Starting from a Bankrupt Sichuan Cuisine Restaurant

Tears of grievance were already welling in Huang Ying’s eyes. When she heard Zhou Yan speak, she choked them back.

She turned to look at Zhou Yan and sniffled. "Are your noodles any good?"

"Whether it’s good or not is a very subjective thing. I can’t just toot my own horn. If you’re curious, you can ride your bike over tomorrow and try it yourself," Zhou Yan said with a smile.

"Okay! I’ll come!" Huang Ying nodded, her gaze firm. "I’ll ride my bike over myself!"

’He invited me over to eat!’

’Who could possibly refuse?’

"Hm?" Everyone looked at Huang Ying with odd expressions. What was with this girl? She had actually agreed?

Zhao Shulan smiled with relief and gave Zhou Yan a grateful look. ’This young man is really something else. He’s easy on the eyes, much more down-to-earth and reliable than Huang Bing, and he doesn’t even smoke.’

"Huang Bing! Starting tomorrow, you’re coming with your sister! On your bicycles! You’ll eat as many meals as she does, or you can forget about getting any allowance," Zhao Shulan said to Huang Bing, her expression turning cold.

Since he didn’t like eating at home, she would have him eat at Zhou Yan’s. Three meals a day wouldn’t bankrupt the family, and as long as it helped him put on a few pounds and look a little healthier, it would be worth it.

"Mom, can I ride the motorcycle?" Huang Bing’s face fell. Coming to eat was no problem, but making him ride a bicycle was just awful.

He had just gotten the new bike and loved riding it everywhere. A trip to Suji only took twenty minutes, and after eating, he could still go out and have fun.

If he had to ride a bicycle, and with Huang Ying at that, who knew how long their dawdling would take.

"Her Majesty the Queen Mother is wise!" Huang Ying grinned happily, winking at Huang Bing.

Zhou Yan stood by silently. ’This is great. With just one sentence, I’ve roped in two monthly subscribers.’

’What a score!’

’As for how to complete the mission?’

’I’ll just take it one step at a time!’

’Who knows, maybe if the girl rides her bike here to eat every day, she’ll actually lose some weight.’

The Huang and Zhao families left. From the sounds of it, they were planning to find a place to drink tea and play cards to pass a leisurely afternoon.

When Zhou Yan went inside, Mrs. Zhao and Comrade Zhou had already cleared the tables, leaving only a tableful of dishes to be washed.

"When did you learn to ride a motorcycle? I’ve never seen you ride one before," Mrs. Zhao asked, looking at Zhou Yan curiously.

Never mind the Zhou Family; no one in the entire Zhou Village owned a motorcycle.

Just now, Zhou Yan had swung a leg over the motorcycle, and with a series of fluid movements, driven it away. He looked like an experienced rider.

"A coworker at the cafeteria used to have a small motorbike. We were good friends, so when I had free time, I’d ride it for a couple of laps around the factory. That’s how I learned," Zhou Yan fabricated.

Mrs. Zhao nodded, remarking with a sigh, "That motorcycle is impressive."

"Once I make some money, I’ll buy one to take you all for a ride," Zhou Yan said with a smile.

"If you make money, you should save it. Build a house and find a wife first. Motorcycles guzzle gas; riding one is just burning money," Mrs. Zhao said, shaking her head.

Zhou Yan didn’t argue. Seeing the two of them about to wash the dishes, he said, "Come on, the dishes can wait until we get back. Change your clothes. Let’s go have some fun in Jiazhou. It’s been a long time since I took you."

Zhou Momo had already slung the little bag Mrs. Zhao sewed for her over her shoulder and was running around the restaurant happily. "We’re going to Jiazhou! We’re going to have fun!"

"Alright," Mrs. Zhao said with a smiling nod, calling for Comrade Zhou to go upstairs and change.

Zhou Yan also went upstairs and changed out of his chef’s uniform. He put on a slightly worn dacron shirt, black trousers, and a pair of faded white canvas shoes.

He glanced down at himself. ’Not bad. Clean and fresh. A little shabby, but no major issues.’

He had over four hundred yuan stuffed in his pocket. It was all in Great Unity ten-yuan bills and one- or two-yuan bills; he hadn’t taken any smaller jiao or fen coins, but it still made a thick roll.

A moment later, Mrs. Zhao and Comrade Zhou came downstairs.

Mrs. Zhao was wearing a blue and white floral dacron shirt, black dress pants, and leather shoes with copper buckles. Her hair was tied up, and she looked energetic and respectable.

Comrade Zhou wore an old Zhongshan suit with patches at the elbows. His indigo pants were also faded from washing. The only respectable part of his entire outfit was his pair of leather shoes.

It couldn’t be helped. When their house collapsed, all of Comrade Zhou’s clothes had been destroyed. Last time, they had only bought him a chef’s uniform and hadn’t gotten him any other clothes yet.

Zhou Momo was wearing a green sweater today, with a small green bag—a handmade creation by Mrs. Zhao—slung over her shoulder. It had a pumpkin pattern on the front and looked quite stylish.

She rummaged around in her little bag, then pressed an orange-flavored hard candy into everyone’s hand, saying generously, "One for each of you! Orange-flavored Tangtang. It’s super sweet!"

Zhou Yan unwrapped the candy and popped it into his mouth. The orange flavor was rich, and it was indeed very sweet.

"Are you going to sit with your brother or your old man?" Mrs. Zhao asked Zhou Momo.

"Brother!" Zhou Momo leaned against Zhou Yan without hesitation.

"Let me tie a piece of clothing here, so the bumpy ride doesn’t rattle your butt apart." Mrs. Zhao took an old piece of clothing, folded it twice, and used a rope to tie it to the front crossbar of the bicycle.

Zhou Yan reached out and lifted Zhou Momo onto the padded crossbar.

Mrs. Zhao padlocked the door, and the two bicycles set off toward Jiazhou.

Comrade Zhou was busy slaughtering cattle all year round. It was usually afternoon by the time he sold all the beef. Once home, he’d fix a quick meal, too exhausted to do much else. He certainly never had the energy to go to Jiazhou for fun.

Usually, they had to wait for a public holiday when he wasn’t working to take a day off and visit Jiazhou.

In her entire life, Zhou Momo had only been there twice. One of those times was when she was still a baby wrapped in swaddling clothes, so she had no memory of it at all.

The little one loved hearing people talk about the city. She would always get a look of anticipation on her face and would constantly ask Zhou Yan when he was going to take her to Jiazhou to play.

"Pangwa, fat and chubby, rides a horse to Rongcheng. Rongcheng is so much fun, so Pangwa rides a white horse. The white horse jumps so high, Pangwa plays with a halberd. He swings the halberd in a circle, and Pangwa picks up copper coins. He picks up many coins and buys a steamed bun. The bun has no sugar, which makes poor Pangwa burst into tears..."

The little girl held onto the handlebars with one hand, chanting the nursery rhyme in her sweet, childish voice. Her head swayed back and forth, and her two little braids, like a pair of antennae, swept back and forth in front of Zhou Yan. It was both adorable and funny.

The journey from Suji to the Jiazhou City District was over ten kilometers. The road conditions were decent, and they rode at a leisurely pace, taking a little over half an hour to reach the intersection of Yutang Street and Tuqiao Street.

The Jiazhou Department Store stood here, spanning two blocks, with one side on Tuqiao Street and the other on Yutang Street.

This intersection was also known as the Jiazhou Small Cross.

Surrounding it were many of Jiazhou City’s famous establishments: Changsheng Hall, Liao Guangdong, Yudong Restaurant, the Mainland Inn, the Post Office, Xinhua Bookstore, the New China... and so on.

It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to call it Jiazhou’s central business district.

"Are we heading straight for the department store?" Zhao Tieying said with a smile, looking up at the impressive building.

"Yes, let’s buy what we need first, before they close," Zhou Yan said with a smile.

"Makes sense. They close right on the dot and won’t wait a single minute," Mrs. Zhao nodded.

After parking the bicycles, Zhou Yan took Zhou Momo’s hand and led his parents into the department store.

It was Sunday, a day off for everyone, so the department store was packed. The bicycles parked out front stretched far into the distance. An old man had set up a stool and was stationed there, guarding the customers’ valuable property.

The moment they stepped inside, they were met with bustling crowds thronging every counter.

"Comrade, how much is this Seagull brand ladies’ watch?"

"Comrade, let me try on that piece of clothing."

"Comrade..."

Some people were asking for prices, others were trying on clothes and feeling the material. It was a lively scene.

Zhou Yan lifted Zhou Momo and placed her on his shoulders to prevent her from being accidentally knocked over and stepped on.

"Wow! There are so many people!"

"Brother, look! There are so many dolls over there!"

"And over there are so many pretty clothes!"

"Brother..."

With her view elevated, the little girl’s eyes immediately lit up. Her chatterbox was open, and she chirped on and on without stopping.

Zhao Tieying and Zhou Miao followed behind Zhou Yan, their expressions a bit constrained.

The last time they had come to the department store was the year before last.

The department store had many nice things, but the prices were truly expensive.

Their last visit had just been to browse, taking a quick look around at the hustle and bustle. They hadn’t even dared to ask for prices.

If you asked too many questions, the salesclerks were incredibly rude.

"Comrade, I’d like to ask you..."

"Ask, ask, ask! You ask but you don’t buy, what’s the point in asking?! I’ve told you a thousand times, this piece is sixteen-fifty, not a fen less! If you’re not buying, then forget it!" a round-faced salesclerk at the next counter said, rolling her eyes in annoyance. She roughly hung the clothes back up.

"You... you, Comrade, you’re being so unreasonable! I have a big problem with your service attitude!" The customer was so angry their hands were shaking.

"Hmph, you have a problem with me? Go on, report me! Even if you wanted to buy it now, I wouldn’t sell it to you," the salesclerk said, looking completely unconcerned.

Zhou Yan was tall, so his gaze passed over the crowd, and he could see similar scenes unfolding at many other counters.

Department stores of this era were state-owned. Whether they made a profit or a loss didn’t affect the salesclerks’ salaries, so they were all arrogant, looking down their noses at everyone.

A glance at the slogan on the wall read: "Beating and Cursing Customers is Strictly Prohibited!"

A real characteristic of the era.

Zhou Yan watched with great interest as he wandered over to the watch counter.

This was a popular counter, packed with customers all crowded around the glass case.

Behind the counter stood two clerks, a man and a woman, answering customers’ questions at an unhurried pace.

Zhou Yan leaned in and glanced at the prices. A Shanghai brand men’s 17-jewel watch was priced at 70 yuan.

It was a steep price, equivalent to two months’ salary for a frontline worker at a textile factory.

"You’re buying a watch?" Zhao Tieying asked in a low voice, having followed him over when he stopped.

"Yes. I need to keep track of time when I’m making the braised meat. A watch would be more convenient," Zhou Yan nodded.

A customer in front of him had just finished looking and left, so he squeezed up to the counter and said to the clerk with a smile, "Comrade, could you let me try on this Shanghai brand men’s watch?"

The saleswoman, who was in her early twenties, looked up when she heard him. Her previously furrowed brow relaxed, and her voice softened. "Of course, I’ll get it for you," she nodded.

Zhou Yan handed Zhou Momo to his mother and took the watch. He slipped it on his wrist; it was all steel, cool to the touch, and shimmered silver on his hand. It had a bit of heft to it.

But once the watch was on, his bare wrist was no longer empty, and it really did feel different.

"It suits you well. A man really does look a bit more distinguished with a watch on," Zhao Tieying said with a smile.

"What about me?" Zhou Momo asked, holding out her small hand.

"You’re still little. When you grow up, you’ll look beautiful wearing a ladies’ watch, too," Zhao Tieying said, pointing to the ladies’ watches in the counter.

"It really does look good," Zhou Miao said, nodding in agreement from beside Zhou Yan.

"Get one for you, too?" Zhou Yan asked him with a smile.

Zhou Miao was stunned for a moment, then waved his hands frantically. "What would I do with it? No, no."

"It’ll be convenient for you to have a watch to check the time when you’re fishing. You can pack up your rod on time so it doesn’t affect your work," Zhou Yan said with a smile. He took the watch off and put it on Zhou Miao’s wrist, nodding. "It’s a perfect fit. No need to adjust the strap."

"Seventy yuan a piece, they’re not cheap. If you’re not buying, don’t pass it around trying it on. If it gets dirty, I can’t be bothered to wipe it," the male clerk spoke up, his tone laced with his usual passive-aggressive sarcasm.

"Tsk! Just mind the customers on your own side! You talk too much!" The female clerk shot him a glare, then turned back to Zhou Yan with a smile. "It’s no problem. Take your time. Would you like to try on any other styles?"

The other customers nearby turned to look, utterly shocked.

Σ(っ°Д°;)っ

’Isn’t this a bit of a double standard?’

’So if you’re handsome, you don’t get yelled at?’

’Is there any justice in this world?’