Chapter 300 - 174: The Breakout Plan

Chapter 300: Chapter 174: The Breakout Plan

The old lady’s words were filled with guidance and cautionary advice.

Zhou Yan smiled and nodded. "I understand. I’m not going to overreach right now. It’s enough for me to first secure my place here in Suji."

Comrade Zhou had tried to hold a big bowl with small hands and ended up shattering it to pieces.

Zhou Yan took it as a cautionary tale.

The old lady possessed great wisdom, and Zhou Yan couldn’t agree more.

After listening, Zhang Zhengping chuckled. "That’s right. Listen to Third Sister. She’s right."

The small family dinner today was exceptionally harmonious and pleasant.

No one compared incomes or pestered the kids about their grades. Instead, they talked about how everyone was doing and shared their hopes for the future.

The old lady was in high spirits today and had a little extra to drink.

Her granduncle had a few drinks and got a little tipsy. He pulled the old lady into reminiscing about their childhood, and when the stories turned emotional, his eyes grew misty. He was a man who wore his heart on his sleeve.

After dinner, Zhou Lihui sidled up to Zhou Yan and whispered, "Uncle, I don’t want to go to school anymore. I want to come to the restaurant and learn to cook as soon as the holidays start. I want to start my career as a Chef early."

Zhou Yan looked at him and smiled. "There’s only half a year left after winter break. You’re not going to get your middle school diploma?"

"Uncle, is a middle school diploma important if I want to be a Chef?" Zhou Lihui asked, looking at him with a serious expression. It wasn’t a rhetorical question; he genuinely wanted to know.

"If you’re set on being a Chef for the rest of your life and never changing jobs, then a middle school diploma isn’t that important," Zhou Yan analyzed seriously. "But if you study for a year or so and decide being a Chef isn’t what you thought it would be, and you want to go out and make your own way, maybe get a factory job, then that diploma becomes very important as proof that you have a basic education."

"I want to be a Chef!" Zhou Lihui nodded firmly. "A Chef for life."

Zhou Fei was sitting nearby, listening. He looked as if he wanted to speak but hesitated, ultimately just looking at Zhou Yan without saying a word.

Zhou Yan thought for a moment. "Practice the Straight Blade Technique until winter break. When the time comes, you can come to the restaurant and be in charge of slicing potatoes and lotus roots. If you can endure the hardships of being a Chef, then we can talk about the next steps."

"Okay!" Zhou Lihui nodded.

Zhou Yan added a warning, "And at school, make sure you practice your handwriting and learn more characters. During winter break, I’m going to give you a test. I don’t take on illiterate apprentices who can’t even write out the names of all the seasonings, spices, and kitchen utensils."

"No problem!" Zhou Lihui grinned, full of confidence. "I can already write all the seasonings we have in the restaurant now."

"He’s been practicing his handwriting for a few pages every night before bed. He says his Uncle’s handwriting is so good, and a good Chef needs to have good handwriting too." Zhao Hong, who was clearing the table, chimed in with a smile when she overheard them.

"That’s great." Zhou Yan smiled as well upon hearing this.

"Zhou Yan." Zhou Weiguo, who was smoking by the door, called out to him.

Zhou Yan quickly stood up and walked out the door, smiling. "Uncle, what’s up?"

"I ran into Mayor Huang Chen at the cafeteria during lunch today. He told me they had a meeting this morning to discuss vigorously promoting and developing Kneeling Beef. They plan to use you as the benchmark to build up the Suji Kneeling Beef industry," Zhou Weiguo said, lowering his voice.

"Wow, that’s fantastic news!" Zhou Yan’s face lit up. He thought for a moment, then asked, "But what are their specific plans for promotion and development?"

"He didn’t get into the specifics with me, but he wanted me to reassure you. No matter how they promote and build it up, they will absolutely not harm your interests, nor will they ask you to share your recipe with everyone," Zhou Weiguo said. "Moreover, they’ll support you in building the reputation of Kneeling Beef and will crack down hard on any malicious competition."

"That’s fantastic." Zhou Yan clenched his fist. ’This really does put my mind at ease.’

In the future, Kneeling Beef would become Suji’s signature dish. Countless Kneeling Beef restaurants would start here and spread across the entire country.

Relying on Kneeling Beef, Suji would become a major draw for tourism in Jiazhou. A ceaseless flow of visitors would allow the old Kneeling Beef restaurants that had established their brands to make a fortune.

As the number of Cow Slaughterers in Zhou Village grew, it was an unstoppable trend for the Suji Kneeling Beef scene to flourish. Even without Zhou Yan, it would have entered a period of rapid development starting in the 1980s.

Is Kneeling Beef difficult to make?

Achieving a perfect fusion of various Chinese medicinal herbs and spices was certainly not simple. But if the only requirements were a clear broth and a delicious, savory flavor, it actually wasn’t that hard.

Any cook who knew how to make a good soup could refine the broth-making process, then make gradual adjustments and improvements.

As long as there was money to be made, cooks had all the patience in the world.

Simmering rich stock from fresh beef bones, blanching fresh tripe and beef—as long as the Fire Control was good, the flavor would never be bad.

Being backed by Slaughter Ox Zhou Village, which provided a daily supply of fresh beef offal and meat, was the fundamental reason Suji’s Kneeling Beef was able to develop and thrive.

What Zhou Yan had now was a first-mover advantage, having achieved a brand-building effect through the cover of *Sichuan Cuisine* magazine.

With the two brands of "Zhou Yan Restaurant" and "Zhou’s Kneeling Beef" established, as long as his quality didn’t slip, he was guaranteed a place in the world of Suji’s Kneeling Beef.

The old lady was right. One person, one bowl. The first step was to hold his own bowl steady.

Instead of thinking about snatching the rice from everyone else’s bowls, it was better to find a way to make the whole pot of rice bigger. Then, he could hold the ladle and take the choicest scoop from the very center.

Huang Chen was in charge of the economy. If he was intent on supporting the Kneeling Beef industry, willing to help build its reputation, and even willing to help fight potential malicious competition, then Zhou Yan absolutely had to seize this opportunity.

"I expect they’ll come talk to you once they’ve worked out a specific plan," Zhou Weiguo said, relieved to see Zhou Yan being so open-minded.