Chapter 9: Sister, you look so sweet

Zhao Tieying sat on the back seat of the bicycle, humming a little tune all the way back to Zhou Village.

Under the big tree at the entrance of the village, a group of women were cracking melon seeds and gossiping.

"Ride a bit slower." Zhao Tieying tugged on Zhou Miao’s clothes, and the bicycle’s speed dropped immediately.

"In a good mood today, Iron Lady? Humming a tune on your way back," one of the older women said with a smile. Everyone’s gaze fell upon Zhao Tieying and Zhou Miao.

Zhou Laosi was skilled at slaughtering cattle, and after the industry opened up, he was among the first in Zhou Village to receive a slaughtering license. With Zhao Tieying’s industrious nature, their life was thriving, which inevitably made others jealous.

But they had to go and raise Zhou Yan, that spendthrift. After being an apprentice at the factory canteen for two and a half years, he dared to quit and open a restaurant, becoming a self-employed businessman.

Not only did he drain his parents' savings, but he also ended up in a mountain of debt. For a while now, their family had become the laughingstock of Zhou Village.

It was only because Zhou Miao had many brothers, all of whom were skilled at slaughtering, and because Zhao Tieying was a sharp-tongued woman who didn't suffer fools, that most people didn't dare to talk trash to their faces.

Zhao Tieying was a proud person. Lately, whenever she passed the village entrance, she would keep her head down and urge Zhou Miao to ride faster, not wanting to hear the old biddies' gossip.

"Has Auntie Wang heard that my Zhou Yan saved the niece of the Silk Factory’s Deputy Director Lin?" Zhao Tieying tugged on Zhou Miao’s shirt, and the bicycle stopped instantly. Her voice rose a few decibels: "Deputy Director Lin came to thank Zhou Yan today and gave him a brand-new '28-inch' bicycle. He insisted he take it, and even said he wanted to nominate him for some kind of 'Spiritual Civilization Model' award. Plus, business at the restaurant was great today; we were so busy we couldn't keep up."

The village entrance fell silent, save for the echo of Zhao Tieying’s crisp laughter and the crackling of a nearby fire.

A "28-inch" bicycle was a major asset. Textile factory workers had to save for over half a year and secure a bicycle coupon just to buy one.

There weren't many bicycles in all of Zhou Village; only the cattle slaughterers could afford them.

Zhao Tieying looked at those faces filled with shock, envy, and jealousy. Her smile grew even brighter, and her chin tilted up like a victorious general: "I’m done chatting with you lot. Going home to wash up and sleep; I have to help out at the shop early tomorrow morning."

Zhou Miao immediately pedaled away.

"A 28-inch bike! Zhou Erwa has hit the jackpot!"

"The Deputy Director of the Silk Factory—Zhou Erwa has really climbed up to a big leader!"

"The restaurant business is better too, no wonder Zhao Tieying is so smug..."

Zhao Tieying pricked up her ears to listen to the discussion behind her, laughing until she shook. The pent-up frustration that had been weighing on her heart for so long was finally released all at once.

"Mom, what are you laughing at?" Zhou Momo asked, looking back at her curiously.

"Your mother just thought of something happy," Zhao Tieying replied with a smile.

"Hee hee hee, then I’m happy too..."

...

Zhou Yan fell asleep the moment his head hit the pillow.

But Old Wang and his wife were tossing and turning, unable to sleep.

"We sold ten fewer bowls today than yesterday. Zhou Erwa snatched all the customers away. What are we going to do?" Old Wang’s wife looked distressed.

Old Wang puffed on his dry tobacco pipe and waved his hand: "It’s nothing. Today, Lin Zhiqiang and Zhao Dong were just backing him up. Everyone who came to eat noodles was doing it to give those two face and join in the excitement.

He sells a bowl of noodles for sixty cents. Even if the workers have high wages, they can't afford to eat like that every day. In a couple of days, they’ll be back to eating at our place."

"Are you sure?"

"Don't worry. Didn't Zhou Erwa’s restaurant have two busy days when it first opened? What good did it do? Zhou Erwa just isn't cut out to be a chef or run a restaurant."

...

Zhou Yan woke up early again. He first changed the water for the dried bamboo shoots, then washed up with cold water.

A body that was used to hard work was different; he woke up feeling refreshed and full of energy, nothing like a fragile college student.

He strapped his basket to the back of the 28-inch bike and rode out to buy groceries.

At the vegetable market, he activated [Food Appraisal]. The quality of every ingredient was clear at a glance; he only picked the chili peppers marked as "Excellent."

"Zhou Erwa, this pork belly and ribs are top-notch today. If you want them, I’ll give you a better price," a butcher called out as Zhou Yan passed his stall, whispering mysteriously: "One yuan and sixty cents a catty. If you take it all, I’ll knock off another ten cents."

One-sixty a catty—that price was indeed cheap.

Zhou Yan took one look. The pork on the stall looked pale, and the label was a bright, alarming red: [A pile of tainted, diseased pork].

Zhou Yan bought a lot of meat for his restaurant, and the butchers in town all knew him.

"Why is the color of this meat a bit pale?" Zhou Yan asked nonchalantly.

"This is a pig my uncle raised himself. The meat is excellent, don't you worry. I, Wang Qi, have been selling meat for years; would I ever lie to you, kid?" The butcher patted his chest.

"Too bad I switched to selling noodles; I don't need this meat." Zhou Yan looked regretful and turned to leave.

"Switched to noodles?" Wang Qi scratched his head, having no choice but to turn his gaze toward the next sucker.

In this era of scarcity, selling tainted pork or diseased beef wasn't rare, but bullying a young man like Zhou Yan for not knowing his goods was going too far. Perhaps the little Zhou of the past had suffered such losses before.

Zhou Yan hadn't intended to get involved, but as he was leaving after buying his groceries, he saw Wang Qi trying to sell to an old woman. He turned into a secluded spot, took out his ledger and a pen, scribbled a few lines, folded the paper, and dropped it into the market management office as he rode past, landing it right on the desk.

As for whether the management would care or if Wang Qi would be punished, that was beyond his control.

Zhou Yan went to Old Zhang San’s to pick up the three catties of ribs he had ordered. The price was still one-ninety, and the appraisal gave it: [A piece of fresh, high-quality rib].

Paying thirty cents more per catty to ensure his customers ate quality ribs made Zhou Yan feel much more at ease.

"You kid are alright. You’ve become a hero who saves lives. After I finish selling meat at noon, I’ll come to your shop for noodles." Old Zhang San looked at Zhou Yan with genuine admiration; this time, it wasn't just polite talk.

"Sounds good." Zhou Yan smiled and rode off, the red silk flower on his handlebars seeming even brighter.

He started by simmering the bone broth, then stewed the beef brisket and ribs, and finally began kneading the dough. With yesterday’s experience, Zhou Yan was already able to manage his time efficiently.

For now, his mother’s help was enough to handle the noodle sales. If he planned to add new items later, like restarting Chinese-style dishes, he would have to seriously consider how to make the restaurant run more efficiently.

Zhou Yan certainly wouldn't be satisfied with just running a noodle shop.

Zhao Tieying arrived very early today as well. Zhou Momo hadn't woken up yet, so she was carried in a basket on her back, wrapped in a small quilt.

"Mom, come later next time. It’s dark and the road isn't easy to walk." Zhou Yan carefully lifted Zhou Momo out and put her on his bed to continue sleeping.

"You know the road isn't easy, so why didn't you turn back from the slaughterhouse to pick us up? You were pedaling that bike like it was flying." Zhao Tieying rolled her eyes at him.

"Alright, next time for sure." Zhou Yan scratched his head awkwardly. His mind had been so focused on buying groceries that he hadn't even thought of that.

Zhou Yan kneaded the dough while Zhao Tieying helped watch the fire, carefully observing him as he cooked and stir-fried.

"Mom, do you want to be a chef too?" Zhou Yan said casually.

"One chef in the family is enough. I’m just watching how you head chefs cook so I can make better food at home later." Zhao Tieying looked at the meat in the pot, worried: "You prepared so much meat today, will you be able to sell it all?"

"It’s not much. As long as business is good in the morning, it’ll be fine," Zhou Yan said confidently.

He had prepared ingredients for ninety bowls of noodles today, only thirty more than yesterday—not too aggressive.

With the toppings and sauces ready, the two large pots were already boiling with water, and the soup pot in the middle was simmering the bone broth on low heat, bubbling away with an appetizing aroma.

After a busy morning, he couldn't work on an empty stomach, so Zhou Yan cooked two bowls of noodles.

"I’ll just have some greens; I want something light in the morning." Zhao Tieying brought over two large bowls.

"Then why did you scoop so much chili oil?" Zhou Yan scoffed. After scooping the noodles, he added a generous ladle of beef and dried bamboo shoots for her.

"Less, less... can I even eat that much?" Zhao Tieying picked up the bowl, fearing Zhou Yan would add more, but the corners of her mouth couldn't help but turn up.

This son of hers was finally sensible and filial; he wasn't raised in vain.

Just as Zhou Yan was about to scoop the remaining noodles from the pot, Zhou Momo smelled the food and came over, standing at the door rubbing her sleepy eyes, looking happy: "Is it time to eat?"

"Yeah, it’s time." Zhou Yan grabbed a small bowl and scooped her a portion first.

"Momo is so hungry! I’m going to eat three bowls today!" Zhou Momo leaned forward, holding up her little hand to make a 'V' sign.

Zhou Yan helped her extend another finger: "That’s how you make three."

The little one wasn't bragging; she finished three small bowls, her little face shiny with oil. Even after getting down from the table, she didn't forget to give Zhou Yan a thumbs up: "So yummy! I’ll eat three bowls next time too!"

After breakfast, Zhou Yan opened the restaurant door. Outside, the sky was already bright.

Across the street, Old Wang’s noodle stall had a pot boiling, steam rising, as he set up his tables and chairs.

Hearing the sound of the door opening, Old Wang looked up. When his eyes met Zhou Yan’s, he immediately turned his head and huffed.

Competitors are enemies, especially when they are right across the street.

Zhou Yan just smiled, not taking Old Wang’s reaction to heart.

In the restaurant business, you let your strength do the talking. Whoever makes the better food, the customers will give the answer.

After 6:30, workers began to arrive for their shifts.

Old Wang and his wife, Liu Fang, had specially put on new aprons today, standing in front of their stall with forced smiles, ready to welcome customers with a fresh look.

But they couldn't keep smiling for long.

Bicycles were all parking in front of Zhou Erwa’s restaurant; in a short while, six or seven had already lined up.

There were even two regulars from their own stall who, for some reason, were wearing hats and walking with their heads tilted, as if afraid of being recognized, as they ducked into Zhou Erwa’s restaurant.

"What’s going on? They’re all going across the street! And Wang Jianming and Liu Laoba are even wearing hats on purpose—I recognized them at a glance! Don't they only eat our noodles?" Liu Fang stomped her feet in frustration.

Usually, they would have opened for business by now, but today there wasn't a single customer; they could only watch the bustle across the street.

"They’re just joining in the excitement. Don't panic, don't panic," Old Wang said in a low voice.

But his hands, hanging at his sides, were trembling slightly. He felt a bitter taste in his heart, as if his wife had run off with someone right in front of him.

He’d been cuckolded, in a sense.

Whether they were just joining the excitement or not, business was definitely bad today. All the noodles and toppings he had prepared were going to waste.

"Why do we have to sneak around just to eat a bowl of noodles? It feels like we're having an affair."

"Did you see the look on Old Wang and his wife’s faces? Thirty percent shock, thirty percent confusion, and forty percent anger. They were just about to come over and grab us to ask: 'Did I not give you a discount?' Who could handle that?"

"Ah? Move your legs faster!"

Wang Jianming and Liu Laoba walked quickly into Zhou Erwa’s restaurant, finally letting out a sigh of relief.

In one morning, Old Wang had only sold three bowls of noodles, all to people who were relatives or friends and felt too embarrassed to go across the street after being spotted by them.

On the other hand, Zhou Yan’s side hadn't stopped for a moment. He tossed noodle after noodle, and the large bowls collected in the kitchen had already filled four wooden buckets.

Even Zhou Momo, the child laborer, had been assigned to the door to act as a greeter.

"Welcome to eat noodles."

"Sister, you’re so pretty."

"Sister, your skin is so fair."

"Come back to eat noodles next time."

"Bye-bye."

...

Zhou Momo was a little chatterbox, friendly with everyone. She could chat with anyone, and because she was cute and knew how to compliment people, she provided enough emotional value to make the female workers very happy—some even gave her candy.

With her pockets full of candy, Zhou Momo’s chatter became even more frequent.

Zhou Yan had brought noodles out a few times and felt that this little one was just here to scam food and drink, but he couldn't help it—she was cute, and her success rate was incredibly high.

Approaching eight o'clock, the workers were in a hurry to clock in, and the crowd in the shop gradually thinned out.

Just then, a ruby-red Phoenix-brand bicycle stopped in front of the restaurant. A young woman jumped off the back seat.

Zhou Momo, sitting on a small stool at the door eating candy, looked up. Her eyes widened, and her mouth hung slightly open: "Sister, you look so pretty..."