The Game of Life

Having worked a stressful morning in the ER, where he was also thrice mistaken for a security guard in the main hospital building, Jiang Shoucheng was frightened to almost turn the color of broccoli when he saw the love-filled lunch delivery from his younger brother.

It looked green on first glance, but upon closer inspection there were even some whitish hues.

Jiang Shoucheng gulped down the broccoli with a mixture of misery and resignation, profoundly understanding for the first time how Great Aunt felt eating her sports-special meals every day, and his respect for her grew even further.

“Cheng, Granduncle Weiming said I’m going to start learning how to make braised sea cucumber in onion sauce in a few days. After that, I might not have much time to come cook for you anymore,” said Jiang Feng, who had just completed his side quest and was already prepared to abandon the Benevolent Doctor’s little kitchen.

On hearing this, Jiang Shoucheng felt overjoyed and even the broccoli in his mouth suddenly tasted delicious.

God only knows what kind of days he’s been living through!

Getting up earlier than the chickens and sleeping later than the dogs was an inadequate description for him, as at least they got some sleep; whereas, they often had night shifts followed immediately by daytime shifts without a break. A gang of people must have had a brain-wave a few days ago when they fought with weapons in a bar instead of sleeping at night. The hospital was somehow busier at two or three in the morning than in the afternoon. It wasn’t even his shift, yet he was called in by phone to help with the chaos.

Life was already hard enough but the only solace came at meal times with an array of takeout dishes like braised pork, cured pig trotters, lion’s head meatballs, sweet and sour carp, fish-flavored shredded pork, braised pork ribs, spicy crayfish, and red braised lamb, among others.

Yet, his dear little brother had taken away his last comfort.

Every other day, he would come by, and after toiling all morning, it would be okay if there were no meat to eat, but why did his brother, who could make broccoli so delicious, insist on just boiling or stir-frying it!

In just a little over a week, he had lost 12 pounds!

Last year’s shirts could finally be buttoned up!

“Really? That is just so regrettable,” Jiang Shoucheng said with a face full of fake sorrow, a perfect display of the vulgarity of the adult world.

“Oh, right, there’s one more thing. Second Aunt said that once I stop cooking for you, she’ll come by every day to deliver your lunch,” Jiang Feng said.

“My mom is going to deliver food to me? Why?” Jiang Shoucheng was astounded; he had never received such treatment even when he was in high school.

“Second Aunt said that ever since your internship started at the hospital, you’ve been unable to restrain yourself from overeating and staying in the hospital without going out, getting fatter than De, and she’s worried you won’t be able to find a girlfriend. But she didn’t want to pressure you to exercise because you’re already working so hard with all the overtime. So Second Aunt recently learned from Granduncle how to make fitness meals, saying she’ll take care of your lunch and dinner from now on so that you don’t need to order takeout anymore,” Jiang Feng said, giving Jiang Shoucheng a look of self-reliance and prepared to slip away.

“Cheng, take your time eating, I’m heading back now,” said Jiang Feng.

I’m going back to eat the meaty staff meal.

Jiang Shoucheng sat despondently in his original spot, eating the broccoli. Unbeknownst to him, two large plates of broccoli had been consumed.

Finally facing reality and knowing what lay ahead, Jiang Shoucheng decisively pulled out his phone and dialed that familiar number.

“Hello, is this Tan? Yeah, it’s me. Are you still delivering takeout? You can, right? Make me a large portion of braised pork, poached shrimp, braised beef, red braised lamb, sweet and sour ribs, and steamed pork with rice flour. Hurry up!”

“Old Jiang, didn’t your brother just leave? Didn’t he cook for you today? Why are you ordering so much?” Sun startled upon entering the break room and catching Jiang Shoucheng placing the order.

“You don’t understand,” Jiang Shoucheng said with a forlorn look. “It’s the last time; if I don’t eat now, there won’t be another chance.”

Sun: ???

Sun was immediately shocked and blanched, “Jiang, Jiang what’s happened to you? Don’t scare me; if you’ve encountered any difficulties, we can solve them together. With how advanced medical science is these days, you must trust the doctors at our hospital!”

“What are you even talking about? Starting today, my mom has been bringing me meals.” Jiang Shoucheng glanced at Sun, his spirits still low.

Sun: …

When Jiang Feng returned to Taifeng Building, the lunch service was not yet over. There were still quite a few customers who hadn’t finished eating, and Ji Yue was already sitting at the front desk blatantly playing with her phone.

“Tsk tsk, caught you playing with your phone on the job.” Jiang Feng approached Ji Yue silently.

Ji Yue waved her hand dismissively with a look of disgust, “Playing with my phone? I’m drawing lots here!”

“Drawing lots?”

“It’s all because of you. The Sweet and Sour Yam is only sold in 6 portions a day, which means tomorrow’s 3344 set meal can only have a limited 6 portions. The reservation phone lines are almost exploding. Forget 6 portions; we wouldn’t have enough even for 60!” Ji Yue, frustrated, grabbed her hair like an angry lioness. “This morning, the girl answering the phones didn’t understand and agreed to more than 60 orders of the 3344 set meal in one go. She didn’t even think whether our restaurant had enough empty tables for reservations. I’ve been busy with this all afternoon and it’s driving me mad.”

Jiang Feng immediately became serious, this was a serious mistake. He asked urgently, “So what do we do?”

“Mrs. Wang and Sister Fan discussed it and decided we can only make it a draw. Then I have to call each one back to explain. For those customers who don’t get chosen, we will offer them a chance to taste the Eight Treasures Chestnut Fragrant Pigeon ahead of time. You’ll have to work a bit harder these next few days to make more portions of pigeon,” Ji Yue said. “As for that girl who answered the phones, we’ll deduct 200 yuan and cancel her day off this week. What a mess.”

Jiang Feng nodded in agreement, “No problem, you carry on; I’ll go check the kitchen.”

Ji Yue nodded, and just as Jiang Feng had walked a meter or two, she suddenly remembered something and called out to him, “Wait, Jiang Feng, there’s one more thing I almost forgot. Isn’t tomorrow Qixi? I’ve finished drawing my comic but I haven’t decided when to post it on the official blog. Since the comic is about a love story, why not publish it tonight at midnight?”

Jiang Feng had no objections, “Posting it on Qixi Festival sounds good. You decide.”

Ji Yue returned to checking the list, spotting several familiar names.

Xu Cheng? He’s still in Beiping, should I rig the draw for him?

Han Guishan? Mr. Han hasn’t left yet, should I rig it for him too?

Ling Guangzhao… Isn’t he the owner of Eight-treasure House? What’s he doing here, spying on us?

Ji Yue fell into thought.

“Sister Ji, Sister Ji, tomorrow’s Qixi, do you have any plans for the night?” A waitress ran up to Ji Yue, her face full of excitement.

“For Qixi tomorrow, our restaurant will extend its business hours until 11:40 PM; are you thinking about any other evening activities?” Ji Yue said with a smile.

“11:40 PM?” The waitress went pale.

“Get back to work,” Ji Yue said, her smile fading as she continued sorting the list.

Kidding, Qixi; she’d obviously spend it with Zhang Guanghang.

One in the hall, one in the kitchen, rounded up, they’d still count as spending Qixi together.