Combine chicken, soy sauce, and garlic in a large bowl. Mix well. Marinate the chicken for at least 1 hour.
Note: the longer the time, the better.

Heat a frying pan or saucepan to medium-high heat and add 1 tablespoon vegetable oil or avocado oil to the pan. When the oil is hot enough, pan-fry the marinated chicken for 2-3 minutes per side until browned well. Pour-in the remaining marinade, including all the garlic, then add the water and bring to a boil. Add dried bay leaves and whole peppercorns and reduce heat to a simmer for 20-30 minutes or until the chicken becomes tender. Lastly, add the rice vinegar and sugar and stir and continue to simmer for a further 10 minutes.