The Game of Life

The lunchbox used to pack Jiang Shoucheng’s meal was naturally of an extra-large size, but Dong Li had only made a small pot, which fit into the lunchbox with plenty of room to spare.

The three-tiered white stainless steel lunchbox contained only a small pot of almond and pork lung soup. When Jiang Feng picked up the lunchbox, he always felt like he should add something more to it.

As he left the kitchen, Jiang Feng immediately noticed Ji Xia sitting by the table near the kitchen door, pretending to daydream while actually eyeing the soda in the fridge, poised to strike the moment Jiang Feng left.

When Jiang Feng’s gaze fell on Ji Xia, Ji Xia guiltily looked away.

“Xiaxia,”

Since Jiang Feng had called out, Ji Xia couldn’t pretend she hadn’t heard and walked over while massaging her finger, “Master.”

“Go change your clothes and come with me to see Granduncle Weiming. On the way back, I’ll take you to buy some roasted sweet potatoes,” said Jiang Feng.

“Okay, thank you, Master!” Ji Xia’s spirits lifted instantly, and she dashed into the dressing room to change clothes.

Ji Xia, who had lived in Guangdong Province all her life and had never worn a down jacket before this, had virtually no awareness of the cold. She caught a cold and had a fever on the way to Li Mansion early in winter, ending up on an IV drip at the community hospital for several days. Later, seeing snow for the first time, she ran out late at night to build a small snowman under the building and ended up freezing her hands like pig’s trotters. Since then, her hands hadn’t fully recovered, especially her little finger, which remained in a state akin to pig’s trotters regardless of medication or alcohol rubs.

Because Ji Xia’s hand wasn’t healing well, Jiang Feng didn’t let her go to Li Mansion to cook pig food for Da Hua anymore. Instead, he asked her to stay at Taifeng Building at noon to take care of her hands.

Dong Li and Dong Shi, who had just finished changing their clothes, happened to see the happy Ji Xia running into the dressing room, and Dong Shi, being straightforward, took over the lunchbox from Jiang Feng and asked, “Little boss, is Xiaxia really your disciple?”

Dong Shi picked up the names as he heard others use them; having heard everyone calling Ji Xia ‘Xiaxia,’ he naturally did the same, fitting in quite easily.

“Yes,” Jiang Feng nodded, “Xiaxia is Ji Xue’s sister.”

“Little boss, you sure took on a disciple early. My master didn’t take on my senior brother until he was forty,” Dong Shi remarked.

“How old is Master Huang this year?” Jiang Feng asked casually.

“My master is 72 this year,” Dong Shi answered, “He has taken on 9 disciples in total, and I am his last disciple.”

Having 9 disciples is considered a remarkable number in the chef profession.

“Is Master Huang in good health?” Jiang Feng inquired politely.

“Not bad, he sometimes suffers minor ailments, often coughing and feeling unwell in winter, but it usually clears up in a couple of days. In the past few years, my master was always worried about the restaurant, which affected his spirits, but since the owner sold the restaurant, he is much better. Just last night, my brother and I called to reassure him that we had been accepted by Taifeng Building, and he was delighted.”

Jiang Feng was taken aback and scrutinized Dong Shi’s expression. He realized that Dong Shi wasn’t being sarcastic or insincere, but genuinely thought that it was good for Master Huang’s son to have sold Huang Ji Restaurant. For a moment, Jiang Feng didn’t know how to respond.

Selling a restaurant founded and personally expanded by one’s father didn’t look good from any angle, resembling an unfilial act. If the elder had a more fiery temper, he might have chased after his son with a walking stick throughout the city.

Dong Li, who had remained silent by the side while Dong Shi chatted with Jiang Feng, noticed Jiang Feng’s concern and took the initiative to explain, “Master said selling the restaurant was a good thing. The boss lacked the ability to run it, and in recent years, Huang Ji Restaurant was really just being supported by Master. In fact, things started to decline while Master was still in the kitchen.”

“Master said that as long as we disciples have learned his skills, whether Huang Ji Restaurant exists or not isn’t important. Rather than keep us tied to a poorly managed restaurant unable to advance our culinary skills, it’s better to sell it and let us find more suitable places. The owner has been so frazzled by the restaurant’s issues for the past few years, literally losing his hair. Master said since Huang Ji Restaurant was his creation without much heritage, instead of dragging everyone down, it’s better to sell it and give everyone a better future while he can peacefully enjoy his old age.”

Jiang Feng was silent for a long time, only speaking slowly after Ji Xia had come out dressed, “Master Huang’s way of thinking is truly admirable.”

In the chef circles these years, the most common drama has been apprentices seeking better opportunities and leaving the failing restaurants of their masters, leading to ugly public spats. Jiang Feng had never encountered someone like Master Huang before, who proactively sold his restaurant to provide his disciples with better opportunities.

Master Huang was truly a teacher worthy of being in textbooks.

“Master, should we go now?” Ji Xia asked.

Looking at Ji Xia and thinking of the unseen Master Huang, Jiang Feng felt somewhat ashamed, “Xiaxia, do you want some fried chicken tenders?”

Ji Xia’s eyes lit up.

“Afterwards, I’ll buy some for you on our way back. I recently ate… heard that a fried chicken shop makes very tasty chicken tenders,” he said.

Because Ji Xia couldn’t control her cravings, she’d been gaining weight over the past few months. Jiang Feng and the others had now strictly forbidden her from eating sinful, fattening, and unhealthy food like fried chicken.

“Thank you, Master!” Ji Xia didn’t know why Jiang Feng was being so generous today, not only letting her eat roasted sweet potatoes but also chicken tenders. But at times like this, it was enough to just thank the master.

Jiang Feng displayed a slightly delayed smile.

I really am a good master, barely behind Master Huang at all.

Dong Shi, having listened to the recent conversation between the master and disciple, felt it sounded familiar and turned to his elder brother. “Bro, don’t you think the little boss and Xiaxia said something familiar just now?”

Dong Li glanced at Dong Shi and said, “Wasn’t our master the same with you before?”

A realization dawned on Dong Shi. More than ten years ago, when he and his brother first came to the city from the countryside to find work, they got lucky and were taken in as disciples by Master Huang. Back then, Master Huang would also often cajole them like children by buying them snacks.

“Let’s go,” said Dong Li, quickening his pace to catch up with Jiang Feng and Ji Xia up ahead.

Dong Shi hurriedly followed, while Jiang Feng and Ji Xia walked in front, and the two brothers trailed behind.

“Master, may I not eat the chicken tenders and have a chicken steak instead?” Ji Xia asked tentatively, hoping to push her luck.

“No,” Jiang Feng flatly denied Ji Xia’s request.

“Then, Master, may I have two smaller sweet potatoes instead of a big one? The ones at the entrance of the neighborhood aren’t sweet in the middle.”

“Okay.”

“Master, …”

As Dong Shi walked, he looked around distractedly and seeing a residential area not too far away, he had a sudden idea, “Bro, why don’t we rent a place here? It’s close to Taifeng Building so it would be convenient for work, and there’s a supermarket on the corner for shopping!”

“Hmm,” Dong Li replied noncommittally.

“Oh right, bro, how about we rent a three-bedroom place?” Dong Shi suggested.

“Three-bedroom?” Dong Li didn’t quite catch what Dong Shi was getting at.

“Last night when I spoke with master on the phone, he was in Hang City, having been invited over by our eldest senior brother from Gusu. It’s too cold in Beiping right now, so it’s not convenient to have master come over. This morning I asked Wang, and he said that the temperature in Beiping would be very pleasant around April or May; we could invite master over then.”

“I asked the little boss this morning, and even though we work six days and have one off, we can accumulate our days off to take them together. By then, we can take turns being off to have master enjoy a few more days in Beiping.”

“Master visited Beiping when he was younger,” Dong Li said helplessly.

“Huh?” Dong Shi was confused.

“Hasn’t our eldest senior brother mentioned before? Master specifically came to Beiping when he was young. It’s not your place to show him around,” Dong Li reminded him.

Dong Shi appeared somewhat disappointed.

“But we definitely need to rent a three-bedroom place; master specially told me yesterday that he would come to see us when spring arrives,” Dong Li said with a smile.

“Why didn’t master tell me?”

“What good would telling you do, with your forgetful brain?” Dong Li mercilessly jabbed his younger brother before glancing at Jiang Feng and Ji Xia up ahead and hastening his steps.

While he’d been absorbed in conversation with Dong Shi, he’d fallen quite a bit behind without realizing it.’

“Hey, wait for me, bro! You know I walk slowly,” Dong Shi quickly said, carrying his lunch box to catch up.

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