The Game of Life

Chapter 664: Chapter 662: True Capitalists Even Have Black Blood

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Peng Changping was about to instruct his disciples on how to handle the bird’s nest used in the clear soup, and Jiang Feng thought it was fortunate that he came on exactly the right day to witness and learn the Tan Family Cuisine’s secret recipe in bird’s nest preparation. Then, the chefs from Yonghe House showed him through their actions that he was expecting too much.

It wasn’t just the bird’s nest he couldn’t see—he couldn’t even spot Peng Changping.

There were neither too many nor too few chefs from the Tan Family Cuisine Lineage in Yonghe House; there were about a dozen, and surrounding Peng Changping in a tight circle was not a problem for them. Chef Chi, because he couldn’t occupy the best spot due to something Peng Changping had said, could only watch from the side, but thanks to his seniority, he was in a much better position on the side than Jiang Feng, who could only look on from the outer edges.

In front of him was a chicken soup that didn’t require his direct involvement but needed constant attention, and beside him was a crowd, with Peng Changping at the center, explaining and working on the bird’s nest. In such a situation, Jiang Feng could do nothing but keep an eye on the chicken soup, and the whole day, he listened to Peng Changping’s explanations without any actual demonstration.

“Look, this bird’s nest has been soaked in warm water for over three hours and repeatedly rinsed with clean water to remove impurities. Although the size and whiteness don’t compare to those expanded with alkaline water, only by soaking in warm water can we retain the original flavor and texture of the bird’s nest. And only a bird’s nest prepared like this can become soft and tender without falling apart when steamed with soup in a water bath,” Peng Changping’s voice came from the crowd.

“But Master, we’ve followed your method before, and when it came out of the pot, it was never soft without crumbling. Although it’s smooth, it’s far from the crunchiness you emphasized as the most exquisite aspect, and the flavor is also…” Chef Chi hadn’t finished speaking when he was interrupted by Peng Changping’s sigh.

“Watch me do it first, then ask your questions after.”

Then Jiang Feng heard the following dialogue—

“This clear soup must be made with chicken, duck, pork knuckles, dried scallops, Jinhua Ham… I’ve seen and tasted the soup you’ve been making these days. It’s passable, but the amounts of dried scallops and ham are slightly overpowering. Pay attention to that when making soup next time. Pouring the clear soup in is a technique, watch carefully.”

“Did you see it clearly?”

“Did you understand it?”

“This step requires close attention, note the order in which I add the seasonings.”

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“Adding soup in a water bath also requires careful measurement of both soup and water, make sure you watch it carefully later.”

“Here…”

“…”

Jiang Feng: ?

Reporting to the teacher, I didn’t see anything!

After a full session of teaching by Peng Changping, Jiang Feng only caught bits and pieces, and even he wasn’t clear on what those were until he could see the teaching video.

However, Jiang Feng himself had no expectations of stealing the essence of Tan Family Cuisine in such a short time. If it was meant to be, he would encounter it again in detail in his memory. He hadn’t even fully mastered his own family’s dishes, so attempting to devour another family’s cuisine was likely going to lead to either bursting or being beaten.

There were many dishes in the Swallow-wing Feast, but there were also many hands to help. A bit done here, a bit done there, with the most critical tasks left to Peng Changping, the progress was rapid. Jiang Feng watched over that pot of chicken soup until four in the afternoon; once the chicken soup was commandeered, Jiang Feng was out of work. Lu Sheng, leading Xu Cheng, went to the office to choose tea and did not return, and Jiang Feng, with nothing else to do and not wanting to be in the way in the kitchen, went to find them.

Jiang Feng knew the way to Lu Sheng’s office and was surprised to find the door open upon arrival, even hearing laughter from inside. He stepped in and saw Zhang Chu, Xu Cheng, Lu Sheng, and Zhang Zhiyuan sitting, drinking tea, and chatting.

The laughter was indeed coming from Zhang Chu.

It turned out that Zhang Zhiyuan and Zhang Chu had already arrived, but for some reason, they did not go to the kitchen and instead came directly to Lu Sheng’s office.

Seeing Jiang Feng, Lu Sheng quickly got up to greet him, asking which tea he would like to drink. Without waiting for an answer, he brewed a cup of Pu’er for him—he was well aware that Jiang Feng knew little about tea.

“Jiang Feng, senior.” Zhang Zhiyuan nodded in greeting to Jiang Feng.

Jiang Feng sat down: “What were you guys talking about just now? I heard Sir Zhang laughing as soon as I reached the doorway.”

“I was sharing some amusing stories from when I was an apprentice, and somehow, they ended up laughing before me, the storyteller,” said Zhang Chu with a laugh, clearly in a good mood after having an enjoyable conversation with Lu Sheng and Xu Cheng.

“`

Xu Cheng continued where Zhang Chu left off, “I didn’t expect you to be an apprentice of the Golden Carpenter. A few years ago at an auction, I even bid on a set of golden phoebe chairs and tables he made during the Republic of China era. The craftsmanship was beyond reproach. It’s just unfortunate that later a piece of wood broke off one of the chairs, and although I had a master repair it, it didn’t feel quite right.”

Zhang Chu seriously analyzed, “That might be because the technique used for the repair was wrong. My master’s skills were indeed unique, and back in the day in Beiping City, they were unparalleled. Is this chair in Beiping? If so, I can take a look when I’m free tomorrow. However, it’s been quite a few years since I’ve done any carpentry work, and I’m not sure if I can still be of any help.”

Xu Cheng shook his head: “That set of tables and chairs is at my son’s place, not in Beiping.”

Zhang Chu clicked his tongue in regret: “That’s really a pity. Although my master made many things, there weren’t many large pieces like a whole set of golden phoebe tables and chairs. He passed away early, and if it hadn’t been for Manager Yin’s Qian Gong Bed, he and his fellow apprentice wouldn’t have…”

Jiang Feng and Xu Cheng didn’t understand, but Lu Sheng did. Seeing that the original cheerful atmosphere was starting to become heavy, Lu Sheng promptly interjected with a joke: “By the way, Jiang Feng, how is the kitchen doing? We haven’t lost any ingredients, have we?”

“No, we haven’t lost anything. Master Peng is still preparing the Swallow-wing Feast. Since I had nothing to do there and feared I’d get in the way, I came out,” Jiang Feng said. “Sir Zhang, perhaps you would like to go to the kitchen first? Master Peng would certainly be delighted to see you.”

“I’ve already been there. I went to check when I first arrived. Seeing Master Peng surrounded by so many people, I figured he was busy and didn’t want to disturb him. When he was young, he had an average appearance and seemed very ordinary, but I never expected that he would have such a presence in his old age. If Mr. Lu hadn’t told me it was him, I wouldn’t have recognized him,” Zhang Chu sighed. “I just wonder if he’d recognize me.”

“Time wears away at everyone. Back in the day, I was also considered a handsome young man in the nearby alleys, and Guixiang liked me because I was good-looking.”

Zhang Zhiyuan: …

“Grandfather, before you came here, didn’t you say you wanted to go eat at Shunhe Building? I’ll see if I can reserve a table now,” Zhang Zhiyuan tried to shift the topic.

Unfortunately, this change of subject was too abrupt, and everyone noticed.

Jiang Feng: …

You might not believe it, but your grandfather was truly handsome back in the day. Your grandmother was so smitten that she even knocked on the window frame to pursue him.

“Why go to Shunhe Building? If you want to go there, it’s better to go to Tongde House, or if that’s not possible, Eight-treasure House would do. If you’re looking to taste the authentic Shunhe Building flavors, I’ll contact the former head chef of Eight-treasure House and see if I can arrange a table for you,” Xu Cheng said.

Zhang Chu: ?

Jiang Feng: ?

Is there a problem with my ears, or with your logic? Why contact the former head chef of Eight-treasure House if you want to taste Shunhe Building’s flavors?

Could it be that Ling Guangzhao’s talent for poaching staff was so strong that he could even snatch the head chefs from one of Beiping’s former ‘Five Emperors’?

However, speaking of which, although Beiping had five well-established old restaurants that were jokingly referred to as the ‘Five Emperors’ before the opening of Taifeng Building (which turned them into the ‘Six Emperors’), only Eight-treasure House and Yonghe House were the most famous among them.

Eight-treasure House was renowned because it originally had very strong capabilities, and although its current strength isn’t as good, it knows how to promote itself with advertisements and marketing. Yonghe House was famous for its Tan Family Cuisine, which has always held an unspoken position as the leader among the Five Emperors.

Among the remaining three, Tongde House was slightly better, while the other two became as unremarkable to the public as strangers. Especially Shunhe Building, it was practically a slacker, consistently forgotten by the masses for its status among the Five Emperors.

Seeing Jiang Feng and Zhang Chu simultaneously slap a big question mark on their own faces, Xu Cheng hurriedly explained: “It’s normal that you don’t know; the matter was quite famous and sensational back in the day, probably about twenty or thirty years ago; I also heard it from others. Shunhe Building’s former owner was too harsh on the chefs, giving them too much work for too little pay, practically treating them like mules or machines, almost as if they were bound by indenture contracts from the old society. Eventually, the chefs at Shunhe Building couldn’t stand it and left en masse. Eight-treasure House took in a large number of chefs, boosting its strength and surpassing the others. The remaining chefs were also divided among other restaurants.”

“With the chefs gone, Shunhe Building’s signature dishes and unique techniques were also exposed. Later, even after changing owners and hiring other masters at a high price, the restaurant’s reputation had been so tarnished by its past that, while the name and fame remained, business was always lukewarm. If you’re nostalgic for the taste from the past, it’s better to go to Eight-treasure House, as half of Shunhe Building’s former chefs’ disciples and apprentices are there, even though their skills aren’t what they used to be,” Xu Cheng said.

“What a pity,” Zhang Chu lamented. “Back then, Shunhe Building and Yonghe House were the most famous in Beiping. The last time I visited, I was too busy and didn’t get a chance to dine at Shunhe Building. I was hoping to try it this time… what a shame.”

Jiang Feng was also taken aback; he had not expected Eight-treasure House to have risen to prominence in such a manner. No wonder Ling Guangzhao was so keen on poaching talent – it was part of the restaurant’s business culture.

He had always prided himself on being a capitalist, but compared to the former owner of Shunhe Building, he was not just a capitalist but practically a philanthropist.

A true capitalist has even their blood running black.