1984: Starting from a bankrupt Sichuan restaurant

Chapter 62 May your poop always be smooth! (Please read on!)
A plate of twice-cooked pork was completely devoured, even the garlic sprouts were eaten clean, leaving only a pool of bright red oil in the plate.

"It's delicious, I love it! Next time I'll buy the meat, you can cook it, cook a lot, so I can have an extra bowl of rice." Zhou Jie was still not satisfied and had already started making reservations for the next time.

"This twice-cooked pork with garlic sprouts is really delicious. Should we put it on the menu?" Aunt Zhao asked Zhou Yan. She had now fully accepted the fact that she had been deprived of her cooking power and was starting to think about how to let the guests also enjoy the delicious twice-cooked pork.

The same twice-cooked pork, but Zhou Yan's version was so delicious, it couldn't compare to the usual home-style version.

The ingredients are largely the same; the difference lies in the cooking time and seasoning.

Not only is it delicious, it also goes perfectly with rice; this dish is sure to be a hit with customers.

"It'll be ready tomorrow. I've already spoken to the butcher and asked them to save the second cut of pork for me," Zhou Yan replied with a smile, casually plucking two grains of rice from the corner of Zhou Momo's mouth.

"Honey, are we having twice-cooked pork again tonight?" Zhou Momo looked at him expectantly, and uttered a single word: "Delicious!"

“Okay, we still have four ounces of meat left over from tonight, enough to stir-fry a plate.” Zhou Yan nodded with a smile.

"Guoguo, you're so great! I'll love you forever! I wish you a long and healthy life!" Zhou Momo came over and nuzzled Zhou Yan's hand with her head, like a docile little lamb.

"MoMo, what about me? What about me?" Zhou Jie asked with a smile.

"Brother Jie..." Zhou Momo tilted her head and thought for a moment, "I wish your poop will always be smooth!"

"Huh?" Zhou Jie scratched his head. "It's a beautiful blessing after all."

For most adults, this blessing is just as comforting as wishing them to live to be a hundred.

After dinner, Zhou Jie and Zhou Yan sat under a tree by the door. He said, "Zhou Yan, I've almost mastered your 'Qiaojiao Beef' recipe. If I were to make it the way you do, I'd price it at six cents a bowl."

“If you work at the docks and sell a bowl for six cents, you probably won’t sell twenty bowls a day. You’ll earn less than you used to.” Zhou Yan shook his head.

Zhou Jie got a little anxious: "Then I can't possibly sell it for less than you, can I? If I sell it for less than you, wouldn't that be deliberately undermining your business?"

Zhou Yan smiled and said, "I've actually considered this matter. Why don't you create a price tier? Sell the beef without beef for 50 cents. That's 10 cents more than before, but the taste is significantly improved. We've also added Chinese medicine, which increases the cost, but customers will find it more acceptable."

The beef-filled option costs 60 cents, which is four slices of beef for 10 cents. We don't make a single cent profit. Savvy customers, after eating here a couple of times, will definitely choose the 60-cent beef-filled option, but price-sensitive customers also have the 50-cent option.

After listening and thinking about it carefully for a while, Zhou Jie clapped his hands and said, "This is a good method! Zhou Yan, you're really quick-witted!"

“Let’s go, let’s go to Jiaozhou now to buy spices and Chinese medicine, and then we can have a good meal and digest our food.” Zhou Yan got up to push the cart.

"There are Chinese medicine shops in Suji, so why go to Jiaozhou?" Zhou Jie wondered.

“If our braised beef broth fetches a good price and sells well, within three days people will want to learn our recipe. If someone is interested, they can ask at a Chinese medicine shop and find out what we use. By adjusting the dosage, they can make it almost identical. It’s just a pot of soup, how much skill can be involved?” Zhou Yan explained with a smile. “When we go to Jiaozhou, the two of us can go to two different pharmacies to buy it. That will give them plenty of time to figure it out. By then, you’ll have already built up your reputation.”

"Understood." Zhou Jie nodded.

"Actually, even if they roughly know how to use those spices and Chinese medicines, it doesn't matter. In the end, the same dish stands out because of the details. Customers are very discerning and can tell which restaurant is better after just one meal."

Your hot pot stands out at the docks because of your mastery of the broth's flavor; no one in Zhoucun can compete with yours.

Zhou Jie nodded repeatedly, and exclaimed, "What you said makes so much sense."

“Why don’t you change the signboard too? Let’s call it Zhou’s Braised Beef. Maybe we can grow this business into a big and successful one. By the time the millennium comes, it will be a decades-old brand,” Zhou Yan suggested.

“I don’t know anything about brands, but I’m definitely willing to let you use my signboard.” Zhou Jie grinned and said, “In that case, I won’t use yours for nothing. I learned how to make braised beef from you. From now on, I’ll give you 20% of the profits from this stall.”

“I don’t want this money. How much money can you make from just one stall? You still have to split this money with Hai Zi. Both of your families rely on this income for their expenses.”

"but……"

“If you ever open a shop in Jiaozhou or Chengdu, then you can talk to me about sharing my shares,” Zhou Yan interrupted him with a smile. “However, I will still invest in the business then and be a hands-off boss, waiting for the year-end dividends.”

"Okay." Seeing his firm attitude, Zhou Jie didn't insist any further. "Once we figure out how to do business, we'll find a store to run. Then we brothers can go into business together and make it bigger and stronger!"

The two rode their bikes toward Jiaozhou, chatting along the way.

Zhou Yan actually thought highly of Zhou Jie. He was down-to-earth and worldly-wise. The fact that he could stand out among all the hot pot stalls at the dock and accumulate a group of stable customers was enough to prove his ability.

What he lacks is a broader perspective and a grasp of the future direction.

The dish "Qiaojiao Beef" was so popular that it could support an entire restaurant. In later generations, it became one of the signature dishes of Jiaozhou, on par with sweet-skinned duck, pot-boiled chicken, and spicy hot pot.

Zhou Yan wasn't content with just running a small beef noodle shop, but he could let Zhou Jie do it. He would invest and give advice, while Zhou Jie would manage the business, and Zhou Yan would receive a share of the profits at the end of the year.

Once Jiaozhou's tourism industry develops, the time-honored Qiaojiao Beef will be able to earn a considerable amount of money each year.

This is the best way he can think of to maximize the use of resources, help trusted people around him grow, improve their lives, and incidentally gain extra returns from their growth.

After returning from Jiaozhou, Zhou Yan divided up the spices and Chinese medicine, and Zhou Jie carried the things back to prepare for tomorrow's business upgrade.

Today's gossip is so explosive! Through a series of lively conversations, Zhou Erwa Restaurant has become a household name, and many customers who heard about it went straight to Zhou Erwa Restaurant that evening.

Zhao Dong brought a lunchbox to pack a portion of braised pork ribs, saying he wanted to take it back for his two children and his mother to try.

While waiting for the food at the door, he kept talking:

"Try it, even the factory manager said the food here is good."

"Old Qian, have a bowl of braised beef before you go back, and I guarantee your wife will bring you water to wash your feet tomorrow."

"Which dish is the best? There's really no difference! If you want something to eat with rice, order the crucian carp with mint and the minced beef with double peppers; if you like braised dishes, the braised beef with dried bamboo shoots is a must-try; if you have kids at home who are craving something sweet, order the braised pork ribs..."

"The factory canteen? Even a dog wouldn't eat there unless the head chef is changed!"

Worker:"……"

You are noble!
What about those who eat at the factory canteen every day?
However, after Zhao Dong's call, quite a few people actually decided to come in for a meal. Zhao Dong was all smiles. He was overjoyed that Sun Meili and Wang Defa had been taken away today, and he felt a sense of satisfaction, like he had finally gotten his revenge.

Zhou Yan, who was the catalyst for this, had become his friend, so it was only natural for him to give his friend's restaurant a shout-out.

Of course, Lao Xu is in a bit of a predicament; it's uncertain whether he'll be able to come to work tomorrow.

He mentioned it today, saying that if he's really in a bad mood, he should be given a day off tomorrow.

No one would be in a good mood in this situation.

When Zhou Yan heard Zhao Hong, who was delivering lunchboxes, mention Zhao Dong's help in promoting the products, he packed a few extra ribs for this enthusiastic salesperson.

Just past six o'clock, the menu on the wall only had braised pork ribs and crucian carp with mint left; all the other dishes were sold out.

Zhou Yan ordered eighty crucian carp today. Even if there are a few left, it won't be a problem to keep them in the water tank overnight.

We prepared twenty servings of braised pork ribs today, and we still have six left. This dish is selective; female workers and children like it more, but it's a bit pricey and not very appetizing, so fewer people order it.

However, the peak customer flow period had already passed, and the factory workers who were supposed to go home for dinner had all gone home. The few remaining customers hesitated when they saw that only these two main dishes were left.

Just then, two men dressed in black Zhongshan suits walked in chatting, followed by two little boys.

"Factory Director, Deputy Factory Director, you've arrived," Aunt Zhao greeted them immediately upon seeing them.

"Yes, Sister Zhao, I'm just having a simple meal with the factory manager and my two kids," Lin Zhiqiang replied with a smile.

"Aunt Zhao." Lin Jingxing greeted Lin Bingwen politely, but his eyes were already glancing into the shop.

"Little pot!" Zhou Momo waved her little hand at them from her high stool.

"MoMo sister!"

The two of them immediately ran over, one taking out candy and the other taking out oranges, they were very generous.

"Thank you, little brother." Zhou Momo took the candy and oranges, then turned around and took out a bag of Dingding candy from the cabinet, picked out the two largest pieces and handed them to the two of them: "Here, have some Dingding candy."

"Thank you."

The two little boys took the candy and immediately stuffed it into their mouths.

"So sweet!"

"MoMo's DingDing candy is so delicious!"

The two ate the candy and didn't forget to praise each other.

Lin Zhiqiang watched his two sons surrounding the little girl, a smile on his face.

He never expected that at the age of thirty-eight, his two sons would be urging him to have a third child.

Not to mention that current policies don't allow it, what if we have another son?
Of course he liked the sweet and soft little girl. When Meng Anhe was pregnant with their second child, they both dreamed of having a daughter.

Now the couple is constantly on business trips, and Meng Anhe is even busier than him, so their two sons are being raised in a semi-free-range manner.

Meng Anhe went to Rongcheng this morning. When she took the two boys to school, they kept saying they wanted to eat at Zhou Yan's restaurant.

They still fondly remember Zhou Yan's braised pork ribs, just like their cousin.

These two little guys have a strong sense of surveillance. Last night when they got home, they even pried open his mouth to smell if he was sneaking food outside without their knowledge, and repeatedly warned him not to eat alone.

Their mother had already given the money, so Lin Zhiqiang naturally couldn't leave them behind.

It just so happened that the factory manager was also an hour late getting off work because of the time spent checking the canteen accounts, so he invited the factory manager to have a casual meal together.

Normally, Wang Hongliang would definitely refuse.

But when he heard that they were going to eat at Zhou Yan's shop, he agreed without hesitation.

The two found an empty table and sat down. Looking at the menu on the wall, they both frowned.

"Only two dishes left?"

Wang Hongliang originally wanted to try the beef stew with dried bamboo shoots again; the dried bamboo shoots were so fragrant that he was thinking about them all day at work.

Hearing the noise, Zhou Yan came out of the kitchen and explained with a smile, "Factory manager, Uncle Lin, there are quite a few workers coming to eat today, so we've almost sold out of the dishes. We only have a few servings of braised pork ribs and a few crucian carp left."

Wang Hongliang looked at Zhou Yan and smiled, "The crucian carp with mint and the braised pork ribs are good dishes. How about you stir-fry a simple vegetarian dish for us as well?"

"Yes, Xiao Zhou, let's have a crucian carp with mint, a braised pork rib, and a vegetable dish." Lin Zhiqiang nodded. Although it was a simple meal, two dishes were indeed not enough for four people.

Two teenagers, one plate of ribs wasn't enough for them to eat.

"There's still a piece of pork belly left in the kitchen. How about I stir-fry some twice-cooked pork with garlic sprouts for you? I plan to put this dish on the menu and start selling it tomorrow." Zhou Yan guessed what the two were thinking and said with a smile, "There's not much meat, just a little over three ounces. Please taste it and give me your feedback."

Wang Hongliang's eyes lit up, clearly showing interest.

Upon hearing this, the other diners nearby all turned to look.

……

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(End of this chapter)