The Game of Life

After the last table of customers had left the restaurant, Jiang Jiankang spent another half hour bustling in the kitchen, finally finishing the last dish.

Looking at the table set with seven dishes and one soup of Huaiyang cuisine, Jiang Feng nearly wondered if Jiang Jiankang had poured all his lifetimes knowledge into todays preparation.

Yangzhou fried rice, three-set duck, clear-braised crabmeat lions head, Wensi tofu, pine nuts with corn, stir-fried mushrooms with greens, sauted shrimp, and mushroom soup.

Reading the clues, Jiang Feng could tell that the Yangzhou fried rice was too oily, the fire control for the crystal pork wasnt quite there, the Wensi tofu excelled, the pine nuts with corn were too bland, and Mrs. Wang Xiulian had surely skimped by buying not-so-fresh corn.

For Mr. Jiang Jiankang, who wasnt very skilled in Huaiyang cuisine, this meal was yet another milestone in his culinary journey!

Ji Yue was dumbfounded by the abundant spread of dishes.

Jiang Feng, you never told me your familys three meals a day were this lavish! Ji Yue said, her voice trembling as she observed the feast.

Such great meals, I wouldnt trade them for a monthly salary of ten thousand!

Eh, why are there two soups? Zhao Yu pointed at the Wensi tofu and asked, Why chop the tofu so finely for tofu soup?

Big brother, this is Wensi tofu! Liu Zixuan said, frustrated with his ignorance.

But indeed, Mr. Jiang Jiankangs unrestrained plating did make the Wensi tofu resemble more of a tofu soup.

Come, come, sit down to eat, Mr. Jiang Jiankang called out, warmly inviting Ji Yue, The Huaiyang dishes I make arent that authentic either, showing off in front of a master. Come on, try this Wensi tofu, and let me know if its authentic or not.

Authentic, definitely authentic. Ji Yue nodded repeatedly. She had never seen authentic Wensi tofu before, but with the tofu as fine as silk, if this wasnt authentic, she couldnt imagine what true Wensi tofu would be like.

Try this three-set duck as well. Although it doesnt have Gaoyou sesame duck or wild duck, I made it with rich broth, so the taste shouldnt be too far off, Mr. Jiang Jiankang continued.

Delicious, delicious! Ji Yue hadnt tasted three-set duck before.

The lions head is delicious, Uncle Jiang! Liu Zixuan gave his generous praise without hesitation.

Of course! Mr. Jiang Jiankang was immensely proud, Although the crabs arent plump right now, theyre still okay to make do with. Ill cook it for you again when the hairy crabs are in season in a couple of months. Today, Ji Yue has to put up with this inferior dish.

Very tasty, very tasty! Ji Yue nodded and smiled almost mechanically.

Since when did lions head require the use of crab

After a hearty meal and wine, Ji Yue efficiently cleaned up the dishes, wiped down the table, and sanitized the place, while Mr. Jiang Jiankang and Mrs. Wang Xiulian went to do the accounting and also plan tomorrows drinks. Those who didnt feel like returning to the dorm stayed back in the store to help out, meanwhile, indulging in some boasting.

Ah, I almost chose a university in the Huaiyang area when I was filling out my college preferences, Zhao Yu reminisced, smacking his lips as if savoring the meal he just had.

Yeah, I didnt realize that within our vast China the differences between dishes could be so substantial. Why doesnt our region have any uniquely delicious specialty dishes? Wang Hao agreed wholeheartedly.

Ji Yue:

I think you guys might have some misunderstandings about my hometown. Ive also eaten many of these dishes for the first time.

Not wanting to shatter her juniors aspirations for a good life, Ji Yue decided to keep this secret buried in her heart.

After closing the shop, everyone headed back to their dorms. Jiang Feng had a full schedule the next day, not finishing class until twelve. When he returned to the dorm, he looked at tomorrows textbooks intending to be a good student. After a glance and failing to grasp the material, he joyfully closed the books and climbed into bed to play with his phone.

Five minutes before sleep, immense joy was like being in heaven.

The next day, having gleefully devoured four custard buns on the way to class, he discovered that the first thing everyone asked upon meeting was Did you eat yesterday?

What, is this some new internet catchphrase?

Feng! Qian Tang burst over to Jiang Feng as soon as he saw him, Save the child, please!

The expression on a students face when asking the teacher to outline the exam scope couldnt be more vivid.

Whawhats wrong? Jiang Feng was startled.

We have five classes today, Feng! Qian Tangs face was etched with sorrow, Theres no chance to grab a seat for meals!

Jiang Feng wondered internally why it was his problem that the canteen was too crowded to find a seat, as he couldnt find one either.

Order takeout! Thats what everyone did last year, just place an order after the fourth period and specify a delivery time.

Feng, doesnt your family do takeout? I checked all the delivery apps, and couldnt find your place, Jiang Feng thought Qian Tangs acting skills were lacking. If it were his uncle here, there would already be two lines of tears streaming down his cheeks.

Oh, that, well start doing it in a few days. Wait until I set up a WeChat official account, then you can order takeout through it, Jiang Feng said, and a few other people gathered around immediately.

Feng, how many more days until we can order takeout?

Feng, save us chubbies!

Feng, does your restaurant charge for the containers in the takeout?

Feng

As the teacher walked in, he noticed everyone enthusiastically calling Jiang Feng Feng. Originally, Wang Hao had coined the nickname just to coerce Jiang Feng into making extra pork rib rice, but now everyone had picked it up, and no one called him by his real name anymore.

Whoa, Jiang Feng got an upgrade to Feng after just one summer vacation. Come on, Feng, did you do the prep work? Ive got a question for you, Mr. Wang had taught Jiang Fengs class last semester and was a youthful teacher who enjoyed joking around.

Jiang Feng:

Looking at a line of formulae on the blackboard, Jiang Feng felt the systems assessment of him was spot-on; his physics was indeed at a high school level. He couldnt even read the formulae written there.

Mr. Wang continued to write until half the blackboard was filled.

The whole class stared at each other, dumbfounded.

Teacher, youve changed. You used to start every class by talking for five minutes about the love-hate story between Edison and Tesla.

Jiang Feng quietly bowed his head and opened his attributes panel, allocating experience points to physics, upgrading it from beginner to intermediate.

Physics (Intermediate): You can master most of the physics knowledge at the undergraduate level.

When he looked up again, the previously incomprehensible formulae suddenly made sense, and he instinctively knew what they were and how they could be applied to various types of problems.

Feng, what were you just tapping on the table? Wang Hao asked.

I was opening the game panel to upgrade my skills, Jiang Feng said.

Haha, Feng, youre really funny.

Come on, Feng, tell me what these eight formulas are about? Mr. Wang circled the eight equations on the left.

Theyre all Maxwells equations, Jiang Feng said.

Not bad, you still remember some of last years electromagnetism content. Okay, Li Bin, tell me what these three equations over here are about?

We learned Maxwells equations in electromagnetism? Wang Hao looked utterly perplexed, his attributes as a slacker exposed beyond doubt.

Maybe, Jiang Feng said with an expressionless face.

If only I had known, I wouldve gone to New East.

At least then I wouldve had an equal footing with Lanxiang.