The Game of Life

Ji Yue was in the living room having a heart-to-heart with Ji Xue. As the former club president who had managed to woo a whole group of members to support the entire Chess Club with just her persuasive words, Ji Yue was best at heart-to-hearts and making friends.

“Xiaxia.” When Ji Xue saw Ji Xia come out, she stood up from the sofa with a start, “Where are you going?”

“I’m taking him to my place to make some noodle pulling, we’ll be back soon, Ji Xue, don’t worry,” Jiang Feng explained, leading Ji Xia out the door.

Ji Xue & Ji Yue: ???

Wu Minqi stayed behind to explain to Ji Xue and Ji Yue, “I just talked to Ji Xia, and when she said she could do noodle pulling, Fengfeng wanted to test her skills. Xue, you can relax; nothing will happen.”

“Your sister can do noodle pulling?” Ji Yue was shocked.

Ji Xue was also rooted to the spot: “I didn’t know that.”

Wu Minqi smiled, “Xiaxia is a good kid, with dreams and plans. Xue, when you have time, you should talk more with her and listen to her ideas. Don’t treat her like a child. I’ll go down first and send Xiaxia back up in a while.”

Saying that, Wu Minqi also left.

The dough Jiang Feng had kneaded that morning was still on the living room table. Due to the sudden event, both he and Wu Minqi had hurried upstairs, and the dough had gone somewhat dry without being covered with a cloth.

“Can you still make noodles with it?” Jiang Feng was uncertain.

“It’s doable,” Ji Xia said as she began to work.

One could tell the quality of someone’s noodle pulling skills from the moment they started.

Noodle pulling tests the fundamentals, it’s highly technical, and the first thing needed is stability, a steady hand.

The dough Jiang Feng had kneaded that morning wasn’t big, so Ji Xia took all of it, kneaded it into a thick strand with the base of her palm, worked it and tossed it, then began pulling and stretching. Ji Xia was very fast in pulling and tossing, indicating her strength was considerable, at least greater than that of ordinary girls and even boys her age.

Her movements were smooth and practiced, clearly that of an experienced hand, fitting with the story Ji Xia told of working in a noodle shop every week.

The dough in Ji Xia’s hands was like a familiar toy, whether spiraling or sliding it, her motions were seamless—describing them as flowing like clouds and water wouldn’t be an exaggeration.

“How many servings of noodle pulling do you have to make when you work at the noodle shop?” Jiang Feng asked.

While spiraling the dough, Ji Xia replied, “Over a hundred portions, I guess.”

“Over a hundred?” Jiang Feng suspected Ji Xia’s math might be off, “Is your noodle shop that busy?”

“Not every shop is that busy, only Master Liang’s noodle shop is particularly popular,” Ji Xia shook the large strand in her hand, folded it on the board, ready to start pulling noodles.

“At first when Master Liang didn’t teach me to pull noodles and I was just in charge of collecting bowls and washing dishes, I heard customers say that Master Liang’s noodles were especially tasty, even better than those in the county or city noodle shops,” she said with one pull.

“I remember Master Liang said he used to have a noodle shop in the city, and only came back to the town because he didn’t want to continue there,” two pulls.

“Sometimes during summer vacation, Master Liang would go back to his village for a few days, and then he would leave the business to me. I was responsible for opening up, pulling noodles, cleaning, and tidying the bowls and dishes. As long as Master Liang went back to the village, he would give me an extra 30 yuan a day,” three pulls.

“Master Liang even taught you the skills to brew the soup base and braise the beef,” Jiang Feng said incredulously, as if Master Liang truly took Ji Xia as an apprentice.

“Master Liang taught me how to brew the soup base, but mine isn’t as good as his, customers could tell immediately,” four pulls.

“Does Master Liang have any other apprentices?” Jiang Feng asked.

“Other apprentices? It was just Master Liang alone in the shop at first. It’s only after I approached him and asked if he needed help that he hired me,” five pulls.

“What about his son and daughter?”

As Ji Xia sprinkled a handful of flour over the dough, he said, “I haven’t really seen them much. They don’t live in the town usually. I’ve only seen Master Liang’s son once last winter break.”

Six times.

“Has Master Liang never told you to stay and help out in his shop in the future or something like that?” Jiang Feng pressed.

Ji Xia’s movements paused for a moment as he replied, “He has. Master Liang said he wanted to take me on as an apprentice and to give me the noodle shop in the future. He planned to go back to the village when he got older, and I would stay in the town to continue running the noodle shop.”

Seven times.

“That sounds pretty good, doesn’t it? There’s not much difference between a noodle shop and a breakfast diner.”

“It’s not good. The town is too close to my home village; it’s just over an hour’s walk away. I want to go somewhere farther from home.” Eight times.

After being stretched eight times, the noodle dough was very thin. Jiang Feng knew that this was a moment when Ji Xia needed to be very focused, so he stopped asking questions and watched Ji Xia’s movements in silence.

Ji Xia sprinkled some flour on the noodles and, with his right hand, grabbed the middle section and flipped it outward to the right, gently stretching and slowly pulling the dough. His movements were slow and steady.

Nine times.

A small part of the dough had already broken.

Ji Xia stopped.

If he tried to pull it for the tenth time, probably half of the dough would break, and the noodle pulling would be ruined.

“I…” not having displayed his true ability, Ji Xia wanted to explain to Jiang Feng, “I really can pull it ten times.”

Jiang Feng of course knew she could do ten pulls, not just ten, but she could also do twelve, thirteen, fourteen, fifteen pulls, or even nineteen, twenty in the future.

She was only 16 years old and had been learning noodle pulling for just a year and a half.

Although Jiang Feng had also been learning noodle pulling for only a month and could do six pulls, considering that the difficulty of each additional pull in noodle pulling increased exponentially, Jiang Feng estimated it would take him a year to achieve ten pulls.

Jiang Feng’s talent in the area of White Chef had already caused Jianguo to seriously consider persuading Sir to let Jiang Feng switch from Red Chef to White Chef.

Jiang Feng was already 21 years old, Ji Xia only 16.

In some respects, youth is an asset in the profession of cooking.

“I know.” said Jiang Feng.

“So, am I skilled enough to work like you guys in a restaurant kitchen?” Ji Xia asked.

“Yes.” Jiang Feng said confidently.

“Can I work in big restaurants like yours?” Ji Xia continued.

“That’s difficult.”

“Why?” Ji Xia asked, puzzled.

“To be a White Chef isn’t just about being able to pull noodles. Unless your noodle pulling skills are extremely superb, being able to do sixteen pulls or more. And generally, dragon’s beard noodles are used for desserts. To be a Master White Chef in a big restaurant, you cannot do without dessert-making skills.” Jiang Feng explained.

Becoming a Master White Chef in a big restaurant is difficult, and for big restaurants to find highly skilled White Chefs is even harder. This is why Taifeng Building still doesn’t have any signature White Chef desserts to boast of.

“`

The inferior ones aren’t up to par, and the good ones won’t come.

“So how can I become a pastry chef who is a White Chef?” Ji Xia started to get to the heart of the matter.

“My advice is… find a master. The culinary industry places great importance on heritage, and the master-apprentice relationship is also taken very seriously. If you can become the apprentice of a good master, your journey in the culinary industry will become much smoother,” Jiang Feng said.

“Then I want to take you as my master!” Ji Xia looked at Jiang Feng.

Jiang Feng: ???

“I’m a Red Chef,” Jiang Feng no longer understood the thought processes of the modern youth.

“But the eight-treasure porridge you made is very delicious.”

“Porridge isn’t part of White Chef’s specialties.”

“Then is porridge Red Chef’s?”

“That… porridge doesn’t really belong to Red Chef either,” Jiang Feng realized he couldn’t explain clearly.

“Then what does porridge belong to? Didn’t Sister Wu just say that chefs are only divided into Red Chefs and White Chefs?” Ji Xue soulfully inquired.

“Porridge… porridge is just porridge.”

“I just want to learn how to cook porridge from you. I can find a way to learn pastry on my own later on,” Ji Xia said.

“But I’m a Red Chef,” Jiang Feng found the conversation had circled back to the beginning.

“Then I can also learn Red Chef from you. I’ve learned how to cook from my grandmother, and I’ve been cooking since I was eight,” Ji Xia said earnestly.

“Why do you insist on learning from me?” Jiang Feng didn’t understand.

“Because the eight-treasure porridge you make is very delicious, and the silky yam tonight was also very tasty. Plus, my sister said your cooking skills are higher than hers. I want to learn from you. If I work with you in the future, I want my cooking skills to be even better than my sister’s,” Ji Xia quickly revealed her desire to compete with Ji Xue.

Jiang Feng felt a headache coming on.

“Do you know what it means to take a master in the culinary industry?”

“I know,” Ji Xia said, “My grandmother told me about the carpenter from the next village who took on apprentices. The master is like a second father, the apprentice’s board and lodging are with the master’s family, the master will buy new clothes for the apprentice, and even give the apprentice pocket money during the New Year. The apprentice must obey the master’s words, care for the master in old age, and be filial to the master, clean the master’s house, work for the master, run errands for the master, and even take care of the master’s children. Basically, whatever the master says, the apprentice must do.”

Jiang Feng: …

The carpenter from your neighboring village is pretty harsh with apprentices, having them even look after the children, on par with graduate students walking dogs.

“When did that happen?”

“Grandma said it was when she was a child.”

Jiang Feng: …

“Actually, it’s not that exaggerated anymore. Nowadays, it’s just…”

“I can do it,” Ji Xia looked at Jiang Feng, “and when you and Sister Wu have children, I can help you take care of them.”

Jiang Feng nearly choked on Ji Xia’s words.

“Cough… cough… cough… cough…”

He was somewhat tempted.

It’s not easy to find such a gullible apprentice these days, not to mention he still had a main task of taking on an apprentice.

“Are you sure?” Jiang Feng looked at Ji Xia.

“I’m sure.”

“I can be your master, but what you need to do now is go upstairs to sleep, get some good rest,” Jiang Feng said.

“I…”

“What you just said by yourself, the apprentice’s board and lodging are at the master’s house, but right now there’s no room for you here in my house, and since that upstairs apartment is also rented by my family, it counts as my house too,” Jiang Feng said with a smile, “Wasn’t it you who said that whatever the master says, the apprentice must do? You just said you could do it all, right?”

Ji Xia hadn’t expected to dig herself into a hole and had no choice but to nod, “What about tomorrow?”

“Tomorrow, let your master take you shopping for clothes,” Wu Minqi chuckled as she watched the drama unfold, “and don’t forget to ask your master for pocket money during the New Year. You have to be cared for by your master before you finish your apprenticeship, and don’t be shy about spending his money.”

Jiang Feng: (;´༎ຶД༎ຶ`)

“Right, first thing tomorrow, I’ll take you shopping for clothes, and you need to get your hair cut. Having such long hair in the kitchen is very troublesome,” Jiang Feng said.

“Okay,” Ji Xia nodded.

“Then, you’ll just follow me in the kitchen, watch, learn, practice. Of course, apprentices don’t get paid, but you’ll get room and board and clothes, and pocket money during the New Year,” Jiang Feng revealed a capitalist’s smile.

“I know,” Ji Xia nodded, “I’m going upstairs now, Master.”

“Madam, I’ll be heading up,” Ji Xia said and then she left for upstairs.

“Little friend Ji Xia sure changed her way of addressing you pretty fast,” Jiang Feng rested his chin on his hand.

“Still little friend Ji Xia? Now she’s your apprentice,” Wu Minqi laughed, “Shouldn’t you tell Ji Yue about this in the group first, and then have her tell Ji Xue.”

Jiang Feng thought it made sense and pulled out his phone to start sending messages.

Jiang Feng: Got it sorted ［smart］

Beauty Ji: ［Surprised］

Beauty Ji: How did you manage it?

Jiang Feng: I took little friend Ji Xia as my apprentice.

Wu Minqi: ［Picture］

Wu Minqi: Just like this

Beauty Ji: ［Picture］

Beauty Ji: ???

Beauty Ji: ????

Beauty Ji: ???????

“`