Chapter 492 - 233: Jiazhou Daily’s Front-Page Headline

Chapter 492: Chapter 233: Jiazhou Daily’s Front-Page Headline

The Salted Burnt White earned everyone’s effusive praise.

Even the pickled mustard was eaten clean.

As a core dish in the "three-steam, nine-扣" style and a requisite for the "Nine Big Bowls" feast, it proves the old saying: "It’s no banquet without Salted Burnt White."

The importance of Salted Burnt White in Sichuan Cuisine was clear.

However, the dish was indeed complicated and exacting. Without guidance from a Chef, it was difficult for the average person to figure out how to make it at home, and those who could make it well were few and far between.

Zhou Yan had seen the recipe for Salted Burnt White in the *Sichuan Cuisine Recipe*. It was just a couple hundred characters long, and even for a Chef like him, it was difficult to grasp the nuances hidden within the concise instructions.

"With skills like these, why didn’t you show them off last Chinese New Year? You let me handle all the cooking for our guests, and I made a complete fool of myself," Mrs. Zhao said to Zhou Yan, her voice tinged with a playful grievance.

"I only recently learned it from my master. I hadn’t perfected it back then," Zhou Yan said with a straight face.

"All right then. You’ll be in charge of the cooking for our family this Chinese New Year," Mrs. Zhao said with a wide grin, already looking forward to the holiday.

"Then we’re all in for a treat," Zhao Hong added with a laugh.

While Mrs. Zhao and the others cleared the table, Zhou Yan hung up the sign for the new dish: Salted Burnt White — 2.2 yuan/serving.

One serving of Salted Burnt White required 400 grams of pork belly. After deducting costs for trimmings, pickled mustard, and other seasonings, the profit margin was pinned at around 50%.

It was twenty cents more expensive than the Twice-Cooked Pork, creating a slight price differentiation.

As far as he knew, the Salted Burnt White at the factory canteen was priced at 1.5 yuan per serving, making it seventy cents cheaper than his.

The textile factory ran its own canteen and didn’t need to worry about profits, so they could be arbitrary with their pricing.

His master had given him some inside information: Liu Er Pangzi was now in charge of steamed dishes at the factory canteen, and the Salted Burnt White he made was nothing special.

He would have to make up for the seventy-cent price difference with superior flavor.

Zhou Yan wasn’t worried, though. He was quite confident in his Salted Burnt White.

The menu on the wall was finally starting to look substantial, featuring stir-fries, braised dishes, steamed dishes, cold dishes, and soups.

Every single dish on it was a knockout.

Wang Hongliang walked out of the director’s office with a huge smile, holding a copy of today’s Jiazhou Daily. He said to Lin Zhiqiang beside him, "Zhizheng, this Zhou Yan is a young hero! A front-page headline in the Jiazhou Daily. He’s a real Jiazhou celebrity now."

Lin Zhiqiang nodded with a smile. "Exactly. A descendant of the Sichuan Army, from a revolutionary family with two first-class merit plaques hanging in his home... I had no idea about any of it, and I’ve never once heard him boast. Zhou isn’t old, but he’s certainly mature and composed."

"A kid from a family like that is bound to have good character and a solid upbringing. He’s down-to-earth, ambitious, and would make a good partner." Wang Hongliang nodded, then added thoughtfully, "I wonder what that girl, Wang Wei, thinks of Zhou Yan. I’ll have a word with her father later. I think Zhou is quite a catch."

"Huh?" Lin Zhiqiang was startled, his expression turning wary. ’So everyone has the same idea. Has the director also set his sights on Zhou Yan?’

"By the way, how is Xia settling into her internship?" Wang Hongliang asked casually.

"She has a pretty good impression of Zhou," Lin Zhiqiang blurted out.

"What’s that?"

"Oh, uh, she’s doing fine. Xia Yao’s major was in design. I ran into Old Du this morning, and he said that since she arrived, she’s helped them organize their thoughts. They’re now preparing to build the brand around ’Jiading Brocade,’ aiming to make a name for it and turn it into a famous Chinese brand," Lin Zhiqiang said, rubbing his nose in embarrassment.

Wang Hongliang’s eyes lit up. He looked at him and said, "A top university student, indeed. When you leave professional matters to the professionals, they grasp the main point right away. You tell Xia to keep up the good work. We’ll write her an excellent internship recommendation, and if the project succeeds, she’ll get a bonus."

"Hearing that from the director will surely fire her up," Lin Zhiqiang said with a laugh.

Wang Hongliang stared at him. "Right, you just said Xia has a good impression of Zhou Yan? So? You think Zhou is a good kid, too, eh?"

Lin Zhiqiang: ...

’You heard me perfectly well the first time.’

"Director, Director Lin." Wang Wei approached, carrying a ledger. She quickly greeted the two men, then looked at Wang Hongliang and said, "Director, I was just about to bring last month’s accounts for the factory canteen to your office."

Wang Hongliang smiled and nodded. "Go on and drop it off. Afterward, I’ll take you to Zhou Yan’s restaurant for a meal. I have something I’d like to chat with you about."

"Okay!" Wang Wei chirped. She trotted off to drop the ledger at the office and came trotting right back. Her uncle was treating her to a meal; she certainly wasn’t going to turn that down.

"Look, Zhou Yan is in the Jiazhou Daily again. Front-page headline this time," Wang Hongliang said with a smile, handing the newspaper to Wang Wei.

"A front-page headline? That’s amazing," Wang Wei said, taking the paper with a smile. "A few days ago, I heard people saying the city leaders came to commend Zhou Yan for his courage—diving in to save someone one time, and fighting off a violent thug another. He’s so brave."

"You don’t see many young men like that anymore," Wang Hongliang nodded.

Listening from the side, Lin Zhiqiang scratched his head in frustration. Just then, the closing bell rang. Spotting a familiar figure, he quickly called out, "Xia Yao, over here!"

"Uncle," Xia Yao said, walking over with a smile.

Lin Zhiqiang cleared his throat. "At the factory, you should use titles."

"Right, Director Lin," Xia Yao corrected herself immediately, then turned to Wang Hongliang with a smile. "Hello, Director."

"Xia, are you getting used to the internship?" Wang Hongliang asked with concern.

Xia Yao nodded. "It’s going well. My coworkers are looking out for me, and they’re patient about teaching me things I don’t know."

Wang Hongliang laughed heartily. "You’re too modest! Old Du was just saying you’ve only been here two days and you’ve already helped them straighten out their whole approach. A real professional is just different. Our textile factory is in dire need of top students like you with real talent and knowledge."

"You’re too kind," Xia Yao replied with a modest smile.

Wang Wei took a step forward and extended her hand with a smile. "Hello, I’m Wang Wei. I heard the marketing department got a beautiful new university student, but you’re even prettier than the rumors."

"Hello, Xia Yao." Xia Yao shook her hand, smiling back at her. "Wang Wei, your short hair is so chic and stylish. It looks great! I’ve thought about cutting my hair short before, but I could never bring myself to do it."

The corners of Wang Wei’s mouth curled up uncontrollably. ’Getting a compliment from another beautiful woman feels different,’ she thought, brushing a stray strand of hair from her forehead. "Your hair is the one that’s amazing," she said with a laugh. "It’s so dark and straight. If I were you, I wouldn’t have the heart to cut it. It gives you such an elegant air, and I bet it looks great tied up, too."

"You work in the finance department?"

"Yep, I’m in charge of the factory canteen’s finances..."

The two were of a similar age and quickly fell into a warm conversation.

"Young people always have plenty to talk about," Wang Hongliang chuckled. "Is Meng back in Suji? Do you want to have lunch together?"

Lin Zhiqiang replied, "He’s been back for two or three days, but he had to go check on a construction site over in Jiazhou today. He’ll be back this afternoon."

"Alright, next time then." Wang Hongliang nodded. "Speaking of which, it’s been over half a month since I last ate at Zhou Yan’s restaurant. I wonder if he’s updated the menu."

"Well, Director, you’re in for a surprise. Zhou has added quite a few new dishes lately," Lin Zhiqiang said with a smile, leaving him in suspense.

Wang Wei handed the newspaper she was holding to Xia Yao and asked curiously, "Zhou Yan is in the Jiazhou Daily. I see it mentions him jumping into a river to save someone. Was that you?"

"They’ve already published it?" Xia Yao took the paper, her eyes quickly scanning the article. She smiled and nodded. "Yes, that was me. He’s the one who saved me."

"Suji has so many rivers. If you can’t swim, you should be extra careful near the water," Wang Wei said gently. "When the weather gets warmer next year, I can teach you how to swim. I grew up by the river and I’m a great swimmer. I was even on the city’s swim team in high school."

"That’s so impressive!" Xia Yao’s eyes lit up as she looked at her. "No wonder you have such a great figure, with such long, straight legs. If I get the chance, I’ll definitely take you up on that lesson."

"Deal."

You had to be quick if you wanted to get a table during the first dinner rush at Zhou Yan Restaurant.

"Director, Director Lin, you’re here! Wang Wei, Xia Yao, come on in, have a seat," Zhao Tieying greeted them with a smile.

"Mrs. Zhao."

"Mrs. Zhao."

"Yes, come on in and sit down. There are still two tables left, pick whichever one you like," Zhao Tieying replied with a smile. She looked at the two young women arm-in-arm—one with short, spunky hair, the other with long, elegant locks—and found them a pleasant sight.

Seventy percent of the textile factory’s workers were women, most of them young.

Jiazhou, situated at the confluence of three rivers, was a place blessed by nature, renowned for its beautiful women.

But when these two stood at the entrance, they drew admiring glances from inside and outside the restaurant alike.

Young, pretty, and with great figures, they each wore a white shirt with the hem tucked into their pants, revealing a slender waistline.

After taking a seat, Wang Hongliang stared at the menu for a while, nodding repeatedly. "Wow, he’s really added a lot of dishes to the menu. Mapo Tofu, Fish-Fragrant Pork Slivers, and he’s even got Braised Pork Intestines. There’s Salted Burnt White, too. The selection is getting more and more impressive."

"The Salted Burnt White must be new today, right? I didn’t see it when I came to eat yesterday." Lin Zhiqiang’s eyes lit up.

He was quite fond of Salted Burnt White. Previously, when Xiao Lei was in charge of it at the factory canteen, it was delicious. But ever since Xiao Lei quit, the canteen’s Salted Burnt White just wasn’t the same.

The preserved vegetables underneath were no longer crisp, and they were incredibly salty.

It certainly made you eat more rice, but you’d have to chug two large glasses of water afterward just to quench your thirst.

It had gotten so bad he suspected the factory canteen had hired a "Salt King."

He absolutely had to try the Salted Burnt White that Zhou Yan was making today.

He had complete faith in Zhou Yan’s skills now.

"Xiao Lei is a master of steamed dishes. I hear he’s working as a rural caterer these days and his business is booming. He’s really making a name for himself. Since Zhou Yan learned from him, this Salted Burnt White shouldn’t be bad," Wang Hongliang said with a laugh. "So, let’s order the Braised Pork Intestines and the Salted Burnt White. You two kids can pick two more dishes."

"Then I want the Fish-Fragrant Pork Slivers. The one Zhou Yan makes is amazing—savory, sour, and sweet," Wang Wei said. She then turned to Xia Yao. "Since you’ve been back, have you tried Zhou Yan’s Braised Pig’s Trotters?"

"Not yet," Xia Yao shook her head.

"Then I’ll order one. We can split it, my treat. I guarantee you’ll never forget it for the rest of your life," Wang Wei said with a grin.

"With a recommendation like that, I have to try it," Xia Yao nodded with a smile.

In the kitchen, Zhou Yan, who was just about to start cooking, heard the voices and poked his head out to look.

Seeing Xia Yao and Wang Wei sitting together, he was a little surprised.

’How did those two end up together?’

Wang Hongliang spotted him at once. He picked up the newspaper from the table and waved it, calling out with a grin, "Zhou, you’re in the paper again! Today’s Jiazhou Daily, front-page headline, reporting on you fighting off those thugs."