Starting from a Bankrupt Sichuan Cuisine Restaurant

[An Extremely Good Sugar Caramelization]

The Identification result appeared instantly.

Zhou Yan was greatly encouraged.

Sugar caramelization wasn’t just for making braising liquid; it was also used for making braised pork belly.

Unfortunately, Zhou Yan didn’t know how to make it. Otherwise, this sugar caramelization would have been excellent for making braised pork belly.

’I’ll have to ask my mentor for a few pointers one of these days.’

’Even if it’s not good enough for the menu, it would still be nice to be able to make it at home.’

’Zhou Momo would definitely love it.’

With the sugar caramelization done, it was time to start making the new braising liquid in separate pots.

His grandmother left the entire process to Zhou Yan, only offering a few pointers from the side. Throughout the whole ordeal, she spoke fewer than ten sentences.

At first, Zhou Yan was a bundle of nerves, but when he saw that his grandmother wasn’t saying anything, his confidence grew.

An hour later, two pots of glistening, crimson braising liquid were ready.

It looked almost identical to the original pot.

Zhou Yan used a ladle to scoop up some of the liquid and slowly poured it back. It was a glistening, vibrant red, and the braising aroma was rich and intense.

"You’ve maintained it very carefully," his grandmother said with a smile. "This old braising liquid hasn’t spoiled in the slightest. The more you cook with it, the better the flavor gets, so splitting off a pot won’t hurt it. For the second batch of braised meat today, just cook half in each pot. After two batches, the flavor will be even richer."

"Got it!" Zhou Yan replied with a smile.

With these two pots of braising liquid, he could handle the occasional surges in demand for braised meat from the outdoor banquets and was also prepared in advance for future expansion.

Having resources on hand put his mind at ease.

As Zhou Yan began braising the meat, his grandmother left the kitchen and took her granddaughter out shopping.

It was a rare trip to town for her, so she was in no hurry to head back. She would wait until after the lunch rush and have Comrade Zhou take her home.

...

When Huang Ying and Huang Bing got back home, Huang He and Zhao Shulan were just heading out for the restaurant. They both looked surprised to see the two siblings covered in sweat.

Before Huang Bing could even open his mouth, Huang Ying, who had chased him all the way, pinned him against the wall and—WHAM! WHAM!—punched him twice.

Huang Bing grimaced in pain but didn’t forget to shout to Zhao Shulan, "Mom! See? I brought Huang Ying back!"

"Huang Ying, let go." Zhao Shulan stepped forward to separate them and asked with a smile, "Did you get to try the noodles at Zhou Yan Restaurant?"

"Mhm, we did!" Huang Ying nodded.

"Were they good?" Huang He couldn’t help asking. He loved noodles. Having stayed up late playing mahjong the night before, he’d woken up late and was planning to find a noodle shop for breakfast on his way to work.

"Delicious! Incredibly delicious!" Huang Ying nodded emphatically. "Their noodles are completely different from anywhere else. They must be hand-pulled. The texture is just like those noodles we had when we visited Second Uncle in Shanxi at the start of the year. The soup is so savory, a rich broth made from pork bones, and the seasoning is perfectly balanced. It’s fragrant, spicy, and so refreshing. Absolutely perfect!"

Huang He couldn’t help but gulp. ’That just proves it,’ he thought. ’Huang Ying is my spitting image, and not just in build. She loves food, knows how to eat, and has a true appreciation for it!’

The surprise Zhou Yan had given him yesterday had a powerful lingering effect. He hadn’t slept well all night, haunted by the feeling that he’d missed out on a master chef and was powerless to do anything about it.

Back in the day, his own father had tried three times to recruit Kong Huafeng and failed, a failure that became a lifelong regret.

Zhou Yan was different. This young man wasn’t just a Chef; he was an ambitious young business owner.

He’d already built such a booming business in a small town like Suji. In the future, he surely wouldn’t be content with just serving the three thousand workers from the textile factory. He was bound to come to Jiazhou.

Huang He wasn’t intimidated by Zhou Yan. On the contrary, he held the young man in high regard and would even consider investing in him if the opportunity arose.

Feiyan Restaurant had a century-long heritage. It was positioned for mid-to-high-end banquets and large receptions. Its reputation and ambiance had been built up over generations and couldn’t be easily supplanted.

Zhou Yan Restaurant’s dishes were in the style of an affordable Sichuan Cuisine eatery. The two establishments targeted different markets.

However, with Zhou Yan’s skill, he would quickly build a strong reputation and turn his place into a wildly popular Sichuan Cuisine restaurant.

Many chefs knew how to cook, but they lacked the social and management skills to run their own restaurant.

Zhou Yan was different. After their brief encounter, Huang He was convinced the young man had a talent for business. His potential was limitless.

He still planned to build more of a connection with Zhou Yan if he got the chance in the future.

He glanced at Huang Bing, his brow furrowing slightly. ’If this boy had half of Zhou Yan’s ability,’ he mused, ’I could already be thinking about retirement.’

Huang Bing grinned obliviously. "It was seriously good. Even for someone like me, who doesn’t usually like noodles, his Minced Beef Noodles with Double Peppers was just incredible. The noodles held the sauce perfectly. With just a couple of stirs, the minced beef coated every strand. The chili oil was insanely fragrant—I just couldn’t stop eating. If he opened a shop in Jiazhou, every other noodle shop owner in the city would be crying!"

"Minced Beef Noodles?" Huang He’s eyes lit up. "Oh, that must be incredible!"

They’d had the minced beef yesterday, and it was divine just mixed with rice. The thought of it with noodles, especially after Huang Bing’s description, made his mouth water. He tentatively asked Zhao Shulan, "Honey, what if we pop over to Suji for a bowl of noodles before we head in?"

"Are you out of your mind, or am I?" Zhao Shulan shot him a glare. "We have to take inventory at the restaurant today and settle the accounts. Where are we supposed to find time to run all the way to Suji for a bowl of noodles?!"

Huang He scratched his head, embarrassed.

"Dad, don’t even think about it," Huang Ying said, dashing his hopes but also giving him an easy way out. "Zhou Yan only sells noodles for about an hour in the morning. We only managed to get one bowl each, and that was because he specifically saved them for us. You can’t even order an extra portion."

"Oh, that’s a shame. We’ll just have to go next time," Huang He said, nodding as he gratefully took the excuse she’d offered.

"He only sells them for an hour in the morning?" Zhao Shulan was a little surprised, but then she smiled. "He’s very clever, then. Even though his shop sells a variety of items, he has a system. He sells noodles in the morning, then focuses on regular meals in the afternoon and evening. The whole family runs the business. It must be exhausting, but they’re definitely making good money. No wonder he turned down your offer of a three-hundred-yuan salary."