The Game of Life

Armed with the experience from his memory of Han Guishan, Jiang Feng spent the night staring at the night sky without getting bored. As soon as dawn broke, he returned to his room to wait for Jiang Weiguo and Master Huang to wake up.

Both of them had been through quite the journey over the past few days and yet woke up early, probably a habit formed from their time working at state-owned restaurants. Not long after Jiang Feng entered the room, Jiang Weiguo woke up, followed shortly by Master Huang.

They changed into clean, presentable old clothes, after all, they were going to have a big meal and need to look decent for the occasion.

Upon leaving the guest house, the two headed straight for the same little eatery as the day before, each ordering a bowl of lu noodles.

The bowl was filled to the brim with ingredients, even more so than the previous night’s, with firm noodles and a rich broth that swiftly disappeared with slurps and gulps. Within minutes, not a drop of soup was left.

“If I could eat a bowl of noodles like this every day, that would be living the life of the gods!” Master Huang exclaimed.

“A bowl of noodles for one and a half cents,” Jiang Weiguo reminded him kindly, alluding to the fact that Master Huang’s monthly salary would probably only suffice for his noodle indulgence.

Master Huang fell silent at once, staring at the empty bowl and lamenting, “If only my wife could taste this too. She’s never even left our city, let alone enjoyed such fine food.”

“I’ll make it for sister-in-law when I return, but I might only be able to replicate fifty to sixty percent of the taste,” Jiang Weiguo said. He had eaten there twice and had almost figured out the ingredients and the method, but without access to the variety of raw materials available in Zet City, he didn’t dare over-promise.

The restaurant owner, who was also the chef and the accountant tallying the revenue at the front desk, overheard their conversation but didn’t take it to heart, assuming they were just boasting.

Would someone that skilled really be eating lu noodles at his small establishment?

Chef Sun at Jubao Building was taking on apprentices now. Which competent chef wouldn’t want to try their luck there? The owner shook his head, chuckling inwardly at the braggart who was speaking without a filter.

After finishing their noodles and feeling satiated, Jiang Weiguo, the master of directions, guessed their way and led Master Huang towards Jubao Building.

The guest house was situated in a remote area, while Jubao Building was located in the central city district—or rather, wherever it stood became the central district. They asked for directions a few times and, since there was no faster way to travel, they ended up walking for a good three to four hours before reaching Jubao Building.

Throughout the journey, Master Huang wished he had four eyes, marveling at everything as though he had been trapped in the mountains for decades and was seeing the city for the first time. He took mental notes of everything different from Zet City, planning to brag about it later, and in doing so, collected quite a bit of material for his stories.

Jubao Building, just like Taifeng Building, was a standalone restaurant bustling with activity, rivalling the star-rated hotels of future generations, not to mention in this era—it was no wonder it was called the number one restaurant in FJ.

Two cars were parked in front of Jubao Building where a table was also set up, attracting a crowd of onlookers. Master Huang went to look at the cars while Jiang Weiguo examined the table.

“Comrade, what’s this table for?” Master Huang asked, pushing through the crowd to join Jiang Weiguo after inspecting the cars.

“This is part of the entrance examination for Chef Sun’s apprentices!” someone who was also watching the commotion explained, glancing at Master Huang and asking, “From out of town?”

“Yes, I heard Chef Sun was taking on apprentices and came especially to see. How many has Chef Sun taken on?” Master Huang inquired.

“Don’t get me started—not a single one. It’s been over a week, and the deadline is the day after tomorrow. Chef Sun hasn’t been impressed by anyone,” the onlooker reported.

“Wow, that’s pretty strict!” Master Huang exclaimed in surprise.

“You can say that again,” the onlooker said proudly, “Chef Sun is not just any chef; he’s a master of Fujian and Guangdong cuisines. Many chefs from neighboring Guangdong Province have come here hoping to become his apprentice!”

“Then why hasn’t he taken a fancy to anyone?” Master Huang asked, playing along.

“Chef Sun sets high standards! You see, comrade, this is only the first challenge: to cut a radish thinly and quickly enough to pass. In the past few days, lots of chefs have passed this test. But the second challenge is much tougher. Chef Sun prepares a dish, and the others must replicate the same dish after being shown only once. If Chef Sun is satisfied, he’ll take them as an apprentice. So far, no one has met his expectations,” the onlooker explained.

“Oh dear, then those chefs from out of town have come all this way for nothing!” The two bantered back and forth like a comedy duo.

“How can you say it’s for nothing? Even though Chef Sun didn’t take them on as apprentices, he gave them some advice. Do you know who Chef Sun is? Just those couple of pointers he gives are enough to make those chefs over the moon. They all left beaming,” the spectator shared.

“Wow, that’s pretty impressive!” Master Huang’s eyes lit up as he stared at the cutting board on the table inside, then turned to Jiang Weiguo and said, “Jiang, why don’t you give it a try?”

“Oh, is this comrade also a chef?” The onlookers suddenly got excited, “Comrade, since there’s no one else right now, why don’t you have a go? If you’re lucky, Chef Sun might take you on as his apprentice, and you’d be set for life!”

Jiang Weiguo shook his head and looked up at the sign of Jubao Building, saying, “My skills are limited; I’d rather not make a fool of myself.”

Master Huang guessed what Jiang Weiguo was thinking, pulled him away from the crowd, and said, “Jiang, stop thinking about that place in Beiping. It’s been so many years; it’s questionable whether it’s still there or not. Even if it is, it has merged with the state enterprises and no longer belongs to you.”

“I wasn’t thinking about it,” Jiang Weiguo stubbornly denied.

The two of them walked into Jubao Building.

The air was filled with a rich fragrance, akin to the aroma of wine yet mixed with other scents, tickling the taste buds and wafting throughout, making one salivate just by smelling it.

Because Jiang Jiankang had previously attempted to make Buddha’s Jumping Over the Wall at Healthy Stir-fry Restaurant, albeit unsuccessfully, Jiang Feng could tell that the aroma was indeed from Buddha’s Jumping Over the Wall. Deep down, he marveled at the Jubao Building from the days when Chef Sun was still alive; the mere scent inspired longing. Even Master Huang seemed captivated, his expression made one think he hadn’t eaten for three days.

The waiter led them to the counter, where a menu hung on the wall behind it. The waiter asked, “What would you two comrades like to eat?”

“Comrade, what’s the dish with this scent?” Master Huang inquired.

“Buddha’s Jumping Over the Wall, but it’s already sold out. You comrades can come back tonight,” replied the waiter.

Master Huang felt both regret and relief—the regret of not being able to taste the delicacy and the relief that his wallet had dodged a bullet.

Looking at the menu for a long time and being utterly clueless about Cantonese and Fujian cuisines, Master Huang, feeling overwhelmed, handed the task of ordering to Jiang Weiguo: “Jiang, you order!”

Jiang Weiguo said, “Let’s have the Superior Soup Lobster, two orders of Marinated Noodles, Lychee Pork, and Gold Thread Tofu Skin.”

“That will be 65 yuan and 68 cents,” the waiter said.

Jiang Weiguo paid swiftly and decisively.

Master Huang was completely dumbfounded.

One meal had cost him two months’ wages, far exceeding his expectations.

What could they possibly be using to cook, Dragon Liver and Phoenix Marrow?

“Master Huang, this meal’s on me. You’ve helped me a lot these past few years; consider this a token of my gratitude,” Jiang Weiguo said.

The waiter took the money and directed them to a table to sit down.

“This… this…” Master Huang felt the care he had given Jiang Weiguo over the past two years was not worth this sixty-plus yuan meal. Yet his reason told him that if he really paid for this meal, his wife would chase him with a knife for at least three streets when he got back home.

“When I return, I’ll ask your sister-in-law to do some digging and carefully select, to introduce you to a nice girl!” All his many thoughts condensed to a single offer to help him find a match.

The table Jiang Weiguo sat at was right next to the kitchen, so Jiang Feng slipped right into the back kitchen to see what it was like in Jubao Building’s kitchen.

Jiang Feng’s first impression upon entering was that it was bustling.

Very bustling.

There were many people, but no chaos; everyone was well-organized and focused on their tasks. At the center, revered by all like the moon surrounded by stars, was presumably Chef Sun.

Standing next to Chef Sun was a teenager with a slight resemblance to him, probably Sun Guanyun.

“What kind of lobster do you need for baked lobster in broth?” Chef Sun asked.

“Spotted lobster.”

“You said a couple of days ago that you wanted to learn this dish. Bit off more than you could chew, so I didn’t teach you. Just now, a customer ordered it. I’ll do it once, and you watch. See how much you can learn, and go pick a lobster first,” Chef Sun instructed.

The water tank was just in the corner of the kitchen, Jiang Feng thought about going over to see, but due to the distance, he couldn’t. He could only watch from afar as Sun Guanyun went over to choose a lobster, and soon after, he came back with a fresh, lively spotted lobster, brandishing its claws with a spirited look and agile eyes.

Chef Sun took the lobster, and after two swift cuts, it expired on the spot.

It was not easy to enter the kitchen of Jubao Building. Even a kitchen helper washing vegetables had to possess certain skills and talent. Chef Sun was not one to keep secrets and was willing to teach anyone willing to learn.

The lobster was cleaned, its head removed, entrails scooped out, the vein discarded, and the tail cut into large chunks and coated with a layer of starch.

This was Jiang Feng’s first time seeing such a large spotted lobster, so he treated it as a new experience.

The steps to process the lobster weren’t complex—control the oil temperature, deep-fry the lobster until it was 70% done, then lift it out of the oil. During frying, it was necessary to drizzle the oil over the surface of the lobster flesh so it would shrink and set in shape. After that, the cooked lobster and butter were stir-fried together, then broth and other seasonings were added. Once it was out of the wok, it went straight to the plate.

The essence of the whole dish was in the broth. Cooking a pot of proper broth was key to this dish.

There was another way to enjoy the dish. After eating the lobster, you could mix in some Yee Mein noodles to let them absorb the lobster’s broth, creating a different kind of deliciousness.

The broth was ready-made, and just by watching, Jiang Feng couldn’t discern any special techniques. The dish wasn’t hard to make, and Jiang Feng reckoned he could manage a presentable version if he had ready-made broth.

The only problem was his unfamiliarity with lobster. He guessed he would encounter some issues when it came time to chop it up.

It couldn’t be helped; Zet City, as an inland city, had seafood that was way too expensive.

“Dad, this dish doesn’t look too difficult,” Sun Guanyun didn’t think the dish was that hard.

“It may not look difficult, but you’ll know once you try to make it yourself,” Chef Sun said. “No dish is hard to make; the real challenge is making it well.” “What’s the next dish?” Chef Sun asked.

“Lychee Pork. Master, let me do this one,” a plump young man said.

“I’ll take care of it. The customers who ordered the lobster didn’t order Yee Mein, which probably means they’re from out of town. It’s not easy to travel all this way. They came to our restaurant specifically, which is an honor for us. I’ll serve them a portion of Yee Mein afterward,” Chef Sun decided.

“Lucky break,” muttered Sun Guanyun under his breath.

It was unclear whether the stroke of luck he referred to was the complimentary Yee Mein or the chance to have Chef Sun prepare two dishes for them personally.

Jiang Feng knew how to make Lychee Pork. Although he was eager to watch Chef Sun cook, he was more curious about Sir’s reaction to the baked lobster in broth.

Jiang Feng felt this memory was still growing. Sir had yet to participate in the vegetable cutting selection outside, and he would have plenty of opportunities to watch Chef Sun cook.

Taking a shortcut through the wall, he returned to Sir’s side, where Master Huang was excitedly rubbing his hands, looking around.

“Jiang, you wouldn’t believe it, but it’s no wonder the dishes here are so pricey. Look at this decor, it’s way better than our state-owned restaurant!” Master Huang firmly believed that since Jubao Building’s dishes were expensive, everything must be top-notch, even the chopsticks were superior to those at their state-owned restaurant.

“Jubao Building is an old establishment from the past. They spent a lot of money on the decor back in the day,” Weiguo commented while looking at the interior of Jubao Building, as if seeing Taifeng Building in Beiping.

“Baked Lobster in Broth,” the waiter announced as he set the dish on the table. “Chef Sun said to serve you a portion of Yee Mein later. Mix it in after you finish the lobster.”

“Thank you, comrade, thank you so much!” Master Huang was overjoyed to hear about the additional serving of noodles, as if he had stumbled upon a great deal.

The presentation of the Baked Lobster in Broth was stunning. The lobster’s head was raised proudly, its tail slightly curled, and the flesh in the center was balled up, smothered in sauce, with a half-inch of broth at the bottom of the plate, contrasting beautifully with the color of the lobster’s shell.

“Wow, do all fancy restaurants plate dishes this way?” Master Wang couldn’t help but admire, reaching out with his chopsticks to take a piece of the lobster meat.

“Delicious, really delicious! Better than the ones you make, Jiang!” Master Huang exclaimed with his limited vocabulary in praise of the dish in front of him.

One piece, two pieces.

Master Huang was about to reach for a third piece but, seeing there wasn’t much lobster meat left on the plate and remembering that Weiguo was treating, he restrained his chopsticks.

“Jiang, you eat, have some! I had too much noodles this morning and I’m still full. I’ll save room for the other dishes,” Master Huang said, avoiding looking at the lobster.

Weiguo picked up his chopsticks and nabbed a piece of the lobster meat.

He took a bite, chewed twice, and then stopped.

“What do you think? Isn’t it particularly tasty? I’ve never had such delicious food in my life!” Master Huang asked.

“Delicious,” Weiguo said, looking at the lobster in front of him.

“Master Huang, let’s stay a couple more days,” he said.

“Huh? That sounds good. What, you have other business here?” Master Huang asked.

“There’s something,” Weiguo said, “I want to learn a dish.”

“Uh?” Master Huang didn’t catch on before Weiguo had already stood up.

“Jiang, where are you going? The dishes aren’t all served yet!”

“I’m going to take part in the entrance exam.”

“What?”

The next second, Jiang Feng was kicked out of the memory.

Jiang Feng sat up in bed: ???

You’re showing me this just as I’m getting undressed???

It was like watching a movie and just as it gets to the most exciting part, the browser alerts him that, due to not being a premium member, he can’t continue watching.

What kind of crap game is this?

So you want money, huh? You want VIP status, huh? Just tell me how much. How much do I need to pay to finish watching this memory?

I could consider anything under 20 bucks!

Right now, Jiang Feng was furious, his desire to complain about this lousy game stronger than ever. He didn’t even want to check the recipe he got; he just shut off the attribute panel and lay down to sleep.

It’s definitely not Buddhas Jumping Over the Wall!