The Game of Life

Chapter 77 - 76: Reminiscing (3rd Update!)

“My grandfather has had a good life over the years; he escaped to Magic City by boat back in the day and, after a series of turns, ended up in Zet City working as a cook for a local wealthy family. After the liberation, he became a chef at a state-owned restaurant, and now he and my grandma have settled in Zet City. Grandpa married late, so my uncles are all around their forties and fifties.” “My eldest uncle, Jiang Jianguo, is a tailor and has a small tailor shop in Alan City; his son, my cousin Jiang Zaidi, is a designer. My second uncle, Jiang Jiandang, owns a pharmacy and is planning to move the store to Alan City; his son, my second cousin Jiang Shoucheng, is studying for his master’s at Metro Medical School. My dad is the third child, named Jiang Jiankang, and he opened a stir-fry pot next door to UAL University. My fourth uncle, Jiang Jianye, and my fifth uncle, Jiang Jianshe, co-own a pet store in Alan City. My fourth uncle’s son, Jiang Ran, is my third cousin and is studying in Magic City. My fifth uncle has twin daughters, Jiang Junlian and Jiang Junqing, who are still in junior high school.” Jiang Feng briefly introduced to Jiang Weiming the current situation of their family.

“Good, good,” Jiang Weiming nodded repeatedly, “the five brothers are all in one place, they can help each other, good, that’s really good.

“How’s your grandma holding up?” Jiang Weiming asked with concern.

“My grandma is very healthy; she never gets sick all year round and can still play cards and dance in the square with the old ladies in the village,” Jiang Feng said.

“Good, good,” Jiang Weiming smiled, his eyes unconsciously brimming with tears, “Your Granduncle Weiming’s wife didn’t make it, she fell outside seven years ago and did not pull through, passed away.”

Jiang Feng didn’t know how to respond.

He hadn’t expected such a heavy topic during last night’s rehearsal.

Just at that moment, the Dragon Dumplings were ready, and the server brought over a bowl of Dragon Dumplings to ease the awkwardness.

“Feng, come on, eat the dumplings,” Jiang Weiming beckoned.

This bowl of Dragon Dumplings was different from the ones Jiang Feng had at that popular online store before; they were smaller in size but had thinner skin. Even with two layers, Jiang Feng could see the color of the meat inside, which could be considered as thin as paper and as fine as silk. Not a single dumpling skin in the bowl was broken during boiling, a testament to the maker’s skill in rolling out the dough.

The ingredients were simple: a spoonful of specially made chili oil, a few chopped green onions, and cilantro, stirring it up so you could still faintly see the original milky white soup. The chili oil was fragrant, giving the dumplings a layer of red color.

It was still a bit hot from the pot, so Jiang Feng carefully bit off half.

The meat was fresh pork leg, finely minced, and also mixed with eggs to make it tender and juicy. The dumpling skin also contained egg liquid, and one could feel its smooth and delicate texture at the first touch of the tongue.

It was, however, a bit spicy.

The soup was a rich broth, thick and fragrant. Jiang Feng felt that this bowl of Dragon Dumplings could actually do without the chili oil; adding it introduced more fragrance and spice, but it also increased the pain for someone like him who wasn’t good at handling spicy foods.

Suddenly, Jiang Feng felt a tickle in his throat.

After coughing twice, the chili oil had gone down the wrong way.

Now the situation turned serious, as Jiang Feng immediately had tears streaming down his face and couldn’t stop coughing as if he was about to cough out his lungs.

“What’s wrong, is it too spicy? Water, here, drink some water!” Jiang Weiming panicked as well, like a good-hearted kid who had just messed up, fumbling as he poured water for Jiang Feng, accidentally spilling some on his sleeve.

“It’s okay, it’s okay, I just choked,” Jiang Feng reassured the somewhat flustered Jiang Weiming as he took off his down jacket and wiped the water off his sleeve with a paper towel.

On his right wrist, he still had a scar from a recent bum from oil-a chef with knife and burn scars was quite normal, except this scar was a bit large and new, visible even from a distance.

■’Feng, what’s that on your hand…” Jiang Weiming also noticed the scar. “It’s just a burn from cooking a while back; it will fade in time, no worries.” Jiang Feng casually wiped his hands dry, pulled down his sleeves, and put on his down jacket. “When I don’t have classes, I help out at our family shop at home. All three of my male cousins and I had to go learn cooking from Grandpa when we were kids. I’ve been learning the longest and am still learning.”

“That’s good, very good.” Jiang Weiming’s affirmation now held more genuine feeling and a touch of pride. “Little brother, you’re stronger than me, keeping the family techniques alive. Unlike me, alas.”

“Granduncle Weiming, I married early; your eldest male cousin is already over sixty. None of my two sons and two daughters carried on my skills, and the younger generation isn’t willing to learn either. Back when I was at the state-owned restaurant, I did take on an apprentice, but he wasn’t gifted, and he’s long since retired, enjoying his leisure at home.” Jiang Weiming’s face showed regret. “I thought the Jiang Family Dishes were going to end with me, but I didn’t expect… little brother, you’re stronger than me, so much stronger! Jiang Feng felt awkward to mention that if not for accidentally becoming a gamer, he would have abandoned cooking long ago.

“Granduncle, are my eldest male cousin and my female cousins also in Shu?” Jiang Feng asked.

“Both your female cousins married and moved away! One to the south, one to the north, they’re all getting on in years; it’s good if we can see each other once a year. Your eldest male cousin is in Shu, but not in the provincial capital, he lives in Kolton City. Your second male cousin is in Magic City, and the younger ones are scattered all over. Your eldest male cousin wanted to take me over there, but I’ve been here for so many years, I wouldn’t get used to Kolton City, so he comes to visit me now and then. I’m good on my own, wouldn’t want to disturb them,” Jiang Weiming explained.

Listening, Jiang Feng couldn’t help but feel a touch of heartache. “By the way, Feng, where did you see my photo?” Jiang Weiming asked. “I saw it at Mr. Han Guishan’s house,” Jiang Feng replied.

“Jingjing, ah, we only took one group photo together, right before she insisted on marrying that Han fellow and quit her job at our state-owned restaurant. I didn’t expect she’d kept it,” Jiang Weiming said with a laugh. “Fate, really, it’s fate.”

Jiang Feng breathed a sigh of relief; he nearly forgot that photos were expensive in the past and people rarely took them. Thankfully, there really was a group photo, otherwise he would have been exposed.

“Feng, does your grandpa know…”

“My grandpa doesn’t know I came to find you. I wasn’t sure at first and didn t want to get his hopes up for nothing, so I just…” Jiang Feng explained.

“Good lad, such a good lad,” Jiang Weiming couldn’t stop marveling. Noticing the Dragon Dumplings were no longer steaming hot, he hurriedly added, “Feng, eat the dumplings first, they taste better hot!”

The old and the young continued their question-and-answer, with Jiang Weiming asking and Jiang Feng answering everything he knew. Jiang Weiming was happy to hear anything, delighting in whatever story Jiang Feng shared.

He had parted from Jiang Weiguo when he was but a child, and after the lengthy passage of time, his memories of Jiang Weiguo were very limited. Now, listening to Jiang Feng’s stories, Jiang Weiming felt as if he were recalling his younger brother’s childhood appearance, remembering their seven brothers, recalling Jiang Chengde, and even his younger aunt, Jiang Huiqin. Those were his most beautiful memories of youth and the most beautiful of his life.

The two of them spent the whole morning chatting in the small shop.

Jiang Feng thought it was about time to wrap things up. He had said nearly everything he had prepared last night, and now it was time to reveal the most significant news.

“Um, Granduncle, do you still remember Jiang Huiqin?” Jiang Feng ventured.