The Game of Life

Master Jiang skillfully split the fish head open from the back, tore off the black membrane on the surface, washed it clean, and then rubbed both sides of the fish head with salt and cooking wine before letting it marinate on the cutting board.

The fish was absolutely wild, a lively and plump headed carp before its death. These pollution-free wild carps were not easy to find. Along the way, Jiang Feng had seen, except for the deep mountains, that the river water near the cities was particularly polluted.

While allowing the fish head to slowly marinate, Master Jiang began preparing the supplementary ingredients such as green onions, ginger, and garlic. The garlic used was tender, sliced; old ginger was minced, and green onions were chopped into flowers and segments. The boiling water in the steamer had long been ready, bubbling and steaming. Master Jiang then poured half a bowl of cold water into it, waited for a moment, flipped the fish head over to feel it, and judged that the marination was about right, just as the water in the pot reached a rolling boil.

The prepared supplementary ingredients were spread on a plate. He placed the fish head in, topped it with the remaining ingredients, covered it with the lid, and steamed it on high heat.

Since the fish head was quite large, Master Jiang deliberately steamed it for a while longer to infuse flavors and reduce the fishiness. After a few minutes, he felt that the time was just about right. He lifted the lid, drained the off-flavored water in the dish, poured in most of the homemade chopped chili sauce, covered the dish tightly, and from a distance, all that could be seen was a sea of red. He then sprinkled a generous amount of Sichuan peppercorns, characteristic of Shu, topped with sugar and other seasonings, and finally sprinkled a little minced ginger. The fish head, now tightly surrounded by chopped chili, Sichuan peppercorns, and seasoning, was put back into the steamer for a high-heat steaming session.

Though the lid was on, the entire back kitchen was still filled with the spicy aroma of the chopped chili.

Master Jiang judged the fire control based on the aroma and deemed the time just about right, then heated up a small pot of oil. He took the fish head out of the steamer, pushed aside the chopped chili topping, sprinkled the green onion segments over it, and poured the sizzling hot oil from the top down, starting at the mouth of the fish.

"Shua!”

The scalding hot oil met with the fresh green onion segments, the steam-cooked and seasoned fish head, and the chopped chili, emitting a sizzling series of sounds. The aroma of the fish head mixed with that of the chopped chili instantly burst forth, visually dominating the entire back kitchen, and continued to disperse outward.

While the oil was still sizzling, Master Jiang waited for half a minute and then carried the chopped chili fish head to the serving window.

"Jingjing, the dish is ready,” Master Jiang called out loudly.

Wang Jing sprang up instantly and dashed to the serving window like a hungry wolf to grab the chopped chili fish head, not forgetting to shout back,

“Master Jiang, we still need Mapo tofu, spicy diced chicken, and minced pork with eggplant!”

"You’re hitting that young man up for too much; you might scare him off,” Master Jiang said with a chuckle.

Wang Jing went back to the kitchen to serve rice.

The hot oil on the chopped chili fish head continued to crackle and pop. Han Guishan had never tasted this dish before and, on a whim, took a bite of the chopped chili.

In an instant, his tears came out, though it was unclear whether from the spiciness or the heat.

"Hey hey hey, why the hurry, man? You’re from Shenzhen but dare to try chopped chili here in Shu; got burned by the spice, didn’t you? Let me tell you, the fish cheek meat prepared by Master Jiang is the most tender. I guess it’s not that spicy. Here, let me give you a piece,” Wang Jing insisted, ignoring Han Guishan’s refusal, and put a tender piece of fish cheek in his bowl.

Han Guishan obediently ate it.

Jiang Feng was instantly enveloped in a white fog.

Emerging from Han Guishan’s memory, Jiang Feng turned off the attribute panel first thing and took out his phone to search for the state-owned restaurant in Shu from 1987.

No luck.

Though Baidu claims to have all the answers, it’s just a claim.

Jiang Feng decided to make a special trip to the capital city of Shu after a while, ideally after final exams, maybe even managing to find someone before the Spring Festival to surprise Sir.

He remembered the location of that state-owned restaurant clearly; though many years had passed and things had changed, it was not just some small shop but a state-operated one. Someone surely must remember it. Jiang Feng believed that as long as he found the right place, he would definitely locate that Master Jiang.

He had his plans all laid out and even booked his ticket in advance before Jiang Feng finally put away his phone contentedly and opened the attribute panel.

[Chopped Chili Fish Head B-grade]

Producer: Jiang Weiming

Dish details: An excellently prepared dish in both ingredient selection and culinary skills, the difficult control of fire being the dish’s most outstanding feature. It is one of the 276 chopped chili fish heads made by Jiang Weiming over his lifetime, remarkable only because it became the dish that sealed Han Guishan’s relationship with his wife, Wang Jing, making it an unforgettable memory from his younger days. Consuming it grants a 24-hour increase in the chances of a successful confession.

Daily production limit (0/5)

Friendly reminder: This dish’s grade exceeds the player’s cooking level; there’s a high chance of failure during production.

Jiang Feng: w(”o°)w

This dish, it’s magical!

What is this miraculous attribute that increases confession success rate within 24 hours? Love is found within a single thread, and here is a red thread flavored with chopped chili fish head!

Jiang Weiming, from the name alone, it’s assured he is the elder brother of Sir, there’s no doubt about it!

In fact, while watching Jiang Weiming prepare the dish in his memory, Jiang Feng felt it would be difficult for him to pull it off; the chopped chili fish head was undeniably a complex dish, rich in ingredients and with strict demands for both fire control and seasoning. With Jiang Feng’s current skill level, it would be hard to match Jiang Weiming’s expertise.

However, having finally added a B-grade dish to the cookbook was a good thing.

Although he couldn’t make it at the moment, it served as motivation to keep improving.

"Jiang Feng, someone’s looking to buy your Teletubbies!” Ji Yue’s shout brought Jiang Feng back to reality.

What’s B-grade or A-grade compared to the need to save money? Just the high-speed train ticket had cost hundreds, and earning money diligently was the right path.

Jiang Feng wiped his hands and went to the storeroom to pick radishes..