Zhou Yan rode his bicycle to the town and bought three bags of puffed rice candy from Zhang Jiwu's shop. It cost 1.2 yuan per jin (about 0.5 kg), each bag weighing one jin, wrapped in brown paper and tied with string.
Suji didn't have many easily portable local specialties; even he found the dried beef jerky too tough to chew.
Zhang Jiwu's puffed rice candy was quite famous in Suji.
Fresh pork fat was rendered into lard, then mixed with maltose and stir-fried into an amber-colored syrup. Roasted peanuts and puffed rice were added and stir-fried until the rice was coated with the syrup. It was then poured onto a cutting board sprinkled with sesame seeds, and another layer of toasted white sesame seeds was sprinkled on top.
It was flattened and pressed down with a large rolling pin, then cut into small pieces, and the puffed rice candy was ready.
The aroma of the fried rice puffs wafted far and wide; the mixture of sugar and oil was a highly sought-after treat in those days.
Students passing by on their way home from school couldn't help but stop and stare.
The owner let Zhou Yan try a piece; it was fragrant and sweet, crispy and crunchy, with a savory flavor – truly unique.
He also bought fifty cents worth for Zhou Momo and his two nephews, so they could have a taste too.
When Zhou Yan returned to the shop, Zhou Momo and Fanwa were playing hopscotch.
Zhou Lihui was acting as their referee, and when he saw Zhou Yan, he smiled and greeted him, "Little uncle, you're back."
"Yes, I bought some puffed rice candy for you all. Take it and share it with Momo and Fanwa." Zhou Yan said, handing him the separated puffed rice candy.
Zhou Momo and Fanwa had already come over, attracted by the smell.
"Guo Guo! Is that puffed rice candy?" Zhou Momo stared at the puffed rice candy in Zhou Lihui's hand, swallowing hard. "I want some!"
"You two go wash your hands. You can eat it after you wash your hands." Zhou Yan said with a smile, carrying the groceries towards the kitchen.
That evening, the college students alone ordered twenty eight bowls of noodles and twenty bowls of cross-legged beef.
Zhou Yan estimated that some workers would also come to join the fun, so he prepared enough meat for sixty servings of toppings and stew.
It's okay if he don't sell everything; there are a lot of people here today, so they can just eat the leftovers tonight.
Washing the vegetables and preparing the ingredients was quite time-consuming.
Zhou Yan had just started chopping vegetables when he noticed Zhou Lihui standing at the kitchen door. He looked up and asked with a smile, "What's wrong, Huihui?"
"I wanted to watch little Uncle cook." Zhou Lihui said, smiling somewhat shyly.
"If you want to watch, come in! You can't see anything standing at the kitchen door." Zhou Yan said with a smile, his knife still working. A piece of beef was quickly sliced into thin pieces, then cut into strips, and finally minced.
Zhou Lihui's eyes widened slightly as he watched this.
"Do you know how to cook?" Zhou Yan asked, putting the minced meat into a plate to the side.
"I only know how to stir-fry vegetarian dishes and cook porridge."
"Then today you'll learn how to make braised pork ribs and minced beef with double peppers from your uncle, and you can show off your skills to your parents next time." Zhou Yan said casually with a smile.
"Okay." Zhou Lihui nodded, and took two steps forward, looking even more intently.
...
"Director Su, I look forward to our cooperation bearing fruitful results."
"It's a pleasure working with you."
In the conference room, Lin Zhiqiang and Su Jun shook hands.
After an afternoon of discussions, Jiazhou Textile Factory and the Department of Arts and Crafts at Sichuan Fine Arts Institute reached a preliminary cooperation agreement to establish a school-enterprise partnership to build a brand for Jiazhou Textile Factory.
However, the specific cooperation methods and details will be finalized later.
Lin Zhiqiang was very satisfied with this result. Sichuan Fine Arts Institute is a top-tier art institution in Sichuan and even nationwide. Cooperating with its Department of Arts and Crafts will greatly benefit Jiazhou Textile Factory in terms of increasing its brand recognition.
Having studied abroad, he deeply understood the importance of branding.
Jiazhou Textile Factory is currently thriving, with export earnings reaching new highs, but there is still a gap compared to advanced textile factories abroad. Exploring the path of brand building is essential.
"It's almost time to get off work, and the students are all waiting outside, so let's just go straight to dinner." Lin Zhiqiang said, glancing at his watch and smiling.
"Okay, I'm a little hungry too." Su Jun nodded.
...
Zhou Liangliang rode his bicycle to the entrance of the textile factory, parked it, took out a cigarette, and asked a few street vendors about Zhou Erwa Restaurant.
"Zhou Yan's business is booming! He sells noodles for sixty cents a bowl, and he sells at least a hundred bowls a day. How much money do you think he makes? Wang Laowu got arrested, and now he's the only one selling noodles."
"He started selling cross-legged beef yesterday, the kind of soup dish you have in Zhou Village, and he's selling it for sixty cents a bowl. Business is pretty good."'
"How much does he sell? Who knows? Aren't you from the same village? Why don't you just go and ask him? Why are you being so secretive?"
"Today, a group of college students ate at his shop, about twenty or thirty of them. They have money and they're willing to spend it. He probably made several hundred yuan just from those students."
After talking to the vendors, Zhou Liangliang's hand, still holding a cigarette, was trembling. He stared blankly in the direction of Zhou Erwa Restaurant, unconsciously raising his hand to take a puff, but the cigarette burned his lips, making him grimace and quickly flick the cigarette head away.
"Ptooey, ptooey, ptooey..." Zhou Liangliang spat several times, the burning cigarette head giving him a jolt.
Then he saw a group of stylishly dressed, handsome and beautiful young people walking out of the textile factory gate and turning into Zhou Erwa Restaurant.
"Are they still eating at Zhou Erwa Restaurant tonight? Just three bowls of noodles and a soup pot, is it really that delicious? Even college students from the city haven't eaten anything that good."
"Exactly, why don't they come and try the wontons I make?"
The vendors grumbled enviously among themselves.
Just then, the factory workers were getting off work, and a stream of bicycles flowed out, some of them turning towards Zhou Erwa Restaurant.
Zhou Liangliang, ignoring the blisters on his lips, looked at Zhou Erwa Restaurant, which was full of customers, his eyes filled with excitement: "Noodles for sixty cents a bowl, soup for sixty cents a bowl, is it really selling so well?"
"The textile factory workers are rich! It's definitely easier to make money here!"
Zhou Liangliang moved closer and watched for a while, confirming that everyone was indeed ordering food and sitting down to eat. Only then did he feel relieved and rode away on his bicycle.
That's it!
I'll come tomorrow!
I'll sell noodles and soup!
It'll definitely work!
He pedaled faster and faster, wishing he could fly back immediately.
...
The college students also had a satisfying meal that cost thirty yuan that evening.
Zhou Momo sat next to Xia Yao, holding a new doll in her hand, constantly calling out "Sister, sister" charming the female college students so much that they emptied their pockets of snacks and filled a small basket for her.
There was nothing they could do; after all, this little sister was so sweet and adorable.
"Little sister is so amazing, so many older sisters are giving her snacks." Fanwa squatted to the side, a candy in his mouth, looking extremely envious.
"Auntie Zhao, can I take Momo to play for a while? I'll bring her back for dinner later." Xia Yao said to Zhao Tieying, holding Zhou Momo's little hand.
"Of course you can, go ahead and play with her. She talks about you all the time." Zhao Tieying replied with a smile.
Tonight, the textile factory arranged accommodation at the guest house, and they would take the shuttle bus back to the mountain city tomorrow morning, so they had two hours of free time before returning to the guest house after dark.
Xia Yao wanted to play with Zhou Momo for a while longer.
It was pretty much as Zhou Yan had expected.
The fact that the students and teachers from the Sichuan Academy of Fine Arts weren't eating in the school cafeteria, but instead were eating two consecutive meals at Zhou Erwa Restaurant, had caused quite a stir at the Jiazhou Textile Factory.
University students were symbols of intellectuals and fashion, and many workers wanted to see what delicious food Zhou Erwa Restaurant sold that could captivate even the university students.
The thirty two portions of noodles and the remaining cross-legged beef that Zhou Yan had prepared were completely sold out, and even the beef broth in the pot was distributed among the customers who arrived later and couldn't get any.
"I'm sorry everyone, the noodles and cross-legged beef are all sold out today. The restaurant will be closed tomorrow, so please come back on Monday." Zhou Yan stood at the door and apologized to the customers who couldn't get any food.
"It's all gone so early?"
"Next time, prepare more, I really wanted to try some."
"Okay, then I'll come again next time."
The customers were a little disappointed, but they could only wait until Monday to come again.
"We'll definitely prepare more next time." Zhao Tieying said with a smile.
Just then, Zhou Miao rode up on his bicycle, with two large crucian carp tied to the handlebars with straw stalks, and stopped in front of the restaurant.
"Wow, you caught some crucian carp!" Zhao Tieying greeted him with a smile, exclaiming in admiration, "Old Zhou, you're on a roll today! You caught such big crucian carp! We can cook them tonight."
"These two aren't very big; I even not caught a bigger one." Zhou Miao scratched his head.
Zhou Yan, standing beside him, silently turned his head away and subtly adjusted his expression.
A note slowly scrolled across:
[Two farmed crucian carp, fed on pure grain, of decent quality.]
...