Reborn in 2000, starting from the university website

At the entrance of the Railway Bureau's residential compound on Wenzheng Street, the rustic wooden signboard appears very solemn under the lights, and the three golden characters "Lao Chu Jia" (Old Chef's Home) are reflected on the remaining snow by the roadside, exuding a warm and smoky atmosphere.

Zhao Jianjun was already waiting in the lobby, having specially changed into a smart suit, though the cuffs were a little too long, making it look like he'd stolen someone else's clothes. But he stood ramrod straight, full of energy. Standing next to him was a woman in her early thirties, with fashionable wavy hair and a sharp, capable air about her, directing the waiters to bring plates upstairs.

"Brother! Over here!" Zhao Jianjun spotted Bai Yuhang leading the brothers from 206 into the store and strode over to greet them, his leather shoes making a loud thud on the terrazzo floor. "Come on, let me introduce you. This is your sister-in-law, Zheng Lan. She's the manager of this store and our family's finance minister."

"Hello, sister-in-law!"

The seven men shouted in unison, their voices startling the young girl greeting guests outside the door.

Zheng Lan grinned from ear to ear, looking the group of young men up and down: "Oh my, these must be the top students from the university? You all look so energetic! Old Zhao has been talking about you guys a lot these past few days, saying you've been a great help. Come on, don't just stand there in the lobby breathing in the cold air, room 202 is all set up, the heating is on full blast."

Upon entering the private room, we found it quite spacious. Four plates of cold dishes were already laid out on the large round table in the center, with thick, substantial slices of braised beef and glistening, translucent cold noodles.

Everyone had just sat down, barely had their bottoms warmed up in the chairs, and were wondering how to begin, when Zhao Jianjun and Zheng Lan came in with wine glasses.

"Today's meal is twofold: to celebrate our victory and to express our gratitude." Zheng Lan poured drinks for everyone with practiced ease, the bottle rim never even touching the glass. "My husband, Lao Zhao, is a rough fellow, his military service made him a bit dim-witted, he doesn't know anything about high-tech stuff. We're so grateful for the help from Brother Xiao Bai and everyone else. This first toast is for you all, bottoms up!"

After saying that, Zheng Lan tilted her head back and drank the two-ounce glass of baijiu in one gulp, leaving not a drop.

"Sister-in-law has a huge capacity for alcohol!" Fifth Brother Liu Jing led the chant, and everyone quickly stood up to reciprocate.

After several rounds of drinks, hot dishes were brought in one after another.

The waiter placed a large white plate in the middle of the table, and the unique sweet and sour vinegar aroma instantly burst forth, filling the air with its fragrance.

The plate was piled high with golden, crispy slices of meat, garnished with cilantro, scallions, and ginger.

"Sweet and sour pork!" The third brother, Zhang Jian, stared wide-eyed, his chopsticks raised in mid-air, his Adam's apple bobbing up and down.

"Don't be shy, let's dig in!" Zheng Lan said with a smile, turning the plate to Zhang Jian, the third son. "Let me tell you young folks a bit of history. This old chef's family has a long history. Our ancestors ran a famous restaurant called 'Zhenweiju' in Beijing during the Qing Dynasty. The signboard was even inscribed by the Imperial Tutor Weng Tonghe. Later, our ancestor returned to Harbin and became the head chef at the Daotai's residence. This sweet and sour pork was invented there."

Zhang Jian picked up a piece of meat and stuffed it into his mouth, scalding it and slurping. It was crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, with a perfect balance of sweet and sour. As he chewed, he mumbled, "Sister-in-law, so we're eating official cuisine?"

"Of course," Zheng Lan said proudly, turning the table around for everyone. "Originally it was called 'Stir-fried Pork Slices,' a savory dish. Later, to cater to the guests' tastes, it was modified to be sweet and sour, and called 'Pot-fried Pork.' But people in Harbin speak quickly, and it became known as 'Pot-sour Pork.' Later, my great-grandfather opened a restaurant on Shidao Street, and people from far and wide recognized our skills. We became famous, and they all called our family 'Old Chef's Family.'"

"Our restaurant actually has three signs. Zhenweiju is in a museum, while Daotai Shifu and Laochujia have been re-erected. During the Manchukuo period, my grandfather's generation even worked as a courier for the underground Communist Party. There is history in our dishes."

"This isn't just about eating meat, it's about consuming culture," the eldest brother, Jiao Liwei, exclaimed sincerely, raising his glass. "Sister-in-law, let's toast to this legacy together."

"You've got a way with words!" Zheng Lan laughed happily, stood up to clink glasses, downed half a glass of baijiu in one gulp, looking both beautiful and dashing. She then called out towards the door, "Waiter, bring another case of Harbin beer to this room, and also add the signature dishes like braised pig's head, whipped ox, and 'immediately promoted to a high position'! Let the university students eat and drink to their hearts' content!"

After finishing her drink, Zheng Lan sat down and casually tidied her long, flowing hair. Her red, tight-fitting cashmere sweater showed off her great figure perfectly. Zhang Jian, the third brother, stared at Zheng Lan with a dazed look in his eyes. Bai Yuhang saw this and nudged him under the table, bringing him back to his senses.

Zhang Qingheng, the seventh brother, was initially a bit reserved, but after a few beers and with the eldest brother constantly serving him food, his face flushed, and he was having an in-depth discussion with the fourth brother, Wan Lianghao, about how to braise the pig's head.

The moment a new plate of sweet and sour pork was served, the atmosphere exploded.

The third brother, Zhang Jian, had a short temper. Before the sour vinegar smell had even dissipated, he reached for another piece of meat with his chopsticks. As soon as the meat slice entered his mouth, a wave of vinegar so strong it hit him right in the head made him cough violently. His face turned red, and tears welled up in his eyes, but he stubbornly refused to open his mouth and forced himself to chew the hot, crispy piece of meat.

"Hey, slow down!" Zheng Lan laughed heartily, handing over a napkin. "This is fresh out of the pot. Don't inhale when you eat the first bite, or you'll choke."

"Cough...cough! Awesome!" Zhang Jian took a big gulp of Harbin beer and breathed on it. "This tastes so authentic. Compared to this, the one near the school gate was like a dumpling wrapped in meat."

The fifth brother, Liu Jing, was a natural at making friends. He was already raising his glass and addressing Zheng Lan as "sister-in-law," saying, "Your cooking is amazing. If any of us in room 206 ever crave something, can we come over for a meal? We won't be freeloaders; we'll even wash your dishes."

"Why bother washing dishes? You're a guest!" Zheng Lan generously filled Liu Jing's plate. "As long as you maintain my old Zhao's internet cafe system well, you can come here every day, even stay here, let alone freeload."

At the other end of the table, Yang Bo, the second brother, pushed up his glasses, trying to appear mature and composed. He sat up straight and wanted to clink glasses with Zhao Jianjun, but Zhao Jianjun dropped a bombshell—a small cup of baijiu (Chinese liquor) into a full pitcher of beer.

"Um... Brother Zhao, I... I'm free?" Yang Bo looked at the bubbling beer mug, his Adam's apple bobbing slightly.

"What's the big deal? If we're really close, let's down it in one gulp." Zhao Jianjun didn't wait for a reply and started drinking first as a sign of respect.

Yang Bo gritted his teeth, tilted his head back and gulped it down. He even had to imitate Zhao Jianjun by picking the wine cup out of his mouth. The spiciness made him wince, which drew laughter from everyone at the table.

In the corner, the third brother Zhang Jian and the seventh brother Zhang Qingheng were eating most attentively. In the small dish in front of him, the eldest brother Jiao Liwei quietly put two thick pieces of braised pig's head on his plate, and then turned over a plate of "immediate promotion to a high rank" made with salmon meat and monkey head mushrooms.

Zhang Qingheng didn't speak, his head bowed low, his chopsticks moving rapidly. For a rural boy who could only afford to eat vegetarian noodles in the canteen, the impact of this table full of rich and flavorful dishes was far more tangible than any words.

Jiao Liwei didn't try to persuade him much. He simply refilled Zhang Qingheng's cup with barley tea when it was empty and stopped Wan Lianghao, the fourth brother, from trying to persuade him to drink.

Bai Yuhang leaned back in his chair, a wine glass in his hand, watching his brothers. The air was thick with smoke and the smell of alcohol; this was the true taste of 2000—rough, passionate, without the pretentious formalities of later generations.

After everyone had finished eating, Zhao Jianjun slammed his cigarette pack on the table and distributed it to everyone. While lighting a cigarette, he leaned close to Bai Yuhang's ear and whispered, "Brother, the bosses from room 201 next door should all be here. Some are from Nangang, some from Xiangfang, people from all walks of life, they all came after hearing the news. Shall we go over and say hello?"

Bai Yuhang nodded, wiped his mouth with a napkin, refilled the half-full glass of beer in his hand, picked it up, and stood up.

He knew that this room was filled with brotherhood, that was the substance; the room next door was about exchanging benefits, that was the appearance.

The main event of this meal is only just beginning.

"Boss," Bai Yuhang patted Jiao Liwei, who was peeling garlic, and glanced at the next table, "you guys keep drinking, I'll go offer a toast."

Jiao Liwei understood immediately, popped a clove of garlic into his mouth, and nodded almost imperceptibly: "Go ahead, I'll take care of things here."

Bai Yuhang took a deep breath, straightened his collar which was free of wrinkles, and followed Zhao Jianjun out of room 202, which was filled with the lively atmosphere and laughter.

As he reached the door, Bai Yuhang looked back.

Zhang Jian and Wan Lianghao were playing a drinking game over the last piece of sweet and sour pork when Yang Bo grabbed it with his chopsticks. Liu Jing put his arm around Zhang Qingheng's shoulder and was gesturing like a master chef while bragging. Jiao Liwei was toasting his sister-in-law and asking her how to make the dish.

Now that his brothers had eaten and drunk their fill, it was his turn to serve the dishes to the internet of this era.

The lights in the corridor were slightly dimmer than in the private room, and the noise behind me stopped abruptly as the door closed.

Zhao Jianjun stopped in front of room 201, turned back to look at Bai Yuhang, and his eyes became more serious: "Brother, these guys aren't as easy to talk to as I am. They won't act until they see a clear benefit. Are you ready?"

Bai Yuhang's lips curled up slightly, revealing a calm smile befitting 2026. Full of confidence, he reached out and pushed open the door.