The Game of Life

The next morning, Jiang Feng woke up with his head full of the phrase he had seen in his memory the previous night, “Go take the entry-level assessment.” Such a bombastic line, coupled with the right BGM, would make the ratings of a newly updated TV show explode! Seriously!

The pam of reaching a climactic moment in a novel and then finding the author has suddenly stopped writing—who understands this agony, who?!

Jiang Feng originally thought that after a night of cooling down, he would be able to calmly face this crappy game today and serenely click open his attributes panel.

But now he just wanted to chop someone.

Grin and bear it and you only get angrier, step back and you’ll feel more cheated.

Wang Hao had gone out for a morning run and had not yet returned. Jiang Feng got out of bed to wash up and calm himself, then sat silently at the desk and clicked open the attributes panel.

Sun Zheran (1/9)

[A-class Lobster Soup]

Creator: Sun Zheran

Dish Details: A superb dish where neither the choice of original ingredients nor the cooking techniques can be faulted. The soup that perfectly complements the lobster is the brightest highlight of the dish. As a master chef of his generation, Sun Zheran shows equal respect to all diners and pours his whole heart into every dish. Although this was but an ordinary dish among the many he cooked in his lifetime, it became a significant turning point in Jiang Weiguo’s culinary career, leaving an unforgettable mark and granting a 24- hour double efficiency buff upon consumption.

Number of times it can be prepared per day (o/i)

Friendly Reminder: The difficulty of making the soup for this dish exceeds the player’s current cooking skill level, resulting in a 100% chance of failure. Due to the rarity of the original ingredients, using other slightly inferior ingredients could still yield the same level of dish, but the double efficiency buff would be lost.

Jiang Feng:…

This game is surprisingly considerate, even preparing a backup plan for when you can’t find particularly high-quality lobster.

He clicked open the recipe, which had two memory options. One was the lobster processing method he had seen before, and the other was the method for simmering the soup.

The technique of simmering rich soup has always been a closely guarded secret of top restaurants. Jiang Feng not only got his hands on the method for making Lobster Soup, but also the process of making the soup itself-it was absolutely a windfall.

And such a huge one at that!

In the following months, there were some events that occurred, none too big nor too small.

First, Jiang Feng finally realized what set the game’s reward chef knife apart from ordinary ones-it was as if the knife had been custom-made for him Cutting vegetables with it felt more like an extension of his hand. Although it didn’t produce the exaggerated special effect of glowing ingredients, it significantly improved his knife skills.

In martial arts novels, it’s said that the most important things for a swordsman are his sword and how well it fits him. As a chef, Jiang Feng, having obtained a chef knife tailored just for him, naturally felt like he had been given wings. Then there was the follow-up to the Good Taste Culinary Competition. After the broadcast of the semi-finals, business at the Healthy Stir-fry Restaurant exploded. Jiang Feng even made it onto the Weibo hot search a few times. Just going to the market to buy vegetables, he would be recognized by vendors as the guy who publicly confessed to his girlfriend during the Good Taste Culinary Competition.

Also, the number of votes Jiang Feng received on his WeChat official account where he called for support, surged like a rocket. Three days after the broadcast, he overtook Zhang Guanghang and ultimately won the prize for most popular contestant in a stunning upset.

The staff from Good Taste only took a few days to finalize an endorsement deal with Jiang Feng. A one-year advertising endorsement fee of 2.6 million yuan greatly alleviated the financial crisis the Jiang Family was facing.

In May, Jiang Feng felt like a fool after shooting an extremely awkward commercial. He also realized that he had no talent for acting, which dashed any hopes of a career in the entertainment industry.

Of course, it wasn’t over yet, because that commercial would eventually be aired on satellite TV. Every time Jiang Feng turned on the TV, he had the chance to see himself in that foolish commercial.

And in the commercial, with a tone as solemn as swearing an oath under a national flag, he declared, “For soy sauce, choose Good Taste. Good Taste Soy Sauce, providing you with a different culinary experience!”

Due to the endorsement discussions, the Jiang Family’s interactions with Mr. Han Guishan and his wife, Wang Jing, suddenly increased. Han Guishan and Wang Jing even personally visited Jiang Weiming. However, during the visit, Jiang Feng was stuck in the studio shooting commercials and didn’t know the details. The end result was that the two families got along well. Wang Jing would occasionally bring some fruits to see Jiang Weiming, and Han Guishan sometimes would come to eat at the Healthy Stir-fry Restaurant, where Jiang Feng later got into the habit of steaming six veggie buns for him every day. To be honest, it’s rare to see a bossy CEO like Mr. Han who enjoys eating as much as he does.

Latterly, Han Guishan started treating the Healthy Stir-fry Restaurant as if it were his company’s canteen, arriving on time for lunch and dinner every day sometimes even bringing the little chubby Han Youxin for dinner. During that period, Xu Cheng also came to mooch meals, but he had a particular palate. Jiang Feng and Jiang Jiankang’s dishes hardly ever met his standards, requiring the personal intervention of the two Sirs whenever Xu Cheng visited.

Xu Cheng, the owner of the Taste magazine and a leading figure in the world of procrastination, a chronic procrastinator in the late stages of the disease, still managed to remain calm and composed despite owing Jiang Feng and Wu Minqi one feature interview each, acting as if he were just an ordinary patron without discussing business affairs, which said a lot about his level of procrastination and state of mind.

Taste magazine generally releases a new issue between June and August Xu Cheng, as the big boss of Taste and also the most important contributor to the magazine, could still be freeloading at the Healthy Stir-fry Restaurant in mid- June like any ordinary diner, without mentioning the special interviews or showing any intention of going out to find gourmet food. Given the situation, this year’s Taste magazine was likely to be delayed until August.

Thanks to the Good Taste Culinary Competition show, the Healthy Stir-fry Restaurant could now be considered the number one trending restaurant in Alan City. Bored tourists continuously flocked there for a visit, staying open from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m., with a perpetual queue of customers.

Because of the sudden surge in customers, Wang Xiulian not only gave Ji Yue a raise but also hired three dexterous student workers as waitstaff. Sometimes, if the restaurant got too busy, Jiang Jianguo would come over and lend a hand by chopping vegetables or stir-frying a dish.

Since late April, Jiang Feng had been getting up earlier than the chickens and going to bed later than the dogs. While ensuring the restaurant’s normal operation, he also had to find time to practice making dishes.

Over the months, Jiang Feng’s right arm had grown significantly more muscular, even giving him the illusion that he could take on ten Jiang Junlians single-handedly.

The most unfortunate person had to be Jiang Jiandang. Just when he had finished dealing with the compensation for demolition from Zet City and arrived, he heard that Taifeng Building was going to open in mid-July. Before he even had the chance to open his newly decorated pharmacy, he had to start looking for someone to take over. He was already a step late coming to Alan City; he couldn’t afford to delay any longer to go to Beiping.

On June 29, the students of UAL University were studying for their final exams as if their lives depended on it-burning the midnight oil, studying desperately, holing up in the library, battling on the verge of death, and heavily cramming, as if they were mending the heavens or creating the written language.

Healthy Stir-fry Restaurant has officially closed its doors.

The one taking over is none other than Fang’s Porridge Shop.

The once king of UAL University’s gourmet street is set to reign supreme once again.

Healthy Stir-fry Restaurant had already posted a notice outside two days ago, stating that the shop would close on June 29th.

Mr. Han Guishan, who always focused on eating and paid no attention to anything else, didn’t even notice the notice posted on the Healthy Stir-fry Restaurant’s door two days ago. Having learned from his assistant that the Healthy Stir-fry Restaurant had closed and even taken down its sign, Mr. Han Guishan, who had planned to go there for a happy lunch of fried pork in scoop and di san xian, was completely dumbfounded.

Mr. Han Guishan, clueless, thought that the Jiang Family had encountered a financial crisis and had to transfer the business. After dealing with his affairs, he drove to the gourmet street.

Jiang Jiankang and Wang Xiulian were moving their luggage. They were planning to stay at Jiang Jianshe’s place for the next couple of days. The renovation of Taifeng Building in Beiping was nearing completion, and Jiang Zaidi had almost finished handling the recruitment and other matters. Everything was about to get on track. Professor Li’s friend was very reliable, and had rented 7 apartments in two adjacent buildings in a mid-range neighborhood close to Taifeng Building, ranging from one-bedroom to two- bedroom apartments, which was enough to accommodate the large Jiang Family and two employees.

When Mr. Han Guishan arrived, he saw Jiang Jiankang and Wang Xiulian chatting and laughing, not at all looking like they were in the midst of a crisis.

‘Mr. Han, oh dear, didn’t you see the notice we posted outside our restaurant two days ago? We’re not running the shop anymore; we’re preparing to move,” Jiang Jiankang thought Mr. Han Guishan had come to eat and felt somewhat apologetic.

“Moving?” Mr. Han Guishan couldn’t understand. Healthy Stir-fry Restaurant was already Alan City’s number one internet-famous store; where could it possibly move?

“Yes, didn’t Feng tell you? I thought you knew already,” Jiang Jiankang said cheerfully, “Our family has a shop in Beiping, it’s almost ready to open, and we’re all preparing to move there!”

Beiping? That’s amazing! What’s the name? Is it still called Healthy Stir-fry Restaurant?” Mr. Han Guishan asked.

“Taifeng Building. If you have time, Mr. Han, come and support us on the opening day!”

Mr. Han Guishan:…

???

!!!

Even Mr. Han Guishan, who was outside the restaurant industry, had heard about Taifeng Building’s renovation.

In recent days, countless eyes had been on Taifeng Building, but the buyer behind it remained a mystery, and despite the renovations nearly being complete, they had yet to make an appearance.

Everyone knew that Sir Li previously owned Taifeng Building. Over the years, with Beiping’s rapid development, real estate prices had soared, and since Taifeng Building was located in the most bustling commercial district, many had coveted it. People had offered astronomical sums for it, and some even had shady thoughts, but Sir Li was immovable and would not relent.

Last year, Sir Li passed away, and Mr. Han Guishan heard that many were eager to get their hands on that piece of land. Later, he heard that Taifeng Building had changed hands before Sir Li’s death. He had thought it was a smoke screen put out by the Li Family to divert attention.

He never expected it to be true.

And it was bought by the Jiang Family Members whom he knew well!

“^Mr> Han, we’re going to my elder brother’s house for dinner later; would you like to join us? My father will be cooking,’¹ Jiang Jiankang invited.

How could 1 impose,” Mr. Han Guishan replied politely, “Let’s take my car!” After lunch, Mr. Han Guishan felt he couldn’t be the only one shocked and sent a WeChat message to Xu Cheng informing him that Taifeng Building had been purchased by the Jiang Family.

A few minutes later, Xu Cheng replied.

Xu Cheng: I’ve known for a while.

Mr. Han Guishan: ??? [covering face]

Mr. Han Guishan: How did you know?

Xu Cheng: The previous head chef of Taifeng Building was Jiang Chengde. Sir Li’s wife was his younger sister, Jiang Huiqin. The Jiang Family attended Sir Li’s funeral last year.

Xu Cheng didn’t elaborate further, having made his point, and Mr. Han Guishan immediately understood.

Mr. Han Guishan put down his phone and thought for a moment before calling his assistant.   °

“When Taifeng Building in Beiping opens in mid-July, send two flower baskets over in the name of our company.”

“Understood, boss.”

“Keep an eye on the news from over there regularly and inform me immediately if there are any issues.”

“No problem, boss.”

Mr. Han Guishan set down his phone and looked at the report in front of him,

his thoughts wandering far away.

Beiping, huh?

It looks like things are about to heat up.