The fish stall owner's surname was Gao, given name Yu, twenty five years old, and the third oldest among his family, hence the nickname "Gao San Wa"
Zhou Yan felt that nickname was too pressure, so he called him Boss Gao instead.
Boss Gao, suddenly jolted awake, opened his eyes and stared blankly for a moment before sitting up. Looking at Zhou Yan, he scratched his head: "Boss Zhou, you sold out of forty crucian carp this morning?"
"Not many left, need restock some." Zhou Yan said with a smile.
"Sure, I'll bring them to your shop at 4:30." Boss Gao pulled a small notebook from his pocket, quickly scribbled a few lines, then looked up at Zhou Yan and said, "I raised a batch of grass carp in my pond this year. They grew entirely on grass, and now they weigh over three pounds. If you ever make pickled fish or boiled fish, grass carp is perfect; the meat is incredibly tender and crisp. Given our relationship, I'll give you a discount."
"Okay, I'll come find you if I need." Zhou Yan nodded, got on his bicycle, and turned back.
Boss Gao couldn't sleep either, so he got up and sorted through the fish in the bucket. When he couldn't find twenty fish that he was satisfied with, he told the stall owner next door and rode his tricycle back to the fishpond to catch more fish.
Zhou Yan has high standards for fish: they must be uniform in size, of high quality, and very lively.
But he buys in large quantities and pays promptly. As long as the fish is good, he settles the payment immediately, no credit.
This alone puts him miles ahead of other restaurants and stalls in town.
Some shameless people will refuse to pay even only take two crucian carp. When you go to get the money back at the end of the month, you have to beg and plead. It's so frustrating.
He, Gao San Wa vowed to make his business huge! He'd make those people beg him to buy fish, paying cash!
Zhou Yan was unaware of Boss Gao's grand ambition, but he was quite satisfied with his fish. If he ever needed fish again, contacting him would be a good idea.
Today, Old Zhou returned from fishing early, before the factory closed.
He wiped the mud off his feet by the riverbank before pushing his bicycle over.
Zhou Momo ran over, hugged Old Zhou's leg, looked up, and asked in her childish voice, "Daddy! Daddy! Did you catch any fish today?"
"Yes, I caught one today." Zhou Miao parked the car and took a crucian carp weighing about eight or nine ounces from the bamboo basket in the bicycle.
"Wow! Daddy's so capable! You caught another fish again!" Zhou Momo jumped up excitedly, clapping her hands.
"You caught another one? Not bad at all." Zhao Tieying followed out, examining the crucian carp in Zhou Miao's hand. "This size is perfect for making braised crucian carp with perilla leaves."
"Yes, the size is just right." Zhou Yan also smiled.
It's exactly the same as the one he bought.
A very standard farmed fish.
[A farmed crucian carp of decent quality]
He still failed to catch any fish.
"Then I'll catch and go raise it."
Zhou Miao, holding the fish, walked towards the kitchen. As he passed Zhou Yan, a smile only the father and son understood appeared on his face.
It was a wry, resigned smile that Zhou Yan would call the "air force veteran."
He only bought one this time; it seems Old Zhou is preparing for a protracted battle, a slow and steady approach.
Zhou Miao fetched a bucket of water from the kitchen and washed his hands and shoes under a tree.
Zhao Tieying told him about Wang Ma Zi's disturbance at noon that day.
Zhou Miao listened in silence before asking, "Zhou Yan said someone was instigating this?"
"I don't know yet, we'll see what the security department says." Zhao Tieying said with a smile. "Nothing's wrong, I handled it all, a small matter."
"Hmm, my wife really knows how to handle things, no wonder she was a model militia member back then!" Zhou Miao smiled and gave her a thumbs up.
"You remember I was a model militia member?" Zhao Tieying grinned from ear to ear.
Zhou Miao smiled and nodded, "Of course! You even got an enamel mug and two towels as rewards. I've still kept the mug in the cabinet for you."
"Didn't it leak?"
"Even if it's a little leak, it still has sentimental value. You're the first female militia member in the brigade to win the model soldier award!"
"San Shui, you're so good."
"It's only right that I treat you well."
"No, no, that's too cloying. We'll talk like that at home."
Aunt Zhao got up shyly and walked into the shop.
Zhou Miao smiled as he watched her go inside, poured out the dirty water, placed the bucket aside, and got up to walk towards the security office, his face already cold.
…
Huang Fusheng spent three hours in the security department's interrogation room. When he emerged from the factory gate, pushing his bicycle, he was pale and somewhat dazed.
Wang Ma Zi, a scoundrel, had no sense of chivalry whatsoever. He was arrested and interrogated for less than an hour before he confessed.
The security personnel came to the factory canteen and took him back to investigate.
This matter could be serious or minor.
Although he was the instigator, Wang Ma Zi and his gang hadn't caused any major trouble at Zhou Erwa Restaurant; no money was involved, at most it was considered disorderly conduct.
But now it was a crackdown period, and Wang Ma Zi and his gang had a lot of dirty laundry on their hands; getting involved would be a disaster for him.
Today he was released, suspended from duty, and sent home to await further notice.
"You're Huang Fusheng?" A voice sounded from behind.
"Huh?" Huang Fusheng turned around, looking at the dark-skinned middle-aged man with a puzzled expression: "Yes, I am. Who are you?"
"Zhou Yan is my son. I'm Zhou Miao, the butcher from Zhou Village." Zhou Miao lifted his shirt, revealing the handle of a boning knife at his waist, his eyes fixed on Huang Fusheng.
"The security department said you sent people to cause trouble at my son's shop. I've come to say a few words to you."
"If anything happens to Zhou Yan in the future, I'll only come to you."
"Su Ji is very small; there's no one I can't find."
His tone was calm, but the ruthlessness and murderous intent in his voice were exceptionally cold.
Huang Fusheng's fat body trembled, and he hurriedly waved his hands, saying, "I won't dare! I won't dare…"
Zhou Miao put down his clothes and turned to leave.
Huang Fusheng let out a sigh of relief, realizing with a start that his back was completely soaked.
Butchering cattle?
Huang Fusheng would believe it if he told him he had killed someone!
Huang Fusheng tried to get on his bicycle, but failed three times, finally managing to get on by stepping on a roadside curb.
There was no way around it; his legs went weak.
Are these family related to the King Of Hell?
They're terrifying!
From now on, he'll stay far away from anything related to Zhou Yan.
Zhou Miao returned to the shop, his face once again displaying a gentle smile.
The factory was closing, and customers were gradually arriving.
Zhou Miao helped serve dishes, bring dipping sauces, and serve rice; he was quite adept at these small tasks.
"Where did you go just now?" Aunt Zhao asked, looking at him.
"I ran into an acquaintance, and we chatted for a while." Zhou Miao replied casually.
"You have acquaintances in this factory?" Aunt Zhao said, somewhat surprised.
"Let's get to know each other today, the first time is awkward, the second time will be more familiar." Zhou Miao smiled, serving two bowls of cross-legged beef to the customers.
There were quite a few customers tonight. The old factory director's praise and the positive word of mouth from the past two days were starting to spread, and the tables in the restaurant were gradually filling up.
"Sister Zhao, could you take order from me that a bowl of cross-legged beef and a take out of braised pork ribs?" Lin Zhiqiang walked into the restaurant, handing over an aluminum lunch box.
"Sure, Director Lin, are you taking some for the children?" Zhao Tieying smiled as she took the lunch box.
"Yes, the two kids ate the braised pork ribs yesterday and kept craving them, asking me to bring them some home today." Lin Zhiqiang nodded with a smile, then asked with concern, "I heard there was some trouble at noon today, how did it go?"
"Nothing serious, Section Chief Luo and his clerk from the security department arrived in time and arrested all the troublemakers, it wasn't a big deal." Zhao Tieying said.
"It's good that nothing serious." Lin Zhiqiang nodded, greeted Zhou Miao, and sat down to the side.
He was here today on official business to eat cross-legged beef and also to bring back braised pork ribs for his two kids.
He never expected that at age thirty eight, he could experience a second spring in his life.
However…
Thinking about how Meng Anhe had fried him eggs and put a coat on him this morning, a smile involuntarily crept onto his face.
This cross-legged beef is a must eat!