The Game of Life

Fang Zhuoyue came back within minutes, carrying the groceries he had just bought: two tomatoes, an egg, and two small potatoes, buying strictly according to Jiang Feng’s instructions—no more, no less.

It was Fang Zhuoyue’s first time cooking, and just thinking about it excited him a little.

“Feng, should I peel the tomatoes?” Fang Zhuoyue asked as he took the tomatoes out of the bag.

“To peel or not to peel depends on personal preference. Does your family usually peel tomatoes? If you want to peel them, score a cross on the surface of the tomatoes with a knife and boil them for a minute—it will make peeling easier,” Jiang Feng said.

Fang Zhuoyue decided to let his father eat the tomatoes with the skin on.

The vegetables were simple, and so was the preparation: cutting tomatoes into chunks and peeling and shredding potatoes. To Jiang Feng’s surprise, Fang Zhuoyue’s knife skills were actually decent. The shredded potatoes he cut were quite presentable, far better than Qin Weiwei’s.

“Have you cut vegetables before?” Jiang Feng asked.

“Yes, when I visited my grandparents during the summer and winter breaks, I would help my grandmother with chores. Usually just cutting vegetables and washing them, never touching the stove,” Fang Zhuoyue said, then after a brief pause, added, “Actually, I’m pretty good at plating.”

Jiang Feng was surprised, not expecting to find a kindred spirit.

“Once you finish cutting the potato shreds, start cooking the porridge. Turn the heat down low—you don’t need to stir it for the first ten minutes or so,” Jiang Feng suggested.

Fang Zhuoyue thought it made sense, and after finishing with the potatoes, he started rinsing the rice to cook porridge. With his long-term, stable practice in porridge cooking, Fang Zhuoyue’s skills had improved dramatically. Even Jiang Feng had to praise the bland yet flawlessly cooked bowl of porridge.

Indeed, his progress in cooking porridge was specific: he no longer burned it, and he got the thickness just right, avoiding the awkward result of it being too watery like rice soup or too thick like soaked rice.

Watching Fang Zhuoyue’s smooth actions cooking porridge, Jiang Feng couldn’t help but praise, “Your porridge cooking skills have improved a lot since before.”

“Improved a lot? What was I like before?” Fang Zhuoyue asked. “Was it something like weighing 100 grams of rice, pouring in 800ml of water, using a 0.8 rotation per second speed to rinse the rice, draining the water, adding 1000ml of water, soaking for 15 minutes, placing the pot on the stove, covering it with a lid at maximum heat until boiling, then turning it to the lowest heat, propping the lid open with chopsticks at a 17.5-degree angle, and continuing to heat for 30 minutes?” (Note ①)

“Huh?”

“I forgot where I read that joke before, claiming that math majors cook porridge like that. I found it quite amusing so I remembered it,” Fang Zhuoyue said.

Jiang Feng: …

I don’t know if math majors cook porridge like that, but your hobbies are quite interesting.

You remember it so clearly, are you sure you haven’t written this down in a notebook?

After Fang Zhuoyue set the clay pot on the stove to simmer on low heat, he began to try making scrambled eggs with tomatoes. Since it was his first time cooking, and these two dishes were also the last two tasks Jiang Feng needed to complete, Jiang Feng stood by his stove to assist him throughout the process.

“If you put too little oil, add a bit more, yes, yes, yes, that’s enough, stop.”

“Cooking isn’t about waving the spatula through the air in the pan. Stir more often, or the bottom will burn. Right, you should flip the bottom layer to the top.”

“Okay, that’s enough. See this color? This color means it’s ready to take out of the pan. If you’re still not sure, taste a bit to see if it’s cooked, and for saltiness, you have to judge for yourself. If you’re uncertain, put less seasoning at a time—it’s okay to add it in several goes.”

“Ah, you added too much soy sauce, now the color is too dark, but it’s not a big deal, keep stir-frying.”

…

“Alert, you have completed the side quest [Famous Doctor], reward: A slight increase in Taifeng Building’s popularity. The reward will be delivered within 24 hours, please check to receive it.”

Under Jiang Feng’s instruction, Fang Zhuoyue completed his first stir-fry, albeit with some difficulty. Although the presentation wasn’t great, which did not match his skill in plating, the result was still not bad for a beginner.

“By the way, tomorrow is Qixi, have you prepared anything for your girlfriend?” Jiang Feng had not yet decided what to give Wu Minqi, so he probed for information from the newly un-single Fang Zhuoyue.

“A gift? Do I need to give a gift?” Fang Zhuoyue asked in surprise. “Doudou’s plane arrives in Beiping tonight, and tomorrow we will go out for a meal and a movie. I’ve also booked a table for two at your restaurant. Did you forget about my reservation?”

Jiang Feng: ???

“She came all the way to Beiping just to spend the Qixi Festival with you?” Jiang Feng was truly surprised this time. What kind of celestial girlfriend was this?

Though she’s still just a bit inferior to my Qiqi.

“That’s not exactly it. Doudou had booked a psychological therapist in Beiping, originally scheduled for the day after tomorrow, but since tomorrow happens to be Qixi, she moved it up two days,” Fang Zhuoyue said with a delighted expression. “Didn’t I tell you last time?”

Jiang Feng: …

Do you really think I’d remember even if you did tell me?

“By the way, Feng, I saw the official Weibo for your family’s restaurant announcing the special Qixi Festival dinner sets this morning. Which set is better? Help me pick one out,” said Fang Zhuoyue as he took out his phone.

“You still use Weibo?” Jiang Feng asked.

He himself didn’t use Weibo. A few years back, Jiang Feng had followed the trend and set up a Weibo account, reposted a bunch of random stuff, and then left it there without ever looking at it again, to the point of even forgetting the password. Wu Minqi, as well as a few of his cousins, didn’t use Weibo either. Even Ji Gezi used Weibo solely for taking orders and making money.

“I don’t use Weibo, but Doudou does. She occasionally posts stuff, so I just check it daily,” Fang Zhuoyue said, finding the Weibo post he’d seen that morning and handing his phone to Jiang Feng.

Taking the phone, Jiang Feng looked closely and was immediately shocked by the price. He was about to curse, Which restaurant dares to price their dishes so high, such swindlers, when he realized, Oh, it’s ours.

There were three sets: a 520 set, a 1314 set, and a limited 6-portion 3344 set, with prices accordingly being 520 yuan, 1314 yuan, and 3344 yuan. All required advance booking.

The 520 set includes Mutual Affection Chrysanthemum Fish, Love Stronger than Gold Peach Blossom Froth, Sea Oath Mountain Alliance Trio Delights, Qixi Limited Love Heart Mini Cakes (select one among tiramisu, cheesecake, berry mousse, matcha ganache with an optional heart-shaped candle), two beverages (pick two from honey citron tea, rose cranberry, bubble tea, brown sugar macchiato, monk fruit five flowers tea), plus two complimentary health staple pickled vegetable dumplings.

The 1314 set includes Fistful of Love Diced Pepper Fish Head, Heart-throbbing Moment Crispy Double Delight, Sweet Taste Sweet and Sour Pork, Pure Love Supreme Tofu, Harmonious Flavors Hodgepodge Soup, Qixi Limited Double-Layer Love Heart Mini Cakes (choose two from tiramisu cheesecake, berry mousse, matcha ganache with a bonus heart-shaped candle and one chocolate ring), two beverages (pick two from rose cranberry, bubble tea, brown sugar macchiato, monk fruit five flowers tea, sour plum drink, coconut sago dessert), plus two complimentary health staple pickled vegetable dumplings.

The 3344 set includes Drunken Heart Shaoxing Wine Chicken, Flavor of Love Sweet and Sour Yam, Passionate Moment Shafu Roast Chicken, Heartwarming Instant Dragon Dumplings, Sincere Words Kung Pao Chicken, Qixi Limited Quartet Love Heart Mini Cakes (with an optional heart-shaped candle and one engraved chocolate ring), two beverages (choice of all available drinks in the store), plus two complimentary health staple pickled vegetable dumplings, and two portions of Eight Treasures Chestnut Fragrant Pigeon.

Jiang Feng: …

So many fail points he didn’t know where to start complaining.

Just who was the copywriting genius behind these dish names?

“Feng, which set should I choose?” Fang Zhuoyue asked.

“Are you short on cash?”

“Huh?”

“If you’re not short on cash, I’d recommend the 3344 set. That’s the relatively better deal. The Shaoxing Wine Chicken is membership-exclusive and requires advance booking, and the Eight Treasures Chestnut Fragrant Pigeon is a new dish that probably won’t be on the menu until October,” Jiang Feng advised earnestly. “However, the set is still too expensive, and it’s definitely too much food for two people. I’d suggest ordering à la carte.”

Fang Zhuoyue nodded thoughtfully.

“If we order à la carte, do you have any recommendations?” Fang Zhuoyue asked further.

Jiang Feng was about to suggest Li Hongzhang’s Hodgepodge but quickly realized that might not be appropriate for Fang Zhuoyue, who was bringing his girlfriend. Bringing the mood down with tears didn’t seem quite right for celebrating Qixi.

“Century egg porridge, Eight Treasures Porridge, Crispy Double Delight, Scallion Braised Sea Cucumber, French-style Rosemary Stewed Lamb, Mapo Tofu, Fish-Flavored Shredded Pork, Chrysanthemum Fish, and Beef Chow Fun are all selling well in our restaurant.” Since they were friends, Jiang Feng’s recommendations were honest and without any personal agenda, “Also, the pickled vegetable dumplings are pretty good too, made of cornmeal, something girls who like to keep fit will enjoy.”

“Pickled vegetable dumplings, huh? I remember Doudou likes flour-based foods. Okay, got it.”

Fang Zhuoyue was successfully misled by Jiang Feng.

.

PS:

Note①: Excerpt from a post by sw6767 published on May 27, 2019.