Double-Pepper Beef Tossed Noodles

Zhou Yan began looking over his restaurant. The place covered two hundred square meters; after the large kitchen was deducted, the dining hall still had around one hundred and thirty square meters. Twenty square tables had been set out without making it feel crowded, and electrical wires had been strung up with eight lightbulbs hanging from them.

More than half the money used to open the restaurant had gone into these tables, chairs, and benches. The materials were exceptionally solid.

There was also an open yard outside the entrance, stretching all the way to the riverbank, where several dozen more tables could be set up.

The kitchen was not small. Xiao Zhou had learned cooking at the Factory Canteen and had planned the back kitchen well: a vegetable-washing area, a cutting area, a cooking area, and even a separate cold-dish room. Every kind of knife and kitchen utensil was available.

Two large iron woks sat atop a three-burner earthen stove, along with a soup pot. Beside the stove, split oak wood stacked to half a person's height had been arranged neatly.

A three-tier seasoning rack stood on the stove. The top tier held oil, salt, soy sauce, and vinegar; the middle tier held dry ingredients like Sichuan peppercorns and chili peppers; the lower-tier sauce jars contained broad bean paste and pickled chilies. Nothing was missing.

An area beside it was still empty, leaving plenty of room for expansion.

Poor students had too much stationery—that was the logic of it.

The huge sum of over thirteen hundred yuan had all been poured into this place.

When ordinary self-employed people first started out, they would simply set up a street stall and do business. There was no rent to pay and no need to buy much equipment; they saved money however they could.

But Zhou Yan absolutely loved this kitchen.

These two big iron woks could not only stir-fry dishes—they could cook noodles just as well.

[ Ding! Main quest issued: Restaurant influence reaches 100 (gain 1 influence point for every diner's approval). Accept: Yes! No!

Quest success reward: One random recipe! ]

The new quest suddenly appeared, and Zhou Yan decisively chose to accept it.

Zhou Yan went outside and carried in a square table, placing it in the open space to the right of the entrance.

The cypress table was still brand-new. Its boards had been joined with dovetail joints so tightly there was not a crack between them, and its surface had been planed smooth as a mirror. Carpenter Wang's workmanship was good.

This would be his noodle station. Making hand-pulled noodles required a worktable.

He took out a bag of flour from the cabinet, weighed out half a kilogram, added an appropriate amount of salt and water, and began kneading the dough.

Zhou Yan had definitely never kneaded dough before, and Xiao Zhou had never worked with pastry either.

Yet the moment he placed his hands on the dough, he began kneading without thinking. Push, pull—his movements were skilled. The wrinkled lump of dough changed shape freely beneath his hands, and before long, it became smooth and soft.

He covered the dough with an enamel basin. It needed to rest for a while before it could be kneaded again. Only after repeating the process three times could the finished dough be pulled into noodles.

Taking advantage of the time, Zhou Yan checked the shelf beside him. There were still over a dozen eggs, two handfuls of wilted green and red chilies, and some durable ginger, garlic, and potatoes.

The restaurant had not opened yesterday, so naturally no ingredients had been prepared.

There was no refrigerator in the restaurant, and October weather was not cold enough yet, so meat had to be bought fresh every day.

Zhou Yan slipped his meat coupons and money into his pocket, preparing to go out and buy some beef to make topping with. He would test the dish first.

"Big brother! Big brother! Open the door! I'm Momo!"

Just then, knocking sounded at the door, accompanied by a soft, milky little voice with a Sichuan accent.

Zhou Yan's heart stirred. He reached out and pulled back the door bolt. The door was pushed open, and a little bundle tumbled in after it, clearly about to fall flat on the ground.

Zhou Yan reacted quickly, grabbing the back of her collar and smoothly lifting her up.

She was tiny and delicately adorable, as if sculpted from pink jade. Her eyes were large and round, the baby fat still not gone from her face, and her cheeks looked even softer than dough, making one itch to pinch them.

Zhou Yan looked at the three-and-a-half-year-old girl before him.

This is... my little sister? So cute!

"Eh?" Zhou Momo kicked her little short legs twice. Realizing she had not fallen, she raised her head and looked at him eagerly, then grinned. "Big brother is amazing! You caught me."

"If you fall again next time, I might not be able to catch you." Zhou Yan reached out and pinched her cheek. Sure enough, it was soft.

But this little thing's reactions were half a beat slow. She was adorably silly.

His parents had had a daughter in their old age. She was their youngest child, the only daughter of the Zhou family, with five older cousins above her. She was unquestionably the family darling.

Holding Zhou Momo, Zhou Yan looked at the two people standing outside the door.

On the left stood a tall, lean middle-aged man with dark skin, wearing a navy-blue Zhongshan suit. His waist and back were straight, and the patches at his elbows were sewn with fine, neat stitches. The clothes were old and faded, but washed spotlessly clean. His callused right hand held a piece of beef weighing over half a kilogram.

On the right stood a middle-aged woman of small stature, wearing a yellow-flowered polyester shirt on a blue background. Her complexion was several shades fairer than that of most rural women. Though the corners of her eyes had gathered many fine lines, her cheeks were rosy, lending her whole person a radiant vitality.

The woman's eyes were just like Zhou Momo's—large and lively—and she was smiling as she looked at Zhou Yan.

Zhou Yan opened his mouth. The words "Dad" and "Mom" felt far too unfamiliar. He had never called anyone that in his previous life. Though Xiao Zhou's memories and lingering emotions made him feel close to the two of them, the words caught in his throat and simply would not come out.

At that moment, Wang Laowu, who sold noodles from a stall outside the factory gate, came over and peered into the restaurant. He muttered, "Didn't they say Zhou Erwa Restaurant couldn't stay open anymore, and that he jumped into the Qingyi River?"

The smile on Zhao Tieying's face immediately turned cold. She spun around, fixed Wang Laowu with a glare, pointed at him, and cursed furiously, "You brainless fool, looking like a warty toad! The sun doesn't shine on you, yet you're still a strange shadow! You've got no skills, but you're crooked and kicking up a fuss—hang yourself with your pants off, shameless bastard!"

"You've got two eggs hanging beneath your eyebrows; all you know is how to blink, not how to see! What gives you the right to make up stories about my son?"

"Y-you woman..." Wang Laowu's face flushed red from the scolding.

"You turtle's son, when fortune comes you don't show your face, but when bad luck comes you gather in a grand reunion! If I hear you speaking ill of my son again, I'll tear that filthy mouth of yours to pieces!" Zhao Tieying continued pouring it on, unleashing another torrent of abuse right in his face.

Wang Laowu clenched his fists tightly and was about to charge forward.

Zhou Miao stepped forward and stood in front of Zhao Tieying, his face cold. He lifted one corner of his Zhongshan suit, revealing the boning knife tucked at his waist.

Wang Laowu halted, forcing out an awkward smile. "Fourth Brother, your wife is really too unreasonable." Then he turned and left.

Zhou the Fourth from Cattle-Slaughtering Zhou Village—who would dare provoke him?

"Get the hell out!" Zhao Tieying spat toward Wang Laowu's retreating back.

"Get out!" Zhou Momo also clenched her little fists and shouted in her milky voice.

For the first time in his life, Zhou Yan was being protected. Warmth filled his heart. In his previous life, whenever people bullied him, he had always borne it alone. When had he ever enjoyed such family affection? The words slipped from his mouth before he could stop them.

"Dad, Mom, why are you here?"

Having cursed Wang Laowu away, Zhao Tieying turned back and looked Zhou Yan up and down. "We came to see a hero. I heard some hero jumped into the Qingyi River to save a girl. Zhou Yan, how come I never knew you had such ability?"

Well then, the Sichuan-Chongqing tyrannosaur had transformed into a master of veiled sarcasm.

"I happened to pass by and saw it. I couldn't just stand by and watch someone die." Zhou Yan scratched his head.

"Erwa did a good deed too. As long as he's fine, that's what matters." Zhou Miao chimed in.

Zhao Tieying shot him a glare. Before she could speak, Zhou Miao turned to Zhou Yan and said, "Your mother is right."

Zhou Yan: ???

When it came to family status, Zhao Tieying clearly had everyone firmly in her grasp.

"You can make a huge Buddha out of however much mud you have, but you can't even swim—how did you dare jump into the Qingyi River to save someone..." Zhao Tieying had only gotten halfway through when her eyes reddened, and her voice began to choke.

From her, Zhou Yan felt the concern and family affection he had once longed for but could never reach.

He could imagine how Zhao Tieying and Zhou Miao must have come rushing over in panic when they heard the news.

Their son, "Zhou Yan," had already died. From today onward, he who had inherited Zhou Yan's memories and part of his emotions would be their son.

With both parents alive and well, and an adorable little sister besides, all of Zhou Yan's resentment toward transmigration dissipated completely at that moment.

"Mom, you're right. Next time, I'll definitely act within my limits." Zhou Yan nodded with a proper attitude.

"You still dare talk about next time? See if I don't break your legs!" Zhao Tieying raised her fist threateningly.

"I wouldn't dare, I wouldn't dare." Zhou Yan immediately surrendered. He put Zhou Momo down, took the beef from Zhou Miao's hand, and said, "I was just planning to cut some beef and make noodle topping. You probably haven't had lunch yet, right? I'll make Double-Pepper Beef Noodles for you."

"Okay, okay! Momo loves noodles!" Zhou Momo followed Zhou Yan into the kitchen.

"We haven't had time to eat lunch yet, but when did you learn how to make noodles?" Zhao Tieying followed her inside, her face full of doubt.

"I learned a long time ago. I just never made them for you before." Zhou Yan answered casually.

When Xiao Zhou had been learning to cook, he ate and slept at the factory and did not go home often. Zhao Tieying and Zhou Miao did not actually know much about his cooking skills. Otherwise, they would not have lent him so much money to open this restaurant.

Zhou Miao casually shut the door and said after pondering for a moment, "Why don't you save that beef to make food for customers? We're family. Just cook us some plain vegetable noodles."

"Exactly. Such a good piece of hanging tenderloin—your dad specifically saved it for you. Our family isn't in a position to eat meat now." Zhao Tieying nodded as well.

"I'm planning to switch to selling noodles starting tomorrow. Before I sell them, I need someone to taste-test them, don't I? Otherwise, I won't feel at ease." Zhou Yan said with a smile.

Zhao Tieying and Zhou Miao both fell silent. They looked again at the bare wall. The original menu had disappeared, leaving behind only a few glue marks.

"Why has it turned back into a noodle shop?" Zhou Miao asked quietly.

"Who the hell knows." Zhao Tieying curled her lip. "Only after running a household do you know how expensive oil and salt are. If he stops messing with all those flashy things, selling noodles might at least lose less money. But can this kid really make noodles? Our town doesn't lack noodle shops."

Carrying the beef into the kitchen, Zhou Yan first kneaded the rested dough once more, then covered it again to continue resting before he began handling the beef.

This grass-fed yellow beef was of superb quality, and hanging tenderloin was an especially sought-after cut. It could be stir-fried or hot-potted, and there was no chance of getting it at the Supply and Marketing Cooperative.

His father was a cattle butcher from Zhou Village. Cattle-Slaughtering Zhou Village was famous far and wide around Jiazhou. Of the five brothers, four were cattle butchers. Since he ranked fourth, people called him Zhou the Fourth. His skills were good, and so was his reputation.

Cattle butchers made their living by skill. His father could earn sixty or seventy yuan a month slaughtering cattle, more than an ordinary worker at the silk mill. The family's circumstances were not bad, which was why they could produce five hundred yuan in savings for him to open the restaurant and still raise plump little Zhou Momo.

By opening this restaurant, Zhou Yan had drained all of his parents' savings and even left them owing a debt.

He had gotten a firsthand taste of what it meant to cheat one's father.

But having a cattle-butcher father made buying beef much easier, and the price was more reliable than the black market's.

This half kilogram of beef sold for 1.2 yuan at the Supply and Marketing Cooperative. At the black market, it would cost 2.8 yuan—more than double the price.

But meat from the Supply and Marketing Cooperative was hard to buy even with coupons. Even lining up at dawn did not guarantee getting the cut one wanted.

He first sliced the beef into strips, then diced it into small pieces. He grabbed a handful of pickled chilies and pickled ginger from the Pickled Vegetables jar and diced those as well. After peeling the garlic, he smashed it first, then chopped it up, leaving enough texture in the pieces.

He sliced the bright red millet chilies and emerald green Erjingtiao chilies into rings, then chopped them up and poured them onto a plate for later use.

Zhou Yan's knife skills truly were good now. His hands could completely keep up with his mind.

"Big brother is amazing!"

Zhou Momo dragged over a little stool and sat nearby to watch, exclaiming in admiration again and again. She gave him plenty of emotional support.

After preparing the ingredients, Zhou Yan kneaded the dough once more. It had already become soft and smooth.

He lit both woks at once, using one to boil water and the other to stir-fry.

Zhou Momo could not sit still anymore. She ran to the side, hugged a piece of oak wood nearly as tall as she was, and came over with a heave-ho. Looking proudly at Zhou Yan, she said, "Big brother, look how capable I am."

"So impressive." Zhou Yan smiled and praised her.

Having received praise, Zhou Momo became even more energetic. She shoved the wood into the stove and muttered, "I'm feeding food to the stove."

Once the wok was hot, Zhou Yan poured in a ladleful of rapeseed oil, then scooped a small spoonful of snowy-white lard from the enamel basin beside him and added it to the wok.

Zhao Tieying stood at the kitchen entrance with her neck stretched out to watch, and her face immediately twisted in pain. "That kid—those two spoonfuls of oil are enough for our family to stir-fry vegetables for a whole week."

"More oil does make dishes taste better. Home and a restaurant are certainly different. Erwa is a professional chef, after all." Zhou Miao said with a smile.

"Professional my ass. Even his Twice-Cooked Pork isn't as fragrant as mine." Zhao Tieying muttered.

"Of course." Zhou Miao hurriedly nodded.

At that moment, Zhou Yan's attention was entirely fixed on the wok of oil before him. He knew the method for Double-Pepper Beef Topping by heart, but since it was his first time actually making it, he was still somewhat nervous.

Once the oil was hot, he added the minced beef first.

The oil sizzled, and he rapidly spread the diced meat apart with his spatula. At once, the rich fragrance of meat filled the air.

The minced beef quickly changed color in the hot oil. Once the meat had turned slightly golden-brown, he added the pickled ginger, pickled chilies, and minced garlic, followed by a little soy sauce and oyster sauce. The aroma burst forth in an instant.

"Gulp."

Zhou Momo's swallowing was exceptionally loud. She stood on tiptoe and clung to the stove, trying to peek over it, only half her head visible. "It smells so good!"

"Don't let the oil splatter on you." Zhao Tieying hurried over and picked her up. She could not help peering into the wok herself. The smell was truly enticing. Zhou Yan's cooking had never smelled like this before.

After seasoning it with salt and a little MSG, he added the chopped millet chilies and Erjingtiao chilies, stir-fried everything evenly, then scooped it into the earthen bowl beside him. One serving of Double-Pepper Beef Topping was complete.

The glossy green and red chilies were vividly colored, while the slightly golden-brown minced beef was distinct in every grain. The spiciness mingled with the fragrance of meat, making it extraordinarily tempting.

Zhao Tieying and Zhou Miao, who had been busy all morning, could not help swallowing as well.

This Noodle Mince looked truly good! But what would it taste like?