Starting from a Bankrupt Sichuan Cuisine Restaurant

Chapter 53: Chapter 47: Even the Picky Eaters Are Hooked

Wang Hongliang and Li Meilin heard the voice and looked over at Zhou Yan, both a little surprised by how young he was.

Zhou Yan was wearing a white cotton shirt. He was tall and thin, with clean-cut short hair. He looked to be about eighteen or nineteen, with a youthful air about him.

A young man like him would usually still be an apprentice in the factory cafeteria.

They hadn’t expected him to already be the owner of a private restaurant.

Li Meilin saw that Zhou Yan’s clothes were clean and fresh, with no old oil stains. His fingernails were cut short, and the crevices were spotless. She couldn’t help but feel a favorable impression of him.

Many chefs spent all year in the kitchen and gave off a greasy feeling from head to toe. Their fingers were either yellow from smoking or their nails were full of grime, which was rather unpleasant to see.

"Director, this is Zhou. He’s the one who served the teachers and students from the Sichuan Fine Arts Institute last time. The university students ate here twice in a row and said it was great," Lin Zhiqiang introduced with a smile.

"Then your cooking must be quite good, to make those kids want to come back for a second meal after just one," Wang Hongliang said with a laugh.

"You’re too kind, Director. It was an honor to have the students and teachers visit. I’m just happy they enjoyed their meal," Zhou Yan said with a smile.

Wang Hongliang nodded. Zhou Yan spoke humbly and politely, with a poised and confident demeanor, which made him like the young man even more.

Most young people his age at the factory got so nervous when they saw him that they could barely speak coherently.

Zhou Yan then greeted Lin Zhiqiang and Meng Anhe, addressing them as Lin and Meng.

Lin Zhiqiang didn’t react much, but a smile spread across Meng Anhe’s face. Who doesn’t like being addressed in a way that makes them feel younger? Especially when adults called her "Auntie," it always made her feel old.

’This kid, Zhou, he really is something. He knows what to say, and he’s so sensible.’

The group entered. Wang Hongliang’s eyes first landed on the square stove by the entrance. He had already noticed the words "Kneeling Beef" written in front of it. A meter-wide pot was half-full of broth. The liquid was clear, but the aroma of beef was exceptionally rich.

The stove was wiped spotless, without a single drop of water on it.

"This Kneeling Beef, it’s your Zhou Village’s hot pot, isn’t it?" Wang Hongliang paused and asked Zhou Yan.

He had worked at the Jiazhou Textile Factory for over twenty years; he was all too familiar with Zhou Village’s hot pot.

"This is the hot pot passed down through my family in Zhou Village. I studied the secret recipe from my ancestors and made some small innovations. I use more than ten types of medicinal herbs and spices to simmer this broth on low heat for eight hours. It’s a bit different from others. You’ll know once you taste it," Zhou Yan explained with a smile. "Hot pot, also known as Kneeling Beef, is a traditional name. I just think ’Kneeling Beef’ sounds more unique."

"It does sound more intriguing than ’hot pot,’ makes one curious to try it." Wang Hongliang nodded. Zhou Yan wasn’t being needlessly mysterious. "Young people these days sure have sharp minds."

Everyone sat down. It was a traditional "Eight Immortals" table with long benches. Two people could sit on one side without it being crowded. The four adults and three children fit perfectly.

The spot Zhou Yan had arranged for them had a perfect view of the wooden plaque menu hanging on the wall.

The restaurant’s decor was simple, but it was clean and tidy, making one feel comfortable.

"This menu plaque of yours is quite interesting. It’s the first time I’ve seen one in Suji. The selection is a bit small, though—only five dishes," Wang Hongliang said, looking up at the menu.

"Yes, they’re quite common in restaurants in Chengdu," Meng Anhe added. The menu was different from the last time she was here.

"We just started serving braised and stir-fried dishes today, so the selection is still quite small. We’ll be adding more later," Zhou Yan explained with a smile. "Right now, it’s just me in the kitchen, so I can’t handle too many dishes. My mom always says, ’You can’t make a big Buddha with just a little clay.’ You have to make every dish well and make sure the customers are satisfied."

"Mm, we’ll have to taste the food to know if you’re a good chef, but having that kind of awareness means you have what it takes to be a good boss," Wang Hongliang said, looking at Zhou Yan with a newfound appreciation in his eyes.

Meng Anhe also gave him a couple of extra glances. Zhou Yan’s manner of speaking was indeed much better than the average chef’s. He seemed more composed and reliable than others his age.

"Director, since there aren’t many dishes anyway, why don’t we just order one of each and give them all a try?" Lin Zhiqiang suggested, also very pleased with Zhou Yan’s performance.

"Alright. I’ll leave it up to you," Wang Hongliang nodded.

"Please have a seat, then. The food will be out shortly," Zhou Yan said before turning and heading into the kitchen.

By now, quite a few workers had noticed Wang Hongliang and Lin Zhiqiang sitting in the restaurant.

This was the Director and Deputy Director of the factory! They couldn’t believe they had come to eat at Zhou Yan Restaurant together.

When the management from the textile factory saw them, they all came over to say hello and ended up taking seats in the restaurant as well.

’If both directors were eating here, they might as well try it too and see if this private restaurant’s food was any good.’

Zhao Tieying was overjoyed. She had been worried they wouldn’t be able to sell all the food they had prepared for the day.

However, no one had ordered the Huo Xiang Carp yet. Everyone was waiting for the director’s table to try it first.

It was two yuan per serving, which wasn’t cheap.

While the adults were ordering, the three little boys had long since fixed their gazes on the little girl sitting on a high stool at the counter. Their faces were full of wonder, and their eyes were shining.

"She’s so little."

"So cute!"

"Cuter than the girls in our class!"

Li Meilin followed her grandson’s gaze and her own eyes lit up.

Zhou Momo was a tiny little thing. Her face was as if carved from pink jade, her eyes big and round. The baby fat on her face hadn’t faded yet, and her cheeks looked softer than dough, making one want to give them a pinch. She was tilting her head, staring at them with a playful and adorable look. Li Meilin couldn’t help but sigh in admiration, "What a darling little girl."

"Pretty Auntie!" Zhou Momo slid down the leg of the chair and trotted over to Meng Anhe. "Where’s Yaoyao?" she called out in a clear, bright voice. "Did she come?"

She remembered this pretty auntie. Last time, Yaoyao had come with her to eat noodles.

Meng Anhe was surprised the little one still remembered her. She smiled and gently pinched her cheek—it really was soft, making her heart tremble a little. She shook her head and said, "Yaoyao didn’t come. She’ll come next time."

"Oh..." Zhou Momo was a little disappointed.

Still, she greeted all the adults at the table.

Her calls of "Grandma" and "Grandpa" made Li Meilin and Wang Hongliang’s hearts melt with delight. Their own grandson was well-behaved, but his greetings weren’t as sweet as this little girl’s.

"The parents here have done a great job. Both kids are poised and polite," Wang Hongliang said with a wide smile.

Meng Anhe nodded slightly, agreeing with his assessment.

Lin Jingxing and Lin Bingwen had already sidled up to her left and right, extending their little fingers, also wanting to poke her chubby little face.

"Brothers," Zhou Momo looked at the two and asked quizzically, "What are you doing?"

The two boys froze, then sheepishly retracted their hands.

Wang Hao slid off his stool as well and sidled up. "I’m a brother too! Call me that, okay?"

Zhou Momo turned to look at him and nodded. "You’re a little brother."

"Yes, yes!" Wang Hao nodded eagerly. He fumbled in his pocket, pulled out three candies, and stuffed them all into Zhou Momo’s hands. "Here, little sister, have some candy. It’s all for you!"

"Thank you, little brother," Zhou Momo said with a sweet smile.

The adults watched this scene and burst into laughter.

"He had to beg his mom for those three candies before we left. He was treasuring them so much he wouldn’t even eat them on the way here. One ’little brother’ and he emptied his pockets. I can’t imagine how smitten he’ll be with girls when he grows up," Li Meilin said, laughing so hard she couldn’t close her mouth.

"I have candy too!"

"I have a piece of chocolate!"

Lin Jingxing and Lin Bingwen scrambled to empty their pockets.

A moment later, Zhou Momo was cupping her little hands, which were now full of snacks.

The four children quickly started playing together.

"Is Zhou an apprentice of Master Xiao Lei?" Wang Hongliang asked Lin Zhiqiang.

"Yes, Zhou learned his craft from Master Xiao," Lin Zhiqiang replied.

"Xiao Lei’s cooking is decent." Wang Hongliang nodded, and his expectations deflated.

His family had been cooks for generations. He himself had been an army cook when he was young. After being demobilized, he joined the textile factory and worked on the production line.

When Xiao Lei was an apprentice in the cafeteria, Wang Hongliang was already a production line leader. Among that batch of apprentices, Xiao Lei’s talent and skill were considered alright, but he was still a far cry from his own master. Even now, he was only a Second-level Chef.

After becoming a factory leader, Wang Hongliang often traveled for work. He had eaten at many famous Sichuan Cuisine restaurants like Rongcheng Restaurant, Rongyuan Garden, and Jade Dragon Restaurant. Having witnessed the skills of First-level and even Special Level Chefs, his standards had naturally become quite high.

Xiao Lei’s cooking was considered pretty good among Second-level Chefs. If he could make another breakthrough, he might have a chance to be evaluated for First-level Chef in a couple of years.

But Zhou Yan was too young. He had probably only studied under Xiao Lei for two or three years. In that short amount of time, he might not have even mastered his Knife Skills, so how much of Xiao Lei’s culinary arts could he have possibly learned?

He knew Zhou Yan had saved Lin Zhiqiang’s niece and that Lin Zhiqiang intentionally wanted to help him out. Wang Hongliang could completely understand that.

Moreover, he quite liked Comrade Zhou’s heroic act of risking his life to save someone, as well as the humble attitude he displayed today.

Giving young people some leeway and opportunities was something he was always willing to do.

However, he was quite particular about food. Over the years, if there was nothing urgent at the factory, he would always go home for his meals.

His wife would buy the ingredients, and he would just cook when he got home. His son, daughter-in-law, and little grandson all loved his cooking, saying it was better than the state-run restaurant in town.

For today’s meal, he would definitely give a thorough critique, as a bit of guidance for the young man.

’When it comes to cooking, I’m at a semi-professional level myself. I’d have no problem being certified as a Second-level Chef.’

The group chatted idly. Lin Zhiqiang and Wang Hongliang got into a heated discussion about technology, while Meng Anhe and Li Meilin talked about the latest clothing styles in the Rongcheng department stores.

Zhao Tieying was rinsing tripe while straining to listen to Meng Anhe’s conversation. When she heard that the woolen coat Meng Anhe was wearing cost one hundred and twenty yuan, she couldn’t help but be flabbergasted.

’So expensive!’

’Zhou Miao would have to slaughter cattle for nearly two months to afford one of those coats.’

’But it really is beautiful!’

’On Meng Anhe, with her big, wavy perm, it looks so stylish, so pretty.’

Zhao Hong came out carrying a tray. The first dish for their table was the double-pepper minced beef. She placed it in the middle of the table with a spoon next to the plate.

Wang Hongliang immediately sat up straight. He looked at the glossy, glistening minced beef, intertwined with red and green peppers, took a sniff, and his eyes lit up. "Well now, this minced beef looks quite appealing!"