The Game of Life

The sauce looked thick, but when poured over the sea cucumber, it flowed smoothly like a waterfall.

Jiang Feng was stunned.

Watching Cao Guixiang’s movements, he thought of the Eight Treasures Chestnut Fragrant Pigeon.

The sauce for Sun Guanyun’s dish was also made from broth. Although it seemed different from Cao Guixiang’s method, the result was similarly ingenious.

The Braised Big Black Sea Cucumber was ready.

Jiang Feng estimated the sea cucumber on the plate was about a foot long. It was a reddish-brown color from the sauce, unlike sashimi with its sharp spines, and was smooth all over with black stripes on its skin. Combined with its large size, it looked quite impressive and dignified, befitting the main dish of a banquet.

“Chiyuan, Shao… Shao, little buddy, time to eat!” Zhang Chu brought the Braised Big Black Sea Cucumber to the table.

There were three dishes on the table: Braised Big Black Sea Cucumber, bi-color prawns, and steamed bass. For Jiang Feng during his junior year, these would all qualify as a sumptuous feast, let alone for Zhang Chiyuan during his. Zhang Chiyuan’s eyes were fixated on the dishes.

“Dad, have you struck it rich, or did you win the lottery? Why are we eating so well today?” Zhang Chiyuan felt he might be on the way to becoming a second- generation rich kid. His dad must have won a massive lottery to afford all these delicacies.

“After this meal, our family will be broke. This table of dishes has cost your father more than two months’ salary. From now on, we’ll be eating vegetarian every day. If you fail to get into high school, you’ll be eating vegetarian forever, not even fatty intestines for you.” Zhang Chu went to serve rice while seeing Cao Guixiang was still busy in the kitchen, he said, “Honey, haven’t you finished cooking? Leave the chicken and ham for later, let’s eat first. The prawns will get cold.”

“I don’t like prawns, you and Chiyuan go ahead. There was some of that sauce left, so I fried it with the rest.” Cao Guixiang said.

Zhang Chu placed four bowls of rice on the table, taking three pairs of chopsticks and a spoon, only giving Shao, Shao, little buddy, half a bowl of rice because he was still a child.

“You start with the prawns and give one to Shao, Shao, as well. Wait for your mom to join us before eating the rice,” Zhang Chu instructed, “Don’t eat them all, leave some foryour sister.”

“Don’t worry, I know my limits.” Zhang Chiyuan had already started eating.

The bi-color prawns were also a signature dish of Tan Family Cuisine. Each prawn was served in two ways: the heads were bright red, and the bodies were golden yellow. Zhang Chiyuan enjoyed them immensely, crunch-crunch, leaving an aromatic aftertaste.

After eating two prawns, Zhang Chiyuan remembered Shao, Shao.

Shao just stood beside watching the dishes on the table, not moving to use chopsticks or hands, just staring intently at the Braised Big Black Sea Cucumber and the bi-color prawns.

“It’s okay if you can’t use chopsticks, just grab with your hands, we’re not formal here,” Zhang Chiyuan said.

Shao still didn’t move.

“Don’t you like prawns? How come you’re like my mom? They’re so delicious, especially the bi-color prawns my mom makes, crispy and fragrant, with added pork fat and water chestnuts, simply delectable,” Zhang Chiyuan began to praise Cao Guixiang’s cooking. “The versions at restaurants outside aren’t nearly as good as the ones my mom makes!”

Shao still didn’t move.

“Nevermind, just eat the bass and the Braised Big Black Sea Cucumber later. My mom has made the Braised Big Black Sea Cucumber only twice before, once for my tenth birthday and another time for my sister’s birthday. The taste is so delicate and tender, you can’t imagine. You’ve never had such delicious food,” Shao might have been silent, but this didn’t stop Zhang Chiyuan from talking.

“Big…” Shao looked at the Braised Big Black Sea Cucumber.

“What big? It’s Braised Big Black Sea Cucumber,” Zhang Chiyuan corrected.

“Large Dendrobium,” Shao said.

“Braised Big Black Sea Cucumber,” Zhang Chiyuan insisted.

“Large Dendrobium,” Shao repeated.

“Forget it, forget it, it’s good enough, Large Dendrobium is just fine. Mom, what are you stir-frying? It smells so good.” Zhang Chiyuan began to dart toward the kitchen.

“Get out, get out, everything is cooked now, what are you doing in here? Ham and Yun Chicken, with so many dishes this afternoon you definitely won’t eat this one, hurry up and go eat, or all the food will get cold.” Cao Guixiang came out with the Ham and Yun Chicken, which also included dried scallops mixed in.

Jiang Feng, who had witnessed the entire cooking process of the Yun Chicken, thought that it might not be a coincidence that Cao Guixiang could casually cook an A-grade dish like Yun Chicken, as the middle-aged version of Cao Guixiang was already very good at randomly cooking dishes. Chicken, ham, dried scallops, and the remaining thick sauce — such a strange combination made the Ham and Yun Chicken smell so enticing that even Jiang Feng wanted to drool.

It wasn’t just Jiang Feng who wanted to drool, Zhang Chiyuan also found Cao Guixiang’s Ham and Yun Chicken very tempting.

“Mom, this Ham and Yun Chicken smells really good, let me taste a piece!” Zhang Chiyuan followed Cao Guixiang back to the dining table, impatiently picking up a piece of chicken meat.

“Mmm, delicious!” Zhang Chiyuan exclaimed with an exaggerated expression.

“Always thinking about eating, has Shao had any?” Cao Guixiang also used Zhang Chu’s way of calling Xue Shaoheng, calling him Shao.

“I told him to eat, but he didn’t. I guess he doesn’t like shrimp,” Zhang Chiyuan said.

Everyone sat down and started to eat.

Xue Shaoheng just played with his rice with a spoon the whole time, not eating any of the dishes. Whenever Cao Guixiang tried to give him some food, he quietly moved his bowl to the side, not accepting.

“How come this child only eats rice and not the dishes?” Cao Guixiang wondered.

“Could it be that he’s too shy? Or is he afraid of strangers?” Zhang Chu guessed.

“Maybe he can’t eat it. I heard from my classmate that some people can’t eat vegetables; they would die if they did!” Zhang Chiyuan began to believe and spread rumors.

“What nonsense are you talking about? I’ve only heard of people starving to death, never of anyone dying from eating vegetables. Instead of studying properly, you listen to other people’s nonsense all day long.” Cao Guixiang took out a handkerchief from the cupboard, wrapped a few shrimps in it, and stuffed the handkerchief into Xue Shaoheng’s pocket.

“Your father might be right, it looks like the kid is just shy.” Cao Guixiang said.

Zhang Chiyuan didn’t pay attention, grabbing a chopstick full of Braised Big Black Sea Cucumber: “Mom, I think the Braised Big Black Sea Cucumber this time isn’t as good as the last time.”

“The sea cucumber was bought by your father; he didn’t pick a good one, go talk to him,” Cao Guixiang started to shift the blame, “You should eat more sea cucumber, I made it especially for you. Sea cucumber is nutritious, you’re about to take your middle school exams, eat more to nourish your brain, score a few more points.”

“Mom, it’s walnuts that nourish the brain.”

“Then go eat walnuts.”

In the midst of laughter and joking, the Zhang family finished their lunch. Throughout the meal, Xue Shaoheng had only eaten white rice and had not tried a single dish.

After the meal, Zhang Chu went to wash the dishes, planning to take Xue Shaoheng to the nearby police station afterwards. Cao Guixiang saw the art homework that Zhang Chiyuan had casually thrown on the table, picked it up, and saw a sheet of paper with a poorly drawn deformed cup.

Seeing Cao Guixiang’s disdainful face, Zhang Chiyuan defended himself unconvincingly, “My drawing is already very good, ordinary people can’t draw like this.”

“Yeah right, any random kid can drawbetter than you,” Cao Guixiang didn’t believe Zhang Chiyuan’s nonsense.

“That’s nonsense, Shao, you draw,” Zhang Chiyuan pushed the pencil toward Xue Shaoheng.

Xue Shaoheng looked at the drawing paper on the table.

Cao Guixiang smiled helplessly.

Xue Shaoheng picked up the pencil and drew a stroke on the paper.

Two strokes, three strokes.

The lines were straight and smooth, with not a hint of hesitation. Cao Guixiang and Zhang Chiyuan paid little mind, but Jiang Feng watched with wide eyes.

Every engineering student who has ever learned mechanical drafting knows how difficult manual drawing is.

No matter how you measure with the set square or draw with the compass, errors are inevitable. The final strokes never connect, one mistake leads to another, and a single plane drawing can take an entire day, only to find it’s full of errors.

Please start over, young hero.

The teacup that Xue Shaoheng was now drawing appeared to Jiang Feng to be an unconventional three-view drawing.

To the naked eye, it practically looked like a 1:1 replica. Whatever was placed on the table, he replicated on paper: the same size, the same design, the same pattern.

It was nothing short of divine.

Cao Guixiang and Zhang Chiyuan didn’t realize how special Xue Shaoheng’s drawing was, they were just admiring it as he drew.

“It really does look like it,” exclaimed Cao Guixiang in admiration.

Zhang Chiyuan was at a loss for words.

“What looks so real?” Zhang Chu came out of the kitchen, washing dishes.

“Come take a look, this drawing, it’s exactly like our family’s teacup!” Cao Guixiang called Zhang Chu over to behold the prodigy.

Zhang Chu leaned in for a closer look and was stunned: “It really does, it’s exactly the same. This kid could become a painter in the future!”

A teacup wasn’t too complicated, and Xue Shaoheng had finished drawing and put his pen down.

“Shao, how about Uncle takes you to find your mom and dad to take you home?” Zhang Chu took Xue Shaoheng by the hand.

“Home,” Xue Shaoheng murmured, walking towards the door, trying to open it.

“Home.”

Xue Shaoheng wanted to go home; otherwise, his sister would be worried sick.

Zhang Chu looked at Xue Shaoheng with some confusion, boldly guessing, “Does he remember the way home?”

“Home.”

“Sister.”

“Home.”

Xue Shaoheng became a bit agitated; the door at Zhang Chu’s place was different from his, and he couldn’t open it.

“It seems he really does. You, always acting without thinking, now you’ve brought someone else’s child back home and soon his parents will be frantic.” Cao Guixiang stood up from the couch abruptly, saying, “Stay at home, you’re really unreliable. I’ll follow him.”

Zhang Chu was aware of his own unreliability, “Then be careful. If he can’t find the way, take him to the police station up front.”

“Like I need you to tell me that.” Cao Guixiang opened the door and led Xue Shaoheng outside.

Following Cao Guixiang’s lead, Xue Shaoheng started walking towards his own home, first returning to the park, then through it towards his house.

Cao Guixiang walked with Xue Shaoheng all the way to the bottom of his apartment building. Aunt Liu, who lived across from Xue Shaoheng, was downstairs and upon seeing him, she called out loudly, “Xue Hua, Xue Hua, stop searching and no need to go to the police station, your brother has come back.”

“Do you know this child?” Cao Guixiang asked.

“Yes, he lives right across from my place,” said Aunt Liu. “Was it you who…”

“Shaoheng, Shaoheng!” Before Aunt Liu could finish speaking, Xue Hua’s shriek echoed from upstairs.

Seeing that Xue Shaoheng had indeed made it home and his family had come down, Cao Guixiang left with peace of mind.

Xue Hua rushed downstairs, her household registration book in hand, and upon seeing Xue Shaoheng, she was both joyful and angry, wanting to scold him but at a loss for words.

“Where did you run off to? Didn’t I tell you not to wander off? It’s very dangerous outside!” Xue Hua was almost in tears.

“Now thatyou’re back, it’s all good. Shaoheng, there’s no point in scoldingyou. A kind-hearted person just brought you back, from…. Eh, where did she go? Shaohengwasbroughtbackby a woman about my age. It’s so strange; Shaoheng can’t even speak clearly, how did that person manage to bring him back?” Aunt Liu turned around only to find Cao Guixiang was already gone.

“Hua,” saidXueShaoheng.

“Does Shaoheng want flowers?” Xue Hua asked.

Xue Shaoheng nodded and then shookhishead: “Hua.”

Seeing that Xue Hua still didn’t understand, Xue Shaoheng simply gave up on telling her what he had been doing. He took the handkerchief Cao Guixiang had stuffed into his pocket during the meal and offered it to Xue Hua.

Xue Hua received the handkerchief, opened it, and inside were two multi-colored prawns.

Two prawn heads, two prawn bodies.

“Did the person who just brought you back give you these?” Xue Hua asked.

“Eat,” Xue Shaoheng urged Xue Hua to eat the prawns.

“Sister doesn’t like shrimp. Shaoheng, eat,” Xue Hua said.

“Eat.”

“Large Dendrobium.”

“Large Dendrobium?”

“Large Dendrobium.”

Xue Hua smiled, tookXue Shaoheng’s hand, and led him upstairs.

“Shaoheng, you can’t run off like that anymore. How did you come back today? Did you tell the auntie who brought you back where we live?” Xue Hua asked.

“Large Dendrobium,” Xue Shaoheng persevered, repeating the three words of Large Dendrobium.

Xue Hua could roughly understand Xue Shaoheng’s intention for her to eat the shrimp, and said, “Sister won’t eat it. Come on, Shaoheng, open your mouth and Sister will feed you.”

Xue Shaoheng obediently opened his mouth.

Down went a prawn body.

Jiang Feng left the memory.