Chapter 57: Definitely Not a Commoner (Third Update!)

The signs hanging on the wall were taken down one by one. When the braised pork ribs were finally removed, Auntie Zhao announced that all the dishes for the day were sold out. The latecomers let out long sighs, realizing they would have to find somewhere else to eat.

Every dish Zhou Yan had prepared sold out today, including the twenty crucian carp that Boss Gao had delivered later.

A little bit of scrap meat was left from the Qiaojiao beef, and the fish Comrade Old Zhou had "fished" back was made into fish with agastache. A plate of sautéed Chinese cabbage with lard served as their own dinner.

"Business was really good today! Everything we prepared sold out, and the customers all said it was delicious," Auntie Zhao said happily, scooping a spoonful of beef offal and tendon into Zhou Momo's bowl.

"In the three months since we opened, I've never seen so many customers," Zhou Miao remarked with some emotion.

Half a month ago, they wouldn't have dared to imagine the restaurant would have such booming business.

Back then, they wouldn't see a single customer in a whole day. Zhou Yan would sit by the door every day with a long face, irritable and prone to outbursts; even Zhou Momo didn't dare go near him.

Now, business was getting better day by day, and the boy was laughing and talking again just like before. The atmosphere at home had improved as well.

"Today's turnover should break two hundred yuan. This should be the peak for the upcoming period," Zhou Yan said with a smile.

"It broke two hundred!" Auntie Zhao was somewhat surprised. She knew business was much better than yesterday, but she hadn't expected it to exceed two hundred.

Selling two hundred a day—even if they only made half as profit, that was still a hundred yuan!

This money was being earned far too quickly!

"A lot of customers came today just to join the excitement; most laborers only go out to eat once or twice a month at most. But once we build a reputation, they'll think of our shop when they host guests at home in the future. It's a slow trickle; we'll earn the money steadily," Zhou Yan said smilingly.

He also hoped that the factory director's promotion of their food would have a long-tail effect. However, to continue breaking through in sales, they would need more best-selling individual items or perhaps introduce some cheaper dishes to increase foot traffic.

With a single dish costing one yuan, the average spending per person had gone up, but it also kept many customers away.

"Right, earn it steadily," Auntie Zhao nodded with a smile.

After dinner, Zhou Yan saw his parents out, locked up, and then went for a run along the river.

Halfway through, he spotted a familiar figure jogging. He quickened his pace to catch up and said with a smile, "Uncle Lin, you're out for exercise too?"

Lin Zhiqiang was wearing a blue tank top with a towel around his neck, running with a face full of sweat.

"Little Zhou," Lin Zhiqiang looked at Zhou Yan and smiled. "I haven't exercised for a while, so I came out for a run in the evening. Otherwise, your Auntie Meng is always complaining about my big belly."

"You're not fat," Zhou Yan glanced at Lin Zhiqiang. He was actually quite tall and thin, just with a bit of a protrusion; who doesn't get a beer belly in middle age?

Lin Zhiqiang shook his head. Looking at Zhou Yan, who wore a white tank top with broad shoulders and a narrow waist, he sighed with emotion, "You young people still have great physiques. I used to have six-pack abs, but now they've all melted together into one."

Zhou Yan hadn't expected Lin Zhiqiang to be quite humorous. He smiled and said, "Then let's run together. We'll loop around the stone bridge ahead and come back; it's about five kilometers."

"Sure, but I run slowly and need to get used to it. Why don't you head off first?"

"It's fine. We can chat while we run; it actually makes it feel easier."

"Alright then," Lin Zhiqiang nodded with a smile. After a few steps, he asked jokingly, "Have you written to Xia Yao yet?"

"Huh?"

"So she hasn't written to you either?"

"I haven't received anything yet."

"Do you want her address?"

"Uh, Uncle Lin..."

Zhou Yan and Lin Zhiqiang ran a five-kilometer loop, chatting the whole way—from anecdotes about the textile factory to national policies and international disputes; they talked about everything under the sun.

Lin Zhiqiang had attended university in Beijing, studied abroad, served as a sent-down youth, and spent two years in Shanghai. He wasn't just a technical recluse; he was well-traveled and very conversational.

Zhou Yan, after all, had been exposed to the information explosion era and had seen the world through Douyin. Although his understanding wasn't deep, he could follow any topic.

By the end of the run, Lin Zhiqiang had already regarded him as a kindred spirit.

"Little Zhou, your inferences about the direction of the Soviet Union are really interesting; they align perfectly with my own thoughts. Let's keep chatting when we run tomorrow," Lin Zhiqiang said, still feeling inspired as they reached the entrance of the residential compound, making an appointment to run together again the next day.

"Sure, we'll run together at this time tomorrow," Zhou Yan nodded with a smile and continued running toward the restaurant.

He also benefited greatly from chatting with Lin Zhiqiang.

Regarding this era, he only had a vague understanding, having learned the general trajectory from textbooks. But those terms were too broad; as a food blogger, it was difficult for him to grasp information he could actually utilize.

Lin Zhiqiang was an intellectual. His understanding of current developments and the opportunities he saw were very forward-looking; his vision was much higher than his own.

He mentioned that with the Reform and Opening-up, the state was vigorously supporting the development of individual and private economies, and special zones like Shenzhen were under construction. If one could seize this opportunity, they might become a trendsetter of the era.

When he said this, Zhou Yan saw the longing and light in his eyes. At that moment, he felt that Uncle Lin was certainly not a man of mediocre talent; this small Suji Town likely could not contain his ambitions.

Lin Zhiqiang returned home with light steps, grabbing a towel and a basin to prepare for a shower.

"Did you find money while running? You look so happy," Meng Anhe asked, coming out of the study with a ruler in hand as she looked at the beaming Lin Zhiqiang.

Behind her in the study, the two brothers, Lin Jingxing and Lin Bingwen, had bitter expressions as they were blowing on each other's hands to soothe the pain.

"It's more interesting than finding money," Lin Zhiqiang said with a laugh. "I ran into Zhou Yan just now. He was out running too, so we did a five-kilometer loop and chatted the whole way. His knowledge is so vast; he knows everything. Moreover, his views on future development are very forward-looking. He is definitely not a man of mediocre talent; this little Suji Town won't be able to hold him back."

"It seems you're liking him more and more," Meng Anhe smiled and pressed down the basin in his hand. "Go take a shower later. If you hit cold water while you're still hot from running, you'll get sick."

"It's rare to see a young man with such insight and vision. Zhao Dong is far behind him. I think even if he just runs a restaurant, he can build quite an empire," Lin Zhiqiang remarked with emotion.

"I believe that much," Meng Anhe nodded, looking at him with a smile. "But, what made you suddenly think of going out for a run?"

"How can I rely solely on eating Qiaojiao beef? Exercise is the way to go. You have to grab both hands; both must be strong," Lin Zhiqiang said seriously.

...

Upon returning to the restaurant, Zhou Yan first recorded the accounts. Today's income reached 234.6 yuan, indeed setting a new high.

The Qiaojiao beef increased by twenty portions; the braised beef with dried bamboo shoots and the minced beef with dual peppers each sold thirty portions; the braised pork ribs sold twelve portions, and the fish with agastache also sold thirty portions.

After deducting the cost of ingredients, the gross profit was approximately 118.2 yuan.

Following the turnover breaking two hundred, the profit had broken one hundred for the first time!

Counting the five-cent and ten-cent banknotes one by one, Zhou Yan felt an extraordinary sense of security in his heart.

This money was earned bit by bit, five cents and ten cents at a time.

His savings reached 262.44 yuan, bringing him closer to paying off all his debts.

After showering, Zhou Yan didn't rush to bed. Instead, he took out paper and a pen to organize and record the information he had gained from Lin Zhiqiang today.

Auntie Zhao and Comrade Old Zhou were very good, but they could only see as far as the confines of Suji.

From Lin Zhiqiang, he could learn a great deal.

Moreover, if he maintained a good relationship with Uncle Lin, when the man eventually "went into the sea" (entered the private sector), he might even be able to bring him along.

Closing his diary and pulling the string to turn off the light, the room went dark. The image of Xia Yao surfaced in Zhou Yan's mind.

She said she had returned to school and would write to him; had she sent it yet?

On his run today, Uncle Lin had told him her address: Sichuan Academy of Fine Arts, Department of Arts and Crafts, Interior Design major.

Should he take the initiative to write?

Zhou Yan quickly dismissed the idea.

Write what? He hadn't written a letter in two lifetimes!

Rather than thinking about women, he should think about how much stock to buy tomorrow, roughly how many customers would come to eat, and whether the quantities of different dishes needed adjustment.

Thinking about women would only slow down his ability to make money.

With his mind racing wildly, his eyes went dark, and he fell asleep immediately.

...

Just as dawn broke the next day, Comrade Little Zhou was already out on his bicycle to buy groceries.