Old Zhou, You Finally Made It Today

Zhou Yan rode into town and bought three one-pound packages of Puffed Rice Candy from Zhang Jiwu's shop. At 1.2 yuan per jin, they were wrapped in kraft paper and tied with string.

Suji did not have any local specialties that were easy to carry around. Its dried beef was too tough to chew, enough to wear out even his own jaws.

Zhang Jiwu's Puffed Rice Candy was fairly well-known in Suji.

Fresh pork fat was rendered into lard, then mixed with malt sugar and stir-fried into amber-colored syrup. Roasted peanuts and puffed rice were added and tossed together. Once the puffed rice was thoroughly coated in the syrup, it was removed from the wok and spread over a worktable covered in sesame seeds, then sprinkled with another layer of toasted white sesame.

It was flattened and pressed firm with a large rolling pin, then cut into small pieces. That was how Puffed Rice Candy was made.

The aroma of fried puffed rice drifted far away, and in this era, that sugary oil mixture was something everyone loved.

Whenever students passed by after school, they could hardly keep walking.

The owner let Zhou Yan taste a piece. It was fragrant, sweet, crisp, and carried a rich savory scent unlike anything else.

He also bought another fifty cents' worth for Zhou Momo and his two nephews, so they could have a taste as well.

When Zhou Yan returned to the restaurant, Zhou Momo and Fanwa were playing hopscotch.

Zhou Lihui was serving as their referee nearby. When he saw Zhou Yan, he came over with a smile. "Little Uncle, you're back."

"Yeah. I bought you some Puffed Rice Candy. Take it and eat it with Momo and Fanwa." Zhou Yan handed him the loose Puffed Rice Candy in his hand.

Zhou Momo and Fanwa had already come over after catching the scent.

"Big Brother! Is that Puffed Rice Candy?" Zhou Momo stared at the candy in Zhou Lihui's hand and swallowed. "Want eat!"

"You two go wash your hands. Once you're done, you can eat." Zhou Yan smiled as he carried the groceries toward the kitchen.

That evening, the university students alone had ordered twenty-eight bowls of noodles and twenty bowls of Qiaojiao Beef.

Zhou Yan estimated that some workers would come by that night to join in the excitement, so he had bought enough meat to prepare toppings and minced-meat sauce for sixty servings.

It would not matter if they could not sell it all. There were plenty of them today, so they could have the leftovers as dishes for dinner.

There was still plenty to do—washing vegetables and frying the seasonings—and time was tight.

Just as Zhou Yan started chopping vegetables, he noticed Zhou Lihui standing at the kitchen door. He looked up with a smile. "What is it, Huihui?"

"I want to watch Little Uncle cook." Zhou Lihui smiled a little sheepishly.

"If you want to watch, come in. What can you see standing at the kitchen door?" Zhou Yan said with a smile. His cleaver never stopped. A piece of beef rapidly became slices, then strips, then minced meat beneath his blade.

Zhou Lihui's eyes widened at the sight.

"Can you cook?" Zhou Yan put the minced meat onto a plate for later use.

"I can only stir-fry vegetables and cook rice porridge."

"Then today, learn Braised Spare Ribs and minced beef with two peppers from your little uncle. Next time, show off for your parents." Zhou Yan said casually with a smile.

"Okay." Zhou Lihui nodded and stepped two paces closer, watching even more intently.

"Director Su, I hope our cooperation bears fruit."

"Happy cooperation."

In the meeting room, Lin Zhiqiang and Su Jun shook hands.

After an afternoon of discussion, Jiazhou Textile Factory and the Department of Arts and Crafts at Sichuan Fine Arts Academy had reached a preliminary cooperation agreement. They would work together as a school-enterprise partnership to build Jiazhou Textile Factory's brand.

However, the specific form and details of the cooperation would need to be finalized gradually afterward.

Lin Zhiqiang was already extremely satisfied with this result. Sichuan Fine Arts Academy was a top-tier art school within the province and even nationwide. Reaching a partnership with its Department of Arts and Crafts would greatly benefit Jiazhou Textile Factory's reputation.

He had studied abroad and understood the importance of branding better than most.

Jiazhou Textile Factory was currently thriving, with foreign exchange earnings reaching new highs, but there was still a gap compared to advanced foreign textile factories. It was necessary to explore the path of brand-building.

"It's almost time to get off work. The students are all waiting outside, so let's go eat directly." Lin Zhiqiang glanced at his watch and said with a smile.

"Sure. I am a little hungry too." Su Jun nodded.

Zhou Liangliang rode to the entrance of the Textile Factory, parked his bicycle, took out some cigarettes, and asked several street vendors about Zhou Erwa Restaurant.

"Zhou Yan's business is booming! His noodles cost sixty cents a bowl, and he sells at least a hundred bowls a day. Just think how much he makes! Wang Laowu got arrested, so now he's the only one selling noodles."

"He started selling some Qiaojiao Beef yesterday. It's basically the hotpot from your Zhou Village, and it's also sixty cents a bowl. Business is still great."

"How much does he sell? Who knows? Aren't you from the same village? Why not go ask him yourself? Why are you sneaking around?"

"A bunch of university students are eating at his place today, twenty or thirty of them. They have money and are willing to spend it. He'll probably make several big bills just from those students."

After chatting with the vendors, even the hand Zhou Liangliang used to hold his cigarette was trembling. He stared blankly in the direction of Zhou Erwa Restaurant, raised the cigarette to take a drag out of habit, and immediately bared his teeth in pain before flinging it away.

"Pah, pah pah..." Zhou Liangliang spat several times. The cigarette butt had burned him badly enough to make him jump.

Then he saw a group of fashionable, handsome, and beautiful young people walk out of the Textile Factory gates and turn into Zhou Erwa Restaurant.

"They're eating at Zhou Erwa Restaurant again tonight? Just three bowls of noodles and one hotpot. Is it really that delicious? City university students haven't eaten anything that great either."

"Exactly. Why not come try my wontons?"

The vendors grumbled resentfully, green with envy.

The factory happened to be getting off work then, and a stream of bicycles poured out. Some of them turned toward the entrance of Zhou Erwa Restaurant as well.

Zhou Liangliang no longer cared about the blister at the corner of his mouth. Looking at the packed Zhou Erwa Restaurant, his eyes burned with fervor. "Noodles at sixty cents a bowl, hotpot at sixty cents a bowl... do they really sell that well?"

"Textile Factory workers have money! Money is easier to make here!"

Zhou Liangliang moved closer and watched for a while. Everyone really was ordering food and sitting down to eat. Only then did he feel reassured enough to get back on his bicycle and leave.

I can do this!

I'll come tomorrow!

Sell noodles, sell hotpot!

It'll definitely work!

His legs pedaled faster and faster, and he wished he could fly back immediately.

The university students spent thirty yuan that evening too, and they ate to their hearts' content.

Zhou Momo sat beside Xia Yao with a new doll in her hands, calling "Big Sister" over and over until the female students were completely charmed. They emptied all the snacks from their pockets and filled a little basket for her.

What could they do? The little girl was just too soft, adorable, and lovable.

"Auntie is amazing. So many big sisters gave her snacks." Fanwa squatted nearby with candy in his mouth, utterly envious.

"Auntie Zhao, can I take Momo out to play for a while? I'll bring her back for dinner later." Xia Yao held Zhou Momo's little hand as she spoke to Zhao Tieying.

"Of course you can. Take her out and have fun. She talks about you every day." Zhao Tieying replied with a smile.

The Textile Factory had arranged rooms at the guesthouse for them that night. They would take the bus back to Mountain City early the next morning, so they had two hours of free time before returning to the guesthouse after dark.

Xia Yao wanted to spend a little more time playing with Zhou Momo.

It was more or less as Zhou Yan had expected.

The fact that the teachers and students from Sichuan Fine Arts Academy had skipped the cafeteria and eaten two consecutive meals at Zhou Erwa Restaurant had already caused quite a stir at Jiazhou Textile Factory.

University students were symbols of intellectuals and fashion. Many workers wanted to see what Zhou Erwa Restaurant was selling that could captivate university students so completely.

The extra thirty-two servings of noodles Zhou Yan had prepared, along with the remaining Qiaojiao Beef, sold out completely. Even the beef broth in the pot was divided among the customers who had arrived too late to get a meal.

"Sorry, everyone. We've sold out of noodles and Qiaojiao Beef today. The restaurant will not be open tomorrow, so please come back on Monday." Zhou Yan stood at the door and apologized to the customers who had not gotten anything to eat.

"It's sold out this early?"

"Prepare more next time. I was hoping to try something new."

"Fine, we'll come back next time."

The customers were somewhat disappointed, but they could only wait until Monday.

"We'll definitely prepare more next time." Zhao Tieying said with a beaming smile.

Just then, Zhou Miao rode up on a Twenty-Eight Bicycle. Two large crucian carp were tied to the handlebars with straw, and he stopped in front of the restaurant.

"Oh my, you caught crucian carp!" Zhao Tieying went out to greet him with a smile, clicking her tongue in amazement. "Old Zhou, you finally made it today! You caught such big crucian carp! We can cook them for dinner tonight."

"These two aren't even that big. An even bigger one got away." Zhou Miao scratched his head.

Zhou Yan silently turned his head aside and worked his mouth, trying to control his expression.

[Two farmed crucian carp, fed purely on grain. Quality acceptable.]