1984: Starting from a bankrupt Sichuan restaurant

Chapter 374 Camphor Tea Duck, Ah, this is good, it's mine now! (9k three-in-one)

A six-gram gourd, plus two grams of small gold beads, plus a labor fee of 18 yuan, totals 237.2 yuan.

"Zhou Yan, isn't this too expensive?" Xia Yao said softly, holding the bill.

"It's not expensive, it's just a pendant. I'll buy you more gold jewelry later to fill your jewelry box." Zhou Yan smiled and took the list from her hand.

He left home this morning with 800 yuan in his pocket, intending to bring a TV home for Zhou Momo. Now that he has the big color TV, the remaining money is more than enough to buy gold for Xia Yao.

Xia Yao looked at him, a smile spreading across her face. She took his arm, stood on tiptoe, and whispered, "Thank you, brother~"

"You're welcome." Zhou Yan's lips curled up into a wide smile, almost wide enough to hang an oil lamp.

Indeed, when unsure what to buy, gold is the least likely to go wrong.

If you buy something else and then give it to someone a second time, it will seem like a perfunctory gesture.

But gold is different. You can buy earrings, necklaces, bracelets, rings... and different styles of necklaces, earrings, and rings.

No woman can resist glittering gold jewelry, including Xia Yao.

It's clear that she really likes this little golden gourd.

After paying the bill, Xia Yao carefully put the small box and the invoice into her bag.

"You collected them so carefully?" Zhou Yan said with a smile.

"Of course! This is the second piece of jewelry you've given me, I have to keep it as a souvenir." Xia Yao nodded, reached out and touched the little gourd on her chest, her smile becoming even brighter: "I love it so much, little gourd, it symbolizes both good fortune and prosperity, may it bless us with abundant blessings and wealth this year."

"Yes, if you say so, it'll definitely work out," Zhou Yan said with a smile.

"Shall we go pick out a TV for Momo now?" Xia Yao looked at him and said, "Did you bring any money with you today? If not, I have a little over two hundred here."

"I brought it, don't worry. I didn't take Momo's big color TV out of the box and ruin it," Zhou Yan said with a smile, taking her hand and leading her to the appliance section.

The busiest area in the entire department store was the home appliance section. In those days, home appliances were considered luxury items. A radio cassette player cost more than 300 yuan, a 14-inch black and white TV cost 400 yuan, and imported refrigerators often cost two or three thousand yuan.

The TV counter was crowded with people. Although the price was high, quite a few people were buying it. There were even more adults and children watching TV.

"Changhong 14-inch black and white screen, 380 yuan! Want it? Only three left!"

"The 14-inch Panda phone is also 380 yuan. It just arrived today, and there's plenty of stock. If you want it, I'll issue you an invoice. Don't worry, don't ask! Asking is giving me a headache!"

"Comrade, how much does that color TV cost?"

"The Feiyue 14-inch color TV is of very high quality, and the price is much cheaper than imported ones, at 986 yuan."

"Oh my! So expensive! I almost paid 1000!"

"Brother, this is a color TV! Only the rich can afford it. Look at the picture quality, it's completely different from a black and white TV."

Zhou Yan and his group went to the counter, stood there for a while, and then saw that three black and white televisions had been sold.

The family, envied by the envious glances from those around them, happily went home, clutching the television.

During this period, the demand for television sets among urban residents surged, especially among workers with stable wages. Saving up for a year to buy a television set became a family's goal.

The department store is the largest home appliance retailer in Jiaozhou, offering a complete range of styles and models, so most people come here to buy their appliances.

Of course, televisions were still relatively rare in the countryside.

Currently, only the village chief's family in Zhoucun has a 14-inch black and white Panda brand TV. Every night, his house is packed with people, just like a movie theater.

The 14-inch black and white TV was the best-selling model. Although the price of 380 yuan was expensive, dual-income families could still afford it if they gritted their teeth and saved for a year.

The price of 14-inch color TVs has jumped to over 800 yuan, and while there are many inquiries, few actual purchases.

Everyone knows that color TVs have color and are comfortable to watch, but unfortunately, the money in my pocket doesn't allow it.

As for imported color TVs, almost no one asked about them.

The price is too high.

These days, spending two hundred yuan more isn't something you can just grit your teeth and buy.

Zhou Yan and Xia Yao waited for a while before finally squeezing their way to the counter.

"What model do you want?!" the salesperson asked, her tone unfriendly, without even looking up.

"What are the different models of 18-inch imported color TVs? What are their prices?" Zhou Yan asked.

As soon as he said this, concerned glances immediately fell from those around him.

Which rich guy wants to buy a color TV? And an imported one at that?
Zhou Yan is tall, and he stands out conspicuously in front of the counter.

Everyone was increasingly surprised; was this young man really that capable?
Upon hearing this, the sales clerk looked up and her gaze fell on Zhou Yan, who was wearing a corduroy jacket, a Shanghai brand watch, and a somewhat cute tiger-head hat.

That's not the point. The point is that the girl he's holding is so pretty. Her clothes look high-end, and she's wearing pearl earrings and a gold gourd necklace.

When her gaze fell on Zhou Yan again, she felt that Zhou Yan definitely had the means to buy a color TV.

Imported color TVs are expensive, and only a few units are sold per month, so there is some sales pressure.

Although it won't affect my salary, if I can sell the color TVs, the boss will still praise me a bit more during meetings.

"We currently have two large color TVs on display. This one is a Sanyo 18-inch 590 model made in Chengdu. It costs 1449 yuan. How big is it? Let me plug it in and show you. The picture quality is pretty good."

"This is a Toshiba made by Xiao Rizi, 18-inch model 197. Imported products are more expensive, 1635 yuan. I'll plug it in for you to see, the functions are about the same anyway."

The salesperson explained to Zhou Yan.

"Sixteen thousand! Wow, this Japanese-made TV is so expensive!"

"My salary is 62,000 yuan. Even if I don't eat or drink for two years, I still can't save enough for one. It's so expensive!"

"This 18-inch TV is much more comfortable than the 14-inch one. Watching Huo Yuanjia on this colored TV must be incredibly comfortable."

"This young man can afford an imported large-screen TV? What does his family do for a living?!"

People in front of the stall gasped in surprise, all taken aback by the price.

"Toshiba's picture quality is more detailed, with less noise, and the screen should be better. Relatively speaking, Xiao Rizi's appliances are indeed more durable than domestic ones these days," Xia Yao whispered to Zhou Yan.

Having experienced a 100-inch color TV, Zhou Yan was reasonably accepting of the 18-inch size, without feeling the same sense of amazement as other customers.

But this is indeed the mainstream large-screen TV currently on the market.

"Which one do you want?" The sales clerk's patience was running out. She snapped the TV off and looked at Zhou Yan, asking.

The crowd's attention also turned to Zhou Yan. Both were large color TVs, one domestic and one imported, with a price difference of nearly two hundred yuan.

Which one would this young man choose?
"Comrade, I need a Toshiba 18-inch TV. Give me a brand new one, then plug it in and test it right here. If it works, I'll issue the invoice and pay you," Zhou Yan said.

The salesperson glanced at Zhou Yan, a smile appearing on his face. This young man was quite straightforward, and it seemed he came from a wealthy family. He nodded and said, "Okay, I'll have them bring one over from the warehouse. I'll plug it in and test it for you on the spot. If there are no problems, I'll install it for you."

"I'll just buy the imported color TV without hesitation!"

"I have to haggle with the vendor even when I'm buying a bunch of bok choy, but he doesn't even blink when he's buying a color TV?"

"Buying him a TV is already a huge favor, how come his girlfriend is so beautiful?"

Everyone looked at Zhou Yan in amazement.

Many people have been watching TV here for half a day. This is the first color TV sold, and it's an 18-inch imported color TV.

Zhou Yan stood in front of the counter with Xia Yao in his arms, his chin slightly raised, basking in the envious praise of passersby.

"Master Zhou! Boss lady? What are you doing here?" Just then, a familiar voice rang out from behind.

Zhou Yan turned around and saw Awei and his parents standing behind him. He smiled and said, "Awei, Uncle, Auntie, are you here to shop at the department store too?"

"Yes, I brought my mom and dad to buy a TV!" Awei said proudly. "I've already picked one out, a 14-inch Panda brand black and white TV. I'm determined to get it today!"

"Master Kong has really grown up, he even wants to buy a TV for his parents." Zhou Yan smiled upon hearing this and stepped aside to let them come to the counter.

Ah Wei scratched his head: "Actually, I just played a role in setting the stage. It's 380 yuan, I'll contribute 80 yuan, and they'll contribute 300 yuan."

"That's not bad either, Master Kong still paid the lion's share," Zhou Yan teased.

"It's not bad. This is the first time in so many years that I've said I want to buy some things for the house after receiving my salary," Kong Guoliang said with a smile.

"Boss Zhou, my son Wei came home yesterday and said you guys treat him very well. He's learned a lot from you, eats well, and even has a private room. He's already started gaining weight in just two weeks," Ding Meng said with a smile as she approached Zhou Yan.

“Aunt Ding, you can call me Zhou Yan or Little Zhou, it’s fine. Uncle Kong and my master are of the same generation, and you two have a very good relationship with my master, so don’t be so formal,” Zhou Yan said with a smile.

"Okay, then I'll call her Xiao Zhou." Ding Meng nodded, her gaze falling on Xia Yao. Her eyes lit up, and she asked with a smile, "Is this girl your girlfriend?"

"Aunt Ding, Uncle Kong, hello, my name is Xia Yao, Zhou Yan's girlfriend," Xia Yao said gracefully.

"Hello, hello, you're so cute, just like a celebrity." Ding Meng looked at Xia Yao with delight, then her gaze fell on Awei, and she playfully smacked him. "When are you going to find a girlfriend to bring home?"

"Mom, I can't rush these things. I wish the government could issue them." Awei looked innocent and quickly changed the subject: "Comrade, get us a Panda TV, a 14-inch black and white one!"

"Okay, 380 yuan, want to try it?" the salesperson replied, and started issuing the invoice.

"Need not……"

Ding Meng interrupted Ah Wei with a slap, then said, "Yes! Let's try it first and see if it works. If it does, we'll pay and take it away."

"Okay, right away!" the salesperson replied.

"You hit my paw?" Ah Wei looked completely innocent.

Ding Meng glared at him coldly: "You little brat, you didn't even try it! What if it doesn't work when you bring it home? I work eight hours a day on the production line, and I finally saved up some money to buy a TV. If I bring home a broken one, I'll hang you and your father up and beat them both!"

"You hit my paw?" Kong Guoliang looked completely innocent.

“You gave birth to him.” Ding Meng rolled her eyes at him.

Kong Guoliang was furious, but dared not speak.

Zhou Yan and Xia Yao were laughing their heads off.

Ah Wei didn't seem to care, and turned his gaze to Zhou Yan: "Hey? Teacher Zhou, what brings you here? You want to buy a TV too? Let me tell you, this Panda brand TV has excellent picture and sound quality, and the 14-inch size is just right. Although it's black and white, the picture quality is in no way inferior to a color TV..."

"Comrade, your Toshiba TV has arrived. Look, it's in its original packaging and hasn't been opened. Now, let me turn it on and let you try it out," the salesperson said to Zhou Yan.

“Okay,” Zhou Yan replied.

"Huh? What? A Toshiba big color TV! Holy crap!" Awei's eyes widened as he watched the two sales clerks take a big color TV out of the box.

"Wei, how does it compare to a panda?" Zhou Yan asked seriously. "You're the expert on this, so tell me."

"What a load of rubbish! What does a panda have to compare to it!" Awei looked at the Toshiba color TV, then back at Zhou Yan, still unable to hide his shock: "You bought a Toshiba color TV for 1,635 yuan? Are you out of your mind?"

Ding Meng and Kong Guoliang were also somewhat shocked. They had been thinking about buying this TV for over a year and had already saved enough money, but if it weren't for Awei bringing it up last night, saying he would take out eighty yuan to buy them a TV, this matter might have been delayed until next year.

Zhou Yan is only twenty years old, and he's already buying a big color TV that costs 1,600 yuan? That's way too rich!
Thinking about it, it makes sense. Awei's monthly salary in Leming was 56 yuan, but when he went to Zhou Yan's place to work as a laborer, he was paid 120 yuan a month.

Now, the highest-paid employee in their family isn't Old Kong, who has worked there for over twenty years; it's Awei.

Zhou Yan's restaurant business is so good, he must be making a lot of money.

"There's no other way. I was worried that watching TV for too long would damage Momo's eyes, so I had to buy a bigger, clearer one," Zhou Yan said with a smile.

"It has to be Momo, she gets such treatment." Awei said enviously.

The TV was plugged in, the power cord was unplugged, and the salesperson adjusted it a few times. CCTV appeared, showing the TV series "The Legend of Huo Yuanjia".

Intense fighting sounds emanated from the speakers, and the fighting scenes were clear and vibrant in color.

Everyone craned their necks to look and praised it.

"The picture quality of this color TV is so good! The sound system of this imported TV is really something else!" After watching for a while, Awei turned around and said, "Mom, Dad, how about we spend a little more money to buy a color TV? An 18-inch one is too expensive, but a 14-inch one would be fine too."

"Buy a hammer! Are you trying to ruin your life? You have no sense of propriety at all." Ding Meng rolled her eyes at him, exasperated with her son. They did have some money in their savings account, but it was all saved for their son's wedding. How could they just spend it all on a TV?

"Look, it can be released," the salesperson said to Zhou Yan.

Zhou Yan nodded and said to the salesperson, "Okay, could you give me a set of matching Yagi antennas?"

"Okay, I'll put it back in for you and issue the invoice," the sales clerk replied with a smile, then had her colleague put the TV back in and issue the invoice to Zhou Yan.

"That's right! This TV is going to be moved back to the hotel. I stay at the hotel six days a week now, so I can watch TV every day!" Ah Wei's eyes lit up, and he immediately became happy.

Awei and his team also brought their Panda TV. After plugging it in and checking that there were no problems, they installed it and issued an invoice.

A television is a big purchase, so there's no harm in being overly cautious.

Although he was impacted by Zhou Yan's imported large-screen TV, Awei was still quite happy when he paid for it and left with the Panda TV he had been longing for.

Zhou Yan, carrying the newly wrapped color TV, followed the door, a wild grin spreading across his face.

Along the way, I was met with surprised and envious glances.

A large color TV—how many people dream of it?

Xia Yao followed behind Zhou Yan, holding the antenna, glancing up at him every now and then with a smile on her lips. He was so interesting.

"Is there anything else you want to buy? If so, I'll turn on the TV later and we can go shopping together for a while?" Zhou Yan asked, turning his head to look at her.

"We've bought everything. Let's go back to Wanxiu Restaurant. You still need to prepare for the dinner later." Xia Yao shook her head.

"You still care about your brother." Zhou Yan nodded.

"Tsk." Xia Yao glared at him, her eyes smiling. Luckily, Ah Wei and his family behind them didn't hear her.

As Zhou Yan and his group came out of the department store, their driver, Master Ma, immediately got out of the car, opened the trunk, and helped load the color TV into the vehicle. He exclaimed in surprise, "This is an imported large color TV? How much does it cost!"

"Sixteen thousand, a gift from a big boss from Hong Kong to my sister," Zhou Yan said with a smile.

"Tsk tsk, big bosses from Hong Kong are really generous," Master Ma exclaimed in amazement.

“Exactly.” Zhou Yan agreed with a smile. He understood the principle of not flaunting wealth, but it was different for the big bosses in Hong Kong; everyone knew they were rich.

"Master Zhou! You didn't buy a car behind my back, did you?" Awei was about to tie the TV to the back of his old bicycle when he turned around and his eyes widened in disbelief.

“The car from Jiaozhou Hotel was chartered by the big boss, I’m just hitching a ride,” Zhou Yan said with a smile, glancing at his television. “Want me to give it to you on the way home? So it doesn’t fall off halfway.”

"Okay!" Without the slightest hesitation, Ah Wei carried the TV to the car and, with Master Ma's help, put it in the trunk.

"Mom, you can ride the bicycle home for me, okay? I'll take the bus back!" Awei said to Ding Meng as he turned around.

"Okay," Ding Meng replied.

"You sit in the front." Zhou Yan patted Awei and opened the back door to let Xia Yao get in first.

"Great, I finally get to ride in a car! The last time was two years ago." Awei got into the car, his face beaming with excitement. He looked around, gave the driver an address, and then leaned back comfortably in his seat. He turned to Zhou Yan and said, "Master Zhou, why did you suddenly decide to buy a TV? I didn't hear you mention it before. Weren't you here to be a groomsman today?" "To be honest, this TV was bought with a meal," Zhou Yan said with a smile.

"What?" Ah Wei craned his neck to the back seat. "What do you mean by trading a meal for it?"

"There are two big bosses from Hong Kong who asked me to cook a banquet for them tonight. I didn't want to agree at first, but they insisted on buying a TV for Momo, so I felt bad refusing," Zhou Yan said.

"Holy crap! Is this for real?!" Awei exclaimed in surprise. "So...so you're going back to Suzhou to cook for them tonight?"

"No, I've already arranged with the owner of Wanxiu Restaurant to borrow her space for a bit," Zhou Yan said.

"Master Zhou, so you're going to challenge a restaurant?" Awei's eyes lit up, and he rubbed his hands together. "Can I come along? I love joining in the fun! Wanxiu Restaurant has been making a big splash lately and is already putting pressure on Leming Restaurant."

"Do you want to go?" Zhou Yan asked.

Ah Wei nodded: "I want to! I'll be your chopping board assistant, and I can also take a look at the kitchen of Wanxiu Restaurant. I've heard it's huge."

Zhou Yan nodded: "Okay, take the knife with you, I'll take you there. I didn't bring anything today, I'll have to borrow a knife."

It would be good to broaden Ah Wei's horizons. Wanxiu Restaurant is currently the top catering establishment in the Jiaozhou area, and it is also the benchmark they will be targeting next.

Awei's home is in the same direction as Wanxiu Restaurant, not far from each other, in the family compound of Jiaozhou Hongxing Machinery Factory.

The car parked at the gate of the courtyard immediately attracted a lot of attention.

Ah Wei got out of the car, straightened his clothes, and then took his TV out of the trunk.

"Wei! You bought a TV?"

"Ah Wei, you've made it big now? Why are you coming back in a car!"

The neighbors immediately gathered around, asking questions out of curiosity.

"Oh dear, I bought a TV, and I was worried it would break on the way, so I hired a car to deliver it back," Ah Wei said with a smile, carrying the TV upstairs.

"Ah Wei is really capable! Ding Meng is going to enjoy her good fortune."

"I knew Ah Wei had been smart since he was a child."

The neighbors were talking about it.

"Why isn't Awei telling the truth?" Xia Yao asked, a little puzzled.

"A man's reputation is something he earns himself," Zhou Yan said with a smile.

Xia Yao was taken aback, a little confused.

Awei came down with his bag on his back, just as Ding Meng and Kong Guoliang were riding back on their bikes.

Ah Wei took the bicycle from his mother and said, "Mom, give me the bike. I'm going to go cook with Zhou Shi. You won't be waiting for me for dinner. I'll come back later to fix the TV."

"Okay." Ding Meng nodded and didn't ask any more questions.

Zhou Yan rolled down the car window, greeted the two men, and then asked Master Ma to drive back to Wanxiu Restaurant.

"Ding Meng, your Awei is pretty good."

"He's twenty-one, right? I have a sister's daughter who's nineteen. Should we let them meet her...?"

The voices of the neighbors gradually faded into the distance.

Xia Yao rested her head on Zhou Yan's shoulder; she roughly understood what Zhou Yan had just said.

The car stopped in front of Wanxiu Restaurant. Zhou Yan and Xia Yao got out of the car and waited at the door for a while before they saw Awei riding his bicycle over.

"Phew—this little car is really fast! I could pedal until my legs were broken and still not catch up," Awei said, panting heavily. "When I get rich, I'll buy a car and drive it too!"

“Okay, when I get rich, I’ll buy you a car to drive for me.” Zhou Yan smiled and patted his shoulder.

"Really? Master Zhou, you said it yourself! I'm sticking with you for life!" Awei was both happy and excited.

"Really, I'll even pay for your driver's license test." Zhou Yan nodded. As a boss, there are definitely occasions where you need a driver to help you drive.

Upon entering Wanxiu Restaurant, Zhou Yan first escorted Xia Yao to Meng Anhe's side, and then led Awei straight to the restaurant's kitchen.

Yan Ge was giving instructions to the chefs at Wanxiu Restaurant. There were more than thirty middle-aged and young chefs in chef's uniforms standing in front of him, forming a large group.

"I heard that about half of these chefs came from Rongleyuan," Awei whispered to Zhou Yan, his expression slightly nervous.

"Don't be afraid, stand up straight. You are a direct disciple of the Confucian school, no less capable than them," Zhou Yan said with a smile.

Hearing the noise, Yan Ge turned his head to look.

Ah Wei immediately straightened his back, holding the bag containing the knife at his waist, and stood behind Zhou Yan, looking just like a guard with a knife.

Zhou Yan stepped forward with a smile and said, "Master Yan, we need to borrow the kitchen again tonight. This is my senior apprentice, Kong Liwei. He'll lend me a hand."

“Okay, the landlady told me about this before.” Yan Ge nodded, glanced at Kong Liwei, and then said to his apprentice beside him, “Go get a chef’s uniform that fits this master and let him change into it.”

"Wow, Wanxiu Restaurant is really rich. They even gave me a chef's uniform and a hat, saying they wouldn't take it back once they gave it to me," Awei muttered under his breath as he changed into the chef's uniform and followed Zhou Yan into the kitchen.

“Watch carefully and learn well. This will be the standard for our restaurant from now on,” Zhou Yan said, stopping in front of the stove that Yan Ge had arranged for him.

"Tsk, this kitchen is even bigger than Leming's. These stoves look so professional, charcoal stoves, no smoke, so comfortable."

"These iron pots must be custom-made, right? They feel so comfortable to hold."

Ah Wei clicked his tongue in amazement, his eyes darting around.

"Stop looking around. First, butcher the beef brisket and ribs. I'll make the savory and sweet braised pork belly. Dinner is at six, so we only have two hours left. Time is tight," Zhou Yan said, washing his hands and getting to work.

"Okay!" Ah Wei replied, took the kitchen knife out of his bag, and started working as well.

"Master, are we really going to have them prepare banquet meals for guests in our kitchen? Isn't that inappropriate?"

"Exactly, the two of them combined aren't even as old as me, so why are they allowed to run a banquet?"

The chefs at Wanxiu Restaurant looked at Zhou Yan and Kong Liwei, who were busy in the kitchen, with complicated expressions and a hint of resentment.

"Why should I?" Yan Ge laughed, looking at everyone and saying, "Just because a big boss from Hong Kong is willing to pay 1,600 yuan to have him cook this meal, you have to be impressed. If you have that ability, then I can let you be the head chef today."

The crowd fell silent, their eyes widening in shock and disbelief.

1600 yuan to cook a table of dishes!

Everyone was shocked after hearing it, feeling like they had misheard.

The most expensive banquet at Rongleyuan costs 1,000 yuan per table, featuring delicacies such as braised bear paw, braised deer tendon with scallions, clear soup with pigeon eggs and bird's nest, braised shark fin, spicy and sour sea cucumber, and cordyceps duck.

It relies on the reputation of Rongleyuan, with several top-level chefs personally in charge. From cold dishes to hot dishes, they all represent the highest level of Sichuan cuisine. It requires preparation one or two days in advance, and all the chefs come to watch while it is being prepared.

Many dishes are only made once or twice a year.

Zhou Yan received 1,600 yuan, but only started preparing two hours before the meal? Moreover, he didn't prepare any ingredients himself and just used what Wanxiu's kitchen had on hand?
Looking at the ingredients he picked out, there were ribs, pork belly, tofu, and a young rooster... The most expensive ingredient was probably the only rock carp left in the fish tank.

Everyone can roughly guess what dish he's going to cook.

"Are Hong Kong bosses really that easy to fool?" one of the apprentices murmured.

"This is something you can't buy with money," Yan Ge said with some emotion. "Hong Kong business owners know their food. Of all the dishes, they especially love Kung Pao Chicken and Braised Rock Carp. They came to Chef Zhou themselves to cook this meal, and they even raised the price to 1,600."

Don't let his young age fool you; his skill is truly exceptional. He makes Kung Pao Chicken better than I do. The Kong school of Sichuan cuisine has earned its reputation through hard work and dedication.

The chefs' expressions were somewhat complicated upon hearing this. Yan Ge was such a proud man, yet for him to admit that his Kung Pao Chicken was not as good as Zhou Yan's, one could only imagine how high Zhou Yan's skill level was.

"Master Zhou, you're amazing! Even a top-tier chef from Rong Leyuan is impressed with you! I think the entire culinary world of Jiaozhou will soon be following your lead!" Awei said with a smile.

"Get up." Zhou Yan rolled his eyes at him.

However, Yan Ge was quite magnanimous. Although he was less skilled than Yan Ge, he didn't try to trip him up. Instead, he used Yan Ge to reprimand his own apprentices and chefs. He was quite pragmatic.

Wanxiu Restaurant had a very complete selection of ingredients, even the pickled mustard greens were ready-made. Zhou Yan first put the salted braised pork belly and steamed pork with rice flour into the pot to steam. Two steamed dishes were needed, otherwise the dishes for today would not be complete.

For the stir-fried dishes, we had braised beef with dried bamboo shoots and braised pork ribs, followed by snowflake chicken soup. Kung Pao chicken and Mapo tofu were ordered by Zhuang Huayu, and dry-fried rock carp was ordered by Yao Licheng, which was the grand finale.

Zhou Yan planned to order another dish of shredded pork with garlic sauce, plus a dish of spicy chicken blood and minced beef with double peppers.

There weren't enough dishes for the banquet, so they had to add a couple more dishes to make up the difference.

There was no other way but to make them cook more.

There was only one cold dish: cold chicken salad. A young rooster was slaughtered, half of the chicken breast was used to make snowflake chicken soup, and the rest of the chicken meat was just right for making cold chicken salad.

The old lady taught him how to make cold chicken salad, and after making it for the past few months, his skill level has reached an "extremely good" level.

The main reason is that the chili oil is well-made and the seasoning level is high. After practicing the skill of cooking chicken, the level of cold chicken has improved rapidly.

Zhou Yan said to Awei, who was handling the ribs and beef brisket, "Awei, go pick out a nice young rooster and kill it. Remember, it has to be a tender chicken. When you bleed it, take a bowl and collect the blood. I want to stir-fry some spicy chicken blood."

"The boss gave you a color TV, are you trying to get him all fired up?" Awei asked in surprise.

"So what if it's chicken blood? Mapo tofu is still served, isn't it?" Zhou Yan laughed.

"Okay," Ah Wei replied, and left with the white porcelain bowl.

Zhou Yan first stewed the beef brisket and ribs in a small pot, and then started making the chili oil.

The kitchen had the necessary equipment, but it didn't meet Zhou Yan's standards.

……

In the garden, Meng Anhe looked at Xia Yao's necklace and said with a smile, "This gourd is really beautiful. The craftsmanship is excellent, and the meaning is also good. Zhou Yan will give you a gift; he knows how to care for people."

"Yes, he took me to choose it specifically." Xia Yao nodded slightly, her eyes crinkling with a smile.

Meng Anhe turned to look at Lin Zhiqiang and said, "Old Lin, you need to learn a lot from Zhou Yan. When you gave me your first piece of jewelry, we had already been together for two years. I had to remind you before you gave me the bracelet."

"The younger generation is pushing the older generation forward; I'm feeling the pressure," Lin Zhiqiang remarked.

Everyone laughed.

"Have you bought the TV yet?" Zhuang Huayu asked with a smile.

"I bought it, an 18-inch Toshiba color TV, for 1,635 yuan. It'll be in the trunk of the car now. I also bought an antenna," Xia Yao nodded.

"Great, then little Zhou Momo will be able to watch TV tonight." Zhuang Huayu nodded with a smile.

……

"Mom~ Will my boyfriend bring me wedding candy back?"

"Mom~ Look how cute this rabbit I drew is!"

"Mom, say something!"

In the courtyard of the old house in the countryside, Zhou Momo was wearing a little floral jacket, holding a piece of charcoal in her hand, her little face looking like a clown.

Zhao Tieying, who was playing cards with someone nearby, replied without turning her head when she heard this, "Yes, yes, you're right."

"Oh dear~" Zhou Momo sighed, threw down the charcoal in her hand, and ran to the side to pet the cat. She hugged the purring tabby cat and whispered, "Huahua, can you fly?"

The tabby cat raised its paw to cover its ears and continued purring.

"Tieying, why hasn't your Zhou Yan come back today?" asked the woman playing cards with them.

“He went to be his best man,” Zhao Tieying said casually as he played his card.

"If you're a groomsman, when are you going to be the groom? You've already started dating, it should be soon, right?" another person asked.

Zhao Tieying calmly said, "They're only twenty years old, what's the rush? The two kids aren't in a hurry, I'm not in a hurry, so you shouldn't be in a hurry either."

"You, as a mother, don't seem to care at all." Everyone laughed.

Zhao Tieying said, "I am Zhou Yan's mother and Zhou Momo's mother. Zhou Yan doesn't need to be taken care of now, but Zhou Momo is still young. We need to raise her until she grows up before we can consider becoming a grandmother."

……

The kitchen at Wanxiu Restaurant is gradually getting busier. The banquet will be held twice, and the evening meal will be much simpler, but with more than 100 tables for the three wedding banquets, there are still quite a few dishes to prepare.

Yan Ge assigned the work to Zhou Yan and then went to Zhou Yan's stove to chat with him for a few minutes.

Zhou Yangang had just finished making the chili oil and peanuts when he noticed Yan Ge still standing beside him. He smiled and said, "Master Yan, would you like to discuss Kung Pao Chicken with me?"

Yan Ge paused for a moment, then nodded when he saw Zhou Yan's open smile: "I tried Master Zhou's Kung Pao Chicken at noon. The spicy and lychee flavor was particularly prominent. I've been making Kung Pao Chicken for many years, but I'm still not quite up to the master's level. I wonder if I could ask you for some pointers?"

“Chef Yan is a top-level chef from Rongleyuan. I wouldn’t dare to offer guidance; we can only say we can learn from each other.” Zhou Yan quickly waved his hand. “How about Chef Yan cooks a dish right now, and I can watch from the side so we can discuss it together?”

"Okay." Yan Ge nodded, and asked the kitchen helper to prepare the ingredients for Kung Pao Chicken. He immediately began deboning and dicing the chicken legs, marinating them, and frying the peanut oil...

Zhou Yan stood by with his hands behind his back, watching without saying a word.

Soon, a plate of Kung Pao Chicken was ready. The sauce coated the chicken pieces, and there was a line of oil on the plate. It looked quite appetizing.

A truly excellent Kung Pao Chicken

Zhou Yan picked up a spoon, took a bite, and chewed it carefully. It was of an extremely good standard, almost perfect.

Yan Ge has met true masters, which is why he wants to pursue perfection.

"Master Zhou, what's it like?" Yan Ge asked, looking at Zhou Yan.

"Master Yan's Kung Pao Chicken is of a very high standard. The spicy and lychee flavor is just right, the chicken is tender and springy, and the peanuts are crunchy. It's delicious." Zhou Yan nodded.

Yan Ge breathed a slight sigh of relief; at least Zhou Yan had given him enough face in front of his apprentices and the chefs under his command.

"Where exactly is that missing breath?" Yan Ge asked.

"A little bit of heat and a little bit of seasoning," Zhou Yan said. "The lychee-flavored lychee broth is a little bit lacking, and the lychee flavor is a little bit too sour. When stir-frying the chili peppers, wait three seconds longer before adding the vegetables, and the lychee broth flavor will be more prominent."

Yan Ge nodded thoughtfully: "I understand a bit. I'll try it again later. Thank you, Master Zhou."

"You're too kind." Zhou Yan smiled and looked at Yan Ge, saying, "Master Yan, I have great respect for Rongleyuan. I'm curious if Rongleyuan's menu has any dishes that are complicated to make, use inexpensive ingredients, but can still command high prices?"

"You mean high-end banquet dishes made with simple ingredients but exquisite craftsmanship?" Yan Ge thought for a moment and said, "Then I think Immortal Duck and Camphor Tea Duck should be on the list."

"Oh, I've heard of these two dishes too." Zhou Yan's eyes lit up, and he smiled. "I wonder if Wanxiu Restaurant serves these two dishes?"

“I haven’t mastered the art of making Immortal Duck, so currently, the only high-end banquet we serve at Wanxiu Restaurant is Camphor Tea Duck. To be honest, the process of making Camphor Tea Duck is complex, and I’ve only learned the basics. It’s far inferior to what the old man at Rongleyuan makes,” Yan Ge said.

"Oh, camphor tea duck, that's good." Zhou Yan smiled slightly.

It's mine now!

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(End of this chapter)