Chapter 3 This Time It Will Definitely Work

Zhou Yan walked over to the pastry area, uncovered the enamel basin, and sprinkled a handful of flour onto the table top. He took half the dough and tossed it between the ends, stretching it evenly. With a gentle shake, it naturally curled into a twist. He repeated this process several times until the dough was rolled into long, evenly thick strips.

Once the dough was ready, he simply grabbed the ends and began to pull vigorously. When his arms reached their limit, he folded them in half and continued to stretch. With each toss and pull, the long dough became thin, round noodles.

The sight made Zhao Tieying and the other two's eyes light up.

Zhou Yan's technique was truly masterful. The dough flipped up and down in his hands, and before they could even see it, it had become a long, thin, pulled noodle. The entire process was so smooth and fluid that it was a feast for the eyes.

"Wow! Guo Guo can do magic? He turned a ball of dough into noodles!" Zhou Momo's mouth dropped open in astonishment.

"Erwa's noodles-pulling skills are much better than that Wang Laowu. I didn't expect he had this hidden trick up his sleeve," Zhou Miao exclaimed. "He's truly my son."

"Your skills are excellent. It seems you made a lot of noodles in the cafeteria before." Zhao Tieying nodded repeatedly. Pastries were her worst skill.

As they spoke, Zhou Yan had already finished pulling the noodles. The noodles were evenly thick and thin, looking plump and smooth. He was delighted to have achieved this level of skill for the first time.

He pinched off a small handful of dough at the end and dropped the noodles directly into the boiling pot nearby.

As soon as the noodles were in the pot, he lined up three large bowls and one small one on the stove and began to prepare the base.

He added Sichuan peppercorns, MSG, soy sauce, and a spoonful of chili oil.

With the base prepared, the noodles floated in the boiling water.

He dipped a large bamboo colander into the pot, shook it twice, and poured the noodles into the bowl. He then scooped a spoonful of the freshly fried double pepper beef stew over the noodles, and a bowl of double pepper beef noodles was ready.

Zhou Yan had been starving for ages, and now he couldn't help but gulp.

Even from his perspective, this double pepper beef noodle dish was excellent. Most noodle shops wouldn't bother making hand-pulled noodles.

Family members didn't need to be polite. Zhou Miao and Zhou Yan each carried two bowls of noodles out of the kitchen and placed them on the table.

Zhou Momo trotted out after them. The little girl wasn't even as tall as the table, so she tried to climb onto the long bench. After struggling for a while, she couldn't get up, and her two little braids were shaking, which made her very anxious.

Zhou Yan lifted her up and sat her down next to him.

Zhao Tieying picked up her chopsticks and stirred the noodles in the bowl. The white noodles were instantly stained with red oil and smeared with the sauce. The steaming aroma of the noodles, accompanied by the aroma of meat and spicy flavors, filled her nose. It was truly a feast for the eyes and ears.

She couldn't help but exclaim, "Oh, these noodles look much better than Wang Laowu."

"Try it," Zhou Yan said with a smile, his face etched with anticipation.

Double pepper beef noodles must be eaten dry!

This pound of flour makes 1.2 pounds of noodles.

Zhou Momo was only three and a half years old, so she was only given a small bowl. The remaining three people had about 4 taels of noodles in their bowls.

Back then, people were short on fat, so those who could work and eat were naturally not to be deprived of their families.

"Slurp!"

Zhao Tieying picked up a handful of noodles, smothered in sauce and minced meat, glistening with oil. She slurped it up and ate it.

The spicy, fresh aroma exploded on her tongue. The chewy noodles were wrapped around crispy, tender ground beef, spiced with spicy chili peppers. The unique flavors of pickled peppers and ginger added a layer of depth.

Delicious! Truly delicious!

They ate a lot of beef at home, and she often saved any leftovers for her own consumption. However, the beef she cooked wasn't as delicious as Zhou Yan.

This stew isn't just delicious with noodles; it would be a real treat with rice, too!

Bite after bite, it was so delicious she couldn't stop.

Although the noodles were dry, the stew was rich in oil, making them incredibly moist and not dry at all. It was truly delightful.

"These noodles are really good, even better than your smashed cucumber." Zhao Tieying swallowed the noodles and looked at Zhou Yan. "If you want to turn it into a noodle shop, I'd fully support it. No one in our commune can rival this bowl of noodles. I guarantee it'll work."

After the restaurant opened, the commune and the villagers had been making fun of Zhou Yan and they both husband and wife for a while.

Zhao Tieying was a well-known womanizer in the area, as powerful as her fists and tongue. In her youth, she was nicknamed "Iron Lady." She had tolerated all the criticism until recently.

But she was fine with it, but not Zhou Yan.

If anyone dared to speak ill of Zhou Yan in front her face, she would literally tear that foul mouth apart!

She knew Zhou Yan was under a lot of pressure and had been feeling down lately, so she was worried he'd overwhelmed by the gossip.

Though she felt bad for the money, she felt even more for her son.

It was only about 800 yuan, and the couple could probably pay it back by living frugally and working hard for a few years.

But what mother doesn't want her son to be successful and capable?

This bowl of noodles far exceeded her expectations, giving her hope that Zhou Yan could make a living from it.

After saying this, she lowered her head and took another big bite, holding back the tears that welled up in her eyes.

"Let me try it too." Zhou Miao followed suit and took a big bite, his eyes suddenly brightening.

Zhou Miao loved noodles. He usually started slaughtering cattle in the middle of the night, and in the morning he'd find a noodle stall for a bowl of noodles. He was somehow of an expert at this.

Dry noodles usually use pork stew. The half-fat, half-lean pork is naturally fatty, so stir frying the stew doesn't require much oil.

Noodles are usually prepared with lye and salt, which makes them chewy, but some people can't stand the taste of the lye.

Zhou Yan's noodles are different. Not only are they chewy and smooth, but they're also refreshing and delicious, without any unpleasant flavor. A careful chew reveals the sweet aroma of flour. Most noodle shops wouldn't be willing to use such fine flour.

The base is perfectly seasoned, with just the right amount of saltiness. Of course, the ultimate dish is the double pepper and chopped beef stew. It's spicy, fresh, and fragrant, crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, and it absorbs the broth perfectly. Simply tossing it blends seamlessly with the noodles, and even picking up the meat will hold onto it.

Many noodle shops serve dry noodles with the stew separated by the stew and the noodles separated by the noodles, with only the last few bites revealing the flavor of both noodles and the stew.

This bowl of noodles was definitely the most delicious he had ever tasted!

Zhou Miao took several bites and nodded in praise, "Erwa, your noodles are so delicious! Next time I'm in town, I'll come to you for a bowl of double pepper beef noodles."

"That's only natural," Zhou Yan chuckled.

[Customer Approval +1]

[Customer Approval +1]

Two hints flashed in his eyes.

It seems the system only recognizes diners, regardless of whether they're family members. How incredibly humane.

Seeing that his parents had already started eating, Zhou Momo was still holding the chopsticks and mixing her noodles, which made her very anxious.

Zhou Yan simply helped her mix it. Zhou Momo took it with a smile, "Thank you, Guo Guo!"

Then, eagerly shoveling two noodles into her mouth, her eyes instantly lit up.

She didn't bother to say anything, burying her head in her mouth and slurping furiously!

It was so delicious!

It was fragrant and spicy, with tiny pieces of meat dangling from the noodles, yet so fragrant!

She loved noodles!

From now on, she'll love Guo Guo's noodles the most!

[Customer Approval +1]

Zhou Yan glanced down at Zhou Momo, who was happily enjoying her meal and swinging her short legs, and his smile widened even more.

My sister is so cute!

Zhou Yan lowered his head and began to eat his noodles. Of course, he was the one who knew the most about noodles at the table.

He had tried all kinds of mixed noodles, and the more outlandish the names, the more he'd try them. Double pepper beef noodles were a common choice, and he ate them most often.

This was the first time he'd eaten mixed noodles he'd made himself; he'd only ever mixed instant noodles before.

When it comes to noodles, the noodles are paramount.

If the noodles aren't good, even the best stew won't do.

Most places in Sichuan use alkaline water noodles, which have a unique flavor. He can tolerate this taste, but his roommate, who came from Shanxi, scoffed at the idea, believing that adding ingredients to noodles was heresy. A truly skilled ramen chef only adds water.

The ramen he made today uses only water, relying on the kneading technique to balance the noodles.

These noodles lack the alkaline water flavor, but are just as chewy and smooth, and they hold up perfectly to broth. Coated with the sauce and stew, they hold onto the noodles without slipping. One bite is truly satisfying!

Of course, the double pepper beef is a true stand out!

The beef was crispy on the outside and tender inside, spicy and fragrant, and it absorbed the unique flavors of pickled peppers and ginger, making it incredibly fragrant and delicious. It was even more delicious than any double pepper beef he had ever tasted!

Let alone the scarcity of 1984, even in 2025, Zhou Yan would definitely make a video praising this double pepper beef noodle dish alone!

Delicious!

The ultimate in mixed noodles!

Zhou Yan mentally wrote a 500 words praise for the dish and waited for a long time, but no system notification came.

Alas, his expectation was in vain. It seemed the system didn't treat him as a guest. May be it didn't even treat him as a human being.

The bowl of piping hot noodles sated their cravings and soothed their hungry stomachs, leaving the family of four sweating profusely and enjoying a hearty meal.

After finishing noodles, Zhao Tieying collected the bowls and went into the kitchen to wash them.

Zhou Yan didn't rush to do the dishwashing. Instead, he made his father a cup of gaiwan tea and sat down across from him. "Dad, I have a favor to ask of you."

Zhou Miao took a sip from the tea cup, then put it down. He glanced toward the kitchen and whispered, "No money again?" He began digging into his pockets.

"It's not about the money. I'm planning on selling noodles for a while. But it's not just this one. I'm also planning on selling braised beef noodles and braised pork rib noodles. Those are soup noodles, which require a bone broth. And will be using more beef, so I'd like to order meat from you and Uncle," Zhou Yan said with a smile.

He knew Zhou Miao had secretly given him money before, a few yuan at a time. While not much, for a henpecked man, it was already a huge risk.

"How much beef and bones do you use everyday?" Zhou Miao asked.

Zhou Yan thought for a moment and said, "When start selling, I plan to prepare the ingredients for thirty bowls a day. I'll need one pound of sirloin, one pound of beef brisket, one pound of spare ribs, and ten pounds of beef bones."

"Beef bones aren't expensive, but six pounds of meat for sixty bowls of noodles? That's a hefty investment, isn't it?" Zhou Miao asked in surprise, "How much do you plan to sell a bowl for? Can you make a profit?"

"The cost of meat is 2 yuan per jin, so 3 jin is 6 yuan. Flour is 0.17 yuan per jin. One jin of flour makes 1.2 jin of noodles. A bowl of noodles uses 3 jin of noodles, so 7.5 jin of flour is needed, which comes to 1.3 yuan. In addition, we have to consider the cost of oil, side dishes, spices, and wood. A rough estimate suggests 2 yuan will be more than enough. The total cost is 9.3 yuan." Zhou Yan said slowly, "I plan to sell it for 0.6 yuan a bowl. After selling 30 bowls, I'll make 18 yuan. After deducting the cost, I'll make 8.7 yuan. If I sell more later, I'll make even more."

Zhou Miao pondered this carefully for a moment. Although he had little education, he had slaughtered cattle and sold meat for years, so he could still make sense of the accounts.

Beef now costs 1.2 yuan per jin (500g) with meat coupons, but they're hard to come by. Beef brisket might be a bit of a gamble, but sirloin are out of the question. Beef at the market is almost double the price, starting at 2.5 yuan per jin (500g). Spare ribs are about the same price, and you need someone you know to reserve them for you.

But even he had to think twice before ordering noodles at 60 cents a bowl. A bowl of bone broth noodles at a noodle stall outside only cost 30 cents, twice the price.

However, the noodles at the noodle stall aren't as delicious as Zhou Yan, and the meat is pitifully small, barely a few grains of ground meat, while Zhou Yan intends to give a bowl of noodles a tael of meat. After trying Zhou Yan's noodles, noodle lovers will definitely pay more.

"You've calculated everything clearly." Zhou Miao smiled gratifiedly. "You don't need to ask your uncle for two pounds of beef. I'll save it for you. When I go back later, I'll talk to Zhang Laosan at the bridge head and ask him to save you a pound of spare ribs everyday. You can pick it up when you get the beef."

"Okay!" Zhou Yan beamed. This was family connections. He added, "Dad, let's make a deal. I'm buying this beef from you, and you have to receive for it."

"It's just a few pounds of beef, and we're just two..."

"No, then I'll buy it from someone else." Zhou Yan's expression was determined. If his father gave him two pounds of beef a day, he'd not only be working for nothing, but would also be losing money over the course of the month.

With a secure beef supply, he felt reassured.

Zhou Yan had been a food blogger for three years and had been preparing to open a restaurant for another year. Opening a restaurant was his most comfortable pursuit.

The most challenging part of starting a business is earning that first pot of gold. Going from 0 to 1 is much harder than going from 1 to 10.

Little Zhou had borrowed the initial capital and secured a stable supplier, which was far superior to starting from scratch.

"Then I'll take the capital. It's not right for an old man to make money from his son." Zhou Miao pulled his hand from his pocket and slipped a few crumpled one yuan bills into Zhou Yan's hand, saying in a low voice, "Don't let your mother know."

"Dad..." Zhou Yan looked at the money in his hand, his heart throbbing. He'd worked hard to earn every penny in his previous life, so he'd never experienced the feeling of being stuffed with money like this.

"Guo Guo, I have money too! I'll give it all to you." Zhou Momo leaned forward, rummaging in her pocket for a long time before pulling out a wrinkled five cent note. She solemnly handed it to Zhou Yan, "I want noodles again next time!"

"Of course." Zhou Yan smiled, took the money, and ruffled her hair.

Zhao Tieying came out of the kitchen, still holding the remaining half bowl of beef stew. "Zhou Yan, where do you think I put this stew?"

"Momo loves it. Take some back for her to mix with rice. I'll make some new stew tomorrow morning," Zhou Yan said.

"What a delicious stew!" Zhao Tieying hesitated.

"Great, great!" Zhou Momo jumped up and down happily. She loved this beef so much.

Zhao Tieying smiled and patted her head. "Okay, I'll pack it back for you, little greedy cat."

Handing the stew basket to Zhou Miao, Zhao Tieying pulled a folded handkerchief from her inner pocket, unfolded it to reveal a wad of banknotes, and shoved it into Zhou Yan's hand.

"Mom, what are you doing..." Zhou Yan was stunned for a moment.

"This is what your dad and I saved last month, a total of thirteen yuan and forty cents. Take it for your shop expenses." Zhao Tieying pinched the handkerchief and looked at him with a relieved smile. "Mom believes you can do it this time!"

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