Zha Jiang Mian Chinese Braised Pork and Shiitake Noodles with Cucumber

Name: Zha Jiang Mian (Chinese Braised Pork and Shiitake Noodles with Cucumber)
Ingredients: 2 tablespoons canola oil; 1/2 cup dried shiitake mushrooms, or 1 cup fresh shiitake mushrooms; 1/2 onion, chopped; 2 cloves garlic, chopped; 2 slices ginger (2 millimeter slices); 2 green onions, sliced thinly; 1 star anise (optional); 1 pound ground pork; 1/4 cup Shaoxing rice wine (or sake); 1/4-1/2 cups tianmianjiang (sweet bean sauce); 1/4 cup hoisin sauce; 1 tablespoon soy sauce; 1/2 teaspoon cornstarch and 2 tablespoons cold water, for thickening the sauce; 1 tablespoon sesame oil, plus more for drizzling; 1 packet fresh wheat noodles (a 2 pound package serves 8 people); 4 Persian cucumbers, julienned