The Game of Life

As a third-generation heir born and raised in Guangdong Province, Ouyang had been dining at Jubao Building since his childhood, treating it like a canteen. Over the past thirty-plus years, he cherished every chef like family treasures and could even name all the regular waitstaff by heart—he was a die-hard fan of both Jubao Building and Master Sun Guanyun.

He was also a devoted fan of the Eight Treasures Chestnut Fragrant Pigeon.

Since Sun Guanyun stepped down from the kitchen ten years ago, passing the position of head chef to his disciple, Ouyang had never again tasted the authentic Eight Treasures Chestnut Fragrant Pigeon.

He had shamelessly sought out Sun Guanyun, begging him to make an exception and cook for him just once, but if even Xu Cheng couldn’t obtain such a favor, how could he? Without Sun Guanyun, Jubao Building was like a peony show missing its peonies. No matter how vibrant the other flowers, how fresh, how pure and flawless, how outstandingly solitary, none commanded the noble status of the peony.

What he craved was the Eight Treasures Chestnut Fragrant Pigeon made by Sun Guanyun himself or one that was a true disciple’s rendition, not the inferior versions crafted by disciples who had merely learned to imitate.

Ouyang once believed he would never taste the Eight Treasures Chestnut Fragrant Pigeon from his memories ever again.

But today, he did. Though the flavor wasn’t as exquisite as in his memories, it was the taste, the very sensation. From the moment his taste buds touched the filling within the Eight Treasures Chestnut Fragrant Pigeon, every cell in Ouyang’s body trembled, roared, shivered, and screamed at him.

It was this taste, just this taste—he couldn’t be wrong. This was the Eight Treasures Chestnut Fragrant Pigeon!

This was the authentic Eight Treasures Chestnut Fragrant Pigeon!

Ouyang was intoxicated.

The Eight Treasures Chestnut Fragrant Pigeon was just a small one; even filled to bursting when served, it remained only a modest size.

Its portion was just right for an adult man as an appetizer or an afternoon tea snack.

Ouyang ate carefully yet quickly, his rich experience with the Eight Treasures Chestnut Fragrant Pigeon reminding him that it was most delicious just out of the pot, its flavor drastically diminished once cooled.

Ouyang chewed the lily bulb in his mouth and narrowed his eyes.

“Ding, you have gained 999 experience points.”

After Ouyang had a small piece of shiitake mushroom, he felt like he was walking on clouds.

“Ding, you have gained 999 experience points.”

Ouyang uncovered the well-hidden pigeon egg, reluctant to gobble it up in one bite, he only bit off a small half.

“Ding, you have gained 999 experience points.”

Ouyang indulged himself for once, taking a full spoonful with chopped shiitake mushroom, lily bulb, chestnuts, and the larger remaining half of the pigeon egg—all in one bite. Ouyang felt as though his whole being had been sublimated.

“Ding, you have gained 999 experience points.”

Ouyang…

“Ding, you have gained 999 experience points.”

“Ding, you have gained…”

“Ding…”

Jiang Feng in the kitchen was still dumbfounded.

This was the first time he was bombarded by full experience points like this. Pan Ling, who had endured his mother’s dark culinary torment for decades during the New Year, had never contributed such high and intense experience values.

The notification in his brain kept ringing non-stop, almost every few seconds. Often, the previous notification had barely finished before the next one sounded, like a loop tape.

Jiang Feng knew well that the diner racking up experience was most likely the customer who was very satisfied with the Eight Treasures Chestnut Fragrant Pigeon.

Only…

How small can this customer’s mouth be? They’ve had so many bites, yet they still haven’t finished a single serving of Eight Treasures Chestnut Fragrant Pigeon.

Inside the private room, Ouyang’s process of eating the Eight Treasures Chestnut Fragrant Pigeon finally neared its end.

Mr. Zhou had been watching beside him, dumbfounded. He himself had finished his Eight Treasures Chestnut Fragrant Pigeon minutes ago. Although it was delicious, it didn’t bewitch him as it had Ouyang.

To be fair, his three-year-old son could eat faster than Ouyang was eating now.

He really wanted to ask Ouyang, can you even taste the pigeon when you eat such tiny bites?

“Is there really a need for this?” Mr. Zhou watched as Ouyang finished the stuffing and then began on the pigeon itself.

“You don’t understand. It’s been ten years. The feeling of eating a dish you’ve had on your mind for ten years is something you wouldn’t understand.” Ouyang said wistfully, turning to ask the waitress, “Miss, when will this dish be added to the menu?”

“We plan to add it to the menu in October,” the waitress replied.

Ouyang frowned. He wished he could eat Eight Treasures Chestnut Fragrant Pigeon for three meals a day for a week straight. It was only the end of August; he would have to wait over a month, which made him incredibly impatient.

“You tell your leader that the flavor is already very good. Let’s get it on the menu by the end of this month, or early September at the latest. Remember to call me as soon as it’s on the menu, I’ll reserve a table immediately,” Ouyang said.

“Okay, I will pass on your message to the management. As soon as it’s on the menu, our reception will call you immediately,” the waitress answered with a practiced smile, giving a standardized response.

Two minutes later, Ouyang had polished off the pigeon on his plate.

Jiang Feng, who was in the kitchen, didn’t hear the game notification sound and assumed the VIP room’s guests had finally finished the Eight Treasures Chestnut Fragrant Pigeon. He breathed a sigh of relief, hoping that tonight’s diners would be like those old gourmets, stingy with experience points—best if they only gave 1 or 2 points each, like the two ‘Sirs’. He didn’t want the remaining experience to be used up and the game to level up; he was looking forward to going home after work to see his great-grandfather’s memories.

The recipes from his great-grandfather’s memories had to be very precious.

They might even be the legendary lost signature dishes of the Jiang Family.

Whether the Jiang Family had such legendary lost signature dishes was not Jiang Feng’s concern.

Jiang Feng, now relieved, continued with his work.

Ouyang and Mr. Zhou sat in the private room waiting, and due to the boredom of waiting for their dish, they inevitably started to chat about some gossip.

“I heard that the Jubao Building is going through a generational change. You eat there every day and are well acquainted with Master Sun; is there any truth to it?” Mr. Zhou inquired.

“Yes, it seems like a generational change is happening. Master Sun now brings his grandson Sun Jikai everywhere, I even heard he’s personally teaching him cooking. There’s lots of activity—I think he’s paving the way for his grandson,” Ouyang nodded.

“With such fierce competition between the eldest and the second in the Sun Family, wouldn’t the second get nothing if Master Sun really favors Sun Jikai like this?” Mr. Zhou asked, intrigued.

“Not necessarily. The Sun Family’s second son isn’t someone you should take lightly. Forget about Jubao Building, but he’s likely to get a good share of the other Sun Family businesses. Even if Master Sun is biased towards his eldest grandson, a son is still a son; it’s impossible to leave the second son with nothing,” Ouyang surmised. Looking at the last bit of sauce on his plate, he felt it was wasteful not to eat it and picked up a small spoon again.

He scraped a good half-spoonful of sauce from the plate and took a mouthful.

Mr. Zhou: …

Buddy, you’re exaggerating just a bit too much.

We’re all rich third-generation kids; don’t embarrass us, please.

“Ding, you’ve earned 996 experience points.”

“Ding, player has reached level 25. The game is starting updates, current update progress: 0%.”

Jiang Feng: …

???

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