Comrade Zhou Yan, Was This Your Idea?

"Zhou Erwa Restaurant?"

Wang Defa stood there with his mouth hanging open, his face full of shock and confusion before it quickly turned into embarrassed fury.

He had already prepared himself for them to choose a state-run restaurant. Teachers and college students from a big city naturally might prefer state-run restaurants.

But he had never imagined that they would actually be going to Zhou Erwa Restaurant.

How was that any different from jumping up and slapping him across the face?

Wang Defa's lips trembled. "Motherf—..." The curse reached his lips, but he remembered Lin Zhiqiang's warning that morning and forcibly swallowed it back down.

In the crowd, Xia Yao's mouth fell slightly open as she looked at Su Jun's back in surprise. She had not expected the department head to choose Zhou Yan's restaurant.

That had to be a good thing. There were thirty of them—enough to fill half of Zhou Yan's restaurant at once.

Zhou Yan and Auntie Zhao would definitely be thrilled.

Xia Yao was happy too. She had no interest in eating at the Factory Canteen. On her first day here, her uncle and aunt had taken her there for stir-fried dishes, and the food had been far worse than her school cafeteria's.

She wanted to eat Zhou Yan's braised spare ribs and try the newly added Qiaojiao Beef.

"These college students aren't eating at the canteen? They're going to Zhou Erwa Restaurant instead? They know good food when they see it."

"Zhou Yan's noodles and Qiaojiao Beef are way better than the canteen food, aside from being expensive!"

"The canteen food gets worse by the day. If it weren't cheap, even dogs wouldn't eat it!"

"I had their stir-fried dishes yesterday. The pork liver was cut as thick as chopsticks, and the stir-fried liver was swimming in broth and tough as leather. I don't know whether they even cleaned the pork intestines, and they hadn't cooked them soft either. I chewed until I nearly threw up."

"When Master Xiao was head chef, even the big-pot dishes smelled amazing. But certain people wanted their cousin to be head chef, so they made Master Xiao, a Level Two Cook, work as a prep hand. Now even the stir-fried dishes are inedible."

"What a piece of work. I pay for my meals and still have to be disgusted by him. The ones who squat over shit are bullying the ones who eat it."

Passing workers discussed it among themselves, shooting Wang Defa looks of contempt.

Wang Defa was the director of the Factory Canteen. At the Textile Factory, he could at least be considered management.

But workers in those days stood tall. They were not afraid of a mere canteen director. Some had been there since the factory was founded and had more seniority than Wang Defa.

They had already been unhappy with the lousy food at the canteen, and they had cursed him plenty in private.

Now that college students were refusing to eat at the canteen and the deputy factory director was present, how could those sarcastic tongues resist taking a few digs at him?

The college students could not hold back their laughter either. He was not one of their school leaders, so of course they could laugh.

A canteen mocked this badly by its own workers could not possibly have much worth eating.

The department head really had good judgment. He was a department head for a reason.

Wang Defa heard every word loud and clear. His face alternated between green and red, yet he still had to pretend not to care.

His gaze drifted toward Lin Zhiqiang, hoping he would step forward and say a few words for the Factory Canteen.

"No problem. We'll eat at Zhou Erwa Restaurant." Lin Zhiqiang made the decision immediately, saying with a smile, "Let's all go together. I've been wanting their noodles too."

Zhao Dong had told him about the grudge between Zhou Yan and Wang Defa.

The young man had been somewhat rash in standing up for his master, but Lin Zhiqiang admired exactly that sense of youthful loyalty in Zhou Yan.

The canteen food had become worse and worse over the past two years. Even the stir-fried dishes had begun cutting corners. Wang Defa, as director, could not escape blame.

The Factory Canteen was not under his authority, so he could not rein Wang Defa in.

Whether out of sentiment or principle, he did not hesitate to side with Zhou Yan.

It was not easy for a young man to open a restaurant. Besides, Su Jun had made the request, so all Lin Zhiqiang had to do was cooperate.

Lin Zhiqiang led the teachers and students toward the factory gate.

"Deputy Factory Director Lin..." Wang Defa watched Lin Zhiqiang's retreating back. His mouth opened and closed again before he stomped his foot. "That brat Zhou Yan is such a nuisance! I'll deal with you sooner or later!"

The workers left amid laughter, feeling as though they had finally vented their anger.

That pest Wang Defa had finally met his match.

With Lin Zhiqiang leading the way, thirty college teachers and students marched grandly toward Zhou Erwa Restaurant.

They drew plenty of attention along the way.

It was lunchtime, and many workers followed along to watch the excitement. Some had even trailed them over from the canteen.

College students were rare enough in those days.

Two or three dozen students from a prestigious university gathered together, with university professors among them too—they were rarer than giant pandas in this little town.

Zhou Erwa Restaurant had not yet received any customers. Zhou Yan stood before the earthen stove at the entrance, discussing with Zhao Tieying how many slices of chuck flap each serving of Qiaojiao Beef should contain that day.

Yesterday, each serving had contained three thin slices—enough to taste the flavor.

Today, he had bought an extra two jin of chuck flap. The total cost had risen by three yuan, but each serving of Qiaojiao Beef would now have six slices of beef laid on top at the end, making the portion look far more generous.

Zhou Yan was deepening his moat in advance. With an absolute advantage in flavor, he would use high-quality beef to improve the value for money.

Zhou Yan had sliced the beef himself. With his superb knife skills, each slice was thin and broad.

"They're here!" Zhao Hong suddenly cried out from the restaurant entrance.

"What?" Zhao Tieying and Zhou Yan both looked at her.

"A whole lot of people are coming! Those college students from this morning are all here!" Zhao Hong said excitedly.

As she spoke, Lin Zhiqiang and Su Jun led a group of more than thirty people to the entrance of Zhou Erwa Restaurant.

"Little Zhou, the teachers and students from Sichuan Fine Arts Academy's Department of Arts and Crafts are having lunch at your restaurant. Make sure you receive them properly," Lin Zhiqiang said with a smile as he looked at Zhou Yan.

Zhou Yan's eyes lit up. He had not expected Lin Zhiqiang to bring this group of college students to eat at his restaurant. Looking at the workers following behind to watch the excitement, this was not just thirty new approvals—it was a live advertisement.

Uncle Lin really was the best! He might as well have been Zhou Yan's real uncle!

"Teachers, students, please come in and have a seat." Zhou Yan greeted them with a smile.

The students all looked at him. They were around the same age, and Zhou Yan was tall and handsome, which made him easy to like.

"He's so tall. He looks about as tall as Ma Xingye, and he has peach blossom eyes too. He looks like he'd gaze at a dog affectionately," Zhu Yuyu whispered. "Yaoyao, your drawing really captured him."

"Still, I think Ma Xingye is a bit sunnier. Of course, he's handsome too," Deng Hong whispered as well. "Yaoyao, what do you think?"

The two girls flanked Xia Yao, one on either side, but Xia Yao did not respond.

Lin Zhiqiang was right in front of them. If anything she said reached her aunt's ears, she would definitely get another lecture later.

Ma Xingye, the captain of their department basketball team, was standing not far behind them. But if she really had to compare them, Xia Yao thought Zhou Yan was better-looking.

And being around him felt comfortable.

"No rush. Students, first take a look at this earthen stove by the entrance and the words written on it," Su Jun said. "What do you notice?"

At his words, the students carefully examined the giant wok and earthen stove, which measured over a meter across.

The lid had already been lifted. A rich beef aroma surged toward them with the steam, making them swallow involuntarily as their mouths watered.

This pot of stock had already been simmering when they arrived that morning. It had been cooking for a full eight hours—who knew how fresh it must be!

The stove was taller than an ordinary stove. The outward-facing side had been painted white with lime, and five large red characters had been written over it: "Zhou's Qiaojiao Beef." The calligraphy was neat yet fluid, and the large characters were eye-catching enough to spot from far away.

Only when they drew closer could they see several lines written beneath in black brushwork, telling a small story about the origins and benefits of Qiaojiao Beef.

"This is an advertisement."

"He packaged Qiaojiao Beef and turned it into a medicinal dish with special benefits."

"Building the stove outside the restaurant means that the drifting aroma of meat is also a form of advertisement, drawing in more diners."

"This Qiaojiao Beef must be delicious. The soup smells so fresh..."

The students chattered away, with a foodie's comment slipping into the middle of the discussion.

Zhou Yan stood to one side and watched the commotion. Being analyzed as a case study was actually rather interesting.

Zhao Tieying, meanwhile, was somewhat at a loss. It was her first time being watched and studied by a group of college students, and she did not even know where to put her hands.

"Using this striking stove as a signboard, tracing the origins of Qiaojiao Beef, packaging it, and using its aroma to expand its reach—all to achieve broad publicity," Su Jun said after listening to the students' discussion. "This is actually a highly representative case of brand building."

Su Jun looked at Zhou Yan and smiled. "Comrade Zhou Yan, was this your idea?"

The teachers, students, and Lin Zhiqiang all turned to look at Zhou Yan.