1996: Starting from a bankrupt farmhouse restaurant

Chapter 134 Shrimp and E-fu Noodles

My uncle lay there for a long time without responding.

Lu Yuan was afraid that his uncle might really break the motorcycle, so he picked it up.

He squatted down, looking at his uncle's pathetic state, and asked, "Do you know which company my future aunt works for?"

Upon hearing this, the uncle's heart fluttered even more, and he replied, "I heard she works at the power supply station."

"Wow! What a great company!"

Lu Yuan simply counted on his fingers for his uncle: "My future aunt, you've been working at the power supply station training Yu Buqian for six or seven years now, right? That's at least 500 yuan a month, plus performance bonuses and such, probably around 2000 yuan a year. That adds up to almost 1 yuan a year!"

Uncle hadn't considered this before, but after hearing Lu Yuan's explanation, he felt the gap between them became even more obvious.

Lu Yuan continued to argue for him: "My future aunt is definitely a little rich woman. She's been able to hold on in her twenties for the past two years. Once she turns 30, your ex-fiancée's father will force her to find a divorced man with a child, and he can spend her 10,000 yuan every year, plus make her do the laundry, cook, and empty the chamber pot. If she doesn't behave, he'll give her a couple of spankings. Wouldn't that be wonderful?"

"He dares? I'll kill him!" The old man felt like he was suffocating as he listened. A piercing pain swept through his chest, and he stared angrily, trying to sit up.

As a result, Lu Yuan shoved him to the ground and mocked, "You're always messing around with this and that, how are you so capable?"

"You can't even say 'I like you' out loud, all you do is spout threats. Just shut up and lie down!"

After being scolded by Lu Yuan, Uncle immediately wilted again, only able to keep recalling the scene of his beloved girl being bullied, his heart aching so badly it felt like it was about to stop beating.

Lu Yuan stopped scolding his uncle. He sighed softly and said, "My poor future aunt-in-law, she's met such a spineless man. You know, this man can run a lamb offal soup shop and make over 1000 yuan a day, 10 yuan a year, how come he can't even keep his own woman?"

When his uncle heard Lu Yuan's calculations, he sat up abruptly, his eyes lighting up: "Xiao Yuan, are you telling the truth?"

""

"What's the use of telling the truth? Will it win back my future aunt?" Lu Yuan retorted.

My uncle didn't answer, but the dejection he had shown earlier was gone from his eyes.

It wasn't because Lu Yuan said he could make money, but because Lu Yuan's words made him confront his own inner weakness.

For years he had been afraid to face this problem, but recently Lu Yuan's rise to prominence has led him to focus on his career.

As he gets older, he has begun to confront this issue; otherwise, he wouldn't have answered so readily when Lu Yuan asked him today.

Moreover, Lu Yuan's repeated calls of "future aunt" were really comforting, and his frozen heart began to stir again.

There was nothing Lu Yuan could do but use the same trick he had used on the landlord again, given his uncle's pathetic performance.

All I can say is that classic formulas are worth using many times over.

Lu Yuan extended his hand to his uncle and said, "First, give my future aunt a frank call and tell her you're doing well, your new store is opening soon, and give her some confidence!"

The uncle grasped Lu Yuan's hand, and Lu Yuan pulled him up, his voice trembling slightly as he asked, "Xiao Yuan, is it possible for our shop to open in the provincial capital?"

Lu Yuan said confidently, "Uncle, we'll definitely be able to drive to the provincial capital next year!"

"Xiao Yuan, I believe you!"

.

In Weijia Village, Grandpa sat under the grapevines, pondering Lu Yuan's plan to open a shop.

After a long pause, Grandpa slowly spoke, "Xiao Yuan, Grandpa isn't very educated and doesn't quite understand what you're saying. Grandpa knows you're a good child and want to help your uncle and aunt make money. Grandpa only has one thing to say: do business honestly and uprightly, and don't do anything that would be against your conscience!"

Lu Yuan sat up straight and replied solemnly, "Grandpa, don't worry, I will remember what you said."

Lu Yuan and his maternal grandfather proposed a plan: his maternal uncle would hold 6% of the shares, while his aunt and his other aunt would each hold 2%.

When they want to open their own shop, Uncle can just take back their shares.

Furthermore, Lu Yuan promised to provide financial support for them to open a store.

The initial investment consisted of 25,000 yuan raised by my uncle and maternal grandfather, 5000 yuan each from my two aunts, and the remainder lent to them by Lu Yuan.

As for the renovation, we don't need to invest too much money. The main thing is the kitchen, where Lu Yuan has high requirements.

The ideal ratio of kitchen to front of house in a standard restaurant is 1:1, but this ratio is difficult to achieve in reality.

However, Lu Yuan still tried to expand the kitchen area as much as possible. Only with a spacious kitchen and a reasonable workflow could the efficiency of serving food be maximized.

The entire renovation was entrusted to the third grandfather of the Lu family. Thanks to the Zhou family craftsmen they invited last time, the third grandfather and his team have made rapid progress in their studies.

After finishing up the matters in Weijia Village, Lu Yuan went straight back to Xiao Lu Farmhouse Restaurant.

September has arrived, and summer is being quietly driven away by autumn.

It got dark faster, and the night gradually became cooler.

Zhao Yan's jeep was parked properly in front of the fried dough workshop, and the lights inside the workshop were on.

Lu Yuan peered out the window and found that only Zhao Yan was there.

Moreover, she was doing something that made Lu Yuan very angry.

Upon seeing this, Lu Yuan's anger flared up instantly. He burst through the door and yelled at Zhao Yan, "Stop right there!"

Zhao Yan, with a fork in her mouth and a seasoning packet in her hand, was pouring it into the instant noodles when Lu Yuan yelled at her, causing it all to spill out.

"What are you doing? You scared me to death! I thought bandits were coming!" Zhao Yan patted her chest, feeling as if her heart had jumped.

Lu Yuan picked up the instant noodles in front of her and asked, "What's this?"

"Instant noodles!" Zhao Yan was a little confused.

Lu Yuan's eyes widened: "You, Zhao Yan, aren't you being a bit too insulting? You're eating instant noodles in a restaurant?"

Zhao Yan was still completely bewildered and a little at a loss: "Can't we eat instant noodles in a restaurant?"

Lu Yuan retorted, "Is there no food left in the restaurant? You've sunk to eating instant noodles? Where will I put my face if word gets out?"

Zhao Yan paused for a moment, then suddenly exclaimed, "Oh! Is it like asking your language arts teacher a math question in front of your math teacher?"

"That's about right!" Lu Yuan immediately confiscated the instant noodles and asked, "Won't there be any food when you get back this afternoon? Where's my mom?"

Speaking of this, Zhao Yan suddenly blushed a little and said weakly, "Auntie went to help out at another aunt's house. She made me a sandwich, but I wasn't full."

Lu Yuan: "..."

""

To Lu Yuan's utter surprise, the girl had such a large appetite. Still, he couldn't accept it, so he asked, "Those three restaurants are all open until evening, why don't we just eat there?"

Zhao Yan said embarrassedly, "I'm not familiar with everyone, so if I go there rashly, it will feel like I'm begging for food."

"Nonsense! Those are all my restaurants. If they're begging, they'll ask me. What's there to be embarrassed about?"

Lu Yuan placed the instant noodles on the worktable, grabbed Zhao Yan's wrist, and led her out of the fried dough workshop, heading north.

Lu Yuan was very strong and had a domineering air that left no room for argument, so Zhao Yan had no choice but to let him pull her along.

After the two arrived at Sister Lu's Spicy Hot Pot, Lu Yuan pushed open the door and introduced her to his aunt and the others, saying, "This is Teacher Xiao Zhao, who's here to teach in a rural area. She can eat whatever she wants whenever she wants, and you're not allowed to charge her!"

Knowing that Zhaoyan was staying at Lu Yuan's house, her second aunt agreed with a smile.

There were still many customers eating in the store at this time, and everyone's eyes were fixed on the two of them. Zhao Yan blushed so much that she couldn't stand it.

Afterwards, Lu Yuan brought Zhao Yan to Uncle Lu and Old Man Lu, and also let them know about Zhao Yan's existence. He told them that she could eat whatever she wanted from now on, and that no money was allowed to be charged.

After receiving two more curious glances, Zhao Yan was completely dumbfounded and let Lu Yuan drag her around.

It wasn't that Lu Yuan reacted too strongly; as a master chef, it was indeed a bit of pride at play.

After grabbing Zhaoyan and rushing out the door, he had actually forgotten that he was still holding Zhaoyan's hand.

The older woman and her second aunt leaned against the window, watching the two leave, and smiled kindly.

The old lady said with relief, "It seems that among our three little ones, Xiao Yuan will be the first to find a girlfriend."

Auntie sighed and said, "It's hard to say. Changlin said that Teacher Xiao Zhao has quite a background and will definitely be returning to the capital in the future. How can we country kids be good enough for her?"

The old woman retorted, unconvinced, "So what if he's from the countryside? Go back three generations, weren't they all from the countryside? Besides, our Xiao Yuan is great, isn't he? He's handsome and his business is quite successful. If you ask me, Xiao Yuan and Teacher Xiao Zhao are a perfect match."

My second aunt said, "I hope so!"

Lu Yuan didn't take Zhao Yan straight home. Instead, he went to the central kitchen first and got some black tiger prawns and broth.

After taking Zhaoyan to the fried dough workshop, he told her to wait and see how the restaurant served instant noodles.

Back in the kitchen, Lu Yuan planned to make a classic Cantonese dish, a budget version of lobster noodles: prawn noodles.

The reason is simple: Lu Yuan has no lobsters, no cheese, and no shrimp roe.

Yi noodles look no different from instant noodles.

But it is the true ancestor of instant noodles; instant noodles are merely a poor imitation of everyday life.

During the Qing Dynasty, Yi Mian (a type of noodle) had already appeared on the dining tables of the Guangdong region.

But making this dish is not as simple as making instant noodles.

First, you need to boil the dough in water until it's soft to remove the unpleasant oily taste.

If you're making instant noodles at home, you can soak the noodles first, drain the water, then add fresh water and the seasoning packet. It will taste much fresher.

After the noodles are cooked until soft, remove them from the water and let them cool naturally. Then heat oil in a pan and fry them again into pancakes.

This step isn't unnecessary; it's to improve the texture of the noodles and make them more absorbent.

Next, we'll prepare the soup base. Heat oil in a wok, add the prawns, and fry until cooked through.

Next, add minced garlic and onion and sauté until fragrant, then add diced shiitake mushrooms and stir-fry until fragrant.

Then add stock and simmer until the broth thickens, bringing out the fresh aroma of shrimp.

Then clean out all the shrimp and leftover bits, and put the noodles in to fully absorb the broth.

Finally, add the chives. Once the broth is completely gone but the noodles are no longer clumping together, you can transfer the noodles to a plate.

The prawns that were previously caught are arranged one by one on the noodles, and this poor man's version of prawn noodles is ready.

While it was still hot, Lu Yuan quickly carried the noodles to the fried dough workshop and placed them in front of Zhao Yan, saying seriously, "This is the kind of instant noodles a restaurant should serve!"

When Zhao Yan saw this, her mouth formed an "O" shape.

She began to understand why Lu Yuan wouldn't let her eat instant noodles.

Compared to this shrimp-flavored instant noodles, instant noodles are like a beggar in the sewer compared to a celebrity on TV—completely incomparable.

Zhao Yan couldn't resist pushing aside the prawns, picking up a mouthful of noodles and putting it in her mouth.

Instantly, a delicious aroma that elevates instant noodles to their ultimate form fills the mouth, whetting the appetite.

The most amazing thing was the ring of prawns on top, which instantly gave her the feeling of eating the original food shown on the packaging.

Zhao Yan deftly peeled a large shrimp with both hands and put it in her mouth. The fresh and sweet taste gave the rich aroma of the noodles a new soul.

Watching Zhao Yan eat, Lu Yuan also felt very satisfied.

On the one hand, chefs feel a sense of satisfaction when they see diners enjoying their creations.

On the other hand, seeing a lovely girl smacking her fingers and shaking her head was quite a sight to behold.

Before long, Zhao Yan finished a whole plate of lobster noodles, and Lu Yuan was genuinely impressed by the girl's appetite.

Perhaps because he was a chef and was exposed to smoky flavors all year round, Lu Yuan didn't eat much and had a moderate appetite.

In his opinion, Zhao Yan should have a bigger appetite than him, so why doesn't she look fat?

He stole a glance at Zhao Yan's belly; it was flat without an ounce of fat, and even her arms and legs were so well-proportioned.

This is truly baffling!

Having eaten and drunk her fill, Zhao Yan was in high spirits. She smiled and nodded slightly, saying, "Thank you for your hospitality, Chef Lu!"

Lu Yuan replied with a smile, "You're welcome. A full stomach makes for better work. Let's go, let's get back to drawing!"

Yesterday, I only painted two pictures before going to wash my hair. I have to speed things up today because there's a private banquet tomorrow, so I won't be able to paint with Zhao Yan.

Upon hearing that there was still work to be done, Zhao Yan immediately lost her spirits, pouting and saying, "There really is no such thing as a free lunch. You might as well call yourself Lu the Skinflint!"

A moment later, the two packed their things and reappeared in the courtyard, painting side by side.

This time, Zhao Yan wore a small square scarf on her head, specifically to prevent Lu Yuan's paintbrush from swinging around carelessly.

Before starting to paint, Zhao Yan made a three-point agreement with Lu Yuan: "Control your emotions! If you feel like laughing or crying, please put down your paintbrush first!"

Lu Yuan was on the verge of tears, but maintained his gentlemanly demeanor throughout.

After getting used to each other last night, they drew much faster tonight.

I painted four pictures in one night. At this rate, I should be able to finish them before the weekend.

After finishing today's mural, the two of them packed up their paintbrushes and paints together.

Suddenly, Zhao Yan stared intently at Lu Yuan's face and said, "Don't move, there's something on your face."

As Zhao Yan spoke, she held up two fingers toward Lu Yuan's profile.

Immediately afterward, Lu Yuan felt two icy fingers brush against his face, and then he saw Zhao Yan running away laughing, shouting, "Finally got my revenge, yay!"

Lu Yuan then noticed that Zhao Yan had smeared two streaks of paint on his face. He didn't chase after Zhao Yan, but just found it a little funny.

This girl is like a little child, wanting to get revenge. Lu Yuan shook his head helplessly.

At this moment, Lu Hua arrived at the courtyard and talked with Lu Yuan about the recent situation.

The greenhouse has already started construction and is expected to be completed by the end of the month, at which time all the seeds will be sown.

Lu Yuan specifically emphasized that he should invite experts to provide guidance, even if it meant paying them.

After all, this was Grandpa Lu Changxi's first time growing vegetables in a greenhouse, and he wasn't very clear about the ins and outs of it.

Although both are fields cultivated by farmers, the differences are quite significant.

If we invest in such a large greenhouse and no vegetables grow this year, the loss will be enormous.

Recent revenue has been improving, and as we enter our second month of operation, everyone is becoming more and more familiar with their roles.

Lu Hua insisted on checking every morning and evening. At first, people didn't understand, but later they actively cooperated.

Lu Hua did a very good job in this process, and some people even gossiped about him behind his back.

Even though they are all relatives, as long as there is a difference in their positions, conflicts are bound to arise.

Fortunately, Lu Hua persevered. He didn't care about these things and would carry out Lu Yuan's instructions to the letter.

"Brother Hua, you've been working hard lately!" Lu Yuan said sincerely.

Lu Hua chuckled lightly and said it was nothing, but then his brows furrowed, and he said to Lu Yuan, "Xiao Yuan, that bastard Wang Facai is up to something again."

"What?" Lu Yuan frowned as well. He did feel that Wang Facai had been a bit too honest lately.

Lu Hua said, "Wang Facai rented a storefront in Tangguan Village and even used the Lu Family Cuisine brand to sell stir-fried lamb."

""

"I went to check it out today, and their business is actually pretty good. Even their menu and prices are similar to ours."

Tangguan Village is one of the villages along the national highway, located just below Luwangtan Village.

Luwangtan Village is closer to the provincial capital, while Tangguan Village will intercept more vehicles from other provinces.

This location is a fatal flaw, as people from other provinces have no way of distinguishing local restaurants.

These days there's no GPS navigation, and there aren't any road signs at the village entrance to tell people which village they've arrived at, so they have no idea which Lu Family Cuisine restaurant is the authentic one.

But when they see GG on the roadside, and then the first restaurant that appears, Lu Jia Cuisine, they will naturally stop and dine there.

It has to be said that Wang Facai's move was very vicious, essentially allowing him to secretly recuperate under the umbrella that Lu Yuan had painstakingly set up.

Lu Hua was quick-witted, but after thinking for a long time, he still couldn't come up with a better solution. So, he came to ask Lu Yuan for advice that evening.

Seeing that Lu Yuan was also deep in thought, he couldn't help but feel a little anxious.

This row of restaurants has worked so hard to develop into what it is today, and many members of the Lu family have made money along with it.

If Wang Facai and his gang were to get a share of the profits, it would be worse than swallowing a fly.

He couldn't help but ask, "Xiao Yuan, do you have a solution?"

Lu Yuan didn't answer, but instead asked, "Brother Hua, do you know what kind of institution a police station is?"