Chapter 4 Braised Beef With Bamboo Shoots

Zhou Miao rode a 28-inch bicycle, carrying Zhao Tieying and Zhou Momo back home.

Zhou Momo sat at the front bar, tilting her head and waving at Zhou Yan, calling out in a baby voice, "Guo Guo, I'm going home."

"Okay," Zhou Yan replied with a smile.

This 28-inch bicycle wasn't just a means of transportation; it was also his father's transport vehicle, hauling hundreds of kilograms of beef to the market everyday.

In those days of material scarcity, buying a bicycle required more than just money; a bicycle ticket was also required.

"There seems to be something different about Zhou Yan today," Zhao Tieying said with a smile, her arm around Zhou Miao's waist.

"He seems more mature, and closer to our youngest daughter. Being a hero is different," Zhou Miao replied.

"The noodles today are truly delicious. I've never had noodles this good in my life. He must have learned some skills." Zhao Tieying's smile grew even brighter, but soon she became puzzled. "But he learned his craft from Master Xiao. If the noodles in the factory cafeteria was this good, why would anyone still come to Wang Laowu's noodle stall?"

"It's a bit strange..."

...

"Zhou Yan, are you planning to sell your restaurant?" Zhou Yan was about to enter when Wang Laowu's voice came from behind.

Zhou Yan frowned and turned.

He looked at Wang Laowu, who was 1.56 meters tall, had a Mediterranean hairstyle, was slightly chubby, and had a shrewd smile.

Zhou Yan: "Who said that? My restaurant is doing well. I'm not selling it."

Wang Laowu's smile faltered, and he said anxiously, "You haven't had a single customer all day, and you still think it's doing well? How can you run a business like that? Even if your parents were rich, they can't afford to mess with the kid like that. Although what I say may be unpleasant sometimes, but..."

"If unpleasant then just keep it to yourself. It's best to stay away from me." Zhou Yan took a step back. "I have trypophobia. I'm most afraid of people with ulterior motives."

Wang Laowu's noodle stall was right in front of the textile factory, across from Zhou Yan's restaurant. Zhou Yan knew he had no good intentions, otherwise his mother wouldn't have scolded him earlier.

He laughed again, "Instead of worrying about my shop, you might as well worry about how many hairs you have left on your head. My restaurant will start selling noodles tomorrow, and I'm afraid your hair will fall out even faster."

After saying this, Zhou Yan turned and went into the shop, closing the door in front him.

"Selling noodles?" Wang Laowu was stunned for a moment, then, after fully understanding Zhou Yan's words, he couldn't help but become furious. "This prodigal son doesn't even know where to buy noodles, and he wants to sell them? He really thinks running a noodle shop is that easy! His place will definitely go bankrupt in less than two weeks!"

He wasn't interested in the shop with a monthly rent of 15 yuan, but he was coveting the eight people table and benches Zhou Yan had made. He could bargain down and buy a few sets. It would be much more cost-effective than hiring a carpenter to make them himself.

Zhou Yan went into the kitchen and took inventory of the ingredients. He still had about ten pounds of flour, enough for tomorrow.

He had to prepare the chili peppers, dried bamboo shoots, scallions, ginger, and other side dishes in advance today. He would have time to cook the toppings after picking up the meat tomorrow morning.

It wasn't much money, but it was all one yuan and fifty cent bills, a thick stack in his hand.

This was Zhou Yan's entire family fortune, the capital he needed to turn his fortune around, and the very hope his parents had for him.

Zhou Yan took the money and left, locked the door, and set out to do some shopping.

By the time he returned to the restaurant, carrying bags of vegetables, it was already dark.

"A bicycle is great! When I make some money, I'll definitely buy one first." Zhou Yan placed the large bag of dried bamboo shoots and vegetables on the eight people table, shook his numb hands, picked up the teapot on the table, and gulped down several large gulps.

He bought ten pounds of dried bamboo shoots at fifty-five cents a pound, a pound each of chili peppers and Er Hu Tiao chili, each at ten-and-a-half cents, and five pounds each of radish and lettuce, spending one yuan for a total of six dollars and eighty cents. He pulled an account book from behind the counter and wrote down the bill.

He made himself a simple bowl of noodles and found two large sheets of red paper and a brush.

He wrote a new menu on one sheet and posted it on the wall. It had three kinds of noodles, each bowl priced at sixty cents, with clearly marked prices.

He wrote a new sign on another sheet and nailed a display board to put outside the door tomorrow to attract customers.

He soaked two handfuls of dried bamboo shoots and cut the radish into long strips and soaked them in the kimchi jar.

The system's newbie gift package not only included three noodle dishes but also a kimchi recipe. Make kimchi today and enjoy it the day after tomorrow.

After doing all this, he washed up early, went upstairs, and fell asleep as soon as he lay down on the bed.

…

The next day, before dawn, Master Zhou was up and out buying groceries.

Zhou Yan had always been incredibly passionate about making money.

He had no choice but to be terrified of poverty.

Holding a Tiger Head brand flashlight, he followed his memory to the Zhou Village Yankantou slaughterhouse. Zhou Miao had already prepared the one pound of sirloin and one pound of beef brisket, along with ten pounds of beef bones.

The sirloin and beef brisket were charged at 1.5 yuan per pound, a yuan cheaper than the beef stalls outside, and he didn't charge for the bones. That's what a real father does!

On the way back, he stopped by the stone bridge to pick up the one pound of prime rib he had pre-ordered from Zhang Laosan.

" Zhou Erwa, why do you want a pound of spare ribs today? Don't you want the pork trotters and pork belly?" Zhang Laosan looked at Zhou Yan with confusion. Zhou Yan had been a big client of his lately, always asking not only for meat but also kidneys, liver, and pork intestines.

"Uncle Zhang, I'm selling noodles now. I bought some spare ribs to make braised pork rib noodles. Come over for some noodles when you're done here," Zhou Yan replied with a smile.

Zhang Laosan and Zhou Miao have a good relationship, and today he's charging him 1.9 yuan per pound for these spare ribs, which is 23 cents cheaper than other places.

The knife maker is an important supplier to the Sichuan restaurant, so maintaining a good relationship is essential, especially with the friendship between their fathers.

"That's fine," Zhang Laosan replied, lowering his head to continue dividing the meat.

When Zhou Erwa's restaurant first opened, Zhou Miao invited him over for a meal. It was the first time he'd ever eaten at such a terrible Sichuan restaurant; it was a complete waste of meat.

On the way back, Zhou Yan bought two bunches of green vegetables for 10 cents.

The villagers had picked them from the fields early in the morning and were selling them, tied with straw. A handful weighed over a pound, and the leaves were still covered in dew, making them quite fresh.

It was only five o'clock when he got back to the restaurant. The beef brisket and spare ribs needed to be stewed for a long time, and the beef bone broth had to be prepared in advance. He didn't dare delay, so he chopped the spare ribs into evenly sized pieces and the beef brisket into evenly sized chunks.

He lit the pot and began preparing the braised beef and spare ribs, while the beef bone broth simmered in the middle pot.

Heat the wok and add the oil. First, add the beef brisket and stir-fry until the fat releases and the skin turns slightly brown. Then add the fermented black beans, ginger, garlic, and Sichuan peppercorns, stir-frying until they are browned. Add a small amount of star anise, galangal, and cinnamon, and add the cooking wine.

Once the aroma is released, add water to cover the beef, cover, and simmer for an hour.

Once the beef is tender, add the chopped bamboo shoots. Let the rich, fragrant beef broth submerge them, and simmer gently over low heat.

The broth bubbling, the aroma of the meat permeates the air.

The scum was skimmed off repeatedly, and a pot of thick, white beef bone broth was already formed. The broken bones made the broth even richer. Once the broth was ready, the beef marrow was also a delicious dish.

Zhou Yan, keeping an eye on the time, mixed the noodles to avoid being too late when the guests arrive.

Elsewhere, in the pot, spare ribs bubbling with a thick sauce were immediately removed from the heat and placed in a large ceramic bowl.

The ribs, cut into thumb-sized pieces, were distinct and coated in the sauce, looking quite tempting. Zhou Yan decided to try a piece.

The tender spare ribs trembled when picked up, and they fell off the bone with a single sip. The slightly sweet sauce was rich without being greasy, the aroma of the meat and the spices blending beautifully. The fat from the ribs was the finishing touch. One sip and his soul was lifted.

"I'm such a genius!" Zhou Yan's eyes lit up. He was amazed by the braised pork ribs. It was a success in one go!

The large ceramic bowl was placed on the stove to keep warm. Zhou Yan, without stopping, quickly rinsed the pot and began to stir-fry the double pepper beef sauce.

By the time the double pepper beef stew was out of the wok, the braised beef had also absorbed its broth and was ready to be served.

Zhou Yan tasted a piece of bamboo shoots. The bamboo shoots were cut slightly smaller than the beef, soaking up the rich beef juices. They were crispy and fragrant, truly delicious!

Having risen at four o'clock and worked until half past six, Zhou Yan was famished and quickly made himself a bowl of ramen. He seasoned the base of the bowl, added two spoonfuls of milky beef broth, three taels of noodles, and a spoonful of braised beef and bamboo shoots.

After finishing the hot bowl of noodles, even drinking the broth, he instantly felt warmed up.

This bowl of braised beef noodles is absolutely amazing, impeccable.

Furthermore, even if taken on its own, this braised beef with dried bamboo shoots could be considered the restaurant's signature dish; it's absolutely delicious with rice!

The stew and base were ready, and Zhou Yan stood at the restaurant entrance, holding the sign he had written the night before.

The Jiazhou Textile Factory, located on the banks of the Qingyi River in Suji Town, is a major taxpayer in Jiazhou. With over 2,000 employees, 80% of them women, the factory runs its own school for children and a hospital for its employees, offering excellent benefits. People in Suji Town are proud to work at the textile factory.

It was already dawn, and workers were arriving using their bicycles. Some stopped at the stalls outside the factory gate for a bowl of noodles or steamed buns, while many more headed to the factory cafeteria for breakfast.

The factory cafeteria served breakfast, and it was even cheaper with a ticket. A bowl of plain noodles was only ten cents, a much better deal than eating out.

Zhou Yan stood at the gate, holding a wooden sign, and immediately attracted the attention of several young female workers.

He was 1.8 meters tall, with an upright and muscular figure. His neat, shaved head and sharp features complemented his angular face. Even though he was only wearing a white cotton shirt, blue work pants, and an apron, the young women couldn't help but take a second look.

"Zhou Yan is so handsome, with long legs. He's even better looking than a movie actor!"

"Handsomeness can't buy you a living. He chose to be a self-employed business owner instead of being an apprentice in the cafeteria."

"Zhou Yan is good-looking, but his cooking is terrible. If he switched to selling noodles, it wouldn't be good either."

"Who else in our factory eats at Zhou Erwa's Restaurant? Even if the food in the factory cafeteria is terrible, it's still much better than his cooking."

...

The girls rode past Zhou Yan, laughing and playfully, their eyes daring, but none of them paused.

When Zhou Yan heard those words, his smile faltered.

Little Zhou is truly amazing, building a solid reputation. It looks like he might have trouble opening his restaurant today. The restaurant industry is all about reputation.

Prejudice is like a mountain in people's hearts.

Meanwhile, Wang Laowu's noodle stall across the street already has seven or eight customers.

"Zhou Erwa, I'm afraid you won't be able to sell out these noodles. Craftsmanship is about quality, not quantity. You can't sell anything like this. You have to be responsible to your customers." Wang Laowu taunted Zhou Yan as he added noodles to the pot, his smile barely concealed.

Zhou Yan was selling noodles to compete with him, so Wang Laowu naturally wanted to tease him whenever he got the chance.

"Wang Laowu, you're yelling with your mouth open, drooling all over the pot. I'm afraid that won't work. You still have to be responsible to the customers." Zhou Yan wasn't going to let him down and replied with a smile.

Upon hearing this, the guests waiting to be served all leaned over to look at Wang Laowu, their faces filled with concern.

Wang Laowu's expression changed, and he quickly waved his hand, "No, no, that little brat was just talking nonsense."

Zhou Yan's lips curled up slightly. Business, after all, is that simple and unpretentious.

Winning the argument didn't bring Zhou Yan any customers. He stood at the door, watching the bustling crowd of workers pass by, his mind already racing to figure out how to improve the restaurant's reputation and attract more customers.

There are plenty of ways and means, like offering free samples. Surely some people will try it, using their strength to dispel doubts.

Or perhaps he could build a stove at the entrance, freshly stir-fry toppings and pull noodles. Once the aroma of meat wafts through, discerning gourmets will naturally flock to the stall.

These methods are simple and effective, but they're expensive.

And what Zhou Yan needs most right now is money.

He has to sell all thirty bowls of noodles he prepared today, or he won't be able to pay the rent in three days. He can't ask his parents to borrow money again, can he? He can't bring himself to say that.

The flow of people at the factory entrance is growing. Wang Laowu's noodle stall has already had two rounds of customers, while Zhou Yan's hasn't even opened yet.

Wang Laowu kept glancing at Zhou Yan, who was standing at the door, his face awash with smiles.

Seeing that it was already 7:30, Zhou Yan figured there was no hope for this morning. He had to finalize the promotion plan this morning and start implementing it by noon, otherwise the toppings and noodles he'd prepared today would be wasted, costing him even more money.

Just then, two bicycles pulled out of the traffic and stopped in front of Zhou Erwa Restaurant.

"Deputy Director Lin, this is Zhou Erwa Restaurant," one of them said.

Zhou Yan looked in the direction of the voice and saw that the people coming were two middle-aged men. He knew the slightly plump man on the right, Zhao Dong, the director of the silk reeling workshop. He usually liked to come to the cafeteria to eat the special meals, which were quite strong in flavor.

The man on the left was tall, wearing a dark gray Zhongshan suit over a white Dacron shirt. He had a square face, black-framed glasses, and meticulously combed hair. A pen was tucked into his pocket, and a Shanghai watch adorned his wrist. He exuded an intellectual air. He was pushing a brand-new 28-inch bicycle with a red silk flower tied to the front.

Is this Deputy Factory Director Lin Zhiqiang, who was transferred here two years ago?

"Comrade Zhou Yan, right?" Lin Zhiqiang parked his bicycle, excitedly took two steps forward, grabbed Zhou Yan's hand, and shouted, "I'm Lin Zhiqiang. You saved my niece yesterday, and I'm here to thank you!"

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