Chapter 14: The Body of a Sales Champion

"Got it." Zhou Yan smiled in response, putting the cigarettes away in the cabinet. He didn't smoke, but they were good for gifting; even on the black market, they could fetch over twenty yuan.

After carefully placing Zhou Momo on the bed, Zhou Yan noticed she was wearing a blue sweater today. The sleeves were rolled up three times, and the hem nearly reached her knees—it was clearly a little boy's style.

Wearing hand-me-downs from older brothers or sisters wasn't strange; when Zhou Yan was in the orphanage, his clothes had never fit properly.

But the Old Zhou family wasn't badly off. Zhou Momo, the youngest daughter, was the most spoiled. Her father was a daughter-slave; even if his own clothes were patched, he'd buy new ones for his daughter.

Comrade Xiao Zhou opening this restaurant had really caused the family's quality of life to plummet.

His parents' clothes had plenty of patches too.

Pulling the quilt over Zhou Momo, Zhou Yan made a silent resolution as he went downstairs: once the external debts were paid off, he'd buy the whole family new clothes from head to toe!

Today, Zhou Yan asked for a few more beef bones. He split them open to expose the marrow, soaked them in cold water to remove the blood, set up a separate coal stove, and put a stockpot on to simmer the beef bone broth for the Qiaojiao Beef.

The essence of Qiaojiao Beef lay entirely in this pot of broth. As long as this broth was simmered well, the Qiaojiao Beef wouldn't be bad.

Besides beef bones, beef tripe and oxtail had to be added to the stew. The rich fats melted into the broth, making the flavor more mellow and rich. Spices and Chinese herbs were wrapped in gauze and thrown into the pot to simmer for a full eight hours; then the broth was done.

"Your method for making high stock is quite particular." Zhao Tieying watched from the side.

She had also set up a stall selling hot pot; her skills were learned from her mother-in-law. One pot of water, bones and spices all dumped in at once, lid on, and left alone.

For a hot pot selling two or three fen a bowl, there wasn't that much fuss. The dock laborers just wanted a hot bowl; if the noodles were a bit tough, no one would complain.

"Great chefs control the details. Jie Ge and them can sell over a hundred bowls a day; you can only sell twenty or thirty. The gap lies right there." Zhou Yan said with a smile, "If you want to learn, you have to put in the hard work. Later, I'll be busy inside making noodles and stir-frying; this pot of Qiaojiao Beef will be yours to guard. Let's aim to sell a hundred bowls of hot pot a day too."

"A hundred bowls!" Zhao Tieying perked up. "Can it really work?"

Even at her best in winter, she only sold fifty or sixty bowls, and that was during holidays when crowds were big.

"Wait till noon; I'll make some for you to taste. Let this old hot pot master give a critique." Zhou Yan skimmed the foam as he spoke, "See this foam? Scoop it all out with a spoon. That way the broth is clearer, and the taste is better..."

The method for Qiaojiao Beef was actually simple. It was a handed-down skill; all the cattle butchers in Zhou Village knew how to make it. The difference lay in that packet of spices and herbs—the differences in proportions and ingredient choices gave the final broth different flavors.

Of course, control over details during the cooking process could also enhance a pot of broth significantly.

While the broth simmered on low heat, Zhou Yan started frying the toppings and kneading dough, preparing the noodles to sell today.

Currently, the best seller in the shop was the Double Pepper Beef Mixed Noodles. Yesterday, a few customers wanted it, but the minced meat topping had sold out, so they had to order something else.

So today, Zhou Yan added an extra jin of "Diaolong" (a specific cut), effectively adding ten more bowls of Double Pepper Beef Mixed Noodles.

Preparations finished, it was already broad daylight outside.

Zhou Yan and his mom ate a simple bowl of noodles, opened the door for business. Zhou Momo missed the mealtime today, so the whole family only had her sleeping in naturally.

Zhou Yan opened the restaurant's main door and saw that Old Wang Wu's noodle stall across the street had a new sign. It read: Large Portion Braised Beef Noodles 4 Mao! Large Portion Sparerib Noodles 4 Mao! Large Portion Minced Meat Dry Mixed Noodles 4 Mao!...

Old Wang Wu stood in front of the noodle pot shouting: "More quantity, same price! More quantity, same price! Over one liang of meat in a bowl, only four mao a bowl! Four mao a bowl!"

With this holler, some customers originally heading for Zhou Erwa's Restaurant actually walked toward Old Wang Wu's stall.

Over one liang of meat in a bowl—this wasn't less meat than Zhou Erwa's, and it was two mao cheaper. Worth a try.

Low prices were always the ultimate weapon.

Old Wang Wu's noodle stall had customers again.

"What kind of trick is Old Wang Wu pulling now? Is he not making money?" Zhao Tieying stood at the door, hands on hips, looking over at Old Wang Wu.

"Judging by his posture, even if he doesn't make money, he doesn't want us to make money either." Zhou Yan smiled. This noodle business war was escalating into a price war.

"This turtle son is shameless—pants off chasing a tiger, no face and no life. Watch me go tear his stinking mouth apart!" Zhao Tieying rolled up her sleeves, looking like a general going to war.

"Take it easy, take it easy. Low prices can attract some bargain hunters, but taste keeps people's hearts, making business last." Zhou Yan smiled, holding back Comrade Lao Zhao, "We win on taste. He's doing this; he'll collapse in a couple of days."

As they spoke, customers arrived.

Zhao Tieying also put on a smiling face to welcome guests, ignoring the other side.

Old Wang Wu kept an eye on this side. Seeing Zhao Tieying looking furious, his smile grew even brighter.

This was the idea Director Wang gave them after they went to consult him last night.

Zhou Yan attracts customers with generous toppings? Then he'd increase the quantity too, even more than Zhou Yan! And set a lower price. Customers would naturally come to them.

It didn't matter if they didn't profit, as long as they broke even.

But Zhou Yan's restaurant—if it lost customers, with fifteen yuan monthly rent, various management fees, and the pressure of external debts, how long could he hold out?

Once Zhou Erwa's Restaurant collapsed, he'd raise the noodle prices back up and continue making money. He'd made some money these past two years; he had the capital to outlast Zhou Yan.

Zhou Yan was about to go inside when he saw a Mediterranean, stocky middle-aged man stop his bicycle in front of Old Wang Wu's stall. His steps paused.

He recognized this baldy. Wang Defa, the factory canteen director. Comrade Xiao Zhou was fired by him.

Besides the debt pressure, the trigger for the previous suicide attempt was being verbally abused in the face by this damn baldy the day before.

"Director Wang! Rare guest! Rare guest indeed!" Old Wang Wu spotted Wang Defa and immediately shouted a welcome, his face piled high with fawning smiles.

This shout drew the attention of many workers. Seeing the sign, they grew more interested.

"Old Wu, heard your noodles are good. I came specially to taste today." Wang Defa laughed loudly.

"Then come in quick, Director Wang. Your presence really brings glory to my humble stall." Old Wang Wu kept buttering him up.

"Good." Wang Defa agreed, turning his head to look toward Zhou Erwa's Restaurant. He just caught sight of Zhou Yan turning and walking into the shop. He frowned. This kid wasn't being impulsive today?

Zhou Yan wasn't that hotheaded Xiao Zhou anymore. The youthful passion had long been ground down by life; he wouldn't break just because some old geezer provoked him.

Revenge is a dish best served cold. He'd remember this grudge for Xiao Zhou; he'd make him pay eventually.

Old Wang Wu's low-price strategy had given his failing stall a massive traffic boost and stolen half of Zhou Erwa's customers.

But Zhou Erwa's Restaurant had built a reputation these past two days. Customers who'd eaten there spread the word, whetting the appetites of others. As more workers came for shifts, quite a few bicycles were still parked at the restaurant entrance.

[Ding! Side Quest Triggered: Old Wang Wu has initiated a business war against you. A true Chef God fears no challenge. Accept the challenge, crush Old Wang Wu's noodle stall! Quest Reward: Unknown; Accept Quest: Yes/No]

Zhou Yan was pulling noodles, looking at the system prompt. His mind moved, and he chose Accept.

Old Wang Wu and Wang Defa were clearly birds of a feather. The opponent struck first; since it couldn't end peacefully, he naturally wouldn't back down.

And the system had a reward. So far, the system's rewards had all been excellent; he couldn't miss out.

The chatter of customers in the shop woke Zhou Momo. The little one rubbed her sleepy eyes and came to the kitchen door, looking up at Zhou Yan with a milky voice: "Gege, hungry, noodles."

"Okay, making it now." Zhou Yan nodded with a smile.

Zhou Yan made Zhou Momo a bowl of Sparerib Soup Noodles. Zhao Tieying wiped her face with a hot towel. Her chubby little face changed shape under the towel's rubbing. A stool was set at the door for her to sit and eat her "bench noodles."

The little one's face was rubbed red by the hot towel. Her unbraided hair stuck up in two cowlicks. Her chubby little hands held chopsticks, burying her head to eat, slurping loudly, eating with great relish.

Passing workers couldn't help but glance twice. The kid was really cute, and her eating manner was tempting. The braised spareribs fell off the bone with a sip; she drank the rich bone broth in big gulps.

People who hadn't planned to eat noodles found their bicycles inexplicably turning into the shop entrance.

"Jiejie, come eat noodles?"

The little one asked while eating, looking up.

Meeting those pure eyes, the customers couldn't bear to leave. They had to brace themselves and enter the shop. Seeing the other customers slurping noodles, they couldn't help but order a bowl.

Mm, really fragrant!

Zhou Momo sitting at the entrance eating noodles facilitated several orders. A natural-born sales champion.

Xia Yao came out with her drawing board to find material. Passing the factory gate, she saw Zhou Momo sitting at the restaurant entrance holding a big bowl drinking soup. Every passing worker turned their head to look at her. The corners of Xia Yao's mouth unconsciously curled up. She felt she had found today's best scene. She immediately set up her drawing board and took out her pen.

Zhou Momo drank the soup clean, then put down the bowl, touching her slightly bulging belly and burping contentedly. "Full~"

She soon spotted Xia Yao. Her eyes lit up, and she immediately hopped off the stool and ran toward Xia Yao, shouting: "Yao Yao Jiejie!"

Xia Yao put down her pen. The paper only had a rough sketch. Looking at Zhou Momo toddling over, a smile appeared on her face. She opened her arms and caught her in a hug, smiling: "Momo, did you miss me?"

"Missed." Zhou Momo nodded repeatedly.

"So good." Xia Yao let her go, pulling out a glass bottle from her pocket, smiling: "Ever had Coke?"

"Coke?" Zhou Momo tilted her head looking at the glass bottle, shaking her head.

"Jiejie will open one for you. You sit back nicely and let Jiejie draw you a picture, okay?"

The glass bottle glittered in the sunlight, bubbling, as if possessing a mysterious magic that made Zhou Momo nod without thinking.

*Psst!*

Xia Yao used an opener to open the Coke. Bubbles surged to the mouth, hissing. She handed it to Zhou Momo.

Zhou Momo held the bottle with both hands, brought it to her mouth and took a sip. Her eyes brightened: "So many bubbles, sweet, yummy!"

Then she hugged the Coke and obediently went back to sit at the entrance.

(End of Chapter)