「The next day, at six in the morning.」
Jiang Feng got up early and went to his small shop to check on the stock. He lifted the lid from the stainless-steel barrel, and a cloud of steam billowed out. Peering into the barrel, he saw that the stock, which had been simmering for eight hours, still looked somewhat clear and not yet rich enough. This was normal, however.
Jiang Feng took a slotted spoon, fished out the chicken that had been stewing for six hours, and then used an iron ladle to break it apart. The meat immediately shredded and disintegrated into the pot. After mashing all the chicken, Jiang Feng turned up the heat and boiled it for about twenty more minutes. The stock in the pot began to roil, the shredded chicken swirling with the liquid as its nutrients slowly infused the burgeoning broth.
When he opened the lid again, the stock had turned opaque white and thickened considerably. This was the secret to making a rich stock. This transformation occurred because the collagen and fat in the ingredients underwent hydrolysis and emulsification under high heat, melding into the stock and turning it white and rich.
Only conscientious, skilled chefs would craft stock this way. Otherwise, with modern food science and shortcuts, a spoonful of Carnation Evaporated Milk could achieve a similar creamy white effect and enticing aroma, but the flavor would be far inferior. Genuine stock is fragrant. The more one eats, the more delicious it becomes, and it leaves the stomach feeling particularly comfortable afterward. In contrast, stock made with modern food science and shortcuts might offer a very fragrant first bite, but after eating more, one would notice the flavor was slightly off, leaving a peculiar sensation in the mouth.
Alright, the stock is ready; time to season it, Jiang Feng thought, continuing his work. For braised meat dishes, meticulous preparation was key. With thorough preparation, the rest of the process wouldn't be so laborious.
Jiang Feng strained all the meat scraps and bones from the pot. Since Little Black was nearby, he put the scraps directly into the dog's bowl. To a dog, this was a first-rate delicacy. Little Black wagged his stubby tail, buried his head in the food bowl, and ate voraciously, his tail whipping back and forth excitedly. He had only taken a few bites when Jiang Feng added another large ladleful, heaping the bowl full.
Little Black stared at the bowl brimming with delicious food, his eyes wide with astonished delight. It's too much to finish, simply too much! he thought. The happiest life for a dog must be becoming the pet of a great chef. In Little Black's heart, Jiang Feng was nothing short of divine.
Next, Jiang Feng began to boil the aromatics he had bought the previous day: cinnamon, tsaoko, sand ginger, cloves, dahurian angelica root, and dried citrus peel. He blanched them for three minutes to remove any harsh medicinal notes. Then, he wrapped them in cheesecloth and tossed them directly into the stock to infuse their flavors.
After adding the aromatics, the stock needed to be sealed with oil. This step also required meticulous attention. He took a separate pot and added ten jin of fresh chicken fat. He rendered it slowly, then added scallions, cilantro, leeks, carrots, onions, and slices of fresh ginger. After simmering until the chicken fat was fully rendered and the vegetables were desiccated, he strained out all the vegetables, leaving only the clear, fragrant oil. Finally, he poured this rendered chicken oil directly into the stock.
To make the most delicious braised dishes, one had to pour their heart into the work. Jiang Feng possessed no magic; he couldn't simply cast a spell on the braised meat to make it irresistibly alluring. All he had was his skill, which he applied with unwavering conscientiousness. The process was demanding, but he approached all his tasks with seriousness and saw no problem with the effort required.
After adding the chicken oil, Jiang Feng seasoned the stock with salt, MSG, chicken bouillon, rock sugar, and a splash of baijiu, then simmered it for at least another twenty minutes. Only then was the stock considered complete.
With the stock perfected, it was time to braise the meat. Additional seasonings would be added during the braising process, adjusted according to the quantity of meat. The rich aroma of braising meat soon filled the small shop. Jiang Feng worked busily, and before he knew it, it was past eight in the morning.
An elderly man passing by the shop caught a whiff of the tantalizing aroma, and his eyes lit up. Which shop is braising meat? It smells so good! he wondered, his stomach rumbling. He sniffed the air, trying to pinpoint the source of the fragrance. But after searching the immediate area, he found nothing. The location was rather secluded; there had once been a few run-down shops, but they had all closed down long ago due to a lack of business. Who could be cooking something so fragrant this early, and I can't even get a taste? This is pure torture! he lamented internally.
Just then, Jiang Feng opened the courtyard gate and slowly drove his food truck out. Seeing the food truck, the elderly man took another deep sniff, and the rich aroma washed over him.
"Hey, young man!" he called out, then again, "Hey, young man!" The elderly man hurried over, his voice urgent.
Jiang Feng had just stepped out of the food truck and was closing his shop door when he saw an elderly gentleman hurrying towards him. "Is something the matter, sir?" he asked.
"Young man, what are you cooking that smells so incredibly good?" the elderly man asked eagerly.
"Oh, hello sir! I sell braised meat. I was just making the stock for it!" Jiang Feng replied.
"Braised meat? I'll take some!" the man said, his eyes gleaming.
Jiang Feng hadn't expected a customer this early. He smiled apologetically. "Sir, I'd love to sell you some, but I've only just started the braising. The meat hasn't absorbed the flavors yet."
"It needs at least another half an hour," Jiang Feng explained. "I've only just finished preparing the stock. If you'd like some another day, I can certainly start the braising earlier."
Hearing this, the elderly man sighed. There was no point in insisting.
"So, where do you set up your stall?" the elderly man asked.
"I'll be over by Shuize Resort. There's a designated area for vendors there—that's where you'll find me," Jiang Feng replied.
"Ah, good. I was planning to head over there today anyway. I'll look for you then," the elderly man said, taking one last, lingering sniff of the fragrant stock, clearly reluctant to leave.
"Sounds good, sir. You have a good day," Jiang Feng said.
Jiang Feng climbed back into his food truck and set off towards Shuize Resort. The vehicle wasn't very large, so it couldn't use the elevated highways, but it navigated the smaller local roads just fine. In the back of the food truck, several large pots held a variety of meats, simmering gently in the rich stock. The stock bubbled continuously, its savory flavors steadily seeping into the meat. The sustained heat helped the meat tenderize, allowing it to more easily absorb the stock's nutrients and taste. Each pot promised a top-notch delicacy.
I hope business is better today, Jiang Feng thought. Reflecting on the previous week's operations, he knew the first day was always the hardest. Without repeat customers or regulars, everything depended on passing foot traffic. Once he established a base of returning customers, business would become much easier. Driving his beloved little food truck, Jiang Feng moved through the everyday bustle of the city, filled with hope.
「Meanwhile, in the southeast corner of Hongshan Park.」
Many regulars arrived, but after searching for a while without finding Jiang Feng's rice combo set food truck, they couldn't help but approach other vendors to ask.
"Where's that young fellow who sells the rice combo sets? Why isn't he here today?" one asked.
"Did someone chase him off?" another wondered aloud.
"Oh, don't say that! We've only been enjoying his food for a few days!" a third lamented.
Faced with the barrage of questions, the pancake vendor finally spoke up. "Jiang Feng mentioned to me that he's changing locations starting this week. It seems he's going to set up his stall over at Shuize Resort." He continued, "He signed a contract to be there for a week, so he won't be coming back here during that time."
The pancake vendor was a decent guy. Having enjoyed Jiang Feng's rice combo sets several times and found them exceptionally good, he was quite supportive of the young chef. So, whenever anyone inquired about Jiang Feng, the vendor readily shared what he knew.
Hearing the pancake vendor's explanation, the local customers were stunned.
"He's gone to Shuize Resort?" one exclaimed. "That blasted Shuize Resort, stealing our chef!"
"Why would he go over there? Did he think business was bad here?" another questioned, bewildered.
"My rice combo sets! My delicious rice combo sets!" someone wailed.
"Chef, please come back! We can't live without you!" another pleaded.
A chorus of laments rose from the crowd.
Hearing their cries, the pancake vendor clicked his tongue sympathetically. He understood their feelings perfectly. Jiang Feng's food was truly exceptional; even getting to enjoy it for a few days had been a great stroke of luck. Expecting to eat it every day was, indeed, probably unrealistic.
How does he make those rice combo sets anyway? the pancake vendor mused. Maybe I should stop making pancakes and learn to make rice combo sets myself. If I set up a stall here, perhaps the customers would line up just like they did for him. Wouldn't that be something? He began to daydream, a smile spreading across his face at the mere thought.