Chapter 46: Maybe I'll actually become your uncle in the future

Lin Zhiqiang said with a smile, "You haven't realized that Zhou Yan's restaurant has been upgraded during your few days in Chengdu. He's not just selling noodles anymore; he's also selling Qiaojiao Beef, stir-fry, and braised dishes."

"Zhou Yan's noodle business had just started to pick up; why is he rushing to expand again? Didn't you say that when he used to sell stir-fry and braised dishes, he almost drove the restaurant into bankruptcy?" Meng Anhe frowned slightly.

"I don't think his expansion is blind. Noodles sell well in the morning, but there aren't many customers at lunch or dinner, so business improved once he added Qiaojiao Beef. Now, by scheduling the noodles for the morning and serving Chinese meals for lunch and dinner, he can cover all bases."

Lin Zhiqiang analyzed, "The dishes he sells are quite simple: braised pork ribs, beef with dried bamboo shoots, and minced beef with dual peppers serve as toppings and sauces. The Qiaojiao Beef is selling well, and he only added a side dish of basil crucian carp."

After a moment of thought, Meng Anhe nodded. "He's aiming to snatch that group of diners who prefer small stir-fry dishes from your factory canteen."

"It's actually quite funny. There was a commotion at the factory canteen this noon. Zhao Dong led the charge and almost trashed the place..." Lin Zhiqiang shared the gossip regarding the midday disturbance at the canteen with Meng Anhe.

Meng Anhe couldn't help but laugh, then suddenly asked, "So, are you planning to introduce Zhou Yan to Director Wang?"

"Exactly. If Zhou Yan's cooking can satisfy the Director, I will definitely introduce him," Lin Zhiqiang nodded. "Back then, Zhou Yan was dismissed because he had a conflict with Wang Defa in the factory canteen. Being young and hot-headed, he injured Wang Defa. It was a bad incident, and since he was only an apprentice, he was fired."

"Wang Defa is narrow-minded and not a good person. With the commotion at the canteen today, he's bound to get a scolding from Liu Yusheng. The canteen's stir-fry was his proudest achievement since taking office; he certainly won't be happy about losing customers to Zhou Yan."

"Zhou Yan's little restaurant looks prosperous, but he's renting a storefront from the textile factory. In this small town, Wang Defa has plenty of ways to play dirty."

Meng Anhe couldn't help but laugh. "You certainly think a lot for him. Anyone wouldn't know you aren't his uncle."

"Isn't that how it should be? He's the savior of our Yaoyao. We can never fully repay Zhou Yan's kindness," Lin Zhiqiang said with a beaming smile. "Besides, who knows, maybe he really will become an uncle in the future."

"What do you mean by that?" Meng Anhe raised an eyebrow, looking suspicious. "Did something happen during your field trip the other day?"

"No, I was just speaking casually," Lin Zhiqiang quickly shut his mouth.

"Confess quickly, or don't force me to pinch you!" Meng Anhe's hand clamped onto the soft flesh of his waist.

"No, no, no, it's really nothing. I just think Zhou Yan is handsome and reliable in how he handles things..."

Their two sons followed closely behind them. The elder was in third grade and the younger in first grade. Both were well-mannered and handsome, with thick eyebrows and large eyes, inheriting the best traits of their parents.

They were both very excited about going out to eat today.

Lin Zhiqiang was busy with work, but Meng Anhe was even busier. She worked at the Chengdu Architectural Design Institute at least five days a week, and could only return to Suji to visit her husband and children once a project was completed.

She usually entrusted the neighbors to pick them up and drop them off, and the boys would eat there in exchange for a small monthly food allowance—essentially a "free-range" upbringing.

"Mom, is that cute little sister Cousin Yaoyao mentioned at the restaurant we're going to?" Lin Jingxing asked.

"Does their family make the pickles? We finished the ones we brought last time; can we ask for more?" The younger brother, Lin Bingwen, was more concerned about the pickled radishes that went with their morning porridge.

"Yes, the little girl's name is Zhou Momo. She's still very small, so don't scare her when you see her later," Meng Anhe turned back to instruct them. "I'll ask the owner for more pickled radishes later."

"Okay," the two little ones nodded in agreement.

...

It was currently the end of the workday. The bicycles at the entrance of the textile factory poured out like water from a broken dam, crowded and dense.

The street vendors immediately perked up, hurrying to hawk their wares.

Once this half-hour rush was over, they would have to wait until tomorrow.

Zhou Liangliang refused to be outdone, using his loud, duck-like voice to shout, "Come, come, come! Grand opening sale! Super discounted prices! Noodles for thirty cents a bowl, with an ounce of meat! Zhou Village Soup Pot is also thirty cents a bowl! Only thirty cents a bowl..."

His booming voice did attract some attention, though most of it was tinged with disdain.

"Again? Thirty cents for a bowl with an ounce of meat? Just hearing it makes me nervous!"

"I bet it's more of that diseased pork from somewhere. One 'Wang the Fifth' goes, and another 'Wang the Sixth' shows up?"

"A thirty-cent soup pot? As soon as you get close, you can smell the stench—it's all the gamey smell of beef offal. It's nothing like the Qiaojiao Beef at Zhou Erwa's restaurant."

Workers riding past shook their heads repeatedly.

"Look at that, he can't even sell it for thirty cents. If he doesn't sell this stuff today, it'll be rotten by tomorrow. I believed your lies and now I'm paying for it! Look at how prosperous other people's businesses are!" Wu Guihua looked dejected. Her eyes turned red as she watched the increasing number of bicycles parked in front of the opposing Zhou Erwa restaurant.

Zhou Liangliang grew anxious. Looking at his prepared offal and noodles, he gritted his teeth, stomped his foot, and shouted even louder: "Noodle prices are crashing! Soup pot prices are crashing! Twenty cents a bowl! Selling at a loss! Selling at a loss! I'm losing my shirt! Only twenty cents a bowl!"

"Twenty cents a bowl? Has Zhou Liangliang gone mad?" Zhao Tieying looked bewildered. A soup pot might break even, but selling noodles at that price was a guaranteed loss.

"A cornered dog will bite, but it's useless," Zhou Yan said with a smile. "Once bitten, twice shy. The cheaper it gets, the more the workers will fear it."

Sure enough, at the sound of that shout, the workers pedaled their bicycles even harder, not looking back once.

The precedent of the "Wang the Fifth diseased pork incident" served as a warning; when it came to food, some money simply couldn't be saved.

A bowl of noodles for twenty cents, even with an ounce of meat, didn't seem attractive; instead, it felt suspicious.

"Don't... don't run away..." Zhou Liangliang slumped onto his stool, looking as if all his strength had been drained.

At that price, if he had shouted it at the docks, a crowd would have swarmed him immediately.

The textile factory workers were so well-off; why wouldn't they eat twenty-cent noodles and soup?

But why could Zhou Yan sell his sixty-cent soup pots so well?

Zhou Liangliang racked his brain but still couldn't figure it out.

...

"Zhou Erwa's Restaurant—this must be the one." Wang Hongliang stopped his bicycle in front of the restaurant, looked up at the sign, and said with a smile, "I pass by here every day, but this is my first time eating here."

Li Meilin climbed down from the back seat, first picking her young grandson up from the frame of the heavy-duty bicycle. She glanced into the shop and smiled. "Why did Lin Zhiqiang choose a small restaurant? Didn't he say they sell noodles? Are we having noodles tonight?"

"Don't underestimate this little place. A couple of days ago, students from the Sichuan Fine Arts Institute ate noodles here two meals in a row, and they both said it was delicious," Wang Hongliang said with a smile.

"Director Wang, Sister-in-law." Lin Zhiqiang walked forward quickly to greet them.

"Director Wang, Sister Meilin." Meng Anhe greeted them with a smile and reached out to pat her grandson's head. "Haohao has grown taller again."

The two children greeted them politely.

"Zhiqiang, Xiao Meng, and the two children are here," Wang Hongliang nodded with a smile.

"Xiao Meng, this coat is beautiful. Did you buy it in Chengdu?" Li Meilin also looked at the two children with a smile. "Jingxing and Bingwen are growing so fast; they'll definitely be as tall as their father in the future."

Inside the shop, Zhao Tieying had already hurried off to call for Zhou Yan.

Both the deputy and the director were here—these were big leaders, and she felt a bit intimidated.

"Let's head in then. I had Xiao Zhou reserve a table," Lin Zhiqiang said after the greetings.

"Alright," Wang Hongliang nodded.

At that moment, Zhou Yan came out to greet them, a smile on his face. "Director, please come in. I've reserved a table for you."