The Game of Life

After a busy noon, everyone was pretty tired, except for the three old gentlemen.

Jiang Weiguo immediately started comparing his skills with Sun Guanyun in the kitchen, while Jiang Weiming enjoyed watching the fun, happily munching on melon seeds. The battle of the immortals was a boon for the diners, even the lunch menu was exceptionally rich.

Liu Zixuan and Wang Hao ate with greasy mouths, spouting praises as if they didn’t cost a dime.

“Weren’t you two just ‘gugu-ing’?” Ji Yue complained.

“What ‘gugu-ing’? It’s just a greeting, a way of saying hello,” Wang Hao said with a straight face, his expression serious, making it seem as though that was truly the case.

“Heh,” Ji Yue scoffed as she picked up another steamed garlic prawn with vermicelli, also grabbing a chopstick full of sauce-soaked vermicelli.

This dish was one of Sun Guanyun’s specialties. First of all, the presentation was beautiful. The prawns weren’t butterflied, decapitated, and similarly sized, plump ones were arranged into a hollow circle over a layer of vermicelli, the width of which matched the prawns’ color. Underneath the small inner circle, there was a layer of minced garlic, topped with shredded spring onions in a vibrant green, creating the shape of an empty bird’s nest.

The essence lay in the vermicelli at the bottom, which had absorbed all the savory juices from the steaming prawn, the aromatic garlic, and the rich sauce. Since vermicelli absorbs flavor well, the tastier it is, the better. Consequently, as the vermicelli soaked up much of the sauce, the prawns retained their original freshness and sweetness, with just a hint of the sauce’s flavor, making it a dish both those who favor bold and those who prefer light flavors could enjoy.

If the prawns weren’t flavorful enough for someone, there was a dipping sauce dish on the table.

“The vermicelli is really delicious today, especially the bottom layer, it’s just superb,” Wang Hao also picked up some vermicelli with his chopsticks and praised.

Sun Guanyun immediately showed a proud smile.

Jiang Feng, seeing the situation turning south, hastily flattered Jiang Weiguo.

“The braised prawns are also tasty today, so flavorful, they’re super delicious!” he exclaimed exaggeratedly.

Wang Hao caught the hint from Jiang Feng’s glance and began to praise the braised prawns as well, “Yeah, yeah, the braised prawns are tasty too.”

Jiang Weiguo’s proud smile returned.

Today, the two old gentlemen were really at it. Sun Guanyun made steamed garlic prawns with vermicelli, pork rib with garlic and fish-flavored eggplant pot, while Jiang Weiguo prepared braised prawns, sweet and sour ribs, and fish-flavored eggplant strips.

Being full leads to drowsiness, and since the afternoon was indeed exhausting, Wang Hao, with no classes, went back to the dorm to nap. Liu Zixuan had to go to class feeling tired and miserable. Jiang Jiankang and Wang Xiulian also went upstairs to sleep, and Ji Yue, not bothering to return to her rented room, went to find a comfortable chair on the second floor to sleep on.

With everyone off to sleep, Jiang Feng sat quietly waiting for directions from the three old men, with Jiang Weiguo being the first to unleash his taunting skills.

“Sun Guanyun, stop being stubborn and just admit defeat,” he said.

“We haven’t even asked yet, don’t start feeling smug too early,” Sun Guanyun retorted.

As Jiang Feng wondered what the old gentlemen had bet on, Jiang Weiming, attempting to stay neutral but with a slight bias, finally spoke up, “Feng, what do you think is the most suitable sauce for boiled shrimp?”

All three old men stared intently at Jiang Feng.

Jiang Feng was a bit nervous. Wasn’t this a practical lesson? How had it turned into a culture lesson all of a sudden without any notice?

“Just, just, just because it tastes good, it’s suitable, I guess?” Jiang Feng was not too sure.

“Oh? How so?” Jiang Weiming’s eyes lit up.

“Yesterday, Sir Sun had me tailor different sauces to each person’s taste. Today, I prepared the sauces first and then divided them according to each person’s taste. There were many differences, yet the feedback I received was almost the same,” Jiang Feng said, and then he laughed, “Aside from the absolute dislikes, there’s really., nothing much to pick on.”

“There’s no such thing as not liking or liking something. There’s only whether it tastes good or not. Many people think they dislike something not because they truly do; tastes change. Except for the rare few who genuinely detest something, most of the time they just haven’t had the chance to try something made to their liking. When we cook, we need to consider the customers’ tastes, but more importantly, we should focus on what we’re best at,” Jiang Feng thought for a moment and then added, “After all, it’s hard to please everyone.”

Sun Guanyun laughed, expressing his admiration, “Jiang Weiguo, you are not wrong. Your grandson has good understanding.”

“My father used to take apprentices not by talent but made those who wanted to learn do the same sauce exercise you’ve been doing these past two days, asked them the same questions.” Sun Guanyun smiled self-deprecatingly, “Your grandfather gave a better answer than what you just said, which is why, even though he was unwilling to apprentice, my father still passed the recipe for Buddhas Jumping Over the Wall to him. It’s a common saying that it’s hard to please everyone, but how many people can really do it?”

“Who can really ignore others’ opinions, yet who can truly win everyone’s praise? Haven’t I lost my whole life because it’s hard to please everyone?”

“You call me stubborn, but who’s more stubborn than you? Wasting over a decade because of a moment’s anger, did you win? Pouring over ten years into a dish, wasting so many years, did you really win? Look at yourself. You’ve only been fighting with Sun Maochai over that one dish; did you manage to beat him? You might be better at that one dish, but he is recognized as the Cantonese cuisine master, not you. Over the years, you haven’t successfully taught your son, and when it comes to teaching disciples, always holding back. If not for your eldest grandson having some talent, were you really planning on letting your master’s legacy end with you?” Jiang Weiguo rebuked.

“I didn’t accept you, sodon’t try to bargain with me by calling me ‘master’.” Sun Guanyun replied irritably, “I lost the bet and wasted over a decade; even so, isn’t it your grandson who benefits now?”

“Ding.”

Jiang Feng: ?

What kind of crap game is this, always faking a shutdown? Dare to finish updating!

“It’s my grandson’s destiny with this dish,” said Jiang Weiguo.

“Pfft, whether I’m willing to teach also depends on whether he is capable of learning. Do you think just anyone can learn the dish I’ve been perfecting for over a dozen years? I’ll only teach for one week; whether or not he can learn is up to his fate,” Sun Guanyun declared, then looked at Jiang Feng, “Feng, I’ll teach for just seven days with no secrets held back. It’s up to you how much you can learn.”

“Let’s stop here for today, Feng. I’ll bring the ingredients over tomorrow.” Saying that, Sun Guanyun left alone.

Jiang Feng actually didn’t understand anything and tentatively looked at Jiang Weiguo, asking, “Grandpa, Sir Sun will only teach for seven days, but what will he teach?”

“The Eight Treasures Chestnut Fragrant Pigeon, his true mastery,” Jiang Weiguo said solemnly. “This old man never lies. When he says no secrets will be held back, he means it. You learn well; whatever you can learn is beneficial.”

Jiang Feng nodded, not fully grasping but impressed nonetheless.

*Parallel world, purely fictional, do not take it too seriously, thank you for your cooperation!

Eight Treasures Chestnut Fragrant Pigeon = Treasure Chestnut Fragrant Pigeon, if interested, you can go on Baidu, but in the end, the recipes will all be my own creation.