Chapter 472 - 225: A Salute to the Courageous Model Hero, Zhou Yan

Chapter 472: Chapter 225: A Salute to the Courageous Model Hero, Zhou Yan

’Talking about toxicity without mentioning the dosage is pointless.’ Zhou Yan was finally starting to understand what that meant.

After bringing back ten pounds of pork intestines, cleaning them, and trimming the fat, only about nine pounds remained. Once washed spotless, their total volume was less than a single pig’s head.

The cuts of meat for braising went into the pot in batches, and a thick log was stuffed into the stove.

Zhou Yan stepped out of the kitchen, retrieved a wooden plaque and a calligraphy brush from the counter, and began to write the new menu item: Braised Pork Intestines—1 yuan/portion (3 yuan/pound).

He hung it in the number one spot in the braised foods section, reserving the most eye-catching position for the new dish.

With the sign hung, Zhou Yan returned to the kitchen to help chop vegetables.

’I don’t know when the officials are coming with that banner,’ he thought. ’I’d better get as much done as I can now, so I don’t get caught in an awkward spot later.’

’Slighting the officials is one thing, but I can’t let it interfere with business.’

He hadn’t mentioned it to Mrs. Zhao and the others, intending to give them a surprise.

The heat under the braised meat had been turned off, leaving it to soak in the pot. Meanwhile, the brine for the vegetables was prepared. The various vegetables were added to the pot in batches, and he watched the clock, pulling them out at the exact right second to guarantee the perfect texture.

Zhou Yan looked at the pot of brine after the vegetables had been cooked. Its color was still a rich brown, and the aroma of the spices remained quite potent.

’Every day, we dilute and season the master stock, then just throw it out after using it. It’s a real shame.’

He wondered if he could use this brine to braise the pork intestines. Then, he could use the resulting lightly-flavored, five-spice braised intestines in other dishes. They would be more versatile than the ones from the main pot, which were already saturated with flavor.

The meat had been soaking for long enough. Zhou Yan fished out the braised pig ears, pig snouts, and pork intestines first.

The once-white intestines were now stained a glossy red, and they had curled up tightly. As he lifted them from the pot with a slotted spoon, they quivered and dripped with brine, looking absolutely irresistible.

Two baskets of the braised intestines and other meats were lifted out and poured onto a large woven tray. They had shrunk by more than half, a far cry from the volume that had first gone into the pot.

Comrade Zhou stepped forward, hefting a section with a pair of long chopsticks. "This whole basket is barely one-point-seven pounds. A yield of thirty-five percent. Exactly as expected."

"It’s not bad. At least we still have three and a half pounds," Zhou Yan said with a smile. It was in line with his expectations.

He continued taking the braised meats out in batches, leaving larger cuts like the beef, which needed more time to soak, in the pot.

Zhou Yan grabbed a cleaver and sliced off a finger-length section of the intestines. The brine had penetrated it completely—even the cross-section was a pale brown.

He placed the intestine on the cutting board used for braised meats and, with a series of rapid chops, cut it into small, diagonal slices. Juices splattered, and a fragrant aroma filled the air.

[A Perfect Serving of Braised Pork Intestines]

Zhou Yan picked up a piece with his fingers and popped it in his mouth. The braised intestine was fresh from the pot. As he bit down, juices exploded between his teeth. The braised flavor was intensely rich and savory. The texture was tender and glutinous with a pleasant chewiness, feeling luscious yet clean on the palate.

’Amazing! This is amazing!’

’These were the intestines of my dreams!’

’I’ve been craving this for so long, and I finally get to eat it.’

The layer of fat on the inner wall of the intestines was very thin, which enhanced the texture while preventing it from being overly greasy.

"Come on, everyone, try some," Zhou Yan said with a smile, seeing them all standing around watching.

Mrs. Zhao picked up her chopsticks, put a piece in her mouth, and chewed a few times. Her eyes instantly lit up. She nodded and said, "Delicious! These intestines are so rich but not greasy, and they’re perfectly soft and tender. The flavor is just perfect!"

"It smells wonderful! Rich but not greasy. I think it’s even better than my grandma’s cooking!" Zhao Hong added with admiration.

"Delicious. Perfect with a drink," Comrade Zhou said after trying a piece, nodding in approval.

After Li Lihua tasted it, her eyes widened in shock. "How... how can these braised intestines be so delicious?! They’re way better than what my old boss used to make!"

Zhou Momo tiptoed in a circle around the stove, but she couldn’t see a thing and was getting so anxious she looked ready to start jumping. "I want to try, too!"

"Here, I’ll give you a piece," Zhou Yan said, picking one up and feeding it to her.

The little girl chewed, nodding her head. "Yummy!" she said in her sweet, childish voice. "It’s so yummy~"

"Hearing all of you say that puts my mind at ease," Zhou Yan said with a laugh. ’Looks like everyone’s on the same page. People know quality when they taste it.’

Zhou Yan Restaurant’s braised pork intestines were officially on the menu!

It was still early, so Zhou Yan whipped up a simple lunch, and everyone ate their staff meal.

Just as they put down their bowls, someone outside shouted, "Zhou Yan!"

"Here!" Zhou Yan called back, standing up.

"Who’s here so early?" Mrs. Zhao craned her neck to look and saw a car parked outside. A few more people arrived on bicycles, stopping at the entrance. All at once, the sound of gongs and drums erupted, and a crowd gathered in front of the restaurant, creating a lively scene.

"They’re here to present a banner for my heroic deeds," Zhou Yan said with a smile as he straightened his clothes.

"Oh! No wonder you wore your new chef’s uniform today." Realization dawned on Mrs. Zhao. She quickly straightened her own clothes, then turned to Comrade Zhou next to her. "Zhou Miao, is my hair a mess?"

"Not at all. It’s perfectly neat. You look great," Comrade Zhou said, smiling and shaking his head.

"Your collar is a little crooked. Let me get it for you." Mrs. Zhao reached out and straightened Comrade Zhou’s collar, then she also stood up.

"What’s going on? What’s all the commotion?"

"You know how Zhou Yan heroically saved that female college student? Well, a few days ago, he and his brother also took down a bunch of bus robbers. I heard they were a dangerous gang of fugitives, wanted for murder even. He did a great service, so they’re here today to give him an award."

"Wow, Zhou Yan is really something else. Both of those incidents were life-and-death situations. One wrong move and he could have been killed."

The onlookers, a mix of street vendors and cadres from the nearby security office, chattered among themselves.