Duan Yuyan ordered three bowls of cross-legged beef, unexpectedly finding herself enjoying a clear broth beef hot pot in the small town of Jiazhou.
So delicious!
After drinking another small bowl of soup, she was already about three-tenths full.
No wonder this little restaurant was so popular; this soup was much better than the bone strengthening soup at Feiyan Restaurant.
She had tried the bone strengthening soup at Feiyan Restaurant once; she insisted on ordering it then, and even her grandmother couldn't stop her.
It was a bit greasy, and the herbal flavor was too strong, masking the meat's aroma. It tasted like drinking Chinese medicine, which she definitely didn't like.
On the contrary, she quite liked this cross-legged beef soup.
Beside her, Yan Fei gulped down the last bowl of soup, letting out a small burp.
Delicious!
This soup was incredibly delicious!
He was initially hesitant about the three bowls of cross-legged beef, as the portion was quite generous, and none of the other dishes they had ordered had even arrived yet.
Then he drank a small bowl of soup, and ate a piece of beef tendon and a piece of beef intestine.
Mmm! It tasted amazing!
The young lady doesn't like beef intestines, but after rolling them in chili powder, they become soft and tender, filled with a rich, savory oil. One bite, and the aroma and spiciness are simply amazing!
The beef tendon was incredibly soft and chewy, becoming more fragrant with each bite, and it was a perfect match for the chili powder.
Even the cabbage at the bottom, soaked in the broth, was exceptionally sweet and delicious.
He was secretly surprised that Suji's small restaurant could have such delicious beef soup; how come he'd never heard of it before?
Duan Yuyan put down her chopsticks. While waiting for the food to come, she got bored and couldn't help but strike up a conversation with the old man: "Sir, how many years have you been a librarian? You must have read a lot of books, right?"
Old Man Wang thought for a moment and smiled, "Eight years. I've read almost every book on the shelves. I wonder if the county will send over a batch of new books at the end of the year."
"You've read them all?" Duan Yuyan exclaimed, curiously asking, "How many books does the town library have?"
Old Man Wang replied without hesitation, "Two thousand eight hundred and twenty three books. It has increased quite a bit in the last two years, and the categories have also become more diverse."
"You're really amazing!" Duan Yuyan couldn't help but admire.
The number of books in the collection wasn't large, but it was quite a lot for a small town library.
As for the individual, reading over 2,800 books in eight years!
That's truly amazing!
She spent six months in Jiazhou, reading for three hours everyday, and had only read about eighty books so far, expecting to finish one hundred before returning to Hong Kong.
"Just an old man so bored he can only read books." Old Man Wang said with a smile, shaking his head, a hint of self-deprecation in his voice.
Duan Yuyan then chatted with Old Man Wang about books, from philosophy to history, from Mao Zedong's Selected Works to Karl Marx. Old Man Wang could handle almost any topic she raised, and the conversations were quite insightful and profound. Some of his insights even gave her a refreshing feeling.
His reading is incredibly extensive, It likely extends far beyond the 2,800 books in the town library. He even reads foreign classics and historical works, some of which haven't yet been translated and published in China.
Duan Yuyan hesitated, then asked, "You... studied abroad?"
"No, I didn't study abroad." Old Man Wang shook his head, smiling. "But I did business with foreigners back then, so I learned some foreign languages. Basic communication and reading weren't a problem. I used to read a lot in my spare time; it helped me forget many things."
Duan Yuyan nodded slightly. The fine lines on Old Man Wang's face held many experiences and stories.
The twice-cooked pork with garlic sprouts that Old Man Wang ordered was served first. He looked at it, smiled and nodded: "This twice-cooked pork is authentic. It's well-cooked with a good 'lamp-shaped' pattern and the color is also nice. This kid really has some skill."
Duan Yuyan's throat bobbed as she smelled the aroma of the second cut pork.
The meat was half lean and half fat, completely unacceptable to her.
But it smelled so good, the aroma of garlic mixed with the fragrance of meat was irresistible, and there was nowhere to escape at the table.
"Try some? This is authentic stir-fried second cut pork with garlic sprouts, made with free-range pork from the countryside. You'd be hard-pressed to find this anywhere else." the old man said with a smile, pushing the plate a little towards Duan Yuyan.
"You eat, I've never liked fatty meat since I was little, this is a bit too fatty for me." Duan Yuyan quickly waved her hand.
If it was just her and her grandmother, she could eat only the lean meat and just taste it.
Her grandmother had a small appetite and never forced her to finish her food.
She wouldn't dare do that when she was eating out; she didn't want people gossiping behind her back.
Old Man Wang didn't say much. He picked up his chopsticks and took a piece of twice-cooked pork. It was glistening with oil and trembling slightly. He nodded slightly as he watched. He then picked up a garlic sprout, put it in his mouth, chewed it, and the corners of his mouth unconsciously turned up.
He chewed and swallowed, shoveled two mouthfuls of rice into his mouth, then picked up a piece of meat and put it in his mouth—a bite of meat, two mouthfuls of rice.
He didn't speak, but the upturned corners of his mouth and the constant movement of his chopsticks said it all.
"Is it good?" Duan Yuyan couldn't help but ask.
The old man slowly chewed and swallowed the rice in his mouth before speaking unhurriedly, "Mmm, spicy and fragrant, rich but not greasy, with a soft and chewy texture, tender and melts in my mouth. Eating it with a piece of garlic sprout in the middle gives it a unique garlic aroma, making the flavor even better."
Duan Yuyan had already been craving the twice-cooked pork at the next table, and now with a portion on the table, and the old man eating it so deliciously, even describing the texture and taste in detail, she couldn't help but swallow hard.
"Help yourself if you want, don't be shy." Old Man Wang said with a smile, and then continued eating by himself.
The second cut pork, curled up like a lamp-shaped, was sliced thinly and evenly. It was probably cooked with red oil made from fermented broad beans, which gave the fat a bright red color. It didn't look greasy at all, and the contrast with the white garlic stalks and green garlic leaves made it look refreshing.
"Then... shall I try a piece?" Duan Yuyan picked up her chopsticks, imitating Old Man Wang, and picked up a piece of twice-cooked pork with a piece of garlic stalk rolled inside. She mentally prepared herself and put it in her mouth in one bite.
With a gentle bite, the skin was fragrant and chewy, the fatty meat melted in her mouth, and the lean meat was tender and slightly springy. One bite, and it was rich yet not oily, fragrant yet not greasy.
The garlic sprouts, bitten open, released their unique aroma, adding even more flavor.
It really smelled delicious!
She was surprised that fatty meat could be cooked so well; it was quite unexpected.
She was someone who wouldn't even eat fatty meat in braised pork.
Yan Fei, being very perceptive, served the young lady a bowl of rice.
Duan Yuyan picked up the bowl and shoveled a mouthful of rice into her mouth.
Mmm!
This rice was soft, sweet, and had a subtle woody aroma; it went perfectly with the twice-cooked pork.
Delicious.
After eating two pieces, Duan Yuyan felt a little embarrassed to take any more.
Fortunately, their dishes, including double peppers minced beef, braised pork ribs, cold chicken dish, and braised pig's head meat were all served at once.
"Uncle Wang, please join us. We have quite a lot of dishes." Duan Yuyan said with a smile. "That way, I can eat your twice-cooked pork without feeling guilty."
"Sure." Uncle Wang replied with a smile.
Duan Yuyan tried them all: the braised pork ribs that fell off the bone with a single bite, the spicy and crispy double pepper minced beef, and the cold chicken dish with crispy skin and tender meat. Each had its own unique flavor, and they were all surprisingly delicious.
Duan Yuyan truly loved every dish she tried, and was genuinely amazed.
Especially the cold chicken dish; it looked bright red, but the taste was numbing, spicy, fresh, fragrant, sour—a perfect balance of five flavors with a slightly sweet aftertaste, and the texture was incredibly smooth.
She ate several pieces in a row. The skin was so crispy, and the meat was exceptionally tender. The chicken was coated with sesame seeds and chili oil; chewing on the sesame seeds was like biting into a flavor bomb—it was so delicious!
She loves chicken, especially poached chicken, and goes to a Cantonese restaurant almost every week.
But the poached chicken and this cold chicken dish were completely different experiences; one was light and refreshing, the other spicy and flavorful.
But both were delicious!
After trying them all, her gaze fell on the plate of braised pig's head meat.
The braised pig's head meat, cut into coin thick slices, gleamed with a bright amber sheen. The slices were very evenly cut, but the presentation was a bit haphazard, not as refined as at Feiyan Restaurant.
The portions were about the same; a serving at Feiyan Restaurant cost 1.6 yuan, while this small restaurant charged 1 yuan.
The pricing is actually not a problem. Feiyan Restaurant's labor costs and maintenance costs are much higher than those of this small family restaurant.
Duan Yuyan was curious about the connection between this braised pig's head meat and Feiyan Restaurant.
Why did her grandmother ask her to come to Suji to find Zhang Ji Braised Food?
And what exactly was the relationship between Zhou Yan, the heir to Zhang Ji Braised Food, and her grandmother?
With a mix of thoughts in mind, she picked up a piece of braised pig's head meat.
The color was almost indistinguishable from the braised pig's head meat she had eaten the previous night—a glossy red like amber, soaked in the braising sauce.
She put it in her mouth, chewed slowly, and savored it.
Soon, her expression changed.
It was the same! The same braised pig's head meat!
If she had randomly come to these two restaurants at different times, she might have simply thought both restaurants' braised pig's head meat was quite delicious.
But she ordered this braised pig's head meat with doubt and scrutiny.
These two servings of braised pig's head meat must have come from the same pot of braising liquid, meaning they were made by the same person.
Duan Yuyan looked at Zhou Yan, who was cooking in the kitchen, her eyes narrowing slightly. Good heavens, he even supplies braised meat to Feiyan Restaurant!
This deduction wasn't difficult; Feiyan Restaurant had just added new braised meat to its menu.
Meanwhile, the reputation of Zhou Erwa Restaurant's braised meat had already spread, and even the locals in the town know about it.
So, the braised pig's head meat and braised beef that her grandparents loved decades ago didn't come from Feiyan Restaurant, but from Zhou Yan's grandmother, Zhang!
The menu on the wall didn't include braised beef, so naturally, Feiyan Restaurant wouldn't have it either.
Duan Yuyan felt that she had obtained a very exciting inside information. What would the guests of Feiyan Restaurant think if they knew about this?
"Huh? Didn't Grandma know that decades ago? Yet she and Grandpa still eat at Feiyan Restaurant, and they always order braised dishes." Duan Yuyan thought for a moment and understood the reason.
Perhaps, they didn't care.
Braised meat is delicious, and sitting in an elegant private room, eating exquisitely plated braised meat, they were happy to pay a little extra.
They wouldn't make a special trip to Suji's braised meat stall just for a serving of braised meat.
A certain tacit understanding had formed.
Zhang Ji Braised Food and Feiyan Restaurant made money, and diners enjoyed delicious braised meat; everyone felt they had gotten a good deal.
The Zhang family!
Duan Yuyan felt that she had grasped a very important piece of information: she might be able to find the answer she was looking for through another elderly person who was from the same era as her grandmother.
Her gaze was fixed intently on Zhou Yan. Zhou Yan, who had inherited the Zhang family's braised food culinary skills, must have a good relationship with his grandmother; she could meet Zhang through his introduction.
Then, a little girl with blinking eyes appeared in her line of sight, suddenly popping up behind Zhou Yan.
Their eyes met, and both were momentarily stunned.
The little girl had two small braids, and her features were exquisitely beautiful—so adorable!
Wait, wasn't she just dozing off by the stove?
The instant their eyes met, Duan Yuyan felt a pang of embarrassment, as if caught red-handed, and quickly looked away, taking a bite of the cold chicken dish.
Zhou Momo, meanwhile, toddled over and stood by the kitchen doorway, tilting her head to examine Duan Yuyan, her eyes sparkling: "Sister, you're so good! Your hat is so pretty."
The little girl's voice was soft, with a touch of childish sweetness, her tone pure praise, devoid of any flattery.
Duan Yuyan's lips unconsciously curled into a smile. Since she became an adult, she had heard far too many compliments from men, those offered for money or beauty, rarely bringing her joy.
But the praise from this little girl was a pure and heartfelt appreciation, making it hard not to like her.
"Thank you, you're very well-behaved too." Duan Yuyan smiled at her and asked, "What's your name?"
Her beret today was a special touch, bought from a roadside stall in Central. It was the cheapest accessory she had, yet it was her favorite hat this year.
But the little girl didn't care about Gucci bamboo bags or Cartier watches; she only cared about her feelings.
Hmm, it seemed they had found some kind of resonance.
"Zhou Momo." the little one began, then, after a moment's thought, introduced herself again, "I'm my Guo Guo's little sister."
Duan Yuyan couldn't help but cover her mouth and laugh. This little one was so cute! What a strange way to introduce herself!
So she was his sister. No wonder she was so adorable; she was so pretty.
Her chubby cheeks made her want to pinch them!
But their ages were so different!
Twenty years old, and a little sister who was about three years old?
She has two older brothers, one three years older than her and the other two years older. They are close in age and have been fighting since they were little.
"Have you eaten?" Duan Yuyan asked with a smile.
"I've eaten, sister, you eat first." Zhou Momo smiled at her, turned and ran back to the kitchen, obediently sitting behind the stove.
So good! So sensible!
Duan Yuyan looked away, smiling as she continued eating.
She ate rather slowly; being a second round customer, by the time she put down her chopsticks, only two or three tables remained.
Yan Fei, after confirming Duan Yuyan was full, began his own clean up.
It wasn't as difficult as he'd thought.
Miss Duan ate most of the cold chicken dish, leaving him only five or six pieces.
The same went for the braised pork ribs; only three pieces remained.
The double peppers minced beef was a bit spicy, so there was a lot left over. He mixed it with rice and ate two bowls.
Half of the braised pig's head meat was left; it was delicious, but he was too full. With Miss Duan's permission, he packed it up to take home for dinner.
He planned to stop by home that evening and let his wife and child try it. Such delicious braised pig's head meat was something they couldn't buy in Jiazhou City.
Old Man Wang had finished eating a while ago and was standing at the door chatting with Zhou Yan, who had just finished in the kitchen.
"I didn't expect you to not only make such excellent braised dishes, but also stir-fries and stews that are top notch." Grandpa Wang said, looking at Zhou Yan with undisguised admiration.
"Master, you flatter me. I don't know much; I still need to keep practicing." Zhou Yan said with a smile.
"Then I'll head back. Let me know when you make braised beef; I'll come back for meal again." Grandpa Wang gently patted Zhou Yan's arm, glanced back at Duan Yuyan, who had her back to the door, then got on his bicycle and rode away.
Zhou Yan watched him leave, then turned to look at Duan Yuyan, pondering how to get the capitalist's daughter to talk and see if he had any chance of taking over the Qiu family's old house.
Duan Yuyan got up and walked towards the door. Yan Fei quickly shoveled the rice out of his bowl and got up as well.
"Auntie, the bill, please." Duan Yuyan opened her bag and took out her wallet.
"That old man already paid the bill for you." Aunt Zhao said with a smile.
"What?" Duan Yuyan was surprised. She quickly walked to the door, but the old man was already out of sight.
Zhou Yan was also somewhat surprised. When he came out of the kitchen, Grandpa Wang had already paid the bill, so he didn't know about it.
The young lady's meal cost six yuan and forty cents! They shared a table, and the old man secretly paid the bill?
The old man is dumb ah!
Even with a retirement pension, he shouldn't be so wasteful!
But then again, the old man was indeed a man of character.
While busy cooking in the kitchen, Zhou Yan had overheard some of the conversation between Duan Yuyan and the old man.
It was an exchange between cultured people, a philosophical clash, leaving him completely bewildered.
The young lady is no fool. Her refined manners reveal her cultural background, the confidence instilled by her family, and the abilities cultivated through elite education, far surpassing those of ordinary people.
Zhou Yan, in front of the master, would at most ask for a book list.
But Duan Yuyan chatted with the old man about Mao Zedong's Selected Works, William Shakespeare, Dream of the Red Chamber, and One Hundred Years of Solitude, thoroughly enjoying herself.
It was understandable that the old man paid the bill.
A true friend is hard to find, and the old man seemed like a carefree person.
Duan Yuyan didn't hesitate. Since she knew that Grandpa Wang was the librarian in town, she could treat him to a meal next time she came to Suji.
She turned to Zhou Yan, smiling, and said, "Hello, my name is Duan Yuyan."
"Hello, I'm Zhou Yan." Zhou Yan replied with a smile. The other party had initiated the conversation, so the initiative was in his hands.
"My grandmother loves Zhang Ji's braised beef. Do you know how to make it? I didn't see it on the menu." Duan Yuyan asked directly.
Braised beef again? Why is everyone so obsessed with braised beef?
Zhou Yan was a little surprised, but when he heard that it was Duan Yuyan's grandmother, a hint of joy flashed in his eyes.
Qiu Mrs. Qiu loves braised beef? That's wonderful! He was just worried about not knowing how to contact her, and now it's come to him.
"I'm still practicing making braised beef; I haven't fully mastered it yet." Zhou Yan said with a smile. "You're quite filial, making a special trip to Suji for your grandmother. Could you give me your address? Next time my grandmother makes braised beef, or when I've mastered it, I can deliver it to her home."
"Isn't this a bit too much trouble for you?" Duan Yuyan looked at him and said, "Could I go see your grandmother? I'm doing research on Sichuan cuisine and I'm very interested in the cooking techniques of the older generation."
"I'm sorry, my grandma hasn't run a stall for over twenty years. She doesn't usually entertain many guests. If you have any questions, you can tell me, and I'll pass them on for you." Zhou Yan politely declined with a smile.
Well, it seems she wants more than just braised beef.
She went all the way from Jiazhou to Suji, and even came to his restaurant.
Now she wants to see the old lady.
Zhou Yan suspects that Old Lady Qiu's unresolved issues might be related to the old lady.
He naturally couldn't let Duan Yuyan see the old lady directly. He still had his eyes on the Qiu family's old house; he needed to get more leverage to sit at the negotiating table.
He had been worried about not having a clue before, but now the opportunity had presented itself. He had to seize it!
Duan Yuyan stared at Zhou Yan, biting her lip slightly. Why wasn't this guy cooperating? She just wanted to ask Zhang family about the situation and didn't want too many people to know.
Zhou Yan smiled. He had to intervene.
They were all old foxes, what's with the pretense?
His past life was all about researching Sichuan cuisine.
You're a rich girl from a literature department, what are you researching?
Duan Yuyan glanced at Aunt Zhao and Yan Fei, who were eavesdropping, and looked at Zhou Yan, saying, "Shall we talk in private?"
"Sure." Zhou Yan nodded.
The two went out and walked towards the riverbank. Yan Fei hesitated for a moment, standing at the restaurant entrance without following, but watching Zhou Yan warily.
"I want to talk to your grandmother about my grandmother's younger days." Duan Yuyan stopped by the river railing, looking directly at Zhou Yan and saying, "She's getting old, and we're worried about her staying alone in Jiazhou. We'd like to bring her to Hong Kong to live with us.
But she seems to have some unresolved issues. She's staying at the Qiu family's old house and doesn't want to leave. I've tried to persuade her for half a year, but to no avail. So I wanted to see if your grandmother, who is of the same generation, knows anything and could help her resolve her inner conflict.
Yesterday, after eating the braised meat from Feiyan Restaurant, she asked me to buy braised beef from Zhang Ji Braised Food near Suji Bridge. In the six months I've been in Jiazhou, this is the first time she's asked me to do her a favor. I think it's unusual; it might be an important clue."
Wait! Feiyan Restaurant has been exposed? Zhou Yan raised an eyebrow. This Huang He wants the exclusive supply of beef?
"Don't worry, neither my grandmother nor I are gossipy people. I'll be back in Hong Kong in two months at most, and we won't spread any rumors that could harm your cooperation." Duan Yuyan seemed to have seen through Zhou Yan's thoughts and reassured him.
Zhou Yan didn't respond, instead asking, "Is it the Qiu family's old house opposite the main gate of Jiazhou Port?"
Duan Yuyan's eyes widened upon hearing this. This guy was definitely suspicious!
He actually knew the location of the Qiu family's old house!
The Qiu and Duan families had no relatives in Suji, and the Qiu family's old house wasn't luxurious. How could a young man who ran a restaurant in Suji town so easily pinpoint the location of the Qiu family's old house?
Could it be that he had long harbored ambitions to seize the property?!
"How did you know? Could it be... that you have some relationship with my grandmother? Or do you know something?" Duan Yuyan asked, controlling her emotions, her hands clenched into fists.
"You misunderstand. Last weekend, I took my parents for a stroll on Dong Da Street. When we were buying braised food at that braised food shop at the end of the street, the owner chatted with me and mentioned that the Qiu family's old house was for sale. I happened to be thinking about buying property in Jiazhou, so I asked a few more questions out of curiosity. The owner mentioned that the old lady's Hong Kong businessman son and granddaughter wanted to take her to Hong Kong to enjoy a comfortable life." Zhou Yan looked at Duan Yuyan and explained with a smile:
"Miss Duan speaks with a strong Hong Kong accent, is dressed in luxury goods, has bodyguards, and mentioned the Qiu family's old house. I think it's unlikely there's another person involved."
"So it's a coincidence." Duan Yuyan nodded slightly upon hearing this, but she quickly stared at Zhou Yan again: "The braised meat sold at that shop is terrible, even I think it's awful. Your braised meat is so good, would you specifically go to buy braised meat when you go to Jiazhou?"