Chapter 2: Double Pepper Beef Mixed Noodles

Zhou Yan began to survey his restaurant. The establishment spanned two hundred square meters. Excluding the large kitchen, the dining hall was about one hundred and thirty square meters, comfortably fitting twenty eight-immortal tables without feeling crowded. He had installed electrical wiring and hung eight light bulbs.

Most of the money for opening the shop had gone into purchasing these tables and stools; the materials were exceptionally sturdy.

Furthermore, there was a courtyard at the entrance that extended all the way to the river embankment, where dozens more tables could be set up.

The kitchen was quite spacious. Little Zhou had learned to cook in a factory canteen and had planned the back kitchen well: a vegetable washing area, a chopping area, a cooking area, and even a separate cold dish room. All kinds of knives and kitchen utensils were fully stocked.

A three-eyed earthen stove held two large iron pots and a soup pot. Neatly stacked beside the stove was a pile of split green oak wood, reaching half a person's height.

On the stove sat a three-tiered seasoning rack. The top layer held oil, salt, soy sauce, and vinegar; the middle layer contained dry ingredients like Sichuan peppercorns and chili peppers; the bottom layer held jars of bean paste and pickled peppers. Everything was there.

There was still an empty area to the side, offering great potential for expansion.

A poor student blames their stationery—that was the logic here.

Over thirteen hundred yuan of massive capital had been poured into this place.

Most individual entrepreneurs starting out would just set up a street stall to do business, avoiding rent and the need to buy equipment, focusing entirely on how to save money.

But Zhou Yan loved this kitchen.

These two large iron pots could not only stir-fry dishes but were also perfect for boiling noodles.

【Ding! Main quest issued: Restaurant influence reaches 100 (1 influence gained per diner's approval). Accept: Yes! No!】

【Quest success reward: A random recipe!】

As the new quest refreshed, Zhou Yan chose to accept it decisively.

Zhou Yan went outside and carried an eight-immortal table in, placing it in the empty space to the right of the entrance.

The cypress wood table was brand new. The boards were joined seamlessly with dovetail joints, and the surface was planed to a mirror-like smoothness. Carpenter Wang had good craftsmanship.

This would be his noodle station; a workstation was essential for making hand-pulled noodles.

He took a bag of flour from the cabinet, weighed out a jin, added the appropriate amount of salt and water, and began to knead the dough.

Zhou Yan had absolutely never done this kind of work before, and Little Zhou hadn't touched noodle-making either.

But the moment he placed his hands on the dough, he began to knead it instinctively. With a push and a pull, his technique was skillful. The wrinkled dough deformed wantonly in his hands, and before long, it became smooth and supple.

He covered the dough with an enamel basin; it needed to rest for a while before being kneaded again. After repeating this three times, the dough would be ready to be pulled into noodles.

Taking advantage of this time, Zhou Yan checked the nearby shelf. Inside were a dozen eggs, two bunches of wilted green and red chili peppers, and some long-lasting ginger, garlic, and potatoes.

The restaurant hadn't been open yesterday, so naturally, no ingredients had been prepped.

There was no refrigerator in the shop, and the October weather wasn't cold enough yet, so meat had to be bought fresh every day.

Zhou Yan tucked his meat coupons and money into his pocket, preparing to go out and buy some beef for the topping to test the dish.

"Ge-ge! Ge-ge! Open the door! It's Mo-mo!"

Just then, a knock sounded, accompanied by a soft, milky voice with a Sichuan accent.

Zhou Yan’s heart skipped a beat. He reached out and pulled back the bolt. The door was pushed open, and a little dumpling tumbled in, looking like she was about to face-plant onto the floor.

Zhou Yan was quick-witted; he grabbed her by the back of her collar and hoisted her up.

She was tiny, with delicate, doll-like features, big round eyes, and baby fat that hadn't yet faded from her cheeks. Her cheeks looked even softer than the dough, making one want to pinch them.

Zhou Yan looked at the three-and-a-half-year-old girl in front of him.

This is... my sister? So cute!

"Eh?" Zhou Momo kicked her short legs twice, realizing she hadn't fallen. She tilted her head to look at him, grinning, "Ge-ge is so amazing! You caught me."

"I might not be able to catch you next time if you fall." Zhou Yan reached out and pinched her cheek; it was indeed soft.

However, this little one’s reactions were a beat slow—she was adorably dim-witted.

His parents had had her late in life. As the only daughter of the old Zhou family, with five older male cousins above her, she was the undisputed darling of the family.

Holding Zhou Momo, Zhou Yan looked at the two people standing outside the door.

The middle-aged man on the left was tall and thin with dark skin, wearing a navy blue Zhongshan suit. His back was straight, and the patches on his elbows were stitched with fine, neat threads. The clothes were old and faded, but washed clean. His calloused right hand held a piece of beef that must have weighed over a jin.

The middle-aged woman on the right was not tall, wearing a blue shirt with yellow flowers. Her skin was fairer than the average country woman. Although there were fine lines at the corners of her eyes, her cheeks were rosy, giving her a vibrant look.

The woman’s eyes were just like Zhou Momo’s—large and spirited—and she was smiling as she looked at Zhou Yan.

Zhou Yan opened his mouth, but the words "Dad, Mom" felt too foreign. He had never called out to them in his past life. Although Little Zhou’s memories and residual emotions made him feel close to them, the words were stuck in his throat and he couldn't make a sound.

At this moment, Old Wang, who sold noodles at a stall at the factory gate, leaned in to peek at the restaurant and muttered, "Didn't they say Zhou Erwa's restaurant couldn't stay open and he jumped into the Qingyi River?"

The smile on Zhao Tieying’s face instantly turned cold. She turned to glare at Old Wang, pointing at him and cursing angrily, "You piece of trash, looking like a toad, always lurking in the shadows like a curse. You’ve got no talent but you’re full of spite—you’re shameless enough to hang yourself with your own pants!"

"You’ve got two eggs hanging under your eyebrows, only good for blinking and not for seeing. Why are you making up lies about my son for no reason?"

"You... you woman..." Old Wang was red-faced from the scolding.

"You turtle’s son, you’re nowhere to be found when there’s money to be made, but you’re the first to show up for a funeral. If I hear you badmouthing my son again, I’ll tear that foul mouth of yours to shreds!" Zhao Tieying continued her barrage, scolding him relentlessly.

Old Wang clenched his fists, ready to rush forward.

Zhou Miao stepped forward, blocking Zhao Tieying with a cold face. He lifted a corner of his Zhongshan suit, revealing a boning knife tucked into his waistband.

Old Wang paused, then gave a dry laugh: "Fourth Brother, your wife is truly too fierce." He turned and walked away.

Who would dare provoke Zhou the Fourth, the butcher from Zhou Village?

"Get lost!" Zhao Tieying spat at Old Wang’s retreating back.

"Get lost!" Zhou Momo also clenched her little fists and mimicked in her milky voice.

For the first time in his life, being protected by someone, Zhou Yan felt a warmth in his heart. In his past life, whenever he was bullied, he had always carried it alone. He had never experienced this kind of family affection, and he couldn't help but blurt out

"Dad, Mom, why are you here?"

Having scolded Old Wang away, Zhao Tieying turned back and looked Zhou Yan up and down. "We came to see a hero. I heard a hero jumped into the Qingyi River to save a girl. Zhou Yan, how come I never knew you had such skills before?"

Well, the Sichuan-Chongqing Tyrannosaurus had transformed into a master of sarcasm.

"I just happened to pass by and saw it. I couldn't just watch someone die," Zhou Yan scratched his head.

"Erwa did a good deed. It’s good that everyone is safe," Zhou Miao chimed in.

Zhao Tieying shot him a glare, and before she could speak, Zhou Miao turned and said, "Your mother is right."

Zhou Yan:???

It was clear who held the power in this family.

"You’ve got as much sense as a mud-sculpted Buddha. You don't even know how to swim, how could you dare jump into the Qingyi River to save someone..." Zhao Tieying’s voice trailed off, her eyes reddening and her voice choking up.

In her, Zhou Yan felt the concern and affection he had once found unattainable.

He could imagine how frantic Zhao Tieying and Zhou Miao must have been when they heard the news.

Their son, 'Zhou Yan', was already dead. From today on, he, who had inherited 'Zhou Yan's' memories and partial emotions, would be their son.

With both parents present and a cute little sister, Zhou Yan’s resentment toward the transmigration completely dissipated.

"Mom, you're right. Next time, I'll definitely act within my means," Zhou Yan nodded with a sincere attitude.

"You still want a next time? See if I don't break your legs!" Zhao Tieying made a gesture of swinging her fist.

"I wouldn't dare, I wouldn't dare." Zhou Yan immediately conceded, put Zhou Momo down, and reached out to take the beef from Zhou Miao, saying, "I was just planning to go cut some beef to make a topping. You haven't had lunch yet, right? I'll make you some double-pepper beef noodles."

"Yay! Mo-mo loves noodles!" Zhou Momo followed Zhou Yan toward the kitchen.

"We haven't had lunch yet, but when did you learn to make noodles?" Zhao Tieying followed him in, looking puzzled.

"I learned a long time ago, I just hadn't made them for you before," Zhou Yan said casually.

When Little Zhou was learning to cook, he lived and ate at the factory and didn't go home often. Zhao Tieying and Zhou Miao didn't know much about his cooking skills, otherwise, they wouldn't have lent him so much money to open this restaurant.

Zhou Miao closed the door behind him and mused, "Why don't you save this beef for the customers? We're family, just make some plain noodles."

"That's right, such a good piece of beef, your dad saved it especially for you. Our family doesn't have the luxury of eating meat right now," Zhao Tieying added.

"I plan to switch to selling noodles starting tomorrow. I have to have someone test them before I sell them, otherwise, I won't feel confident," Zhou Yan said with a smile.

Zhao Tieying and Zhou Miao fell silent. They looked at the empty wall where the original menu had been, leaving only a few glue marks.

"Why change it to a noodle shop?" Zhou Miao asked softly.

"Who knows." Zhao Tieying curled her lip. "Only when you run a house do you know the cost of oil and salt. Not doing those fancy things, selling noodles might mean losing less money. But does this kid really know how to make noodles? Our town isn't short of noodle shops."

Zhou Yan carried the beef into the kitchen, kneaded the resting dough once more, covered it again, and then began to process the beef.

This grass-fed yellow beef was of excellent quality, and the tenderloin was a highly sought-after cut—perfect for stir-frying or boiling—that you couldn't even get at the supply and marketing cooperative.

His father was a butcher in Zhou Village. The village was famous in the Jiaozhou area. Of the five brothers, four were butchers. Because he was the fourth, he was known as Zhou the Fourth. His skills were excellent, and his reputation was even better.

Butchers lived by their craft. His father could earn sixty or seventy yuan a month, more than an ordinary worker at the silk factory. The family was well-off, which was why they could scrape together five hundred yuan in savings to help him open the shop and raise a chubby Zhou Momo.

Zhou Yan had sunk all of their savings into this restaurant and even owed a debt.

He had truly experienced what it was like to be a "father-pit-er."

However, having a butcher for a father made buying beef much simpler, and the price was more reliable than the black market.

A jin of beef cost 1.2 yuan at the supply and marketing cooperative, but it would cost 2.8 yuan on the black market—more than double the price.

But meat at the cooperative was hard to buy with coupons; even if you lined up at dawn, you weren't guaranteed to get the cut you wanted.

Zhou Yan cut the beef into strips and then into small, fine cubes. He grabbed a handful of pickled peppers and pickled ginger from the pickle jar, also cutting them into small pieces. He smashed the peeled garlic before mincing it to ensure a certain texture.

He cut the bright red millet peppers and the emerald green Erjingtiao peppers into rings and then minced them, putting them on a plate to set aside.

Zhou Yan’s knife skills were indeed excellent now; his hands could perfectly keep up with his brain.

"Ge-ge is so amazing!"

Zhou Momo pulled up a small stool and sat on the side to watch, exclaiming in wonder, providing plenty of emotional value.

After prepping the ingredients, Zhou Yan kneaded the dough one last time; it had become soft and smooth.

He lit the fires under both pots simultaneously—one for boiling water, the other for stir-frying.

Zhou Momo couldn't sit still either. She ran to the side, hugged a piece of green oak wood almost as tall as herself, and walked over, looking proudly at Zhou Yan: "Ge-ge, look, I'm so capable."

"You're amazing," Zhou Yan praised her with a smile.

Encouraged, Zhou Momo became even more motivated. She hugged the wood and shoved it into the stove, muttering, "I'm feeding the stove-stove."

Once the pot was hot, he poured in a spoonful of rapeseed oil, then added a small spoonful of white lard from the enamel basin.

Zhao Tieying stood at the kitchen door, stretching her neck to look, and immediately felt a pang of pain: "This kid, two spoonfuls of oil is enough for our family to stir-fry vegetables for a whole week."

"Food is definitely tastier with more oil. Home and a restaurant are definitely different; Erwa is a professional chef, after all," Zhou Miao said with a smile.

"Professional what? His twice-cooked pork isn't even as fragrant as mine," Zhao Tieying muttered.

"That's true," Zhou Miao nodded quickly.

Zhou Yan was now completely focused on the oil pan in front of him. He knew the method for double-pepper beef by heart, but since it was his first time doing it for real, he was still a bit nervous.

When the oil was hot, he added the minced beef.

The pan sizzled, and he quickly spread the meat out with a spatula. The aroma of meat instantly filled the air.

The minced beef quickly changed color in the hot oil. When the meat was slightly browned, he added the pickled ginger, pickled peppers, and minced garlic, then added a splash of soy sauce. The fragrance was instantly ignited.

"Gulp."

Zhou Momo’s swallowing sound was incredibly loud. She stood on tiptoe, clutching the edge of the stove to peek, revealing half of her head. "So fragrant!"

"Don't get splashed by the oil." Zhao Tieying quickly stepped forward to pick her up, unable to resist peeking into the pot herself. The aroma was truly tempting; Zhou Yan’s cooking had never smelled like this before.

He added salt and a little MSG for seasoning, then tossed in the minced millet peppers and Erjingtiao peppers, stir-frying them evenly. He scooped it into an earthen bowl—a portion of double-pepper beef topping was ready.

The glistening green and red peppers were vibrant in color, and the slightly browned meat was distinct. The spiciness and the aroma of the meat blended together, making it extremely tempting.

Zhao Tieying and Zhou Miao, who had been busy all morning, couldn't help but swallow their saliva.

This noodle topping looked truly excellent! Wonder what it tastes like?

Qingyu is back! Returning to food-themed writing to pen a warm, happy story.

During the new book period, I humbly ask all my readers to follow the story daily; it directly determines recommendations. Please, please!

(End of chapter)