This Girl Was Really Nice

"I'd like Spare Rib Noodles too, but could you add an extra serving of ribs?" The moment Xia Yao sat down, she looked up at Zhou Yan with a radiant smile. "I'll pay separately for the toppings."

"I'll have a bowl of Braised Beef Noodles. Two liang of noodles will be enough," Meng Anhe said. Old Lin had gone on and on yesterday about how delicious the Braised Beef Noodles were. If he had not suddenly left on a business trip to Chengdu, he definitely would have come for breakfast today.

"I only want two liang of noodles too," Xia Yao quickly added.

Yesterday's bowl of noodles had been far too generous. She had only managed to finish it because she had gone hungry all day; normally, she did not eat nearly that much.

"Alright." Zhou Yan answered and turned toward the kitchen.

After Zhao Tieying carried the things to the back and put them away, she busied herself pouring water for the two women.

"His handwriting is quite good. It looks like he has practiced before. Why did Old Lin say he stopped studying before even finishing middle school?" Meng Anhe asked as she looked at the handwritten menu on the wall.

"His writing really is very good. When a boy can write that well, his grades usually aren't too bad." Xia Yao was also somewhat surprised by the words on the wall, but she soon smiled. "Maybe he simply likes being a chef more. After all, the braised spare ribs he makes are so delicious."

Meng Anhe nodded faintly, but she still felt a little regretful. No matter how delicious his braised spare ribs were, he would likely spend his entire life trapped in this small town of Suji, running a noodle shop with decent business.

National policies were getting better and better now, and every trade was flourishing. If he could get into university, both his horizons and future would be vastly different. With his personality and looks, he might even accomplish something great.

Before long, Zhou Yan brought out two steaming bowls of noodles, along with a small plate of pickled radish.

The braised spare ribs on Xia Yao's bowl nearly covered the entire surface. The smile on her face became even brighter; she had still been craving them after yesterday's meal.

Meng Anhe looked at the bowl of Braised Beef Noodles before her. Large chunks of beef were paired with diced dried bamboo shoots, all glistening red and tempting in color. The fragrance rushed straight at her nose, making her mouth water.

The two women had arrived hungry to begin with. How could they possibly hold back now? They picked up their chopsticks and began slurping noodles.

Zhou Yan and Zhao Tieying tactfully went behind the counter so that watching from nearby would not make them uncomfortable.

A mouthful of noodles, a mouthful of meat, followed by a sip of piping-hot beef bone broth—before long, a thin sheen of sweat had formed on both their foreheads. They ate with utter relish.

Meng Anhe usually liked wontons and dumplings. She rarely ate noodles outside because she was unaccustomed to the smell of alkaline water.

Yet this bowl of Braised Beef Noodles genuinely surprised her.

The beef was fragrant, spicy, soft, and tender. The dried bamboo shoots were crisp and refreshing, while the noodles were springy and smooth, and the beef bone broth richly aromatic. There was not the slightest strange taste, only lingering fragrance filling her mouth.

Then she took a bite of pickled radish. It was sour, spicy, and refreshing, with a sweet aftertaste that reached straight into her heart.

After finishing the bowl of beef noodles, she had unconsciously drunk every drop of the soup as well.

Her whole body felt warm, and she was utterly satisfied.

Only then did she understand that it was not that she disliked noodles; she had simply never eaten truly delicious noodles before.

"Even the second time around, I'm still amazed by the braised spare ribs!" Xia Yao finished her breakfast with a strip of pickled radish, satisfaction shining through her smile. "And these pickled radishes are so delicious too."

Eating two servings' worth of braised spare ribs was simply too satisfying!

"Little Zhou, do you sell these sour radishes separately? I'd like to buy some to take home for my two sons to eat with their breakfast porridge," Meng Anhe said, taking out her wallet and looking at Zhou Yan.

"The sour radishes are provided free in the shop to help customers cut through the richness. Since you like them, I'll pack some for you to take home. Radishes aren't worth much anyway. Once you finish them, just come back for more," Zhou Yan said, taking a glass jar that had once held canned yellow peaches and filling it with sour radishes for Meng Anhe.

Using a little pickled vegetables to build a good relationship with Madam Lin was far too worthwhile.

Meng Anhe clearly was not some little woman dependent on Lin Zhiqiang. Leaving a good impression now would make things easier if he ever needed to ask her for help in the future.

"Alright, then I won't stand on ceremony." Meng Anhe accepted it with a smile. The glass jar had been washed spotless and shone brightly. The red-skinned radishes were crystal-clear, and he had thoughtfully added pickling brine as well. As long as she screwed the lid on tightly, they would keep for several more days. The young man was attentive.

"Please settle the bill for us."

"This meal is on me. You gave us so many things, and I'd feel rather embarrassed taking your money," Zhou Yan quickly said.

"That won't do. We came here specifically to eat noodles. If you don't take the money, we'll feel even more awkward coming back next time." Xia Yao waved her hands repeatedly. "I got a huge amount of ribs in my bowl, so just charge us for two bowls of noodles."

"I think that's right. You must take the money. Old Lin and I still want to come eat here next time," Meng Anhe said with a nod, pulling out one yuan and eighty fen and handing it to Zhou Yan.

"Alright, then I'll accept it—but not one yuan and eighty fen. One yuan and fifty fen," Zhou Yan said with a smile, taking the money and returning thirty fen to her. "An extra serving of toppings costs thirty fen."

Meng Anhe put the money back in her wallet. This young man was natural and composed in dealing with people, neither servile nor overbearing when he spoke. He was unlike ordinary rural youths, who tended to be shy and dull.

The new university graduates at their design institute often became so nervous in front of her that they stuttered. They were not as good as him.

A few traces of appreciation for talent stirred in her heart. Looking at Zhou Yan, she asked, "Little Zhou, did you write the menu on the wall and the signboard outside yourself?"

"Yes. The menu is fairly simple, so I just wrote one out by hand," Zhou Yan said with a nod.

"Your handwriting is truly good. Did you ever take the college entrance examination?" Meng Anhe asked again.

Xia Yao looked at Zhou Yan as well, her face equally full of curiosity.

Zhao Tieying, who had been wiping tables nearby, gradually stopped moving. She too glanced at the menu on the wall. The previous menu had been written by the fortune-teller from their village, and Zhou Yan's handwriting had looked like ghostly scribbles. How had it suddenly become so pretty?

This brat was bluffing!

"No. My grades were always poor, and I dropped out in my second year of middle school. How could I have taken the college entrance examination?" Zhou Yan shook his head, entirely frank.

Comrade Little Zhou's education level was only a little better than illiteracy. He could not even work out addition involving numbers over a hundred.

Without a middle-school graduation certificate, the road for Zhou Yan to change his fate through the college entrance examination was basically blocked off.

Zhou Yan was not anxious about this at all. This era was full of opportunities; catching hold of just one could turn a person's life around. He had already decided to put down roots in the food and beverage industry and run his restaurant well.

He was the sort who found contentment in modest prosperity. He could not become a trailblazer riding the waves of the times, much less gallop through the business world. In the future, opening a few restaurants and banquet halls, with a wife, children, and a warm bed—that kind of lovely life was his ideal.

"Your handwriting is good. You can keep practicing," Meng Anhe said, not pursuing the subject any further.

He had dropped out in his second year of middle school and had been away from school for four or five years. It was easy to imagine how poor his foundation must be.

But just as Xia Yao had said, his cooking was so delicious. His talent lay in the kitchen. He was bold yet meticulous; perhaps he might still carve out a career for himself someday.

"You're right." Zhou Yan nodded with a smile.

Xia Yao reached out and stroked Zhou Momo's head, smiling with narrowed eyes. "Momo, big sister will bring you something tasty next time."

"Big sister!" Zhou Momo's eyes lit up. Clutching Xia Yao's hand, she wheedled, "Then you have to come!"

"Alright, alright, I'll definitely come." Zhou Momo's chubby little hand swayed, and Xia Yao's heart nearly melted. With great difficulty, she pulled her hand back and waved to Zhou Yan. "Goodbye, Comrade Zhou Yan."

"Goodbye, Comrade Xia Yao." Zhou Yan gave a slight nod.

Their eyes met, and both of them could not help smiling.

It was a somewhat strange form of address.

It carried the sense that they had forged a revolutionary friendship.

"This girl really is something," Zhao Tieying sighed as she watched the bicycle ride away. "It would be wonderful if she were my daughter-in-law."

"You're dreaming beautifully," Zhou Yan said with a smile as he turned toward the counter.

"That's true. She's a university student, a city girl, and her family must be well-off too. How could she possibly take a fancy to country people like us?" Zhao Tieying sighed as she followed him inside. "Your Auntie Liu has mentioned several times that she wants to introduce you to someone. When will you go meet her?"

"I'm only twenty. Why should I be going on blind dates?" Zhou Yan paused while counting the money, his scalp tingling a little. Then he quickly added, "Or tell Auntie Liu the truth about our family's situation and see what sort of match she can introduce to me."

The moment Zhao Tieying heard that, she deflated. Their family had originally been fairly well-off, and Zhou Yan was tall and handsome, so matchmakers had often had their eyes on him.

But now they had emptied their savings to open this restaurant and still owed more than eight hundred yuan outside. What family would be willing to send their daughter over after hearing that? They could not even afford the betrothal gifts.

Having shut Zhao Tieying up, Zhou Yan breathed a sigh of relief. In both his lifetimes, this was the first time someone had urged him to get married. Having someone worry so eagerly over his marriage was probably a novel and heartwarming experience.

Still, he was not anxious about it in the slightest. A man should put his career first. He would never agree to marry a woman introduced by a matchmaker when they had incompatible values and nothing in common to talk about.

"Sister Yaoyao is nice," Zhou Momo said as she edged up beside Zhou Yan's leg. In a small voice, she added, "Sister Yaoyao would make a good sister-in-law."

"You're dreaming even more beautifully." Zhou Yan reached out and flicked her nose.

They had sold fifty-two bowls of noodles that morning, earning thirty-one yuan and fifty fen. It was all ten-fen and fifty-fen notes, a thick stack in his hands.

Zhou Yan had been busy all morning, but in that moment, all his exhaustion seemed to melt away. The sense of harvest was simply incredible.

"Business is getting better and better. It looks like we'll sell all ninety bowls of noodles today." Zhao Tieying beamed as she looked at the money in Zhou Yan's hand.

Before, the restaurant's daily revenue had not even been enough to buy ingredients. Money had flowed out like water. Only these past two days had they finally started seeing returns, and business was improving by the day. Every customer praised the food after eating it; their reputation was clearly beginning to take shape.

During this period, the pressure on the couple had been no less than Zhou Yan's. Yet they had not dared speak harshly to him, afraid he would be unable to bear the burden. They had already prepared themselves for the restaurant to close and for them to repay the debts.

Who would have thought that after the boy jumped into the river to save someone, it was as if he had suddenly seen the light? He switched to selling noodles and revived the restaurant. Business was visibly getting better and better. If they could sell ninety bowls of noodles a day, that would be fifty-four yuan!

That was over a thousand yuan in monthly income. After deducting costs and rent, they could still make several hundred yuan in profit!

Zhao Tieying had sold beef for years and knew how to do the accounts. This was even more than Old Zhou earned slaughtering cattle!

There was hope for their days ahead!

"It's clear that people can accept spending a little more money for better food," Zhou Yan said with a smile.

Customers were all shrewd. Their noodles might cost one or two fen more than elsewhere, but they gave twice as much meat. When all was said and done, they were actually a better bargain—and tastier too.

Once their reputation spread, business naturally would not be bad.

But they had sold fifty-two bowls of noodles this morning. The system mission should have been completed beyond the requirement, right?

Zhou Yan glanced over, and sure enough, a mission panel popped up.

[Ding! Main mission: Restaurant influence reaches 100—completed! Reward obtained: Qiaojiao Beef recipe.]