Chapter 003: Pork Chops

Zhou Ma still smiled and said: "What is there to advise? My son chose to intern at Jiuzhou Ding Shi, which shows ambition! Is it right to live a life without achievement like you?"

The business of the pork belly restaurant is quite good, as the Zhu family’s pork belly does not emphasize heavy sauces and strong flavors, but rather insists on using the simplest methods to bring out the original taste of the meat

Having a handsome son selling food at the stove, at least he should close the stall one hour earlier

Seeing his son silent, Father Zhou felt a sense of unease in his heart. This boy might be troubled; he must not be forced. It would be better for his mother to persuade him.

He will leave school on Friday and will only report to Kyushu Ding Shi next Monday. He can just return home for a visit on Saturday and Sunday. It is only in the eyes of his parents that he is considered a normal person; home is his only concern.

Looking at Zhou Dong's departing figure, Zhou's father frowned and said: "You wasteful old woman, all you know is to praise your son for being handsome, why don't you advise him? Going to Jiuzhou Ding Shi for an internship, isn't that just asking for trouble!"

Zhou Dong was at a loss for words; his parents still had their old habits, one always eager to control his career, and the other always wanting to control her love life

Zhou's father put down his wine glass and glanced at his son: "Although I am just a small owner of a butcher shop, I have heard of the reputation of the nine provinces' culinary arts. Don't think that just because you are an intern from a technical school, you are anything special; even a level three chef there would just be a mere assistant.

Zhou Ma smiled and said: "My son is even more handsome now, he finished packing up an hour and a half early today..."

Hmm. Zhou Dong nodded, Comrade Lao He was a regular at their home, often coming over to enjoy some meat. It was likely that a little report had long been submitted to his father's meat case.

Qingxiang Technical School holds significant influence in Jiangsu Province. Once Qingxiang students select an internship platform, they are generally not rejected; the so-called application process is merely a formality.

If we are to trace its origins, the earliest form of Zirmeat was a famous snack from Quancheng in Shandong Province. It later spread to the capital of Chu, where it underwent several generations of improvements by the people of Chu, and has since become a representative dish of Chu cuisine

Zhou Ma did not know how many times she had quarreled with Zhou Ba over this matter, but Zhou Ba always smiled and said, "My dear partner, money is something that can never be earned enough. Didn't that brother surnamed Ma say it? Earning twenty to thirty thousand a month is the most fulfilling."

Zhou Ba took a sip of liquor, which had become his habit after closing up shop each day. He would have one or two liang of alcohol daily, neither too much nor too little. It is said that this is healthier than for those who do not drink.

While other dormitories were bidding farewell, Zhou Dong was all alone. Due to his illness, the school did not assign any other students to live with him, so when it came time to leave, he was quite carefree, without the need for long sighs of parting.

Zhou Dong is a serious resident of Chudu City. His grandfather's generation had a small courtyard of over 400 square meters in Huilongwo. Nowadays, Huilongwo has long since transformed into a 'historical residence,' cleverly attracting many tourists with a series of brand new 'ancient buildings'.

Seeing his mother busy serving food, Zhou Dong set down his luggage and rolled up his sleeves to help. He was quite skilled at this line of work, serving dishes and rice quickly, and keeping the accounts neat and tidy. If it weren't for his cold and aloof expression, he would likely become the most popular little boss.

Just wait and see! Sooner or later, all those so-called top chefs, those Michelin-starred chefs, will all bow down at my son's feet. (There are no longer any top chefs; the corresponding titles are now technician and senior technician)

What are you talking about? We are currently discussing the matter of my son's internship.

With such high-quality ingredients and a handsome son who makes a brief appearance at the shop every weekend, it is easy to imagine the success of Zhou's pork belly business. However, Zhou's father insists on selling only one hundred portions of pork belly each day, and the quantity of various side dishes is also strictly limited. Once sold out, the shop closes, and he will never bow to money.

Why aren't you speaking?

Busy stood up and said: "Mom and Dad, I am full, I will go wash the pork..."

If the internship does not meet the standards, you will have to return to school for an additional year, have you thought this through? ... Old He said, it is still possible to make changes now if you want to ...

Therefore, the braised pork from the Zhou family uses only soy sauce, salt, scallions, ginger, and does not employ an excessive amount of spices; at most, it may include some Sichuan pepper and star anise, with the quantity of star anise being strictly controlled by Father Zhou

Father Zhou firmly believes that spices are always "subordinate items" and that it is absolutely unacceptable for a minister to deceive the sovereign

Old He has a point; Jiuzhou Ding Shi must cherish its reputation and will definitely not go easy on interns. Moreover, their standards will far exceed those of other internship platforms

After his family was relocated, they first moved to the banks of Yunlong Lake in the southern district. After several twists and turns, they eventually returned to the vicinity of Huilongwo and purchased a small residential courtyard. Both of his parents are businesspeople, and with their years of savings plus the compensation from the relocation, they can be considered a moderately wealthy family. They also bought a storefront nearby, specifically to operate a famous local dish called 'Bazi Rou' from Chudu.

Zhou Dong believes that his father is a philosopher, living with great clarity. However, there is one thing his father cannot understand: with a son as handsome as him and so many girls who like him, choosing whom to marry is quite a dilemma for him. He finds it very difficult. He does not want to hurt the feelings of the girls.

Did you ultimately choose to intern at Kyushu Ding Shi?

Zhou Ma glanced at her son and gave her partner a look. Her son has returned, and they can close up early today

The preparation of pork emphasizes a width of four fingers and a thickness of half a finger, with three layers of fatty meat stacked upon one another, resulting in a texture that is moderately soft and firm, rich yet not greasy. It is more robust than plain boiled meat, yet less oily than Dongpo pork. When paired with side dishes such as dried tofu, kelp bundles, gluten, meatballs, and lantern pepper, along with high-quality rice, it is simply a delicacy of the human realm

Zhou's father laughed and said: "My dear, your son is not an extraordinary beauty. What do you mean by being 'smitten by his charm'? That is an inappropriate choice of words"

Moreover, let's take good care of our health, as that would effectively reduce the burden on our son. When your son marries and has grandchildren, won't we also have good health to enjoy the happiness of our descendants

Therefore, after submitting the application form, Zhou Dong could prepare to leave the school. He only took some personal clothing and left the dormitory. As for bedding and such, there was no need to bring them home at all. If the junior students were willing to use them, they could; if not, the school would recycle them and sell them to the scrap station.

Zhou Ma has gained experience; sure enough, it wasn't long after her son took over the stove that many young ladies and girls suddenly appeared in front of the shop. In the past, they were the ones who didn't like to eat meat and would call for dieting. Now, when ordering meat, they ask for two or three pieces at a time, eagerly gathering around her son to pick and choose, hoping to chat a little longer.

... ...

Upon hearing Father Zhou mention taking the grandchildren out in the future, Mother Zhou ceased her complaints and began to shift her attention to her son

The storefront of the Zhou family is not far from the 'Historical Cultural Residential Area' of Huilongwo, so the business is naturally quite good. At this moment, during the lunch hour, there are already many customers lined up to make purchases

Old He said that you are very irrational

My son is with me, he is just handsome

Son, have all the girls in your class been captivated by you? Haven't you made one or two little girlfriends? When will you bring them home for your mother to see

I am feeling very down; if we continue to talk, my depression is sure to flare up. The doctor has said that work is the most honorable, and it can also help suppress the condition

You know nothing, I mean they will eventually all bow down to my son's apron!

However, to avoid excessive reliance on spices, strict quality control must be applied to the pork. Although the Zhou family does not use organic black pork, they choose only high-quality pork belly that has passed inspection by the meat processing plant, and it must be guaranteed fresh