"I heard that the girl Zhou Yan rescued this morning was the niece of Deputy Director Lin, who was visiting relatives. She's a pretty girl from city."

"Nonsense! Zhou Erwa, a landlubber, saved someone? Is he trying to be the hero of the Condor Heroes by jumping off a cliff?"

"Zhou Yan was doing well as an apprentice in the textile factory cafeteria, so why did he open a restaurant? His half-baked cooking skills mean his dishes are either undercooked or salty. He can't even stretch his fried rice. He doesn't get more than three customers a day, so he'll probably go bankrupt in three months."

"This young man has high expectations but poor skills. I don't know who got him hooked, but he's piled on debt to open this restaurant, bringing his entire family down with him. If it really goes bankrupt, he'll have to sell hooks."

"Is the news true? Zhou Yan is a well-known handsome young man in the area!"

"Mrs. Lin, you really are..."

The stone bridgehead was like the town's intelligence center. Several middle-aged women chatted while washing clothes, talking freely.

There was a stir-fry restaurant at the roadside near the bridgehead. A sign read "Zhou Erwa Restaurant" but the door was closed, with only a little smoke still rising from the chimney.

In the restaurant's kitchen, Zhou Yan was burning paper at the stove. The words "suicide note" stood out in the flames, illuminating his handsome face.

The laughter of the shrewd old wives drifted in from the half-open window, their dirty jokes making one's ears burn.

However, the old wives were a true judge of character; Zhou Yan certainly wasn't the type to become the Divine Condor Hero. But he didn't jump off a cliff; he jumped into the Qingyi River.

The landlubber leaped into the Bailatuo that part of the river, barely a kick before he was dead.

Zhou Yan, a bright young man from Generation Z, opened his eyes to see a pair of pale arms bobbing in front of him. He choked on several mouthfuls of water, nearly choking.

Zhou Yan, who grew up by the sea and was known as a "white shark in the waves," recovered his composure and immediately grabbed the arms, pulling the girl out of the water. He then lifted her head from behind and floated downstream to shore, pulling her ashore.

Then a group of people gathered around and hurriedly carried the girl away.

One moment, Zhou Yan was concerned about the impact of the Sino-US tariff war on his three-digit savings account and the next second he got such a luck and arrived until 1984.

His mind was in a tizzy, and he didn't even notice how beautiful the girl was. He only remembered her fair skin and tender skin, and her screams were soft.

Of course, none of that mattered.

Following his memory back to the restaurant, Zhou Yan spent half a day digesting all the memories of the other "Zhou Yan" in his mind, accepting the fact that he had traveled to a parallel world and been reborn as the young man with the same name and surname.

The original owner was twenty years old and had been apprenticing at the cafeteria of the Jiazhou Textile Factory across the street for two and a half years. He was fired two months ago after a conflict with Director Wang.

This kid scraped together a loan of 858.52 yuan from his father, added his father's 500 yuan in savings, bought the shop at the factory gate, opened a restaurant, and threatened to bankrupt the factory cafeteria.

However, he had indeed overestimated his culinary skills, and his management was a complete mess. While the factory cafeteria survived, his restaurant was on the verge of collapse.

The borrowed money was gone, his boasts had become a joke, and Director Wang had even mocked him yesterday. With rent due in two days, little Zhou, who had a weak tolerance for pressure, drank all night, wrote a suicide note, and jumped into the Qingyi River at dawn.

Zhou Yan looked at the stack of IOUs in his hand and resisted the urge to throw them into the stove. What the hell was that?

Raised in an orphanage, Zhou Yan was extremely greedy for money; only money could give him a sense of security.

And he'd always lacked a sense of security.

He'd worked countless part-time jobs since childhood, and after college, ventured into the self-media industry. With his three-part funny, seven-part sarcastic commentary style and ninety-point handsomeness, he became a moderately famous food blogger with millions of followers. He saved up some money and was planning to open his first restaurant.

After finally turning his life around, he'd been working until 1984, and was broke again!

Zhou Yan: (╯‵□′)╯︵┻━┻

The good news: he had a restaurant.

The bad news was that not only had he inherited a restaurant on the verge of bankruptcy, he was also deeply in debt.

This amount of money would have been enough to film a meal before he traveled through time.

But this was in 1984, and the handwritten menu hanging on the wall wrote: Garlic Pork 3.5 cents, Salted Braised Pork 4.5 cents, Twice-Cooked Pork 6 cents, Dongpo Pork Knuckle 1.2 cents...

The regular employees at the Jiazhou Textile Factory next door only earned 38.5 yuan a month.

Along with the IOU was 3.87 yuan, two meat coupons, and three grain coupons.

Food bloggers come in two types:

One type is a natural cook, skilled at sharing recipes and winning fans' love and admiration.

The other type is a natural eater, adept at finding fault with food, sharing accurate reviews and exaggerated expressions, tempting fans to open those damned pornographic apps late at night.

Unfortunately, Zhou Yan falls into the latter category.

He doesn't have the ability to simply roll up his sleeves and show off his skills, reviving this small restaurant in southern Sichuan and making it a booming business.

But the situation isn't too bad. He shifted his gaze from the stove, and with a thought, a panel appeared in his field of vision:

[Player: Zhou Yan]

[Occupation: Chef]

[Wealth: -858.52]

[Professional Skills]:

Knife Skills (Intermediate): 8604/10000 (Your knife skills are sufficient for most dishes)

Heating Control (Beginner): 668/1000 (This dish needs practice)

Seasoning (Beginner): 695/1000 (Salt Prince, please be gentle)

Eloquence (Advanced): 88888/100000 (Pig Arch Curtain - All depends on your mouth)

[Mastering Dishes]:

Salted Shaobai (Beginner): 26/1000 (Brother went out for a walk, so walk, bro)

Twice-Cooked Pork (Beginner): 55/1000 (Newly paved roads are smooth, no rocks)

Dongpo Pork Knuckle (Beginner): 12/1000 (Diligence makes up for lack of talent)

Smashed Cucumber (Intermediate): 1871/10000 (Chef Huang, you're so capable)

…

[Main Quest: Become a Chef God! Become World-Famous!]

[Newbie Quest: Please bind a restaurant. Quest Reward: Newbie Gift Pack.]

[Wealth Mall]: Unlock after reaching 1000 Wealth.

This is the player panel from the ad for the chef-development game Zhou Yan had just accepted. The dedicated player even played for two days, only to find himself traveling through time.

The stats represent his current true skill level, fully explaining why Zhou Erwa Restaurant is facing closure.

Exquisite knife skills, but poor cooking and seasoning skills indicate that little Zhou is merely a waiter, not a chef.

On the wall-long menu, only the smashed cucumber dish is passable.

The cooking skills are truly appalling.

But this system's review style is truly bizarre. Is it even customized?

Like Daniel Wu, Zhou Yan also enjoys reading online novels. He's no stranger to time travel and systems, and he quickly embraced them.

While watching, he cursed: "Another system!"

When it landed on him: "What a good thing!"

1984 felt so far away for Zhou Yan. There were no filters, no memories.

However, he had filmed many time-honored restaurants and interviewed many self-made restaurant owners. Using the stories behind the food as a highlight of his videos was also one of his hallmarks.

Opening a restaurant in the 1980s was one of the first to take the plunge after the lifting of restrictions on individual businesses. It was far better than digging for food in the fields.

Zhou Yan worked part-time as a waiter in a restaurant, spent four years as a food blogger, and spent six months preparing to open a restaurant. Aside from his lack of cooking skills, he had the basic skills to run a restaurant.

This system could fill that gap for him.

Zhou Yan stood up and chose to bind.

[Ding! Zhou Erwa Restaurant binding successful. Newbie gift pack issued. Please claim it!]

Zhou Yan clicked on the gift pack with his mind:

[Dry Mixed Broccoli Beef Noodles], [Braised Beef Noodles], [Pork Rib Noodles], [Kimchi]

Four menu items popped up at once.

Zhou Yan's eyes lit up. Three noodle dishes, with a side of kimchi. Was this a plan to turn him into a noodle shop owner?

The richness of this newbie gift pack was somewhat beyond his expectations.

He pointed with his mind, and all four menu items opened simultaneously. His mind buzzed, feeling as if it was crammed with so much information, and he felt briefly dizzy.

Soon, a look of joy appeared on Zhou Yan's face.

It wasn't just four dry recipes or a cranial online video; it was the knowledge that flowed directly into his brain!

From rising the dough to pulling the noodles, from preparing the beef to braising it, from preparing the bone broth to seasoning the noodles—it was a complete set of experiences, as vivid and seamless as the memories he inherited from little Zhou.

Zhou Yan was a qualified food blogger, and he had inherited his culinary foundation from little Zhou. He could tell from the recipes in his brain that these three noodles would be good.

He had learned how to make three different kinds of noodles, and then he didn't stop there.

To put it another way, double pepper beef with minced meat is a perfect accompaniment to rice, beef with bamboo shoots is a classic Sichuan dish, and who can resist tender, boneless braised spare ribs?

Zhou Yan, who spent four years studying in Chengdu and became a food blogger known for Sichuan cuisine, truly understands the cuisine.

Every good noodle shop has a skilled Sichuan chef in the kitchen.

When it comes to enjoying noodles, Sichuanese people are no less passionate than northerners.

Here, anything can be used as a topping: he's tried ginger duck noodles, pork intestine noodles, eel noodles, chicken offal noodles, pork liver noodles, rabbit noodles... and the outrageous tofu pudding noodles.

The biggest problem with Zhou Erwa Restaurant was that it took too big a step, and little Zhou didn't have the necessary skills, leading to its utter failure.

A clerk who only knew how to make cucumber smacks created a menu of thirty or forty dishes. The cost of preparing the ingredients daily alone was enough to bankrupt this deserted restaurant.

Of course, a single dish of cucumber smacks couldn't sustain a restaurant.

The restaurant's monthly rent was 15 yuan, and with management fees and other expenses, it totaled a full 20 yuan.

This restaurant wasn't particularly popular; in the hands of ordinary people, it would be a hot yam.

Now that Zhou Yan had mastered three noodle dishes and a refreshing kimchi dish, he had a way out.

Leaving the kitchen, he ripped down the handwritten menu from the wall and crumpled it up.

From today on, every new dish on Zhou Erwa's menu must pass his scrutiny first, no ambiguity.

Starting tomorrow, he'll be selling noodles!

The rent is due in three days, so he'll have to earn it first.

Zhou Yan began to survey his restaurant. It covered 200 square meters. Excluding the large kitchen, the dining hall still had about 130 square meters. Even with twenty tables for eight people each table, it wasn't crowded at all. Electrical wiring was installed, and eight light bulbs were hung.

Most of the money he had spent on opening the restaurant went into purchasing these tables, chairs, and benches, made of very solid materials.

There was also a dam at the entrance that extended all the way to the riverbank, which could accommodate dozens of tables.

The kitchen was quite large. Little Zhou, who had learned cooking in the factory cafeteria, had planned it well, with areas for washing vegetables, cutting vegetables, cooking, and a separate cold dish room. All kinds of knives and kitchen utensils were available.

A three-burner earthen stove held two large iron pots and a soup pot, and neatly stacked half-man-high chopped oak wood was placed beside it.

Above the stove is a three-tiered condiment table. The top tier holds oil, salt, soy sauce, and vinegar, the middle tier holds dried ingredients like Sichuan peppercorns and chili peppers, and the bottom tier contains jars of fermented black beans and pickled peppers—everything is readily available.

There's also an empty area next to it, allowing for great expansion.

That's why poor students have so much stationery.

Over 1,300 yuan was spent on this.

When self-employed individuals start a business, they usually set up a street stall to start their business. They don't need to pay rent or buy any equipment, and their main goal is to save money wherever possible.

But Zhou Yan absolutely loved this kitchen.

These two large iron woks weren't just for stir-frying, they could also easily cook noodles.

[Ding! Main Quest Released: Restaurant Influence Reaches 100 (Gain 1 Influence for Each Customer Approved). Accept: Yes/No]

[Mission Success Reward: A Random Recipe!]

A new quest suddenly appeared, and Zhou Yan decisively accepted it.

Zhou Yan went out and brought in an eight people table, placing it in the open space to the right of the entrance.

The cypress table is still brand new, the wooden boards are joined tightly with dovetail joints, and the table top is planed to a mirror-smooth finish. Carpenter Wang's craftsmanship was excellent.

This was his pastry area. Making hand-pulled noodles required a workbench.

He pulled a bag of flour from the cupboard, weighed it to one pound, added the appropriate amount of salt and water, and began kneading the dough.

Zhou Yan had absolutely no experience kneading dough, and neither had little Zhou ever touched pastry.

But once he placed his hands on the dough, he began to knead it unconsciously. With a deft push and pull, the wrinkled dough deformed freely in his hands, soon becoming smooth and soft.

He placed an enamel basin over the dough. He let it rise for a while before continuing to knead it. Repeat this process three times before can pull out the dough.

During this time, Zhou Yan checked the nearby shelf. There were still a dozen eggs, two bunches of wilted green and red peppers, and some aged ginger, garlic, and potatoes.

The restaurant was closed yesterday, so naturally, no food was prepared.

The restaurant didn't have a refrigerator, and the October weather wasn't cold enough, so the meat had to be bought fresh daily.

Zhou Yan pocketed the meat coupons and money, preparing to go out and buy some beef for the topping and try the dish first.

"Guo Guo! Guo Guo! Open the door! It's Momo!"

Just then, there was a knock on the door, accompanied by a soft, childish voice with a Sichuan accent.

An idea struck Zhou Yan, and he reached out to unbolt the door. The door flung open, and a small, round girl rushed in, about to fall to the ground.

Quick-witted, Zhou Yan grabbed her by the back of the collar and shoved her up.

Tiny and delicate, with big, round eyes, the baby fat still lingering on her face, her cheeks softer than dough, making you want to pinch it.

Zhou Yan looked at the three and a half year old girl in front him.

This is... my sister? So cute!

"Huh?" Zhou Momo glared at her short legs. Realizing she hadn't fallen, she looked up at him eagerly, grinning. "Guo Guo is amazing! You caught me!"

"I might not be able to catch you next time you drop." Zhou Yan reached out and pinched her face; it was indeed soft.

But the little one was a bit slow to react, so silly and adorable.

His parents had a daughter in their old age, and this youngest sister was the only daughter in the Zhou family. She had five older cousin brothers, a true darling.

Holding Zhou Momo, Zhou Yan looked at the two people standing outside the door.

The tall and thin middle-aged man on the left has dark skin and is wearing a navy blue Zhongshan suit. His back is straight and the patches on the elbows are stitched finely and neatly. His clothes are old and white, but they are washed clean. His right hand, which is full of calluses, is holding a piece of beef, which must be more than one pound.

The middle-aged woman on the right was short, wearing a blue Dacron shirt with yellow flowers. Her skin was fairer than that of the average country woman. Although there were a few fine lines around her eyes, her cheeks were rosy, giving her a lively and energetic look.

The woman's eyes, like Zhou Momo, were large and bright, and she smiled as she looked at Zhou Yan.

Zhou Yan opened his mouth. "Dad, Mom," the words were so unfamiliar to him; he had never called them that in his past life. Although little Zhou's memories and lingering emotions made him feel close to them, the words stuck in his throat, and he couldn't utter them.

At this moment, Wang Laowu, who was selling noodles at the factory gate, came over and glanced into the restaurant. He muttered, "Didn't Zhou Erwa jump into the Qingyi River because his restaurant couldn't survive?"

The smile on Zhao Tieying's face suddenly froze. She turned to stare at Wang Laowu, pointed her finger at him, and angrily cursed, "You idiot! You look like a scabby bastard. You're incompetent, yet you're crooked and kicking. Take off your pants and hang yourself! Shame on you!"

"You have two balls hanging from your eyebrows. You can only blink but not see. How dare you make up stories about my son for no reason?"

"You...you bi**h..." Wang Laowu's face flushed red from the scolding.

"You son of a bi**h! You're so lucky to be rich that you won't see me, and you're so unlucky that you won't be happy together. If I hear you say bad things about my son again, I'll tear your mouth apart!" Zhao Tieying continued her outburst, lashing out at him again.

Wang Laowu clenched his fists and was about to charge forward.

Zhou Miao stepped forward, standing in front of Zhao Tieying. His face was stern, and the corner of his Zhongshan suit was lifted, revealing the boning knife hanging from his waist.

Wang Laowu paused, smirking, "Fourth brother, your wife is truly crooked." He turned and walked away.

Who dared to mess with Zhou Lao Si from Sha Niu Zhou Village?

"Get down!" Zhao Tieying spat at Wang Laowu's back.

"Get down!" Zhou Momo also cried out in a childish voice, clenching her fists.

Zhou Yan, feeling protected for the first time, felt a surge of warmth in his heart. In his previous life, he had always been bullied by others, and he had never experienced this kind of family affection. He couldn't help but blurt out:

"Dad, Mom, why are you here?"

After scolding Wang Laowu away, Zhao Tieying turned around, looked Zhou Yan up and down, and said, "Come see a hero! I heard a hero jumped into the Qingyi River to save a girl. Zhou Yan, why didn't I know you had such a skill before?"

Well, the Sichuan-Chongqing Tyrannosaurus transformed into a Yin-Yang Master.

"I just happened to be passing by and saw it. I couldn't just stand by and watch someone die," Zhou Yan scratched his head.

"Erwa did a good deed, too. I'm glad he's okay," Zhou Miao chimed in.

Zhao Tieying gave him a glare, but before she could say anything, Zhou Miao turned and said, "Your mother is right."

Zhou Yan: ???

Zhao Tieying clearly had a firm grasp in family status.

"There's enough mud to make a giant Buddha. You can't even swim, how dare you jump into the Qingyi River to save someone..." Zhao Tieying was halfway through her words when her eyes welled up and her voice choked.

Zhou Yan felt the care and affection he had once felt so elusive.

He could imagine how Zhao Tieying and Zhou Miao had rushed to find him upon hearing the news.

Their son, Zhou Yan, was dead. From this day forward, he, having inherited Zhou Yan's memories and some of his emotions, was their son.

With both his parents and a lovely sister, Zhou Yan's resentment about his time travel completely dissipated.

"Mom, you're right. Next time I'll do what I can." Zhou Yan nodded solemnly.

"You dare do it again? I'll break your legs!" Zhao Tieying waved her fist.

"I wouldn't dare." Zhou Yan immediately admitted defeat. He put Zhou Momo down and reached out to take the beef from Zhou Miao's hand. "I was just planning to go get some beef for the toppings. You guys probably haven't had lunch yet, right? I'll make you some double pepper beef noodles."

"Okay, okay! Momo loves noodles!" Zhou Momo followed Zhou Yan into the kitchen.

"Yes, we haven't had lunch yet, but when did you learn how to make noodles?" Zhao Tieying followed him in, a puzzled look on her face.

"I learned it a long time ago, I just didn't make it for you all before," Zhou Yan said casually.

When little Zhou was learning to cook, he lived and ate at the factory and didn't go home often. Zhao Tieying and Zhou Miao didn't really know much about his cooking skills, otherwise they wouldn't have lent him so much money to open this restaurant.

Zhou Miao closed the door and said thoughtfully, "Why don't you keep the beef and cook it for the guests? We're just family, so we can just serve it with some plain noodles."

"Yes, such a good piece of sirloin! Your dad saved it for you. We can't afford meat anymore." Zhao Tieying nodded.

"I'm planning to start selling noodles tomorrow. I have to get some people to taste them before I sell them, or if no I won't feel comfortable," Zhou Yan said with a smile.

Zhao Tieying and Zhou Miao fell silent upon hearing this. They glanced at the bare wall. The original menu had vanished, leaving only a few glue marks.

"Why is this a noodle shop again?" Zhou Miao whispered.

"Who knows?" Zhao Tieying curled her lips. "Only the boss knows how expensive oil and salt are. Without all those fancy things, selling noodles can save some money. But does this kid really know how to make noodles? We have no shortage of noodle shops in town."

Zhou Yan carried the beef into the kitchen. He kneaded the risen noodles again, then covered them again to let them rise again before beginning to process the beef.

This grass-fed yellow beef was of excellent quality, and the long cut was a highly sought-after cut, suitable for stir-frying or blanching, and impossible to find at the supply and marketing cooperative.

His father was a butcher from Zhou Village, a renowned butchering village in Jiazhou. He had five brothers, four of whom were butchers. As the fourth of the five, he was known as Zhou Lao Si, known for his skill and reputation.

Butchers made their living from their craft. His father earned sixty or seventy yuan a month butchering cattle, more than an average worker at the textile factory. His family was well-off, so they were able to give him five hundred yuan in savings to open a shop and raise the plump little Zhou Momo.

Zhou Yan had squandered his and his wife's savings opening this restaurant, even accumulating a debt.

He also knew what it felt like to cause trouble for his father.

However, having a father who was a butcher made buying beef much easier, and the prices were more reliable than in the black market.

This pound of beef sold for 1.2 yuan at the supply and marketing cooperative, but 2.8 yuan in the black market—more than double the price.

Meat at the supply and marketing cooperative was hard to come by without a ticket, and even queuing up in the early morning hours wasn't guaranteed to get the cut you wanted.

First, cut the beef into strips and then into small dices. Grab a handful of pickled peppers and ginger from the kimchi jar and dice them finely. Smash the peeled garlic before chopping it to ensure a nice, grainy texture.

The bright red chili peppers and emerald green twigs were first cut into rings and then chopped finely, then placed on a plate and set aside.

Zhou Yan's knife skills were truly impressive now; his hands could perfectly keep up with his mind.

"Guo Guo is amazing!"

Zhou Momo pulled a small stool to the side and watched, exclaiming in amazement, her emotional value overflowing.

After preparing the dishes, Zhou Yan kneaded the dough once more, until it had become soft and smooth.

Two pots burned simultaneously: one boiling water, the other wok frying the vegetables.

Zhou Momo couldn't sit still any longer. She ran over, grabbed a piece of oak wood about her own height, and sauntered over to Zhou Yan, glancing triumphantly. "Guo Guo, look how capable I am."

"Amazing!" Zhou Yan complimented with a smile.

Zhou Momo, energized by the compliment, stuffed the wood into the stove, muttering, "I'm feeding the stove."

Once the wok was hot, he poured in a spoonful of rapeseed oil. Zhou Yan then scooped a small spoonful of glistening lard from a nearby enamel basin.

Zhao Tieying, standing at the kitchen doorway, craned her neck to watch, a look of pain on her face. "That kid! Two spoonfuls of oil is enough for us to cook for a week."

"More oil makes food more fragrant. It's definitely different at home than at a restaurant. Erwa's a professional chef, after all," Zhou Miao said with a smile.

"Professional, what's that? Twice-cooked pork isn't as fragrant as mine," Zhao Tieying muttered.

"That's right," Zhou Miao nodded hurriedly.

Zhou Yan was completely focused on the wok in front of him. He knew the recipe for double pepper beef by heart, but since it was his first time, he was still a little nervous.

Heat the oil and add the ground beef.

The wok sizzled, and the spatula quickly slid the diced meat, instantly filling the air with a fragrant aroma.

The ground beef quickly changed color in the hot oil. Once lightly browned, pickled ginger, pickled chili peppers, and minced garlic were added, along with a dash of soy sauce. The aroma instantly blossomed.

"Gulp."

Zhou Momo swallowed loudly, tiptoeing to peek over the stove, revealing only a small portion of her head. "What a nice smell!"

"Don't let the oil splash on you." Zhao Tieying hurried over and scooped her up, unable to resist peering into the wok. The aroma was truly enticing; Zhou Yan's cooking had never smelled like this before.

Season with salt and a dash of MSG, then add the chili peppers and chopped Er Hu Tiao chili and stir-fry until evenly combined. Remove from the wok and place in a clay bowl. A double pepper beef stew is ready.

The glistening green and red peppers were vibrant, the slightly browned minced meat was distinct, and the spicy and meaty aroma blended together, creating an incredibly tempting experience.

Zhao Tieying and Zhou Miao, who had been busy all morning, couldn't help but gulp.

This noodle stew looks delicious! They wonder what it tastes like?

Zhou Yan walked over to the pastry area, uncovered the enamel basin, and sprinkled a handful of flour onto the table top. He took half the dough and tossed it between the ends, stretching it evenly. With a gentle shake, it naturally curled into a twist. He repeated this process several times until the dough was rolled into long, evenly thick strips.

Once the dough was ready, he simply grabbed the ends and began to pull vigorously. When his arms reached their limit, he folded them in half and continued to stretch. With each toss and pull, the long dough became thin, round noodles.

The sight made Zhao Tieying and the other two's eyes light up.

Zhou Yan's technique was truly masterful. The dough flipped up and down in his hands, and before they could even see it, it had become a long, thin, pulled noodle. The entire process was so smooth and fluid that it was a feast for the eyes.

"Wow! Guo Guo can do magic? He turned a ball of dough into noodles!" Zhou Momo's mouth dropped open in astonishment.

"Erwa's noodles-pulling skills are much better than that Wang Laowu. I didn't expect he had this hidden trick up his sleeve," Zhou Miao exclaimed. "He's truly my son."

"Your skills are excellent. It seems you made a lot of noodles in the cafeteria before." Zhao Tieying nodded repeatedly. Pastries were her worst skill.

As they spoke, Zhou Yan had already finished pulling the noodles. The noodles were evenly thick and thin, looking plump and smooth. He was delighted to have achieved this level of skill for the first time.

He pinched off a small handful of dough at the end and dropped the noodles directly into the boiling pot nearby.

As soon as the noodles were in the pot, he lined up three large bowls and one small one on the stove and began to prepare the base.

He added Sichuan peppercorns, MSG, soy sauce, and a spoonful of chili oil.

With the base prepared, the noodles floated in the boiling water.

He dipped a large bamboo colander into the pot, shook it twice, and poured the noodles into the bowl. He then scooped a spoonful of the freshly fried double pepper beef stew over the noodles, and a bowl of double pepper beef noodles was ready.

Zhou Yan had been starving for ages, and now he couldn't help but gulp.

Even from his perspective, this double pepper beef noodle dish was excellent. Most noodle shops wouldn't bother making hand-pulled noodles.

Family members didn't need to be polite. Zhou Miao and Zhou Yan each carried two bowls of noodles out of the kitchen and placed them on the table.

Zhou Momo trotted out after them. The little girl wasn't even as tall as the table, so she tried to climb onto the long bench. After struggling for a while, she couldn't get up, and her two little braids were shaking, which made her very anxious.

Zhou Yan lifted her up and sat her down next to him.

Zhao Tieying picked up her chopsticks and stirred the noodles in the bowl. The white noodles were instantly stained with red oil and smeared with the sauce. The steaming aroma of the noodles, accompanied by the aroma of meat and spicy flavors, filled her nose. It was truly a feast for the eyes and ears.

She couldn't help but exclaim, "Oh, these noodles look much better than Wang Laowu."

"Try it," Zhou Yan said with a smile, his face etched with anticipation.

Double pepper beef noodles must be eaten dry!

This pound of flour makes 1.2 pounds of noodles.

Zhou Momo was only three and a half years old, so she was only given a small bowl. The remaining three people had about 4 taels of noodles in their bowls.

Back then, people were short on fat, so those who could work and eat were naturally not to be deprived of their families.

"Slurp!"

Zhao Tieying picked up a handful of noodles, smothered in sauce and minced meat, glistening with oil. She slurped it up and ate it.

The spicy, fresh aroma exploded on her tongue. The chewy noodles were wrapped around crispy, tender ground beef, spiced with spicy chili peppers. The unique flavors of pickled peppers and ginger added a layer of depth.

Delicious! Truly delicious!

They ate a lot of beef at home, and she often saved any leftovers for her own consumption. However, the beef she cooked wasn't as delicious as Zhou Yan.

This stew isn't just delicious with noodles; it would be a real treat with rice, too!

Bite after bite, it was so delicious she couldn't stop.

Although the noodles were dry, the stew was rich in oil, making them incredibly moist and not dry at all. It was truly delightful.

"These noodles are really good, even better than your smashed cucumber." Zhao Tieying swallowed the noodles and looked at Zhou Yan. "If you want to turn it into a noodle shop, I'd fully support it. No one in our commune can rival this bowl of noodles. I guarantee it'll work."

After the restaurant opened, the commune and the villagers had been making fun of Zhou Yan and they both husband and wife for a while.

Zhao Tieying was a well-known womanizer in the area, as powerful as her fists and tongue. In her youth, she was nicknamed "Iron Lady." She had tolerated all the criticism until recently.

But she was fine with it, but not Zhou Yan.

If anyone dared to speak ill of Zhou Yan in front her face, she would literally tear that foul mouth apart!

She knew Zhou Yan was under a lot of pressure and had been feeling down lately, so she was worried he'd overwhelmed by the gossip.

Though she felt bad for the money, she felt even more for her son.

It was only about 800 yuan, and the couple could probably pay it back by living frugally and working hard for a few years.

But what mother doesn't want her son to be successful and capable?

This bowl of noodles far exceeded her expectations, giving her hope that Zhou Yan could make a living from it.

After saying this, she lowered her head and took another big bite, holding back the tears that welled up in her eyes.

"Let me try it too." Zhou Miao followed suit and took a big bite, his eyes suddenly brightening.

Zhou Miao loved noodles. He usually started slaughtering cattle in the middle of the night, and in the morning he'd find a noodle stall for a bowl of noodles. He was somehow of an expert at this.

Dry noodles usually use pork stew. The half-fat, half-lean pork is naturally fatty, so stir frying the stew doesn't require much oil.

Noodles are usually prepared with lye and salt, which makes them chewy, but some people can't stand the taste of the lye.

Zhou Yan's noodles are different. Not only are they chewy and smooth, but they're also refreshing and delicious, without any unpleasant flavor. A careful chew reveals the sweet aroma of flour. Most noodle shops wouldn't be willing to use such fine flour.

The base is perfectly seasoned, with just the right amount of saltiness. Of course, the ultimate dish is the double pepper and chopped beef stew. It's spicy, fresh, and fragrant, crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, and it absorbs the broth perfectly. Simply tossing it blends seamlessly with the noodles, and even picking up the meat will hold onto it.

Many noodle shops serve dry noodles with the stew separated by the stew and the noodles separated by the noodles, with only the last few bites revealing the flavor of both noodles and the stew.

This bowl of noodles was definitely the most delicious he had ever tasted!

Zhou Miao took several bites and nodded in praise, "Erwa, your noodles are so delicious! Next time I'm in town, I'll come to you for a bowl of double pepper beef noodles."

"That's only natural," Zhou Yan chuckled.

[Customer Approval +1]

[Customer Approval +1]

Two hints flashed in his eyes.

It seems the system only recognizes diners, regardless of whether they're family members. How incredibly humane.

Seeing that his parents had already started eating, Zhou Momo was still holding the chopsticks and mixing her noodles, which made her very anxious.

Zhou Yan simply helped her mix it. Zhou Momo took it with a smile, "Thank you, Guo Guo!"

Then, eagerly shoveling two noodles into her mouth, her eyes instantly lit up.

She didn't bother to say anything, burying her head in her mouth and slurping furiously!

It was so delicious!

It was fragrant and spicy, with tiny pieces of meat dangling from the noodles, yet so fragrant!

She loved noodles!

From now on, she'll love Guo Guo's noodles the most!

[Customer Approval +1]

Zhou Yan glanced down at Zhou Momo, who was happily enjoying her meal and swinging her short legs, and his smile widened even more.

My sister is so cute!

Zhou Yan lowered his head and began to eat his noodles. Of course, he was the one who knew the most about noodles at the table.

He had tried all kinds of mixed noodles, and the more outlandish the names, the more he'd try them. Double pepper beef noodles were a common choice, and he ate them most often.

This was the first time he'd eaten mixed noodles he'd made himself; he'd only ever mixed instant noodles before.

When it comes to noodles, the noodles are paramount.

If the noodles aren't good, even the best stew won't do.

Most places in Sichuan use alkaline water noodles, which have a unique flavor. He can tolerate this taste, but his roommate, who came from Shanxi, scoffed at the idea, believing that adding ingredients to noodles was heresy. A truly skilled ramen chef only adds water.

The ramen he made today uses only water, relying on the kneading technique to balance the noodles.

These noodles lack the alkaline water flavor, but are just as chewy and smooth, and they hold up perfectly to broth. Coated with the sauce and stew, they hold onto the noodles without slipping. One bite is truly satisfying!

Of course, the double pepper beef is a true stand out!

The beef was crispy on the outside and tender inside, spicy and fragrant, and it absorbed the unique flavors of pickled peppers and ginger, making it incredibly fragrant and delicious. It was even more delicious than any double pepper beef he had ever tasted!

Let alone the scarcity of 1984, even in 2025, Zhou Yan would definitely make a video praising this double pepper beef noodle dish alone!

Delicious!

The ultimate in mixed noodles!

Zhou Yan mentally wrote a 500 words praise for the dish and waited for a long time, but no system notification came.

Alas, his expectation was in vain. It seemed the system didn't treat him as a guest. May be it didn't even treat him as a human being.

The bowl of piping hot noodles sated their cravings and soothed their hungry stomachs, leaving the family of four sweating profusely and enjoying a hearty meal.

After finishing noodles, Zhao Tieying collected the bowls and went into the kitchen to wash them.

Zhou Yan didn't rush to do the dishwashing. Instead, he made his father a cup of gaiwan tea and sat down across from him. "Dad, I have a favor to ask of you."

Zhou Miao took a sip from the tea cup, then put it down. He glanced toward the kitchen and whispered, "No money again?" He began digging into his pockets.

"It's not about the money. I'm planning on selling noodles for a while. But it's not just this one. I'm also planning on selling braised beef noodles and braised pork rib noodles. Those are soup noodles, which require a bone broth. And will be using more beef, so I'd like to order meat from you and Uncle," Zhou Yan said with a smile.

He knew Zhou Miao had secretly given him money before, a few yuan at a time. While not much, for a henpecked man, it was already a huge risk.

"How much beef and bones do you use everyday?" Zhou Miao asked.

Zhou Yan thought for a moment and said, "When start selling, I plan to prepare the ingredients for thirty bowls a day. I'll need one pound of sirloin, one pound of beef brisket, one pound of spare ribs, and ten pounds of beef bones."

"Beef bones aren't expensive, but six pounds of meat for sixty bowls of noodles? That's a hefty investment, isn't it?" Zhou Miao asked in surprise, "How much do you plan to sell a bowl for? Can you make a profit?"

"The cost of meat is 2 yuan per jin, so 3 jin is 6 yuan. Flour is 0.17 yuan per jin. One jin of flour makes 1.2 jin of noodles. A bowl of noodles uses 3 jin of noodles, so 7.5 jin of flour is needed, which comes to 1.3 yuan. In addition, we have to consider the cost of oil, side dishes, spices, and wood. A rough estimate suggests 2 yuan will be more than enough. The total cost is 9.3 yuan." Zhou Yan said slowly, "I plan to sell it for 0.6 yuan a bowl. After selling 30 bowls, I'll make 18 yuan. After deducting the cost, I'll make 8.7 yuan. If I sell more later, I'll make even more."

Zhou Miao pondered this carefully for a moment. Although he had little education, he had slaughtered cattle and sold meat for years, so he could still make sense of the accounts.

Beef now costs 1.2 yuan per jin (500g) with meat coupons, but they're hard to come by. Beef brisket might be a bit of a gamble, but sirloin are out of the question. Beef at the market is almost double the price, starting at 2.5 yuan per jin (500g). Spare ribs are about the same price, and you need someone you know to reserve them for you.

But even he had to think twice before ordering noodles at 60 cents a bowl. A bowl of bone broth noodles at a noodle stall outside only cost 30 cents, twice the price.

However, the noodles at the noodle stall aren't as delicious as Zhou Yan, and the meat is pitifully small, barely a few grains of ground meat, while Zhou Yan intends to give a bowl of noodles a tael of meat. After trying Zhou Yan's noodles, noodle lovers will definitely pay more.

"You've calculated everything clearly." Zhou Miao smiled gratifiedly. "You don't need to ask your uncle for two pounds of beef. I'll save it for you. When I go back later, I'll talk to Zhang Laosan at the bridge head and ask him to save you a pound of spare ribs everyday. You can pick it up when you get the beef."

"Okay!" Zhou Yan beamed. This was family connections. He added, "Dad, let's make a deal. I'm buying this beef from you, and you have to receive for it."

"It's just a few pounds of beef, and we're just two..."

"No, then I'll buy it from someone else." Zhou Yan's expression was determined. If his father gave him two pounds of beef a day, he'd not only be working for nothing, but would also be losing money over the course of the month.

With a secure beef supply, he felt reassured.

Zhou Yan had been a food blogger for three years and had been preparing to open a restaurant for another year. Opening a restaurant was his most comfortable pursuit.

The most challenging part of starting a business is earning that first pot of gold. Going from 0 to 1 is much harder than going from 1 to 10.

Little Zhou had borrowed the initial capital and secured a stable supplier, which was far superior to starting from scratch.

"Then I'll take the capital. It's not right for an old man to make money from his son." Zhou Miao pulled his hand from his pocket and slipped a few crumpled one yuan bills into Zhou Yan's hand, saying in a low voice, "Don't let your mother know."

"Dad..." Zhou Yan looked at the money in his hand, his heart throbbing. He'd worked hard to earn every penny in his previous life, so he'd never experienced the feeling of being stuffed with money like this.

"Guo Guo, I have money too! I'll give it all to you." Zhou Momo leaned forward, rummaging in her pocket for a long time before pulling out a wrinkled five cent note. She solemnly handed it to Zhou Yan, "I want noodles again next time!"

"Of course." Zhou Yan smiled, took the money, and ruffled her hair.

Zhao Tieying came out of the kitchen, still holding the remaining half bowl of beef stew. "Zhou Yan, where do you think I put this stew?"

"Momo loves it. Take some back for her to mix with rice. I'll make some new stew tomorrow morning," Zhou Yan said.

"What a delicious stew!" Zhao Tieying hesitated.

"Great, great!" Zhou Momo jumped up and down happily. She loved this beef so much.

Zhao Tieying smiled and patted her head. "Okay, I'll pack it back for you, little greedy cat."

Handing the stew basket to Zhou Miao, Zhao Tieying pulled a folded handkerchief from her inner pocket, unfolded it to reveal a wad of banknotes, and shoved it into Zhou Yan's hand.

"Mom, what are you doing..." Zhou Yan was stunned for a moment.

"This is what your dad and I saved last month, a total of thirteen yuan and forty cents. Take it for your shop expenses." Zhao Tieying pinched the handkerchief and looked at him with a relieved smile. "Mom believes you can do it this time!"