Wang Wei and Xiao Huang each ordered forty cents worth of braised vegetables, ending their argument.
A plate of mixed five-spice vegetables and a plate of mixed spicy vegetables arrived at the table. They looked at each other and laughed simultaneously.
"I think your mixed five-spice braised vegetables look really good."
"I think your spicy vegetables look a bit tempting."
"Comrade Xiao Huang, come on, let's eat together!"
"Comrade Xiao Wang, don't be shy, help yourself."
Before the other dishes arrived, the two had already picked up their chopsticks and started eating heartily.
The crisp and flavorful braised lotus root, the soft and tender braised potatoes—the joy of forty cents a jin was almost unimaginable at Zhou Erwa Restaurant.
The exquisite texture and flavor of the braised dried bean curd sticks, along with the crisp and fresh braised kelp, are simply divine.
"This is absolutely the best braised vegetarian dish I've ever eaten!" Xiao Huang exclaimed. "I thought that the braised food I had at Zhao Ji's in Jiazhou City last time was the best, but it's nowhere near as good as this braised vegetarian dish."
"Don't even mention Jiazhou, I've never had such delicious braised vegetarian dishes in Rongcheng either." Wang Wei took a bite of the kelp, glanced towards the kitchen, and praised, "Zhou Yan is really amazing. His braised pig's trotters are also super delicious. You must try them next time. The satisfaction of eating a whole one by yourself is unparalleled."
"Hmm, pig's trotters cost 1.2 yuan each. I'm not as carefree as you; I have a little one at home to feed." Xiao Huang shook her head with a smile, glanced at the steaming pig's trotters that had just been served at the next table, and couldn't help but swallow hard. She hesitated and said, "How about next time you want some, just call me, and we can each have half?"
"Come on, both of you work in your family." Wang Wei said with a smile. "Then let's come eat here tomorrow, I'm craving it too."
"Okay!" Xiao Huang nodded.
The tasting of the braised vegetables was like throwing a stone into a calm lake, creating quite a ripple.
Twenty cents could buy a bag of braised lotus root and potatoes, wrapped in an oil paper bag, with two bamboo skewers—perfect for an afternoon snack.
For just twenty cents more, you could enjoy meaty dried bean curd sticks and crisp kelp.
Zhou Erwa Restaurant, which is usually known for its high prices, made textile factory workers feel that it was affordable and cost-effective for the first time.
Of course, the most important thing was that it tasted good!
No one could resist paying after tasting it.
Those bowls of vegetarian dishes looked plentiful, but the people gathered around were actually buying them.
"Thirty cents for this, forty cents for that." and half a bowl of spicy braised lotus root was gone in no time.
This prompted customers who originally planned to buy it after get off work in the evening to rush to open their wallets.
It wasn't uncommon at Zhou Erwa Restaurant to arrive late and not be able to buy anything even if you had the money.
Many customers who dine in the restaurant also choose to order a side dish of braised vegetables.
There's not much difference between ordering spicy braised vegetables and cold dishes; a mixed plate costs only about 60 cents, which is quite affordable.
After the Huang siblings sat down, they ordered two dishes: one five-spice and one spicy, choosing a little of each.
"Wow! This lotus root and potatoes are amazing! And this dried bean curd sticks tastes even better than meat, and the price is so cheap!!" Huang Ying exclaimed, her mouth bulging, her words slightly muffled.
Huang Bing ate one bite after another, nodding and saying, "It's delicious! This braising liquid is amazing; it'd taste good even if you threw a shoe sole in."
"You know nothing. The braising liquid is one thing, but the braising technique is also very important." Huang Ying rolled her eyes at him, picked up a piece of potato and said, "Look at this potato. It's braised until it's soft and flavorful. It's so soft and mushy that it would fall apart if you picked it up with chopsticks, but it's a whole piece on the plate. It looks much better."
These thick-cut lotus root slices need to be both flavorful and slightly crunchy. It requires precise control of the heat and knife skills. You think you can just throw them into the braising liquid and fish them out?
And don't even mention dried bean curd sticks; if you braise them for even a minute longer, they'll fall apart in the pot."
Huang Bing listened, stunned, silently giving Huang Ying a thumbs up: "You talk a lot, but I believe you."
"It's delicious. I'll bring some back for Mom and Dad later." Huang Ying said.
"Do you mean you want our restaurant to sell braised vegetarian dishes as well?"
Huang Ying shook her head and whispered, "That won't work. Most of our restaurant's guests are either booking banquets or hosting parties. Although braised vegetarian dishes are good, they don't really go well with our dishes and aren't very presentable. We can just take them back for them to try."
"I think the dried bean curd sticks and kelp are quite good. If there were these dishes on the table, I'd definitely eat a few more bites." Huang Bing picked up a piece of dried bean curd sticks and put it in his mouth. "Wouldn't it be great as a cold dish?"
"Then let Mom and Dad decide." Huang Ying said.
After finishing their meal, the two packed two portions of braised vegetables and rode their bicycles back home.
After the business closed at noon, Zhou Yan looked at the few bowls of vegetarian dishes that had been brought into the kitchen; they were almost empty.
Especially the spicy braised lotus root and braised potatoes, which were completely sold out.
The dried bean curd sticks and kelp also sold very well; he roughly estimated that less than a third remained.
"It's selling so well! Everyone's buying it by the half jin or by the jin, saying it's delicious!" Aunt Zhao beamed, still a little incredulous, and asked Zhou Yan, "Should we make some more this afternoon?"
"No need, we'll sell these and that'll be enough. Let's take it easy this afternoon, otherwise it feels like we'll never finish in one day." Zhou Yan shook his head, refusing to work overtime in the afternoon.
Braised vegetables are a long term business; there's no need to rush.
However, the fact that it became so popular right after its release at noon today was a pleasant surprise to him.
The tasting strategy was executed quite successfully, and according to Aunt Zhao's observation, female factory workers accounted for 70% of the buyers.
This percentage is close to that of female factory workers in textile factory.
Previously, female workers accounted for only about 40% of the customers who bought braised meat.
The more affordable price clearly successfully attracted a larger group of female factory workers.
Word of mouth spread incredibly quickly.
Some workers came out specifically to buy this after tasting the braised vegetarian dishes their colleagues brought back to the factory.
It wasn't considered a dish anymore, but rather a snack.
After soaking and braising the dried bean curd sticks and kelp, they more than doubled in size, absorbing enough braising liquid translates into profit.
If this pot of braised vegetarian dishes sells out today, the revenue should reach twenty eight yuan, with a profit of about nine yuan and fifty cents.
And this is only the first day, with only four vegetarian dishes available.
Once the dried tofu arrives tomorrow, he'll consider adding dried bamboo shoots as well, making the selection more diverse, which he estimates will lead to even better sales.
…
"Braised vegetarian dishes! Made by Zhou Yan? Oh, this is good! This is wonderful!"
In a small private room at Feiyan Restaurant, Huang He looked at the two portions of braised vegetarian dishes on the plates and couldn't help but clap his hands in approval, his expression becoming increasingly excited.
After examining it for a while, Zhao Shulan nodded and said, "This vegetarian dish looks quite good."
"Not only does it look good, but it tastes amazing too." Huang Ying handed over two pairs of chopsticks, smiling, "Want to try some?"
"You wouldn't believe it, when I was little, I loved going to Suji with your uncle to get braised meat, just for this vegetarian dish. We'd buy half a jin each time, and I'd eat it slowly on the way. The carriage would leisurely sway all the way to the restaurant, and we'd finish eating right there. It was so wonderful!" Huang He took the chopsticks, his face full of emotion, and first picked up a piece of dried bean curd sticks and put it in his mouth.
The dried bean curd sticks, soaked in the braising sauce, burst with a savory meaty flavor in one bite. It was soft but not mushy, with a slightly chewy texture, almost giving the illusion of eating meat.
No, it was even more fragrant than meat.
The perfect fusion of savory meaty and bean flavors, even the texture of the dried bean curd sticks was the same.
More than thirty years have passed in the blink of an eye. Many details have become blurred, but he only remembers the carefree child in the carriage filled with the aroma of braised meat, clutching a bag of braised vegetables, his hands and face glistening with oil as he ate. His mind was completely focused on that bag of braised vegetables.
He could only go there once every five days, and this became almost his happiest childhood memory.
He tried the braised lotus root, braised potatoes, and braised kelp one by one. Except for the kelp, the potatoes and lotus root still tasted just like he remembered.
Putting down his chopsticks, Huang He sighed, "Braised beef is the signature dish of our Feiyan Restaurant, but for me, the memories of braised vegetarian dishes are more profound and nostalgic."
"Dad, should we sell braised vegetarian dishes? I think this dried bean curd sticks and kelp are quite good; they'd make a nice vegetarian dish." Huang Bing suggested.
Zhao Shulan, still eating lotus root, looked at Huang He upon hearing this.
Huang He pondered for a moment, then shook his head: "No."
"Why?" Huang Bing asked, puzzled.
Huang He's expression became more solemn as he said, "Zhou Yan said that he might open a restaurant in Jiazhou a year from now. With his culinary skills, the business will definitely be good.
Braised beef and braised pig's head meat may differ in their cutting methods and plating, but we can still insist that they are made using the century-old braising sauce passed down from Feiyan Restaurant. Delicious braised meats have something in common.
But if we just sell whatever Zhou Yan sells, with the same dishes and taste, customers aren't stupid; they'll tell the difference.
Reputation is built up over generations, so every decision must be made with caution. For Feiyan Restaurant, braised food is an added bonus, we cannot put the cart before the horse."
Huang Bing seemed lost in thought.
Huang Ying, however, asked curiously, "Dad, did Grandpa say something similar to you back then?"
Huang He's expression stiffened, and he smiled somewhat awkwardly, "Yes, when I ate Aunt Zhang's braised vegetables back then, I was absolutely amazed. I presented them to your grandfather like a treasure, and he happily finished them. Then he said something similar to me.
Running a big restaurant requires having your own unique characteristics and sticking to your principles. If you think you can run a successful restaurant by taking a little from this place and a little from that place, then you're oversimplifying things."
…
"This lotus root is so crisp and refreshing! It's only forty cents a jin, and it's braised in such good brine that it still tastes like meat. This owner is so kind! Isn't it said that Zhou Erwa Restaurant is very expensive? A bowl of noodles costs sixty cents!"
"Yes, I heard them say braised pig ears cost three yuan a jin! Tsk, one jin can buy three jin of pork belly. How come braised vegetables are so cheap?"
"The five-spice flavor is so delicious. My kids don't like spicy food, so I'll buy a jin tonight. The three of them will be thrilled."
"Director Zhao, our group won the Outstanding Production Team award last month, and you only rewarded us with two packs of braised vegetables? You should at least add some meat!"
"Exactly! Director Zhao is too stingy."
During the break, seven or eight female workers sat on a bench by the workshop entrance, enjoying two packs of braised vegetables, occasionally teasing Zhao Dong standing nearby.
"This is a reward I'm personally paying for. The factory hasn't shortchanged you on your bonuses." Zhao Dong said with a smile. "But I'm putting it this way, if you all win the Outstanding Production Team award again this month, I'll buy you all pig's head meat next month."
"Great!"
"Director Zhao is so generous!"
The female workers responded with laughter, the atmosphere warm and cheerful.
"You guys take your time eating, I'm going to check out the workshop." Zhao Dong didn't dare linger and turned to walk into the workshop.
These women, when they're free, chat about anything and everything, and even he, a man, sometimes finds it hard to bear.
In the entire textile factory, women outnumbered men; the female workers held up not just half the sky, but a full seven-tenths of it.
As the workshop director, he went to great lengths to motivate the workers.
However, since they won the "Outstanding Production Team" award, he, as the director, not only feels proud but also receives a bonus.
For example, last month he received a ten yuan bonus.
Today he bought them two packs of braised vegetables, which cost two yuan, and they seemed quite satisfied.
He had been thinking about this for several days, and originally planned to give each of them a towel.
He ate lunch in the cafeteria today and happened to run into Zhu Zhe, that scoundrel, who was eating alone and came back with a pack of braised vegetables.
He naturally wouldn't let it pass, and ate several pieces, shocked by the taste and price of the braised vegetables.
The braised lotus root and potatoes, which cost only forty cents a jin, were surprisingly delicious!
He immediately changed his mind, replacing the towels with two packs of braised vegetables so everyone could try them.
"Zhou Yan is really amazing; he can make everything taste so good!" Zhao Dong couldn't help but exclaim.
"What's Old Zhao muttering about?" Lin Zhiqiang, who had just come down from the workshop, asked Zhao Dong with a smile.
Zhao Dong looked at Lin Zhiqiang and replied with a smile, "Director Lin, I was saying that Zhou Yan's braised vegetables today are fantastic. I'll bring some back for the two kids to try tonight."
"He's even launched braised vegetarian dishes?" Lin Zhiqiang was a little surprised. Zhou Yan hadn't mentioned it when they went for a run yesterday.
"That's right, and they're very cheap. Braised lotus root and potatoes are only 40 cents a jin, and braised dried bean curd sticks and kelp are only 80 cents a jin. They taste great! If you're buying them for your two kids, get the original five-spice flavor; I think it tastes even better than the spicy one."
Lin Zhiqiang smiled and nodded: "Okay, I'll go buy some after get off work. My wife isn't home today, so I can cook one less dish."
…
Shangshui Village.
In the courtyard where half the house had collapsed.
Old Mrs. Sun sat on a small stool, holding a small stick in one hand. With a quick roll in the large pot of boiling soy milk, a strip of dried bean curd sticks was wrapped around the stick and hung on a low bamboo pole beside her.
There were three pots boiling around her, and she was quite skilled at it, rolling and picking them.
The bamboo poles in the yard were already covered with dried bean curd sticks, swaying gently in the breeze, filling the yard with the aroma of beans.
When she worked, she seemed to forget her pain; her hands and feet were surprisingly nimble.
Under the eaves nearby, Laifu sat on a high stool, using a ladle to pour soybeans into the stone mill while simultaneously turning the millstone with a wooden handle to grind tofu.
The white soy milk collected in the wooden bucket below; it was already more than half full.
He was wearing a loose white vest covered in holes and patches. He was so thin, like a stick. His hands, gripping the wooden handle, were raw and bleeding. He wrapped them in a rag and continued grinding.
His expression was focused and earnest, his clear eyes brimming with energy.
Soon, a bucket of soy milk was ready, and Laifu carried it to Grandma Sun's side.
Grandma Sun smiled and shook her head, gesturing as she said, "We won't make any more dried bean curd sticks today. These three pots are enough; there's no more room to hang them. Use this bucket of soy milk to make tofu. Dry the dried tofu tonight and send it to your cousin tomorrow."
The old lady's sign language wasn't perfect, but Laifu understood it immediately.
He nodded, carefully lifted the bamboo pole covered with dried bean curd sticks and put it back on the shelf, then took the last empty bamboo pole and placed it next to Grandma Sun, and poured her a glass of water.
Grandma Sun took a couple of sips of water from the enamel cup, looking at the yard full of hanging dried bean curd sticks, a relieved smile spreading across her face: "That's wonderful! Zhang Ji Braised Food has been passed down; we're saved!"
Laifu smiled too, his eyes shining just as brightly.
...
Just as Zhou Yan had predicted, the remaining braised vegetables dishes sold out in less than ten minutes after the factory closed.
Zhou Momo, sitting by the door with a small bowl, munching on lotus root and potato slices, hadn't even had a chance to demonstrate her sales skills before the stock was gone.
The workers who arrived late, seeing the eight empty bowls and then Zhou Momo sitting on a small stool, happily munching on lotus root slices and swinging her short legs, all swallowed hard.
A three and a half years old child wouldn't lie.
If their own child ate it with peace of mind, and enjoyed it so much, the braised vegetables must be good.
The little one buried her head in her food, occasionally muttering, "The potatoes are so soft and delicious!"
"Boss, please make more vegetarian dishes tomorrow." the female workers said with a hint of resentment.
"Sure." Zhou Miao nodded, forcing a smile.
The word of mouth for this braised vegetables dishes has spread so quickly that it has already created a sensation.
Lin Zhiqiang came out of the restaurant, grabbed a soup pot, and packed a serving of cross-legged beef. He'd arrived early and also packed sixty cents worth of vegetables. He happily hopped on his 28-inch bicycle and rode off.
That's the good thing about being a leader. After inspecting the workshop, it's perfectly reasonable to come and inspect the security department, right?
As soon as the bell rang to signal the end of the workday, he was the first one at Zhou Erwa Restaurant; there were still vegetables to choose from.
When he got home, he brought lunch boxes and vegetables. His two kids had already finished most of their homework.
"Dad! Did you bring this back from Momo's house?"
"Dad, what's for dinner today?!"
Lin Jingxing and Lin Bingwen put down their pens and immediately came over.
"One soup and one braised vegetable dish. Go wash your hands and bring the bowls over." Lin Zhiqiang said as he took the food.
The three of them usually ate simple meals.
Previously, they got their food from the factory canteen, but recently, after trying the delicious food at Zhou Erwa Restaurant, the two sons had been craving it everyday.
When the oil paper bags were opened, they saw that it was all vegetarian food, and both sons sighed at the same time.
"Dad, why isn't there any meat?" Lin Jingxing looked up at him.
"Are we out of money?" Lin Bingwen asked with a worried expression.
"There are meats in the soup, this is a newly launched braised vegetarian dish, hurry up and eat." Lin Zhiqiang divided the rice from the lunch box into their bowls and said with a smile that was a little annoyed.
The two little ones first picked out a few pieces of meat from the soup to eat, and only when all that was left was cabbage did they look at the braised vegetables with little interest.
Lin Zhiqiang ignored them, eating with relish. Zhao Dong was absolutely right; the braised vegetable dish was indeed delicious. In Sichuan dialect: "Ba shi de ban!"
"Dad, is it really that delicious?" Lin Jingxing asked with some skepticism. He picked up a piece of potato and put it in his bowl. With a slight push of his chopsticks, the potato broke in two. He picked up a piece and put it in his mouth, and his eyes immediately lit up.
This potato...it tastes so meaty!
It's so soft, it melts in his mouth with every bite, a smooth texture, and a wonderfully meaty flavor—so delicious!
After chewing and swallowing, he shoveled some rice into his mouth, ate the remaining half, and then picked up a piece of dried bean curd sticks with his chopsticks. He wondered what this wrinkled piece was, but it looked pretty good.
"Brother, is it good?" Lin Bingwen didn't like vegetables and was still looking for scraps of meat in the bowl. Seeing his brother eating one piece after another, he asked curiously.
"It's not tasty. Why don't you look for some meat? I think there are still two pieces of beef in the bowl." Lin Jingxing didn't even look up as he fed the dried bean curd sticks into his mouth and chewed it in small bites.
Is this meat?!
It tastes just like meat! The texture is similar too! It's even better than meat!
Lin Jingxing was filled with surprise, but he had to maintain an expression of "it's nothing special", which was quite a pretense.
Without hesitation, he picked up the next piece of dried bean curd sticks with his chopsticks.
"Really?" Lin Bingwen immediately stood up, leaned over to the soup bowl, and carefully searched through it. Finally, he found a small piece of tendon, and sat down contentedly to eat it slowly.
Lin Zhiqiang, looking helpless, picked up a piece of dried bean curd sticks and put it in his bowl. "Dumb, if you don't eat, your brother will finish it all."
"Give it to my brother, I'll just eat the meat." Lin Bingwen quickly put the dried bean curds sticks into Lin Jingxing's bowl.
"Hmm, my good little brother, let me help you eat." Lin Jingxing reached out and patted his head, then popped another piece of dried bean curd sticks into his mouth.
"Thank you, brother."
Lin Jingxing couldn't suppress a smile. See, he's thanking us!
The dried bean curd sticks smell so good!
Lin Bingwen shoveled a mouthful of rice into his mouth. There was a little bit of dried bean curd sticks left in his bowl. As he chewed, his expression changed. There was no meat in the bowl, so why did it feel like he had eaten a piece of meat? Right, there was a small piece of dried bean curd sticks.
He was a little unsure and looked at his brother.
His brother devoured a piece of dried bean curd sticks, then a piece of kelp, followed by a bite of potato and lotus root—he ate so quickly and with such relish!
Something's not right!
His older brother clearly doesn't like vegetables either.
Lin Bingwen realized what was happening and reached for the last piece of dried bean curd sticks on the plate.
Lin Jingxing paused, looking at him with a gentle smile, "Little brother, let me help you eat."
Lin Bingwen immediately put it in his mouth, chewed it a couple of times, and his expression changed instantly; tears immediately streamed down his face: "Meat! You ate meat without telling me! Ah—"
"This isn't meat, it's vegetables. You don't like them, do you?" Lin Jingxing turned to pick up a potato, a hint of smugness in his smile. "You even picked it up for me yourself, and said thank you, brother."
Lin Zhiqiang was also overjoyed, laughing and saying, "If you keep crying, you won't even be able to eat potatoes later."
Lin Bingwen immediately stopped crying, quickly finished chewing and swallowing the dried bean curd sticks in his mouth, shoveled a big mouthful of rice, and then imitated his brother by picking up a potato.
The potato was delicious too! It tasted like meat!
"Dad, did Momo's brother cook the meat into potatoes?" Lin Bingwen asked, sniffing.
"May be." Lin Zhiqiang nodded with a smile.
"Then send my brother to be a chef! I want to eat such delicious food everyday." Lin Bingwen pleaded.
Lin Jingxing pouted, "If you're as cute as sister Momo, I'll go."
...