Chương 6: So Delicious It Makes My Eyebrows Fall Off!

As a native of Shanxi, Lin Zhiqiang absolutely adores noodles. But the noodles in Jiaozhou are mostly made with alkaline water, never quite tasting like the hand-pulled noodles from his hometown. But today, the moment he tasted these noodles, he found the flavor again. It was the taste of home! Hand-pulled noodles without alkaline water, only the pure aroma of wheat. Soaked in bone broth, chewy and smooth. Fresh! Fragrant! Refreshing!

Lin Zhiqiang's thoughts seemed to drift back to his childhood— to that noodle shop on the street, where the Mediterranean-looking owner tirelessly tossed and turned the noodles every day, the bone broth pot on the coal stove bubbling incessantly, the aroma wafting halfway down the street. His father often took him there, always adding lots of vinegar. Later, he went to Moscow to study, settled down in Jiangnan, and then transferred to Jiaozhou for work.

His parents had passed away, so he hadn't returned home for many years. Some memories had faded, but this bite of noodles still stirred something within him. After finishing the noodles, he took a sip of the broth, nodding repeatedly." Eating noodles without drinking the soup is like not eating the whole thing!" Lin Zhiqiang exclaimed with admiration.

"These handmade noodles don't have any alkaline water, yet they're exceptionally chewy and smooth. Comrade Zhou Yan's noodle-making skills are truly excellent, comparable to the old noodle masters of Shanxi." He continued, "Moreover, the soup must be made with beef bone broth. The broth is delicious, with a rich meaty aroma. A sip in the morning warms you up from head to toe—it's absolutely amazing!"

"I've eaten at every noodle shop in Suji, whether it's a state-run restaurant or a factory canteen, none of their beef noodles compare to this bowl."

"Of course, it would be even better with a pot of Shanxi aged vinegar." The workers watching laughed upon hearing this, knowing that Lin Zhiqiang was from Shanxi and loved that vinegar. However, it was clear that he was genuinely satisfied with this bowl of braised beef noodles. After making a few comments, he continued slurping his noodles, a thin layer of sweat quickly forming on his forehead. On the other side, Zhao Dong also stirred the noodles evenly.

The spiciness of the double peppers and the aroma of beef wafted over, the noodles coated in oily broth and covered with beef sauce. Based on his years of experience eating noodles, he knew this mixed noodle dish was definitely going to be good. Slurp! The noodles entered his mouth, and the spicy, numbing, and fragrant flavors burst forth.

The crispy on the outside and tender on the inside beef chunks, coated with the fresh spiciness of green and red peppers and the tangy aroma of pickled cabbage, intertwined on his tongue. The oily and refreshing noodles were exceptionally chewy, indeed quite different from alkaline noodles. The flavor was perfectly balanced, a truly exquisite experience of taste and flavor. He couldn't stop eating, one bite after another. In no time, a large bowl of mixed noodles was almost half gone.

"Director Zhao, how's this mixed noodle dish?" someone asked impatiently.

"To be honest, I've eaten at Comrade Zhou Yan's restaurant before, and the cooking was definitely lacking," Zhao Dong said, swallowing his noodles.

"But today's double-pepper beef noodles really amazed me. The numbing spiciness and savory aroma were perfectly balanced; it was so delicious I almost swallowed my tongue."

"The minced beef at the state-run restaurant in town is pretty good, right? But if you ask me, compared to this topping, it's lacking in both flavor and cooking time. If this double-pepper beef topping were used as a dish, I would definitely order it; it's absolutely fantastic!"

"And the portion of topping is incredibly generous. There's probably an ounce or two of beef alone. Even after mixing this big bowl of noodles, you can still taste chunks of beef in every bite. At six cents a bowl, it's really not expensive."

"I won't say much about the noodles. Deputy Factory Director Lin has already summarized it perfectly. They are indeed chewy and smooth, and they hold the broth well. If noodles don't hold the broth, they're not good noodles." After summarizing, Zhao Dong turned to Zhou Yan and said, "Little Zhou, give me another bowl of braised beef noodles. Seeing how much Deputy Factory Director Lin is enjoying it makes me drool."

" Haha, then I'll have another bowl of double-pepper beef noodles too." Lin Zhiqiang also laughed heartily. People in this era don't have much oil in their stomachs, and two strong men can easily finish two bowls of noodles. [Appreciation from the guest +1] [Appreciation from the guest +1] Zhou Yan noticed the flashing notification and his smile became even brighter. [Ding! Side quest triggered: Lin Zhiqiang's niece, Xia Yao, has lost her appetite due to the shock of falling into the water and has not eaten for a day. Lin Zhiqiang and his wife are very worried about this. Please help Xia Yao regain her appetite and resume normal eating. Quest reward: Unknown. Accept: Yes/No.] The system notification sounded in his mind. Lin Zhiqiang had just mentioned Xia Yao's situation, but it seemed even worse, unexpectedly triggering a side quest.

Zhou Yan had just accepted someone's bicycle, so he couldn't ignore it, especially since there was a recipe reward. The fact that Deputy Factory Director Lin and Director Zhao praised her repeatedly, and even asked for another bowl while still eating, was the best proof. Several workers who had been watching the commotion outside the restaurant immediately came in.

"Boss, give me a bowl of double-pepper beef noodles too."

"I want a bowl of braised beef noodles."

"I haven't had ribs in ages, I want a bowl of braised rib noodles." With someone taking the lead, those who were still hesitating couldn't resist anymore and rushed in to find seats and order noodles. In a short while, the restaurant was packed with over a dozen customers, and more were still coming in. They had to go to work at eight o'clock, so they didn't have much time to think. Sitting down and ordering a bowl now meant they could eat, otherwise they'd have to wait until noon or evening.

Zhou Yan took a piece of paper, wrote down the customers' orders, and quickly turned and walked towards the kitchen. Eighteen bowls of noodles were ordered in one go, highlighting the celebrity effect! Lin Zhiqiang and Zhao Dong's endorsement directly dispelled the workers' doubts and strongly recommended the restaurant to them. Help support creative writers by finding and reading their stories on the original site.

"They really are leaders; they're talented and have such pleasant words." However, he needed to hurry and cook the noodles so as not to delay the workers' clocking in. Many others wanted to go in, but worried about the wait, so they opted to grab a quick bite at the factory canteen and come back for lunch. A dozen bicycles were parked outside Zhou Erwa's restaurant, and most of the tables inside were occupied. Such a scene hadn't been seen in a long time, except for the first three days after opening.

"Is Zhou Erwa's noodles really that good? Why are they all inside?"

"They're probably pretty good. If the noodles weren't already in the pot, I'd like to try them too." Wang Laowu's face darkened at the customer's words. He said sarcastically, "How good can they be? The leaders are just giving him face. Zhou Yan's cooking used to be so bad even dogs wouldn't eat it. The pigs would refuse to eat if you fed it to them. How could he become a chef in just two days?" His worst fears had come true.

Although he didn't think much of Zhou Yan's cooking, the deputy factory director was backing him, and the workers were willing to patronize him. Zhou Yan's start selling noodles was much better than he had expected. However, when Zhou Erwa's restaurant first opened, business was good for more than three days. But a restaurant's success depends on reputation and taste. If it's not good, it's not good, no amount of endorsement will help. Just wait and see, this noodle shop won't last long!

Not far away, Zhao Tieying was leading Zhou Momo towards the restaurant.

"Mommy, look, there are so many cars parked in front of the restaurant!" Zhou Momo said in a childish voice, shaking Zhao Tieying's hand. The latest novels are first published on 69shu. com! Zhao Tieying looked over upon hearing this, her face showing surprise: "Why are there so many cars parked here?" Good business was a good thing, Zhao Tieying thought, picking up Zhou Momo and quickening her pace. Upon entering, she saw a dozen or so textile factory workers sitting inside.

The two eating noodles near the entrance looked like leaders, while the other customers' tables were empty.

"Aunt Zhao, hurry up and help in the kitchen! We're all waiting to eat our noodles before going to work," a female worker from Zhoucun recognized Zhao Tieying and said with a smile.

"Sure thing!" Zhao Tieying agreed, putting Zhou Momo down, glancing at the brand-new bicycle parked against the wall, grabbing an apron from behind the counter, tying it on, and rushing into the kitchen. Zhou Yan was making noodles when he saw Zhao Tieying come in, somewhat surprised.

"Mom, what brings you here? Weren't you supposed to be selling beef?"

"Your dad was worried you'd be too busy selling noodles, so he sent me to check on things. You came at the right time." Zhao Tieying smiled and asked, "Why are there so many customers today? And what's with that new bicycle in the shop?"

"Mom, it's a long story. I'll tell you later when I'm done." Zhou Yan tossed a handful of noodles into the pot, smiling as he said, "Add a couple more pieces of firewood; they're all rushing to work."

"Okay!" Zhao Tieying replied, not asking any more questions, and went to add firewood to the stove.

"Hey, I'm here!" Zhou Momo ran into the kitchen, tiptoed to the firewood pile, grabbed a piece of wood, and huffed and puffed as she carried it to Zhao Tieying's feet, her little face flushed." Momo's so capable!" Zhou Yan said with a smile. The little one wasn't even as tall as the wood, yet she already had a plan.

"Hehe." Zhou Momo shook her head smugly, her pigtails bobbing as she was praised. Zhao Tieying glanced at Zhou Yan with some surprise. This kid hadn't liked Momo much before, but today he was praising her.

"Momo, you watch the fire." Zhao Tieying closed the stove door, then grabbed Zhou Momo and pressed her onto a small stool.

"Don't move around. Call me if the fire gets smaller."

"Okay." Zhou Momo nodded obediently, then earnestly instructed the stove, "Stove, you have to be a good boy and tend the fire!" Eighteen servings of noodles were cooking in two large pots. Zhou Yan lined up the large bowls on the stove and started seasoning. Zhao Tieying didn't say much, just stood by and watched attentively, observing the order and amount of seasoning Zhou Yan added. She did whatever Zhou Yan told her to do.

Zhao Tieying's nickname "Iron Lady" wasn't just because she was fierce with her words; she was also incredibly skilled at housework. She always earned the most work points in the team and kept the house impeccably tidy. She could learn simple tasks like mixing noodles and scooping toppings with just a glance. Although illiterate, she could perfectly understand what kind of noodles were on which table Zhou Yan told her.

Bowls of noodles were quickly served to the customers, her efficiency easing the worries of the workers who had been late for work. The entire shop was filled with the sounds of slurping and exclamations of praise. [Customer approval +1]... And Zhou Yan in the kitchen garnered a string of positive reviews.

"With these three bowls of noodles, Xiao Zhou can keep this restaurant going." Zhao Dong ate his second bowl of noodles, somewhat puzzled, "Why didn't he just open a noodle shop before?" Lin Zhiqiang smiled and said, "I don't think Xiao Zhou's cooking skills are as bad as you say. This braised beef with bamboo shoots and the double-pepper minced beef are perfectly fine as dishes on their own. Maybe he made too many different kinds before. It's rare for a young person to have the ability to correct mistakes."

"You're right, this young man is indeed quite good." Zhao Dong also smiled and agreed. The workers quickly finished their noodles, paid, and rushed off to work.

"Boss, your noodles are really awesome!"

"The ribs are so fragrant, better than what the cafeteria makes!"

"The soup is so delicious, it's so flavorful it'll make your eyebrows fall off." As they left, the workers didn't forget to praise them.

"Take care, come again next time." Zhou Yan held a handful of change in his hand and smiled as he saw the customers off.

"Comrade Xiao Zhou, come and collect our money too." Lin Zhiqiang said with a smile.

"I'll pay, I'll pay." Zhao Dong hurriedly took out his wallet from his pocket.

"Deputy Factory Director Lin, Director Zhao, this meal is on me. If it weren't for your help in promoting my shop, I wouldn't even be able to open today." Zhou Yan quickly waved his hand, then suggested,"How about we bring your niece a bowl of pork rib noodles to try? Pork rib noodles are lighter, maybe she'll have an appetite for them."