Chapter 233 - 150: Son of a Turtle
After dropping the dried tofu skin off at the restaurant, Zhou Yan first took the old lady back to Zhou Village.
On the way back, he went to the supply and marketing cooperative and bought ten jin of dried kelp.
"Whoa, are we having seafood today!" As Zhou Yan wheeled his bicycle into the restaurant, Zhao Tieying came over, looking with curiosity at the large bundle of kelp on the back rack.
Zhou Yan glanced at her, not quite sure if Mrs. Zhao was being sarcastic.
’After all, in later generations, if you told someone you were taking them out for seafood and all they got was a plate of kelp, you’d definitely get beaten up.’
Mrs. Zhao asked with a completely serious expression, "How much is it per jin? I haven’t bought any in years. When we were kids, we couldn’t even get a single plate of kelp for the New Year or holidays."
"It’s dried. Eighty-five cents a jin."
"It’s gotten so much cheaper!" Mrs. Zhao exclaimed in surprise. "That’s fantastic! I’ll buy some to stew with meat for the New Year. That’ll be so nice."
Zhou Yan was now certain Mrs. Zhao was serious. He smiled and said, "No need to wait for the New Year. I’ve already bought it, so we can have it whenever we want."
"What did you buy so much for? The New Year is still a long way off," Mrs. Zhao said, still confused.
As he untied the kelp, Zhou Yan explained, "I’m planning to start making braised vegetarian dishes tomorrow. I bought dried tofu skin from my grandaunt, ordered some dried tofu, and knotted kelp can also be a vegetarian dish. I’ll add some potatoes and lotus root, and we’ll start with that to see how it goes."
"Potatoes and lotus root are vegetarian dishes, and you can barely count dried tofu, but dried tofu skin and kelp are so expensive. How are you going to sell them mixed in with the other vegetarian stuff?" Mrs. Zhao shook her head repeatedly. "Good heavens, kelp... that’s seafood!"
Zhou Yan pressed his lips together, trying not to laugh.
But seeing Mrs. Zhao’s earnest expression, he didn’t dare.
This reminded him of something. He had once interviewed an old chef who told him about how kelp was more expensive than gold back in the sixties. Back then, ordinary people couldn’t afford it or even find it. It was all imported and cost more than large prawns.
Later, an academician with the surname Zeng popularized kelp cultivation techniques. The domestic production of kelp skyrocketed, finally allowing this "seafood" to enter the homes of ordinary people.
’Judging by the price, it must have been widespread for some years now.’
’But it’s clear that in the hearts of ordinary people, kelp still holds a high status.’
"The pricing will definitely be different, otherwise everyone would just pick the dried tofu skin and kelp," Zhou Yan said with a nod. "Lotus root and potatoes will be forty cents a jin, dried tofu will be sixty cents a jin, and dried tofu skin and kelp will be eighty cents a jin. The net profit should be around fifty percent."
He was still following a strategy of small profits and quick returns.
Of course, the main consideration was still purchasing power.
The price of meat had just been lowered to one yuan a jin.
If the braised vegetarian dishes were more expensive than meat, customers probably wouldn’t be very receptive.
Besides, the forty-cents-a-jin vegetarian dishes might attract some price-sensitive customers, thereby expanding the market.
’That’s just how food is.’
’When you find the braised vegetarian dishes delicious, you’ll naturally become curious about the rich, meaty aroma in the braising liquid.’
’Curiosity is the beginning of the fall.’
’It starts with a portion of braised vegetables, but it will never end with just braised vegetables.’
Zhou Yan had absolute confidence.
Relying on the old-timers who loved to drink had already hit its ceiling. Now, he needed to use braised vegetarian dishes to tap into the rich mine of female workers from the textile factory.
Female workers made up a full seventy percent of the textile factory’s workforce.
In this era, the working women who "held up half the sky" tended to be more meticulous in their daily lives.
They might occasionally buy braised meat for two-fifty or three yuan a jin, but they also had to consider the household necessities.
For the forty-cent vegetarian dishes, you could get half a jin for just twenty cents to take home and share with your children and family. He imagined very few people could refuse that.
"Alright, as long as you have a plan. You definitely know more about this than I do." Mrs. Zhao nodded, no longer fussing over it. She turned to help prepare the kelp, brushing off the loose salt crystals.
Today’s trip was a fruitful one for Zhou Yan.
Not only did he gain a cousin, but he also secured a supplier for his tofu products. The plan for braised vegetarian dishes, which he had still been mulling over, was also quickly set in motion.
Zhou Yan couldn’t guarantee how much tofu they could sell in a day.
But as long as his braised vegetarian dishes sold well, just the dried tofu skin and dried tofu would be enough to keep the grandmother and grandson busy.
...
That evening, when the factory workers got off, the braised beef sold out explosively, just as expected.
In less than ten minutes, the remaining six jin of braised beef were completely gone.
Many customers were clamoring to place pre-orders.
However, Zhou Yan didn’t open pre-orders for any dishes other than the braised pig’s trotters. He only promised to double the supply tomorrow to ensure as many people as possible could buy the braised beef.
Ten jin of braised beef hadn’t yet impacted the sales of the braised pork items.
But Zhou Yan had already reduced the next day’s pig head pre-order by one. An additional ten jin of braised beef would inevitably affect the sales of the pork items.
He had to control his losses.
After closing up for the night, Zhou Yan went for a run with Lin Zhiqiang.
"Lin, new running shoes again?" Zhou Yan couldn’t help but smile as he looked at the white Feiyue sneakers on Lin Zhiqiang’s feet. "Meng is really good to you."
Lin Zhiqiang was a little smug. "Of course. I run every day and keep my body in great shape. She... she’s happy about it too."
’Hearing that, Zhou Yan had no idea in what way Meng was happy.’
"Have you and Xia Yao been in touch recently?" Lin Zhiqiang asked casually, but his eyes were carefully watching Zhou Yan, trying to spot any change in his expression.
"We exchange letters occasionally. She’s probably pretty busy too," Zhou Yan replied with a calm smile.
"That’s good. Young people need to stay in touch often. Frequent contact keeps the feelings from fading. If there’s anything you don’t understand, just ask me. I’m very experienced," Lin Zhiqiang said with a grin.
"Okay, I’ll definitely ask for your advice in the future, Lin," Zhou Yan nodded.
After a bit more conversation, the topic shifted to current events.
"I heard China and Britain are about to sign the Joint Declaration. Everyone’s been talking about it lately. Xiangjiang is coming back soon..."
They talked the whole way, and Lin Zhiqiang was quite surprised by and agreed with Zhou Yan’s deductions.
Zhou Yan just offered a faint smile in response.
’He didn’t remember much else, but the return of Xiangjiang was a major topic on exams. He could never forget that.’
Drenched in sweat, Lin Zhiqiang ran home. Seeing Meng Anhe practicing the Eight Pieces of Brocade in the living room, he said, "That young man, Zhou Yan, has so much substance. If I had a daughter, I’d definitely marry her off to him."
Meng Anhe continued her movements slowly and deliberately, replying calmly, "You don’t need to tell me that. Go tell my sister and brother-in-law."
"Then I’ll go write a letter," Lin Zhiqiang said, turning to head to the study.
"Stop right there!" Meng Anhe shot him a glare. "Go take a shower first. Don’t get your sweat on the desk and chair. Also, if you’re going to write, then write, but don’t you dare mention me. I don’t want to take any responsibility."
"Huh? An He, aren’t we husband and wife, of one heart and one mind?" Lin Zhiqiang sounded a little hurt.
Meng Anhe replied calmly, "This is the result of *your* investigation. All I know is that Zhou Yan’s cooking is delicious, which I’ve told my sister. I haven’t had much contact with him otherwise."
"Fine, I’ll write next time then. We’ll see when Old Xia can’t resist writing to me first. His last letter was back in June." Lin Zhiqiang turned, picked up an enamel basin and his clothes, and went to take a bath.
’Zhou Yan has really won him over...’ Meng Anhe couldn’t help but smile and shake her head.
...
Dried tofu skin only needs to be soaked in cold water for about three hours beforehand. Soaking it too long makes the texture too soft and mushy, robbing it of its soul.
Kelp only needs to be soaked for six hours.
Considering that the vegetarian ingredients had a shorter braising time and didn’t need to soak in the brine for too long, it would be fine to start soaking them after waking up tomorrow morning.
The only thing he soaked overnight every day now was the dried bamboo shoots.
Zhou Yan took a shower, set the bamboo shoots to soak, and then battled his terrible-at-chess Comrade Zhou for three hundred rounds. They each won some and lost some, and parted ways satisfied.
Zhou Yan didn’t go to sleep right away. He found a wooden board about forty centimeters long and thirty centimeters wide, sketched a simple design in pencil, and began to write the sign.
With a large brush and red paint, he first wrote out seven large words: West Bank Tofu! 20 Cents a Jin!
Then, underneath, he used a slightly smaller brush and yellow paint to write: The Silent Tofu Stall.
Next, using a small brush dipped in black paint, he added a few lines of small text: Sun’s Tofu, a Xiba tradition passed down for hundreds of years. The tofu is delicate yet resilient, perfect for frying, deep-frying, or boiling. It won’t fall apart. Please try some and buy.
Finally, he added a note: I am deaf-mute. The tofu is 20 cents a jin. Prices are firm, no credit.
I cannot hear your voice, but I can see your smile.
The wooden board was completely filled with writing.
But the hierarchy was clear.
The key information was made bigger and bolder.
He also elaborated on the characteristics of West Bank Tofu. This was his own assessment after buying and cooking it, so it was quite fair.
As for the final note, it was meant to awaken the softness in people’s hearts.
Was he playing the pity card?
’You could say that.’
But Lai Fu’s situation was indeed pitiful. He had rather delicate features, looked thin and frail, and was deaf-mute—it was easy for people to feel compassion for him.
’He was just born in the wrong era. Otherwise, Zhou Yan would have given him the screen name ’Fugui’.’
’Edit a video explaining his situation truthfully, and he’d never have to sell tofu again in his life.’
’He could just sit in front of the stone mill grinding soy milk every day, occasionally holding up a sign that says "Thanks, Bro!"’
But now, his cousin Lai Fu...
Every day, he had to drag his frail body to laboriously grind the pulp, filter it, boil it, add the coagulant, and press it into shape just to make one block of tofu.
After making it, he had to carry it on his back to town to sell. When he sold out, he’d go back and continue boiling dried tofu skin and drying the tofu curds.
It was exhausting, but Zhou Yan felt that Lai Fu would probably prefer this sense of steadfastness.
Of course, labeling him as deaf-mute was also to save him trouble. Otherwise, if he relied solely on sign language and customers didn’t understand, they would just walk away.
The post and base were already prepared. Tomorrow morning, he just needed to hammer in a few nails, and the lightweight, eye-catching sign would be complete.
Since he had made a promise to Mrs. Sun, Zhou Yan was determined to do a beautiful job for her.
It was just one block of tofu. Zhou Yan refused to believe it wouldn’t sell out.
...
The next day at the crack of dawn, Comrade Zhou took the sign to the riverside and, BANG, BANG, nailed it together.
He placed it on the ground. The tripod structure was quite stable.
It wasn’t too heavy to carry, either. He also brought a rope so Lai Fu could tie the sign to his back basket. A walking advertisement that wouldn’t get in the way of the tofu in the basket.
"This sign you’ve made is really good. It’s eye-catching, appealing, and explains everything clearly," Comrade Zhou said with a nod, looking at the sign Zhou Yan had placed in the basket on his back rack.
"Of course I put some thought into it. I want his tofu to sell well more than anyone," Zhou Yan said with a smile as he pedaled away. He was counting on Lai Fu to study and practice hard so he could unlock Mapo Tofu for him soon.
One of the three giants of Sichuan Cuisine, alongside Twice-Cooked Pork and Kung Pao Chicken.
Zhou Yan was really looking forward to that dish.
He finished buying all the meat, parked his bicycle at the head of the bridge, and left it for Comrade Zhou to watch. Shouldering the wooden sign, Zhou Yan walked along the riverbank, already looking forward to seeing the expression on Lai Fu’s face when he saw it.
His gaze swept over the vegetables displayed by the vendors. He bought two bunches of fresh bok choy and eyed four heads of cabbage that he would come back for later.
As he neared the tofu stall, Zhou Yan suddenly heard two grating voices:
"Don’t you set up here! I got here first today! If you dare, I’ll flip your whole stall over."
"That’s right! Think you’re so special ’cause you’re a mute? I’ve been selling tofu here for three years! Hurry up and pack up your tofu and get lost!"
Zhou Yan tore his eyes away from the vegetable stalls and looked up.
Lai Fu was standing behind his small table, protectively shielding the tofu. His neck was drawn in, and his expression was panicked.
Standing in front of him were a man and a woman with arrogant, domineering expressions. The stout young man in a floral shirt was even reaching out to grab the basket on Lai Fu’s back.
"FUCK YOUR MOTHER!"
Zhou Yan roared a curse and charged forward, still shouldering the sign!