CHAPTER 326: CHAPTER 326: BRAISED PORK BELLY

The air was filled with a few strands of sweet, saucy fragrance that kept wafting around, and the rich aroma of meat made everyone’s stomachs growl uncontrollably.

In the iron pot, chunks of square pork belly with an alluring color trembled continuously with the soup, like a pudding that could easily fall apart, enticing one to lose themselves in the sound of the simmering broth.

To make this red braised pork, you don’t need to add a single drop of oil. You just have to render the fat from the pork belly over low heat, and when all sides of each piece are seared to an alluring golden brown, the oil will cover the bottom of the pot, and even the excess needs to be poured out before caramelizing sugar.

Simply add slices of ginger, star anise, bay leaves, and a few dried chili peppers, then drizzle in top-quality Shaoxing wine. At the moment the wine evaporates from the heat, the aroma is instantly stimulated. Add dark soy sauce and light soy sauce to color the meat pieces, then pour in boiling water to simmer.

Boiling water must be added; the already heated meat will shrink and harden when it meets cold water, causing it to lose the soft and tender texture of the pork belly.

About forty minutes to an hour later, the dish is ready. When Chen Changgui and Cen Lizhui arrived at the kitchen, Chen Muxue was just taking that enticing red braised pork out of the pot.

When Changgui saw the slightly bouncing pieces of meat on the plate, his mouth instantly filled with saliva.

It turned out that the Sect Leader had always kept his words in mind. Last time, he mentioned that the red braised pork at the academy’s canteen wasn’t that delicious yet was popular. If the Sect Leader cooked it, wouldn’t it be heavenly?

Unexpectedly, the first dish the Sect Leader decided to cook after all these days was red braised pork!

The red braised pork already counts as a hearty dish, so Chen Muxue simply stir-fried a few vegetables and made an egg soup, getting ready to eat.

Upon arriving at the dining room, she saw everyone neatly sitting with their rice already served, all eagerly staring at the enticingly colored, aromatic red braised pork in the center of the table. Seeing Chen Muxue bringing in the soup, everyone’s expressions instantly became even more excited.

Chen Muxue sat down, noticing everyone was still staring at her. She couldn’t help but touch her face. Was there dirt on it?

Apparently not. Maybe her beauty had improved a little... ahem.

"Stop looking at me, and start eating," Chen Muxue waved her hand.

Everyone’s chopsticks instantly reached for the red braised pork. Luckily, Chen Muxue understood everyone’s appetite and made plenty; otherwise, an "unseen battle" might have erupted.

Changgui put a piece of meat into his mouth, and the sweet aroma of the sauce filled his mouth. With a slight chew, his eyes lit up. This is what’s worth standing in line for, an exquisite cuisine!

The moment he chewed, the rich aroma of the meat lingered around his lips and teeth, without a hint of gaminess. Instead, the subtle fragrance of Shaoxing wine pervaded, and the meat itself was rich yet not greasy, plump and delicious. The fatty part was soft and sticky, while even the lean part wasn’t dry at all, filled with savory meat juice instead.

Changgui couldn’t stop eating for a while. Finally, when he couldn’t eat anymore, he couldn’t help but pat his round belly, looking at the mess on the table, weakly saying, "Sect Leader, can you make more so I can take some to school tomorrow?"

Chen Muxue’s eating style was evidently different from this group of hungry wolves. She was accustomed to her own cooking, so she continued to eat leisurely: "No problem, Xiao Hua’s porridge is still simmering."

Changgui couldn’t help but lick his lips, "Did you make a lot—"

Xiao Hu gave him a disapproving look, and Changgui pursed his lips, saying no more.

The next day, Changgui swaggered around with a lunchbox, wishing he could tell the whole world that he brought delicious food to school.