The Sichuan people's meticulous attention to food is ingrained in their DNA.
If someone is disgusted by food, they can't help but vent their anger. Who could bear such humiliation?
Upon hearing the noise, Zhou Yan couldn't help but scoot over to the door to take a look at the excitement.
Many people gathered at the factory gate to watch the excitement, some even coming out with their bowls in hand.
Isn't this better than the cafeteria food?
Wang Laowu stood in front of the noodle pot, being scolded, like an eggplant hit by frost, wilting.
His wife blushed, wishing she could find a place to hide.
The weather in late October was cooler in the mornings and evenings, but the daytime heat was still quite high.
Wang Laowu had draped a layer of oilcloth over his noodle stall, leaving the bases and stew to dry all day and then overnight. By noon today, they'd naturally developed a slightly sour smell.
"It's just... just a little leftover from yesterday, picked out from the meat. How could it possibly not taste good?" Wang Laowu pouts, a bit aggrieved.
Who would be willing to throw away beef at two yuan a pound?
Yesterday, thanks to the Zhou Erwa Restaurant, most of the bases and stew they'd prepared were left over. With the price significantly reduced today, the couple decided to stir-fry a large pot of ingredients and mix them in. It shouldn't be noticeable.
He didn't expect the sun to be so scorching today, and the temperature to rise so quickly. It's already smelling sour at noon, and even pepper can't cover it up.
"No matter how bad the noodles in the cafeteria taste, they're better than your leftovers!"
"That's right! Zhou Yan's place looks clean and hygienic! Spend an extra twenty cents and eat with peace of mind!"
The customers had no time for Wang Laowu's sophistry and immediately got up and headed for Zhou Erwa Restaurant.
"Hey, you haven't paid yet!" Wang Laowu's wife, Liu Fen, said anxiously.
"You still dare to ask for money? It's a good thing we didn't tear your stall down! Do you believe I'll report you to the Market Management Committee?" Liu Laoba raged, "I trusted you so much! I've been eating noodles at your place for years!"
"That's right!" Wang Jianming snorted, and walked away without looking back.
Liu Fen wanted to argue.
"Stop it!" Wang Laowu tugged at Liu Fen's clothes and whispered, "If they really report us, we won't be able to run our stall anymore."
"It's all your fault. I told you it was too hot, so the food would go bad. Now all the customers are going to Zhou Yan's restaurant. What should we do?" Liu Fen stamped her feet in frustration.
They'd invested heavily today trying to steal Zhou Yan's business, and now only half the stew and bases were left. If they couldn't sell them, they wouldn't even be able to recoup their investment.
"It's all Zhou Yan's fault. Otherwise, we wouldn't had so much stew left yesterday." Wang Laowu wore a mask of anguish. The tarnished reputation he'd built over the years was even more devastating than these few pots of stew.
"Tsk, tsk, tsk, tsk! This wicked guy is giving customers leftovers. His conscience has been gnawed by a dog!" Zhao Tieying, who had also come to watch the fun, smacked her lips and chuckled. "See, it's true that a wicked nosy woman with a widower's eggs deserves it—it's all their own fault!"
Zhao Tieying spoke loudly, and the guests approaching the restaurant heard her.
"Miss Zhao is right!"
Some customers also laughed and cursed, their favorable impression of Miss Zhao significantly increased.
Wang Laowu and Liu Fen's faces turned green. They were so wrong that they didn't even dare to respond.
Mother and son smiled at each other, and Zhou Yan silently gave his mother a thumbs-up. When it came to critical hits, Miss Zhao, the Yin Yang Master, had to be the one.
Wang Laowu's revelation significantly alleviated Zhou Yan's stockpiling pressure.
Many customers who had originally come for the 40 cents over 100g meaty noodles, after hearing that Wang Laowu used leftovers, decisively chose Zhou Erwa Restaurant, which had been highly recommended, and customer traffic increased significantly.
Wang Laowu and Liu Fen, looking worried, watched over their empty stall.
"Why don't we ask Director Wang to come and support us? If this keeps up, we'll be out of business." Liu Fen whispered, tugging at Wang Laowu's sleeve.
"Go ahead and ask him, and I'll..." Wang Laowu whispered to her.
"Okay." Liu Fen nodded, and hurried off.
Wang Laowu stood up, picked up a half-cooked bowl of braised beef with bases, and shouted, "I was wrong about what happened today. I shouldn't have cared about the leftover beef, and I shouldn't have let the customers eat the leftover stew and bases. I'm wrong, and I'll take the blame. No objection.
However, I've been selling noodles at the textile factory entrance for two years, and this is the first time I've done something like this. I hope everyone can give me a chance to change my ways. I swear, from today on, our noodle stall will never use leftovers again."
With that, he poured the beef bases into the nearby slop bucket. The half-filled enamel basin held at least two or three pounds of beef.
Then he picked up another basin of minced meat stew and poured it into the slop bucket.
Wang Laowu's actions attracted the attention of many workers.
This was all meat, something most people only eat once or twice a month, yet it was wasted like this.
Wang Laowu poured three basins of stew and bases before stopping. He then said loudly, "The remaining bases and stew are all good. They were freshly cooked this morning, and there's absolutely no leftovers!"
"To express our apology, I'll treat everyone to free noodles. One bowl of noodles and one ounce of meat. No need to pay a cent! Consider it my way of apologizing!"
As soon as these words were spoken, many workers' eyes lit up.
Customers who were originally heading to Zhou Erwa Restaurant couldn't help but stop in their tracks.
A bowl of noodles and one ounce of meat, for free, sounds quite appealing.
"It's free, why not give it a try? Everyone else tried Wang Laowu before and said it was okay?"
"If someone admits their mistakes and can correct them, they should be given a chance."
"He doesn't know he's wrong, he's just scared. If you want to go, go ahead. I'll eat at Zhou Yan's restaurant."
The workers murmured. Some headed for Wang Laowu's noodle stall, while others headed resolutely for Zhou Erwa Restaurant.
Wang Laowu's lip curled. His gamble had been right. The remaining stew would go bad if left alone tomorrow. Might as well give it away for free to restore his reputation. Then, he could continue to sell noodles at a lower price for a while, and this matter would gradually pass.
Zhao Tieying collected the bowls and went into the kitchen to discuss the matter with Zhou Yan.
"He's quite courageous." Zhou Yan paused as he scooped up the noodles. Wang Laowu's crisis PR response was quick enough. He didn't think his self-destruction alone would bring down the stall was enough.
He wonder if that station master, Gao, is reliable, and whether he can bring Wang Laowu down.
"Don't worry. Sooner or later, God will punish such wicked behavior." Zhao Tieying reassured Zhou Yan with a smile. "We just need to make the noodles well, and ensure our customers feel safe while eating. That's the most important thing."
"You're right." Zhou Yan nodded with a smile. Miss Zhao was indeed someone who didn't let her own frustrations get in the way.
As word spread of the free noodles, Wang Laowu's stall quickly became bustling again, with seven or eight people sitting around in no time.
Wang Laowu stood in front of the large pot, cooking noodles, a smile on his face. Losing a little wasn't a big deal; as long as the business kept going, he'd make it back sooner or later.
Even then, Liu Fen had invited Wang Defa over.
Wang Defa, hands behind his back and a bulging belly, stood in front the noodle pot, chastising him bitterly: "Wang Laowu, you're so stupid! What did I teach you? We need to ensure our fellow workers eat well, eat their fill, and, most importantly, eat with peace of mind."
"Director Wang, you're right. I was blinded by greed and just couldn't bear to waste meat. I'll never do that again." Wang Laowu nodded vigorously.
"Well, I know you're used to being frugal, and I understand since everyone just had a full meal. But you absolutely can't do this again." Wang Defa nodded slightly, his tone softening considerably.
"Your noodles are quite good. The meat is just as good as in the factory cafeteria, the portions are generous, and the prices are affordable. Unlike some restaurants that only care about money, like capitalists."
"As I should, as I should." Wang Laowu agreed.
Wang Defa and Wang Laowu's duet was so effective that even Zhou Yan, who was serving noodles, couldn't help but stop and listen. One shouldn't underestimate the wisdom of the common people. Their PR tactics were no better than those of some makeshift troupes of later generations, and they even disgusted him.
"Director Wang from the factory cafeteria praises Wang Laowu's noodles so highly, which means they're truly excellent."
"The factory cafeteria's meat is preferentially supplied by the supply and marketing cooperative. Wang Laowu is certainly willing to invest."
"How about I go back and call everyone in the workshop? These free meals don't come around often."
The workers nodded repeatedly. Some sat down to try some, while others prepared to call their friends.
Wang Defa smiled smugly and prepared to deliver a few more official remarks.
Just then, two jeeps drove up and stopped in front of the noodle stall.
Two white-coated epidemic prevention officers got out of the car in front, painted "Jiazhou Epidemic Prevention Station." One of them was Gao Tianlei.
Two men in hats got out of the car behind. They glanced at the noodle stall sign, then looked at Wang Laowu and said, "Wang Dewei, right? You're suspected of purchasing large quantities of infected pork over a long period of time, endangering food safety. Please come back with us for investigation!"