1984: Starting from a bankrupt Sichuan restaurant

Chapter 347 Lack of enthusiasm for eating indicates a problem with one's thinking (6.2k words combined)

Once the dishes were served, everyone gathered around with their bowls of rice and began to eat.

"Guoguo, shredded pork with garlic sauce!" Zhou Momo said, looking at Zhou Yan with longing eyes.

"Okay." Zhou Yan replied, picked up a piece of shredded pork with garlic sauce and placed it on top of her rice. He glanced at her, then made room for the braised pork intestines and blood curd and the shredded pork with garlic sauce, and placed it directly in front of her.

"Thank you, bro~~" Zhou Momo said in a childish voice, picked up her chopsticks, and shoveled a big mouthful of meat and rice into her mouth. Her cheeks were bulging as she chewed happily.

Fish-flavored shredded pork, salty, fragrant, sour, and spicy, is the little guy's favorite.

"Should we reserve seats for them at the banquet?" Aunt Zhao asked Zhou Yan.

Zhou Yan said, "I set the meal time for them at six o'clock. At six o'clock, there will be empty tables in the restaurant. We can just reserve two adjacent tables in the shop next door."

"Okay, then I'll keep an eye out around six o'clock and try to arrange a table for them." Aunt Zhao nodded, took a bite of rice, and then asked Zhou Yan, "You said Yao Yao and the others are coming over for dinner tonight, should we reserve a table for them?"

"Sister Meng is still in Suji today. She'll probably come over after picking up the child, so there's no need for her to stay," Zhou Yan said.

Zhou Erwa Restaurant does not have a tradition of reserving tables; it's all first-come, first-served, with those arriving later queuing up.

This is also the rule.

Zhou Yan is not easy to break.

Those who frequently dine at the restaurant are all regulars.

"Master Zhou, is Comrade Xia Yao really the boss's wife?" Awei asked Zhou Yan.

He had just overheard Aunt Zhao and Zhao Hong chatting, and he felt like he had missed some important news during his afternoon nap.

"I guess so." Zhou Yan nodded calmly, unable to suppress the smile playing on his lips.

"What do you mean by 'calculate'? Is it yes or no?" Awei asked, puzzled.

“Ah Wei, they’re dating, but not married yet, so it’s not appropriate to call her ‘boss’s wife’,” Zhao Hong said.

"You're really dating?" Awei asked, a mix of surprise and a touch of jealousy. "Teacher Zhou, you're eating too well!"

"There's nothing I can do, I'm just lucky." Zhou Yan smiled slightly.

"To use the words of our colleagues from Northeast China, look at him, what a scoundrel!" Awei gritted his teeth.

"Ah Wei, watch your words. Don't call her 'boss lady' in front of others, or she'll feel uncomfortable," Aunt Zhao reminded him.

“Okay, Auntie, you decide.” Ah Wei nodded obediently.

You can ignore everyone else in this shop, but you can't ignore Aunt Zhao.

"Awei, I have a sister-in-law now~~" Zhou Momo lifted her face from the rice bowl, a few grains of rice still clinging to the corner of her mouth, and said with a smile to Awei.

Ah Wei: "..."

It's so troublesome!

They had just finished eating when Meng Anhe arrived with her two children, just as expected.

"Godmother! Godfather!" Lin Bingwen greeted Lin Jingxing and then ran off to play with Zhou Momo.

Meng Anhe put her bag on the stool, sat down, and beckoned Zhou Yan over, saying, "Little Zhou, I've already drawn up the blueprints for your courtyard. The blueprints for the restaurant are a bit more complicated. I'll draw them when I have some free time; it should take another two weeks."

The interior design will take more time, but many details can be finalized after the house is built, depending on the skill of the builder.

Zhou Yan's eyes lit up upon hearing this: "Sister Meng, you're so efficient!"

“There are a few projects that are in a rush recently, otherwise I could have finished them for you a long time ago.” Meng Anhe smiled and said, “But you don’t have to worry. The price of building materials has been fluctuating a lot lately, especially steel bars and cement. The price changes every day. The end of the year is not a good time to start construction.”

As our country's steel and cement production increases, prices will inevitably gradually decrease, and there will be more and more reinforced concrete buildings in cities and towns—this is an inevitable trend.

"Okay, it's up to you."

Meng Anhe said, "We also have several important projects in Jiaozhou. I have connections with Jiahua Cement Plant and Steel Plant. I'll take you to meet two people there. The price may not be much of a discount, but the materials will definitely be top-notch. Given the geological conditions of the Sichuan Basin, if you want to build a century-old restaurant, the materials you use can't be shoddy."

"That's great!" Zhou Yan's face lit up with joy. In those days, cement and steel bars were sold exclusively by special dealers, and it was really hard to buy them without connections.

As they were chatting, the textile factory's closing bell rang, and the guests filed in, with Xia Yao still among the first to arrive.

"Auntie, Auntie." Xia Yao greeted them, sat down next to Meng Anhe, and smiled and winked at Zhou Yan.

"She runs pretty fast. No wonder people say the marketing department has a big glutton who's always eager to eat," Meng Anhe teased.

“Zhou Shuren once said that if you don’t eat enthusiastically, there’s something wrong with your thinking,” Xia Yao said with a sly smile.

"Really? Lu Xun said that? In which book?" Meng Anhe asked, looking puzzled.

“The Rice Diary,” Xia Yao said seriously.

"Huh?" Meng Anhe was stunned for a moment.

Xia Yao was already leaning on her shoulder, laughing heartily.

"Oh, so you dare to lie to your aunt?" Meng Anhe tapped her forehead in annoyance.

"Oh dear, Auntie, you hit me so hard!" Xia Yao covered her forehead, feeling a little wronged.

"Let me see." Meng Anhe quickly removed her hand; apart from being a little red, there was nothing wrong with her smooth forehead.

"I was just kidding." Xia Yao laughed and hugged her arm.

"You little rascal." Meng Anhe's smile held a hint of helplessness.

Zhou Yan stood to the side, a smile playing on his lips, "What dishes would you like to order tonight?"

"It's been a long time since I've had fish. Let's order a crucian carp with mint." Meng Anhe looked at Xia Yao: "Yao Yao, what do you want to eat?"

"I'd like a serving of braised pork ribs," Xia Yao said, looking up at Zhou Yan.

"Mom! I want to eat shredded pork with garlic sauce!" Lin Jingxing ran over, his eyes full of anticipation.

"Fish-flavored shredded pork! I want some too!" Lin Bingwen chimed in.

Meng Anhe nodded: "Then let's have another shredded pork with garlic sauce."

"Have you ordered?" Lin Zhiqiang asked with a smile as he entered the store.

Meng Anhe looked at him and said, "Flavored crucian carp, braised pork ribs, and shredded pork with garlic sauce, three dishes, do you want to add anything else?"

"Three dishes, that's about right. The crucian carp with mint and the shredded pork with fish-fragrant sauce are quite appetizing," Lin Zhiqiang nodded.

"Okay, I'll go cook it for you then." Zhou Yan replied and turned to walk towards the kitchen.

"You two are both smiling, what good news is happening today?" Meng Anhe asked, looking at the two of them.

Lin Zhiqiang lowered his voice and said, "I told the factory manager about it, and he agreed. We'll proceed with the normal procedures from now on, and it should be completed before the New Year. It's going quite smoothly."

"Good."

"I told the factory manager that our two families will have dinner together tomorrow to celebrate New Year's Day. We booked a banquet at Zhou Yan's restaurant."

“Sure, we should have dinner together.” Meng Anhe nodded. “Yaoyao, you can have dinner with us tomorrow night too.”

"Okay." Xia Yao nodded.

"What good thing happened to you today? I haven't seen you so lively since you started your internship." Meng Anhe looked at her.

"Is there a new breakthrough in the design?" Lin Zhiqiang asked, looking at her.

"I..." Xia Yao hesitated for a moment, then leaned close to Meng Anhe's ear and whispered a few words.

"Really?" Meng Anhe asked, her surprise mixed with a hint of joy.

Xia Yao nodded, her ears turning slightly red.

"What?" Lin Zhiqiang asked, looking puzzled and curious.

"I'll tell you when we get back." Meng Anhe smiled and winked at him.

"Ah, I understand." Looking at Xia Yao's blushing face, Lin Zhiqiang already had a general idea of ​​what was going on.

Zhou Yan, that kid, has finally figured it out.

Xia Yao is the same; she can't hide anything from her, and she tells everyone as soon as her aunt asks.

Back when they were dating, if Anhe hadn't been caught by her father-in-law at the alley entrance while he was taking her home, they probably could have kept it a secret for another six months.

Lin Zhiqiang and Meng Anhe exchanged a smile.

The passion of young boys and girls remains as moving as ever.

"Sister-in-law Yao Yao... Sister~~" Zhou Momo ran over, hugged Xia Yao's arm, and pressed her little face against it.

"MoMo, my sweetie~" Xia Yao smiled and reached out to pinch the little guy's chubby little face. He didn't look fat, but he felt very fleshy and soft, just like a freshly steamed bun.

"Hello, beautiful auntie~~ Hello, Uncle Lin!" Zhou Momo didn't forget to greet Meng Anhe and Lin Zhiqiang.

"MoMo, be good." The two replied with smiles.

"Sister Yao Yao, I painted a new picture these past two days. Would you like to see it?" Zhou Momo said to Xia Yao.

"I want to read Momo's new work." Xia Yao nodded.

The little one immediately ran happily behind the counter, took out her picture book, put it on the table, and opened it.

The painting depicts a scene of a pig-slaughtering feast, with everyone gathered together to eat in front of the Zhou family's old house.

The joyful and lively atmosphere is palpable, and you can already see a hint of the New Year spirit.

"The painting is so evocative! It depicts a pig-slaughtering feast, full of the festive spirit of the New Year, creating a strong sense of family reunion. The lively atmosphere is palpable." Xia Yao exclaimed in surprise, tilting the album towards Meng Anhe.

Meng Anhe examined it for a while and nodded repeatedly: "It's really good! The use of color is superb, and the subject is more prominent when viewed from a lower angle, which is very interesting. The grasp of feeling is just right. You can't see the face clearly, but you can feel the intensity of the atmosphere. That's talent."

“In comparison, my painting of slaughtering a pig for the New Year seems too neat and lacks a bit of the liveliness of everyday life.” Xia Yao smiled and looked at Zhou Momo, saying, “Momo, could you give this painting to my sister? I want to take it to my grandfather.”

Meng Anhe glanced at her with some surprise upon hearing this.

“Okay! Yao Yao’s maternal grandfather is my maternal grandfather too. If one isn’t enough, I’ll give you a few more.” Zhou Momo nodded her little head and, without the slightest hesitation, reached out and pressed the clip, took down the painting, and handed it to Xia Yao.

"MoMo, you're so generous! One painting is enough." Xia Yao took the painting and patted her head with a smile. Meng Anhe smiled as well. The little one was really generous, but calling him "Grandpa" already? She wondered what the old man's reaction would be when he saw the painting, and whether he would consider taking her on as a disciple.

Xia Yao took out a hair tie from her bag, carefully rolled up the painting, and then fastened it with the hair tie. She turned to look at Meng Anhe and said, "Auntie, could you help me take both paintings back with me?"

“Okay, I’ll save some space for your painting in the suitcase.” Meng Anhe nodded with a smile.

Once the guests were seated, the kitchen quickly sprang into action.

Zeng Anrong was there for the first time, but after a period of adjustment at noon, they became more and more skilled at working together.

She is very perceptive about menus and is good at summarizing.

Once the order is placed and the kitchen is in session, she will glance at it first, then report to Zhou Yan in order how many portions of each dish have been ordered. Zhou Yan can then adjust the number of portions to be cooked in one pot based on the situation.

This is the experience and reaction she accumulated while working as a waitress.

For example, with Mapo Tofu, there is no significant difference in quality between making eight portions at a time and making two portions at a time, but the efficiency of serving food increases fourfold.

Dishes were brought out of the kitchen one after another, and the serving efficiency was quite impressive.

"Sister Zeng, how do you remember so many dishes?" Awei asked curiously while preparing the dishes, his eyes full of admiration as he looked at Zeng Anrong.

Zeng Anrong said with a slightly serious expression, "Back then, when I was a waitress in our restaurant, if I remembered the wrong dish, my wages would be deducted. I had zero mistakes for three consecutive years and did a lot of work, so I was awarded the title of model worker. So I can remember a dish at a glance and answer the chef's questions anytime, otherwise the chef's spoon will come at me."

"This is outrageous!" Kong Liwei exclaimed in astonishment. In comparison, the kitchen of Leming Restaurant was a breath of fresh air, thanks to the excellent leadership of Grandpa Kong and Second Grandpa Kong's team.

“Every step you take counts. If you want to be a good head chef in the future, planning the cooking order of dishes, assigning tasks, and controlling the pace of serving dishes are all very important abilities. You will have a great advantage in these areas,” Zhou Yan said, looking at her.

Zeng Anrong's solemn expression relaxed, a smile appeared on her face, and she nodded, saying, "I understand."

Zhou Yan has actually been researching and exploring this matter recently.

Ordering dishes one by one from the menu is too slow. Although there are three chefs in the kitchen now, he is still the main chef.

Therefore, we can only try to make as many portions of food as possible from one pot while ensuring the quality of the food, so as to improve the efficiency of serving.

This is actually quite common in the catering industry. For example, Chen Mapo Tofu makes a big pot of Mapo Tofu, keeps it warm over low heat, and sprinkles Sichuan peppercorn powder on top when a customer orders.

A meal costs 35 cents and is served very efficiently.

If it were made one serving at a time, Mapo Tofu, as the signature dish, simply wouldn't be able to handle the volume of orders during peak hours.

Being able to cook a dish well is a basic skill for a chef; being able to cook three dishes in one pot and do them well demonstrates a high level of skill.

Zhou Yan is constantly testing the limits. For example, he cooked up to six portions of Yu Xiang Rou Si (shredded pork with garlic sauce) in one pot, and the dish still received a "perfect" rating.

The factory closes at five o'clock, and by six o'clock, those who order food and eat quickly have already started the second round of table turnover, and several tables in the restaurant are now empty.

Zhao Tieying took two signs and reserved two adjacent tables that had just been cleaned, then led the new guests to sit at the empty tables next to them.

"Sister Ying, the bill is due," Lin Zhiqiang said, taking out his wallet.

Zhao Tieying walked over, looked at Xia Yao with some affection, waved his hand and whispered, "No need to settle the bill, just eat until you're satisfied."

“No way, the two kids got free steamed buns this morning, and they don’t even have to pay for meals. I’ll feel too embarrassed to come here again.” Lin Zhiqiang handed the money directly to Zhao Tieying. “Five yuan and eighty cents, please count it.”

"Sister Ying, please accept this. One thing at a time, we'll be coming over for meals often in the future." Meng Anhe slung her bag over her shoulder and patted Zhao Tieying's hand with a smile.

"Okay." Zhao Tieying nodded with a smile and didn't refuse any further.

After seeing everyone off, they saw Song Yang helping an elderly man with gray hair walk into the shop. The old man was leaning on a cane, followed by several adults and a group of children. The atmosphere seemed a bit heavy.

"Brother, I still think we should send the old man to a big hospital in Rongcheng for further treatment. The four of us brothers and sisters will figure out how to pay for it; it's not up to you to pay alone," said a man who looked seven or eight parts like Song Yang, his voice trembling with emotion.

Two women followed behind, their lips pursed, seemingly wanting to say something but holding back.

The man turned around and said, "Second sister, second brother-in-law, you two need to make a statement. Can you afford it..."

"Song Ming!" The old man paused, turned his head to look at him and said, "Today is my birthday, I came out to have a happy meal, if you keep talking nonsense, then get back home! Don't make me beat you with my cane outside! You, the second teacher, don't care about your reputation, but I do have some dignity, you know."

"Old man, I..." Song Ming met Song Yan's sharp gaze and swallowed the rest of his words.

"Alright, let's eat first. We can talk about it when we get back." Song Ming's wife came forward and tugged at his clothes.

Song Ming nodded and said nothing more.

Song Yang sighed inwardly, helped the old man into the restaurant, and asked Zhao Tieying, "Madam, where should we, who have booked the entire banquet, sit?"

"These two tables are reserved for you," Zhao Tieying said with a smile, leading everyone to sit down at two tables in the corner near the kitchen.

Adults sit at one table, and children sit at another.

Song Yang helped the old man to a seat and said with a smile, "Old man, this is the Zhou Erwa Restaurant that I told you about before. The braised pig's head and braised beef are from them. Their boss is a very good cook."

"Oh, the cooking skills are really good. The braised beef and braised pig's head are perfect with drinks." Song Yan nodded, looking around at the restaurant which was still almost full, and smiled, "There are still so many customers after we've eaten a round, the food must taste amazing."

The Song family has four siblings. Song Yang is the eldest brother. His three younger brothers and sisters are all married with children. Today, the old man is turning eighty, and the whole family is having a meal together.

However, as soon as they met, the third brother was very dissatisfied because he had brought the old man back to Suji from the hospital in Rongcheng. He had been talking aggressively at the door for more than ten minutes.

The old man has been battling cancer for over a year and has suffered a great deal. He spent half a year in Rongcheng Hospital, and most of the family's savings have been used up. Due to his advanced age, the doctor has recommended conservative treatment.

Going home was the old man's decision. He had been a teacher for half his life and always had the final say at home. When he said he wanted to go back, no one could stop him.

The children's table was buzzing with excitement, filled with anticipation for going out to eat.

The atmosphere at the adults' table was a bit somber; everyone looked at each other, unsure of what to say.

Looking at his children, Grandpa Song Yan said gently, "It was my decision to come back from the hospital. I even took out the needles myself. Even if Song Yang hadn't picked me up, I would have taken the bus back myself. I went to Rongcheng for training before you were even born."

I know my own body. If the hospital can't fix it, I'll feel better at home, and I can be happy every day. I know you are all filial, you are all educated, and you know that birth, aging, illness, and death are natural laws that cannot be forced.

Sixty yuan is only enough for two days in the hospital in Chengdu, so why not use it to set up two tables and let everyone get together for a good meal?

I have only two hobbies in this life: eating meat and drinking alcohol.

It's my birthday today, everyone so have a good time! Eat well, drink well, and have a great time!

The two sisters turned their heads to wipe away their tears.

Song Ming hesitated, but his wife tugged at his sleeve under the table, and he swallowed his words.

Zhou Yan brought out two plates of dishes, served them to the guests, and stepped forward with a smile: "Manager Song, is everyone here? Shall we begin serving?"

Song Yang forced a smile and nodded, saying, "Yes, Boss Zhou, everyone's here. Let's serve the food."

"This boss is so young," Song Yan said with a smile, looking at Zhou Yan.

The others looked at Zhou Yan with surprise on their faces.

On the way here, Song Yang praised the restaurant owner to the old man quite a bit. Everyone thought he must be a highly skilled veteran chef, but the owner looked to be only in his early twenties.

Zhou Yan said with a smile, "You're not very old, but your cooking is quite good. You're clearly a connoisseur. Today is your birthday, so please give me your feedback when the dishes are served."

Song Yan looked at Zhou Yan and laughed heartily, "Good, I like confident young people like you. Among my former students, a kid like you would do well in any field."

Zhou Yan exclaimed in surprise, "You're a veteran teacher! You clearly have students all over the world. I'd better do my best today. If you say it's not delicious, your students definitely won't come."

"Don't worry, I'm quite lenient with young people and won't ruin your reputation in public," Song Yan said with a smile.

Upon hearing this, the people at the table smiled.

“Okay, Teacher Song, please sit for a moment, I’ll go make the dishes right away,” Zhou Yan said, turning and walking towards the kitchen.

Song Yan smiled and said, "This young man is really good. There was a kid in our class named Liu Haiyun. His grades were only average, but he was very good at talking and handling things. Later, he was assigned to work in Zigong, and it seems that he has been transferred to the provincial capital in the last two years..."

“He’s from the Provincial Publicity Department, and now he’s the director of the News and Publicity Center,” Song Ming continued. “He’s a year ahead of me. Back in school, he was the student council president. He’s really good with words, and he’s also very capable.”

“Liu Haiyun used to come and wish the old man a Happy New Year every year. He moved to Chengdu these past two years and hasn’t been back because he’s busy with work, but he still sends New Year’s gifts every year,” Song Yang said.

"I remember he wasn't very tall, but he looked very clever, and he really knew how to talk..."

As they reminisced about the past, everyone gradually opened up, and the originally heavy atmosphere melted away, with smiles appearing on their faces.

As we were chatting, the cold dishes started to be served.

A plate of braised pig's head, a plate of braised pig's ears, a plate of braised beef, and a platter of braised vegetables.

"Hmm, these four cold dishes look quite presentable." The old man nodded as he looked at the four braised dishes.

Song Yang took out a bottle of Wuliangye from his bag, unscrewed the cap, and poured half a glass for the old man.

"A little more," the old man said.

Song Yang hesitated for a moment, then filled the old man's cup to the brim.

"That's right, you have to fill your glass when you drink," the old man grinned.

Song Yang smiled and looked at Song Ming, saying, "Little brother, want some?"

“I…” Song Ming hesitated and looked at his wife beside him.

"It's my husband's birthday today, have a drink with him." His wife smiled and pushed the glass forward. "Brother, fill his glass too!"

"Fill it up!" Song Ming smiled as well.

"Okay!" Song Yang smiled and filled his glass, then poured wine for his two brothers-in-law, and poured himself a full glass as well.

The old man picked up his chopsticks, his hand trembling slightly, and put a piece of braised pig's head into his mouth. He chewed it slowly, swallowed it, and then raised his wine glass: "Come on, let's have a drink, good wine with good food, so comfortable."

"Come on, cheers!"

Everyone smiled and raised their glasses.

At the children's table next to them, each child had a bottle of Tianfu Cola, and they all raised their bottles, shouting, "Cheers!"

In the kitchen, Zhou Yan's lips curled into a slight smile.

Isn't this great?

No matter how difficult things get, you still have to eat well.

　I'll add another chapter tomorrow~~ I can't finish a chapter today, so I'm still asking for monthly votes~
　　
　
(End of this chapter)