Chapter 274 - 165: Smells So Good

Chapter 274: Chapter 165: Smells So Good

"This is so fluffy and delicious! It’s bursting with egg flavor and perfectly seasoned. So good!" Mrs. Zhao polished off half an egg pancake in one go, nodding repeatedly in praise. She couldn’t help but reflect, ’Compared to this, what I make doesn’t even deserve to be called an egg pancake.’

Comrade Zhou also ate half a pancake. He said thoughtfully, "Zhou Yan’s egg pancakes are delicious, but I think yours are just as good. In fact, I actually prefer them a little thicker. They have a better chew."

"You’re just talking nonsense," Mrs. Zhao shot him a look, but the corners of her mouth couldn’t help but lift into a smile. She used her chopsticks to pick up the other pancake from his bowl. "Since you don’t like it, our daughter and I will split it."

"Sounds good," Comrade Zhou grinned.

"Mommy, I love you too!" Zhou Momo’s eyes lit up as she watched half a pancake suddenly appear on her plate.

Zhou Yan smiled. ’They’re so happy over a few plain pancakes. This family of mine is so easy to please.’

In his previous life, he wasn’t much of a cook, but his skill at pan-frying egg pancakes was decent—one of the few presentable dishes he could make.

Of course, that was mainly because the recipe and method were simple. It was easy to master after a few practice runs.

As long as there were eggs and flour in the fridge, he could easily whip up a tasty egg pancake for himself.

After a quick rinse of the wok, Zhou Yan came out of the kitchen wiping his hands. He opened the cloth bag in the bike basket and took out the magazine.

"You went to the library to borrow a book this late?" Comrade Zhou asked casually as he was about to clear the bowls.

"I didn’t borrow it. Chief Editor He gave it to me. He came to interview our Grand-uncle today, and I happened to run into him," Zhou Yan said with a smile. "Our family’s Kneeling Beef is on the cover of the new issue, and there’s a two-page feature."

"Really!" Mrs. Zhao’s eyes lit up, and she shot to her feet.

"That’s fantastic!" Comrade Zhou forgot about clearing the bowls, his eyes fixed on the magazine in Zhou Yan’s hands.

Only Zhou Momo’s Dao Heart was unshakable. She paid no mind to the world around her, focused solely on her egg pancake.

"Look, this is the photo they took that day." Zhou Yan placed the magazine on the table.

"Oh, my! It’s such a nice photo, so clear! We didn’t borrow your grandma’s bowls for nothing," Mrs. Zhao exclaimed. She wiped her hands on her clothes several times before carefully picking up the magazine to examine it, her face filled with joy.

"It really looks amazing! The magazine cover... that’s so impressive!" Comrade Zhou was also ecstatic.

Having their little restaurant featured on a magazine cover was something they had never dared to imagine.

’Aren’t newspapers only for big shots?’

’They didn’t know much about magazines, but it surely had to be a big deal too.’

"Zhou Yan, what’s the benefit of being in this magazine?" Mrs. Zhao asked, looking at him.

Comrade Zhou also looked at him.

"This is the most professional culinary magazine in the province. It has a pretty wide influence nationwide and is loved and sought after by chefs and food lovers," Zhou Yan explained with a smile. "Generally, only the big names in the industry get featured, like my Grand-uncle, who’s a famous chef in Jiazhou."

Mrs. Zhao and Comrade Zhou were stunned for a moment after hearing this.

"Doesn’t that mean you’ve become a famous chef too?" Mrs. Zhao asked joyfully.

"A rising star at best," Zhou Yan said, waving his hand dismissively. "But it will make a name for our Kneeling Beef, and maybe more customers will come to eat. It’s basically an advertisement."

"That’s still a wonderful thing!" Comrade Zhou couldn’t help but clap in approval.

With Zhou Yan’s comparison, they now had a rough idea of the magazine’s prestige.

They were absolutely beaming, unable to contain their joy.

Mrs. Zhao flipped through the magazine and quickly found the page with Zhou Yan’s picture. She nodded repeatedly. "This solo photo is great too! He’s so handsome. It’s just a shame it’s printed in black and white, not as clear as the cover."

"It’s still pretty clear. Look at this old fellow next to him, his face is so dark you can’t even make out his features," Comrade Zhou commented.

Mrs. Zhao handed the magazine to Old Zhou. "Read it aloud. Let’s hear what they wrote."

As a "survivor" of the literacy campaign, Mrs. Zhao didn’t know many characters, barely able to write her own family’s names.

Comrade Zhou took the magazine and began to read with great feeling: "A New Beef Dish to Dazzle the Taste Buds—Suji Kneeling Beef! Suji Ancient Town, located in Jiazhou, is a town with a long and storied history..."

"Young Chef Zhou Yan has replicated and optimized this historic Kneeling Beef recipe, truly achieving a fresh, savory broth with a unique flavor. Its dual benefits of dispelling cold and dampness are a continuation of the spirit of the old traditional Chinese medicine doctors who once practiced along the Qingyi Riverfront to help the people.

With its unique flavor and moving origin story, Kneeling Beef may well become the next famous dish of Jiazhou in the near future.

At only twenty years old, young Chef Zhou Yan’s spirit of inheriting and promoting tradition, of bravely striving for new heights, is truly admirable.

Zhou Yan Restaurant is located to the left of the main entrance of the Jiazhou Textile Factory in Suji Town. In addition to Kneeling Beef, Zhou Yan’s cooking is known for its fresh, fragrant, and rich flavors, with his braised meat being particularly exceptional. The restaurant is packed daily and is well worth a visit."

"They wrote it so well! The way they described the story of Kneeling Beef makes it sound even better," Mrs. Zhao said happily.

Comrade Zhou also looked emotional. "Such brilliant writing. And they even gave us a plug at the end. Chief Editor He is a great guy, really great!"

Zhou Yan hadn’t actually finished reading the article when he was out earlier. Hearing Comrade Zhou read it all, he also nodded repeatedly.

Writers from this era really had a way with words. They embellished the story behind Kneeling Beef beautifully.

They also added some dramatic flair to the part about him discovering the recipe by chance and recreating Kneeling Beef, painting him as a diligent, ambitious, and highly skilled "Five-Good Youth" Chef.

’That’s pretty good.’

’He wouldn’t have the nerve to hype himself up like that.’

’But hearing other people praise him like this...’

’It feels pretty damn good.’

’Chief Editor He is a great guy!’

’He even gave us a free ad at the end!’

For that last sentence of advertising alone, Zhou Yan felt he should treat He Zhiyuan to a meal.

"Put this magazine away safely. Next time we go back to the village, we’ll take it to show everyone." Mrs. Zhao carefully closed the magazine, her fingers gently stroking the picture of the Kneeling Beef on the cover. Just thinking about the looks on the faces of those old biddies in Zhou Village made her want to laugh.

"I’m planning to go back to my mom’s place tomorrow to get a hoe. Do you want to go?" Comrade Zhou asked with a smile.

"Yes!" Mrs. Zhao nodded immediately. "It’s perfect timing. I can go check if the goose I asked my mother to raise has grown. I’ll catch one and bring it back to be slaughtered."

Zhou Yan glanced at Comrade Zhou. ’Dad sure knows Mom well.’

Zhou Yan took out the envelope again, opening it as he said, "Oh right, Chief Editor He also had our group photos developed and gave them to me."

He opened the envelope and three photographs fell out.

Two were group photos, and the third was a solo shot of Zhou Yan standing in front of the restaurant. It was the same one printed in the magazine, but this one was in color.

Mrs. Zhao picked up a group photo first. The family of four was standing together, their faces beaming with smiles.

"This was taken so well. This is our family’s first group photo," Mrs. Zhao said, looking very pleased.

Comrade Zhou also said with a smile, "I’ll go to the supply and marketing co-op later and buy a couple of picture frames for them. That way they won’t get dirty."

Mrs. Zhao then picked up Zhou Yan’s solo photo, her smile growing even wider. "Chief Editor He is so thoughtful, he even had a solo picture developed for you. This is a great photo! If someone introduces you to a potential match later, we can show the young lady the photo first. It’ll save a lot of trouble."

"If she sees the photo, she’ll definitely want to come see you in person," Comrade Zhou said.

"Of course. The son I gave birth to is just that handsome," Mrs. Zhao said smugly. After a moment’s thought, she looked at Zhou Yan and asked, "Next time you write to Xia Yao, why not send her a photo?"

"Send a photo for what?!" Zhou Yan shook his head repeatedly. He already felt awkward about the drawing of him that Zhou Momo had sent to Xia Yao last time; sending a real photo was even more ridiculous.

"Then send her a copy of the magazine. It’s not every day you get featured. It’s one thing not to send it to others, but you definitely have to send one to Xia Yao." Mrs. Zhao analyzed the situation for him with a serious expression, "It’s not good for us to praise our own, like Granny Wang hawking her melons. But now that someone else is praising you, and it’s all true, you have to show a young lady your excellent side."

"Mom, don’t worry about it," Zhou Yan said with a laugh, putting the photos back into the envelope. "Dad, I’ll go buy the frames tomorrow. I’m going to take a shower now. It’s going to be another busy day tomorrow."

"Alright," Comrade Zhou nodded.

"Remember to buy a copy to send to Xia Yao later! I’m keeping this one," Mrs. Zhao called after Zhou Yan’s retreating back.

"Okay~" Zhou Yan called back.

Mrs. Zhao pulled Comrade Zhou to sit back down and flipped the magazine back a page. "Read it to me again. Teach me word by word, so I’ll know how to tell everyone later without seeming uneducated."

"Come on, then." Comrade Zhou smiled, pointed at the title, and said, "Shocking..."

"Shocking!" Zhou Momo, having finished her egg pancake, also scooted over and repeated in her high, childish voice.

A single issue of *Sichuan Cuisine* magazine brought a great deal of joy and laughter to the Zhou Family.

Zhou Yan grabbed his clothes and went to the backyard to wash up. His mind was already on how he would tell his grandmother about the interview tomorrow, and he wondered if she would agree.

...

「At the same time」

In a single-story house in Suji Town, Xiao Lei was soaking his feet.

There were two pairs of feet in the steaming wooden basin. The slightly plump, middle-aged woman sitting across from him was his wife, Ma Dongmei. Her eyes were wide and her mouth was slightly agape in surprise. "Are you saying that Zhou Yan got into *Sichuan Cuisine* magazine, something even your master’s junior brother hasn’t managed, and his dish even made the cover?"

Xiao Lei nodded. "Yes. The magazine’s deputy chief editor, He Zhiyuan, gave a copy to Zhou Yan today. He said it’s already on sale in Rongcheng, so it should be available at the newsstands in Jiazhou tomorrow.

Zhou Yan’s Kneeling Beef really is that good. It’s a traditional dish from his home, Zhou Village. The authentic method was lost for a time, and it was he who revived the tradition, which is why He Zhiyuan did a special feature on him."

Ma Dongmei looked delighted. "This is a wonderful thing! That kid was fired because of the conflict he had with Wang De on your behalf. Now his restaurant is booming, he’s gotten a magazine feature... his life is getting better and better."

"Yes. Getting a feature and the cover at such a young age... his future accomplishments will surely surpass mine." Xiao Lei also nodded, full of gratification. "He practiced his Knife Skills for over two years but was only average. I never expected his talent with Fire Control and seasoning to be so high. I feel like I held him back before."

"Knife Skills are a fundamental. How can you say you held him back?" Ma Dongmei looked at him with a knowing smile. "You’re telling me all this because you want me to go to Suji tomorrow and buy a few copies of the latest issue of *Sichuan Cuisine* for you, right?"

"Meimei, you’re brilliant," Xiao Lei said, grasping her hand in admiration.

"Magic Cloak." Ma Dongmei rolled her eyes at him. "Just tell me, how much is a copy? How many do you plan to buy?"

"I saw the price. Fifty cents a copy. Just buy me..." Xiao Lei hesitated, then held up two fingers. "Two copies."

"Alright," Ma Dongmei nodded. "I’ll take the bus to Jiazhou tomorrow morning to buy them for you."

"Meimei, you’re the best!"

"Zhou Yan is your apprentice, and he calls me Shiniang. That kid is respectful and responsible. I’m just as happy that he’s becoming so successful."

"Of course."

"Save a copy for me. I’ll take it with me when I go out to play mahjong and show it to my friends. Let them see what a capable apprentice we have."

"Deal!"

...