Zhou Yan's spirits lifted, the quest was halfway done!
Mapo Tofu is beckoning to him.
Zhou Yan couldn't help but smile, this progress bar corresponded to Ms. Sun Lihua's mood.
It seems that his aunt was quite satisfied with today's income, which greatly boosted her confidence in Laifu's ability to pass on her skills.
That's good.
This quest is probably what he's been most motivated to push forward and complete recently.
He plans to visit Aunt Sun again tomorrow, and if her eyes and legs are still not in good condition, he will take her to see a doctor.
As a key ingredient supplier for the restaurant, Zhou Yan is very concerned about her health.
Within the Suji area, Zhou Yan could not find a suitable alternative supplier.
Recently, braised dried bean curd sticks and braised dried tofu have become star products among braised vegetarian dishes, even more popular than kelp.
Soak the dried bean curd sticks, then cut them into sections by the bunch. It's incredibly convenient.
The profit margin is also quite considerable. It's a very satisfying way to make money.
If the restaurant later introduces Mapo Tofu, the importance of this supply chain will increase dramatically.
Tofu is too fragile. Given the current road conditions, no matter how well-made the soft tofu from outside Suji is, it will inevitably break apart during transportation.
The rarity of the perfect Xiba tofu made by his aunt immediately became apparent.
"Mommy, your egg pancakes smell so good! They're getting tastier and tastier!"
"Fragrant! Sweet! Delicious~~"
"My sweet little girl, if you like them, I'll make you another one."
"Okay! I love Mom the most!"
From the kitchen came Zhou Momo's cheerful voice and Aunt Zhao's hearty laughter.
The little one woke up late today, only getting out of bed after the restaurant closed this morning.
She got up and ordered food, she wanted an egg pancake.
Zhou Yan had originally planned to make it for her, but Aunt Zhao insisted on doing it, and he couldn't stop her.
Although he was in charge of the kitchen, but the entire household was managed by Aunt Zhao.
Zhou Yan leaned against the kitchen doorway, watching Zhou Momo sit on her own little wooden stool. Her face was flushed from being washed. Her mother hadn't had time to comb her hair yet, and two tufts of hair stuck up on top of her head, like two question marks.
On the stool in front of her was a plate containing egg pancakes cut into four pieces, fried until golden brown. They were a little thick, but still looked quite presentable.
Zhou Momo held a piece of egg pancake in both hands, taking small bites, her cheeks bulging, looking like a greedy little squirrel.
It's obvious the egg pancakes tasted good today, the little one's eyes were squinted, her short legs were dangling, and the two tufts of hair on her head were swaying along with them. The morning sunlight shone in through the kitchen window and fell on her.
Her excessive cuteness made the whole kitchen shine.
"Oh dear, you're eating so deliciously! My goodness, how come you're so beautiful?" Aunt Zhao flipped the egg pancake over, turned to look at Zhou Momo, her smiling eyes full of doting affection, her tone even slightly tinged with affection.
Zhou Momo raised her head and said with a smile, "Because I have the most beautiful and capable mommy in the whole world, so I'm also the most beautiful baby."
Aunt Zhao's smile grew even brighter: "You're absolutely right, here, this egg pancake is for you too."
"It smells so good! Make one for me too, I'm a little hungry." Comrade Old Zhou carried the prepared pig's head into the kitchen, looked at the golden egg pancakes in the pan, and swallowed hard: "This one is pretty good."
"Get lost! This is for my good daughter." Aunt Zhao shook the pan, cut the egg pancake into four pieces with a spatula, and put them on the plate in front of Zhou Momo.
"Thank you, Mommy! I'll eat every single one of these delicious egg pancakes!" Zhou Momo looked at her with shining eyes.
"Good girl." Aunt Zhao nodded with a smile, glancing at Comrade Old Zhou, who was also smiling broadly. "I'll make you one now. Do you want it thicker?"
"Thicker or thinner, it doesn't matter. I'll eat whatever you make." Comrade Old Zhou said with a simple smile.
"Zhou Yan, do you want some?" Aunt Zhao turned to Zhou Yan and asked.
"I don't want any. I'm so full." Zhou Yan shook his head with a smile.
"Guo Guo, try some, it's sweet!" Zhou Momo brought over a piece of egg pancake, held it up, stood on tiptoe, and offered it to him, her eyes full of anticipation. "Really, Mommy's egg pancakes are super delicious!"
"Then I have to try it." Zhou Yan smiled and took it, taking a bite. It was soft, sweet, and had a rich egg flavor. The taste was indeed good. He nodded and said, "Mmm! Delicious! Much better than mine!"
"Then I'll share another piece with you?" Zhou Momo said generously.
"No need, no need, Momo, you eat it. I've already had breakfast." Zhou Yan smiled and shook his head, looking at Aunt Zhao's upturned lips, and asked, "Mom, did you put sugar in it?"
Zhao Tieying nodded: "Yes, no salt was added, but a spoonful of sugar was added. I guess they make their Egg Baked Pancakes this way too. How does it taste?"
"Delicious, fragrant and sweet, the change of seasonings is very clever, it's a completely different feeling." Zhou Yan gave a thumbs up.
"It smells so good! Momo is eating even more deliciously. I'm getting hungry just watching her. Fourth Aunt, I want one too." Zhao Hong said with a smile as she stood at the kitchen doorway.
"Sure, I'll fry one for you too." Aunt Zhao replied with a smile, flipping the pancake in the pan.
Zhou Yan watched this, raising an eyebrow. No wonder she's called the Iron Lady, she only watched for a while yesterday, and today she's even learned how to flip a pancake.
It's no wonder Comrade Old Zhou is so captivated by her.
Comrade Old Zhou took a plate of pancakes, moved a small stool next to Zhou Momo, and sat down to eat. After taking a bite, he nodded repeatedly: "Delicious! It's fragrant and soft, even better than the Egg Baked Pancakes sold outside."
"If you can talk, then talk more. I'll make it for you all again tomorrow morning." Aunt Zhao said with a smile.
After Aunt Zhao finished making the pancakes, Zhou Yan started preparing the braised meat.
Aunt Zhao and Zhao Hong peeled potatoes and lotus root, while Comrade Old Zhou was in charge of chopping. Zhou Momo, sitting on her little stool, provided emotional support from the sidelines.
"Sister in law, the potato peel you've peeled is so long! Can I use it as a rope?"
"Mommy, look how round this potato is! It's golden, just like the sun!"
"Daddy, why does the lotus root you cut have so many holes? The potato doesn't."
"Guo Guo, it smells so good~~ I want to eat meat! Just a small piece, just a small piece is fine."
Zhou Yan had just taken the braised pig's head meat out of the pot when he saw the little one staring at him expectantly. He smiled and took a knife to cut two slices of the hot braised pig's head meat for her and put them on a small plate.
"Thank you, Guo Guo! You're such a kind person." Zhou Momo happily returned to her little stool, carrying the plate, and continued instructing everyone.
She was small, but she knew how to give compliments, showering people with emotional value.
The kitchen was filled with laughter and cheerful conversation, making the originally tedious work seem much more relaxed and enjoyable.
...
The kitchen of Feiyan Restaurant.
Li Liangcai walked into the kitchen, a new magazine in his hand behind his back.
"Uncle Li."
"Grandmaster."
The chefs and chopping board operators, busy preparing ingredients, greeted him respectfully.
Li Laosan, who was teaching his apprentice how to fry scallion oil, turned around upon hearing the sound. Seeing Li Liangcai, he immediately beamed and approached, "Master, what brings you here today?"
"I haven't been here for three days. I was just passing by and thought I'd drop in to see you." Li Liangcai replied. Looking at him, Li Liangcai asked, "Have you been cooking lately? Has your skill gotten rusty?"
"Yes! I cook everyday!" Li Laosan nodded vigorously, looking at Li Liangcai with a hint of nervousness. "Master, I not only cook, I also teach my apprentices everyday. I'm very diligent."
Li Liangcai's gaze swept over his grand-apprentices behind him, and they immediately turned and busied themselves. One wiped the cutting board, another cleaned the knife, and still others were busy preparing vegetables.
"So when will your apprentice be featured in 'Sichuan Cuisine' magazine?" Li Liangcai asked, looking at him.
"Huh?" Li Laosan froze, stammering, "Master, you haven't even been in the magazine yet, how could it be my turn?"
Li Liangcai's face darkened, and he said in a deep voice, "Which leg did you step into the kitchen first today?"
Li Laosan hesitated, "Left...left leg?"
"Smack!" A magazine slapped him on the head. "How many times have I told you? You have to step into the kitchen with your right leg first!"
Li Laosan: ?
Wait, did Master really teach that?
But what could he do? The final interpretation rested with his master.
Others call him "Uncle Li" as a sign of respect, but he calls him "Uncle Li" because he truly is his uncle.
"I know, I'll definitely step on my right leg first next time." Li Laosan said, looking aggrieved. He had a guess in his mind that his master's participation in Second Master Kong's exchange meeting yesterday had probably triggered his feelings.
How could their Li family compare to the Kong Sect?
Back then, the three outstanding members of the Kong Sect were very famous in Jiazhou and were well-known in the Sichuan cuisine world.
Now, only Kong Qingfeng, the Second Master Kong, remains. However, among the second generation disciples, Fang Yifei and Song Bo are becoming increasingly famous, Xu Yunliang has become a first class chef, and even Xiao Lei, who has the least talent, is a second class chef.
"Master, as chefs, we shouldn't care too much about fame. You were the one who told me that back then." Li Laosan said gently, trying to comfort him.
"Xiao Lei's apprentice was featured in the latest issue of 'Sichuan Cuisine' magazine, and his 'Cross-legged Beef' was even on the cover!" Li Liangcai flipped the magazine in his hand, shoving the cover page in front of Li Laosan's face.
"What?!" Li Laosan's voice suddenly rose, even turning into a whistling sound.
The kitchen suddenly fell silent as everyone turned around in surprise.
Three heads popped out from outside the kitchen.
Huang He, Zhao Shulan, and Huang Ying were all dumbfounded:
"What?"
"Which one?"
"Zhou Yan?!"
Huang Ying rode her bicycle back from Suji, took a bath, changed her clothes, and came to the restaurant with her mother and father.
She followed Grandpa Li in, about to greet him, when she heard this explosive news.
Grandpa Li was the previous head chef of Feiyan Restaurant. After retiring two years ago, his apprentice, Li Laosan, took over.
Huang He stepped forward, greeted Li Liangcai first, took the magazine from him, and looked at the exquisite magazine cover. The clear broth beef in the blue and white porcelain bowl was none other than Zhou Yan's Cross-legged Beef!
"It's Cross-legged Beef! Absolutely." Huang Ying nodded with great certainty. Huang Bing loved Cross-legged Beef so much that he ordered one serving everyday, and sometimes even two servings. She was getting a little tired of it and would only eat it every other day.
As a restaurant owner, Huang He knows all too well the value of the Sichuan Cuisine magazine. He even used it to find a master of braised dishes not long ago.
The chefs who can be featured in this magazine are all highly skilled, generally quite old, and mostly renowned chefs in their respective regions.
He hadn't slept well for the past two days after hearing that Second Master Kong from Le Ming Restaurant was going to be featured in the magazine, fearing that Le Ming Restaurant would steal the spotlight and negatively impact their Feiyan Restaurant's business.
Who would have thought that before Second Master Kong even appeared in the magazine, his grand-disciple Zhou Yan would be featured first?
Huang He turned to the two pages of Zhou Yan's interview, and his feelings were a mix of emotions. This young man was too amazing. How come they couldn't invite him to work at Feiyan Restaurant!
Otherwise, he would definitely enlarge the magazine cover tenfold and put up a sign at the restaurant entrance to advertise it extensively.
"Zhou Yan still looks so handsome in the photo!" Huang Ying leaned over to look at the picture first, her eyes lighting up, and then asked curiously, "Dad, is Zhou Yan going to become famous?"
Huang He nodded: "Of course! He was published in Sichuan Cuisine magazine at the age of twenty, and his dish was even on the cover. He became famous at a young age. In a few more years, he will definitely be a famous chef in Jiazhou!"
"In the culinary world, that's called genius." Zhao Shulan remarked with a sigh.
Li Liangcai's face darkened further, and he looked at Li Laosan with a look of utter disappointment.
Li Laosan spread his hands innocently and mumbled, "Master, there are conditions to becoming famous at a young age. I'm already a seasoned chef, so I should give this opportunity to the younger generation."
As he spoke, his gaze turned to his group of apprentices.
The apprentices immediately got busy again, wiping the pots, the stove, and the sides.
"You, come here!" Li Laosan's gaze fell on his youngest apprentice.
The young apprentice, barely eighteen, approached nervously and whispered, "Master, Grandmaster."
"You, in two years, will also be featured in 'Sichuan Cuisine' magazine, bringing glory to our Li Sect." Li Laosan said.
The young apprentice: "Me?"
"Yes, it's you." Li Laosan patted his shoulder encouragingly, he couldn't bear this responsibility himself.
With a sputtering sound, Huang Bing's motorcycle stopped outside the kitchen door. Huang Bing carried two baskets of braised meat into the kitchen and greeted Li Liangcai warmly: "Grandpa Li, you've come to the kitchen to hang out too?"
However, he soon sensed that something was off about the atmosphere in the kitchen, everyone's expressions were rather strange.
Despite the apparent tension, Huang Ying's face was beaming with smiles.
As long as this girl could laugh, nothing serious was usually going to happen.
"What's going on here? A meeting?" Huang Bing grinned sheepishly, joining in the silly grin.
"Smack!"
Huang He casually slapped the magazine he was holding down.
"Dad? What are you doing?" Huang Bing was a little confused.
Huang He hadn't expected it to go so smoothly. Since he'd already hit him, he said irritably, "Your Grandpa Li said you have to step into the kitchen with your right leg first. I just saw you step in with your left leg."
Huang Bing was a little confused and looked at Huang Ying beside him: "When was this rule set? Today?"
Huang Ying covered her mouth and laughed: "May be."
Li Liangcai took the magazine back from Huang He and looked at Li Laosan and his disciples and grand-disciples, saying: "Study hard, practice diligently, and you will become proficient through practice. It's okay if you are not as talented as others, but if you are not as talented as others and are not as hardworking, then there is a big problem. Diligence is the most important thing, there are no shortcuts."
Everyone stopped busy and nodded thoughtfully at Li Liangcai.
Huang Bing placed the braised meat on the cutting board and nodded as well.
His hands had many scars, both old and new.
"I'm leaving, you all continue with your work." Li Liangcai smiled, walking towards the door with his hands behind his back.
"Uncle Li, would you like to sit down and have a cup of tea?" Huang He followed him out.
"No, Boss Huang, you continue with your work." Li Liangcai said, walking away without looking back.
"What's going on? Why does the atmosphere feel so strange?" Huang Bing followed Huang Ying out of the kitchen and asked in a low voice.
"Zhou Yan was featured in the Sichuan Cuisine magazine, and his Cross-legged Beef was even on the cover. Grandpa Li was a little envious, so he came over and gave his apprentices and grand-apprentices a good scolding." Huang Ying whispered, taking her bag from behind the counter, slinging it over her shoulder, and walking out the door.
"Zhou Yan is in a magazine?" Huang Bing was stunned when he heard this, and asked Huang Ying's retreating figure, "Where are you going?"
"Go buy the magazine and see how the editors praise Zhou Yan." Huang Ying said with a smile.
"Then I'll go buy a copy too." Huang Bing quickly followed.
"Yingying, buy me a copy too." Huang He entered, took out one yuan and handed it to Huang Ying.
"Sure." Huang Ying replied with a smile.
"Zhou Yan is so promising. He's only twenty years old. When his Grandmaster was twenty, he had just finished his apprenticeship, and he was already on the cover of a magazine." Huang He couldn't help but sigh.
"You mean his future achievements might surpass his Grandmaster?" Zhao Shulan asked, somewhat surprised.
"His culinary skills may not reach the level of Master Kong Huaifeng, but his thinking is more agile. He is a very clever and intelligent young man." Huang He's expression was full of admiration: "He can even be featured in Sichuan Cuisine magazine by opening a restaurant in Suji. Once he gets this reputation, it will be like adding wings to a tiger if he opens a restaurant in Jiazhou in the future."
Zhao Shulan nodded thoughtfully upon hearing this, "That makes sense. He can run a thriving business in Suji. If he came to Jiazhou, even our Feiyan Restaurant might not be able to compete with him."
"Why can't we have a son like that?" Huang He asked enviously.
...
"The photo and the actual dish are completely different! I've never used such a beautiful bowl when I ate Cross-legged Beef!" Huang Bing held a magazine in his hand, expressing his indignation at the cover photo: "Photo fraud!"
"You don't know anything! Changing the bowl to make the photo look better is a perfectly normal thing to do." Huang Ying rolled her eyes at him. "Look at the soup, the beef, the tripe, it's exactly the same as what you eat at the restaurant everyday!"
"Hehe, my favorite dish is 'Cross-legged Beef', how could I not know that?" Huang Bing grinned. "It's clear I'm not the only one who likes Brother Yan's 'Cross-legged Beef', he deserves to be famous!"
Huang Ying sat down on the bench nearby, already eagerly flipping through the magazine.
Seeing this, Huang Bing sat down as well, casually flipping through the pages. He quickly stopped laughing and exclaimed in surprise, "This... how come they're all top-level chefs, famous chefs from all over the country, and even masters who have cooked abroad?"
"This further demonstrates the value of this magazine." Huang Ying's eyes shone: "Zhou Yan replicated the Cross-legged Beef from a torn recipe page, and made improvements. After countless failures, he strived for perfection and cooked up such a delicious and flavorful Cross-legged Beef soup."
"This ability and spirit truly deserve the title of a rising star in the culinary world."
"I have a strong feeling that Zhou Yan will definitely become a top-tier Sichuan cuisine master in the future!"
Huang Bing closed the magazine and straightened his back: "What do you think of me?"
Huang Ying glanced at him. "You have the potential to become a qualified chopping board operator."
"Damn it!"
...
"It's been less than a month, and you're back again. Is Zhou Yan's cooking really that appealing?" Huang Chen looked at He Zhiyuan, who was riding alongside him, with a hint of sarcasm in his smile. "Who was it that said Suji was a culinary wasteland back then?"
"Zhou Yan's cooking is indeed quite good, but compared to his food, I think his personal charm is even greater. He always manages to surprise me and provides me with useful advice on my creative work." He Zhiyuan said with a smile, "I take back what I said before. Suji does have delicious food. I was just narrow-minded before."
"You stubborn bastard, you actually take back what you said?" Huang Chen was quite surprised and looked at him, saying, "What are you planning to interview him about this time? Braised meat? Let me tell you, the braised vegetarian dishes he recently launched are really good. My kids love them, especially the braised dried bean curd sticks. The taste is simply amazing, even more fragrant than meat."
"There are also braised vegetarian dishes?" He Zhiyuan was a little surprised. "It's an interview about braised food, but not about Zhou Yan, it's about his grandmother, Comrade Zhang Shufen."
"Grandma Zhang?" Huang Chen was taken aback for a moment, then nodded in deep agreement: "Then you've interviewed the right person. Zhou Yan learned all his skills from Grandma Zhang. The braised meat she makes is absolutely delicious. I often hear some older comrades say that back then, Zhang Ji Braised Food's stall was so popular at the bridgehead that it was even more popular than the current Zhou Erwa Restaurant with long queues.
Of course, Grandma Zhang's legend isn't limited to this pot of braised food, her husband…"
Two bicycles rode side by side, Huang Chen calmly recounting Grandma Zhang's legendary experiences.
Xiao Li sat in the back seat, his hand reaching into his bag for his notebook several times, but he gave up each time because the road was too bumpy, his mind racing.
Stupid brain, memorize it!
According to the work manual, as a stenographer, one must record all supplementary information provided by bystanders regarding the events of the person in question.
Why was Mayor Huang chatting while riding his bicycle?
Did he even consider his feelings?
Aren't working people treated like human beings?
He doesn't want to go to this lousy job even for a single day!
"Excellent! This is invaluable supplementary information!" He Zhiyuan exclaimed.
Xiao Li snapped to attention, squinted, and listened even more intently.
"Old Huang, it's my treat today. Order whatever you want, and bring the kid some braised vegetables on your way back." He Zhiyuan said with a smile. "But I need to borrow your 28-inch bicycle for half a day this afternoon. Xiao Li and I are going to Zhou Village to visit and interview Grandma Zhang."
"Go ahead and use it. I don't need a bicycle this afternoon because I have a meeting." Huang Chen nodded with a smile.
The two chatted as they rode, and when they arrived at the textile factory, the workers had already finished their morning shift and were lined up in three long queues in front of Zhou Erwa Restaurant, with seven or eight people in each queue.
"These are all customers who want to take away braised vegetarian dishes. Many of them are afraid that if they come late at night, they won't be able to buy what they want to eat." Huang Chen introduced with a smile. Looking back, he saw that He Zhiyuan had already taken out his camera and pressed the shutter on the crowd in line.
Putting down his camera, He Zhiyuan smiled and said, "The workers queuing up, the middle-aged man cutting meat, the table full of braised meat and braised vegetables, and the steaming hot pot of cross-legged beef in the background—what a lively and heartwarming scene!"
"Let's go." After parking his bicycle, He Zhiyuan walked towards the braised food stall first. "Today I want to try just how delicious these braised vegetables are, that they can make so many customers line up to buy them. I can't see the grand scene at Suji Bridge back then, but it's the same to look back on it here today."