The Game of Life TGOL

Chapter 547: Chapter 545: Cracking the Problem

Everyone was immersed in the ocean of chicken douhua, swimming in the deliciousness, tumbling in the waves.

Even the familiar accompaniment from “Little Chinese Chef” began to play in their minds, as if they could see the young girl in a red cheongsam holding a fan, not knowing what she was doing but seeming very happy.

Without exception, everyone, including Mrs. Jiang and Chen Suhua, held their bowls, tasting the chicken douhua with devout faces.

When it comes to delicacies, one must show respect!

But the happy times are always fleeting, no matter how slowly everyone ate, the chicken douhua was only in these small bowls.

The texture was fresh and delicious, with a soup that was clear and tender.

Jiang Jianguo’s eyes were moist, not just because of the empty bowl in his hand, but also because the bowl of chicken douhua that he had just consumed evoked some not-so-pleasant childhood memories.

Delicious and juicy, tender and refreshing, jade plate delicacy, a feast for the glutton, leaving a lasting fragrance in the mouth, an endless aftertaste, a full harmony of color and taste, a collection of eight exquisite ingredients…

If possible, he even wanted to flip through an idiom dictionary on the spot, using every four-character idiom he could find to praise the deliciousness of this bowl of chicken douhua.

At the same time, he wanted to refer to the idiom dictionary, using every four-character idiom he could find to describe his regret and disappointment at this moment.

If chicken douhua was already so delicious, how could the equally famed and even more renowned boiled cabbage in plain water disappoint?

Jiang Jianguo questioned himself in his heart, why hadn’t he persisted in his childhood, why had he given up his lofty aspiration to eat boiled cabbage in plain water after being hung up and beaten by his own father.

What was a beating when compared to this level of deliciousness? What did it count for to be hung up and beaten, or to be strung up in the window and whipped with bamboo?

“Zhang, the Rolan you mentioned earlier, can he make a dish like this?” Mrs. Jiang, who had already finished eating, asked.

The reason she spoke only now was that she had been savoring the delightful taste in her mouth until now.

Having been married to Sir for so many years, it was the first time she had tasted food that was so shocking.

“No, he can’t,” Zhang Guanghang put down his bowl.

Chicken douhua at Jiang Weiming’s level, no one other than himself could probably make it.

Not to mention the chicken that had been completely de-fibered, pounded with the back of a knife until it was as tender as snow, which, when tasted, gave no hint of grit and had a texture so delicate that it was indistinguishable from douhua. Just the soup alone, as clear as water, was something few chefs could achieve.

It was a masterpiece of the pinnacle, and a work of extreme perfection.

Zhang Guanghang could hardly believe that this chicken douhua was made by Jiang Weiming, even though he knew of Jiang Weiming’s rich experience and exquisite culinary skills. But after all, the man was 99 years old. At such an advanced age, one’s physical strength and energy wane significantly, even the sense of taste is severely diminished.

Zhang Guanghang couldn’t figure out where Jiang Weiming found the energy to complete such a complex and refined dish.

“If he cannot make it, isn’t that the end of it? I really don’t understand what you all were worried about earlier,” Mrs. Jiang said with a look of helplessness. “Although I haven’t been in business, and don’t understand those matters you’re involved in, back in the day, there were two state-run restaurants in city z. When Grandpa Feng was the head chef, the other state-run restaurant never did well. Sometimes, new leaders who’d been working for months wouldn’t even know that the other place was a state-run restaurant.”

“Later, when it closed down, it was that restaurant that went first. Not to say something out of turn, but had Jiankang not succeeded to the position of head chef, and had we two old folks not retired to the countryside to raise chickens and pigs, that state-run restaurant might not have closed down at all,” remarked Mrs. Jiang.

Jiang Jiankang hung his head in shame, feeling indifferent in his heart and even longing for another bowl of chicken douhua.

Zhang Guanghang and Jiang Feng were both taken aback.

“So what’s there to worry about? Rolan can’t match up to us. The ones who should be worried are them, not us.”

Jiang Feng was about to say that Jiang Weiming was already very old, and the doctors had advised him to rest more and not to overexert himself, making it impossible to cook every day.Nôv(el)B\\jnn

But then he thought, if not Granduncle Weiming, his own grandfather could do it!

Rolan might be the head chef of a two-star Michelin restaurant, but Sir might not necessarily be worse than him!

Even if the competition across the street is tough, there’s only one Rolan. It’s not like a second one could just pop up. Their own place was brimming with talent and burgeoning masters: Jiang Feng himself, Zhang Guanghang, Wu Minqi, Ji Xue, and the two Dong brothers—altogether six people who could surely match one Rolan.

In terms of cooking skills, they weren’t inferior; in terms of location, they weren’t lacking either. The competition was situated in a new shopping mall on the entire top floor, while they occupied a standalone restaurant within Beiping’s second ring. The competition had the boost of a two-star Michelin prestige, but they had the quality assurance of a “Taste” magazine cover.

This was by no means a one-sided slaughter, but a battle of equals.

Who would lose and who would win was still uncertain, who could have guessed…

Jiang Feng looked at the empty bowl on the table.

They were sure to win.

Don’t ask where his confidence came from—if you must know, it’s the chicken tofu pudding.

“Yes, Mom, you’re right, you’re so insightful. How could we have not thought of that!” At the same time Jiang Feng realized it, Mrs. Wang Xiulian also caught on—not only did she catch on, but she even started contemplating how much to price the chicken tofu pudding.

Wang Xiulian felt deeply that the bowl on the table was too big; they couldn’t serve such a large portion. Eating too much of such a good thing could easily become tiresome. It should be made smaller and more exquisite to have a proper presentation.

Yes, smaller. Served in the smallest bowl, and with less soup too.

Because Jiang Zaidi didn’t understand the context, he had no idea what Mrs. Jiang was talking about. He just looked at Jiang Xiaoran with eyes full of envy, making Jiang Xiaoran’s skin crawl.

“Zaidi, my cousin, what’s wrong?” Jiang Xiaoran thought to himself that there was no use staring at him since he had already finished the chicken tofu pudding in his bowl.

“Xiaoran, I really envy you!” exclaimed Jiang Zaidi, his face full of envy, while Jiang Shoucheng nodded frantically in agreement.

Wang Hao also nodded frantically in agreement, but his reason for doing so was different from Jiang Xiaoran’s. He didn’t just envy Jiang Xiaoran; he envied everyone present.

“Why would you envy me?” Jiang Xiaoran was completely baffled.

“Being able to eat Granduncle Weiming’s cooking all these years, you are truly blessed!” Jiang Zaidi didn’t know much about Jiang Weiming’s situation. He was simply putting himself in other’s shoes, believing that since he had been eating Sir’s cooking since he was young, Jiang Xiaoran must have also been eating Jiang Weiming’s cooking all along.

Jiang Zaidi even wanted to switch places with Jiang Xiaoran, thinking that although his own grandfather was great, Granduncle Weiming was even better!

Not only was Granduncle Weiming kind-tempered and an excellent cook, but he was also always willing to cook for them, basically a dreamy grandpa straight out of a textbook!

Of course, he didn’t mean in any way that his own grandpa was inadequate; he simply wanted to trade grandpas with Jiang Xiaoran.

“I haven’t though,” Jiang Xiaoran explained with confusion. “I haven’t lived with my grandpa all these years. Not even when I was a child. I only went to my grandpa’s place for a New Year’s Eve dinner during the holidays. Truth be told, if I count all the times I’ve eaten my grandpa’s cooking over the years, it’s just those dozen or so New Year’s Eve dinners.”

“This chicken tofu pudding is also my first time having it. I didn’t know my grandpa could make it.”

Then Jiang Xiaoran realized that the look in Jiang Zaidi’s, Jiang Shoucheng’s, and Wang Hao’s eyes changed when they looked at him.

It changed to one of heartache, one of severity, one of reproof.

“Xiaoran, you actually, you actually…” Jiang Zaidi was so pained he couldn’t finish his sentence.

“It’s really…” Jiang Shoucheng was so angry he couldn’t get the words out.

“It’s just…” Wang Hao was so envious and angry he was lost for words.

“That’s too much!” The three of them exclaimed in unison.

Jiang Xiaoran: ?

Why do I feel like I’m now the nation’s sinner?