Chương 27: Comrade Zhou Yan, is this your idea?

"Zhou Erwa Restaurant?" Wang Defa's mouth gaped open, his face filled with astonishment and confusion, which quickly turned into shame and indignation. He had mentally prepared himself for the other party to eat at a state-run restaurant; it was understandable that teachers and college students from big cities would have a better impression of state-run restaurants. But he never expected that they would go to Zhou Erwa Restaurant? What was the difference between this and jumping up and slapping him across the face?

Wang Defa's lips trembled, 'Damn it…' but he swallowed it back, remembering Lin Zhiqiang's instructions to him that morning. In the crowd, Xia Yao's mouth was slightly open, looking at Su Jun's back with some surprise. She didn't expect that the director would choose to eat at Zhou Yan's restaurant. This was definitely a good thing; there were thirty of them, and they could fill half of Zhou Yan's restaurant. Zhou Yan and Aunt Zhao would definitely be very happy.

Xia Yao was also very happy; she didn't want to eat at the factory canteen. On her first day here, her aunt and uncle had taken her to eat the canteen's stir-fries, and the quality was far inferior to their school canteen. She wanted to eat Zhou Yan's braised pork ribs and try his new braised beef.

"These college students don't eat in the cafeteria, they go to Zhou Erwa's restaurant? They know their stuff, they know which place is good."

"Zhou Yan's noodles and braised beef, apart from being expensive, are much better than the cafeteria food!"

"The cafeteria food is getting worse every day. If it weren't cheap, even a dog wouldn't eat it!"

"Yesterday I went to eat stir-fry. The pork liver was cut as thick as chopsticks, the stir-fried liver was all watery and tough; the intestines weren't cleaned properly, and weren't cooked until tender. I almost threw up."

" When Chef Xiao was the head chef, even the large pot dishes smelled so good. But some people, to make their cousin the head chef, made Chef Xiao, a second-level chef, work as a kitchen helper. Now even the stir-fries are inedible."

"He's a real jerk. I pay to eat here and I still get disgusted by him. The shit-eater gets bullied by the shit-eater." The passing workers gossiped, casting disdainful glances at Wang Defa. Wang Defa was the canteen manager of the factory, a relatively high-ranking position in the textile factory. However, in those days, the workers had a lot of backbone and weren't afraid of a mere canteen manager like him. Some workers had been there since the factory was built, even more senior than Wang Defa.

They were already unhappy about the poor food in the canteen and had often complained about him behind his back. Today, with university students refusing to eat in the canteen and the deputy factory director present, the sarcastic commentators couldn't resist making a few sarcastic remarks. The university students couldn't help but laugh; after all, they weren't school leaders, so they had to laugh. A canteen that could be mocked by its own workers must really have nothing good to eat.

"The manager's insight is brilliant," they thought, "no wonder he's the manager." Wang Defa heard every word clearly, his face flushing and turning pale, but he pretended to be indifferent. His gaze drifted towards Lin Zhiqiang, hoping he would stand up and say something in defense of the factory canteen.

"No problem, let's eat at Zhou Erwa's restaurant." Lin Zhiqiang made the decision immediately, smiling as he added, "Let's go together, I'm craving their noodles too." Zhao Dong had mentioned the feud between Zhou Yan and Wang Defa to him. The young man's act of standing up for his master was a bit reckless, but Lin Zhiqiang admired Zhou Yan's youthful loyalty.

The canteen's food had been getting worse and worse in the past two years, even the stir-fries were starting to be subpar, and Wang Defa, as the director, was largely to blame. He wasn't in charge of the factory canteen, so he couldn't control Wang Defa. For both personal and rational reasons, he stood by Zhou Yan without hesitation. It wasn't easy for the young man to run a restaurant, and since it was Su Jun's request, he would cooperate.

Lin Zhiqiang led the group of teachers and students toward the factory gate.

"Deputy Factory Director Lin..." Wang Defa looked at Lin Zhiqiang's back, his mouth opening and closing, then he couldn't help but stomp his foot: "That Zhou Yan kid, he's really annoying! I'll get you sooner or later!" The workers left laughing, feeling a sense of relief. Even Wang Defa, with his unlucky streak, had his day of reckoning. Lin Zhiqiang led a team of thirty university students and faculty, marching in a grand procession towards Zhou Erwa's restaurant.

Along the way, they attracted considerable attention. It was lunchtime, and many workers followed to see what was going on, some even coming from the cafeteria. If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, it's taken without the author's consent. Report it. In this day and age, university students were a rarity. For twenty or thirty students from prestigious universities to gather together, including a university professor, was even rarer than a panda in this small town.

Before Zhou Erwa's restaurant even served any customers, Zhou Yan stood in front of the earthen stove at the entrance, confirming with Zhao Tieying the number of slices of beef in each serving of "Qiaojiao Beef" that day. Yesterday, each serving had three thin slices, just enough to taste. Today, he ordered two more pounds of beef, increasing the total cost by three yuan, but each serving of "Qiaojiao Beef" contained six slices, which, when placed on top at the end, looked quite substantial.

Zhou Yan was digging a deeper moat in advance, using high-quality beef to increase cost-effectiveness while maintaining an absolute advantage in taste. Zhou Yan sliced the beef, his exquisite knife skills producing thin, large slices.

"They're here!" Zhao Hong exclaimed suddenly, standing at the restaurant entrance.

"What?" Zhao Tieying and Zhou Yan looked at her.

"So many people! All those college students from this morning are here!" Zhao Hong said excitedly. As they spoke, Lin Zhiqiang and Su Jun led a group of over thirty people who had already arrived at Zhou Erwa's restaurant." Xiao Zhou, the teachers and students from the Sichuan Fine Arts Institute's Arts and Crafts Department are having lunch at your restaurant. You need to be prepared to receive them," Lin Zhiqiang said to Zhou Yan with a smile. Zhou Yan's eyes lit up.

He hadn't expected Lin Zhiqiang to bring these college students to his restaurant. Looking at the workers who had followed to watch the spectacle, this wasn't just thirty new customers, but also a living advertisement. No wonder he was Uncle Lin!" He's practically my uncle!" Zhou Yan said with a smile.

"Teachers and students, please come in and have a seat." The students all looked at him. They were all around the same age, and Zhou Yan's tall and handsome appearance made him easy to like.

"He's so tall! He looks about the same height as Ma Xingye, and he even has those captivating eyes. He seems to look at dogs with such affection." Zhu Yuyu whispered.

"Yaoyao, your drawing is so lifelike."

"But I think Ma Xingye is more sunny. Of course, he's handsome too." Deng Hong also whispered.

"Yaoyao, what do you think?" The two of them flanked Xia Yao, but Xia Yao didn't respond. Lin Zhiqiang was right in front of them. If she said anything that reached her aunt's ears, her aunt would definitely nag her again. Ma Xingye was the captain of the department's basketball team, and he was standing not far behind them. If they really had to compare, Xia Yao thought Zhou Yan was better looking. And he was very comfortable to be around.

"No rush, students, take a look at this earthen stove by the door and the writing on it first," Su Jun said.

"What do you see?" Upon hearing this, the students all carefully examined the large pot with a diameter of over one meter and the earthen stove. The pot lid was now lifted, and the rich aroma of beef, mingled with the steam, wafted out, making one involuntarily swallow hard, feeling their mouth water. This pot of broth had been simmering for eight hours since they arrived that morning—it must be incredibly delicious!

The stove was taller than ordinary stoves, its outer side painted white with lime, and the five large characters "Zhou Ji Qiaojiao Beef" painted in red paint. The characters were neat yet elegant, large enough to be easily seen from afar. Only upon closer inspection could one see a few lines written in black brush below, explaining the origin and effects of Qiaojiao Beef—a short story.

"It's an advertisement."

"He packaged Qiaojiao Beef, turning it into a medicinal dish with special effects."

"Building the stove at the restaurant entrance, the aroma of the meat itself is an advertisement, attracting more diners."

"This Qiaojiao Beef must be delicious, the soup is so fresh..." The students chattered excitedly, interspersed with the chatter of a foodie. Zhou Yan stood aside watching the spectacle, finding it quite interesting to be analyzed as a case study. Zhao Tieying, on the other hand, was a bit flustered; it was the first time she'd been surrounded and studied by a group of university students, and she didn't even know what to do with her hands.

"Using a prominent stove as a signboard, tracing the origin of the 'Qiaojiao Beef' and packaging it, using its aroma to expand its influence, thus achieving widespread publicity," Su Jun summarized after listening to the students' discussion.

"This is actually a very representative brand-building case." Su Jun looked at Zhou Yan and smiled, "Comrade Zhou Yan, is this your idea?" The teachers, students, and Lin Zhiqiang all looked at Zhou Yan.