The Game of Life

The pickled vegetable pork belly is a very famous home-cooked dish in Shu, made by almost every household; it’s also the most popular and convenient delicacy for Shu people when dining out, featuring glossy soy-braised pork belly paired with the perfectly seasoned Yibin pickled vegetables.

Fatty without being greasy, it leaves a lingering fragrance in the mouth.

This was the most artistic description Jiang Feng could give for the plate of pickled vegetable pork belly that Wu Minqi had just taken out of the pot.

Indeed it was mildly spicy, with the heat barely detectable, and chewing slowly revealed the sweetness of the honey that had been spread on the pork skin before frying. The layered pork belly had a rich texture, and the pickled vegetables, which were blasted with star anise, Sichuan pepper, ginger, and garlic after blanching, had an even better taste, enticingly aromatic.

Jiang Feng looked at his own batch of sweet and sour yam that had just come out of the pot, scornfully pushed aside by Mrs. Wang Xiulian to cool, and which no longer pulled into strings, and sighed deeply.

Because he wasn’t skilled with the sugar syrup base, the sweet and sour yam he made wasn’t even as good as it had been at its peak that morning.

At its peak, the sweet and sour yam hadn’t achieved a B grade, and having just tasted a piece of Wu Minqi’s pickled vegetable pork belly, Jiang Feng estimated it to be at least a B grade, even though he couldn’t see the display.

“Girl Wu, your pickled vegetable pork belly was removed from the pot a bit early; steaming for a full two hours would make it more flavorful. The essence of pork belly comes from strong flavors; the stronger the flavor, the more delicious it is,” Jiang Weiming, who was getting older and couldn’t eat such greasy dishes too often, commented after having just a small taste.

Jiang Feng’s mentor had also become his competitor.

“Feng, keep practicing. You just need more practice. You’re not yet used to it and haven’t found the feeling,” said Jiang Weiming, turning to Jiang Feng.

“Alright, Granduncle Weiming.”

All afternoon, the back kitchen of Healthy Stir-fry Restaurant was filled with the sauce fragrance of pickled vegetable pork belly and the sweet scent of sweet and sour yam. Wu Minqi’s pickled vegetable pork belly got better and better, each batch more tempting and tender than the last. Jiang Feng also started to get back in the groove, visibly improving at a rapid pace.

Wu Hanxue was guiding Wu Minqi in the kitchen, while Jiang Weiguo and Jiang Weiming provided nonpartisan guidance to Jiang Feng, occasionally giving tips to Wu Minqi as well. Jiang Weiming was a man of few words, but every comment he made was pointed and weighty, touching upon the critical aspects.

After an afternoon of combat with yams and sugar, Wu Minqi, on her own, benefited from the guidance of two specially ranked first-grade chefs and one specially ranked second-grade chef, while Jiang Jiankang was busy at the culinary station preparing ingredients for the evening service. Ji Yue and Wang Xiulian, who were indulging in the eats, saw the afternoon’s practice dishes turn into special deals for the evening, translating into crisp cash floating into WangXiulian’s pockets.

Wang Xiulian might become the biggest winner.

This situation continued until Saturday.

The 16th was next Monday, leaving only two days before the semifinals.

These days, Jiang Feng had been making sweet and sour yams using Jiang Huiqin’s method every morning, and practicing sugar syrup base under the guidance of the two elders in the afternoon, gradually regaining his touch and making some progress. However, with an outstanding example before him, anyone with a normal sense of taste could tell that Wu Minqi’s pickled vegetable pork belly was superior, and no one could look him in the eye and lie, encouraging him that he could win the contest.

On Friday, the organizers phoned Wu Minqi to let her know that Good Taste’s procurement staff had successfully completed their purchasing mission and returned full load, assuring her there was no need to worry about ingredient issues.

Good Taste’s omnipotent staff were adding the finishing touches to Wu Minqi’s victory.

Wu Hanxue’s menu in the back kitchen had expanded beyond chestnut chicken, ants climbing a tree, and Sichuan cold noodles, it now included dishes like Mapo tofu, boiled fish fillets, strange-flavored chicken chunks, dry-fried beef strips, and whatever they could make with available ingredients and seasonings.

For a time, Healthy Stir-fry Restaurant was almost conquered by students from Shu; the back kitchen was on the verge of becoming a dominion of Sichuan cuisine.

Saturday was the day Jiang Feng, Zhang Xi, and Zhang Guanghang had agreed to meet for porridge.

To welcome Zhang Guanghang’s arrival, Ji Yue cleaned up the lobby after the midday rush until it was spotless, dust free, and even took time off to change into her cherished Burberry trench coat. Even though the highest temperature was only 14 degrees Celsius today, accompanied by gentle winds and light rain, nothing could stop her determination to look stylish despite the cold.

Ji Yue took more than an hour to change her clothes, completing a full set of beauty treatments, which made Jiang Feng somewhat suspect she was preparing for a blind date with Zhang Guanghang tonight.

Eight treasure congee was already simmering on the stove, Wu Hanxue’s two cans of pickled vegetables had just sold out, and the kitchen practice fanatic Wu Minqi had also stopped her exercises, taking a break and waiting for Jiang Feng, who was slowly catching up in the back.

“When will they arrive?” Wu Minqi asked, shifting from practicing pickled vegetable pork belly to cooking ginger chicken.

Ginger chicken had been particularly popular lately; it had always been made by Wu Hanxue until today, when he was pulled away by Jiang Jiankang to visit Mr. Qian’s pig farm, leaving Wu Minqi to take over.

Mr. Qian had several good pigs to sell tomorrow, and Jiang Jiankang, unsure of his own judgment, took the expert Wu Hanxue for advice, not expecting to return until five or six o’clock. Wang Xiulian and Wu Minqi’s mother had gone shopping together. Once two women with similar interests and well-filled wallets got together, the resulting chemistry could be quite fearsome. They had left first thing in the morning, and Jiang Feng doubted they would return even after mealtime.

The two old masters weren’t in the store, and the kitchen had only Jiang Feng and Wu Minqi each working on their own dishes.

Ji Yue had nothing to do and was aimlessly wandering around the kitchen in her Burberry coat, which she had bought two years ago when her family was still affluent.

“You’ll be serving dishes later, aren’t you afraid of getting splatters on your coat?” Jiang Feng couldn’t help but comment while keeping an eye on the yams in the pot.

Ji Yue felt like she had been struck by a blow.

After thinking for a few minutes and weighing up beauty and money, looks and living hand-to-mouth, Ji Yue went back to change into normal clothes that favored warmth over style.

“Why would Zhang Guanghang think of coming here for porridge?” Wu Minqi, who had been busy making sauce, suddenly asked.

Jiang Feng thought about it and said uncertainly, “Maybe because… he wants to establish a good relationship in advance, since they will be colleagues in the future.”

“Colleagues?”

Wu Minqi didn’t know about the connection between Zhang Guanghang, the Jiang Family, and Taifeng Building. Jiang Feng took the time it took to half­cook the sweet and sour yam to explain the background of the situation to her.

“Sometimes I feel like this world is really small; wherever you go, you run into people with connections,” said Jiang Feng.

“Does that mean Taifeng Building will be opening soon?” asked Wu Minqi.

“At least not until the summer holidays. My eldest cousin has already been in touch with the construction team. I also asked Professor Li a few days ago, and he said he could help connect us with a reputable team. I have the renovation blueprint right here. As soon as the work starts, the opening day won’t be far,” Jiang Feng explained.

“What about the staff?”

“We’ll just have to hire normally. I’m not worried about the service staff, but finding chefs is difficult. Taifeng Building is quite large, but there’s still time,” Jiang Feng said with his usual ability to take things in stride.

Wu Minqi kept working, peeling ginger and chopping it fine to juice, and after waiting a while to see if Jiang Feng had anything more to say, she spoke up. “What do you think about me?”

“Huh?”

“I mean, what if I apply for a job at Taifeng Building? What do you think?” asked Wu Minqi.

“Great, that’s great, of course, that’s great. You, you, you applying to Taifeng Building, I would definitely welcome, welcome it,” Jiang Feng stammered in surprise, having been bombarded by pie from the sky these past few days, each piece hitting him squarely, leaving him completely flustered.

First it was Zhang Guanghang a few days ago, and now Wu Minqi. Jiang Feng wouldn’t be surprised if Gu Li ran up to him the day after tomorrow and said, “Coach, I think…”

No, it would be “Boss, I want to work with you!” That wouldn’t surprise Jiang Feng at all.

“Why, why would you want to come to Taifeng Building? Doesn’t your family, that is…” Jiang Feng couldn’t understand why Wu Minqi would leave her well- established Wu Family Restaurant to join Taifeng Building whose opening date wasn’t even set.

“Because we’re friends,” said Wu Minqi.

“Huh?”

“Just kidding. Our Wu Family Restaurant specializes only in Sichuan cuisine, and over these years, my grandfather has also recognized its limitations and wanted me to learn from masters of other cuisines for a few years. Taifeng Building is in Beiping, and Beiping has a collection of masters from various cuisines. It would be a great opportunity for me to improve myself by studying there for a few years,” Wu Minqi explained.

Jiang Feng felt he had nothing to say but to cheer for the big shot with a chant of’666′.

Look at Wu Minqi’s vision and foresight, then look at himself.

Then look back at the pot.

Oh no, he had overdone the fire control.

Jiang Feng was miserably capsized.

Jiang Jiankang and Wu Hanxue came back before the evening rush, and with the shared experience of looking at pigs, the relationship between Jiang Jiankang and Wu Hanxue advanced by leaps and bounds in just an afternoon. Perhaps finding similar interests in pigs made them feel like they had discovered a like­minded buddy, and they even made a pact in the kitchen to sneak out without their wives to the mall to look at kitchen knives tomorrow.

Jiang Feng:…

He sneaked over to Wu Minqi and asked in a low voice, “Does your dad also like to buy kitchen knives?”

Wu Minqi nodded and responded, “Mr. Jiang, you really like buying kitchen knives?”

Jiang Feng nodded solemnly.

All the private stash of money that Jiang Jiankang had been saving up was used to buy kitchen knives, which Mrs. Wang Xiulian discovered batch after batch, more prolific than leeks – they thrive despite being repeatedly cut down.

Zhang Guanghang arrived at Healthy Stir-fry Restaurant right at seven o’clock, and his presence at the entrance instantly became a spectacle. The part-time sis at the milk tea shop across the street was so enchanted that she instantly forgot she had a boyfriend.

“Hello, may I…”

Zhang Guanghang had not yet finished speaking when Ji Yue eagerly cut in.

“Yes, yes, Jiang Feng is in the kitchen, and Zhang Xi hasn’t arrived yet. He asked you to go upstairs first, let me take you there!” Ji Yue revealed her sweetest smile.

“Okay, thank you.” Zhang Guanghang smiled.

A floor below, a collective gasp ensued.

“Oh my god, if my boyfriend had a face that handsome, even if he were a total straight-edge, I’d still be down,” sighed a good-looking girl.

“What about your boyfriend?” her decidedly plainer singleton friend at the same table inquired.

“He…ugh, let’s not talk about it, I get angry just mentioning. We just had a fight yesterday, forgetit, let’s eat,” said the beautiful girl, lowering her head to her meal.

At the neighboring Shaxian Snacks, the boyfriend who had just been dissed by the aforementioned beauty was venting to a colleague, “How can she be like this? She’s not a kid anymore. She wants everything she sees, like a kindergarten child. Even an elementary student is more mature than her.” “What’s wrong? What did she want you to buy her?” the melon-eating onlookers gossiped with curiosity.

“We were walking just fine yesterday, and her shoelace came undone. She insisted I tie it for her even though she wasn’t carrying anything. It’s all because she watches too many idol dramas.”

“Just tie it for her and it’s done,” a melon-eating onlooker said.

“No, you can’t tie! You can’t start that precedent! Last time, she saw someone bringing their girlfriend lunch, and she wanted me to do the same. She has her hands and feet; she’s fully capable of ordering takeout. She just insisted I bring it, and it infuriated me so much that we had a big fight!”

The melon-eating onlookers: “??? Isn’t bringing lunch occasionally a romantic gesture?”

“No way!” the boyfriend stated emphatically, “You can’t start that habit. The first time, it’s charming; the second time, it’s gratitude; the third time, it becomes an expectation; the fourth time you don’t do it, and suddenly you’re at fault. Absolutely not, you can’t even start once!”

The melon-eating onlookers:…

Jiang Jiankang, who happened to overhear the whole conversation while paying at Shaxian Snacks:…

The young people today just don’t get it. Back in his dating days, he used to rack up those talent points, sending ice pops in the summer and hot soup in the winter – such people…

No, wait, if that kind of person can get a girlfriend, why is his son still single?

Jiang Jiankang was lost in thought.

At a quarter past seven, Zhang Xi entered Healthy Stir-fry Restaurant with a heavy backpack on her shoulders.

Zhang Xi, wearing a sporty school uniform that could remind every UAL University student of their high school days, and carrying a backpack stuffed with tutoring books and exam papers, just happened to bump into Jiang Feng, coming from the kitchen with a bowl of Eight Treasures Porridge, and Wu Minqi carrying a plate of pickled vegetables and crispy pork fat.

“What a coincidence, come on up,” Jiang Feng said with a smile.

Zhang Xi had taken the subway here right after school, and because the teachers’ extended lectures delayed her, she arrived a bit late. Arriving late was better than arriving early, as the Eight Treasures Porridge was just ready, and Zhang Xi didn’t miss the best time to enjoy it.

The pickled vegetables were specially brought from the Shu region by Wu Hanxue. Wu Minqi selected some red-skinned white radishes, while Jiang Feng had just fried the pork fat until it was still hot, fragrant and inviting.

Crispy pork fat, white radish, and Eight Treasures Porridge, crunching and slurping—the food of gods wouldn’t trade for a day like this.

After a day of classes, Zhang Xi gulped down two bowls of Eight Treasures Porridge, put down her bowl, and exhaled a long breath, sincerely exclaiming, “This is really the best Eight Treasures Porridge I’ve ever had in my life!” “Jiang Feng’s porridge cooking skills are indeed exquisite,” Zhang Guanghang admitted.

Unlike Zhang Xi, who simply came to enjoy the porridge, Zhang Guanghang was here for a serious reason. After finishing most of his porridge, he finally spoke, “About the opening of Taifeng Building, how are your plans coming along?”

“My granduncle has finally agreed. My elder cousin is contacting headhunters and construction teams. Once the renovation is done, we can open. If all goes well, we could open in August,” Jiang Feng said.

“If there are any financial issues, I can cover them for now. I can also help connect you with staff and signage. I just hope… that Taifeng Building can open as soon as possible.”

Seeing Zhang Guanghang’s urgent manner, Jiang Feng asked, “Is it you…”

“Yesterday, my master’s primary physician called me and told me he probably doesn’t have much time left,” Zhang Guanghang sighed. “I just want him to leave without any regrets.”

The topic was a bit heavy, and Jiang Feng didn’t want to dwell on it, “We will do it as quickly as we can.”

“Please.”

Zhang Xi, part of the porridge-eating crowd, didn’t understand any of this and asked somewhat blankly, “Taifeng Building?”

“It’s a restaurant that Jiang Feng’s family owns in Beiping,” Wu Minqi explained. “It’s about to open.”

“Wow,” ZhangXi exclaimed in admiration, unaware of the specifics, “That’s so cool, I’ve always wanted to be a chef at a restaurant in Beiping.”

“Then come to Taifeng Building,” Jiang Feng said with a laugh.

“Yes, yes!” Zhang Xi laughed out loud.

After having their fill and finishing their business, Zhang Xi and Zhang Guanghang took their leave. Ji Yue also took the opportunity to say goodbye to Zhang Guanghang, getting a smile in return and thrilling her for half the day.

After closing time, Jiang Feng returned to his dorm. Wang Hao had been hot and heavy with his beloved Zhenzhen these past days .almost fusing with his phone in constant chat. When Jiang Feng got back, he was still talking with Zhenzhen.

After a simple wash-up, he turned off the lights and went to bed. Sitting on the bed, as usual, he checked his attribute panel before going to sleep.

His experience in fire control had increased quite a bit, while his knifework and seasoning hadn’t changed much. Scrolling down—

[Turn Enemies into Friends]Mission Progress (4/5)

Huh?

Was Zhang Xi serious?!

Another mission progress had just fallen from the sky!

Jiang Feng instantly felt elated.

I, indeed, am the chosen protagonist!