During the Qing Dynasty, in the reign of Emperor Qianlong, a man named Liu Deshan from Shandong opened a butcher shop called “Tianfuhao” at Xidan in Beijing. The shop specialized in various Shandong-style meats and quickly became quite successful. Liu and his son worked tirelessly, earning their money the hard way. However, as young people often do, Liu’s son couldn’t endure the long hours. One night, while he was on duty watching over the stew pot of meat, he unknowingly fell asleep. When Liu Deshan came to check on the stew, the meat had turned into a sticky, thick paste, with only the bones left in the pot. By now, dawn was approaching, and it was too late to start cooking fresh meat.
Liu Deshan was a sharp and resourceful man, so he quickly thought of a solution. He and his son carefully removed the pieces of braised pork from the pot that were still intact and arranged them on the counter, preparing to sell them. The next morning, the first customer was an old, regular patron, the Minister of Justice. He was fond of the meat from “Tianfuhao,” and he had come to buy some to entertain a group of distinguished guests. Trusting Liu’s products, the Minister quickly paid and left without saying much.
Later, at the Minister’s banquet, the guests—senior officials in the court—ate with relish and praised the “braised pork knuckles” (酱肘子) for its flavor. The Minister of Justice was delighted and felt proud to be able to host such a successful meal. The following day, several of the banquet guests sent servants or stewards to “Tianfuhao” to specifically order more of the braised pork knuckles. At first, Liu Deshan was puzzled, but after discreetly asking around, he realized that the meat, which had accidentally been overcooked the previous day, had turned out to be a hit with the guests.
In response, Liu Deshan and his son decided to make an even better batch, adding more seasoning to the braised pork knuckles. The new batch was not only tastier but also more flavorful. Soon, several high-ranking officials, including the Minister of Justice, became loyal customers of “Tianfuhao.”
Thanks to word-of-mouth praise from influential people, the once obscure “Tianfuhao” became famous for its braised pork knuckles. It didn’t take long before even the Empress Dowager and the Emperor’s palace began sending people to buy the delicacy. Liu’s butcher shop became a household name in Beijing, and more and more people stopped by to taste the famous dish. Eventually, “Tianfuhao” even earned the privilege of a special “road sign,” allowing them to deliver products directly to the palace. Though this was merely a convenience for deliveries, it became a mark of prestige, earning the admiration of all and making Liu’s shop the envy of his competitors.
Phoenix Lee https://chinese-tradition.com/the-story-of-tianfuhao-how-a-braised-pork-knuckle-became-royal-favorite.html