Chương 75: Little Painter Zhou Momo

This morning's events didn't affect the restaurant's reputation. On the contrary, news of Zhou Yan reporting Wang Qi for selling diseased pork spread. Everyone felt that Zhou Yan deserved credit for Wang Qi's arrest, further increasing their goodwill towards him. Business was even better today than yesterday.

"Little Zhou, has the letter been mailed yet?" Lin Zhiqiang asked with a smile during their evening run.

"Not yet..." Zhou Yan felt slightly embarrassed thinking about how sleepy he was last night while writing, but quickly straightened his back.

"I'll definitely finish writing it tonight."

"What's so difficult about replying? Do you want me to teach you?" Lin Zhiqiang said with a smile.

"No need to trouble Uncle Lin." Zhou Yan shook his head. Uncle Lin's foreign knowledge was simply no match. How could "love tiger oil" be paired with "a lifetime of one love"? He had already received the master's complete instruction, and with the martial arts manual in hand, he would start practicing tonight.... Back at the restaurant, Zhou Yan bathed and changed, then first put the bill on the books. Today, twenty extra servings of twice-cooked pork with garlic sprouts sold out.

Two fewer servings of crucian carp with mint were sold compared to yesterday. Of the two remaining servings of spare ribs, one was given to Zhao Hong's sister-in-law to take home, and the other to Zhou Momo for a late-night snack. The turnover reached 346 yuan, more than twenty yuan more than yesterday, with a profit of 176. 3 yuan. Yesterday, he spent 36. 2 yuan on building the stove, buying the pot, and spices. He counted his savings; they had reached 694. 84 yuan.

Zhou Yan wrote and calculated on the paper, his eyes lighting up. All the debts were paid off! After paying off the debts, he would still have 6. 32 yuan left! The turnover had increased significantly in the past two days, and his savings rate had increased accordingly. If business could be maintained tomorrow, he would still have over a hundred yuan left after paying off the debts. With money for gifts, he could also settle the wages for Zhao's aunt and Zhao Hong tomorrow, the first of the month.

Zhou Yan took out the IOUs and counted out the money according to the amount on each IOU. My second uncle's family owes me 100 yuan. Zhou Hao's wedding is the day after tomorrow, and I'll give them the money tomorrow. Zhou Jie said that they've already bought the "three turns and one sound" (a traditional Chinese house renovation project), and the four major pieces of furniture. They're also hiring a local chef for the banquet.

Although buying the ingredients themselves will save some money, both sides' relatives will easily fill over thirty tables, costing at least 500 yuan for two meals. Zhou Hao's allowance is all sent back to his mother for safekeeping. My second uncle can earn quite a bit by slaughtering cattle, but this wedding will probably empty the old couple's savings. My eldest uncle's family also owes me 100 yuan, and Hai Zi's family owes me 80 yuan...

Zhou Yan counted out the money, tied it with a small rope according to the IOU, and put it back in the money box. He'll keep the 160 yuan owed to Zhou Jie and Zhou Hai for now; he still needs to buy meat and vegetables tomorrow morning, so there's no rush to give it to them when he gets back tonight. After settling the accounts, Zhou Yan's face lit up with a smile. It feels so good to be debt-free.

Putting away the account book, Zhou Yan took out some letter paper and a small notebook, sat up straight, and began to write a letter.

"Xia Yao: I was overjoyed to receive your letter, as if we were face to face again. If you like rice candy, I'll send you some more next time. Today I went back to my grandma's house in the countryside and ate some ripe persimmons from the tree. They were so sweet, but unfortunately, they're too delicate to share with you..." Having mastered the opening lines, Zhou Yan's thoughts flowed freely, and he wrote three pages on the letter, mainly sharing some small joys in life.

He also offered some insights and suggestions regarding Xia Yao's confusion about her design direction. Zhou Yan didn't understand design, but he had seen countless exquisite, high-end, and ingenious designs in his previous life. As a million-follower blogger who was responsible for shooting, appearing on camera, editing, and also handling advertising, he had considerable experience. In this era of hand-drawn advertisements, he couldn't give her professional advice, but perhaps he could offer some inspiration.

It was like a delayed dialogue on paper, which Zhou Yan found quite interesting.

"Aunt Zhao and Momo often think of you and asked me to give them their regards. I'll stop here for now and not go on to say more. Zhou Yan." Zhou Yan put down his pen and nodded in satisfaction. It wasn't as difficult as he had imagined. After the ink dried, he carefully folded the letter, put it in an envelope with a stamp, filled in the address, and dropped it in the mailbox tomorrow. This was the first time Zhou Yan had written a letter to someone. It Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve.

Read this novel on the original website. was a bit strange; even though it hadn't been sent yet, he was already looking forward to a reply.... The next day, at the crack of dawn, Master Zhou went out to buy groceries. Today, his second uncle Zhou Ze's family didn't slaughter a cow, and Zhou Jie wasn't setting up his stall either; they were both busy preparing for Zhou Hao's wedding banquet. His sister-in-law was from the next village and was Zhou Hao's junior high school classmate.

They had started dating before he joined the army. The two families were hosting the banquet together, and the village cook had to prepare many ingredients in advance, so the host family had to prepare many things today. For example, cold dishes; there wouldn't be enough time to braise them tomorrow, so the meat had to be bought and braised today, soaked in the marinade, so that it would be just right for slicing and plating tomorrow.

"I heard from your second aunt that they're having thirty tables. The village cook won't serve any dishes, just cook, and he'll charge ninety yuan for two meals. That's a bit expensive," Aunt Zhao said, sitting in the back seat, somewhat astonished. (The latest novels are first published on 69shu. com!)"Three yuan per table, two meals a day, that's not too expensive," Zhou Yan said with a smile.

"He definitely couldn't handle this kind of banquet by himself; he'd need helpers, and if there's a cold dish chef, he'd have to share the profits with them. He also needs to prepare a day in advance, provide the cookware, knives, and probably stock up on seasonings himself—all costs."

"These banquets aren't something you can do every day. A typical village cook might get two or three a month, that's good. For about ten tables, he'd charge thirty yuan, making around a hundred yuan a month."

"If you're working as a village cook, being self-employed, you'll definitely earn more than a regular job," Aunt Zhao nodded repeatedly, sighing, "Now that you mention it, I think it makes sense. Being a cook isn't easy; you look so tired after a long day." Zhou Yan smiled but didn't reply. Being a village cook is tiring, but if you can build a reputation, you can earn a lot.

He's quite stable with his current shop and doesn't want to earn that kind of money, but for many cooks, it's better than working in a regular restaurant kitchen. Back at the shop, Zhou Yan first checked the stove he'd built the day before. Because it was next to another stove, the temperature was higher, and it was almost dry. Zhou Yan put a large aluminum pot on it to test it; it was sturdy and worked perfectly.

"So, after you finish your work this morning, are you going back to pick up your grandma?" Aunt Zhao asked, standing at the kitchen doorway.

"Yes, I told her yesterday." Zhou Yan nodded, glancing at the jar in the corner. With this pot of old braising liquid, his cold dish business should be easier. As usual, he first cooked the broth and stir-fried the toppings. After that, Zhou Yan started pulling noodles, arranging everyone's lunch. Everyone had gotten up early and worked hard that morning, so they were all hungry.

"Brother, I want noodles too!" Zhou Momo appeared at the kitchen doorway.

"Hey, Momo, why are you up so early today?" Zhou Yan turned around and smiled at Zhou Momo, whose hair was sticking up in two little tufts. The little one was clearly still sleepy, rubbing her sleepy eyes, holding a piece of paper in her hand, and waving it at him: "A drawing, for Sister Yaoyao."

"What?" Zhou Yan asked, puzzled.

"She also drew a picture for Xia Yao, and wants you to send it to her together." Aunt Zhao held a hot towel in her hand, smiling especially kindly, "She drew all night last night."

"That's right..." Zhou Momo had just nodded when the hot towel was slapped on her face, leaving only a string of "Aba aba aba..." in her little baby voice.

"Oh my, our little Zhou Momo is a little artist too?" Zhou Yan laughed, not expecting the little one to have such a clever idea.

"Okay, I'll put it in for you later." After Aunt Zhao finished her face-rubbing service, Zhou Momo, who was still a little drowsy, suddenly woke up. She blinked her big eyes, pouted, put her hands on her hips, and looked up at Aunt Zhao with a slightly aggrieved expression: "Mommy, didn't you say you'd be gentle? I didn't get any pinching!" Zhao Tieying smiled and said, "You don't get any pinching because you get your face rubbed every day. If you don't rub it, you'll get pustules and worms.

Look how fresh and clean you are after the rubbing! I'll braid two little braids for you, and everyone will say you're very well-behaved."

"Really?" Zhou Momo pouted, looking thoughtful.

"Definitely."

"Okay, then I'll forgive you today." Zhou Momo lowered her hands from her hips and moved closer to Aunt Zhao.

"To make it look nice, braid both sides."

"Alright, come on, let's go braid by the door." Aunt Zhao took her hand.

"Wait!" Zhou Momo pulled her hand away, ran to Zhou Yan's side, tiptoed, and stuffed the letter in her hand into his apron pocket before running back to take Aunt Zhao's hand, saying in a childish voice, "Come on, let's braid!" ((End of Chapter)