Chapter 303 - 174: Breakout Plan

Chapter 303: Chapter 174: Breakout Plan

Zhou Yan stood at the door, watching the young man’s figure recede into the distance, a smile playing on his lips.

’People aren’t made of stone. I know your struggles, and you understand mine. That’s the only way for things to last.’

’The fact that his grandaunt was on such good terms with the old lady for so many years, to the point that the old lady missed her and looked after her family, meant she was clearly a person who knew how to treat others.’

"Mapo Tofu! Boss Zhou, you finally added a new dish!" Huang Ying and Huang Bing had arrived rather early today. After entering and taking their seats, they habitually scanned the menu, and their eyes instantly lit up.

Zhou Yan had just finished stir-frying the meat topping and was coming out of the kitchen. He heard her and nodded with a smile. "That’s right. A new dish."

No one else was in the restaurant, so Huang Ying lowered her voice and asked, "Boss Zhou, Mapo Tofu isn’t a specialty of your Kong Sect, is it? I remember the Mapo Tofu at Le Ming Restaurant was just average—on par with the chefs at our Feiyan Restaurant, and not authentic at all."

’Considering she was dissing her own restaurant just as hard, her review must be pretty objective,’ Zhou Yan thought. ’A pure diner’s perspective.’

"But then again, Le Ming Restaurant’s Twice-Cooked Pork and Sautéed Pork Liver aren’t as good as yours either. The Fire Control and seasoning are way off. Is Second Master Kong’s branch of the sect just not as good as Kong’s branch? My Old Man said that Grandmaster Kong Huafeng’s cooking was incredible. I even had it a few times when I was little, and it left a deep impression." Huang Ying looked at Zhou Yan, her face full of curiosity. "Does that mean your Mapo Tofu is even better?"

’Don’t add fuel to the fire,’ Zhou Yan thought. ’He had no intention of becoming a pariah in the Kong Sect.’

’Still, the girl really does have a sharp palate. You can’t fool her taste buds.’

"Whether it’s good or not is a matter of taste. If you’re really that curious, you’ll know if you order one for lunch," Zhou Yan said with a smile.

"Okay! Then I’ll definitely order it for lunch." Huang Ying’s face was full of anticipation. "I’ve had Chen Mapo Tofu in Rongcheng before. It left a real impression—it’s the perfect dish to eat with rice."

Zhou Yan smiled without a word. ’Today, then, I’ll let you see what Jiazhou’s most authentic Mapo Tofu is really like.’

"Yan, when you have a minute later, could you help me write another love letter? I’ll grab it when I come to get the braised meat." Huang Bing pulled out two dollars and handed them to Zhou Yan, a sycophantic smile on his face. "Your writing is on another level. I can clearly feel a change in Xue’Er’s attitude toward me."

"Sure thing." Zhou Yan accepted the money with a smile. ’Two dollars to write a one-page love letter? How could I say no?’

’This guy really was the king of all simps, a pillar of the clown community, McDonald’s official mascot, the kingpin of Gotham City.’

’Oh well. Young Master Huang was footing the bill, so as long as he was happy, that’s all that mattered.’

’When you really thought about it, a guy like Young Master Huang, who seemed to have a new girl every month, wasn’t exactly Mr. Pure and Innocent.’

Huang Ying pursed her lips and said languidly, "When you’re out, please don’t tell people you’re my brother. I can’t afford that embarrassment."

The Mapo Tofu on the menu drew the curiosity and attention of many customers.

It was a famous dish from Rongcheng, but still a rare sight in Suji Town.

The state-run restaurant had this dish on its menu, for what seemed to be sixty cents a serving.

But according to those who had tried Rongcheng’s Chen Mapo Tofu, the state-run restaurant’s version was not authentic at all. It used pork for the meat topping, and only a tiny amount at that—you could barely taste the meat. The cornstarch slurry was also a complete mess.

The dish looked simple, but in reality, it was not.

At eighty cents a serving, it wasn’t cheap, but on the menu at Zhou Yan Restaurant, it was actually one of the lower-priced dishes.

Many people were already planning to come try it for lunch.

The reputation Zhou Yan had built up, dish by dish, was enough to make customers willing to try it without a second thought.

Just before the factories let out for lunch, a Toyota Crown slowly pulled up and stopped in front of Zhou Yan Restaurant.

The rear door opened, and Duan Yu Yan stepped out. She was wearing a brown leather jacket, a black skirt, and Mary Jane shoes. Carrying a colorful bag, she smiled at Zhou Momo, who was sitting on a small stool by the door, and called out, "Momo!"

"Xiangxiang!" Zhou Momo shot to her feet and trotted over. She tilted her head back to look at the hat on Duan Yu Yan’s head, her face full of amazement. "Today’s hat looks like a ducky! It’s pretty too!"