"Comrade... comrades, are you mistaken? Why would I use diseased pork..." Wang Laowu said in panic, his face pale.
Wang Defa, previously so arrogant, suddenly changed his expression and instinctively took two steps to the side, his eyes darting, trying to find a place to escape.
The customers at the noodle stall were immediately furious.
"Disease-infected pork! Why does Wang Laowu keep buying diseased pork?"
"What else could he do with it? He must be using it to make stew! This bastard is truly rotten with sores on his head and pus on his feet—utterly rotten!"
"Giving us diseased pork for free is a shame!"
Originally, Wang Laowu's remorseful attitude towards mixing leftovers was considered acceptable.
Using diseased pork to make stew—who could stand that?
The key is long-term and large-scale use!
In other words, Wang Laowu's noodle shop has always used diseased pork in its stew and bases.
Some of Wang Laowu's regular customers were already feeling dizzy, with itchy throats and general discomfort.
The onlookers backed away from Wang Laowu's stall. Fortunately, those comrade arrived just in time!
What a close call! They almost sat down!
"This is a mistake, it must be a mistake!" Liu Fen shouted in a trembling voice.
"Wang Qi, the knife maker from the farmers' market, has confessed. On the list of people he gave out, you, Wang Dewei, was the first!" Uncle Hat stepped forward, cuffed the silver bracelet on Wang Laowu's hand, and sternly said, "Confession will be treated leniently, resistance will be treated severely! You two better confess the truth when you get to the police station!"
"Ah—" Wang Laowu and Liu Fen cried out in shock, collapsing to the ground simultaneously, their faces filled with panic, their eyes instinctively glancing at Wang Defa.
Wang Defa walked away without a glance back, his legs moving so fast he was practically running.
The commotion was so loud that even the guests at Zhou Yan Restaurant crowded toward the entrance, noodles in hand, to watch the excitement. Everyone craned their necks and pricked their ears, afraid of missing any crucial information.
Many even ran out of the factory to watch the excitement. It wasn't often that people saw the spectacle of Uncle Hat arresting someone.
Wang Laowu's noodle stall had been at the factory entrance for a long time, and many people had tried it. Hearing that he used diseased pork, the crowd erupted in excitement.
"Damn it! How dare you serve diseased pork to customers? You're making a dirty profit! You'll give birth to a child without an anus!" Zhao Tieying led the charge, one hand on her hip, the other pointing at Wang Laowu and his wife, angrily cursing, "The Kitchen God is going to lift the lid off your pot—the underworld's account books are well-documented!"
The crowd erupted in cheers.
"Miss Zhao, you scolded well!"
Wang Laowu and Liu Fang lowered their heads, not daring to raise them, as they were carried to the car like two rats crossing the street.
Zhou Yan stood at the doorway, his arms folded. He was tall, and even with two rows of female workers in front of him, he couldn't stop enjoying the excitement.
Wang Laowu and his wife deserved their punishment. The epidemic prevention station's efficiency surprised him somewhat. They'd already tracked down Wang Laowu by noon, so his report had paid off.
He looked at Wang Defa who was walking away quickly. Director Wang, with his fat body shaking, looked very flustered. He had just said that the pork used by Wang Laowu was as good as the one in the factory canteen. Could it be that the factory canteen also used Wang Qi's diseased pork?
Zhou Yan recalled some memories of his apprenticeship in the factory cafeteria. Xiao Lei, little Zhou's master, had argued with Wang Defa over the poor quality of the pork purchased by the cafeteria and was demoted from head chef to waiter.
The hot-tempered little Zhou stood up for his master and caused a scene, leading to his dismissal.
He didn't think Wang Defa was a good person, but he had no evidence at the moment. It all depended on whether Uncle Hat could pry anything out of Wang Qi's mouth.
"Please rest assured, we will definitely give you all an explanation for this matter, and the offenders will pay the price!" Gao Tianlei shouted to the crowd. He glanced toward the restaurant and saw a tall, thin figure who looked familiar.
"Comrade, I've been eating noodles at Wang Laowu's for months straight. What if something happens to my health?" Wang Jianming, a regular customer at Wang Laowu's stall, said with a worried look on his face.
"Me too." said Liu Laoba, also with a grimace.
Many victims were heartbroken. They hadn't known if their health had been harmed by such a misfortune.
Gao Tianlei raised his hand, pressing it down, and said loudly, "Don't worry, everyone. I'll have Xiao Zheng record your information and names..."
The Wang Laowu couple were taken away, and the remaining pots of bases and stew were taken away by the epidemic prevention station staff for investigation. The noodle stall was taken over by Uncle Hat.
The Wang Laowu noodle stall, which had just announced its grand challenge to Zhou Erwa Restaurant and threatened to bring down Zhou Yan, had closed down.
Since the customers didn't get any problems from the leftovers, they could only be condemned on a moral level. By offering free noodles, he had restored considerable reputation and goodwill.
But selling diseased pork is a different matter. From today on, every worker in the textile factory will know that Wang Laowu's noodle stall uses diseased pork to stir-fry stew and bases. Who would dare to eat there?
Furthermore, purchasing large quantities of diseased pork for a long time and using it to make noodles stew and bases is a crime enough to get Wang Laowu and his wife into trouble. There's no telling when they'll be cleared of this.
"Don't be like Wang Laowu. We can earn less, but you can't have a bad conscience. You'll be criticized." Zhao Tieying earnestly instructed Zhou Yan back in the kitchen.
"Yes, I'll make sure my customers feel more at ease eating here than at home." Zhou Yan smiled and nodded.
[Ding! Wang Laowu arrested, the noodle stall closed, mission accomplished! A rather dull business battle. Reward: "The Perfect Guide to Steaming Rice in a Steamer"]
A system notification popped up. Zhou Yan glanced at the reward and frowned. That's it?
Are there any special techniques for steaming rice?
Even with Comrade Little Zhou's skill, when steaming large pots of rice, the rice would occasionally become undercooked or burnt at the bottom. The rice grains would stick together, and the aroma seemed to lack...
Well, this perfect guide to steaming rice in a steamer is perfect for him.
He's already planning to sell Cross-legged Beef which will definitely need to be paired with rice.
Rice steamed in a wooden steamer is incredibly soft and sweet, adding a touch of flavor to any dish.
After he's done with work today, he'll study this guide carefully.
After Wang Laowu was arrested, the customers who had been enjoying the excitement with their noodles returned to the restaurant to continue eating. They've done a great job advertising Zhou Erwa Restaurant.
Many eager workers followed the smell and entered the restaurant, following suit and ordering bowls to try.
Zhao Tieying was outspoken and fiercely hostile to evil. Her fiery outbursts earned her the affection of many young workers, who affectionately called her "Miss Zhao."
This delighted Zhao Tieying so much that she always served their food with a plate of pickled radish.
The sour, spicy, and crisp pickled radish quickly became a favorite among the customers.
After a few mouthfuls of noodles, feeling a bit greasy, a bite of pickled radish offered a refreshing, spicy, and sour taste that cut through the greasiness—a perfect match with the noodles!
In order to request another plate of pickled radish, the customers called out "Miss Zhao" even more gently.
It was almost one o'clock when the customers in the restaurant finally left, and it was time for work at the factory.
Zhao Tieying hummed a little tune as she collected the bowls, her steps especially brisk.
"Miss Zhao, you're a bit happy today." Zhou Yan said with a smile.
He sold fifty two bowls of noodles at noon today, making up for the shortfall from the morning. He is sure to sell all the one hundred bases he prepared.
"Of course, everyone enjoyed their meal. They all praised our noodles and pickled vegetables, saying they'd come back next time." Zhao Tieying smiled. "I've heard more compliments today than in my entire life, so of course I'm in a great mood."
"Thank you for your hard work." Zhou Yan, helping to collect the bowls, was also in a great mood after hearing the customers' praise.
Swapping roles, from being a diner in his previous life to becoming a restaurant owner, was truly a new experience.
"It's just serving dishes, washing bowls, and how it is hard work." Miss Zhao waved her hand casually, glancing toward the door. "But why is your dad closing so late today? Normally, he would be sold out by this time."
"Guo Guo, I'm hungry." Zhou Momo said in a baby voice, leaning over and tugging at Zhou Yan's trouser leg.
Creaky.
A bicycle stopped at the restaurant entrance.
Zhou Miao stepped inside, swaying slightly as he reached the door, reaching out to hold onto the doorpost.
"What's wrong?" Zhao Tieying dropped the towel in her hand and trotted over to support Zhou Miao.
"Dad." Zhou Yan hurried forward. Zhou Miao looked unsightly, his lips dry and chapped, and beads of sweat formed on his forehead.
"It's nothing. I got caught a cold this morning. I think I'll be fine after a good sleep." Zhou Miao explained gently, forcing a smile.
"Dad, are you sick?" Zhou Momo also ran over, looking up at him. "I'll take you for injection."
"My dear little girl, Daddy's fine. No need for injection." Zhou Miao patted Zhou Momo's head and forced a smile.
"Come on, go sit over there. I'll get you a glass of water." Zhao Tieying helped Zhou Miao to a seat at the table.
"How about a bowl of beef bone soup? I added some Chinese herbs to it, which is just right for dispelling the cold." Zhou Yan said, quickly heading to the kitchen.
The beef bone soup, simmering for eight hours on the honeycomb coal stove, bubbled away. Lifting the lid, the aroma of meat filled the air, tinged with the subtle aroma of spices and Chinese herbs, making it even more alluring.
Zhou Yan took a ceramic bowl, scooped a small amount of soup, sprinkled some chopped green onions, and placed a spoon in the bowl.
"Dad, drink some soup first. It'll warm you up and you'll feel better." Zhou Yan said. "I'll get the soup pot ready. After eat, go upstairs and take a nap."
"Sure." Zhou Miao replied. The aroma of meat, accompanied by the steam, filled his nostrils, and his groggy head seemed to clear a little. Just as he picked up the spoon, he saw Zhou Momo climbing onto a stool nearby. The little girl gulped as she gazed at the broth.
"Momo, do you want to try it?" Zhou Miao asked, looking at her.
"You eat yours, I'll scoop for her." Zhao Tieying held his bowl.
"Daddy, eat first. Only after eating will the illness heal. Momo no hungry." Zhou Momo shook her head, saying seriously, "I'll eat the meat later."
"Okay." Zhou Miao replied, lowering his head to drink the hot broth. The tip of his tongue felt slightly warm, and the delicious flavor rushed to his head.
The Chinese herbs and spices blended perfectly in the soup, enhancing its flavor and freshness without a hint of odor. It was completely different from Zhao Tieying's soup pot. It was truly delicious, and one mouthful was enough to make your eyebrows drop!
Spoonful after spoonful, blowing on it gently and gulping down the soup, he finished the whole bowl in no time.
Zhou Miao felt a warm sensation all over his body, sweat breaking out on his forehead and back, and an indescribable sense of comfort.
"Delicious?" Zhao Tieying asked with a smile.
"Hmm, my eyebrows are almost falling off." Zhou Miao smacked his lips, savoring the taste. He added, "It's almost the same as what you made."
"Here it is." Zhou Yan came out of the kitchen carrying a double-handled iron pot and placed it in the middle of the table. Lotus root was placed at the bottom, covered with beef intestines and tendons. On top of it were thinly sliced beef and tripe. The small pot was filled to the brim. A sprinkle of chopped green onions and cilantro on the top made it look particularly tempting.