The Game of Life

At 8 p.m,, all the Jiang Family members and Wu Minqi’s family of three gathered on the second floor of the Healthy Stir-fry Restaurant, basking in joy and laughter. Jiang Junlian and Jiang Junqing, the sisters, were the happiest and most excited of all because they had successfully skipped their chemistry tutoring again tonight.

Ever since Jiang Jianshe began to seriously pay attention to their academic performance, he was astounded to find that apart from Chinese, they needed tutoring in everything. Hence, Jiang Junqing and Jiang Junlian commenced their delightful life of attending tutoring sessions eight times a week, seven days a week.

Jiang Feng and Jiang Jiankang were keeping watch over two pots of porridge in the kitchen. Most of the dishes were already on the table. Although Wu Hanxue was not fond of Jiang Feng, to support his daughter, he nearly used all his lifetime cooking skills for today’s meal.

Boiled beef in spicy sauce, twice-cooked pork, ants climbing a tree, Mapo tofu, Kung Pao chicken, Mao blood wang, and chicken stewed with gingko. There were only nine dishes on the table, seven of which were prepared by Wu Hanxue. The remaining two were Jiang Jiankang’s Dongpo pork knuckle and Jiang Weiming’s tofu box.

Had circumstances allowed, Wu Hanxue could have also made butterfly sea cucumbers, Hundred-Flowers Jiang Group, and Crystal Duck Square. These were the highest standard banquet dishes of the Wu Family Restaurant. Over the years, as Old Sir Wu gradually stopped being the chef, these banquet dishes were all entrusted to Wu Hanxue.

As Jiang Weiming had often made tofu boxes recently, garnering unanimous praise each time, he spent time researching the filling proportions. Each time, he made it with different flavors. Today, to match the porridge-eating ambiance, he made vegetarian fillings.

Shiitake mushrooms, bamboo shoots, tomatoes, cucumbers, wood ear mushrooms, and green peas, with a bit of minced meat in the middle, offered a variety of colors and a delicate texture. The season’s bamboo shoots were tender and juicy, making the vegetarian filling of the tofu boxes extremely delicious.

“Wow, what a big spread of dishes, our thanks to Mr. Wu for his hard work!” Jiang Zaidi said, eyes shining at the sight of the spread. Jiang Weiguo was good at many things, but Sichuan cuisine was not one of them. The Jiang Family rarely had the chance to enjoy Sichuan dishes like this.

“Yes, yes, Mr. Wu really did put in a lot of effort cooking such a big spread, certainly tiring. Ah yes, the porridge is ready too. I’ll serve some for Mr. Wu.” In terms of flattering skills, perhaps no one could surpass Jiang Junlian in the Jiang Family.

Jiang Jiankang, carrying a big clay pot of preserved egg and lean pork porridge, led the way, followed by Jiang Feng with a plate of side dishes. These weren’t the pickles brought over by Wu Hanxue from the land of Shu but dried radishes and pickled long beans from Fang Zheng’s porridge shop, perfect for complementing porridge.

After putting the preserved egg and lean pork porridge and side dishes on the table, they went back down to continue carrying the remaining porridge and a plate of pork lard crisps that had not been brought up.

Jiang Zaidi, who was closest to the preserved egg and lean pork porridge, lifted the lid.

A fragrant aroma filled the air.

Wu Hanxue was startled and found it strange. The porridge Jiang Feng cooked at noon didn’t have such a tantalizing aroma when he uncovered it. Judging from the smell alone, the current pot of porridge was on a higher level than the one from noon.

What sort of magic pill had this kid taken? His porridge-cooking skills had improved so much in just one afternoon.

“Yo, I didn’t expect Feng’s preserved egg and lean pork porridge to smell so good too!” Jiang Jianguo praised.

With the preserved egg and lean pork porridge served, it meant it was time to start the meal. Everyone stopped the mutual flattery and burrowed into their bowls, slurping porridge and munching on dishes.

A spoonful of preserved egg and lean pork porridge, a bite of side dish, and then a spoonful of the boiled beef in spicy sauce.

Delightful!

Wouldn’t exchange this even for a fairy’s life!

Jiang Zaidi instantly cast aside his resolve made yesterday to exercise for an hour daily, stick to vegetable salads and chicken breast for three meals, and aim to shed weight this year in hopes to successfully find a partner. His mind was consumed by thoughts of preserved egg and lean pork porridge and the boiled beef.

And not to forget the twice-cooked pork, Mao blood wang, and chicken stewed with gingko.

Jiang Zaidi declared that, weight loss? What weight loss? It would never happen in this lifetime. Only by mooching off his little brother could he sustain such a life.

After a satisfying meal, it was time for the usual bragging session. However, today’s bragging needed to be postponed because there was serious business to discuss.

The renovation team Jiang Feng had asked Jiang Zaidi to find had responded. After an initial screening, Jiang Zaidi had narrowed it down to three potential teams. He had printed out their detailed information and brought it along. All that was needed was for Jiang Feng and Sir to give the nod and for Jiang Jianguo to negotiate the price, then the renovation of Taifeng Building could be scheduled.

The scheduling of the renovation meant that the opening of the business was not far off.

“Little brother, you mentioned that you had the Renovation Blueprint taken care of. Do you still have them?” Jiang Zaidi asked.

“Yes, they’re on my computer,” Jiang Feng replied.

“If we have the blueprints, we can start work immediately after negotiating a good price. I’ve inquired around, and if we’re fast, the refurbishment and renovation can be done within three months,” Jiang Zaidi said, taking out the thick profiles of three decoration companies from his briefcase, with two copies each, one for Jiang Feng and one for Jiang Weiguo.

Jiang Weiguo took the profiles, looked over them briefly without understanding, and felt a headache coming on. So, he tossed them to Jiang Jianguo.

Jiang Jianguo had already seen them and tossed them to Jiang Jianshe.

Jiang Jianshe also didn’t understand them and handed them casually to Jiang Jianye.

Jiang Jianye, who had just accepted them, forcefully passed them on to Jiang Jiankang.

The stack of profiles did a full round of the table and ended up back with Sir.

Actually, Jiang Feng didn’t really understand them either. After all, everyone has their specialization; his was cooking porridge, not studying these things. Besides, as a physics student, how could he possibly comprehend whether a renovation team was good or bad?

“Would it be alright if I took a look?” Wu Hanxue spoke up.

Jiang Jiankang, more than happy to have someone help him with the stack of information he couldn’t understand, enthusiastically passed it to Wu Hanxue. Taking the materials, Wu Hanxue started to scrutinize them carefully.

Wu Hanxue expressed that although he didn’t understand why his daughter, a young and beautiful girl with extraordinary talent, wit, intelligence, gentleness, thoughtfulness, generosity, well-educated, empathetic, respectful to teachers, friendly with classmates, kind to animals, benevolent to people, law-abiding, and with a healthy and positive outlook, would fall for someone like Jiang Feng, who seemed to be good for nothing except cooking porridge, it was, after all, his daughter’s choice.

The Jiang Family had business with Taifeng Building in Beiping, something he had heard of and had a slight knowledge of. As the future in-law, he naturally had to lend a hand.

“This Chengju Decoration Company…”

“Actually, it’s that Chengju…”

Wu Hanxue and Jiang Zaidi almost spoke at the same time.

“Mr. Wu, you’re familiar with this as well?” Jiang Zaidi was somewhat surprised. “Actually, all three decoration companies are very good. If we go by their track record, Meiyi is clearly the best, but I think Chengju would be more suitable for the renovation of Taifeng Building.”

“Yes, Chengju Decoration Company has a lot of experience renovating antique-style restaurants like yours. I haven’t dealt with them, but I’ve heard that they did the renovation of Eight-treasure House in Beiping three years ago,” said Wu Hanxue.

“Yes, this decoration company’s designers are also amazing and very famous in our industry. I just don’t know what your brother’s renovation blueprint looks like. If it’s not satisfactory, we can actually ask their designers to redesign for us. It’s just that the price will be quite high, and it will take a lot of time,” said Jiang Zaidi.

“The renovation blueprint I got as a game reward is pretty good. I’ll make a copy for you tomorrow,” Jiang Feng had already looked over the blueprint, and although he didn’t understand it, he felt it should be quite good.

This game’s rewards in all non-culinary aspects were very reliable.

“No need, I’ll come pick it up tomorrow during dinner,” Jiang Zaidi schemed to sponge another meal.

“If we decide on this company, I’ll contact them tonight. However, they are quite expensive. I estimate the full renovation will cost at least to million,” said Jiang Zaidi.

“10 million?!” Jiang Feng felt his imagination was limited by poverty.

Professor Li had mentioned it would be 3 million!

“With Taifeng Building’s large footprint and three stories, along with its heritage from the Republican era which wasn’t well-preserved over the years, everything needs to be refurbished, inside and out, on top of the new decorations. Over 10 million is actually a low estimate,” Jiang Zaidi explained. “Don’t worry about it, little brother. You don’t need to fret about money. We can easily come up with over 10 million.”

“Right, right, Feng, don’t you worry about the money,” Jiang Jianshe nodded in agreement.

“If the renovation is settled, we should also start preparing for staff recruitment. I will get in touch with a headhunter. For now, you just focus on preparing for the competition. If you win the championship, given the popularity of the related variety shows, the advertising effect will be more beneficial than anything else,” Jiang Zaidi helped Jiang Feng analyze.

Jiang Feng nodded solemnly.

With the serious discussions over, it was time for the enjoyable session of bragging.

Everyone had a good memory and could pick right back up from where they had left off last time.

“Now that Taifeng Building is opening, I say all of us brothers should go to Beiping!” Jiang Jianguo, the leader in bragging among the Jiang Family, kicked off the conversation.

“Right, right, we should all go,” agreed Jiang Jiankang.

“We need to buy property first.”

“Get a fully furnished place, too much hassle decorating a bare-shell apartment.”

“What’s so troublesome about decorating a bare-shell apartment? Just get little De to do the design! We should buy an entire complex. Upstairs, downstairs, we could even eat together.”

“Right, right, we have to buy in the same complex. Dad, I already have a complex in mind, the environment is really good.”

“Is that so? Little De is really thinking ahead, which one is it…”

Wu Hanxue, who had wandered into this, was baffled: ???

Mrs. Wu, who was used to their way of boasting and reacted quickly, calmly drank her water.

Wu Minqi, who was accustomed to these things, kept her head down and busily exchanged texts with Jiang Feng.

Wu Hanxue glanced at his wife and child and saw that they looked unperturbed, which made him even more puzzled.

What did these Jiang Family members do for a living, talking so casually about tens and hundreds of millions?

What kind of people were they?

Was it an issue on his part? Did everyone now have the ability to buy property within the second ring road of Beiping?

What exactly did they do for a living?

Why were they so proficient at this?