Chapter 574: Chapter 557: Braised Pork with Potatoes

Although Wang Fan makes Northeast-style boxed meals, the dishes are not limited to just Northeast cuisine.

Today, he plans to make braised pork with potatoes, sweet and sour pork, sautéed pork slices, fish-flavored shredded pork, fish-flavored eggplant, pork and cabbage stew with vermicelli, garlic sautéed lettuce, and spinach salad.

The prices are set at 15 yuan per box, half price for those over sixty, and completely free for those over seventy. People can choose what they want to eat; if they like meat, it’s fine to fill it with meat dishes.

This model is quite popular in the Northeast boxed meal community.

The characteristics of Northeast cuisine are generally dark, salty, sticky, soupy, and large portions.

The darkness is due to the use of soy sauce and caramel color, which gives the dish a heavier appearance.

The saltiness comes from the use of many sauces, naturally making the dish taste stronger.

The stickiness is due to the use of thick sauces, and the soupiness is from the abundance of broth in stews. Large portions mean generous servings.

Because the dishes are flavorful, people tend to eat more staples with them. This model relies on small margins and high volume for profitability.

Wang Fan doesn’t care much about making money. Even if he loses some, it won’t be much. He sees it as contributing to this warm-hearted city.

The braised pork with potatoes, fish-flavored eggplant, and pork and cabbage stew with vermicelli are already ready. He placed them in large insulated containers, as these dishes only get more flavorful over time.

Just by showcasing these three dishes, Wang Fan already left the elderly folks amazed.

If anyone knows hardship, it’s them, but when it comes to tasting rich foods, they truly lack experience.

The bubbling sound of braised pork simmering is almost like a temptation, constantly awakening their appetites. Coupled with the rich aroma mixed with the fresh scent of potatoes, it makes their mouths water.

They’ve had braised pork before, but Wang Fan’s perfectly balanced use of seasonings and spices surpasses their wildest expectations, with its intense and rich aroma almost overwhelming them.

And it doesn’t stop there. The introduction of pork and cabbage stew with vermicelli is like a knockout punch.

Cabbage has a strong aroma when cooked, and when mixed with pork, it transforms into another enticing fragrance. Combined with the smell of braised pork, the layers of aromas become richer. How could the elderly, after such a busy day, resist this scene?

Not only did it make their mouths water, but their stomachs also started rumbling. It was as if countless hands from the pots were dragging their eyes in for a closer look.

When the dishes were done and Wang Fan started filling the insulated containers, the process of pouring that glossy, tempting broth caused another attack on their delicate taste buds.

Many of the elderly had already taken out their dry rations from home, chewing and sniffing non-stop, feeling their plain food suddenly seem much sweeter.

Wang Fan grabbed a disposable meal box, filled it generously: a big spoonful of braised pork, a smaller spoon of pork and cabbage stew with vermicelli, and a small spoon of fish-flavored eggplant, completely filling the box.

After packing, he casually handed it to Grandpa Jiang beside him: "Grandpa Jiang, try it and see if it’s cooked enough."

Then he packed another bowl and handed it to another granny: "Granny, see if this suits the taste of Wudu folks? Give me some feedback."

"Everyone, try it too. If there’s anything that doesn’t suit the taste of Wudu residents, let me know so I can improve it. Otherwise, I might end up in a loss."

Grandpa Jiang looked at the pile of meat in the box with a wry smile: "With you giving like this, no wonder you’d be at a loss. Who gives so much meat to taste for doneness?"

Wang Fan laughed heartily: "We agreed beforehand, you help me with the work, I treat you to a meal. A real man keeps his word and can’t break a promise."

Grandpa Jiang shook his head, amused: "It’s the first time I’ve seen someone rushing to take a loss, you cheeky rascal, just wait to see your loss!"

Wang Fan got along with these elderly folks very well, feeling completely at ease: "I’m sure I’ll sell like hotcakes and won’t lose a penny."

After talking to Grandpa Jiang, he addressed all the grandparents: "Grandpas and grandmas, as we agreed, from today until Friday, the dishes we sell to the nearby residents before 9 a.m. are normal. After 9 a.m., whatever’s left, I’ll take. Just like today, you help me with washing and picking the vegetables, and I’ll treat you to a meal." 𝐟𝚛𝕖𝚎𝕨𝗲𝐛𝚗𝐨𝐯𝐞𝕝.𝐜𝗼𝗺

He didn’t mention buying the dishes directly from the elderly, not for the 20% discount, but because he knew he wouldn’t be staying here long. If he did that, once he left, the elderly’s business would probably become even harder to sustain.

Because if nearby residents come to buy vegetables only to find none available, they’ll go elsewhere. If it happens for a week straight, they might not think of buying here anymore.

He just wanted to use his modest influence to let more people know there’s a group of elderly folks selling fresh and cheap vegetables here, encouraging more people to frequent their stalls, allowing them to sell out sooner and earn a bit more while being able to return home to rest sooner.

Under normal circumstances, they have to get up at 2 a.m., leave home by 4 a.m., catch the subway by 5:30 a.m., switch to another market by 10 a.m., and they don’t return home until six or seven in the evening; by the time they’re home, it’s already eight or nine, have a late dinner, and don’t get much sleep before starting a new busy day.

If he could let them return home even an hour earlier in the future, his efforts would be meaningful, far surpassing any happiness from earning money.