1984: Starting from a bankrupt Sichuan restaurant

Chapter 51 Food Supplier (Second Update!)

The bedroom was decorated in a cozy style, with a small bedside lamp on.

The dim, warm light shone on Meng Anhe's flushed cheeks. Her fingers traced circles on Lin Zhiqiang's chest as she breathed slightly out of breath, "Have you been secretly exercising behind my back these past few days?"

"Training?" Lin Zhiqiang flicked the cigarette between his fingers, raising his chin with a hint of smugness. "Is it necessary? It was just a normal performance."

"Don't I know your strengths and weaknesses?" Meng Anhe rolled her eyes at him, and then pinched him with her circling fingers.

After a man turns twenty-five, his mouth becomes the toughest part of his body.

This is especially true for a 38-year-old man.

"Hiss~" Lin Zhiqiang gasped and quickly begged for mercy: "Maybe it's because I've been eating a lot of beef these past few days and my body has gotten better."

"Beef with 'Qiaojiao'?" Meng Anhe asked thoughtfully.

"The bone broth was simmered for eight hours, with various Chinese herbs added, and beef was also added. It's definitely nourishing."

"Then you can go eat there every day from now on, and I'll reimburse you for the bill."

"Okay, of course, it's mainly because I'm in good health. Whether I take supplements or not doesn't make much difference."

"Really? Then I'll test you again." Meng Anhe sat up and tied her hair back with a hair tie.

"Oh dear, I suddenly remembered I haven't finished a design drawing yet. We have to present it in the meeting tomorrow. I'll go and work on it first. Anhe, you go to sleep first." Lin Zhiqiang turned over, put on his pajamas, and was about to leave when his legs felt a little weak.

What kind of cadre can withstand this test?

"Ha, men." Sister Meng smiled and reached out to hook his collar. "Come back and lie down. I'm not teasing you anymore."

“That’s right, we should take it slow and steady, and not overindulge.” Lin Zhiqiang then lay back down on the bed.

Meng Anhe rested her head on his hand and said with a smile, "I think the factory director and Sister Meilin enjoyed today's meal quite a bit."

“I’ve had many meals with the factory director, including at several big restaurants in Chengdu, but this is the first time I’ve seen him react like this.” Lin Zhiqiang also said with a smile, “At first, my expectations were too low, but later I was amazed, and my attitude towards Zhou Yan has obviously changed.”

Meng Anhe nodded slightly: "To be fair, the dishes Zhou Yan made today are indeed comparable to those in well-known restaurants in Chengdu. With his culinary skills, it's a waste to have him running a restaurant in this small town. He should go to a big city to develop his career."

"You can't say that. I think he's taken things quite steadily step by step." Lin Zhiqiang pondered, "Being fired from the factory canteen and opening a restaurant at the factory gate, for a young man from a small town who hasn't had much education and whose family is of average means, it's the best choice he could make in a short time to open the restaurant, revitalize it, and establish himself."

"Once he's accumulated his first pot of gold, he might move to a big city. Maybe he can even open a big restaurant in Chengdu someday."

“You seem to think highly of him,” Meng Anhe said with a smile.

"Most people who have worked in state-owned enterprises for a long time look down on self-employed individuals. We've seen a lot of this while studying abroad. Opening a shop and doing business is a legitimate profession. Those who are capable can earn much more than working in a factory. With money, life is naturally better. Going to university doesn't necessarily mean you'll be more successful..."

"You want to matchmake Xia Yao and Zhou Yan?" Meng Anhe interrupted him, getting straight to the point.

"I don't have that ability, but I definitely won't stop them." Lin Zhiqiang spread his hands. "If these two kids really get together one day, Zhou Yan might not be a bad match."

"Then go and talk to my sister and brother-in-law."

"Huh? How could I dare!"

……

Dormitories at Sichuan Fine Arts Institute.

A small desk lamp was lit on the desk.

Xia Yao sat at the table writing a letter, her delicate handwriting flowing across the paper. There were several crumpled pieces of paper in the trash can next to her.

"Yaoyao, are love letters really that hard to write?" Deng Hong poked her head out and asked with a smile.

Zhu Yuyu poked her head out from another bed and teased, "That's right, this is the fifth version already. You're more serious about it than I am about my graduation project. Can you teach me a thing or two?"

"I wrote a letter, not a love letter," Xia Yao said, sitting up straight without turning her head, but her hand subconsciously covered the words on the letter.

“Yes, yes, yes, it’s a letter filled with revolutionary friendship.” Deng Hong nodded with a smile: “Then please thank Comrade Zhou Yan for the rice candy he sent, it’s delicious.”

“That’s right, remember to tell me I’m the same.” Zhu Yuyu nodded in agreement.

"Okay, you guys go to sleep first, I'll turn off the lights in a bit," Xia Yao said with a smile.

……

Just as dawn was breaking, Comrade Xiao Zhou rode his bicycle out to buy groceries again.

Today he went to see Zhang Laosan first and bought eight catties of pork ribs.

"Little Zhou, your restaurant business is getting better and better," Zhang Laosan remarked as he weighed the ribs. "It's alright, I can keep it open," Zhou Yan replied with a smile, taking out some money and handing it to Zhang Laosan.

"Don't you want the pork belly and braised pork hock?" Old Zhang asked casually as he took the money.

"I don't need it now. I'll come back to buy from you when we start selling twice-cooked pork and Dongpo pork knuckle." Zhou Yan put the ribs into the basket and called out, "I'm off."

"This kid's got some skills," Zhang Laosan chuckled to himself, watching Zhou Yan's retreating figure.

Zhou Yan went to the market again and found the fishmonger, Boss Gao, who delivered fish to him, and asked him to deliver forty eight-ounce crucian carp to his shop at noon today.

Because he bought a lot and needed to order every day, Zhou Yan successfully reduced the price of a pound of crucian carp from 45 cents to 40 cents, and he couldn't raise the price on holidays.

The textile factory canteen and state-run restaurants have their own ordering channels, and retail sales are not so easy. There are not many customers like Zhou Yan who have stable orders. In Suji, he is considered a big customer. Based on the principle of small profits and quick turnover, Boss Gao agreed very readily.

"Boss Gao, my fish must be top-notch. You've been selling fish for so many years, you know how to tell good from bad. If you deliberately send me inferior fish, I'll get angry." Zhou Yan said with a smile, putting the unpleasant truth in advance.

"Don't worry, I'll bring you ten extra fish with each delivery. You can choose whichever you like, and I'll send you another one if you're not satisfied," Boss Gao assured him. Don't let Zhou Yan's youth fool you; his eye for fish is sharp, and he can't be fooled.

"Okay." Zhou Yan nodded, got on his bike, and rode away.

A restaurant's operation depends on these food suppliers.

Establishing a stable food supply chain is a crucial step in ensuring consistent food quality.

Currently, the restaurant's most important beef supply is controlled by its own family.

At the Zhoucun Yankantou Slaughterhouse, eight cows were being slaughtered simultaneously today. The temperature was low in the morning, and wisps of steam rose from each workstation, like the wronged souls of cows ascending to heaven.

The idea that suddenly popped into Zhou Yan's head made him laugh.

At this time, the butchers are already dividing the meat.

The beef, separated from the bone, was cut into different parts; the meat was still warm and bright in color.

Zhou Yan parked his car in front of Zhou Miao's stall.

"Twelve catties of beef brisket and twelve catties of hanging tenderloin. If you want less, go to your uncle's place. I've already spoken to him and we'll charge two yuan per catty from now on," Zhou Miao said.

"Isn't two yuan a pound too cheap?" Zhou Yan hesitated.

"No, the local chefs who organize banquets buy in bulk, and it's the same price. It's cheaper than buying individually anyway," Zhou Miao said, shaking his head.

“Okay.” Zhou Yan nodded.

Seeing Zhou Yan approach, Zhou Fei asked with a smile, "Zhou Yan, how many more dragons do you need?"

"Brother Fei, five jin is enough for today," Zhou Yan said, also greeting the old man Zhou Qing beside him.

The old man was robust, broad-shouldered and thick-waisted, and looked a lot like Zhou Fei. His temples were slightly gray. He grinned at Zhou Yan and said, "Zhou Yan, you can have as much as you want. I'll save some for you in the future."

"Okay, thank you, sir." Zhou Yan grinned.

This highlights the importance of the supply chain. If you're not a family member, you have to rely on luck to buy a hanging dragon (a type of dragon), and you might not be able to buy one during holidays.

Hanging dragons are easy to sell.

Zhou Fei cut off a piece of hanging dragon meat, weighed it high, with the fascia removed cleanly and the meat of good quality, and put it into Zhou Yan's backpack.

"Grandpa, it's two yuan a pound, am I taking advantage of you?" Zhou Yan took out a ten-yuan note, handed it over, and asked with a smile.

“Why should we take advantage of our own family? I said it was 1.5 yuan per jin, but you old man wouldn’t have it and insisted that I charge 2 yuan. I felt like I was taking advantage of you, kid.” The old man took the money and shook his head with a smile.

"Zhou Yan, do you still want the hanging dragon? I've saved some for you here too," his second uncle, Zhou Ze, called out to him.

Zhou Jie held up a piece of hanging dragon meat and showed it to him: "Today's hanging dragon meat is really good."

“I have some here too, all set up nicely,” Uncle Zhou Han said with a smile.

"That's enough for today. If you need more in a couple of days, come back to find your second and third uncles." Zhou Yan replied with a smile, feeling a warmth in his heart.

His words were remembered by the entire family.

very nice.

　Second update, one more tonight! Bonus chapter for 1000 monthly votes.

　　Rush!
　　
　
(End of this chapter)