Chapter 575: Chapter 557: Braised Pork with Potatoes

Grandpa Jiang looked at the bright red braised pork in the pure white lunchbox, his eyes slightly wet.

People of their generation have endured so much hardship, that a small act of kindness often touches their hearts deeply.

The rich aroma of the meat indeed stirred the old man’s appetite, and this young man was quite likable. If he had such a grandson, he would wake up laughing from his dreams.

But his own family isn’t bad either, still serving in the army, protecting the country. He just wonders if they could enjoy such delicious braised pork?

The old man is physically robust, but his teeth are average, with not much left in his mouth. However, Wang Fan’s braised pork is tender and melts instantly, differing slightly from Dongpo Pork in preparation, with a more intense soy sauce flavor.

The braised pork in the lunchbox is shiny red, and the potatoes beside it are golden and soft.

Upon closer sniffing, the rich aroma of the meat and the fresh scent of potatoes assailed his senses, making the old man unable to resist being enchanted.

The fragrance of the braised pork was laced with soy sauce, cooking wine, and spices, yet each flavor was not overly potent, highlighting the aroma of the meat pieces.

The potatoes, on the other hand, gave off a light earthen freshness, creating a unique scent when combined, making the old man feel thoroughly comfortable.

Picking up a piece of braised pork with chopsticks and placing it in his mouth, the tip of his tongue barely needed to press for the meat to dissolve, its texture tender and soft, fatty but not greasy, especially the layer of sauce wrapping the outside, not only salty and sweet but also made the entire piece smooth.

This piece must be the tenderloin tip, with more lean meat, but even the fibers were stewed to delicacy, making chewing effortless, and Grandpa Jiang realized the benefit of fewer teeth — no worries about the strands getting stuck.

With a piece of meat down, Grandpa Jiang’s hunger was fully activated, and he couldn’t help but pick up another piece of potato with a chunk of braised pork.

The potatoes melted instantly upon entering the mouth, their fine texture complementing the rich taste of the braised pork.

As he savored the flavors, the salty-sweet taste of the braised pork and the natural sweetness of the potatoes blended harmoniously, tempting endless recollection, with the addition of the sauce further enhancing the taste. 𝓯𝓻𝓮𝙚𝙬𝓮𝙗𝒏𝙤𝒗𝙚𝙡.𝒄𝒐𝓶

Finally, swallowing the braised pork and potatoes together, he was left with a rich flavor and a sense of satisfaction.

At this point, rice is essential!

Grandpa Jiang picked up the rice that Wang Fan had unknowingly placed beside him, its fragrance being pure and each grain distinct, it was clearly high-quality rice. Its inherent sweetness started calling even without any side dish, making Grandpa Jiang feel he could eat three big bowls.

Placing a piece of braised pork on the rice, he shoveled it into his mouth — oh my goodness!

Utterly delightful!

Grandma Liu was the one who fell, now 83 years old. That fall had caused a minor skin tear on her forehead, which a shop owner had covered with a band-aid.

At this moment, she was eating heartily, enjoying the braised pork with potatoes but having a stronger preference for pork and cabbage stew with vermicelli.

She knew how to make this dish, as cabbage is cheap and one yuan covered a meal.

But no matter how she tried, she couldn’t compare her dish with the one the young lad made. Hers was plain broth, while his had a deep color.

Despite the darker color, it surprisingly stimulated appetite, especially since a lot of meat was used at the start, making this dish heavy with lard, with every vermicelli and piece of cabbage soaking up the rich oils, smelling overwhelmingly inviting.

"Slurp slurp..."

Using chopsticks to lift some vermicelli into her mouth, a strong suck made it slide rapidly.

The perfect cooking has left the vermicelli soft but not mushy, tender but not clumpy, with a springy QQ feel, the taste can only be described as absolute.

The rich sauce soaked into the vermicelli, making each mouthful incredibly savory, followed by a sweep of the tongue across the lips to taste the seasoning residue, ready for another mouthful of rice. Oh my goodness, it’s delicious!

Grandma Liu couldn’t think of more praise, resorting to constant thumbs up to Wang Fan to express her admiration.

The marketplace was lively, though it was a silent liveliness.

"Slurp slurp..."

"Gulp gulp..."

The sounds of chews and swallows all around were enticing the meat shop owner’s saliva to almost flow.

Whether the young man’s business model is profitable wasn’t the point, but his skills were indeed a killer.

And the young man’s cooking was visible just earlier, though it wasn’t clear what was used for the high broth, every step was neat and swift, with no flavor enhancers involved.

No way, I’ve got to try some myself...

The meat shop owner stepped out and quickly arrived at Wang Fan’s stall: "Young brother, give me a portion."

Wang Fan, busy stir-frying fish-flavored shredded pork, replied, "I can’t spare a moment, serve yourself, 15 yuan per portion, eat whatever you like, eat as much as you want, just don’t waste any, the rice is in the cooker."

The owner was surprised, thinking the sign was mere marketing, expecting conditions with the purchase, only to be told it was indeed 15 yuan a portion? All dishes self-serve?

If I only eat the braised pork, wouldn’t that be a losing deal for you?

Seeing Wang Fan was engaged elsewhere, the meat shop owner first took a box of rice, then gingerly tried a bit of braised pork.

He considered being frugal, since he knew the price of meat well, a hearty portion would cost at least 30 yuan in material.

Perhaps sensing the owner’s thoughts, Wang Fan spoke up, "If you skimp on the meat, it just means my cooking is not good enough, or your meat was not fresh."

The owner chuckled, "Young brother, you don’t appreciate me saving you cost."

Wang Fan laughed heartily, "I’m not worried about losses selling this way, just eat freely."

The meat shop owner, a warm-hearted and helpful person, Wang Fan hoped, even if good deeds aren’t rewarded, that such people enjoy his meals.

The owner scooped a hearty serving of braised pork, "If I don’t eat more, people might think there’s something wrong with the meat I sold you."

Wang Fan finished up the fish-flavored shredded pork, ladling a scoop into the owner’s box on top, "Try this, fresh out of the pan, it’s sure to be good."

The owner felt a pang for Wang Fan, with braised pork and fish-flavored shredded pork, dining out would cost at least 40 yuan, but you’re just selling it to me for 15?

The owner felt a bit guilty, suddenly recalling his daughter often complained about school meals being unappetizing, he decided to taste it first, if it’s good he’d get another portion to send to his daughter.

His daughter had a small appetite, making it possible for the young brother owner to earn a bit.

The owner inhaled the aroma of the meat, deeply scented, with no discomforting undertone.

The rich braised pork flavor and the vibrant fish-flavored shredded pork.

As Sichuan cuisine, fish-flavored shredded pork is well known among Wudu locals.

To gauge someone’s cooking skill, trying a familiar dish is undoubtedly the best approach.

Picking up a mouthful and sending it into the mouth brought an invigorating sensation to the meat shop owner.

Salty, sour, sweet, spicy, fragrant, savory, a burst of fish aroma filled the mouth.

This taste was truly authentic, saturating than any fish-flavored shredded pork tasted before!

Chewing brought a medley of crispy, soft, tender, and bouncy textures competing for attention.

The ingredients seemed different from the ones he’s had?

There was the crunchy texture of fine green pepper strips, the crisp softness of wood ear mushrooms, the sweetness of winter bamboo shoots, and notably the tenderloin’s freshness.

The sour, sweet, and slightly spicy taste, paired with the sauce enveloping the ingredients, along with the vegetables’ unique textures, deserved the title of the ultimate fish-flavored shredded pork!