Starting from a Bankrupt Sichuan Cuisine Restaurant

"A grandson? Of course, we have to go see him!" Duan Yu Yan nodded decisively. ’We’re already here. Maybe I can buy some braised beef from him and get some information at the same time.’

The car started up again, and the children swarming its front and back scattered in an instant.

"A car! How fancy! Are they rich people from the city? I bet only a ten-thousand-yuan household could afford that!"

"That’s a Crown! A car like that costs several hundred thousand. It’s got a black license plate—a regular ten-thousand-yuan household couldn’t afford it. They must be foreign investors. See that young lady? Her accent is just like the Hong Kong and Taiwanese stars on TV. She’s probably here looking for family."

"Fang San sure knows his stuff. People who’ve been to Yangcheng are just different!"

"Isn’t she just the daughter of some capitalist? Hmph!"

The neighbors chattered amongst themselves.

In an era when even a motorcycle was considered a luxury vehicle and a Phoenix 28 bicycle was an object of envy, driving a car was truly beyond the imagination of the small-town residents.

After turning from the old street onto the main road leading to the textile factory, the road conditions improved significantly.

Duan Yu Yan wanted to keep a low profile, so she had Yan Fei pull the car over a few hundred meters from the factory gate, and they walked the rest of the way.

"The Jiazhou Textile Factory is one of Jiazhou’s biggest foreign-exchange earners..." Yan Fei trailed half a step behind her, explaining as they walked.

As her driver, he wore many hats. Besides driving and acting as a bodyguard, he also had to serve as a translator and guide.

Of course, his employer paid him well, so taking on a few extra duties was to be expected.

"Look, Zhou Yan Restaurant is right up ahead," Yan Fei said.

Just then, an elderly man with graying hair rode past them at a leisurely pace on his bicycle. He also glanced at the sign for Zhou Yan Restaurant, a slight smile on his face.

’A small restaurant at the factory gate... can it really make good braised food?’ Duan Yu Yan looked up at the simple, hand-painted sign. A small table was set up at the entrance, where a man was slicing pig head meat. Behind him, a large pot billowed with steam.

The color of the pig head meat was almost identical to what she had eaten last night, and the knife in the man’s hands moved so fast it was a blur.

A glance inside the restaurant revealed it was completely full.

This surprised her.

’If you want to get information from a vendor, buy something from them first. That’s a little trick Dad taught me.’

"I’m hungry anyway. Let’s get some lunch first," Duan Yu Yan said to Yan Fei, striding toward the restaurant.

Wang parked and locked his bicycle, and had just stepped into the restaurant himself.

"Sir, here to eat? How many in your party?" Zhao Tieying greeted him with a smile.

"Yes, just one," Wang replied with a smile.

"Alright. They’re just clearing a table over there, it’ll only be a moment," Zhao Tieying said, nodding with a smile and pointing to a spot in the very back near the kitchen door.

Zhao Hong had already cleared the bowls and was now wiping down the table.

"Alright," Wang nodded.

Zhao Tieying then noticed Duan Yu Yan walking in. A look of stunned admiration flashed in her eyes as she smiled and said, "Well now, sweetie, are you here for a meal? How many of you?"

"Two," Duan Yu Yan said, holding up two fingers. She had no trouble understanding simple, common phrases like these; it was a piece of cake.

’This lady seems so kind,’ she thought. ’She’s all smiles, and she even called me sweetie!’

"Two..." Zhao Tieying glanced around the restaurant, then said apologetically, "I’m sorry, sweetie, but you might have to wait a little. We don’t have any empty tables right now."

"We have to wait?" Duan Yu Yan was a bit surprised. She hadn’t expected a small restaurant to be so busy; she’d eaten at Feiyan Restaurant countless times and had never once had to wait for a table.

Zhou Yan emerged from the kitchen carrying two plates of stir-fried pork liver. He was pleasantly surprised to see Wang and said, "Grandmaster? What brings you here?"

"Your braised meat is excellent. Today, I’ve come to try your stir-fried dishes," Wang replied with a smile.

"I welcome your critique." Zhou Yan smiled and served the two plates of stir-fried pork liver to customers at two nearby tables. "Please, have a seat. A table just freed up."

While speaking with Wang, Zhou Yan glanced toward the entrance and saw a young woman standing there, radiating an air of imposing elegance.

She was tall and slender, with a head of tightly curled hair, delicate features, and light makeup, giving her a rather distinguished air.

She wore a cream-colored mock turtleneck under a high-quality black blazer, paired with wide-leg jeans and brown, low-heeled ankle boots. On her head was a black beret. A Cartier diamond watch on her right wrist sparkled brilliantly, and she carried a Gucci bamboo-handle bag, its double-G logo particularly conspicuous.

’Holy cow!’

’A classic Hong Kong socialite!’

Wang didn’t rush to take his seat. Instead, he turned to Duan Yu Yan and Yan Fei with a gentle smile and said, "It looks like the wait for a table will be a while. If you two don’t mind, you’re welcome to share with me. I’m only ordering one dish, so I won’t take up much space. It won’t be a bother at all."