Everyone at the restaurant entrance turned their gazes on Zhou Yan.
The workers watching were surprised that these university professors and students weren't eating inside, but were instead chatting animatedly around a clay stove.
Is Zhou Yan's stove so particular?
Xia Yao smiled at Zhou Yan. She didn't find it strange. Zhou Yan's way of thinking wasn't that of a chef; he was more flexible and intelligent.
Zhao Hong had already hidden to the side, fearing attention.
Zhao Tieying, guarding the pot with nowhere to hide, looked at Zhou Yan as well.
She didn't understand the concepts of traceability and branding, but Zhou Yan had indeed done what the university professor was talking about, and it was indeed quite effective in attracting customers.
How could Zhou Yan, who hadn't even finished high school, impress university professors?
Zhao Tieying felt a slight tingling in her hands and feet. She hadn't even graduated from elementary school and had only attended a one month literacy class, yet she still subconsciously felt nervous around the teacher.
Zhou Yan wasn't nervous at all. He hadn't blushed in public since he was seven, fighting over bottles with elderly people. Four years as a restaurant blogger had intensively trained himself, and his mental fortitude was incredibly stable.
"Yes, teacher, that's definitely the approach I've been taking. You're so professional." Zhou Yan said with a smile.
Lin Zhiqiang nodded slightly beside him. Zhou Yan's words were skillful, praising Su Jun while also affirming his own abilities.
Su Jun smiled upon hearing this and asked, "How did you come up with the idea of writing a sign on the stove?"
"I originally planned to make a neon sign, which would be much more eye-catching, absolutely unique in town, attracting many customers just for the spectacle. But I went to Jiaozhou to inquire, and the price was extremely high, which I simply couldn't afford." Zhou Yan explained. "So I had to buy brushes and paint and write the sign by hand."
"As you said, building such a tall earthen stove at the restaurant entrance is eye-catching enough. The aroma of simmering broth will draw everyone's attention, and writing the signboard and brand story on the stove will achieve the best advertising effect."
The university students looked at Zhou Yan differently upon hearing this.
No, he really understood!
Advertising design has been experiencing a resurgence in the past two years. Teachers have added courses and instruction in this area, and even television commercials are becoming increasingly common.
Unexpectedly, in this small town restaurant, a young owner was actually creating his own signboard and advertising, even attempting to build a brand.
"Not bad, that's the wisdom of the common people." Su Jun nodded repeatedly, looking at Zhou Yan with admiration. "Did you write this calligraphy yourself?"
"Yes, I wrote it." Zhou Yan nodded.
Su Jun smiled, "The calligraphy is decent, but the signboard has a clear hierarchy, the colors are well-matched, and the overall effect is excellent. You're quite talented."
"You flatter me." Zhou Yan quickly replied.
The university students were somewhat surprised. Professor Su rarely praised anyone; he was known in the department as "Iron Face Su." His classes were extremely strict; it was considered good if you didn't get scolded.
"Wow? Even a university professor is praising Zhou Yan's talent? That's impressive!"
"This kid's a real monkey from Mount Ermei—incredibly clever!"
"Most people would stumble over their words in this kind of situation, but he's not nervous or stage-frightened at all."
The workers watching were also whispering amongst themselves.
Zhao Tieying's lips curled into a smile. The fact that Zhou Yan had received praise from the professor made her, as his mother, feel proud.
"Alright, let's go inside and eat. I can see everyone's already drooling from the aroma of this beef soup." Su Jun said, leading the way into the restaurant.
Everyone responded and followed him inside. After touring the factory all morning, the aroma of meat made them quite hungry.
Zhao Tieying quickly gestured for everyone to sit down: "Come on, come on, sweethearts. You can sit here, or there..."
"Thank you, Auntie." the female students replied, echoing Xia Yao's words.
"Glasses, you can sit here." Auntie Zhao gestured for a boy to sit.
"Huh? Auntie, you call them all 'sweethearts,' but me 'glasses'?" Wang Chen adjusted his glasses, smiling as he asked.
"Only female students call 'sweethearts' look how well-behaved they are." Auntie Zhao explained with a smile, then beckoned to another boy, "Handsome guy, can you sit here?"
"Then you call Ma Xingye 'Handsome guy'?" Wang Chen looked hurt.
"Oh, Fatty, don't worry about it. Look at him, he's tall and strong, really as handsome as my son." Auntie Zhao waved her hand.
"Fatty? What happened again?" Wang Chen sighed, even more hurt.
The students around them were practically bursting into laughter.
"Come on, Fatty, sit at this table with us." Ma Xingye smiled and pulled Wang Chen to sit down next to him.
"How does this auntie know my nickname?" Wang Chen couldn't help but laugh as he sat down, looking at Ma Xingye and saying, "Let me see just how handsome this big boy really is."
"Get lost!" Ma Xingye laughed and scolded, his gaze drifting to the table next to him.
"Only noodles and cross-legged beef? Isn't this a restaurant? Why is it a noodle shop?" Wang Chen muttered, staring at the menu on the wall.
At the next table, Xia Yao, Deng Hong, Zhu Yuyu, and another female classmate were discussing what to order.
"Xia Yao, you've eaten here before, which noodle dish do you think is the best?" Zhu Yuyu asked.
"I like the braised pork rib noodles. Zhou Yan's braised pork ribs are definitely the best I've ever had, even better than my dad's." Xia Yao said with a smile. "But the other two noodle dishes are also very good, especially the double pepper beef noodles, a lot of people order them."
"The cross-legged beef smells so good! Shall we order some to try?" Deng Hong suggested.
"Sure, I'd like to try some too." Xia Yao nodded.
"Zhou Yan is so handsome, does he have a girlfriend?" Zhu Yuyu asked with a gossipy look.
"Yes, aren't you even a little bit tempted?" Deng Hong chimed in.
"Shh, don't talk nonsense." Xia Yao glared at them both and whispered, "My uncle is sitting at the back."
Deng Hong and Zhu Yuyu glanced at Lin Zhiqiang's table and couldn't help but giggle.
Lin Zhiqiang, Su Jun, and two teachers sat at a table, and Lin was enthusiastically recommending dishes to them.
The menu at Zhou Erwa Restaurant was surprisingly simple, surprising Su Jun and the other two teachers.
The sign outside said "restaurant" but the menu only listed three noodle dishes and one dish of cross-legged beef?
Lin Zhiqiang hadn't mentioned this before they entered.
Now that they were seated, they didn't say anything more.
"Then I'll have one cross-legged beef and one double pepper beef noodle." Su Jun ordered, and started chatting with Lin Zhiqiang about Zhou Yan.
Actually, Su Jun had originally declined the invitation from Jiaozhou Textile Factory.
This trip to Jiaozhou for sketching and learning was primarily focused on Mount Ermei and the Jiaozhou Giant Buddha; there were no plans to visit any businesses, and as the department head, he wasn't prepared to add anything to the itinerary at the last minute.
However, last week, Xia Yao came to Suji to visit relatives and fell into the water. When her aunt called him to ask for leave, he was terrified.
Xia Yao's mother, Meng Zhilan, was his senior at the Central Academy of Fine Arts, and they shared the same professor. Although they hadn't been in much contact in recent years, he would find it incredibly difficult to face her if something happened to Xia Yao.
Moreover, he was in charge of this activity; if something really happened to Xia Yao, he would definitely lose his position as department head and face disciplinary action.
Fortunately, Zhou Yan saved Xia Yao, minimizing the impact of the incident.
After Xia Yao returned, she reported on the situation, and he was deeply impressed by the brave young man.
Tomorrow they were returning to Shancheng, and he quickly confirmed with the school that they would visit the Jiaozhou Textile Factory for a day to explore the possibility of school-enterprise cooperation.
Of course, his main reason was to meet Zhou Yan in person.
Lin Zhiqiang praised Zhou Yan without any restraint, making even Zhou Yan, who was cooking noodles in the kitchen, feel embarrassed.
But Zhao Tieying was delighted to hear this. The deputy factory director praising Zhou Yan meant he had gained the leadership's favor, a testament to Zhou Yan's ability.
The restaurant was packed with university students, and many workers followed suit, eager to try the "Cross-legged Beef" that even university students were eating.
The restaurant's nineteen tables were all full at lunch time.
With only noodles and Cross-legged Beef available, most university students didn't have high expectations.
But as the noodles and Cross-legged Beef were served, exclamations of surprise filled the restaurant:
"Wow! This double pepper beef noodles smells amazing!"
"These braised pork ribs are absolutely amazing! They fall off the bone so easily, the flavor is simply incredible!"
"The braised beef with dried bamboo shoots is so delicious! It smells intoxicating!"
"Have some soup! This beef broth is truly flavorful!"
"Auntie, please give us some more pickled radishes, they're so yummy!"
...