"Impossible!"

"Absolutely impossible!"

"Is this right?"

"This isn’t right!"

Yang the Third and Zhu Feng went back and forth, so angry they were about to jump up and down.

Just now, Zhu Feng’s wife had snuck over to peek at the prices. The braised dishes were thirty cents more expensive per jin than theirs.

Thirty cents per jin was no small amount. Back when they had launched a price war against Zhao Minghui, they had specifically undercut him by thirty cents. No matter what price Zhao Minghui set, they were always thirty cents cheaper.

That was how they had dragged Zhao Minghui down, scaring him so badly that he didn’t dare to stock too many braised pig heads.

But Zhou Yan’s current prices were a full thirty cents more expensive than theirs, so why were these workers still so excited?

They weren’t just eating the free samples; many went straight into the restaurant, sat down, and ordered. They specifically asked for the cold tossed chicken and braised dishes—Zhu Feng’s wife had seen it all with her own eyes.

Watching the two of them hopping mad, Zhao Minghui and Zhang Xiuqin turned their heads away, struggling to hold back their laughter.

So satisfying!

It felt like they were finally getting some revenge.

Ever since those two moved in at the beginning of the year, they had been nothing but a nauseating headache.

They were simple, honest people and couldn’t compete with the pair’s schemes, so they could only focus on making their sweet-skinned duck.

But now, Zhou Yan had arrived. He was selling braised pig head meat and braised pig ears, striking right at their weak spot.

Seeing them hopping mad like that, it was clear they were finally starting to get scared.

"Zhou Yan really is amazing," Zhao Minghui said in a low voice. "He’s barely made a move, and they’re already running around like headless chickens."

"He is amazing," Zhang Xiuqin agreed, but then added worriedly, "But he’s selling cold tossed chicken. Won’t our business be affected too?"

"It’ll be affected somewhat. From now on, let’s stop selling pig head meat and duck heads and just focus on the sweet-skinned duck. We can try selling some braised peanuts too." Zhao Minghui grinned. "The impact on them will definitely be much greater than on us."

Zhang Xiuqin looked at her honest, down-to-earth husband. It seemed that, deep down, he wasn’t as calm as he had let on.

As they were talking, a few workers passed by. They couldn’t help but stop and stare at the sweet-skinned ducks hanging at the stall. The ducks were coated in a layer of sugar, giving them a bright, glistening red color that looked incredibly tempting.

Zhao Minghui grabbed a handful of braised peanuts, went out to greet them with a smile, and placed a few in each of their hands. "Have a taste of the braised peanuts I just made today," he said, still smiling. "Our sweet-skinned duck is delicious too. It’s an authentic, ancestral recipe from Jiajiang’s Muzhen Town, passed down in my family for over a hundred years."

In this era of scarcity, where people wouldn’t waste a single grain of rice, a boss who handed out handfuls of braised peanuts to people was a rare and unusual sight indeed.

You don’t hit a smiling face, as the saying goes. The group decided to stay and stood there, shelling the peanuts to give them a try.

"Mm, delicious. The braised flavor is quite rich, and the saltiness is just right."

"Boss, these braised peanuts are really fragrant. How much for a jin?"

After trying the braised peanuts, the customers showered them with praise and started asking about the price.

Zhao Minghui smiled and said, "The peanuts are forty-five cents a jin. I use only the best sand-grown peanuts—they’re plump and get more fragrant the more you chew. The raw, dry peanuts alone cost me thirty cents a jin."

"That’s cheap! The supply and marketing co-op sells them for sixty-two cents a jin. They’re shipped in from Jiazhou every day, but they don’t taste as good as yours." One customer said while shelling a peanut, "Weigh out twenty cents’ worth for me. I’ll have them as a snack this afternoon."

"They really are good. I’ll take thirty cents’ worth," a female worker added. She then looked at the hanging sweet-skinned ducks and asked, "Is that sweet-skinned duck any good? How much for a whole one?"

"Our sweet-skinned ducks are authentic free-range ducks, braised in the same brine as the peanuts. We scald the skin and then drizzle it with maltose. The meat is fragrant and falls off the bone, suitable for all ages. We have many regular customers from the factory who buy half a duck every month." Zhao Minghui explained, "We sell it by weight. It’s one dollar and sixty cents per jin. This one is a little over two jin, so it’d be over three dollars."

The female worker nodded. "Braised in the same pot, it must be fragrant. I’ll come by tonight to buy half a duck to take home and try. My son and my mom love sweet things."

"Alright." Zhao Minghui’s smile grew even wider.

Zhang Xiuqin stared in astonishment at Zhao Minghui, who was at the front handing out braised peanuts to the workers and actively promoting their sweet-skinned duck. He felt like a stranger.

’Is this still my husband, the man who wouldn’t fart if you slapped him three times?’

He gave away two or three jin of peanuts and sold ten. All the braised peanuts he’d made for the day were sold out.

The workers bought them in twenty or thirty-cent portions, all to eat as an afternoon snack.

For every three customers who tried a sample, one would buy some.

After they sold out, some customers even placed pre-orders for the next day.

Everyone knew the price of peanuts, so when they found some that were so delicious and cheap, they were naturally happy to buy them.

The sweet-skinned ducks didn’t sell during the lunch rush, but three people pre-ordered half a duck each.

As the crowd dispersed, Zhao Minghui let out a sigh of relief.

"Old Zhao, you... Where did you learn all this?" Zhang Xiuqin looked at him, her confusion mixed with admiration. ’He’s incredible!’

"This is just how you do business," Zhao Minghui said with a calm smile, though his heart was pounding just as wildly. He could feel his back was already soaked with sweat.

Where did he learn it? From Zhou Yan.

Over the past few days, he had seen business at Zhou Yan Restaurant booming. Whenever he had free time, he would carefully observe the restaurant, watching Mrs. Zhao bustling about, greeting customers with a boisterous laugh and a constant, infectious enthusiasm. He had gradually started to understand.

Today, following Zhou Yan’s advice, he had prepared peanuts for the workers to sample. He saw how Mrs. Zhao’s single shout had made the workers stop in their tracks and enter the restaurant to spend money.

So, gritting his teeth and stamping his foot, he threw caution to the wind. He put on a smile, greeted customers, proactively introduced his sweet-skinned duck, and used his sincerity to win them over. The results were, as expected, bountiful.

’When I get a free day, I have to treat Zhou Yan to a drink. He’s truly my benefactor.’

Nearby, Yang the Third and Zhu Feng were dumbfounded. Where had this guy learned these tricks? How had he suddenly become so sharp?

’What kind of peanuts sell that well? Selling over ten jin in just a short while at noon?’

’Forty-five cents a jin... even if he only makes half of that in profit, he’s earned over two dollars in just that short time this afternoon!’

Yang the Third shamelessly shuffled forward, his face plastered with a fake smile. "Zhao, what kind of peanuts are those that taste so good? Why don’t you let us try a couple?"

"Yeah, grab some for us. Let us have a taste," Zhu Feng chimed in.

"Sold out. Not a single one left," Zhao Minghui said coolly, putting the lid on the enamel basin that still had two handfuls of peanuts left inside.

Having been met with a polite but firm rejection, the two returned to their stalls with displeased expressions.

The corners of Zhang Xiuqin’s mouth lifted. ’Old Zhao’s finally showing some backbone!’

...

Business at Zhou Yan Restaurant was indeed booming at lunchtime. Ten orders of cold tossed chicken were sold, leaving less than a whole chicken.

About a dozen portions of braised pig head meat were sold for takeout, all to regular customers who were afraid they wouldn’t be able to get any if they came too late in the evening.

The funniest part was Zhao Dong’s trio of meal-buddies. While eating, they insisted on trying a taste of the pig ears someone had ordered for takeout. As a result, with one slice for you and one slice for me, the three of them devoured the entire pig ear, and a new one had to be packed.

Because they didn’t trust each other not to sneak a bite in the afternoon, they even left the pig head meat and pig ears in Zhou Yan’s custody, to be picked up after work.

Three people, three hundred ulterior motives.

"The free samples really worked! Our braised dishes have become famous overnight. A lot of people told me they’re coming back tonight to get some for takeout," Mrs. Zhao said to Zhou Yan, beaming, her eyes full of admiration.

’If it weren’t for the method Zhou Yan came up with, who knows how we would have sold these three pig heads and two chickens today.’

’This boy is just too clever.’

"It’s mainly because Zhou Yan’s braising is so good. It’s almost on par with Grandma’s," Zhao Hong said with a smile.

"Not even close. Grandma’s is much better," Zhou Yan said, shaking his head with a smile. He knew better than anyone the gap between his skills and the old woman’s.

Zhou Momo came closer, tilting her head up to look at him with a face full of anticipation. "Brother, can you braise piggy feet? I want to eat some~~"

Yesterday afternoon, the old lady had bestowed upon her half a pig’s trotter. She had eaten until her hands and face were covered in grease, blissfully lost in the fragrance.

Mrs. Zhao said she was even gnawing on pig trotters in her dreams last night. When she woke up, her arm was covered in drool and two rows of tiny teeth marks.

"The one you ate yesterday was braised by me. How about I braise some for you tomorrow?" Zhou Yan said with a smile. He’d have to pre-order them from the Knife Maker. It wasn’t just Zhou Momo who was craving them; he was, too.

"Okay!" Zhou Momo jumped up happily. "Brother, you’re the best!"

"I want half a one, too," Mrs. Zhao decisively put in her request. She had been craving braised pig trotters for years, but with so many youngsters in the family, it was never the adults’ turn to eat them.

Now that Zhou Yan knew how to braise them, she definitely wanted to have a taste, even if she had to pay for one herself.

"Everyone gets a share. Tomorrow, I’ll make sure everyone gets to eat braised pig trotters," Zhou Yan said with a wave of his hand. ’They just want pig trotters? Consider it done!’

Pig trotters have less meat and are a hassle to prepare, so they were much cheaper than regular meat, only thirty-five cents a jin. A large trotter cost sixty or seventy cents. He could just toss them into the pot while braising meat tomorrow morning as an extra treat for everyone.

Comrade Zhou helped clear the tables and said to Mrs. Zhao, "The sky’s getting a bit dark. It might rain tonight. I’ll go back this afternoon to reinforce the house and replace a few tiles on the kitchen and main room roofs, so they don’t leak again."

"Go on, then. Be careful on the roof," Mrs. Zhao nodded.

"Does the house still need reinforcing?" Zhou Yan glanced outside. The sky did indeed look a bit gloomy today.

"This house was built when your old man and I got married and split from the family. He carried the mud himself and mixed it with straw to make the rammed-earth walls. It’s two years older than you are. There were two earthquakes back in the seventies that shook it. The walls were covered in cracks, and the outhouse even collapsed. Your old man patched it up himself with mud and small stones." Mrs. Zhao said with a smile:

"We’ve patched it up here and there over the years, and it’s been fine to live in. If we make money in the future, we’ll just tear it down and build a new one."

"I saw a family in town with a house built from bricks. It looked so nice—no drafts, no leaks. We should build one like that in the future."

Speaking of building a new house, Mrs. Zhao’s face was filled with anticipation.

"You’re right. In a couple of years, we’ll build a brick-and-tile house too," Comrade Zhou nodded.

"Once we have money in a couple of years, why build a house in the countryside? Wouldn’t it be great to take the money, buy a house in Rongcheng, and become city folk?" Zhou Yan laughed. He wanted to suggest the Capital or Shanghai, but those places were too far away, and it would be impossible for Mrs. Zhao and Comrade Zhou to even imagine it.

Hearing "Rongcheng," Zhou Momo’s eyes lit up. She immediately ran over, tugged on the hem of his shirt, and asked, "Brother! Brother! They say all the kids in Rongcheng have giant pandas. Can I have a giant panda, too?"