Chapter 128 Braised Pork Offal with Baked Buns

After making the sausages, Wen Fan gave a few sections to his father, asking him to take them to Grandma He when he went to pick up the pork in the morning. The rest were hung on the balcony, their dark red color visible to passersby downstairs.

The neighbors on the street, apart from those who went back to their hometowns for the festival, have been busy preparing for the New Year. As soon as they saw the Wen family drying sausages, they came to ask Wen's mother if she would sell them.

Wen's mother was a little embarrassed, saying that her family didn't have that much pork, and the sausages she made would only be enough for the whole family.

The neighbors slapped their thighs and said, "That's easy, we can buy the meat ourselves."

Even when you go to the market to make sausages, it's usually the same: the meat is priced as meat, but the sausages have their own processing fees.

The neighbors eagerly sought out Wen's Sausage for two reasons: first, they believed Wen Fan was skilled and his sausages would be delicious; second, they wanted something safe and healthy.

A neighbor grabbed Wen's mother's hand and complained, "People these days are so wicked! Who doesn't want to eat something healthy when making sausages? I buy the good meat myself and wait for them to make them, and even then, it's hard to find a problem. Either they switch the meat—you bring good meat, and they turn around and replace it with lymph node meat or fatty meat. Or they add things, like nitrites or flavorings... So all my work is for nothing, and what I buy is still a 'tech food'."

It's a sad story. I thought the food outside was unhealthy, so I made sausages at home. But I wasn't sure about the seasoning ratios, and the sausages I made were so bad that they could sit in the refrigerator for half a year.

"Yingzhi, the price is negotiable. Please do a little bit with Xiaofan."

Since her mother didn't give a definite answer, she consulted with her daughter.

Wen Fan said, "Let's do it! What's so technical about this? It's just a matter of preparing the ingredients and pouring it in!"

Mother Wen: "It's because we're too busy!"

The store is now operating at near-capacity.

Although there are only two meals, lunch and dinner, in between they are cleaning the pork, washing vegetables, washing dishes, and cleaning...

Where can we find people to make sausages?

Wen Fan tossed a chocolate bean into his mouth and mumbled, "Mom, you're overthinking it... If we can't do it, we can sell seasonings."

Just like she said, what kind of skill is required to make sausages? It's just that seasoning is difficult, and many people can't get the balance right.

No problem, she can grind the seasonings into powder and provide the dosage and usage instructions.

This way, we can save ourselves the trouble of paying for it ourselves.

The more Wen's mother thought about it, the more she felt that her daughter was right. When she told the neighbors, they all raised their hands in agreement.

"Oh dear, then I'll have to buy more and send some to my older sister's family."

"Yingzhi, please remember to save some extra for me. I plan to make more because I have many relatives and friends at home, and it won't be enough to give to them if I make too little."

"You all know how to do it?"

"Hey, what's so difficult about that? I have a sausage-making machine at home. You can come and get it when I'm done."

...

The sausage-making business was settled. The seasoning powder was easy to prepare, so Wen Fan made a list and bought all the seasonings one by one. Then, Wen Fan's mother cleared out a space in the house, and the newly bought grinder made a lot of powder. The powder was fine and even. Wen Fan made a big bag of it and was too lazy to repackage it. He set a price and told any neighbor who wanted some to weigh it and pay on the spot.

Wen Fan wrote the recipe on a piece of white paper, noting below: [Ten catties of meat, six ounces of seasoning, plus two ounces of white wine, 50 ml of dark soy sauce, 100 ml of light soy sauce, pork with a 70% fat and 30% lean ratio, pork shoulder can also be used.]

These seasonings were kept under the counter. When neighbors heard about them and came to buy them, they took them out from under the counter to weigh and pay for them.

Wen Fan set a high price for the seasoning powder, much more expensive than buying it at the market, but the neighbors still complained that it was a great deal and bought it in droves.

"Yingzhi, give me ten catties of seasoning powder!"

Wen's mother: "...Buying so much?"

The neighbor beamed with joy: "Isn't this because my son brought his girlfriend home? She's visiting us, and soon my son will be going to her house too. Besides gifts, I'll bring some sausages and cured meats as a way to celebrate the New Year."

Wen's mother happily weighed the people, saying auspicious words: "Then I'll be waiting to drink the wedding wine."

Just then, Zhou Xing from the barbershop arrived and ordered ten jin as well.

Wen's mother joked, "What? You're also making sausages to send to your boyfriend's family?"

Zhou Xing's face flushed red instantly, and he stammered, "W-how did you know?"

Mother Wen:......

I just asked casually!

Zhou Xing chuckled and chatted with Wen's mother for a bit. He said that Wen's girlfriend was introduced to him by someone else. He mentioned that he often went back to his hometown during the summer vacation, and his family had been pressuring him to meet her. Zhou Xing was generally averse to blind dates, but he couldn't resist his parents' wishes and went a few times. As a result, he actually fell for his current girlfriend.

The other person used to work in a nail salon in a big city and had saved up some money. At that time, they had just chosen a location in the city and were decorating it, planning to open a nail salon.

Zhou Xing spoke of his girlfriend with a sweet smile: "We've decided to get engaged next May Day and get married at the end of the year!"

His girlfriend's shop was nearby, and Zhou Xing would often help out at her shop after finishing his own. That's why the neighbors would sometimes go to Zhou Xing for a haircut when they had some free time, but he was rarely there.

Wen's mother offered her blessings: "That's wonderful! I'll be looking forward to eating wedding candy then."

Zhou Xing walked away with a radiant face.

Wen Fan poked her little head out from the kitchen: "Mom, shall we get our nails done in a few days?"

She hasn't done it yet!

Since she works in the food industry, let alone creating designs on her nails, Wen Fan rarely grows her nails; her ten fingers are always bare.

Mother Wen buried herself in tidying up the powdered ingredients on the table: "Okay, I'll go after we close the shop!"

It's Chinese New Year, time for a change!

After getting a manicure, there's still getting your hair done, buying clothes, and preparing for the New Year...

Just thinking about it makes me busy.

The restaurant's pig-slaughtering feasts were excellent for the first two days, attracting many customers who came specifically for the event, and the number of customers increased day by day.

Some people even kept asking online whether they would be able to get a meal after arriving.

[Momo: I saw you guys saying the pig slaughtering feast is delicious, so I came all the way from the next city. I just don't know if I can get a table if I line up at 10 a.m....]

Someone immediately replied to her.

[Yogurt Bobo: My best friend told me that she went at 10 am yesterday, and the store started handing out numbered tickets at 11 am. My friend didn't get one, but the owner was super nice. Later, she gave my friend a small round card, saying that if she went back after 12:30 pm, she could get a takeaway of pork bone soup.]

[Qiuqiu: Me too! Although I didn't get a number last night, I still bought a stew! The owner said that because there are too many people queuing, it's difficult to attend to everyone, so the restaurant has been making a basic meal these past few days. The portion is generous each time, so as long as you don't go too late, you can buy one to take away.]

[Water Sprite: ...Seriously, I'm speechless. The games I play never give out pity pulls, but restaurants now have guaranteed meals.]

[Chen Qianqian: ...Don't say anything more. I've already cried after two hundred pulls and still haven't gotten the card I wanted.]

...

The so-called "guaranteed meal" wasn't Wen Fan trying to be mysterious; it was simply because he prepared a large quantity.

On the first day, because there was pig's blood, a large pot of stewed pork was made for lunch, with soup and vegetables, enough for everyone who came in. Those who didn't get a turn later could also be offered small round dishes by 11 o'clock.

Fresh pig blood sausage and some sauerkraut I made recently—even a basic meal like this won't taste bad.

By evening, after the pork stew had sold out, they cleaned up the offal that wasn't finished at noon, added some old braising liquid and sesame flatbread, and made a big pot of braised offal stew. The fatty intestines were soft and tender, the tofu puffs were soaked in the broth, and the pig lungs, heart, liver... the cleaned offal soaked in the braising liquid for half a day, and by evening it was already full of the rich aroma of braising spices.

Braised pork offal with baked wheat cake is essentially a snack, and some people in the shop don't order this dish, so the remaining braised pork offal with baked wheat cake can be sold for a long time.

Fresh pork offal, with a mild offal flavor, was braised by Wen Fan until it was fragrant and delicious. He packed it up and took it home, where it could be eaten as a meal or as a side dish.

The pig offal was almost entirely consumed on the first day. Frozen pig offal always has a fishy smell that is difficult to remove, so Wen Fan absolutely does not allow these things to be put in the refrigerator overnight.

The next day at noon, the bone broth was ready. The rich broth was satisfying, whether used for cooking dishes or soup. Wen Fan sold bone broth for this meal. Customers could choose to eat bone broth noodles. Thin, white handmade noodles were cooked in the pot, then scooped out and topped with a spoonful of bone broth, a little chili oil, and some stir-fried meat sauce. Just one bowl of noodles was enough to make many people want to come back for more.

Customers who take the soup home can enjoy it with dumplings or noodles; the broth is so delicious that it's hard to stop eating.

On the last night, when everything was almost gone, it was the perfect time to cook a big pot of stew.

The leftover pork belly, the remaining bits that were made into meatballs (half lean, half fat), fried lotus root, tofu puffs, cabbage, glass noodles...

A huge pot full, 15 yuan a serving, enough to fill you up with steamed buns.

The pig-slaughtering feast lasted for two consecutive days, with different dishes at each meal.

Wen Fan can use every part of a pig, from bones to offal, making sure nothing is wasted!

When Wen's father brought back the second pig, Wen Fan had a new idea.

Instead of making pig blood sausage, I made pig blood soup noodles and spicy pig blood.

As he was making the dish, he ran out of pig's blood, and Wen Fan smacked his lips, feeling it was a pity.

"There's also pork blood and bean sprout soup, and stir-fried pork blood with chives!"

We can only do it when it's the third one.

Today's guaranteed dish is a big pot of braised pork made by Wen Fan. If you can't eat at the restaurant, you can take away a braised pork rice!

The braised pork rice glistened with oil, and the braised pork pieces were small, but the braised pork was cooked until it became sticky. It was poured over the rice, and then topped with a tiger-skin egg cut in half. Although the person who ate it took a picture and posted "Another day of eating the minimum amount", they still devoured it in no time.

The braised pork is glistening with oil, and the braising liquid, simmered for so long, soaks into the rice, releasing a pure, oily aroma. After finishing, I let out a burp filled with the fragrance of meat and vowed to work hard tomorrow and absolutely not eat anything less!

The pig-slaughtering feast quickly became a hot topic, accompanied by the discussion of "eating a guaranteed minimum wage".

Many people, upon discovering that Wen Ji had launched a new product, smiled knowingly and were reminded of the memories of eating "pig-killing feast".

[Momo: When I was little, Chinese New Year was so lively! They would start slaughtering pigs many days in advance, and then my mom would start frying things. I was in charge of tending the fire and sneaking food from the table. The freshly fried meatballs were so delicious; I could eat half of a basketful my mom fried!]

[Xuege: You can argue with that, but I usually can't control my mouth. I talk while I'm eating, and then my mom scolds me... Honestly, I still don't understand why you can't talk while frying food.]

[Mango Milkshake: Yes, yes, yes! Every year I get scolded by my mom for this. She kicks me out of the kitchen the moment she starts talking. Until later, when I started frying things myself, I really couldn't talk. If I got distracted, I'd either overcook or burnt the food.]

[It hasn't snowed yet: ...Isn't it said that you can't talk while frying food because you have to offer it to the Kitchen God?]

[Xiao Liu: Actually, there are reasons for both, but we just can't talk.]

[Chaoyang: ...Everyone, I'm getting off-topic. I wanted to ask, besides Wenji, are there any other restaurants that serve a pig-slaughtering feast? My kid is really craving it!]

[Lucky Cat: Yes, there are a lot of people following suit. A restaurant near my house recently announced that they're also going to hold a pig-slaughtering feast, but they're doing it on a members-only basis. You pay 100 yuan and then you can eat as much as you want.]

[Dreaming of eating: ...Good heavens, won't it get cold if it's prepared in advance? Do you really think we're lacking in buffet-style food? What we really want is the kind of fresh food from our hometown, where the pig dies just before the vegetables are cooked! A hundred yuan? With that hundred yuan, I'd go to the countryside, find a wedding venue, and just throw in a hundred yuan for a fresh meal.]

[MuMu: Exactly! Who hasn't eaten pre-made meals? No matter what, the reason Wenji is so popular is partly because they really make good food, but also because they have the technical expertise to keep up with the seasons and ensure the ingredients are always fresh, right?]

[Zhang Duorou: Anyway, I went to Wenji's pig-slaughtering feast, and it tastes exactly like I remember! No, it's even better than I remember! I especially love pig's blood; I can tell if it's fresh or not in one bite! Wenji's blood sausage is made fresh daily, and it really tastes different!]

...

[Pumpkin Baby: I'm knocking! You guys go see Jin Yulou! Jin Yulou says they're going to have a pig-slaughtering feast!]

A netizen's outcry instantly drew everyone's attention. After checking Jin Yulou's account and confirming that Jin Yulou had indeed launched the "888 yuan per person, a pig-slaughtering feast from childhood memories," everyone was stunned.

[Relaxed Kitten: ...Um, I know I was being rude, come downstairs.]

[Lemon Not Sour: 888? Haha, did the chef jump in and make this for me? If you don't pair my pork with some salmon, even pigs would vomit at this price!]

[Shushu: Honestly, if you set the price at 100, I'd say it's worth it. If you set it at 200, I'd say it's a bit pricey, but as long as the taste is good, I'd be willing to pay. But 888, and I'm only alone... Is Jin Yu Lou planning to shut out ordinary people?]

[Big Monster: Haha, I just found out? Before it became famous, Jin Yu Lou was a local restaurant that, while a bit pricey, was affordable for most people. But ever since it won a certain "Pearl" award, the price has been rising year after year, easily exceeding 500 yuan per person. The key issue is that the menu is completely uninteresting. If you say the ingredients are expensive, then everyone accepts a higher price. The dishes are local, and the "Golden Cabbage" is mostly home-style cooking. How can it sell for such a high price?]

[Hua Chao: That's not entirely true. Do you think a chef's skill is free? These three chefs are state banquet chefs; this price isn't expensive at all. Besides, it says each seat has eight dishes and one soup; the portions might even be large.]

[KuanKuan: Stop dreaming! Jin Yu Lou's eight dishes and one soup are definitely served in tiny portions, no smaller than they can be. I went the other day, and they even changed the "Golden Cabbage" to a small clay pot, and I still wasn't full... Besides, do you know how much a pig costs? A whole pig, cleaned and prepared, is only a little over two thousand! Eight hundred and eighty-eight yuan is enough for half a pig!]

[Feather Duster: Anyway, I'm not going. I'm just waiting for whoever goes and posts a video; I'm looking forward to seeing their review.]

[Hmm: The product review preview is here! Check out "Big Dumpling's Restaurant Reviews"—they've already made a reservation and will be live-streaming tonight!]

[Magical Conch: Huh? Isn't Big Dumpling a food delivery and restaurant review blogger?]

[One Cloud: You haven't been following him, have you? He changed his ways a long time ago. It's too easy to get threatened by restaurant owners when reviewing food delivery services. Now, Da Tuanzi is also doing reviews of larger restaurants.]

[Snowball: Hehe, waiting. People always compare Wenji to Jinyulou, and you guys always say Jinyulou is a time-honored brand. I want to see if a time-honored brand can cook with integrity. If they don't, they'll be proven wrong!]

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Author's note: Only one update today. I need to organize the remaining content, so I'll make up for the missed update later.