Chương 28: Good boy? Glasses? Fat kid?

Glasses? Fat kid?

All eyes at the restaurant entrance fell on Zhou Yan. The workers watching found it strange that these university professors and students weren't going in to eat, but instead were chatting enthusiastically around a clay stove. Was Zhou Yan's stove so special? Xia Yao smiled at Zhou Yan; she wasn't surprised. Zhou Yan's way of thinking wasn't like a chef's—more flexible and intelligent. Zhao Hong had already hidden to the side, afraid of being noticed.

Zhao Tieying, guarding the pot, had nowhere to hide, so she also looked at Zhou Yan. She didn't understand what tracing origins or brand building meant, but what the university professors were talking about were indeed things Zhou Yan had done, and the effect of attracting customers was indeed quite good. But Zhou Yan hadn't even finished high school; how could he have impressed university professors so much? Zhao Tieying felt a little numb in her hands and feet.

She hadn't even graduated from elementary school, only attended a literacy class for a month, but she still subconsciously felt nervous when she saw a teacher. Zhou Yan wasn't nervous at all. He'd never blushed in public since he was seven, fighting with elderly people over bottles. Four years as a food blogger had further honed his thick skin, making his mental fortitude incredibly stable.

"Yes, teacher, that's definitely my approach to doing these things. You're so professional," Zhou Yan said with a smile. Lin Zhiqiang nodded slightly beside him. Zhou Yan's words were skillful, praising Su Jun while also affirming his own abilities. Su Jun laughed upon hearing this and asked, "How did you come up with the idea of writing a sign on the stove?"

"I originally planned to make a neon sign, which would be much more eye-catching and unique in town. Just watching the spectacle would attract many customers. But I went to Jiaozhou to inquire, and the price was extremely high, which I simply couldn't afford," Zhou Yan explained.

"So I had to buy brushes and paint and write the sign myself."

"Just as you said, building such a tall earthen stove in front of the restaurant is already eye-catching enough. When the aroma of the broth wafts out, everyone will instinctively look for the source. Writing the sign and brand story on the stove will have the best advertising effect." The university students looked at Zhou Yan differently upon hearing this. No, he really knew!

Advertising design has been undergoing a resurgence in the past two years, with teachers adding courses and instruction in this area, and even television commercials becoming increasingly common. They never expected that in this small-town restaurant, a young owner would actually make his own sign and advertise, even attempting to build a brand.

"Not bad, this is the wisdom of the common people." Su Jun nodded repeatedly, looking at Zhou Yan with admiration.

"Did you write this yourself?"

"Yes, I wrote it." Zhou Yan nodded. Su Jun smiled and said, "The handwriting is decent, but the signboard has a clear hierarchy, the colors are well-matched, and the overall effect is excellent. You're quite talented."

"You flatter me." Zhou Yan quickly replied. The university students were somewhat surprised. Professor Su rarely praised anyone. He was known as "Iron Face Su" in the department because his classes were very strict. It was considered good if you didn't get scolded.

"Hey? Even a university professor praised Zhou Yan for his talent. He's quite impressive."

"This kid is like a monkey from Mount Emei—incredibly clever."

"Most people would stumble over their words in this kind of situation, but he's not nervous or stage-frightened at all." The workers watching also whispered among themselves. Zhao Tieying's lips curled up. The fact that her son Zhou Yan could receive praise from a professor made her, as his mother, feel proud.

"Alright, let's go in and eat. I can see everyone's been drooling over the smell of this beef soup," Su Jun said, leading the way into the restaurant. Everyone responded and followed him in. After touring the factory all morning, the aroma of meat had indeed made them very hungry. Zhao Tieying quickly invited everyone to sit down: "Come on, come on, be good. You can sit here, or you can sit there..."

"Thank you, Auntie," the female students replied, echoing Xia Yao.

"Glasses, you can sit here," Auntie Zhao gestured to a boy.

"Huh? Auntie, you call them all 'good boy,' but me 'Glasses'?" Wang Chen pushed up his glasses and asked with a smile.

"Only female students call each other 'good boy.' Look how well-behaved they are," Auntie Zhao explained with a smile, then gestured to another boy: "Handsome, can you sit here?"

"Then you should call Ma Xingye 'Handsome Guy'?" Wang Chen looked hurt. Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings.

"Oh, Fatty, don't worry about it. Look at him, he's tall and strong, just as handsome as my son," Aunt Zhao said, waving her hand.

"Fatty? What happened again?" Wang Chen sighed, feeling even more hurt. The classmates next to him were practically laughing their heads off.

"Come on, Fatty, sit with us at this table," Ma Xingye said with a smile, pulling Wang Chen to sit down next to him.

"How does this auntie know my nickname?" Wang Chen couldn't help but laugh as he sat down, looking at Ma Xingye and saying, "Let me see just how handsome this 'big brother' really is."

"Get lost!" Ma Xingye said with a laugh, his gaze drifting to the table next to them.

"Only noodles and braised beef? Isn't this a restaurant? Why is it a noodle shop?" Wang Chen muttered, staring at the menu on the wall. At the next table, Xia Yao, Deng Hong, Zhu Yuyu, and another female classmate were sitting together, discussing what to order.

"Xia Yao, you've eaten here before, which noodle dish do you think is the best?" Zhu Yuyu asked.

"I love braised pork rib noodles. Zhou Yan's braised pork ribs are definitely the most delicious I've ever eaten, even better than my dad's," Xia Yao said with a smile.

"But the other two noodle dishes are also very good, especially the double-pepper beef noodles, which are very popular."

"The braised beef smells so good, how about we order some to try?" Deng Hong suggested.

"Sure, I'd like to try some too," Xia Yao nodded.

"Zhou Yan is so handsome, does he have a girlfriend?" Zhu Yuyu asked with a gossipy look.

"Yeah, aren't you even a little bit tempted?" Deng Hong also chimed in.

"Shh, don't talk nonsense," Xia Yao glared at them and whispered, "My uncle is sitting in the back." Deng Hong and Zhu Yuyu glanced at Lin Zhiqiang's table and couldn't help but cover their mouths and giggle. Lin Zhiqiang, Su Jun, and two teachers sat at a table, and Lin was enthusiastically recommending what to eat. The simplicity of the menu at Zhou Erwa Restaurant surprised Su Jun and the other two teachers.

The sign outside said "restaurant," but the menu only listed three noodle dishes and one dish of braised beef? Lin Zhiqiang hadn't mentioned this before they entered. Now that they were seated, they didn't say anything more.

"Then I'll have a braised beef and a double-pepper beef noodle soup," Su Jun ordered, chatting with Lin Zhiqiang about Zhou Yan. Actually, Su Jun had originally declined the invitation from the Jiaozhou Textile Factory. His main destinations for this sketching and learning trip to Jiaozhou were Mount Emei and the Jiaozhou Buddha; he hadn't planned to visit any companies, and as the department head, he wasn't going to add anything to the itinerary at the last minute.

However, when Xia Yao fell into the water while visiting relatives in Suji last week, and her aunt called him to ask for leave, he was terrified. Xia Yao's mother, Meng Zhilan, was his senior at the Central Academy of Fine Arts, and they shared the same professor. Although they hadn't been in much contact in recent years, he would find it difficult to face Xia Yao if something happened to her.

Moreover, he was in charge of this event; if something really happened to Xia Yao, he would definitely lose his position as department head and face disciplinary action. Fortunately, Zhou Yan saved Xia Yao, minimizing the impact of the incident. After Xia Yao returned, she reported on the incident, saying that the brave young man had left a deep impression on her.

Tomorrow they were returning to Shancheng, and he had temporarily confirmed with the school to visit the Jiaozhou Textile Factory for a day to explore the possibility of school-enterprise cooperation. Of course, his main reason was to personally meet Zhou Yan. Lin Zhiqiang praised Zhou Yan without any restraint, even making Zhou Yan, who was cooking noodles in the kitchen, feel embarrassed.

But Zhao Tieying loved to hear it; the deputy factory director praising Zhou Yan meant he had gained the leader's appreciation, which was Zhou Yan's ability. The restaurant was full of university students, and many workers also followed, wanting to taste how delicious the "Qiaojiao Beef," which even university students ate, was. The restaurant's nineteen tables were all full at lunchtime today. With only noodles and braised beef available, most college students didn't have high expectations.

But as the noodles and braised beef arrived, exclamations of surprise filled the air:"Wow! This double-pepper beef noodle soup smells amazing!"

"These braised pork ribs are incredible! They fall off the bone with just a touch, the flavor is simply unbeatable!"

"The braised beef with bamboo shoots is the best! It smells intoxicating!"

"Drink the soup! This beef broth is truly delicious!"

"Auntie, please give us some pickled radishes, they're so good!"...