Chapter 16: Chapter 11: What a Nice Girl
"I’d like the pork rib noodles again, but can I get an extra portion of ribs?" Xia Yao said, looking up at Zhou Yan with a brilliant smile as soon as she sat down. "I’ll pay extra for the topping."
"I’ll have a bowl of Braised Beef Noodles. A two-liang portion of noodles is enough," Meng Anhe said. Yesterday, Lin had gone on and on about how delicious the Braised Beef Noodles were. If he hadn’t been called away to Rongcheng on a last-minute business trip, he definitely would have been here this morning.
"I’ll just have a two-liang portion too," Xia Yao quickly added.
The portion size of yesterday’s noodles was just massive. She’d had to go hungry all day just to finish it, and she didn’t usually have such a large appetite.
"Alright," Zhou Yan replied and turned toward the kitchen.
Zhao Tieying took their things to the back to put them away, then bustled about pouring water for the two of them.
"His handwriting is quite good, looks like he’s practiced. Why did Lin say he dropped out of school before finishing junior high?" Meng Anhe said, looking at the handwritten menu on the wall.
"It really is well-written. Usually, when a boy has handwriting that good, his grades aren’t too bad either," Xia Yao said, also a little surprised as she looked at the characters on the wall. But she quickly smiled and added, "Maybe it’s because he prefers being a Chef. After all, his braised pork ribs are so delicious."
Meng Anhe nodded slightly, but she couldn’t help feeling a pang of regret. No matter how delicious his braised pork ribs were, he was still fated to be stuck in this little Suji Town for the rest of his life, running a decent-enough noodle shop.
’With the country’s policies improving and all industries flourishing, if he could just get into university, his perspective and future would be completely different. With his personality and looks, he could really go far.’
Before long, Zhou Yan came out with two steaming bowls of noodles, accompanied by a small dish of pickled radishes.
Xia Yao’s bowl was practically overflowing with braised pork ribs, and the smile on her face grew even brighter. She hadn’t been able to get enough of them yesterday.
Meng Anhe looked at the bowl of Braised Beef Noodles in front of her. Large chunks of beef were paired with diced dried bamboo shoots, all in a vibrant, tempting red. The aroma that wafted up was simply intoxicating, making her mouth water.
The two of them had come on empty stomachs anyway, so they couldn’t possibly resist. They picked up their chopsticks and began to slurp their noodles.
Zhou Yan and Zhao Tieying tactfully moved behind the counter to avoid making them feel uncomfortable by watching them eat.
A mouthful of noodles, a bite of meat, followed by a sip of the hot beef bone broth. Soon, a thin layer of sweat beaded on both their foreheads. They were eating with absolute gusto.
Meng Anhe usually preferred wontons and dumplings; she rarely ate noodles out, as she couldn’t stand the smell of alkaline water often used in them.
But today’s bowl of Braised Beef Noodles was a true surprise.
The beef was fragrant, spicy, and tender, while the dried bamboo shoots were crisp and refreshing. Paired with the chewy, smooth noodles and the rich, fragrant beef bone broth, there wasn’t a hint of any strange taste—only a lingering aroma that filled her mouth.
Then a bite of the pickled radish—sour, spicy, and crisp, with a sweet aftertaste. It was a delight that touched her very soul.
After finishing the bowl of beef noodles, she realized she had unconsciously drunk every last drop of the broth.
A warm, deeply satisfying feeling spread through her entire body.
Only then did she understand: it wasn’t that she disliked noodles, but that she had simply never had a truly delicious bowl before.
"Even on the second try, these braised pork ribs are still stunning!" Xia Yao finished her breakfast with a piece of pickled radish, her smile radiating satisfaction. "And these pickled radishes are delicious too."
’Eating a double portion of braised pork ribs is just so satisfying!’
"Zhou, do you sell these pickled radishes separately? I’d like to buy some to take home for my two sons to have with their congee in the morning," Meng Anhe asked, taking out her wallet and looking at Zhou Yan.
"The pickled radishes are complimentary, for customers to cleanse their palate. If you like them, I can pack some for you to take home. Radishes aren’t expensive. When you run out, you can just come back for more," Zhou Yan said as he grabbed an empty glass jar from a can of yellow peaches and filled it with pickled radishes for Meng Anhe.
’Getting on Madam Lin’s good side with some pickles is totally worth it.’
’Meng Anhe clearly isn’t the type of woman who just depends on Lin Zhiqiang. Leaving a good impression will make things smoother if I ever need to ask for a favor in the future.’
"Alright, then I won’t be polite." Meng Anhe accepted it with a smile. The glass jar was washed clean and sparkled. The red-skinned radishes inside were translucent and glistening. He had even thoughtfully filled it with pickling brine so they would last a few more days once the lid was tightened. ’The young man is very considerate.’
"We’d like to pay now."
"This meal is on me. I feel bad after you brought so many things," Zhou Yan said quickly.
"No, we can’t let you do that. We came specifically to eat your noodles. If you don’t take our money, we’ll be too embarrassed to come back next time," Xia Yao said, waving her hands in protest. "My portion of ribs was huge, so just charge us for two bowls of noodles."
"I agree. You have to take the money. Lin and I will be back for more," Meng Anhe nodded, pulling out one yuan and eighty cents and handing it to Zhou Yan.
"Alright, I’ll accept it then. But it’s not one-eighty, it’s one-fifty," Zhou Yan said with a smile, taking the money and handing back thirty cents. "An extra topping is thirty cents."
Meng Anhe put the change back in her wallet. She was impressed by the young man’s natural, composed demeanor. He spoke without being servile or overbearing, unlike the typically shy and withdrawn boys from the countryside.
The new university graduates at her design institute often got so nervous they would stutter in front of her; he was far more composed.
A sense of appreciation for his talent stirred in her heart. She looked at Zhou Yan and asked, "Zhou, did you write the menu on the wall and the sign outside yourself?"
"Yes. The menu is fairly simple, so I just wrote it out by hand," Zhou Yan nodded.
"Your handwriting is excellent. Have you ever taken the college entrance exams?" Meng Anhe asked.
Xia Yao looked at Zhou Yan, her expression just as curious.
Zhao Tieying, who was wiping a nearby table, gradually stopped and also glanced at the menu on the wall. The previous menu had been written by the village fortune-teller. Zhou Yan’s handwriting used to be like chicken scratch; how had it suddenly gotten so good?
’This kid, he’s bluffing!’
"No, my grades were never good. I dropped out in my second year of junior high, so I couldn’t take the college entrance exams," Zhou Yan said, shaking his head with surprising frankness.
’The original Comrade Zhou’s education level was only slightly better than illiterate; he couldn’t even handle addition over 100.’
’Not getting a junior high diploma basically blocked any path for Zhou Yan to change his destiny by taking the college entrance exams.’
Zhou Yan wasn’t anxious about this. This era was full of opportunities; seizing just one could turn your life around. He had already resolved to put down roots in the restaurant industry and run his business well.
He was the type to be content with a small fortune. He couldn’t be a pioneer of the times, nor did he have the ability to navigate the cutthroat world of business. His ideal life was to one day open a few restaurants and diners, have a wife, kids, and a warm home, and live a comfortable, happy life.
"Well, your handwriting is very good. You can keep practicing it," Meng Anhe said, not pursuing the topic further.
’He dropped out in the second year of junior high and has been out of school for four or five years. One can only imagine how weak his academic foundation is.’
’But like Yaoyao said, he’s such a good cook, his talents clearly lie in the culinary arts. He’s bold yet meticulous—he might just be able to build a successful career for himself one day.’
"You’re right," Zhou Yan said with a polite nod and a smile.
Xia Yao reached out and patted Zhou Momo’s head, smiling as she said, "Momo, I’ll bring you some yummy treats next time."
"Yaoyao!" Zhou Momo’s eyes lit up. She grabbed Xia Yao’s hand and said coaxingly, "Then you have to promise you’ll come!"
"Okay, okay, I promise I’ll come." Zhou Momo’s chubby little hand gave a shake, and Xia Yao’s heart practically melted. She finally managed to pull her hand away and waved to Zhou Yan. "Goodbye, Comrade Zhou Yan."
"Goodbye, Comrade Xia Yao," Zhou Yan replied with a slight nod.
Their eyes met, and they couldn’t help but laugh at the same time.
It was a rather strange way to address each other.
It felt like they had established a sense of revolutionary camaraderie.
"That girl, she’s really something," Zhao Tieying remarked as she watched the bicycle recede into the distance. "If only she were my daughter-in-law."
"You sure know how to dream," Zhou Yan chuckled, turning to walk back to the counter.
"You’re right. She’s a university student, a city dweller, and her family must be well-off. Why would she be interested in a country boy like you?" Zhao Tieying sighed and followed him inside. "Aunt Liu has mentioned it several times, wanting to set you up. When are you going to meet someone?"
"I’m only twenty, what’s the rush to go on blind dates!" Zhou Yan paused in his counting, his scalp tingling with irritation. He quickly added, "Or you could just tell Aunt Liu the truth about our family’s situation. Let’s see what kind of match she can find for me then."
Zhao Tieying immediately deflated. Their family had once been well-to-do, and with Zhou Yan being tall and handsome, matchmakers had often come calling.
But now, they had emptied their savings to open this restaurant and were still over eight hundred yuan in debt. What girl’s family would agree to that? They couldn’t even afford the betrothal gift.
Having successfully shut Zhao Tieying up, Zhou Yan breathed a sigh of relief. It was the first time in his two lifetimes that he’d been pressured about marriage. ’I guess being nagged about getting married is its own novel and heartwarming experience.’
But he was in no hurry at all. A man should prioritize his career. He had no intention of marrying a woman introduced by a matchmaker if their values were incompatible and they had nothing in common.
"Yaoyao is nice," Zhou Momo whispered, sidling up to Zhou Yan’s leg. "It would be nice if Yaoyao was my sister-in-law."
"Now you’re dreaming even bigger," Zhou Yan said, reaching out to gently flick her nose.
This morning, he had sold 52 bowls of noodles, earning 31.5 yuan. It was all in one-jiao and five-jiao notes, forming a thick stack in his hand.
Zhou Yan had been busy all morning, but in that moment, all his fatigue seemed to melt away. The feeling of accomplishment was incredible.
"Business is getting better and better. It looks like we’ll be able to sell all ninety bowls of noodles today," Zhao Tieying said, her face breaking into a wide grin as she looked at the money in Zhou Yan’s hand.
Before, the restaurant’s daily revenue wasn’t even enough to cover the cost of ingredients, and money was just flowing out. But these last two days, they had finally started seeing a profit. Business was getting better by the day, customers were all giving good feedback, and their reputation was clearly building.
During this time, the pressure on her and her husband had been no less than Zhou Yan’s. They didn’t dare say anything harsh to him, afraid he couldn’t handle the stress. They had even been prepared for the restaurant to fail and for them to have to pay off the debt.
They never expected that after jumping into the river to save someone, the boy would seem to have a sudden epiphany. He had revived the restaurant by switching to noodles. Now, with business booming, if he could sell ninety bowls a day, that would be fifty-four yuan!
’That’s over a thousand yuan a month! After deducting costs and rent, there’s still a profit of several hundred yuan!’
Having sold beef for several years, Zhao Tieying knew how to do the math. This was even more than Old Zhou used to make butchering cattle!
’There’s hope for the future now!’
"It’s clear that people are willing to spend a little more to eat a little better," Zhou Yan said with a smile.
’Our customers are smart. Our noodles might be ten or twenty cents more expensive than others, but we give twice as much meat. When you do the math, it’s actually a better deal, and it tastes better too.’
’Once word gets out, business is bound to be good.’
’But I sold 52 bowls this morning. The system quest should be more than complete, right?’
Zhou Yan glanced over, and sure enough, a quest panel popped up.
[Ding! Main Quest: Restaurant Influence has reached 100. Complete! Reward received: Kneeling Beef recipe.]
