Chương 51: Food Supplier

The bedroom was cozy, with a small bedside lamp on. The warm, dim light shone on Meng Anhe's flushed cheeks. Her fingers traced circles on Lin Zhiqiang's chest as she breathed slightly, "Have you been secretly working out these past few days?"

"Working out?" Lin Zhiqiang flicked the cigarette between his fingers, tilting his chin up with a smug look.

"Was it necessary? It was just normal performance."

"Don't I know your strengths and weaknesses?" Meng Anhe rolled her eyes at him, then pinched him lightly with her circling finger. Men over twenty-five are often the most stubborn. Thirty-eight-year-old men are even more so.

"Hiss~" Lin Zhiqiang gasped, quickly begging for forgiveness, "Maybe it's because I've been eating a lot of beef these past few days, my body's gotten better."

"Beef with 'stiff legs'?" Meng Anhe asked thoughtfully.

"The bone broth was simmered for eight hours, with various Chinese herbs and beef added. It's definitely nourishing."

"Then you can eat there every day, and I'll reimburse you."

"Okay, but of course, it's mainly because I'm healthy. Whether it's nourishing or not doesn't make much difference."

"Really? Then let me test you again." Meng Anhe sat up and tied her hair back with a hair tie.

"Oh dear, I suddenly remembered I haven't finished a design drawing yet. I have to present it at the meeting tomorrow. I'll go work on it first. Anhe, you go to sleep first." Lin Zhiqiang turned over, put on his pajamas, and was about to leave when his legs felt a little weak. What kind of cadre could withstand this kind of test?

"Heh, men." Sister Meng smiled and reached out to hook his collar.

"Come back and lie down. I won't tease you anymore."

"That's right, it has to be slow and steady, not too much." Lin Zhiqiang then lay back down on the bed. Meng Anhe rested her head on his hand and smiled, saying, "I think the factory director and Sister Meilin seemed quite satisfied with today's meal."

"I've eaten with the factory director many times, including at several big restaurants in Rongcheng, but this is the first time I've seen him react like this," Lin Zhiqiang said with a smile.

"His expectations were too low at first, but he was amazed by the food, and his attitude towards Zhou Yan has clearly changed." Meng Anhe nodded slightly, "To be fair, the dishes Zhou Yan made today were indeed comparable to those in well-known restaurants in Rongcheng. With his culinary skills, opening a restaurant in this small town is really a waste of his talent. He should go to a big city to develop his career."

"You can't say that. I think he's taken things quite steadily step by step," Lin Zhiqiang pondered.

"Being fired from the factory canteen and opening a restaurant near the factory gate, for a young man from a small town who hasn't had much education and whose family is of average means, being able to open, revitalize, and establish himself in the restaurant in such a short time is the best choice he could make."

"Once he's accumulated his first pot of gold, he might move to a big city. Maybe he can even open a big restaurant in Chengdu."

"You seem to have high hopes for him," Meng Anhe laughed.

"Most people who've worked in state-owned enterprises for a long time look down on self-employed individuals. We've seen a lot of this while studying abroad; opening a shop and doing business is a legitimate profession. Those with ability can earn much more than working in a factory. With money, life is naturally better. Going to university doesn't necessarily guarantee a brighter future…"

"You want to matchmake Xia Yao and Zhou Yan?" Meng Anhe interrupted him, hitting the nail on the head.

"I don't have that ability, but I certainly won't stop them," Lin Zhiqiang shrugged.

"If those two really get together one day, Zhou Yan might be a good match."

"Then go tell my sister and brother-in-law."

"Huh? How dare I!" … Sichuan Fine Arts Institute dormitory. A small desk lamp was lit on the desk. Xia Yao sat at the desk writing a letter, her delicate handwriting flowing across the paper. Several crumpled pieces of paper were in the trash can beside her.

"Yaoyao, are love letters really that hard to write?" Deng Hong poked her head out and asked with a smile. Zhu Yuyu poked her head out from the other bed and teased, "Yeah, this is the fifth version already! You're more serious than me when I do my graduation project. Can you teach me a thing or two?"

"I'm writing a letter, not a love letter," Xia Yao said, sitting up straight without turning her head, but her hand unconsciously covered the words on the letter.

"Right, right, it's a letter full of revolutionary friendship," Deng Hong nodded with a smile.

"Then please thank Comrade Zhou Yan for the rice candy. It's delicious."

"That's right, remember to tell him I got some too," Zhu Yuyu nodded in agreement.

"Okay, you guys go to sleep first. I'll turn off the lights in a bit," Xia Yao said with a smile.... Just as dawn was breaking, Comrade Zhou rode his bicycle out to buy groceries again. Reading on Amazon or a pirate site? This novel is from Royal Road. Support the author by reading it there. Today, he went to see Zhang Laosan first and bought eight catties of pork ribs.

"Xiao Zhou, your restaurant business is getting better and better," Zhang Laosan said with admiration as he weighed the ribs.

"Not bad, I can keep going." Zhou Yan replied with a smile, taking out some money and handing it to Zhang Laosan.

"Don't you want the pork belly and braised pork hock?" Zhang Laosan asked casually as he took the money.

"I don't need them now. I'll come back to you to buy them when I start selling twice-cooked pork and Dongpo pork hock." Zhou Yan put the ribs in the basket and called out, "I'm off."

"That kid, he's got some skills." Zhang Laosan chuckled to himself as he watched Zhou Yan's retreating figure. Zhou Yan then went to the market and found Boss Gao, the fishmonger who delivered fish to him, asking him to deliver forty eight-ounce crucian carp to his shop at noon today. Because he bought a lot and needed to order every day, Zhou Yan successfully managed to lower the price of a pound of crucian carp from 45 cents to 40 cents, and he couldn't raise the price on holidays.

The textile factory canteen and state-run restaurants had their own ordering channels, and retail wasn't so easy to sell. Customers like Zhou Yan, who had stable orders, were rare; in Suji, he was considered a big customer. Boss Gao, adhering to the principle of small profits but quick turnover, readily agreed.

"Boss Gao, my fish must be top-notch. You've been selling fish for so many years, you can tell good from bad. If you deliberately send me inferior fish, I'll be furious," Zhou Yan said with a smile, making it clear from the outset.

"Don't worry, I'll bring you ten extra fish each time I deliver. You can choose for yourself, and if you're not satisfied, I'll send you another one," Boss Gao assured him. Don't let Zhou Yan's youth fool you; his eye for fish is indeed sharp, and he can't be fooled.

"Okay," Zhou Yan nodded, got on his bike, and rode away. The operation of a restaurant is inseparable from these ingredient suppliers. Establishing a stable ingredient supply chain is a crucial link in ensuring the consistent quality of the dishes. Currently, the restaurant's most important beef supply is controlled by family members. At the Zhoucun Yankantou slaughterhouse, eight cows were being slaughtered simultaneously today.

The morning temperature was low, and rising steam wafted from each workstation, like the vengeful spirits of cows ascending to heaven. A thought suddenly popped into Zhou Yan's head, making him chuckle. At this hour, the butchers were already butchering the meat. The beef, separated from the bone, was cut into different cuts; the meat was still warm and bright in color. Zhou Yan parked his car in front of Zhou Miao's stall.

"Twelve jin of brisket, twelve jin of hanging tenderloin. If you want less, go to your uncle's place. I've already talked to him; it'll be two yuan a jin from now on," Zhou Miao said.

"Isn't two yuan a jin too cheap?" Zhou Yan hesitated.

"No, the local chefs who prepare banquets buy in bulk, and it's the same price. It's cheaper than buying individually anyway," Zhou Miao shook his head.

"Okay," Zhou Yan nodded. Seeing Zhou Yan approach, Zhou Fei smiled and asked, "Zhou Yan, how much more hanging dragon meat do you want?"

"Brother Fei, five jin is enough for today," Zhou Yan said, greeting the old man Zhou Qing beside him. The old man was robust, broad-shouldered and thick-waisted, looking very much like Zhou Fei, with slightly graying temples. He grinned at Zhou Yan and said, "Zhou Yan, you can have as much as you want. I'll save some for you next time."

"Okay, thank you, sir," Zhou Yan grinned. This is the importance of the supply chain. If it weren't for family, buying hanging dragon meat would depend on luck, and it's even less likely to be available during holidays. Hanging dragon meat is easy to sell. Zhou Fei cut off a piece of hanging dragon meat, weighed it high, the tendons and membranes were cleaned off, and the meat was of good quality. He then put it into Zhou Yan's basket.

"Grandpa, two yuan a pound, am I taking advantage of you?" Zhou Yan pulled out a ten-yuan note and handed it over, asking with a smile.

"Why would I take advantage of family? I said one yuan and fifty cents a pound, but you wouldn't have it, insisting I take two. I felt like I was taking advantage of you, kid." The old man took the money, shaking his head with a smile.

"Zhou Yan, do you still want some 'diao long' (a type of dried dragon meat)? I've saved some for you here too." Second Uncle Zhou Ze called out to him. Zhou Jie held up a piece of 'diao long' and showed it to him: "Today's 'diao long' is really good."

"I have some here too, all sorted out perfectly." Third Uncle Zhou Han also laughed.

"That's enough for today. If you want more in a couple of days, come find Second Uncle and Third Uncle." Zhou Yan replied with a smile, feeling a warmth in his heart. His words were remembered by the whole family. How wonderful. (End of this chapter)