Chapter 443 - 215: My Sister is So Cute

Chapter 443: Chapter 215: My Sister is So Cute

She said she’d spent two years as a prep cook and a plating assistant in a restaurant’s back kitchen, and she really knew her stuff.

"Mrs. Li, how much does Mrs. Qiu pay you to work here each month?" Zhou Yan asked casually.

"My salary? Twenty yuan a month!" Speaking of her pay, a grateful expression appeared on Li Lihua’s face. "You know how it is—even a waitress at a state-owned restaurant makes twenty yuan a month. Mrs. Qiu is so good to me. She even covers my three meals and lets me live here."

"That’s pretty good," Zhou Yan nodded. He now had a rough idea of the situation.

The crucian carp was marinating in scallion and ginger water, and a paste made from minced chicken breast was set aside. In two large pots, beef and pork ribs simmered over a low flame. Zhou Yan glanced at his watch. It was exactly eleven o’clock.

Duan Yu Yan had said the banquet would begin promptly at noon.

With some time to spare, Zhou Yan stepped out of the kitchen to take a look around.

Starting today, this house would be his. Besides the kitchen tucked away in the corner, there were ten other rooms of various sizes. The front courtyard was larger, and past the main hall, there was a small garden. The master bedrooms were in the rear courtyard.

The white walls and green tiles bore the marks of time. The upturned eaves and carved wooden windows were especially exquisite.

’When the time comes,’ Zhou Yan mused, ’I could dismantle these green bricks, green tiles, and wooden windows and doors to build a new, exquisite courtyard. It would surely be a beautiful sight.’

’Wood that hasn’t rotted after decades must be of the highest quality. And nowadays, finding a carpenter with such skill is not a given. The time and expense would be an unknown variable.’

He had seen news reports of entire buildings being dismantled and rebuilt elsewhere. But the whole building was unnecessary; he only wanted some of the exquisite components to build a small courtyard that was both charming and suited to his lifestyle.

The more he looked, the more he liked the idea, but the question of where to build it gave him pause.

’It would be best to be close to the restaurant. Separating my business and my home would be a good option for the future.’

Of course, he still wanted to build a separate suite on the third floor of his restaurant. Waking up and drawing the curtains to a full view of the river, with the Great Buddha and the pagoda in the distance—what a beautiful scene that would be.

Zhou Yan didn’t enter the rear courtyard. The handover wasn’t official yet, so it wouldn’t be right to wander through the living quarters. He stood by the side door of the main hall, lost in thought, when he heard people talking and laughing as they approached.

Zhou Yan turned and saw Mrs. Qiu in the lead. Beside her was a young woman in a long cotton dress and gold-rimmed glasses, her long black hair draped over her shoulders, a smile on her face.

"Teacher Song?" Zhou Yan said, a little surprised.

The person with Mrs. Qiu was none other than Teacher Song Wanqing. Looking behind them, he saw Wang chatting with an old man who had a white beard and hair and was wearing a traditional long tunic.

If he wasn’t mistaken, this had to be the very Grandmaster Song Changhe whom Zhou Ming had been desperately trying to meet.

’So the two mysterious guests for today’s banquet are Song Wanqing and Song Changhe?’

’To think I’d meet Song Changhe before Zhou Ming did.’

’Jiazhou is a small world!’

’This is good, too. I’ll use this opportunity to get a feel for this Grandmaster Song’s temperament and see how I can help Zhou Ming break the impasse.’

"It’s you!" Song Wanqing was also surprised to see Zhou Yan here.

Hearing her, Song Changhe looked over at Zhou Yan. His sharp gaze swept over him, and a puzzled expression crossed his face when he noticed the chef’s uniform.

’So this is the boy from the Zhou Family? Why is a Martial Artist wearing a Chef’s uniform? He’s not bad-looking, reminds me a bit of myself in my prime. He just seems young, maybe even younger than Wanqing?’

’This girl has been acting as if she’s bewitched lately, always siding with that Zhou boy. Could it be because of his face?’

’So superficial! What was the point of reading all those classics?’

"Oh, you two know each other?" Mrs. Qiu asked with a smile.

"My cousin is a colleague of Teacher Song’s. I met her once when he went to visit Mr. Song, but unfortunately, I didn’t get to meet Mr. Song himself," Zhou Yan said with a smile.

"Yes, we’ve met once," Song Wanqing said, nodding with a smile. She then introduced him to Song Changhe. "This is Zhou Ming’s younger brother. He’s the one who makes the braised meat."

A smile appeared on Song Changhe’s face when he heard this. He nodded at Zhou Yan. "Young friend, the braised meat you make is excellent."

"I’m glad you like it, Mr. Song. My name is Zhou Yan. I’ve heard so much about you," Zhou Yan replied with a smile. ’This old gentleman doesn’t seem that eccentric. Why couldn’t Ming even get a meeting with him?’

"Zhou Yan, where is your braised food shop? I’ll stop by sometime to buy some braised pig’s head meat. It would be perfect with a drink," Song Changhe added. He glanced at Song Wanqing, a hint of smugness in his smile.

Song Wanqing bit her lip. ’This crafty old man is pretty sharp.’

Zhou Yan smiled. "My restaurant is in a rural town. If you’d like some braised pig’s head meat, Mr. Song, I can have Ming bring you some later. Since he and Teacher Song are colleagues, it’s very convenient."

Song Changhe’s smile vanished. He glanced at Zhou Yan. ’This kid seems to be up to something, too.’

’If I ask him to bring me braised pig’s head meat often, won’t that give him an excuse to see Wanqing every day?’

"Alright, we’ll see about it next time," Song Changhe said with a nod, not pursuing the topic further.

Zhou Yan looked at Mrs. Qiu and smiled. "Mrs. Qiu, all the guests have arrived. I’ll go prepare the meal now. We’ll serve at twelve on the dot?"

"Alright. Thank you for your hard work," Mrs. Qiu nodded.

Zhou Yan turned and walked toward the kitchen.

"Mrs. Qiu, how do you know Zhou Yan?" Song Wanqing asked curiously, sitting down beside her.

Her grandfather and Mr. Duan were friends for decades. He had saved their lives when they were young. Moreover, back when they were sent down to the countryside, her grandfather happened to be in the local Armed Forces Department and looked out for them, ensuring they didn’t suffer too much hardship.