Chapter 385 - 198: Dear Senior Brother, Are You Messing With Me?

Chapter 385: Chapter 198: Dear Senior Brother, Are You Messing With Me?

"The whole family?" Zhou Yan took the invitation and saw that it was indeed addressed to "The Zhou Yan Family." He smiled and nodded. "Alright. Thank you for the invitation, Mr. Qian. We’ll be there tomorrow."

"Great. I’ll be heading back now, then," Wang said with a nod before turning to leave.

"Looks like we won’t have to pack up any food to-go. The whole family can eat there." Zhou Yan chuckled, waving the invitation in his hand. ’Qian Siyuan is so thoughtful, inviting all of us.’

"Yay! Momo gets to go to the banquet too!" Zhou Momo balled her little hands into fists and raised them over her head in delight, unable to contain her excitement. "Brother, are we going now? I want to change into a pretty, pretty dress!"

"We’re going tomorrow," Zhou Yan said, laughing as he tapped her on the head. ’This little one only ever hears half of what you say, unless it’s about food.’

"He even sent a formal invitation for a thank-you banquet. This boss is so meticulous," Mrs. Zhao remarked, taking the invitation to have a look. The notice was a bit last-minute, but the invitation itself was quite proper.

Zhou Yan smiled. "Then you and Momo should come with us tomorrow morning."

"Alright. I’ve got nothing else going on anyway, so going to a banquet sounds perfect." Mrs. Zhao nodded, setting the invitation down. She looked at Zhou Yan and asked, "Should we bring a gift?"

"He’s the boss of a big foreign company. He probably won’t be accepting cash gifts for a thank-you banquet," Zhou Yan said with a laugh. "Don’t you worry about it. I’ll prepare a red envelope just in case. If everyone else is giving one, we’ll give one too."

So, the thank-you banquet was set. It seemed Qian Siyuan had deliberately waited for the head chef’s schedule to open up.

This money was practically being handed to him.

Fifty tables. At three yuan per table, that was a hundred and fifty yuan.

That was the quote for a basic "Nine Big Bowls" banquet. The standards for Qian Siyuan’s thank-you banquet were higher, and the evening meal was also of better quality, so the fee per table would probably be even higher.

The way rich people repay favors was always so delightful.

...

That evening, Zhou Yan was writing down the list of ingredients and quantities needed for the next day. Comrade Zhou was maintaining his fishing rod, which hadn’t seen water in days, while Mrs. Zhao was trying on outfits for the banquet.

Zhou Momo had played herself into a frenzy with a group of children from the factory that evening. After a quick wash-up, she fell asleep in Mrs. Zhao’s arms before her feet were even dry.

"Zhou Miao, what do you think of this outfit?" Mrs. Zhao asked Comrade Zhou, tucking her patterned dacron blouse into her dress slacks.

Comrade Zhou set down his fishing rod and gave her a serious look. "It’s great," he said with a nod. "It makes you look sharp and elegant. It’ll look beautiful with your leather shoes!"

Mrs. Zhao smiled and nodded. "Alright, then I’ll wear this tomorrow, with a light padded jacket over it."

Zhou Yan was impressed with Comrade Zhou. He had a thoughtful response for everything she said, not just some casual dismissal. ’That’s something truly difficult to maintain in a long-term marriage.’

Mrs. Zhao then looked at Zhou Yan. "Zhou Yan, I’ve picked out your clothes too. Just wear that new set from the other day. The mornings have been getting colder, so take out your corduroy jacket and wear it."

"Alright," Zhou Yan replied.

Early the next morning, Zhou Yan and Comrade Zhou went out to buy meat, picking up a tender young chicken while they were at it.

It was still dark when they returned home. The father and son lit a lamp and began to prepare the pig’s head.

With enough food for fifty tables, they had to leave plenty of time for prep work. Besides, it was thirty li from Suji to Linjiang, a journey that would take them nearly an hour by bicycle, so the earlier they started, the better.

"Old Man, you should teach me how to butcher a chicken sometime," Zhou Yan said to Comrade Zhou as he scraped the bristles off the pig.

"It’s only two or three chickens a day. I can just take care of them. Aren’t you busy making the toppings and meat sauces?" Comrade Zhou replied casually.

"You can never have too many skills. If I want to get my Chef certification in the future, these are all fundamentals," Zhou Yan said.

"Alright. Next time there’s a chicken, I’ll wait to butcher it so you can learn," Comrade Zhou agreed with a nod.

After soaking for a sufficient amount of time, the braised meats were taken out of the pot. The inside of a large back-basket was lined with a double layer of cheesecloth, the meat was loaded in, and then covered with another double layer of cheesecloth. Finally, a new straw hat was placed over the top to keep out the dust.

Two baskets were strapped to the back rack of Zhou Yan’s bicycle. Comrade Zhou’s bike had only one, tied to the side to leave room for Mrs. Zhao to ride.

"Off to the banquet!" Zhou Momo cheered, pumping her little fists as she sat on the crossbar of Zhou Yan’s bicycle.

Zhou Yan said, "Old Man, you lead the way. I’ve never been to Linjiang."

"Alright," Comrade Zhou replied, taking the lead.

In his days of buying and butchering cattle, he had traveled to nearly every town and village in Jiazhou. He had a map of the area in his head.

In an era when road signs were a rarity, he could find his way to any village from memory alone.

After a fifty-minute ride, they arrived in Linjiang Town. Before they even had a chance to ask for directions, they saw a large crowd gathered on the street ahead. A long row of temporary stoves lined the roadside, with stacks of steamers piled higher than a man’s head—a truly spectacular sight.

"That’s the place," Zhou Yan said, cycling over. Sure enough, he quickly spotted Zheng Qiang and his master by one of the stoves, busy stir-frying a sauce.

A group of people in Chef’s uniforms stood nearby, a mix of young and middle-aged men. They were clearly Chefs from the Kong Sect, and Zhou Yan recognized many of them.

"Zhou Yan’s here!" Zheng Qiang, who had a sharp eye, called out.

Eager gazes immediately turned in Zhou Yan’s direction.

Zhou Yan had been featured in *Sichuan Cuisine* magazine, and a photo of his Kneeling Beef had even made the cover. This instantly made him the most talked-about figure among the fourth-generation disciples of the Kong Sect.

The latest issue of *Sichuan Cuisine* had sold out at newsstands all over Jiazhou, thanks in no small part to the Chefs of the Kong Sect.