Chapter 39: Perfect Braised Beef Intestines

Rice was simmering in a small pot, and the fish was being marinated. Zhou Yan first scooped out the braised beef shank, ox tongue, and small intestines that the old lady had prepared.

【A decent piece of braised beef shank】

【A decent piece of braised ox tongue】

【A perfectly braised portion of small intestines】

Looking at the evaluations popping up in his vision, Zhou Yan knew that since the system gave them good ratings, the beef shank and ox tongue must have been braised quite well.

As for the braised intestines that received a "perfect" rating, they were undoubtedly the old lady's specialty.

Freshly scooped out, they were bright red and looked quite enticing.

"Slice the beef shank and ox tongue thinly. For the intestines, slice them up and heat them with a spoonful of braising liquid later; it tastes better when the sauce is hot," the old lady commanded from the side, fearing Zhou Yan might mess things up and ruin her precious master brine.

"Will do," Zhou Yan replied, already beginning to slice the beef shank.

The kitchen knife tapped against the cutting board with a rhythmic *thud-thud*. As he sliced through, the tendons and lean meat on the cross-section intertwined into a fine marble pattern, with meridians decorating it like jade.

For braised beef shank, one didn't pursue extreme thinness; a bit of thickness provided a better texture. The braising liquid had perfectly permeated the beef, giving it a bright, appetizing color.

The ox tongue was different. Zhou Yan slowed his movements slightly. The slices fell one by one, thin as paper, with almost identical thickness for every piece.

Once sliced and plated, he paired them with a dry spice dip and a small dish of thinly sliced garlic—the standard accompaniment for beef and ox tongue.

Watching from the side, the old lady nodded slightly, a hint of a smile appearing at the corners of her mouth.

This boy's knife skills had improved significantly since the New Year.

The intestines were sliced diagonally into segments and placed on a plate. The old lady scooped a spoonful of braising liquid and poured it over them.

Zhou Yan then began making the Agastache Cruciat Fish. Having made it once yesterday, he found himself more adept at it today.

The old lady didn't say anything; she just stood by and watched.

She loved eating fish and was quite a skilled cook herself. Whether it was braised in soy sauce, boiled in spicy broth, or dry-fried, she could do it all with flair.

Although Zhou Yan had been learning culinary arts for two and a half years, he had previously only served as a kitchen assistant for her; she was always the one holding the ladle during holidays.

But today, Zhou Yan's mannerism made her look at him with newfound respect. His knife skills had improved noticeably; it was clear he had put in the hard work.

The ox tongue was sliced so well—thinner than she would have sliced it, and with consistent length and thickness. One shouldn't underestimate this; how a dish is presented on the plate determines its visual appeal, and visual appeal is crucial to whether a dish can command a high price.

He fried the fish unhurriedly, flipped it, removed it from the pan, and plated it without breaking the skin.

He had even brought his own pickled peppers, yardlong beans, and perilla leaves. As the ingredients sautéed in the pan, the aroma instantly wafted up.

"Mmm, your seasoning is fragrant—sour, spicy, and uniquely flavored," the old lady commented.

As the water boiled, Zhou Yan slid the fish into the pot to simmer over low heat, saying with a smile, "I haven't put this dish on the menu yet; I'm letting you test it first."

"With this kind of flavor, it won't be bad," the old lady acknowledged with approval.

The fish was removed from the pot first, followed by the agastache. He reduced the sauce in the pan and poured it over the fish. Within the bright, agate-like sauce lay a colorful collision of chopped pickled peppers, ginger, yardlong beans, and agastache.

"Oh my, this sauce is beautiful, and it smells wonderful! Agastache Cruciat Fish—it looks like you've mastered it," the old lady's eyes lit up as she praised him.

"The ribs are ready too. Please serve the two plates of braised food first and call Uncle and Momo to eat. I'll bring the fish out in a moment. Once I heat up the intestines, we can start the meal," Zhou Yan said with a smile.

"Alright," the old lady said, carrying the two plates out of the kitchen.

Zhou Yan opened another pot; the sauce for the braised ribs had almost reduced. As he scooped them up with the spatula, the meat, coated in an amber sauce, trembled slightly. The aroma hit him with the rising steam, so fragrant it made one feel dazed.

After washing the pot, he poured in the intestines and the braising liquid. As soon as the sauce boiled, he took them out. This was the hot braised intestines.

"Come on, let me carry the dishes," Zhou Weiguo walked in, picked up the plate of Agastache Cruciat Fish from the stove, and turned to walk out.

He used only one hand and had a slight limp, but the plate remained perfectly steady, without spilling a single drop of sauce.

Zhou Yan brought out the braised intestines and a pot of rice. The old lady had already poured herself some wine—the bottle he had opened this morning. Looking at him, she smiled and asked, "Do you want some?"

"Grandma, I don't drink," Zhou Yan shook his head; he wasn't fond of alcohol.

"Grandma, is the wine tasty?" Zhou Momo asked curiously, staring expectantly at the old lady.

"It's sharp on the tongue; little ones shouldn't drink it," the old lady shook her head.

Hearing this, Zhou Momo immediately lost interest and instead fixed her eyes on the beef, swallowing hard.

"Can you reach the beef? If not, I'll slide it over to you," the old lady asked with a smile.

"I can reach..." Zhou Momo grabbed her chopsticks, but they only reached the edge of the plate.

"I'll slide it over then. You like braised beef, and it won't sting your mouth," the old lady reached out and moved the plate of braised beef in front of Zhou Momo.

"Thank you, Grandma," Zhou Momo said, immediately picking up a piece of beef and popping it into her mouth, her short little legs wiggling happily. She picked up another slice a moment later, eating with great relish.

"The Agastache Cruciat Fish and braised ribs Zhou Yan cooked today look delicious," Zhou Weiguo said, looking at the two central dishes before picking up his chopsticks to grab a piece of rib first.

The rib was coated in an amber-red sauce. As he lifted it, the meat trembled, and a rich meaty aroma hit his nose, prompting him to take a bite.

No, it wasn't quite a bite; with just a gentle press of his lips, the meat slid right off the bone.

The lean meat was tender without being dry, its fine texture blooming between his teeth. The cartilage had been stewed until it was soft and gummy, with a slightly bouncy texture that was absolutely exquisite. This single bite went straight to his heart.

Delicious! These ribs were truly fragrant!

Zhou Weiguo shoveled down two mouthfuls of rice and then sucked the remaining half of the rib clean.

The old lady took a small sip of wine, her eyebrows arching slightly, then picked up her chopsticks to take a piece of fish.

The fish meat, skin included, was drenched in sauce. Upon entering his mouth, the numbness, spiciness, freshness, and fragrance all made their entrance at once. The flavor of the agastache stood out prominently, harmonizing the many tastes into something incredibly fresh.

The fish skin was fried to a fragrant crisp, yet the meat remained tender. Coated in the thick sauce, it created the most delicious interplay between lip and tooth.

Agastache wasn't rare; the old lady occasionally used it when making fish. But Zhou Yan's Agastache Cruciat Fish today was much better than hers. The heat control and seasoning were both superb.

Setting down her chopsticks and taking another sip of wine, the old lady finally spoke: "This fish is cooked well. If you served this to guests in a restaurant, it would certainly hold its own."

"Alright then. With your approval, I'll put this on the menu tomorrow," Zhou Yan said with a smile, dipping a piece of beef into the dry spice dip before eating it.

The lean meat was tender but not dry, and the connective tissue was soft and flavorful. The meat had absorbed the master brine, providing a fine, chewy resistance as he chewed, the aroma slowly blooming with every bite.

Delicious!

The braising time was just right—too soft and it would lose texture, but not enough and the tendons would be too tough to chew.

He then tasted a piece of ox tongue.

The thinly sliced ox tongue was tender and soft, with a slight springiness when bitten. It was soft but not mushy, thoroughly soaked in the braising liquid with a full, savory aroma. Adding a slice of garlic and a coating of dried chili powder took the flavor to a whole new level.

This master brine was incredibly powerful; the spiciness wasn't overwhelming, but the savory fragrance was intense, leaving a slight sweet aftertaste upon swallowing. It was suitable for both young and old.

The system's requirements were indeed extremely high; even this level of braised beef and ox tongue only earned a "good" rating.

Zhou Yan's gaze fell upon the intestines, which the system had rated as "perfect."

Having been reheated, the braised intestines were still steaming.

He picked up a piece; it wobbled slightly, its folds saturated with braising liquid. The reddish-brown color had a bright, oily sheen. Only the master brine could produce such enticing intestines.

Braised intestines were Zhou Yan's favorite, but he rarely got to eat them; most braised meat shops didn't even sell them.

With one bite, the soft, gummy intestine was sliced by his teeth, and the warm braising liquid splashed in his mouth. It had a dense, silky smoothness—the texture was absolutely magnificent!

The numbness, spiciness, freshness, and fragrance exploded on the tip of his tongue, while the braising aroma lingered between his teeth. It was a soul-stirring bite.

Addictive!

He couldn't help but pick up another piece; he simply couldn't stop.

Intestines had to be eaten while hot. Once they cooled down, the fat would congeal and the skin would become dry, turning them into something else entirely.

Zhou Yan ate several pieces in a row and finished half a bowl of rice, unable to help but praise, "These hot braised intestines are truly fragrant."

They truly deserved the system's "perfect" rating. If he could master this braising technique, business would surely be booming!

Zhou Yan looked at the old lady with even more respect; she was a master of braised meats!

The old lady was very satisfied with the Agastache Cruciat Fish. She had eaten nearly the whole fish, drank two *liang* of wine, and finished two bowls of rice.

"Zhou Ming is getting married next week. I wonder if the arrangements for the village banquet have been made," the old lady said, setting down her chopsticks.

"Third Brother said everything is arranged. They've hired the same chef who did the banquet for Old Seventh's son, with the same specifications," Zhou Weiguo replied.

Zhou Yan thought for a moment and remembered. Zhou Ming was his third uncle's second son, four years older than him. He had sent out invitations last month; counting the time, the banquet was next Sunday. As a brother, he would certainly have to help with the wedding procession, and he could also enjoy the village banquet, which made him somewhat expectant.

Zhou Yan cleared the dishes. The old lady wouldn't let him wash them and chased him out to chat with his uncle.

Zhou Weiguo was sitting under the persimmon tree, staring into the distance. Zhou Momo, having finished her meal, had already gone next door to play house with the girls her age.

Zhou Yan sat down beside him.

"How has the restaurant business been lately?" Zhou Weiguo turned to look at him, a smile on his face.

Zhou Yan felt a momentary sense of trance. Some images from his memory gradually became clear—that eighteen-year-old youth, once high-spirited, had caused many girls on Suji Street to cry their eyes red when he joined the army with a large red flower on his chest. In his memory, he was even more handsome than he was now.

"What are you thinking about?" Zhou Weiguo laughed.

"Business is okay. Right now we sell noodles and soup pots, but next I plan to sell stir-fry and braised dishes. I'm starting to make some money," Zhou Yan replied with a smile.

"That's good," Zhou Weiguo nodded, looking somewhat gratified. "That little brat can actually hold his own now."

"Uncle, what about you? What are your plans for the future?" Zhou Yan asked.

"I'm doing fine. I can grow some vegetables myself; life is no problem," Zhou Weiguo said with a carefree smile.

After returning from military service, his uncle had refused the organization's placement and chosen to return to the village to farm. He said he didn't want to be a burden to the country, but Zhou Yan didn't see it that way. This was the country he had fought so hard to protect; providing him with a decent job to utilize his abilities shouldn't be called a burden.

"I heard from my father that your placement eligibility is still being held," Zhou Yan looked at him, his expression serious. "Are you really not considering joining a state-owned enterprise or the township government?"

"With my condition, going in would just be causing trouble for others. What could I even do?" Zhou Weiguo shook his head self-deprecatingly.

The wind blew through his empty sleeve, and a hint of confusion crossed his face.

"That's not right! Are those people sitting in offices really more capable or talented than you?" Zhou Yan shook his head, his face earnest. "You are a combat hero who has been on the battlefield, killed enemies, and earned a first-class merit!"

"Your courage, ability, and willpower are all far stronger than theirs."

"And in those places, there is absolutely no job harder than hoeing weeds and farming by hand. You can do it very well."

"Your new battlefield could be serving the people in the township government, or serving workers in a factory. You shouldn't spend your whole life wasting away in these few acres of land."

Zhou Weiguo stared blankly at Zhou Yan, and a light gradually began to shine in his eyes, as if a corner of an eggshell had been cracked open. He murmured to himself, "That's right... serving the people..."

Inside the house, the old lady looked down and smiled, though her eyes were red.