The Game of Life

Contestants who advanced to the national top eight gathered backstage. Jiang Feng had just made an excuse to go to the bathroom and check his attribute panel. The hidden mission “Jiang Weiguo’s Pride” of defeating Sun Jikai was already complete; now, all that was left was to advance to the finals. The mission prompt still asked the player to make full use of resources around them, which was somewhat puzzling.

No matter how you look at it, this kind of mission seems to be encouraging him to cut corners, but what resources could he take advantage of? Maybe cook 60 meatbail dishes for Han Guishan and ask for a backdoor favor? That’s just too far-fetched!

Throughout the competition, everyone had been standing without much movement and didn’t go to the bathroom—aside from Jiang Feng, who pretended to, and those who genuinely needed to go. There were also those who sat down to rest and rehydrate at leisure. The staff gave everyone ten minutes to rest and adjust before announcing the rules of the next round. Once the last contestant, Zhang Xi, returned from the bathroom, the staff gathered everyone to announce the competition rules.

“From the top eight to the top four, our competition format will change to one-on-one. Shortly, please draw lots. Contestants drawing the same number will face each other in the same group. Each group will have a different theme: the first group is sweet and sour, the second sweet porridge, the third savory, the fourth spicy. Now, contestants can start drawing lots; the lottery box is on your right side, the red one.” The staff pointed to the red lottery box placed on a chair to the right.

One-on-one?

A bold idea suddenly popped into Jiang Feng’s mind. If he drew the same group as Ji Xue, could he offer her a guaranteed salary of thirty thousand a month to throw the match and withdraw?

It only took 20 seconds for Jiang Feng to sober up—he didn’t have the money. The lottery box was a bit worn, likely left over from a variety show on the provincial station, dusted off and reused for this occasion. Zhao Shan went first since he was at the far right, reaching in and drawing a red ball with the number 1 on it.

Wu Minqi followed closely behind and drew number 4.

Jiang Feng could only pray that he wouldn’t draw a 4 as well—spicy dishes were somewhat of a showdown for anyone facing Wu Minqi.

After Zhang Xi, who was in front of Jiang Feng, drew a 2, Jiang Feng also pulled out a red ball marked 2.

The two looked at each other.

“What a coincidence, you got number 2 as well,” Jiang Feng said with a sheepish grin.

“Yeah, looks like I’ll be eliminated,” Zhang Xi said to Jiang Feng with a smile. Jiang Feng:…

You didn’t even leave me any room to be modest, so I can’t follow up on that. “Not at all, I thought the mushroom chicken porridge you made was pretty good,” Jiang Feng said.

“I’m only slightly better at cooking porridge and soup.”

In fact, drawing sweet porridge was very advantageous for Zhang Xi. Her sense of taste and smell were frighteningly sensitive, but because of her physiological shortcomings and not having trained as hard as Wu Minqi, her knifework and stirring were quite poor. With her talent, if it hasn’t been for Jiang Feng, she had a good chance of winning in the sweet porridge round. Unfortunately, she met Jiang Feng, who seemed like a Red Chef but was secretly exceptional at cooking porridge.

In less than a minute, the grouping results were out: Zhang Guanghang with Zhao Shan in the first group, Jiang Feng and Zhang Xi in the second, Gu Li and Chu Peng in the third, and Wu Minqi with Ji Xue in the fourth. Instantly, all eyes turned to Wu Minqi and Ji Xue.

What a battlefield that group was!

Zhao Shan, who practically had no presence, looked utterly relieved, suddenly free from the weight of pursuing fame. Since he was going to lose anyway, why not lose with a bit more flair, freedom, or even with a pendulum swing from thirty years east of the river to thirty years west, losing in a way that would make him seem more like the protagonist?

But no one paid attention to Zhao Shan; everyone wanted to glean something from Wu Minqi and Ji Xue.

Even though both were deadpan and seemingly drawn swords and crossed blades in private, locked in a fierce struggle, their faces remained as calm as still water, courteous and amicable.

“We believe all contestants have now understood their groupings and themes for the next match. This match’s format is quite special. We will proceed according to the group sequence, with 40 minutes allowed for each group. Contestants must prepare the same dish, so we need all contestants to consult with each other and decide on the menu as soon as possible,” the staff sister said with a sweet smile, “The top eight to four matches will start promptly at 8 pm on April 11. Please ensure you arrive in the preparation room before 3 pm and inform us of the necessary ingredients before 9 pm on the 10th.”

“Does anyone have any questions?”

“Isn’t 40 minutes too short?”

“May I bring my own broth?”

“That… um…”

Adhering to his philosophy of go with the flow, everything’s fine, no problem, I can handle it, better slip away quietly, Jiang Feng was all set to leave.

“Jiang Feng.” Zhang Xi suddenly called out to him, “Can we make Eight Treasures Porridge?”

“Make Eight Treasures Porridge?” Jiang Feng was actually indifferent about what kind of porridge to make since he had prepared pretty much every common variety last summer for Chen Xiuxiu. There wasn’t one he couldn’t make.

“Yes, Eight Treasures Porridge,” Zhang Xi said, “The nth is my mother’s birthday, and she loves Eight Treasures Porridge. Even if I lose, I still want to make her favorite.”

“Your mom’s birthday is quite close to mine; I’m born on the 16th,” Jiang Feng said with a smile.

Wu Minqi, who was about to leave after exchanging WeChat contacts with Ji Xue, stopped in her tracks at Jiang Feng’s words and asked, “Your birthday is April 16?”

“Yeah, but at this age, I don’t celebrate it much anymore. Usually, my dad just cooks me a bowl of noodles with pork knuckle and adds a couple of eggs in the morning,” Jiang Feng shared.

Zhang Xi: ???

Noodles with pork knuckle?

“And you?” Jiang Feng asked.

“October eighth,” Wu Minqi said, telling a feeble joke, “The school never takes a break.”

As Jiang Feng and Wu Minqi walked out together, he asked her, “Have you and Ji Xue decided on the dish yet?”

“Not yet, she basically can’t cook spicy food, we will discuss it again tomorrow,” Wu Minqi said.

Jiang Jiankang, Wang Xiulian, Jiang Weiguo, and Jiang Weiming were waiting at the door for Jiang Feng, the rest had already gone back. There was no group dinner arranged for today, and the sisters Jiang Junqing and Jiang Junlian left feeling somewhat disappointed.

“Mom!” Wu Minqi called out to a well-maintained middle-aged woman wearing a red coat standing not far from a trash bin.

“Qjqi.” Wu Minqi’s mother smiled and walked over. Upon seeing Jiang Feng, she said, “Hello, I’m Wu Minqi’s mother, you must be Jiang Feng; I always hear Qiqi mention you.”

“Okay, mom, it’s late, let’s go,” Wu Minqi said.

“Goodbye, auntie,” Jiang Feng said.

“Goodbye,” Wu Minqi’s mother said with a smile, then turned to Wu Minqi and remarked, “Your classmate is quite polite and good-looking too, does he have a girlfriend?”

“You say that about everyone you see.”

Jiang Feng:…

Mrs. Wu says the nicest things!

Jiang Feng headed over to Jiang Jiankang and the others.

“Son, what’s the next competition about?” Jiang Jiankang asked.

“Eight Treasure Porridge,” Jiang Feng said.

“Compete well,” Jiang Jiankang patted Jiang Feng’s shoulder and whispered into his ear, “Have you noticed anything odd about your grandfather?”

Jiang Feng looked at Jiang Weiguo.

He did seem a bit odd.

That puzzled and perplexed expression was almost identical to the one he had when he used to watch the annual family ethics melodramas with Mrs. Jiang. “What did grandpa do?” Jiang Feng asked in a low voice.

“He didn’t do anything. He just came out of the bathroom looking like that,” Jiang Jiankang was also puzzled.

Jiang Feng: …

Could it be… that the provincial station’s bathroom has a TV?

Jiang Zaidi left behind his seven-seater business van he bought last October in the parking lot so Jiang Jiankang could drive home. Jiang Jiankang first dropped off the two old gentlemen at Jiang Jianguo’s place, then headed back to the Healthy Stir-fry Restaurant. The round trip took quite a detour, and by the time Jiang Feng got to the school it was already past eleven o’clock.

As usual, he climbed in through the balcony on the first floor. Wang Hao wasn’t asleep yet, and after quickly washing up, Jiang Feng went to bed. He was exhausted from a busy day and his nerves had been on edge during the competition; Jiang Feng felt as if he could fall asleep the moment he closed his eyes.

Wang Hao was watching a detective drama with tense and thrilling scenes, the volume on loudspeaker.

“Hey, at twenty, I’m so sleepy,” Jiang Feng hinted strongly.

“Midlife crisis?” Wang Hao picked up on the comment.

Jiang Feng: ???

After a while, it was half past eleven, and Wang Hao said, “Feng, just let out a squeak if you want to sleep.”

“Squeak.”

“Hey, what did you just say? I didn’t hear it.”

“Squeak squeak squeak squeak squeak squeak squeak!”

“Oh my goodness, Feng, there’s a mouse in the dorm!”

Jiang Feng silently got out of bed.

“Hey, Feng, why did you get out of bed?” Wang Hao glanced back at him and continued watching his show.

Jiang Feng silently took out a rolling pin from the drawer.

“Can’t sleep now, beating someone up is more important.”

“Dog Thief Watch the Stick!”