Zhou Yan paused, his eyes suddenly lighting up.
This game is something else!
He hadn't even expected to complete the task; he couldn't very well take away the old lady's entire braising liquid.
That would be too filial.
Unexpectedly, the clever system could even track the progress and evaluate the task.
"What does 'Braised Food Guidance (Fragment)' mean?" Zhou Yan carefully put the jar down, glanced at the empty doorway, and selected to open the reward.
In an instant, countless pieces of information flooded his mind, swirling rapidly.
In a daze, he saw that small, dark room again.
In front of a large braising pot, he was putting various ingredients into it; the steam carrying a rich aroma of braising liquid wafted over, blurring his vision.
The next instant, Zhou Yan opened his eyes, his vision clear again.
His mind was now filled with various braised food recipes, covering all pork products: braised pig's trotters, pig's ears, pig's snout, braised pork, pig's knuckle, pig's tail, braised ribs, braised pork intestines…
In addition, there was a series of braised vegetarian dishes: lotus root slices, potatoes, dried bean curd sticks, dried tofu, kelp, bamboo shoots…
Basically, all the classic vegetarian dishes were included, with lotus root slices, dried bean curd sticks, and bamboo shoots being his favorites.
Then Zhou Yan also noticed the missing sections of the Braised Food Guidance: braised duck products, braised chicken products, braised beef products, advanced braising liquid preparation methods, advanced braising liquid maintenance methods…
Zhou Yan gritted his teeth; this system was too much of a rip-off.
He had clearly already obtained half of the old braising liquid, yet so much was missing!
And most importantly, the crucial "Advanced Braising Liquid Preparation Method" and "Advanced Braising Liquid Maintenance Method" were also missing.
If it wasn't for his reliable grandmother, even with his mastery of the techniques for braising pork and vegetables, he'd be like a skilled chef without ingredients.
Looking at the dull-colored chicken, duck, and beef products, Zhou Yan was genuinely a little tempted.
But upon further reflection, he felt relieved.
Suji Town lacked large-scale chicken and duck slaughterhouses, making it impossible to obtain fresh chicken feet, legs, and duck heads in bulk. He could only produce braised chicken and duck.
A single braised duck cost over three yuan, and selling three to five a day was considered good; it wasn't likely to become a bestseller.
In contrast, the market for braised pork products was clearly larger, appealing to all ages.
Braised pig ears and snouts were popular snacks with drinks.
As for braised beef, he could learn from Grandma Zhang Shufen; it was her specialty.
The most crucial element of braising is the braising liquid, followed by the heat control.
He didn't need to worry about the braising liquid now. As for controlling the braising time and heat, Zhou Yan decided to buy a watch sometime.
Experience was often less reliable than science.
Zhou Yan went out for a walk and brought back a strong man.
Zhou Hongwei, nineteen years old this year, a generation younger than him, had to call him uncle. He wasn't tall, but very strong and muscular, wearing a vest that revealed his muscular build.
He dropped out of junior high school and started working with his father at the Suji Wharf, carrying and unloading goods. He had considerable strength.
"Hongwei, how much can you carry in one load?" Zhou Yan asked curiously.
"Three hundred and fifty jin (175 kg), no problem. Even my old man might not be able to carry as much as me." Zhou Hongwei grinned, showing off his muscles to Zhou Yan, his face full of pride: "Now I'm not afraid of anyone at the dock."
"Incredible." Zhou Yan was somewhat impressed by his strength.
Zhou Yan was actually quite strong; cooking was also physically demanding, but it couldn't compare to being a porter. Their work was purely physical, and couldn't be simply described as manual labor.
"Zhou Yan, is that pickled cabbage in the jar?" Zhou Hongwei, effortlessly carrying the jar on the back seat, asked curiously.
Although Zhou Yan was a generation older than him, they were only a year apart, having grown up together like children. He would only call him "uncle" in front of elders, feigning respect. Normally, even if he did, Zhou Yan would be too embarrassed to respond.
"It's not pickled cabbage, it's old brine." Zhou Yan said carefully, avoiding the potholes and pebbles on the road. In those days, village roads were still dirt tracks, full of potholes and in terrible condition.
"You dare take Grandma Zhang's old braising liquid! You didn't steal it, did you?" Zhou Hongwei's face turned pale upon hearing this. "You...you stop, I won't help you carry it!"
Zhou Hongwei, who was fearless at the docks, was genuinely scared now.
Grandma Zhang was a respected elder in Zhou Village, and everyone knew her braised dishes were top-notch.
During the Lunar New Year, close relatives and neighbors would bring beef and pig's heads to ask Grandma Zhang to braise a pot for them.
Grandma Zhang never charged money, at most a pig's ear or a piece of beef shank as a processing fee.
His grandfather and father's favorite treat every Lunar New Year was Grandma Zhang's braised pig's head and pig's ears. They would divide them into several portions, eating them sparingly, and the two of them could enjoy them with liquor from the first day of the Lunar New Year to the fifteenth.
Whenever Grandma Zhang needed anything, they would come running without hesitation; he had never seen them refuse.
Zhou Hongwei didn't even dare to think about it. If Zhou Yan really stole Grandma Zhang's old brine, as an accomplice, he would be severely beaten after the matter was exposed!
"Zhou Yan, stop the bicycle!!!" Zhou Hongwei shouted, his hands trembling as he held the jar.
"Don't scream. This old brine was given to me by my grandma to take to the shop. Am I crazy? To dare steal her old brine? My mom and dad would beat me to death." Zhou Yan laughed, "Hold on tight, or you'll be finished if you drop it or spill it."
"Really?" Zhou Hongwei was still a little skeptical.
"Yes!"
"Okay, I believe you then. Ride slowly, don't shake me off." Zhou Hongwei hugged the jar tighter, believing Zhou Yan's words.
Grandma Zhang was too authoritative; even Zhou Yan, no matter how unruly, wouldn't dare to act presumptuously in front of her.
"Are you going to start selling braised food? Have you learned how?" Zhou Hongwei asked, his face showing more anticipation.
Grandma Zhang's braised food is delicious, but he can only snatch a couple of pieces from his father and grandfather during the New Year. If Zhou Yan learns how to make it, he can buy it anytime!
"I guarantee I'll learn it. Come try it next week." Zhou Yan said confidently with a smile.
They returned to the restaurant without any major incidents.
Zhou Hongwei carried the jar into the shop and placed it in the kitchen, shaking his slightly numb hands.
"Didn't you say you could easily carry 350 jin? Why are you grimacing while carrying this jar?" Zhou Yan laughed, picking up a bottle of Tianfu Cola he'd bought on the way and handing it to him.
"I was carrying it too tightly, afraid of dropping it the whole way. It's a little numb." Zhou Hongwei took the cola, took a sip, burped, and let out a long sigh of relief.
Zhou Yan smiled and patted his shoulder, "You've worked hard. Have lunch at the shop before you go."
"No need, it's still early for lunch. I'm going to the docks to unload goods anyway, and this place is conveniently located. I'll be going now, I'll come again next time." Zhou Hongwei took his Coke and walked towards the door, saying goodbye to Zhao Tieying and Zhao Hong as he went.
"I'll walk you there." Zhou Yan said, moving the jar to a corner before following him out.
"You'll take me there? It's just a short walk, I'll be there soon. You go ahead with your work." Zhou Hongwei waved and walked away without looking back.
"What did you ask Hongwei to bring back?" Aunt Zhao asked, turning to look at Zhou Yan as she skimmed the foam from the broth.
Zhao Hong, who was mopping the floor, also looked at him.
"Grandma's old braising liquid." Zhou Yan said with a smile.
"What?"
"You stole it?!"
The two exclaimed in unison.
As daughters in law and granddaughter in law, they knew all too well how much the old lady treasured this pot of old braising liquid.
They wouldn't even dare touch it, let alone use it; the old lady could really get angry.
Zhou Yan just brought it back like that?
"Hurry up and bring it back to your grandma! I'll go with you!" Aunt Zhao said anxiously, beads of sweat forming on her forehead.
"This half-pot of old braising liquid was given to me by Grandma herself. She told me to bring it back first, and she'll come over tomorrow morning to help cook the braising liquid." Zhou Yan said with a smile, stopping Aunt Zhao who was running towards the kitchen. "She wants to pass on this skill to me."
Aunt Zhao was a little shocked after hearing this. She thought for a moment, still somewhat disbelieving: "Really?"
"Yes." Zhou Yan nodded with a smile, releasing his hand. "I'm not a fool. Would I steal the old braising liquid? You can ask Grandma yourself tonight if you don't believe me."
"That's good." Aunt Zhao breathed a sigh of relief. Her heart had been in her throat; she didn't dare think about how to explain it to the old lady.
Although the old lady never made things difficult for her daughters in law, her authority was undeniable, and they wouldn't dare do anything that crossed her line.
Zhao Hong also smiled: "That means Grandma trusts Zhou Yan's cooking skills, which is why she entrusted the braising to him."
"Never mind that. I'll go boil this old braising liquid first. If it spoils in the next couple of days, Grandma will beat me to death." Zhou Yan went into the kitchen, took out the large aluminum pot that had already been boiled, and pondered how to set up a makeshift stove.
After closing at noon, Zhou Miao and him built a makeshift stove at the riverbank using stones and bricks. They set up a large aluminum pot to boil the braising liquid, then carefully carried it back to the restaurant, placed it back into the jar to cool, and covered it with a gauze sheet to keep out insects, not daring to touch it again.
"Now, I just waiting for Grandma to come and help boil the braising liquid." Zhou Yan said, rubbing his hands together.
He couldn't wait to see Zhang Ji Braised Food revitalized and regain its fame in Jiazhou!