fictionpage Chapter 66 Preparation
Chapter 66 Preparation
The streetlights shone on Xu Liang, casting dappled light on his white shirt.
As Xu Liang walked further and further away, the smell of cooking oil in the shop seemed to be a world away from him.
On his way home, Xu Liang couldn't smell the delicious aromas from the small restaurant; instead, he could smell the smoke rising from other people's homes.
It was through Brownian motion, constantly undergoing irregular movement, that the energy entered Xu Liang's nasal cavity.
After about two weeks of refinement, the restaurant was already running smoothly and no longer required Xu Liang to keep a close eye on everything.
As he left, he opened his system.
There's something extra on the toolbar.
[Real-time monitoring of small restaurants]
[Ensuring the player is still bound to Xu Liang.]
However, in 1995, there was no surveillance, and very few people even had access to broadcastable content.
Isn't this system talking nonsense?!
He clicked on it, and suddenly a super clear screen popped up, with extremely high color resolution and frames jumping one by one.
The screen was indeed showing live footage of the small restaurant.
In that scene, Aunt Lu and Aunt Bai in the front hall were working together to tidy up the table, mop the floor, and wipe the windows.
Without realizing it, Xu Liang wiped the grease from the corners and crevices of the small restaurant clean as he stepped out.
Sun Zhonglei carefully cleaned the iron pot on the stove and put all kinds of kitchen utensils back in their places.
At the counter, Chen Yang was still checking today's revenue accounts as always, his pen moving quickly across the ledger, each transaction clear and neat.
The four people in the shop work together seamlessly, steadily supporting the business of the small restaurant.
Upon witnessing this scene, Xu Liang felt a warm feeling in his heart throughout his journey.
Just a short while ago, a phone call from Mu Ping, a good friend from Tongchuan, undoubtedly provided the thriving Xiaoliangzi Restaurant with an excellent opportunity for a breakthrough.
Today, the restaurant offers a wide variety of rice bowls with authentic flavors, and has long held the top spot among the town's home-style restaurants.
However, all the dishes are the most common home-style flavors found on the streets of Sichuan and Chongqing, resulting in severe homogenization.
There has always been a lack of a unique, regionally distinctive signature dish.
The small potatoes produced in the deep mountains of eastern Sichuan are the best opportunity to break through this bottleneck and stand out.
Those small potatoes that grow in the soil of the deep mountains at low to medium altitudes absorb the rain and dew from the mountains, where the soil is permeable and fertile.
This results in a unique texture that is thin-skinned, fiberless, powdery, and sweet, quite different from ordinary potatoes that are larger and harder in the market.
Whether stir-fried, pan-fried, braised, or made into mashed potatoes, it has a pure potato aroma.
Potatoes, also known as yams, are suitable for all ages and are especially delicious with rice.
If they successfully introduce this ingredient and develop unique signature dishes, Xiaoliangzi Restaurant will have a distinctive brand identity, no longer just an ordinary little shop that only serves home-style rice bowls, and will be able to completely leave all its competitors in town far behind.
With this thought in mind, Xu Liang no longer hesitated.
As we walked...
He arrived at the village entrance and walked towards his own courtyard.
The country lanes were quiet, and the roadside weeds swayed gently in the wind.
At this time, wisps of smoke rise from the chimneys of every household, and the aroma of food fills the air with a simple and warm atmosphere of daily life.
Xu Liang walked briskly, already conceiving recipes for Sichuan-style small potatoes in his mind.
Crispy on the outside and soft on the inside, roasted potatoes; spicy and flavorful dry-fried potatoes; smooth and soft sweet and sour mashed potatoes; and braised potatoes with meat in a rich broth.
Authentic, rustic home-style dishes took shape in his mind.
These simple mountain ingredients, without the piling up of expensive seasonings, rely entirely on the cooking time and seasoning.
It perfectly matches the restaurant's positioning of being affordable, authentic, and down-to-earth, and is sure to win over the taste buds of every diner.
When I got home, the gate to the yard was open, and my family was still inside.
Zhao Hongzhi, the mother, was sitting by the stove tidying up the dishes, her apron still on, when she heard footsteps in the yard.
I knew it was my son who had come home without even looking up.
Now that Xu Liang runs a restaurant, he leaves early and returns late every day, making him the busiest person in his family.
"You're back? How's business at the restaurant today?"
Zhao Hongzhi wiped the water off her hands, looked up at Xu Liang who had entered, and spoke with her usual concern.
"Everything is fine, everything is stable at the store."
Xu Liang nodded, then closed the courtyard gate completely and went inside. "Mom, I have something to tell you."
The room was dimly lit. Father Xu Guisheng sat on a bamboo chair, holding a pipe in his hand, slowly smoking as the smoke drifted out.
Xu Tian was doing her homework at the square table, her tender face buried in the notebook.
Her hair fell across her forehead, making her look both obedient and earnest.
Hearing Xu Liang's solemn tone, Xu Guisheng put down his pipe and raised his eyelids slightly.
"What's wrong? What happened?"
"Why are you back so early today?"
Xu Liang noticed that his parents were acting strangely. They thought he was being watched by them every day, so why did they want to look at him more closely?
Xu Liang didn't beat around the bush; he spoke directly.
"My dear brother Mu Ping called me from Tongchuan County."
"They produce a special kind of small potato in the mountains of eastern Sichuan. It tastes excellent and is a rare and authentic wild ingredient."
"I plan to leave tomorrow and take the train to Tongchuan to inspect the ingredients and secure a long-term supply from there, so that we can add a few signature dishes to our restaurant."
As soon as he finished speaking, the room fell silent for a moment.
The smile on Zhao Hongzhi's face vanished instantly, her brows furrowed slightly, and her eyes betrayed her concerns.
"Tongchuan? I know that place. It's deep in the mountains of eastern Sichuan, hundreds of miles away from here. It's remote and far, and the mountain roads are very difficult to travel!"
In the 1990s, transportation in the mountainous areas of eastern Sichuan was extremely backward. There were no paved roads, let alone convenient high-speed rail for passengers.
The entire route is a bumpy, winding mountain road made of cement. The mountain road is rugged, bumpy, and difficult to travel, making a round trip extremely tiring.
In the eyes of the older generation, remote mountainous areas have always been fraught with danger, and no one would be willing to travel such a long distance unless absolutely necessary.
"Why not just run your business from home? The shop is doing so well right now, with a stable customer base and steady daily revenue. Why bother going so far away?"
Zhao Hongzhi's tone carried a hint of disapproval, and every word she uttered reflected the worries of a mother.
"Even if the food in the mountains is good, it might not be worth it. What if the ingredients aren't suitable? Wouldn't that be a waste of travel expenses and effort? Besides, the journey is long, and there's no one to take care of you while you're away. It's too worrying."
She lived a peaceful life, valuing stability and security above all else. She didn't seek great wealth or status, only the peace and well-being of her family.
She was already content watching her son's small restaurant prosper.
They absolutely did not want Xu Liang to travel to remote mountains and endure hardship for an unknown business opportunity.
Xu Liang had anticipated his mother's concern and patiently explained in a soft voice.
"Mom, the shop looks thriving now, but all the dishes are the same home-style dishes that you can find anywhere in town. There's no unique selling point, and sooner or later it will be copied. It's hard for the business to stay stable for long."
"Tongchuan small potatoes are a unique wild ingredient that can't be found anywhere else. As long as we bring them here and make them our signature dish, our restaurant will be able to establish itself firmly and differentiate itself from other restaurants."
"This is not a waste of effort; it paves the way for the restaurant's long-term business, so it's well worth it."
Zhao Hongzhi still refused to budge, shaking her head repeatedly.
"In business, steady progress is enough; there's no need to be greedy and try to do too much! You're a young person, traveling hundreds of miles alone through remote, unfamiliar mountains. What if you run into trouble or something unexpected happens? The family business has worked so hard to build; sticking to it is the best thing to do!"
The mother and son spoke in hushed tones, the atmosphere slightly tense.
Xu Tian, who was doing her homework, had long since stopped writing and was looking at Xu Liang with her clear, big eyes, looking at him with caution and scrutiny.
My younger sister is still young and has a pure and delicate mind. She doesn't understand the complicated business intricacies, but she knows that her brother is going on a long trip and will be away from home for several days.
The thought of not seeing my brother at home for the next three or four days, and not being able to eat the delicious food he cooks, is unbearable.
The usually lively and warm home felt much quieter, and Xu Tian's eyes instantly welled up with a salty mist.
She put down her pencil, stood up from the stool, walked slowly to Xu Liang's side, gently tugged at his sleeve, her voice soft and sweet, filled with undisguised reluctance.
"Brother, are you going to be gone for a long time? Can you not go?"
Seeing his younger sister's wet eyes and aggrieved look, Xu Liang's heart softened. He gently patted her head and smiled warmly.
"He'll be gone for three or four days, five days at most. My brother will be back soon."
"But... I miss you."
Xu Tian pursed her lips, her head drooped gently, and her voice was soft and gentle, carrying the purest and most innocent affection of a child.
"When you're not home, there's no one to cook me anything delicious."
Since Xu Liang was reborn and opened a small restaurant, he has not only supported his family's livelihood but also frequently cooked various delicacies for them. He is gentle and reliable, and has long been the person Xu Tian relies on and admires the most.
In Xu Tian's eyes, her brother is an all-powerful support. As long as her brother is at home, she feels especially safe and secure.
A warm feeling welled up in Xu Liang's heart. He bent down to look at his sister at eye level and gently comforted her.
"When your brother comes back, I'll make you the new potato snacks I learned. They're crispy on the outside and soft on the inside, fragrant and sweet, with a unique flavor from the mountains. I guarantee you've never tasted anything like them before."
Hearing about the new snacks, Xu Tian's grievances faded slightly, but she still tightly gripped his clothes, refusing to let go, silently trying to hold on with her small gestures, expressing her deep reluctance to part.
Xu Guisheng, who had been silent the whole time, slowly tapped the pipe in his hand, and his deep voice broke the silence in the room.
Having lived most of his life, he was insightful and far more far-sighted than his wife.
Xu Guisheng knew that his son was calm, insightful, and never acted rashly or impulsively.
Since they were determined to go, they must have thought it through carefully; it was not a spur-of-the-moment decision.
There is no such thing as a stable and unchanging business. If you are content with the status quo, you will eventually be eliminated.
"Children grow up, they have their own thoughts and considerations."
Xu Guisheng looked up at Zhao Hongzhi, who had a worried expression, and spoke in a calm and resolute tone.
"Liangzi is a reliable and steady businessman who never acts rashly. Since he thinks this is worth doing, let him go."
As soon as he finished speaking, he turned to look at Xu Liang, his gaze serious yet gentle, his words earnest.
"You can go, Dad won't stop you. But being away from home is different from being at home. The mountain roads are rugged and far away, so you must be extra careful on the road. Keep your valuables close to you, be humble and prudent in your dealings with others, don't act impulsively, and always prioritize safety. Finish your business as soon as possible and come home as soon as possible."
The simple and plain admonitions, without any fancy words, concealed the father's deepest and most profound concern.
Xu Liang nodded emphatically, a warm feeling flowing through his heart.
"Dad, I understand. Don't worry, I will be careful and nothing will happen."
With her husband's support, Zhao Hongzhi knew that there was no point in trying to stop him.
She had always been soft-hearted and doted on her children. Looking at her son's resolute expression, she finally sighed and stopped arguing, but the worry in her eyes did not diminish at all.
"Alright, alright, you're all grown up now, and you have your own ideas. We can't stop you."
She turned and went into the inner room, packing Xu Liang's luggage while giving him detailed instructions.
"The temperature difference in the mountains is large at night, and it's easy to catch a cold. I've packed two thick coats for you. Also, bring toiletries, dry food, and tea so you can have something to eat if you get hungry on the road."
"Don't be too frugal when you're out. Eat when you want to eat, spend when you want to spend, and never deprive yourself."
My mother's nagging, though seemingly trivial, is like a warm, guiding light.
Xu Liang watched his mother's busy figure quietly, feeling a sense of peace in his heart.
Having wandered half a lifetime in my past life, experiencing the full spectrum of human emotions, being reborn with a home to return to and loved ones to care for you is the most precious happiness in the world.
Before long, Zhao Hongzhi had packed a faded canvas duffel bag.
Inside, there were two sets of clothes, a towel, a toothbrush, and flatbread, pickled vegetables, and hard-boiled eggs wrapped in oil paper. It was packed full, with no space left.
"Everything is packed for you. Be careful on the road. When you get to Tongchuan, remember to call home to let us know you've arrived safely."
Zhao Hongzhi handed over the canvas bag, her tone still full of concern.
"Okay, Mom."
Xu Liang took the backpack and found it to be heavy and substantial, filled with the love and care of his family.
Nothing was said that night.
The next day, just as dawn was breaking, a cool, moist breeze carrying the scent of the mountains enveloped the farmland.
Every household was still fast asleep.
The sky was overcast and gray.
Xu Liang got up early, quickly washed up, and slung his canvas bag over his shoulder.
His family all got up to see him off.
Xu Tian rubbed her sleepy eyes, still reluctantly following behind him.
She walked him all the way to the gate of the hospital, quietly watching his retreating figure.
"Brother, come back soon!" Xu Tian said in a clear voice.
"Um."
Xu Liang turned around and nodded gently to his family.
"Take good care of yourselves at home, I'll be back soon."
After saying goodbye to his family, he turned and walked towards the bus station in Huaikou Town.
The town was exceptionally quiet in the early morning. The streets were empty and deserted, the pavement covered with morning dew, and occasionally the sounds of roosters crowing and dogs barking could be heard.
Township bus stations in the 1990s were simple and unpretentious, without well-organized waiting halls.
The town's only passenger transport hub is a flat, open cement plot surrounded by a low wall.
Several old minibuses were parked in the open space, their paint peeling and chipped.
Covered in mud and scratches from years of travel, the car windows were dusty and rusty at the edges, bearing the marks of time everywhere.
Most of the passengers are villagers from the surrounding towns and villages.
Some carried bulging snakeskin bags, some carried bamboo baskets, and some carried simple bundles of luggage. They gathered in twos and threes, chatting in hushed tones, their eyes filled with anticipation for their journey to distant places.
When Xu Liang arrived at the station, the morning bus to Chengdu had just departed.
The ticket seller, dressed in simple work clothes, stood beside the bus and shouted loudly, his voice hoarse and loud.
"Chengdu! Early morning bus departure! Leaving soon, limited seats, hurry up if you want to get on!"
Without hesitation, Xu Liang bought his ticket, picked up his canvas bag, and boarded the bus.
The interior of the carriage was old and shabby, with hard plastic seats that had long since turned yellow and black, the edges of which were severely worn, and fine dust and debris hidden in the gaps between the seats.
Several old ceiling fans hung silently from the roof of the car, their blades rusted and worn.
The carriage was already mostly full of passengers, men, women, young and old.
Some people leaned against the car window and closed their eyes to rest, some gathered together to chat about everyday things, and some vendors were organizing their goods. The sounds of people were soft and noisy.
Xu Liang found an empty seat by the window, placed his canvas bag beside him, and sat quietly against the chair.
Before long, all the passengers boarded the train, and the once empty carriage was instantly packed with people, with even the aisle filled with short-distance passengers.
With a loud engine roar, the old minibus shuddered and slowly started moving. The wheels rolled over the uneven gravel road, and the bus swayed from side to side as it slowly drove out of Rongcheng Station and headed towards the destination.
The car continued forward, slowly leaving the familiar town.
The street scene outside the window slowly receded, with bungalows and shops lining the street, verdant fields, and hazy distant mountains.
These things gradually fade away and are eventually replaced by other things.
The cool morning breeze blew into the car through the half-open window, dispelling some of the stuffy atmosphere.
The journey was long and tedious, and most of the passengers in the carriage were bored. They either took a nap or looked out the window at the rapidly receding mountain scenery, quietly passing the time.
After a bumpy and swaying journey of more than two hours, the old minibus finally slowly drove into the outskirts of Chengdu.
In less than half an hour, the view suddenly opened up, and the low-rise town houses gradually disappeared, replaced by rows of buildings.
The streets are bustling with traffic and pedestrians, and the vibrant atmosphere of the city is palpable, a stark contrast to the quiet towns.
Chengdu in the 1990s lacked the bustling prosperity and skyscrapers of its former glory, but it possessed a unique, down-to-earth charm characteristic of the southwestern provincial capital.
The streets are flat and wide, lined with shops on both sides, offering a wide variety of food, and pedestrians hurry along.
Everywhere you look, you see the unique heritage of the old city.