Additionally, it was emphasized that there was 24-hour surveillance in the Braised Food Department. Should any violation of operating procedures be detected, penalties would range from wage deductions to, in serious cases, termination. Legal action would be taken immediately against any illegal conduct.

When Lin Xu first saw these rules and regulations, he thought they were somewhat over the top. But upon closer consideration, he realized that braised meats were indeed a hotspot for food safety issues. Things like the illegal use of nitrates or banned food additives, and the use of rotten ingredients—there's always a plethora of such reports each year. Xu Xinhua being so cautious was the right approach. Better safe than sorry, after all.

Before long, two pig heads had been properly cleaned. By then, the jaws of the pig heads had been removed, the skulls split in half, and the brains scooped out into a bowl on the side. As for the ears, they too had been sliced off at the base. The ear canal of a pig is very deep, so the ears need to be cut open to be thoroughly cleaned.

Lin Xu looked and said, "Then let's blanch them."

Pig heads and Pork Skin both needed blanching. After blanching, any scalded hair stubble would be cleaned once more, providing a more reassuring experience for the consumer.

Water was set to boil, and the pig heads, ears, Pork Skin, and tongues were placed in the pot in succession. Lin Xu poured a high-proof Liquor, used for braising meats, into the pot. Soon, grimy foam appeared in the pot. Using a spoon, he skimmed off the foam. After about ten minutes, he took out the pig ears and Pork Skin. When fifteen minutes passed, he finally turned off the heat and removed the pig heads and tongues as well. The pig heads and Pork Skin were scraped clean, and the ears and tongues were cleaned again.

Once everything was prepared, it was time to start braising.

Lin Xu had initially planned to use the brine from Braised Chicken Feet for the pig heads as their flavors were similar, and it could even add some aroma to the Chicken Feet's brine. But he reconsidered, thinking that if it sold well, it might become a new signature dish for the restaurant. So, he set a soup pot on the stove and prepared a fresh brine.

The brine for braising pig heads required less sugar and chili compared to that for Chicken Feet. Particularly in the case of sugar, since Braised Pig Head should be savory and mouth-watering, it was important not to add too much. Just a few pieces of Crystal Sugar were enough for seasoning purposes. While using less sugar and chili, the amounts of other spices needed to be increased. These included cinnamon, Star Anise, Sichuan peppercorns, bay leaves, Angelica dahurica, and more. This was because pig head meat is thick and fatty, requiring a larger quantity of spices for the flavor to penetrate the meat.

After everything was ready, Lin Xu fried some sugar until it was caramelized and added it to the brine as a substitute for the Dark Soy Sauce that easily darkens in color. Once the brine was well-prepared, he first put in the pig heads, which were difficult to cook thoroughly, and then added the tongues, ears, and Pork Skin at ten-minute intervals. Such staggered braising ensures that each ingredient cooks through at the same time, also facilitating the pressing process for the pig heads.

The brine quickly came to a boil. Lin Xu skimmed the froth with a spoon and adjusted to a medium-low heat for a slow braise. When braising meat, the heat shouldn't be too high. Otherwise, the boiling brine could break the ingredients apart. This could result in their exteriors becoming mushy while the insides remain uncooked. A gentle simmer allows the brine to cook the pig head gradually. Such braised meat looks better and tastes more satisfying.

Once the pig heads were put on to braise, Shen Guofu and the others had finished their meal. They came downstairs, played for a while with Dundun who was sleeping on the service desk, and then took out the keys from the drawer to deliver clothes to their homes in the nearby community.

Having had her fill of "dog food," Chen Yan intended to drive to a nearby badminton hall to play for a while and recover some of her charismatic appeal. Feeling like a perpetual background presence gives rise to the nagging fear of "I'm unsellable because I'm ugly." In reality, with a successful career, a figure to match, and a pretty face that commands attention, Chen Yan was never short of admirers wherever she went.

The pork needed some time to be properly braised.

Taking advantage of this interval, Lin Xu, carrying a box of Black Sugar Shaqima made by the Pastry Department, headed to the neighboring supermarket.

Upon entering, Uncle Yu asked, "Xu, hasn't your shop finished refurbishing? When are you opening? I've been eagerly waiting to try your hand-pulled noodles."

Lin Xu replied with a smile, "We'll start a trial run tomorrow, letting the staff get a feel for things and adapt."

On hearing that the trial run was starting tomorrow, Uncle Yu immediately said, "Wow, I'll have to spread the word in the neighborhood then, get everyone to come and support your shop at noon. It's been a month since we've had your cooking; quite a few of our folks have been missing it."

I couldn't think of a better person to tell than you, Uncle Yu, hoping you'd help spread the word. As long as Uncle Yu knew, it meant the whole street would soon be in the know. As for online promotion, Lin Xu only told those like Qiang that they wouldn't need too many customers the next day, as the staff needed time to adjust. Once all departments had worked out the kinks, they would start marketing and attracting customers.

"Uncle, this is the Black Sugar Shaqima our shop makes. Could you evaluate it for us? In the future, the shop will sell a limited quantity every day. It won't be a large amount, so reservations will be needed."

The Snacks made in the shop didn't contain preservatives or freshness enhancers. To prevent unsold stock from spoiling, the shop planned to adopt a reservation system. Only upon receiving orders would they make the Snacks, ensuring maximum freshness.

"Oh! These are handmade? Then I must let our neighbors have a taste!"

See, that's the advantage of having a promoter.

After chatting a bit more, Lin Xu took his leave of Uncle Yu and returned to the shop. By this time, the pig head had been braising for forty minutes. After turning off the heat, Lin Xu soaked it for another twenty minutes before finally removing all the ingredients from the brine.

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