1984: Starting from a bankrupt Sichuan restaurant

Chapter 83 This restaurant can't function without you!
"Yes, I bought it for you." Zhou Yan nodded with a smile. "Look, your shoes are all worn out. You should wear a new pair to the banquet tomorrow."

"My goodness, leather shoes! They're so beautiful, they must be very expensive!" Zhao Hong had already come closer and exclaimed in a low voice.

“Why would I wear leather shoes? I prefer cloth shoes, they’re so soft.” Aunt Zhao’s eyes immediately welled up with tears, but she said with some disdain, “Why waste this money? Take it back and return it now.”

“You can’t return it. The shopkeeper said you can exchange the size if you buy it, but you can’t return it. Hurry up and try it on to see if it fits. If it doesn’t fit, go exchange it. If the shopkeeper runs away, you won’t be able to exchange it.” Zhou Yan smiled and stuffed the shoes into her hands. Then he took out two other pairs of shoes from the basket: “I also bought a pair of three-piece leather shoes for the old man and a pair of tiger-head cloth shoes for Momo.”

"Zhou Yan is so filial, Fourth Aunt, you are so lucky." Zhao Hong said with envy, and urged with a smile, "Why don't you try them on? These leather shoes are so beautiful, you'll look like you're walking on air when you wear them."

"Then I'll give it a try." Aunt Zhao sat down on the stool, took off her cloth shoes, and carefully put on the leather shoes after unbuttoning them. She stepped on the cloth shoes and couldn't help but exclaim, "Hmm? Leather shoes are different. They're soft, comfortable, and the size is just right."

"They look great, stylish and fashionable." Zhao Hong nodded. "When I have some money at the end of the year, I'll buy a pair to wear for the New Year."

"How did you know my size? How much did these shoes cost?" Aunt Zhao looked up at Zhou Yan, a hint of surprise on her smiling face.

“I’m your son, of course I know. If the size is right, I won’t exchange it.” Zhou Yan said with a smile, “Don’t worry about how much it costs, just wear it.”

It's clear that Aunt Zhao really likes it, but she's just reluctant to spend the money.

But isn't the point of making money to spend it on the most important people in your life and let them share in that happiness?
Zhou Yan thought so.

It's truly a mess that all that money lying in his account in his past life was never even spent by him.

Aunt Zhao put on the other shoe as well, and looked at it from left to right. The more she looked, the more satisfied and happy she became, but her eyes were a little moist.

She never imagined that one day she would be able to wear the leather shoes her son bought for her.

"Brother, what about mine? Does Momo have one too?" Zhou Momo ran in from outside, her little hands covered in sand.

"Hmm, look at the little shoes I bought for you." Zhou Yan picked up the tiger-head shoes and shook them.

"Wow! So beautiful!" Zhou Momo's eyes lit up, and she rushed over to pounce on Zhou Yan.

"Wait a minute, wash your hands first." Zhou Yan quickly called out to her, pulled her to the door to wash her hands, and brushed the sand off her body outside the door.

I took off both shoes, which were half full of sand, and her little feet were also covered in sand. After cleaning them, I brought her back and put her tiger-head shoes on.

It's a little bit big, with about one and a half fingers' width of room to spare.

Aunt Zhao peeked out and nodded, saying, "It's suitable; you can wear it until next spring."

"Woof! I'm a little tiger!" Zhou Momo was incredibly proud. After shaking her head and playing for a while, she turned and jumped into Zhou Yan's arms, looking up at him: "Brother! I love these tiger shoes so much! I love you the most!"

"Good girl." Zhou Yan smiled and patted her head.

A pair of tiger-head shoes costing only 80 cents was enough to make Zhou Momo jump for joy.

This money was well spent!

Aunt Zhao had already taken off her leather shoes and put them back on cloth shoes. She turned her face away to wipe the tears from the corners of her eyes and wrapped them up again in oiled paper.

She got up and went outside to vigorously pat Zhou Momo's cloth shoes under the tree to clean out the sand inside. She came back in, picked Zhou Momo up, and placed her on her lap, smiling as she said, "Come on, wear the old ones today, and wear the new ones tomorrow. That way, everyone will say your shoes are so cute."

“Okay, okay!” Zhou Momo nodded her little head in agreement.

Aunt Zhao looked at Old Zhou's leather shoes again, and her eyes lit up: "They're from the '83 generation. I saw them at the department store last year during the Spring Festival. I wanted to buy them for you, but he wouldn't try them on. In the end, he bought me a piece of clothing instead."

"Was it a good purchase?" Zhou Yan asked with a smile.

"You have good taste, just like me." Aunt Zhao nodded, and carefully carried the three pairs of shoes behind the counter to hide them.

As they were talking, the factory closed for the day, and the workers came one after another to eat.

The three of them quickly washed their hands, put on aprons, and started working.

Today, the textile factory had three major news stories that sent the workers' hearts soaring to the heavens and plummeting to the depths of despair.

The good news is that Wang Defa was reported by name, and although his transfer has been approved, he was still detained by the security department.

The bad news is: the report alleges that Wang Defa has been purchasing large quantities of diseased pork from Wang Qi for use in the canteen over the past two years.

When the workers heard this, they felt like the sky had fallen.

The factory canteen!

The factory canteen, where everyone eats every day, is using diseased pork!

Moreover, this has been done for a long period of time and on a large scale over the past two years.

When the workers heard the news, they almost stormed into the security office and beat Wang Defa up. Today, the canteen is completely empty.

Another piece of news is that Master Xiao, the undisputed top chef of the factory canteen and the man who was seen as the one who could save the canteen after Wang Defa's downfall, has resigned.

There are confirmed reports that he was the one who reported Wang Defa.

In order not to affect Zhou Yan's business, he chose to resign rather than become the head chef.

They are truly a loving and devoted master and disciple.

But for the workers, it was a devastating blow.

Many customers who had to work the night shift didn't want to eat in the cafeteria, so they flocked to Zhou Erwa Restaurant, engaging in "revenge spending," and the number of customers doubled compared to before.

Zhou Yan never expected there would be so many customers today; the dishes she prepared were sold out in just over half an hour.

"I'm sorry, all the dishes for today are sold out. Please come again next Monday," Aunt Zhao explained with a smile.

The customers who hadn't been able to eat had no choice but to flock to other vendors at the factory gate.

This delighted the vendors.

Zhou Yan gleaned information about Xiao Lei's resignation from the workers' gossip, which stirred something within him.

Master had a deep affection for the textile factory canteen. He started as an apprentice there at the age of fifteen and worked there for thirty years. He took over as head chef from his master and worked there for fifteen years. If Master nodded, he could be reinstated as head chef and even promoted to deputy director.

If I work for another ten years or so, I can retire comfortably from the textile factory, and maybe I'll even be a director by then.

I resigned just like that, without the slightest hesitation.

Zhou Yan will definitely find a chance to repay this kindness.

Lin Zhiqiang arrived relatively early and got to eat the braised beef, but he wasn't early enough, as he didn't get to pack the braised pork ribs.

"Uncle Lin, I won't be going for a run tonight. My brother is getting married tomorrow, so I'm going back to my room tonight," Zhou Yan said to Lin Zhiqiang as he brought out the dishes.

"Okay." Lin Zhiqiang nodded, then casually asked, "How's your master doing now? Where does he plan to take a job?"

See, even the deputy factory director in charge of technology can't resist eating gossip when there's something to gossip about.

"He's doing well, he hasn't decided where to go yet," Zhou Yan replied with a smile.

It seems like I answered, but it also seems like I didn't.

After closing for the evening, Zhao Hong and Aunt Zhao cleared the tables and washed the dishes.

Zhou Yan counted the money and handed out seven yuan and fifteen yuan.

After the two finished their work, Zhou Yan smiled and called Zhao Hong over: "Sister-in-law, today is the first, I've paid your salary."

"Payment on the 1st? I didn't work many days last month." Zhao Hong walked over and said with a smile, "Why don't we start counting from this month? We're family."

“You’re here to work, not to play around. I’ll pay you for every day you work.” Zhou Yan smiled and handed over seven yuan. “You worked ten days last month, so I’ll pay you seven yuan. The change will be your bonus.”

"So much?" Zhao Hong looked at the money in Zhou Yan's hand, hesitant to take it.

"Here, this is the money you've earned working so hard from dawn till dusk." Aunt Zhao came over and stuffed the money into her hand, smiling as she said, "You need to earn money so you can save up to buy leather shoes at the end of the year."

"Okay." Zhao Hong happily clutched her wages, took off her apron, and walked towards the door. "Then I'll go back first. Your brother is waiting for me outside. I'll go back and cook for the two kids."

"Aunt Zhao, this is your salary." After Zhao Hong left, Zhou Yan handed the remaining fifteen yuan to Aunt Zhao.

"What kind of salary would I get!" Aunt Zhao rolled her eyes at him. "You should save your money carefully and not squander it. You still need to get married in the future."

"Here, this is the money you've earned working so hard." Zhou Yan smiled and stuffed the money into her hand, saying earnestly, "You're not only the lobby manager, but also the person in charge of Qiaojiao Beef. I'll give you a salary of thirty yuan a month. Starting this month, your commission will be calculated as 20% of Qiaojiao Beef's net profit."

"This restaurant can't function without you!"

"Keep this safe, we'll go to the banquet tomorrow!"

Aunt Zhao held the money, and her eyes welled up with tears again.

"I want to grab a seat! I want to grab a seat!" Zhou Momo came over, raising her little hand: "Brother, let's go now! My tummy is so hungry."
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(End of this chapter)