Sister, You're So Pretty

Zhao Tieying sat on the back seat of the bicycle, humming a little tune all the way back to Zhou Village.

Under the big tree at the village entrance, a group of women were cracking sunflower seeds and chatting away.

"Ride slower." Zhao Tieying tugged at Zhou Miao's clothes, and the bicycle immediately slowed down.

"Iron Lady, you're in a good mood today, huh? Humming a tune on your way back." An auntie smiled as she spoke. Everyone's eyes turned toward Zhao Tieying and Zhou Miao.

Zhou the Fourth was skilled at slaughtering cattle and had been among the first in Zhou Village to obtain a cattle-slaughtering permit after restrictions were lifted. Zhao Tieying was quick and capable at work, and their life had been flourishing like blazing fire, so it was only natural that others envied them.

But then they had Zhou Yan, that prodigal son. After apprenticing at the Factory Canteen for two and a half years, he had dared to quit and open a restaurant as a private businessman.

Not only had he drained his parents' savings, but he had also piled up debts as high as his backside. For a while now, their family had become the joke of Zhou Village after meals and over tea.

Luckily, Zhou Miao had many brothers, all of whom knew how to slaughter cattle, while Zhao Tieying was a sharp-tongued, unreasonable woman. Most people did not dare gossip in front of them.

Zhao Tieying had always been such a proud person, yet lately, whenever she passed the village entrance, she would lower her head and tell Zhou Miao to ride faster. She did not want to hear those old women's idle chatter.

"Mother Wang, have you heard that my Zhou Yan saved the niece of Deputy Director Lin from the Silk Factory?" Zhao Tieying tugged Zhou Miao's shirt hem, and the bicycle came to an immediate stop. Her voice rose several notches. "Deputy Director Lin came to thank Zhou Yan today and gave him a brand-new Twenty-Eight Bicycle. He insisted on making him take it, and even said he wanted to nominate him for some kind of Model of Spiritual Civilization award. And today, the restaurant's business was great too—we were so busy we could barely keep up."

Silence fell over the village entrance. Only Zhao Tieying's hearty laughter and the crackling of the fire echoed back and forth.

A Twenty-Eight Bicycle was a major purchase. Even Textile Factory workers had to save more than half a year's wages, and they still needed to get a bicycle ration ticket before they could buy one.

There were only a few bicycles in all of Zhou Village. Only cattle butchers could afford them.

Seeing those faces filled with shock, envy, and jealousy, Zhao Tieying's smile grew ever brighter. Her raised chin made her look like a victorious general. "I'm done chatting with you lot. I'm going home to wash up and sleep. I've got to help at the restaurant early tomorrow morning."

Zhou Miao immediately pedaled away.

"A Twenty-Eight Bicycle! Zhou Yan really struck it lucky!"

"A deputy director from the Silk Factory? Zhou the Second has latched onto a big leader!"

"The restaurant's business has improved too. No wonder Zhao Tieying is so pleased with herself..."

Zhao Tieying pricked up her ears to listen to the discussion behind her, laughing so hard she swayed like a blossom in the wind. The foul resentment that had been bottled up in her heart these past days was released all at once.

"Mom, what are you laughing about?" Zhou Momo turned back to look at her curiously.

"Your mother thought of something happy." Zhao Tieying answered with a smile.

"Hehehe, then I'm happy too..."

Zhou Yan fell asleep the moment his head hit the pillow.

Wang Laowu and his wife, however, tossed and turned all night.

"We sold ten fewer bowls than yesterday. Zhou the Second stole all our customers. What are we supposed to do?" Wang Laowu's wife looked miserable.

Wang Laowu took a puff of his dry tobacco and waved a hand. "It's nothing. Lin Zhiqiang and Zhao Dong were backing him up today. The people who went to eat noodles were only giving those two face and joining in the excitement.

"He sells a bowl of noodles for sixty cents. Even if workers earn a little more, they can't eat like that every day. In a couple of days, they'll still come back to eat here."

"Really?"

"Don't worry. Wasn't Zhou the Second's restaurant busy for a couple of days when it first opened too? What use was that? Zhou the Second simply isn't cut out to be a chef or run a restaurant."

Zhou Yan got up early again. He first changed the water for the dried bamboo shoots, then washed up with cold water.

A body accustomed to labor was different. After one night's sleep, he was bursting with energy, strong from head to toe, nothing like a fragile college student.

He tied a wicker basket to the back seat of the Twenty-Eight Bicycle and rode out to buy groceries.

At the market, once he activated [Food Appraisal], the quality of every ingredient became clear at a glance. Even when selecting chilies, he only picked those marked as excellent.

"Zhou the Second, today's pork belly and ribs are both top-notch. If you want them, I'll give you a better price." As Zhou Yan passed a meat stall, the butcher called out to him. Lowering his voice mysteriously, he said, "One yuan sixty per jin. If you take it all, I'll knock off another ten cents."

One yuan sixty per jin was indeed cheap.

Zhou Yan swept his eyes over the pork at the stall. Its color was pale, yet the note displayed in glaring red was: [A pile of stale diseased pork.]

Zhou Yan used quite a lot of meat for his restaurant, and all the butchers in town knew him.

"Why does this meat look a little pale?" Zhou Yan asked casually.

"This pig was raised by my second granduncle himself. The meat's excellent, don't you worry. I, Wang Qi, have sold meat for years. Would I really cheat a kid like you?" The butcher patted his chest.

"Unfortunately, I've switched to selling noodles. I can't use this meat." Zhou Yan looked regretful as he turned and left.

"Selling noodles?" Wang Qi scratched his head and could only turn his sights toward the next sucker.

In this era of scarce supplies, selling diseased pigs and sick cattle was not unusual. But taking advantage of Zhou Yan, a young fellow who did not know good stock from bad, was going too far. Maybe Little Zhou had been taken in by this sort of thing before.

Zhou Yan had not planned to interfere. But after buying his groceries, as he was about to leave, he saw Wang Qi pulling an elderly woman over and trying to sell to her. He went to an empty spot nearby, took out his notebook and pen, scribbled several lines, tore off the page and folded it up. When he rode past the market management office, he casually tossed it in. It landed right on the desk.

As for whether the management office would take action or whether Wang Qi would be punished, neither was something he could control.

Zhou Yan went to Zhang Laosan's stall to pick up the three jin of ribs he had ordered. They were still one yuan ninety per jin, and the appraisal read: [A piece of fresh, high-quality ribs.]

It was only a little over thirty cents more per jin. Letting his customers eat quality ribs made Zhou Yan feel more at ease earning that money.

"You're really something, kid. You're a hero who saved someone now. After I finish selling meat at noon, I'll come to your place for noodles too." Zhang Laosan looked at Zhou Yan with genuine admiration. This time, he was not merely being polite.

"Sure." Zhou Yan smiled in response and rode away. Even the big red flower tied to his handlebars seemed brighter than before.

He first set the bone broth to simmer, then stewed the beef brisket and ribs before starting to knead the dough. With yesterday's experience, Zhou Yan could already arrange his time reasonably.

Now that his mother was helping sell noodles, they could still manage. But if he planned to add new items later, such as bringing back Chinese dishes, he would have to seriously consider how to make the restaurant run more efficiently.

Of course, Zhou Yan would not be satisfied with merely running a noodle shop.

Zhao Tieying arrived early as well. Zhou Momo was still asleep, so she had been carried over in the wicker basket, wrapped in a small quilt.

"Mom, come later next time. It's dark, and the road isn't easy to travel." Zhou Yan carefully lifted Zhou Momo out and carried her to his bed to keep sleeping.

"You know the road isn't easy to travel, yet you couldn't ride back from the slaughterhouse to pick up your mother and sister? You sure pedaled that bicycle fast enough." Zhao Tieying rolled her eyes at him.

"Alright, I definitely will next time." Zhou Yan scratched his head awkwardly. His mind had been entirely occupied with buying groceries, and he had not thought of that at all.

Zhou Yan kneaded the dough while Zhao Tieying watched the fire. Whenever he cooked or stir-fried dishes, she stood beside him and watched attentively.

"Mom, do you want to become a chef too?" Zhou Yan asked casually.

"One chef in the family is enough. I'm just watching how you big chefs cook, so I can make my own food taste better later." Zhao Tieying looked at the meat in the pot with some concern. "You prepared so much meat today. Can you sell it all?"

"It's not much. As long as business is a little better this morning, there won't be a problem." Zhou Yan replied confidently.

Today, he had prepared enough ingredients for ninety bowls of noodles, only thirty more than yesterday. It was not too aggressive.

The toppings and minced meat sauce were ready. Two large pots were boiling with water, while the soup pot in the middle gently simmered the bone broth. It burbled away, its fragrance filling the air.

After working all morning, they could not labor on empty stomachs, so Zhou Yan cooked two bowls of noodles.

"I'll just add some green vegetables. It's better to eat lightly in the morning." Zhao Tieying brought over two large bowls.

"Then why did you scoop up so much chili oil?" Zhou Yan clicked his tongue. After lifting out the noodles, he directly ladled a spoonful of Beef Braised with Dried Bamboo Shoots into her bowl.

"Less. Can you even eat that much..." Zhao Tieying picked up her bowl, afraid Zhou Yan would add more, though the corners of her lips could not help but rise.

This son had become sensible and filial after all. She had not raised him for nothing.

Just as Zhou Yan was about to scoop out the remaining noodles from the pot, Zhou Momo arrived, drawn by the smell. Standing at the doorway, rubbing her sleepy eyes, she looked delighted. "Is it time to eat?"

"Mm, it's time to eat." Zhou Yan took out a small bowl and served her one first.

"Momo is super hungry! Today I'm gonna eat three bowls!" Zhou Momo leaned closer and held up her little hand high, making a V sign.

Zhou Yan helped her straighten out another finger. "This is three."

The little girl really had not been boasting. She finished three small bowls of noodles, her little face shining with oil. Even after leaving the table, she did not forget to give Zhou Yan a thumbs-up. "So, so yummy! Next time I'm gonna eat three bowls again!"

After breakfast, Zhou Yan opened the restaurant's front doors. Outside, the sky was already bright.

Across from them, Wang Laowu's noodle stall had a pot set up for cooking noodles. Steam rose from it as they arranged tables and chairs.

Hearing the door open, Wang Laowu looked up. The moment his eyes met Zhou Yan's, he immediately turned away and snorted.

People in the same trade were enemies, and those directly facing each other even more so.

Zhou Yan merely smiled and did not take Wang Laowu's reaction to heart at all.

When running a restaurant, strength did the talking. Whichever place tasted better, the customers would naturally give their answer.

After half past six, workers began arriving for work one after another.

Wang Laowu and his wife, Liu Fang, had deliberately changed into new aprons today. With smiles piled on their faces, they stood before their noodle stall, ready to welcome customers with a new look.

But they soon could not smile anymore.

Bicycles kept parking in front of Zhou Erwa Restaurant. Within a short while, six or seven had gathered there.

Two regular customers of their noodle stall had even put on hats for some reason. They walked with their heads tilted to one side, as though afraid of being recognized, then slipped into Zhou Erwa Restaurant as well.

"What's going on? They're all going across the street! Wang Jianming and Liu Laoba even put on hats on purpose—I recognized them at first glance! Didn't they only eat our noodles?" Liu Fang stamped her feet anxiously.

Usually, they would have already opened for business by now, but today they did not have a single customer. They could only watch the bustle across the street.

"They're all just joining in the excitement. Don't panic, don't panic." Wang Laowu spoke in a deep voice.

Yet the hand hanging at his side was trembling slightly. His heart felt awful, as if his wife had run off with another man right in front of him.

He had been cuckolded.

Whether they were merely joining in the excitement or not, business would definitely be poor today. All the noodles and meat sauce he had prepared were going to be wasted.

"Why do we have to sneak around just to eat noodles? It feels like we're having an affair."

"Did you see Wang Laowu and his wife's expressions? Thirty percent shock, thirty percent confusion, and forty percent rage. They were just short of rushing over to grab us and ask, 'Didn't I give you a discount?' Who could stand that?"

"Huh? Damn legs, move faster!"

Wang Jianming and Liu Laoba hurried into Zhou Erwa Restaurant, only then letting out a sigh of relief.

That morning, Wang Laowu had only sold three bowls of noodles, all to relatives or close acquaintances. After being watched by them, those customers had been too embarrassed to go across the street.

Meanwhile, Zhou Yan's place had not stopped for a moment. Batch after batch of noodles went into the pots, and the large bowls carried back into the kitchen had already filled four wooden buckets.

Even Zhou Momo, the child laborer, had been assigned to stand at the entrance and greet customers.

"Welcome to eat noodle-noodles."

"Big sister, you're so pretty."

"Big sister, your skin is so white."

"Come eat noodle-noodles again next time."

"Bye-bye."

Zhou Momo was a little chatterbox, friendly with everyone and able to chat with anyone for a few sentences. She was cute and knew how to compliment people, giving them more than enough emotional value. The female workers were thoroughly charmed, and some even gave her candy.

With candy tucked into her pockets, Zhou Momo became even more talkative.

Zhou Yan came out carrying noodles several times and felt that the little girl was here to swindle food and drinks. But she was so cute that her success rate was incredibly high.

Near eight o'clock, the workers were hurrying to clock in, and there were gradually fewer people in the restaurant.

At that moment, a ruby-red Phoenix Brand bicycle stopped in front of the restaurant, and a young woman jumped down from its back seat.

Zhou Momo, who was sitting on a small stool at the entrance eating candy, looked up. Her eyes widened slightly, and her mouth fell open. "Big sister, you're so pretty..."