1984: Starting from a bankrupt Sichuan restaurant

Chapter 323 Ah Wei, Don't Humiliate Yourself (6k-page compilation)

The little guy learns quickly. Now, he learns one poem a day in the literacy class and another poem a day from Xia Yao, and he can recite them all from memory.

He was a top student in the literacy class, which put pressure on and cast a shadow over the illiterate aunties and uncles in the class.

The teachers in literacy classes nowadays always say things like, "Look at Momo! She's only three and a half years old. You've all eaten more salt than she's eaten rice, how come she can't even remember a poem like 'Quiet Night Thoughts'?"

"Look at your handwriting! It looks like earthworms crawling in the grid. Look at Momo's handwriting, so neat and orderly, she's even practiced her pen strokes!"

"Tieying, you should still study hard with Momo at home. If you don't understand something, ask Momo to teach you. Don't be embarrassed to ask just because you are her mother. In terms of learning, she is your teacher."

If the little guy weren't only three and a half years old, and not so cute and sweet-talking, he would definitely be targeted in the literacy class.

Aunt Zhao was too embarrassed to say these things when she came back.

She didn't say anything, but Zhou Momo's little mouth kept chattering away.

Now, when regular customers walk into the restaurant, besides asking if the dishes they want are still available, they also ask about her academic progress.

In middle age, people also begin to experience the days when their grades are being scrutinized.

Aunt Zhao was thinking about how to get Zhou Momo to talk less about literacy classes with guests in the future, or even just talk less about her.

"Aunt Zhao, did you get your little red star yesterday?" Huang Ying asked with a smile as she entered, her face full of concern.

“Studying is not easy. I couldn’t get the red hearts drawn by the teacher back then, so sometimes I would draw two on myself and I would get chicken legs when I got home.” Huang Bing nodded as he followed him in.

Aunt Zhao: "..."

Well, well, even the little kids are starting to care about her studies.

“There are no little red stars, but Mom was praised by the teacher yesterday. She said her handwriting was neater than the other students’.” Zhou Momo chimed in.

Aunt Zhao's lips curled up slightly; the teacher had praised her quite a bit this week.

Zhou Momo continued, "But Teacher Wang also said: Tieying, when you get home, ask Momo to teach you to practice your handwriting again, so that you can write neatly and beautifully."

The little guy stood with his hands behind his back, mimicking the teacher's speech in a very serious and methodical way.

Huang Ying and Huang Bing burst into laughter.

Ah Wei brought out the noodles and was overjoyed to hear this.

Well, this little guy really dares to say anything.

When Huang Ying saw Awei, she smiled and said, "Awei, make me two ounces of dry noodles."

"Ah Wei?" Huang Bing looked Ah Wei up and down, somewhat surprised. "This is the new apprentice in the shop? He looks quite old."

"What do you mean 'not young'? Are you being polite? I'm only twenty-one! What an impudent fellow." Ah Wei rolled his eyes and emphasized seriously, "Besides! I'm not an apprentice, I'm a chef! Even a kitchen helper is a chef!"

Huang Bing chuckled upon hearing this and turned to Huang Ying, asking, "Huang Ying, what do we call a kitchen helper at this restaurant?"

“Apprentice,” Huang Ying said.

The two looked at each other and then burst into laughter.

Ah Wei: "..."

Damn, we've found someone who knows what they're doing.

"Ah Wei, I'd like three liang (150ml) of beef noodles, with extra chili," Huang Bing said.

"Okay!" Ah Wei replied, turning and walking towards the kitchen.

"This Ah Wei is quite interesting," Huang Bing said with a chuckle.

Huang Ying also laughed and said, "It's quite interesting. It's the Kong school. Masters Kong Huaifeng and Kong Qingfeng are his great-grandfather and great-uncle. Boss Zhou has swung his hoe at Leming Hotel."

"The Confucian school? Then they must be quite skilled." Huang Bing said thoughtfully.

“Boss Zhou has such high standards. The restaurant is doing so well and he’s only now starting to hire chefs. Anyone who isn’t capable would definitely not catch his eye.” Huang Ying sat down, took out her water bottle and took a sip, then continued, “I came to eat lunch yesterday, and the efficiency of serving dishes was noticeably improved. This Ah Wei is quite skilled; at least he’s good at chopping and preparing dishes.”

Huang Bing looked at the menu on the wall. "Look, they've added a few new dishes. How's the braised pork intestines and blood tofu?"

"It's so delicious! I want to order another serving for lunch today!" Huang Ying said without hesitation. "The pork intestines are braised, but they should be braised separately. When they're coated in the special sauce made with blood tofu, they taste even better than braised pork intestines! And the blood tofu is even better. It's more tender than tofu. You can eat it with rice, soup and all. You can eat one without making a sound."

"Gulu."

Huang Bing swallowed hard; he was already starting to crave it.

"No, I think I should come here for lunch. I haven't tried several of the new dishes, and I'm tired of eating braised pork every day."

"You have to deliver vegetables at noon, how will you have time to eat?" Huang Ying's eyes darted around, and she said with a smile, "Brother, how about you give me some delivery fee, and I'll bring you vegetables in a thermal container?"

"Really?" Huang Bing's eyes lit up upon hearing this, somewhat tempted, but he quickly became wary again, saying, "The moment you call me 'brother,' I know it's not for anything good. Tell me how much the travel fee is?"

Huang Ying smiled and said, "We're like siblings, how can we be so formal? A dish costs five cents, and the maximum is two dollars a day."

"Damn! You're so greedy!" Huang Bing gritted his teeth. "If you were to open a shop like this, it would definitely be a rip-off!"

Huang Ying pouted: "Fine, I don't care if I don't eat it. Anyway, I can eat it every day. I'm helping my mom now, and I earn two yuan a day. I'm not short of money."

Braised pork intestines and blood tofu, twice-cooked pork, shredded pork with garlic sauce... I eat a different kind of food every day. I've even started eating with Sister Yaoyao; we eat lunch together every day now, so we can have a couple more dishes.

Huang Ying was talking enthusiastically, and Huang Bing struggled for a moment before finally giving in: "Then I'll bring a serving of braised pork intestines and blood curd for lunch today."

"Okay, I'll bring you one too." Huang Ying nodded with a smile. "My father ordered a plate of salted braised pork belly, and my mother ordered a plate of shredded pork with garlic sauce. I'll bring them both."

"Huh? You even make money off your parents?" Huang Bing looked at her in shock. "One yuan and fifty cents a day! That's much easier than what I earn!"

Huang Ying smiled slyly: "There's nothing we can do about it. Some people make money through physical strength, while others make money through their brains."

Huang Bing decisively said, "Then I'll go home for lunch today and mooch off my mom and dad's shredded pork with garlic sauce and braised pork belly."

Huang Ying said, "Then you should keep an eye on the time. The old man will definitely not be polite to you. If you come back late and the old man eats your pig intestines and blood curd, don't blame me."

"Don't worry, I'll be the most enthusiastic about eating," Huang Bing said confidently.

"Master Zhou, what's the background of that round-faced girl and the blond guy next to her?" Kong Liwei asked Zhou Yan as he entered the kitchen.

"It's a trade secret, I can't disclose it," Zhou Yan said casually, tossing his ramen noodles.

"Huh? You're afraid I'll steal your customers?" Kong Liwei asked, puzzled.

Zhou Yan looked at him and said, "Then you must swear to me that you will not reveal any inside information or news about the catering industry that you learn at Zhou Erwa's restaurant to any outsiders, or you will never find a wife and will remain a bachelor for the rest of your life."

"Such a vicious oath?" Kong Liwei glanced sideways.

“There’s no way around it, that’s how business is. Even if you’re my son, I still have to be wary of you,” Zhou Yan said seriously.

"Wait a minute, what do you mean by 'even if I'm your son'?" Kong Liwei tilted his head and looked at him.

"Let me give you an example, if you were my son."

"There's no such 'what if,' don't make wild assumptions!" Kong Liwei emphasized, "Okay, I swear: 'I guarantee I won't reveal a single bit of any insider information or news I learn about the catering industry at Zhou Erwa's restaurant to any outsiders, or I'll never find a wife and remain a bachelor for the rest of my life!' Is that okay now?"

Zhou Yan said, "Huang Ying and Huang Bing's family owns a restaurant; Jiaozhou Feiyan Restaurant belongs to their family."

"Huh? Huang Xiaoji is their old man?" Kong Liwei stared, his mouth agape in shock.

"Shout louder!"

Kong Liwei shut up immediately, but was still somewhat surprised: "So they come to eat here every day? They ride their bikes all the way from Jiaozhou to eat here? Are they here to steal our skills?"

Zhou Yan looked at him: "You've been eating here for a month, do you think you'll understand what's going on?"

Kong Liwei thought for a moment and shook his head.

"This is called a distinguished monthly VIP. Be more respectful when you see them in the future," Zhou Yan reminded him.

"Oh..." Kong Liwei nodded, seemingly agreeing.

Feiyan Restaurant and Leming Restaurant were equally famous in Jiaozhou and had been rivals for decades. As a direct disciple of the Kong school, I had often heard the nickname "Little Yellow Chicken" from my elders' casual conversations.

"So the young lady of Feiyan Restaurant seems to have a pretty good temper," Kong Liwei muttered to himself.

"What? Don't you want to work hard anymore?" Zhou Yan looked at him and smiled.

"No! I am a disciple of the Kong School. Even if I die, I will never have anything to do with Feiyan Restaurant in this lifetime." Kong Liwei shook his head seriously: "When we are out in the world, we have to follow the code of honor. I can work at Zhou Erwa Restaurant, but I absolutely cannot go to Feiyan Restaurant."

Zhou Yan smiled, at this inexplicable feud between the martial arts world.

Around 10 o'clock, Huang Bing arrived at the restaurant entrance on time on his motorcycle, carried the box into the restaurant, and packed the two boxes of braised meat that Zhou Yan had prepared into the box.

Huang Bing was wearing a black leather jacket and a black hood, revealing only his eyes and mouth, and he was also wearing sunglasses.

Kong Liwei, watching from the side, clicked his tongue in amazement: "Dude, do you really need to wrap up a piece of braised meat so tightly? Anyone who didn't know better would think you were going to rob a bank."

Huang Bing, who had been keeping a straight expression, was amused by this and grinned, showing his big teeth: "Awei, you're a bit funny."

"Huh? Who are you?" Kong Liwei was a little confused.

"Let's go." Huang Bing paid the bill, picked up his suitcase, went out, put it in the two baskets hanging on the back of the motorcycle, twisted the throttle, and sped off.

"Huang Xiaoji's son?" Kong Liwei belatedly realized, looking at Zhou Yan, "Isn't it him? The voice! The height! It's definitely him, and he's riding a Jialing 70 motorcycle! There aren't many like that in the whole of Jiaozhou, are there?"

“Yes, it’s Huang Bing. That was the first Jialing 70 in Jiaozhou.” Zhou Yan nodded with a smile. Awei helped out at the shop every day, so this couldn’t be kept secret, and he didn’t intend to hide it anyway.

Kong Liwei was stunned for a moment, then his mouth gradually widened as if he had discovered a new continent: "Holy crap! You supply the braised meat for Feiyan Restaurant! They get their signature braised beef from you?"

Zhou Yan smiled and nodded.

"Holy crap! This is a huge secret! A lot of customers are coming to Feiyan Restaurant specifically for their braised meat. In the past two months, Feiyan Restaurant has reintroduced its braised meat series, and they've attracted many customers away from Leming Restaurant." Kong Liwei scratched his head. "If this news gets out..."

“If this news gets out, you’ll be a bachelor for life,” Zhou Yan chimed in.

Kong Liwei: "..." "Damn! That's vicious!"

"No wonder you said it was a trade secret!"

"You let me know about this and then expect me to keep it to myself? Are you even human?"

Ah Wei was filled with mixed feelings at this moment, with the excitement of discovering a big secret and the torment of not being able to share it with anyone.

It's so painful!
Zhou Yan looked at him with a smile and said, "Feiyan Restaurant is one of our big clients. They need dozens of kilograms of braised meat every day. They even pay your salary. Do you think this matter can be leaked?"

"Aren't you supposed to be all about honor and code of honor? If you make money off someone, shouldn't you keep it a secret?"

Kong Liwei nodded, his expression somewhat complicated, and said, "That makes sense."

Zhou Yan nodded: "As long as you understand, that's fine. As chefs, we just need to focus on making the dishes well."

"That's right." Kong Liwei nodded, glancing at him. "But... you're the boss, aren't you?"

"do not mind the details."

Kong Liwei was silent for a while, then suddenly asked curiously, "Did Feiyan Restaurant get its supplies from your grandmother? There were twenty years in between when your grandmother stopped making and selling braised beef, so Feiyan Restaurant's signature braised beef was removed from the menu?"

Zhou Yan smiled without saying a word, neither admitting nor denying.

Kong Liwei had already gotten the answer from his silence, and shook his head repeatedly: "This Huang Xiaoji and his father are really businessmen, they can even come up with such tricks! The braised meat that made Leming Restaurant lose its head back then was not made by Feiyan Restaurant itself!"

“The Huang family has never had a chef, and those who run a successful restaurant have never been chefs,” Zhou Yan said with a smile.

Kong Liwei paused for a moment, then nodded: "That's true."

“Of course, except for me,” Zhou Yan added.

“Teacher Zhou, when it comes to shamelessness, you’re the one!” Awei said sincerely.

Zhou Yan went next door to check on the progress. The rooms on the second floor had been partitioned off, but the doors and windows would have to wait until the walls were dry tomorrow before they could be installed.

He got smarter and bought the doors from Liu Huaqiang. He also bought two beds, all of which were from clean sources. The price was more than half cheaper than ordering new ones, and he didn't have to wait for the construction period.

The kitchen renovation was proceeding smoothly. When Zhou Yan came over, Zhang Yong pulled Zhou Yan aside to confirm the dimensions and location again, and offered some suggestions. After discussion, they finalized the plan.

"Master Zhang, you can have lunch at the shop," Zhou Yan said.

"Great!" Zhang Yong and his apprentice smiled. Of all the work they had done, the best food was from Boss Zhou.

Not only does it have meat at every meal, but it's also incredibly delicious.

The meal cost about the same as their wages, based on the prices on the menu.

The restaurant's staff lunch service had just ended when Huang Ying arrived with a thermal lunchbox. She first reserved a seat and then, together with Zhou Yan, ordered three dishes to be packed up.

"Huang Ying, that's impressive! You've even taken on a side job as a food delivery driver." Zhou Yan said with a smile as he took the insulated lunchbox from her.

"Five cents for a dish, not bad, right?" Huang Ying said with a smile.

Ah Wei was a little shocked: "Is there really such a good thing? Or should I deliver it for you?"

Huang Ying laughed and said, "Awei, you can't be ugly and dream big. I had a hard time getting this kind of good thing."

"What if Zhou Yan delivers it?" Awei protested.

“I’ll add another fifty cents to his account,” Huang Ying said without hesitation.

"Huh?" Ah Wei looked hurt.

"Awei, don't humiliate yourself." Zhou Yan reached out and patted Awei on the shoulder.

"That's too much!" Ah Wei turned around and went into the kitchen angrily.

Huang Ying reserved a spot first, and when Xia Yao came out, she immediately stood up and waved to her.

Lin Zhiqiang also came out early today, so he sat down to eat with us.

Lin Zhiqiang sat down and said with a smile, "I'll treat you two little ones to lunch today. Order whatever you like."

"Really?"

"Thank you, Uncle Lin!"

The two were delighted to hear this and immediately ordered food.

"I'd like a serving of braised pork intestines and blood curd." Lin Zhiqiang ordered a dish without hesitation.

Huang Ying thought for a moment and said, "Then I'll order a double-pepper minced beef. I want to try the joy of minced beef with braised pork intestines and blood curd mixed rice."

Lin Zhiqiang's eyes lit up upon hearing this: "Huang Ying knows how to eat. She sounds reliable. Isn't this an upgraded version of Mapo Tofu with meat sauce? I'll have to try it later."

Xia Yao ordered another dish of stir-fried cabbage with pork cracklings and a dish of braised beef.

They chatted idly while waiting for the food to be served.

When the braised pork intestines and blood curd were served, Lin Zhiqiang glanced at them and nodded repeatedly: "This braised pork intestines and blood curd looks so authentic! Last time I went to Dayi on a business trip, there were many small restaurants there that used braised pork intestines and blood curd as their signature dish. They made it this way, with blood curd and pork intestines mixed together, but the presentation wasn't as good as Zhou Yan's."

"Then I'll mix it first." Huang Ying picked up the spoon and mixed the pork intestines and blood curd from bottom to top. The red oil and seasonings evenly coated the pork intestines and blood curd, giving them a bright red sheen that looked particularly tempting.

Mixing is also a skill; once the dishes are on the table, Zhao Hong has to remind everyone to mix them from the bottom up.

If it's not mixed evenly, this braised pork intestines and blood tofu dish is already half ruined.

Huang Ying's cooking skills are quite good; after mixing, the blood curd is basically intact.

Lin Zhiqiang couldn't wait to pick up a piece of pork intestine that he hadn't been able to eat yesterday. The pork intestine, coated in red oil, was steaming hot and looked very tempting.

It's soft and chewy at first bite, bursting with spicy and savory flavors, and with each chew, the aroma of braised meat slowly releases.

The rich layers of flavor provide an extremely satisfying experience for the taste buds.

"This pork intestine is absolutely amazing! It has a much richer flavor than braised pork intestine; it's a completely different experience," Lin Zhiqiang couldn't help but exclaim.

Xia Yao originally wanted to pick up some blood tofu, but upon hearing this, she also picked up a piece of fatty intestine.

Before she came to Sichuan and Chongqing, pork intestines were a food she avoided.

But she had tried Zhou Yan's braised pork intestines last time, and they were fatty but not greasy, with a rich braised aroma, which left a good impression on her.

This fatty intestine, coated in chili oil and sauce, looked rather spicy. After a slight hesitation, I still put it in my mouth.

The spicy and savory flavor explodes on the tongue, and the sauce is indeed very rich in flavor, but it is not as spicy as expected. The aroma hits you right in the head. Chewing slowly, the soft and tender fatty intestines are full of juice, and the aroma of the braising sauce and bone broth blend together, becoming more and more fragrant with each chew.

"Mmm, delicious." Xia Yao nodded, shoveling a mouthful of soft rice into her mouth. It was so good with rice.

Add another spoonful of blood tofu on top of the rice. The tender blood tofu crumbles easily when pressed with chopsticks. It's so delicious when mixed with rice.

"Sister Yao Yao, would you like to try the blood curd rice with minced beef? It's incredibly delicious!" Huang Ying strongly recommended.

"Let's give it a try." Xia Yao nodded.

Huang Ying scooped a spoonful of freshly served minced beef with double peppers and placed it on top of the blood tofu in her bowl.

Xia Yao stirred the mixture with her chopsticks and then shoveled a mouthful into her mouth.

The spicy minced beef, still carrying the aroma of a wok, blends perfectly with the relatively mild-tasting blood tofu. The crispy and tender beef chunks add a touch of savory flavor to the blood tofu. Mixed with the soft and sweet steamed rice, the taste is truly exceptional!
Of course, whether it's minced beef or blood tofu, it's already unbeatable when mixed with rice on its own.

“I think it should be mixed separately. The flavor of the shredded beef is too prominent, and when mixed together, it overpowers the flavor of the blood tofu.” Lin Zhiqiang shook his head: “Eat one bowl of blood tofu with rice and one bowl of shredded beef with rice, that’s about right.”

“What you say makes sense,” Huang Ying nodded in agreement.

The supply of braised pork intestines and blood curd at noon today tripled. Customers who missed out yesterday all ordered it today and were quite satisfied with their meal.

After lunch, Lin Zhiqiang rode his bike to Jiaozhou to discuss cooperation with Yao Licheng.

Huang Ying picked up the packed groceries and went back to Jiaozhou with Lin Zhiqiang, so she would have company on the way.

After the restaurant closed for lunch, Zhou Yan took off his apron, put the cleaver into his cloth bag, and prepared to return to the village.

"Master Zhou, why are you carrying a knife?" Kong Liwei asked curiously as he untied his apron.

"Going back to the village to help Master Xiao and the others, they're having a big feast tomorrow, fifty or sixty tables. We need to prepare nine big bowls today, I'll go back and help with some." Zhou Yan glanced at him: "Awei, are you coming?"

Kong Liwei shook his head: "I won't go. I got up too early this morning. I need to go back and take a nap."

"Never mind then. I also said I'd teach my master and Senior Brother Zheng how to make braised pork belly with pickled mustard greens today." Zhou Yan slung his bag over his shoulder and walked out.

"Hey! Master Zhou, look how anxious you are. I was just kidding. How could I, Ah Wei, be absent from something like this?" Kong Liwei put the knife into his bag and quickly followed.

Comrade Zhou was with Aunt Zhao, Zhou Momo sat on the front bumper of Zhou Yan's car, and Zhao Hong sat in the back.

Ah Wei followed behind on his old-fashioned bicycle, which rattled everywhere except for its bell, heading towards Zhoucun.

On the threshing floor in front of Sixth Master's house, there were about thirty tables, a row of temporary stoves, and stacks of steamers. Xiao Lei and Zheng Qiang, wearing black aprons, were seen busy at work.

Zhou Jie, Zhou Hai, and others, wearing aprons, waited on the sidelines, following instructions.

"Guoguo, what does it mean when Mom says that Sixth Grandpa is dead?" Zhou Momo asked softly, her little mind not yet understanding what death was.

Zhou Yan said carefully, "Sixth Grandfather has left us forever. He went to find our grandfather, and he will never come back."

The little guy was silent for a while, then turned to look at him and said, "Then... did Sixth Grandpa also turn into a photograph? Hanging on the wall, unable to speak or move."

"Yes, that's right." Zhou Yan nodded.

"Okay." The little guy sighed. "Then when I come back, I'll still talk to him and bring him some candy, just like Grandpa, so they can share it. Sixth Grandpa loves candy, but he always saves it for me."

"Okay." Zhou Yan's heart softened, and a smile appeared on his lips. He thought that Sixth Master would be very happy to eat the little guy's candy.

　There will be an extra chapter later~
　　
　
(End of this chapter)