Starting from a Bankrupt Sichuan Cuisine Restaurant

"Alright, I’ll introduce you after we eat," Zhao Dong nodded. It didn’t matter to him if it worked out or not; he’d already scored two bottles of fine wine for free. He was secretly pleased.

They ate two whole buckets of rice during that meal.

Even Mrs. Xiang, who normally ate just half a small bowl of rice, finished an entire bowl today.

By the time they finished eating, most of the other customers in the restaurant had left, each with a satisfied smile on their face.

Huang He shot Zhao Dong a look.

Zhao Dong took the hint. He rose to speak but then saw Zhou Yan emerging from the kitchen, untying his apron. He quickly smiled and waved. "Zhou Yan, my brother-in-law would like to meet you."

At the sound of his voice, everyone looked up.

Huang Ying’s eyes lit up. ’So tall! So handsome! He’s absolutely gorgeous!’

’How can a man this handsome exist in Sichuan!’

’Why is that mountain of a man standing up? He’s blocking my view of the handsome guy!’

’Oh, wait, that’s my Old Man...’

Huang Ying craned her head to the side to keep watching. ’He’s the one who made these amazing dishes?’

’He’s handsome, he can cook, and I love to eat!’

’Doesn’t that... make us a perfect match?’

"You’re crowding me!" Huang Bing said, pushing her head away. His own eyes were shining as he stared at Zhou Yan. "Damn! How can someone look exactly the way I’ve always wanted to look! It makes me so jealous..."

"Bro, you’ve got some nerve, dreaming like that..." Huang Ying glanced at his scrawny arms and legs and his slicked-back hair—so greasy a fly would slip on it—then looked back at Zhou Yan. Broad shoulders, a narrow waist, long legs, and handsome as hell even with a buzz cut.

"Get lost!" Huang Bing seethed.

Zhou Yan walked over with a smile.

Huang He immediately extended a hand, smiling. "Master Zhou, a pleasure. I’m Huang He, the owner of Feiyan Restaurant."

"Boss Huang, a pleasure." Zhou Yan smiled and shook his hand. He glanced at the others at the table from the corner of his eye. ’Zhao Dong doesn’t have any sisters, does he?’

Then he noticed two intense gazes fixed on him, burning with fervor.

"Master Zhou, your culinary skill is extraordinary! Whether braising or stir-frying, your control over the seasoning and the fire is simply perfect. That Explosively Stir-fried Pork Liver, in particular... for a moment, it gave me the illusion that Grandmaster Kong Huafeng himself had been reborn! A brilliant student is truly the product of a great master." Huang He gripped Zhou Yan’s hand, refusing to let go, his gaze just as intense.

"You flatter me, Boss Huang. I’m not even on par with my own master, so how could I possibly compare myself to the Grandmaster?" Zhou Yan said with a smile as he gently withdrew his hand. ’Such effusive praise from a fellow professional is a little unnerving. It feels insincere.’

"This might sound a bit rude, but I’ve always been known in our circle for being blunt and saying what’s on my mind. And what’s on my mind is this: based on these six dishes today, I believe your skill has already surpassed Master Xiao’s." Huang He’s expression was deadly serious. "Master Zhou, your talent is a rare thing. You’re destined to become a master chef and make a name for yourself in the Sichuan Cuisine World, just like Grandmaster Kong."

Zhao Shulan watched Huang He and Zhou Yan, a look of surprise on her face. It was the first time she had ever heard such high praise come from her husband’s lips, which spoke volumes about how highly he regarded Zhou Yan.

Zhao Dong had a strange expression on his face. He knew his brother-in-law wanted to poach Zhou Yan; the man wasn’t being the least bit subtle with his praise.

’Kong is his Grandmaster? I’ve eaten fish that Kong made before, so what does that make us?’ Huang Ying’s mind was racing.

"It doesn’t mean squat. What’s that got to do with him?" Huang Bing sneered.

"Get lost!" Huang Ying seethed.

Nearby, Mrs. Zhao and Comrade Zhou, who were clearing tables, couldn’t help but slow their movements. ’Why has all this praise started up after the meal?’

Zhou Yan just smiled and nodded. "You flatter me, Boss Huang."

’Nice words. I like hearing them. Keep going!’

"Here’s the thing, Master Zhou," Huang He began, his expression turning serious. "I’d like to invite you to Jiazhou to be a head chef at our Feiyan Restaurant. You’d only have to cook the dishes on your current menu. I’ll provide housing, and in the future, I’ll give you priority for any competitions or certification exams." He paused, his tone earnest. "A chef of your caliber shouldn’t be buried here in little Suji. Feiyan Restaurant is one of the four great restaurants in Jiazhou—a century-old establishment."

"You have my respect," Zhou Yan said, cupping his hands in a traditional gesture.

A look of delight crossed Huang He’s face. "Does that mean you accept?"

"I wonder what kind of salary Boss Huang is prepared to offer?" Zhou Yan asked with a smile.

Upon hearing this, Huang He considered it seriously for a moment. "If you’re willing to come, Master Zhou, I’ll offer you a salary of three hundred a month. I’ll also provide housing, and you can have all three of your daily meals at the restaurant."

The salary he paid Li the Third was three hundred and sixty, but Li the Third was the restaurant’s head chef, had worked there for many years, and was a nationally certified First-level Chef.

The salary he was offering Zhou Yan was, without a doubt, a sincere one.

Zhao Dong also gave a slight nod. The offer was double his own salary; he only made one hundred fifty a month. It was clear his brother-in-law was desperate to recruit talent.

After hearing the offer, Mrs. Zhao and Comrade Zhou simply went back to wiping tables and collecting bowls. The salary the boss offered was pretty high, about the same as what they were making.

"I’m sorry, Boss Huang." Zhou Yan declined with a smile. "My restaurant may be small, but business is quite good. I can clear a few dozen yuan a day without a problem. I appreciate the kind offer, but I’m a man who values his freedom. I’m perfectly content running this little place of mine."

In truth, Zhou Yan could sense the sincerity of the offer. A chef his age would typically be a prep cook in the back of a kitchen, making maybe thirty yuan a month. His own master, a head chef at the textile factory cafeteria, only earned a hundred and sixty a month.

But his own restaurant was already running smoothly, with daily profits exceeding two hundred yuan. The prospect of going to work for a three-hundred-yuan monthly salary held absolutely no appeal for him.

Even Comrade Zhou earned more than three hundred a month.

"He refused!"

"He earns dozens of yuan a day!"

"That’s incredible!"

Huang Bing and Huang Ying were both completely stunned.