「Happy Ranch.」
Zhang Xinya rode an electric bike back to the residential area, carrying a large bag in each hand—a total of over thirty pounds of braised meat—as she walked home.
"Dad, I've bought it back," she called out.
"This braised meat smells especially good."
Zhang Xinya entered the house and placed the braised meat on the table. Then, she took out a pair of disposable gloves from one of the bags, put them on, and opened a plastic container, ready to taste the pig trotters within.
Zhang Dashan came out, drawn by the scent of the braised meat. He didn't bother with gloves and grabbed a trotter to eat directly. The trotter was still hot.
At the first bite, Zhang Xinya was instantly captivated by the exquisite flavor and unique texture of the trotter. The meat, exceptionally tender and aromatic, fell off the bone with a gentle tug. One bite revealed only the taste of the rich broth, without a hint of any off-flavor. The fresh trotter and delicious broth told her with just one bite that immense care had gone into its preparation.
The pork was stewed to perfection. A gentle bite was enough for the meat to separate easily, with only a few tendons still attached. It was extraordinarily springy when chewed. The broth was exceptionally fragrant, and as saliva filled her mouth, it became ever more flavorful with each chew. Her whole body seemed enlivened by the deliciousness, a comfortable sensation spreading through her.
"Wow, this is really good!" she exclaimed, her eyes sparkling. "No wonder they were ready to pack up at just two in the afternoon!"
Zhang Dashan's way of eating was much wilder; he picked up half a trotter and bit directly into the meatiest part. With one bite, his mouth was filled with meat.
The broth was a special recipe concocted by Jiang Feng, using over a dozen ingredients. The pot contained seven chickens, a large quantity of pig skin, and numerous pork bones, all simmered for eight hours. The essence of the various meats had thoroughly infused the broth. Then, when the braised meat was stewed in it, the flavor penetrated every cell. It tasted incredibly fresh with every bite. Every single part was delicious.
"Hmm, not bad at all," Zhang Dashan remarked, surprised. He quickly devoured the trotter, leaving only a few pale bones. Pig trotters were already a delicacy, but Jiang Feng's special cooking techniques elevated their taste even further. Because Jiang Feng had added caramelized sugar to the pot, the trotters boasted an exceptionally rich, inviting color and looked very appealing.
"These trotters are so tasty, and you only bought four?" Zhang Dashan inquired. One trotter cost more than 50 yuan; without some means, one really couldn't afford them. Zhang Dashan's family was relatively wealthy and had always been extravagant with meat, so he didn't mind such a small expense.
Hearing this, Zhang Xinya replied, "There were only four left, so I bought them all. That young man's business is booming; he was already packing up. If I'd arrived any later, I wouldn't have been able to buy any."
Zhang Dashan picked up another trotter, not waiting for evening drinks to enjoy it, preferring to indulge right away. These trotters were stewed until perfectly tender, with an irresistible texture. A single bite filled his mouth with meat.
After two bites, he commented, "It certainly tastes good. I'll go earlier tomorrow and buy several more. This fellow's braised meats are exceptional, definitely good enough to open a proper shop."
Why not suggest he open a shop at the ranch? We're not short on meat here, and the ranch could earn a cut of the profits, which could be quite a sum, Zhang Dashan mused. He was a shrewd man who knew how to conduct business; otherwise, Happy Ranch wouldn't have reached its current level of success.
Those who open shops and ranches may seem to be bosses and in charge, basking in endless glory, but only they know the pressure and hardships they must endure. Without real capability and courage, one truly couldn't handle it. For example, with gourmet food, if you set up a simple stall, the pressure isn't too great. If business is slow, you can just try again the next day. But opening a shop is a different story. It's stressful, involving rent, utilities, approval certificates from various departments, and numerous management fees. If the shop doesn't turn a profit, you stand to lose a lot of money.
Jiang Feng had also considered opening his own shop selling braised meat. But then again, he thought, it's too much hassle, requiring me to watch over the shop day in and day out. Setting up a stall is more carefree. I'm used to a laid-back approach and don't like putting pressure on myself.
Inside Happy Ranch, the four trotters were quickly devoured by the father-daughter duo. Zhang Xinya was fully content.
"This braised meat is much better than what Old Sun in our kitchen makes."
"It's so delicious."
"I'm going to buy some more tomorrow."
Hearing this, Zhang Dashan nodded in agreement. "Buy more pig's trotters; they're the tastiest."
「Meanwhile,」 Jiang Feng drove the food truck back to his small shop. The area around the shop was still deserted. It was a row of dilapidated single-story buildings; their un-tiled walls were pitch-black, and there were no signs of any business.
But that didn't matter. After all, it was just a temporary stopping point.
Jiang Feng parked the food truck and went to buy ingredients, ready to continue simmering the master stock. The cost of a master stock is very high; a good one can be used four to five times. The flavor is still rich by the third use, but it starts to fade a bit by the fourth. Jiang Feng planned to use one pot of master stock three times. The stock from a second simmering is known in the industry as 'second stock'. This involves removing all the meat dregs from the stock, then adding more seasonings and simmering it again. This wasn't too troublesome, he thought. The essence of premium braised meat is all in the flavor of its master stock.
Jiang Feng planned to add some new dishes, such as meatballs, duck racks, chicken gizzards, and the like. Therefore, some preparation was still needed. After finishing his work in the small shop, Jiang Feng took his dog, Little Black, to the butcher's to buy meat. Life was relaxed and fulfilling.
「At the same time, over at Hongshan Park.」
Although Jiang Feng had only set up his stall there for a week, he had already made quite an impact. Last week, many people had filmed him and posted videos online. The sight of a huge crowd lining up early in the morning for his rice combo sets was still fresh in many minds. Many people found these videos interesting and gave them a 'like'. The videos garnered over a hundred thousand likes, making him a minor internet hit. Jiang Feng had also begun to make a name for himself online. Now that Jiang Feng had suddenly disappeared, the local residents missed him dearly.
After Ma San and his group returned with the braised meat, they told everyone they met about it.
"Executive Chef Jiang is now selling braised meat from his stall over at Shuize Resort. We saw him there today."
Hearing Ma San, a local resident asked, "How come he's selling braised meat now? Isn't he selling rice combo sets anymore?"
Ma San replied, "Executive Chef Jiang is quite a character and full of ideas; he changes locations from time to time. And let me tell you, his braised meat is just as amazing as his rice combo sets—the flavor is simply incredible! When we were drinking, we finished all the braised meat before we'd even had much of our alcohol. Can you believe it? Later, we had to buy some ordinary braised meat from a roadside stall just so we could finish our drinks."
Hearing Ma San's description, the resident gulped. He recalled the taste of Jiang Feng's rice combo sets, and his mouth began to water uncontrollably. The texture of that rice combo set was simply unbeatable, and the meat Jiang Feng prepared was exceptionally fragrant. He had never enjoyed eating meat so much!
"Is it really that good?" he couldn't help but ask Ma San again, seemingly eager to know more details.
"It really is that delicious! Especially those pig trotters—we didn't even bother with our drinks; we just devoured them. Then, when we ate the other braised dishes, we'd take a bite and follow it with a sip of beer. Pure bliss! His braised dishes are wonderfully peculiar; the more you eat, the more fragrant they become, and they're not greasy at all. I don't know how he prepares them, but the taste is truly indescribable."
Ma San still vividly recalled the taste of the braised meat, unable to forget it.
"You've made me crave it too! I'll go buy some tomorrow," the resident said.
"Executive Chef Jiang's skills? There's no question about them. Just look for him, and you can't go wrong," Ma San nodded. "Besides, I have a feeling Executive Chef Jiang is going to get even more popular. His skills are undeniable, and he's handsome and has a good personality too. With the right opportunity, he's bound to become a huge hit! If you don't believe me, just watch."