Chapter 320 - 180: Rare Reward: [Fish-Fragrant Pork Slivers]

Chapter 320: Chapter 180: Rare Reward: [Fish-Fragrant Pork Slivers]

"On a good day, we can make six or seven yuan, and even on a slow day, it’s four or five. It’s much better than before," said Zhou Liangliang.

"I’m afraid that’s not even a fraction of what Zhou Yan makes," Gao Cuihua sighed. The more she thought about Zhao Tieying’s smug face from earlier today, the angrier she became.

But Zhou Kunkun’s eyes suddenly lit up. "Zhou’s Kneeling Beef! If they can use that name, so can we! She said Kneeling Beef is a famous dish passed down from Zhou Village, and isn’t our surname Zhou too? If we change the name, maybe customers will start coming to us instead."

"That makes sense!" Zhou Liangliang couldn’t help but clap. He wouldn’t go compete with Zhou Yan at the textile factory entrance; he’d just focus on his own stall at the docks.

Kneeling Beef did sound more special than just "hot pot."

Zhou Yan was in a magazine, which meant he was famous now.

So they would just ride his coattails!

"Let’s do it! We’ll change our name too!" Gao Cuihua’s eyes were shining. "Go all out! If you two get too busy, your father and I can come help! Just give us half the money, and we’ll call it even!"

"Alright! I’ll change the sign tonight!"

...

Sichuan Fine Arts Institute, Classroom.

The first class this morning was Professor Su Jun’s. Deng Hong, Xia Yao, and Zhu Yuyu sat in the middle of the classroom.

Xia Yao was listening intently, the fountain pen in her hand scratching away as she took notes. Beside her, Zhu Yuyu was also listening with great focus.

Deng Hong glanced at Teacher Su writing on the blackboard, then pulled a paper-wrapped package from her bag. She carefully tore it open and slid out a magazine.

As a hardcore foodie, she hadn’t missed a single issue of *Sichuan Cuisine* since it first launched. She had just picked up the fourth issue before class and hadn’t had a chance to open it yet.

Teacher Su’s theory lecture today was well-delivered, just a bit dull. She decided to entertain herself by seeing what new cooking tips the Grandmasters were sharing and what delicacies could be found across Sichuan and Chongqing. That way, she could do some advance research for her next sketching or travel trip.

She had already made plans with Ma Xingye not to rush home at the start of winter break. The two of them would take a trip first, have their fun, and then head to their respective homes for the New Year.

With just over a month until the break, she needed to plan ahead. Her internship at the factory started next week, and that wouldn’t be nearly as relaxed as life at school.

The magazine cover was as exquisite as always—a full-color print featuring a beautiful Blue and White Porcelain Bowl. It held a clear beef broth with tender pink beef, a piece of tripe curled at the edge that looked perfectly crisp, and translucent tendon that appeared soft and chewy. Next to it was a small dish of dry chili flakes.

Wait...

’Why does this beef soup look so familiar?’

Deng Hong’s eyes widened. She glanced at her friend studying diligently beside her and hesitated, not wanting to disturb her. She flipped past the cover and quickly found the caption for the photo: Kneeling Beef.

’It really is Kneeling Beef!’ Deng Hong’s hand trembled. She quickly scanned the table of contents and found it under the "Regional Features" section:

A New Way to Eat Beef—Suji’s Kneeling Beef... by He Zhiyuan (18)

Deng Hong’s hands trembled slightly, her breathing growing heavy. She quickly flipped to page eighteen. When she saw the photos, her eyes went wide. She clapped a hand over her mouth to stifle a gasp and gently poked Zhu Yuyu beside her.

Zhu Yuyu turned instinctively and saw the magazine Deng Hong was holding out. Her own eyes flew wide when she saw the photo and the headline, and she opened her mouth to speak.

Quick as a flash, Deng Hong clamped a hand over her mouth, whispering, "Hey! We’re in class, don’t yell!"

Zhu Yuyu nodded obediently. Only then did Deng Hong pull her hand back. The two huddled together and read the entire feature. When they finished, they looked up and met each other’s gaze, seeing the same shock reflected in the other’s eyes.

’Zhou Yan was in a magazine! A two-page feature! And more importantly, he was on the cover!’

’This is insane!’

’Is this really an achievement the owner of a small-town restaurant could get at his age?’

"Should we show Yaoyao?" Zhu Yuyu whispered.

Deng Hong nodded.

The two were just about to close the magazine.

"Whatcha looking at?" The girl sitting next to them leaned over for a peek and immediately exclaimed, "Holy crap! Isn’t that the owner from Suji we met? He’s in a magazine?"

Deng Hong felt her vision go dark. ’Girls from the Northeast really are something else.’

’Dude, we’re in class!’

Professor Su was in the middle of discussing the latest advertising case studies when the girl’s sudden shout silenced the entire room. A moment later, the classroom erupted in laughter. Everyone turned to look at Deng Hong’s group, grinning from ear to ear.

Deng Hong buried her face in her hands, unable to meet her classmates’ stares.

Zhu Yuyu lowered her head, pretending to be engrossed in her book as if nothing had happened.

The culprit, Wan Jingyi, looked embarrassed and didn’t know what to do.

Xia Yao tilted her head to look at the three of them, her expression puzzled. ’The owner from Suji? A magazine? What’s going on?’

From the front of the class, Su Jun’s eyes narrowed. "Wan Jingyi," he said, "what’s going on? What magazine? What owner?"

Called upon, Wan Jingyi had no choice but to stand up. With the hand hanging at her side, she gestured to Deng Hong.

Deng Hong immediately shoved the magazine into her hands. ’She’s a real one!’

Wan Jingyi took the magazine and said apologetically, "Teacher, my magazine accidentally fell out of my bag. When I picked it up, it opened to a page and I saw someone I knew. I never thought I’d see him in a magazine, so I got a little overexcited and couldn’t control myself. I’m sorry."

Her thick Northeastern accent amused Professor Su. He chuckled and asked, "You have an acquaintance in a magazine? Go on, tell us who it is."

The other students also looked on with curiosity.

"It’s someone we all know," Wan Jingyi said. She opened the magazine and held it up for everyone to see. "It’s Zhou Yan, the owner of that restaurant in Suji! The one where we ate noodles twice. He made it into a magazine."