would sell for thirty dollars in a restaurant in Hong Kong, making the difference immediately apparent.

Only Zhou Yan remained calm. Zhuang Huayu was referring to an ordinary restaurant; if this pig's head meat were placed in his high-end restaurant, the price would probably be a hundred times higher.

Zhuang Huayu smiled and said, "Of course, the prices are higher, and the costs are also different. Whether it's the price of ingredients, shop rent, or employee wages, they are all much higher than on the mainland. The catering industry in Hong Kong is quite competitive, with chefs from all over the country showcasing their skills, creating a diverse and vibrant scene."

The conversation gradually picked up, with everyone chatting and eating as they ate.

Only Zhou Momo buried herself in eating fish, oblivious to everything around her, and never once looked up.

I served her a small bowl of boiled fish, and she slowly finished it.

I ate another piece of braised carp tail, and finished it all.

There was a small pile of fish bones in front of me, each one clearly visible.

Finally, we'll finish with two more pieces of braised vegetarian dishes.

He patted his round belly contentedly as he got off the table.

"Brother! The fish you made is sooooo delicious!" Zhou Momo sidled up to Zhou Yan, looking at him with adoration. "I'm so full! The fish smelled so good!"

"Go have some fun then?" Zhou Yan reached out and patted her head, saying with a smile.

"Mmm." Zhou Momo nodded obediently, ran to the side, picked up her sketchbook, and went behind the counter.

We ate every last bit of the big pot of boiled fish, the plate of braised grass carp tail, the braised pig's head, and the braised vegetables.

Everyone was very satisfied with the meal.

"This fish is cooked perfectly today. I'm so full even without rice." The old lady put down her chopsticks and nodded in satisfaction.

The old lady said it was good, so the fish must be delicious today.

Zhuang Huayu and Yao Licheng were a little embarrassed. Although they had restrained themselves from eating rice, the boiled fish kept coming, along with braised dishes and alcohol.

Saying you're not full is somewhat self-deceptive and also a bit disrespectful to the host.

But we've come all this way, and all we've eaten is fish and braised dishes.

They had discussed what dishes to order for lunch while looking at the menu.

Yao Licheng wanted to eat braised pork intestines and stir-fried pork liver, while Zhuang Huayu wanted to eat braised beef and shredded pork with garlic sauce, but they didn't get to eat them.

"Have you two eaten your fill?" Zhou Yan asked, looking at the two men.

“Uh…” Yao Licheng looked at Zhuang Huayu, “Old Zhuang, are you still hungry?”

"Burp~" Zhuang Huayu let out an untimely burp.

Yao Licheng's expression froze.

“Yes, we’re going to eat some more.” Zhuang Huayu was quite frank, nodding with a smile: “The driver hasn’t had lunch yet. He’s come all this way, so I’m thinking of having him eat with us. We’ll order a few more dishes and try Boss Zhou’s cooking.”

“Okay.” Zhou Yan nodded with a smile. This was similar to when he used to visit restaurants. He would travel a long way, and even if he couldn’t finish the food, he would still want to order some to try. If he liked it, he would pack it up and take it home.

These two big bosses are certainly not short of money.

The two returned to the next table and sat down. Zhuang Huayu went out and called the driver in to sit at the same table.

Aunt Zhao and the others cleared the table and wiped it clean.

Zhou Weiguo was going to the countryside in the afternoon, so he left after lunch. He didn't care about the economy and wasn't interested in these two big bosses from Hong Kong.

The old lady wasn't in a hurry to go back. She went to the door and sat on Zhou Momo's swing. The little one pushed her from behind, muttering, "Grandma! Sit tight, I'll swing you high!"

"Okay~ good boy, slow down." The old lady said with a smile.

Zhuang Huayu and Yao Licheng both laughed at the sight. Old Zhou carried the braised meat and vegetables one by one to the long table by the door, took out his gleaming cleaver, placed it on the cutting board, and stood motionless at the door.

"It's almost lunchtime, how come there isn't a single customer? Is business really that good?" Yao Licheng no longer doubted Zhou Yan's cooking skills, but he had doubts about the business.

Just then, the bell rang at the textile factory.

Then they saw textile factory workers pouring out of the gate, one of whom went straight into the restaurant.

Leading the group was a young woman wearing a gray wool coat, with her long hair tied in a ponytail, revealing a pretty and delicate face. She was tall and slender, wearing small leather shoes, and exuded an air of scholarly elegance while maintaining a fashionable sense of style.

Zhuang Huayu and Yao Licheng were both taken aback when they saw it. This kind of outfit is very common in Hong Kong and is considered a fairly ordinary office worker's outfit.

But this girl was very beautiful, elegant and poised.

"Zhou Yan." Xia Yao called out as she entered the room, then quickly walked to the counter and stretched out her hand from behind her back.

In her palm was a small silk purse, a delicate light green color, with beautiful patterns on it. On the front was a plum blossom, blooming quite brightly.

"This purse is so pretty, did you make it?" Zhou Yan's eyes lit up as she asked with a smile.

"I didn't make it, but I designed the pattern and used the jacquard technique. I made a sample piece of fabric, and I asked a lady in the workshop to help me make a small purse." Xia Yao smiled. "I plan to give it to Momo so she can have her own little wallet."

"Wow, that's amazing! It's gone from a design drawing to a real product. And the patterns and flowers look so beautiful, they have the artistic conception of Chinese painting, and the textures are very antique." Zhou Yan exclaimed, then looked up and called out to the door, "Zhou Momo, come quick! Your sister Yao Yao is giving you a purse."

Xia Yao smiled; he really understood her.

Zhuang Huayu and Yao Licheng also looked over, their eyes falling on the purse in Xia Yao's hand, revealing a hint of interest.

Jiaozhou Textile Factory is the leading enterprise in Jiaozhou's silk industry. They visited it by bus yesterday, but it was a bit of a whirlwind tour, and it wasn't much different from the silk factories in Guocheng.

The pattern on the purse in the girl's hand is indeed quite interesting. Zhou Yan's assessment is quite accurate. It has a bit of the artistic conception of Chinese painting, which is different from those monotonous big and small flowers and butterflies.

This girl looks quite young, is she a designer?
“The case is solved. His unwillingness to go to Hong Kong might not be just about money. When I was twenty, I had such a beautiful girlfriend, and I didn’t go anywhere else. I just stayed by her side.” Yao Licheng laughed. “My son has had so many girlfriends, but none of them can compare to this girl. She’s not only beautiful, but also poised and elegant.”

“That’s right, she has a scholarly air about her, most likely she’s from a family of scholars.” Zhuang Huayu nodded slightly. “She seems pretty capable. Lao Yao, doesn’t your company have a design department? Why don’t you poach this girl?”

Yao Licheng laughed upon hearing this: "Old Zhuang, your abacus beads are practically jumping into my face. I'm poaching her so you can poach Zhou Yan to be the head chef of your restaurant, right? You've got the emperor in your hands to command the princes, you've got it all figured out."

"If you don't want to, then what if I take a fancy to her talent later and poach that young couple? Then I'll suddenly have two more capable assistants under my command. Don't be envious, okay?" Zhuang Huayu laughed.

"Coming~ Coming~~" Zhou Momo called out from the doorway as she squeezed through the crowd, ran up to Xia Yao, and looked up at her expectantly: "Pouch? Sister Yao Yao, are they lotus flower buns?"

"No, it's a small wallet I gave you." Xia Yao held the rope, and with a swift movement, the purse landed in front of Zhou Momo. It was a small crossbody purse.

"Wow~~ So beautiful!!" Zhou Momo's mouth dropped open as she stared at the little pouch in front of her. After a moment, she looked at Xia Yao in disbelief and asked, "Sister Yao Yao, did you make this? Is it for me? Really?"

"It's a design and style by your older sister. It's a little gift for you. You can put your money in it when you go out to play." Xia Yao nodded, bent down and hung the strap on her shoulder. It was a small crossbody bag of just the right length.

A small purse the size of an adult's palm becomes a practical wallet in Zhou Momo's possession.

Zhou Momo picked up the small bag and looked at it again and again, her smile never fading. She put the bag down, rushed over and hugged Xia Yao's leg, saying softly, "Sister~ I love this bag so much! Love you~~"

"I love you too." Xia Yao smiled and patted her head. The little one's reaction was so cute, a warm and sincere response that was full of emotional value.

"Look! This is a purse that Sister Yaoyao gave me~~ Isn't it pretty!" The little guy let go of his hand and started showing off the purse everywhere.

"It looks great, it looks great." The guests who were asked nodded in agreement.

"Uncle, look! Isn't my purse pretty?" Zhou Momo strolled over to Zhuang Huayu and Yao Licheng's table, picked up her purse, and asked the two of them.

"Let me see."

"Let me see too."

The two of them actually came closer to take a closer look.

It's really beautiful!

The pattern and plum blossoms are paired in a very artistic way, not in a haphazard way. This small purse has the charm of a Chinese painting.

Although the details are not perfectly drawn, the charm is definitely there.

Zhuang Huayu and Yao Licheng exchanged a glance; this time, they were truly tempted.

This girl has great taste!
It's obvious that she has a background in drawing, and her skill level is definitely not low.

Such talent is rare in the design field.

"It looks really good." Zhuang Huayu nodded.

“That’s right.” Yao Licheng nodded in agreement.

The little one happily grabbed the purse and ran towards the door, calling out, "Grandma~ Grandma~"

"I'll go save a seat. I've arranged to have dinner with Wang Wei, and she'll probably be out in a while. You go ahead and do your work," Xia Yao said.

Zhou Yan smiled and nodded: "Go ahead, we have braised winter bamboo shoots today, I'll bring you a vegetarian platter to try later."

“Winter bamboo shoots! I love them.” Xia Yao nodded and sat down at the next table.

Zhou Yan turned and went into the kitchen, where customers had already started ordering.

"Old Yao, you just said you weren't hiring, so don't try to steal my people later," Zhuang Huayu said to Yao Licheng.

Yao Licheng said in a serious tone, "I didn't say that you just asked me to hire her. I think your suggestion is quite good. Our company does need a young and talented designer like her."

"Come on, the old rules, a fair and just duel." Zhuang Huayu raised his fist, ready to have a thrilling game of rock-paper-scissors with him.

Yao Licheng shook his head: "Don't rush. Shouldn't you find out more about her situation and interview her to see her true abilities before making a decision? Besides, she might not even want to go to Hong Kong."

“That’s true.” Zhuang Huayu withdrew his hand. “It’s understandable that people would be a little excited to encounter both the Crouching Dragon and the Phoenix Chick in a small town in the southwest.”

Yao Licheng was amused by his words.

When the two turned around, they were surprised to find the shop packed with people, and a queue had formed in front of the braised food stall at the entrance.

"No, how come it's full?"

"Why is there a queue?"

The two looked left and right, and saw that most of the people sitting there were workers wearing textile factory uniforms.

Zhuang Huayu's smile held a hint of bitterness. "I think we probably can't hold them off for three thousand."

“It’s unstoppable. No matter how low the average order value is, there are just too many customers.” Yao Licheng laughed as well. “If we hadn’t arrived first, I would have thought we were in a textile factory canteen.”

Braised lotus root is about to go out of season, and it's already selling like hotcakes.

Customers bought half a pound or a pound at a time, and by noon all fifty pounds of braised lotus root had been sold out.

The newly launched braised winter bamboo shoots were quickly sold out.

There were only five jin in total, and the guests, eager to try it out, each ordered two liang (100 grams) or three liang (150 grams), and it was gone in no time.

Everyone knows that winter bamboo shoots are expensive, so an 80-cent price is acceptable.

Zhou Yan's reputation is now deeply rooted in people's hearts; his old-fashioned braising liquid and braised pork skin are delicious.

Zhuang Huayu and Yao Licheng quickly ordered their dishes as well: braised pork intestines, stir-fried pork liver, three bowls of braised beef, shredded pork with garlic sauce, and a side of Mapo tofu for the driver.

"Give me another braised pig's trotter," Yao Licheng said. Although he was already a little full, he still couldn't resist the hot braised pig's trotter that had arrived on the next table.

"Old Zhuang, do you want to get one?"

Zhuang Huayu didn't want to eat it at first, but when he saw the steaming, plump braised pig's trotters on the next table, he couldn't help but swallow and nodded, "I want one!"

I guess I'll have to bear it; these pig's trotters are just too tempting to look at.

Longjiang braised pork trotters rice is a heavy, oily food that he has been unable to give up for many years. He eats it at least once a month, otherwise the craving will be unbearable.

In Longjiang, the braised pig's feet rice usually features the knuckle, but Zhou Yan's braised pig's feet are real trotters, and they're quite large, weighing over a pound.

The best part is that they're cheap, only 1.2 yuan each!
Where can I get a big pig's trotter for HK$1.20 in Hong Kong?

Zhuang Huayu looked at Yao Licheng and laughed, "You really love eating pig offal, don't you? Intestines and liver, how are you going to explain this to your wife when you get back?"

"If you don't tell me, and I don't tell you, how can you possibly tell whether she has connections in mainland China?" Yao Licheng said nonchalantly.

Zhuang Huayu shook his head: "Old Yao, you have severe fatty liver and high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and high blood sugar. You should pay more attention to it. We're almost fifty, so we should take care of our health."

Yao Licheng waved his hand: "Having made so much money, shouldn't I enjoy myself? At this age, I've long since given up on women. This is all I like. You still need to have some hobbies while you're alive, right?"

“That makes sense.” Zhuang Huayu smiled as well.

At the next table, Xia Yao and Wang Wei's braised pig's trotters and braised vegetable platter had already been served.

The hot braised pig's trotters were split in half, and the two girls each took one half and started eating.

Half of the braised vegetable platter consisted of winter bamboo shoots, which were dyed a bright red color and had a slight golden sheen.

"Zhou Yan is so good to you, he even brought us a braised pork trotter." Wang Wei took a bite of the pig's trotter, leaned forward, and whispered, "Yao Yao, are you two dating?"

"Huh?" Xia Yao was stunned for a moment, still chewing on a pig's trotter, a blush rising on her cheeks. She shook her head: "No."

"Saying no while blushing is more convincing than saying yes." Wang Wei sighed, looking at Xia Yao with heartache: "Such a fine cabbage, snatched away by Zhou Yan."

Xia Yao was amused by her and whispered, "Weiwei, we really don't."

"What will you do after your internship ends? You still have six months before graduation, which means you'll have to be in a long-distance relationship for another six months. Are you going to work in a textile factory after you graduate? You're so talented, I think it's a waste of your talent to work in a textile factory." Wang Wei wasn't listening to her and was already seriously considering her situation, a faint worry appearing on her face.

　There will be an extra chapter tomorrow morning~~ No need to wait.

　　Going to bed early really does prevent headaches~ Everyone who voted for me should get some rest.
　　
　
(End of this chapter)