The Game of Life

Chapter 556: Chapter 554 Weak and Pitiable But Hungry (4000 words)

“`

Making the paste is only the first step in preparing the chicken pea flower dish, and the only step Master Jiang Weiming would allow Jiang Feng and Wu Minqi to participate in. In the following steps, Jiang Feng, and Wu Minqi could no longer try their hand; they could only stand and watch from the side.

“Actually, making this kind of exquisite dish is more suited for young people like you,” Jiang Weiming said with a smile while stirring the egg whites in the bowl. “You have more strength and speed, making the chicken paste both quickly and well. Unlike me, just picking out the tendons can take me over half an hour squinting my eyes.”

“Granduncle Weiming, let me help you stir the egg whites,” Jiang Feng felt that stirring egg whites was something he could still do.

Jiang Weiming shook his head, his hands never stopping their motion: “The person making the dish must stir the egg whites themselves; it cannot be done by someone else. Once the bowl is full of foam, and the density of the foam reaches a certain level, then it’s time to mix it with the chicken paste. Only then can the chicken paste achieve a fluffy texture, giving that mouthfeel of pea flowers when eaten.”

“You guys know this feeling, it can’t be clearly explained with words; you have to rely on your own judgment. Once you’ve done it enough, you’ll understand approximately how much is right. Someone watching from the side will absolutely not be able to tell.”

Jiang Weiming continued to stir the egg whites at a consistent speed until the surface was completely covered with fine foam similar to beer foam, and the egg whites underneath were no longer visible. Only then did he stop, taking a large amount of the foam to mix into the chicken paste.

By this step, the pea flower part of the chicken pea flower was essentially complete.

Chicken pea flower is a dish that uses very little broth, compared to ordinary dishes cooked with broth, it’s a real savant at saving broth. That is why, after finishing so many servings of chicken pea flower yesterday, Jiang Weiming had some broth left over to use today.

Of course, the contribution of those two enormous thermoses he brought from Magic City was indisputable.

Those were indeed the largest thermoses Jiang Feng had ever seen in his life.

After processing the chicken paste, the next step was cooking. The Taifeng Building might not have much else, but it surely had a variety of pots and pans, ranging in size from very large to particularly small, encompassing every size you could want.

Jiang Weiming divided the broth into five parts, heating four parts and bringing one part to a light boil. He then added the small pieces of chicken paste into the lightly boiling broth. In just a few minutes, once they set, they could be taken out, placed separately in bowls, and then covered with the heated broth. With that, the chicken pea flower dish was considered complete.

Small white porcelain bowls, broth clear as water, tender and fluffy chicken paste so smooth there wasn’t a single pore or indent to be seen, just like the fresh pea flower Jiang Feng had eaten the day before.

“Don’t underestimate this final step of cooking. The broth is heated to a light boil, but to what degree it boils, and when to add the chicken paste and when to take it out after it sets, there’s no room for carelessness. A moment’s distraction and you can’t achieve this effect,” Jiang Weiming explained. After a moment’s thought, feeling that his words lacked persuasive power, he used his only apprentice as an example.

“Take Weiming’s chicken pea flower, for example. All the previous steps were completed by me, he was just responsible for the last step of cooking, but he couldn’t achieve this effect. Although the chicken paste that solidified had the appearance of pea flower, it just didn’t feel like pea flower. You could tell with the naked eye.”

“Chicken pea flower is a dish where both color and taste are very important; in fact, its color outweighs its taste to a certain extent. It’s different from plain boiled cabbage; what’s important for plain boiled cabbage is the freshness from the broth. But the real appeal of the chicken pea flower lies in its ability to deceive the diner visually. The surprise comes from the contrast between vision and taste, making chicken look like pea flowers, a juxtaposition of vegetarian with meat, and that’s where the soul of the chicken pea flower lies,” Jiang Weiming said.

“Alright, let’s serve the dish to the customers, they’ve been waiting for so long they must be getting anxious.”

Jiang Feng and Wu Minqi carefully carried two bowls each and brought the four bowls of chicken pea flower to the serving window.

Jiang Feng also didn’t forget to remind his colleague at the serving window: “Remember to tell the waiters to be careful when serving, don’t spill it. There are only four servings of this dish left, and it can’t be remade—the ingredients are gone.”

“Got it, boss!”

Meanwhile, Han Guishan was getting a bit impatient in the private room.

Mainly because he was hungry.

Anticipating Taifeng Building’s opening, Han Guishan had deliberately controlled the amount he ate for breakfast and lunch, eating a bit less than usual – only a bowl of white rice for lunch.

The feeling of hunger enveloped him, making him want to gnaw on a few more pickled vegetable dumplings.

“Waiter, could you hurry up the dishes? We’ve been waiting nearly 20 minutes and not a single dish has arrived,” Han Guishan complained.

“Mr. Han, Mr. Xu just said to serve the chicken pea flower first. If you’d like to start with another dish, I’ll go to the kitchen and hurry them right now, and we’ll be able to serve you very quickly,” the waiter said with an apologetic face.

“You told him to serve the chicken pea flower first?” Han Guishan felt as if he might have been so hungry he’d lost his memory, as he couldn’t recall that detail at all.

“`

“I discussed this with him while you were in the restroom,” Xu Cheng said casually as he sipped tea.

“Then for the waiter, just let the kitchen know to go ahead and serve the other dishes first,” Han Guishan said.

“No need to tell the waiter. Have them start with the chicken bean curd first. You can go ask how long for the chicken bean curd, no rush, just let me know the time,” Xu Cheng said.

Han Guishan: ?

Seeing Han Guishan looking at him with a puzzled face, along with Wang Jing and Han Youxin, who were seizing every minute and second to play with their phones, raising their heads to look, Xu Cheng explained, “Once the other dishes are served, if you eat them first, it’ll change the taste in your mouth. By the time you eat the chicken bean curd, it will no longer be in its most perfect form.”

“Besides, it’s better to eat these fine dishes first.”

Han Guishan: ?

We are just eating a meal, and you treat it like a food review.

“Isn’t that a bit much, Xu? It’s just a portion of chicken bean curd. Why are you making it seem like it’s… like…” Han Guishan suddenly couldn’t think of an adjective, “You weren’t this particular when you were a judge last year.”

“Different situations call for different approaches,” Xu Cheng once again picked up a hot towel to wipe his hands.

“Wife, is Master Jiang’s chicken bean curd that delicious?” Han Guishan turned to ask Wang Jing, who had worked in the same state-run restaurant as Jiang Weiming. Han Guishan figured Wang Jing must have tried Jiang Weiming’s chicken bean curd.

“I don’t know, I’ve never had Master Jiang’s chicken bean curd. Besides, I didn’t work at the state-run restaurant very long, not even a full year before you convinced me to resign and start peddling goods. Back then I was filling in for my mother, and Master Jiang was famous for his chopped pepper fish head. Whenever leaders came down to inspect, they were mainly served the chopped pepper fish head by Master Jiang, so I only know that his chopped pepper fish head was praised by foreign guests,” Wang Jing said.

“Actually, Master Jiang can make many dishes, and I think that several of them are much tastier than the chopped pepper fish head. Maybe because the chopped pepper fish head was famous, that was what was typically served to investors or leaders when they came. There is a small regret,” Wang Jing continued, “Back then, Master Jiang and Master Wu were both very famous in our place. Anyone mentioning a chef would bring up their names. Now the only famous one left is Master Wu, and there probably aren’t many who remember Master Jiang.”

“It’s okay, being famous now is what counts. Isn’t Xu being considered for that famous chef list? If he gets on that, he’ll be famous,” Han Guishan comforted her.

“Let’s not talk about that during the meal. It gives me a headache just thinking about it,” Xu Cheng said with a face full of resistance and despair about work.

“What happened? Did something go wrong?” Han Guishan asked curiously.

“It’s the judging…”

“Hello, here’s the chicken bean curd. We’ll quickly serve the remaining dishes as soon as possible. Do you want the Sweet and Sour Yam served last?” the waiter asked as he came in with two portions of chicken bean curd.

“Serve it last,” Xu Cheng replied absently, his eyes fixed on the two portions of chicken bean curd that the waiter was carrying.

So lifelike it was almost deceptive.

These four words said it all.

The waiter set the chicken bean curd on the table. Han Youxin looked up at the dish that had arrived, realized it was two bowls of bean curd without sugar yet added, lost interest at once, and returned to playing with his phone, completely unaware of what he had missed.

“Wow, this looks really close to the real thing, just like actual bean curd,” Han Guishan exclaimed in surprise. When he tried to take out his phone to snap a photo, he realized it was in Han Youxin’s hands, so he took it from Han Youxin and clicked away at the chicken bean curd.

“Youxin, do you want to properly try the chicken bean curd?” Han Guishan first asked his son.

“No thanks, Dad. Can I play on the phone a bit longer?” Han Youxin shook his head.

After posting on his social media, Han Guishan handed the phone back to Han Youxin, “Play for a little while longer, but when the other dishes arrive, you can’t play anymore and have to eat properly. You can only get your phone from Mom after you finish your homework when we get back. If Mom goes to the beauty salon, ask Mrs. Hu to call her for permission before you can take your phone to play. No cheating, understand?”

“Okay.”

“Mr. Xu, you can have this bowl; my wife and I can share one,” Han Guishan said as he took the bowl of chicken tofu that was closer to him, scooped a few pieces into his own bowl, and then handed the bowl with the clear soup to Wang Jing.

Xu Cheng was already tucking in.

Enraptured, as if at any moment he could ride the wind back home and ascend to immortality.

Wang Jing took the bowl and had a sip of the soup first. After finishing it, she was stunned, then took another sip, and another, sipping little by little, and in a matter of seconds, the small amount of clear soup that was in the bowl was all gone, she even forgot to leave some for her son.

“Youxin, do you want to try some chicken tofu?” After finishing the soup, Wang Jing finally remembered her son, but completely forgot about her husband.

Han Youxin was somewhat reluctant.

“Try a bite; it’s really tasty,” Wang Jing urged, naturally wanting her own child to have the good stuff.

Only then did Han Youxin nod. Han Guishan, who had not yet tasted it, felt a bit helpless: “If he doesn’t want to eat it, don’t force him.”

Han Youxin had already reached out his little hand to grab the spoon and scooped up a small half-spoonful of chicken tofu from Wang Jing’s bowl, opening his mouth wide to put it in.

With hardly any chewing, Han Youxin was just stunned for a second before he swallowed it directly.

“Mom, I want to eat another bite.”

Wang Jing moved the bowl over.

Han Youxin took another bite, as if he had opened the door to a new world. At 10 years old, it was the first time he realized that, although Taifeng Building had his most hated herbal dumplings, it also had this tofu, which he had never tasted before—better than chocolate bars, potato chips, wafer cookies, and cheese cakes.

Tofu!

Even without added sugar, it was tastier than all other tofus and, no, it was tastier than anything else edible!

“Mom, I want to eat another bite.”

And so, Han Youxin and Wang Jing took turns, one bite at a time, and quickly the half bowl of chicken tofu was nearly finished.

Han Guishan, who had witnessed all this, was puzzled: ?

Han Guishan couldn’t help but look at the chicken tofu in the bowl without soup, realizing he might have underestimated Jiang Weiming’s culinary skills.

He had never seen his snack-loving son, who normally disliked meals, eat so happily and eagerly.

Han Guishan tried a bite of the chicken tofu.

!!!

Han Guishan was shocked, almost unable to believe his own taste buds, and looked down at the chicken tofu in the bowl.

It was chicken tofu, indeed, and without any soup.

But… how could it be so delicious?

There was actually something in the world that tasted better than pickled dumplings!

Just as Han Guishan was about to take a second bite to savor the wonderfulness of the chicken tofu in the bowl, he saw his son gazing at him eagerly.

Looking pitiful, small and helpless yet wanting to eat.

“Dad, I want to eat another bite of tofu,” Han Youxin said pitifully.

Han Guishan: …

He wished he could pretend to be old and hard of hearing, but unfortunately, he wasn’t that old yet.

Han Guishan found Wang Jing also looking at him.

Han Guishan sighed.

What else could he do when his only son wanted to eat? Everything was for the child.

“Han Youxin, some things have to be agreed upon in advance. If you want to eat chicken tofu, that’s fine, but it depends on your behavior. When we get home today…”

“I’ll definitely finish my homework before 8 o’clock!” Han Youxin had even learned to jump in with answers.

“This weekend…”

“I will definitely go to my piano lesson, and I won’t slack off this time!”

Han Guishan gave up half of his own chicken tofu and, like Wang Jing, the two of them shared it, taking turns with each bite.

After finishing, Han Youxin still seemed somewhat unsatisfied: “Dad, can we order this tofu again next time?”

“That depends if the restaurant has it. You know, they don’t have every dish every day,” Han Guishan tried to explain to Han Youxin.

“Then let’s come here to eat every day. If we come every day, there will definitely be a day when they have it!” Han Youxin thought he had come up with a brilliant idea, probably the most clever idea he’d ever had since he was born.

Han Guishan: …

That’s my son, thinking just like me.

“No problem, Dad will bring you here to eat every day, even at lunchtime!”

“Cough cough.” Wang Jing coughed heavily twice.

“But it’s probably not very sensible to come to the same place to eat every day, so we can eat here less often, say five days a week and go somewhere else on weekends,” Han Guishan hurriedly amended his offer, thinking Wang Jing didn’t agree with his suggestion.

“Since it’s been said, we have to stick to it. How can we go back on our word? And to think you’re a father, changing your mind right in front of your son,” Wang Jing said sternly, “Remember to call me before meals from now on, it’s been many years since I’ve had Master Jiang’s cooking, and I miss it.”

While the Han Guishan family was having a heated discussion about making Taifeng Building their regular dining place, Xu Cheng finally finished his portion of chicken tofu and put down his spoon.

“Remember to let me know before eating next time, so we can eat at the same table instead of booking two private rooms,” Xu Cheng said.

Han Guishan: ?

“And next time we order food, let your assistant do it; your hands are too slow,” Xu Cheng said with a look of disdain.

Han Guishan: ???