THE GAME OF LIFE

Chapter 745: Chapter 744: The Taste of Immortal Grass

Children all over the world, no matter their age, no matter the era or place, upon hearing the three words “Dinner is ready,” are definitely the most prompt, enthusiastic, and eager to act.

Jiang Feng was ahead of Jiang Huiqin and Jiang Chengde, dashing through the wall into the main hall, witnessing first-hand how his seven younger versions of grandfathers, fourteen hands among them, managed in just a few breaths’ time to neatly arrange the bowls and chopsticks and prepare for the meal as fast as lightning.

“Auntie, the dumplings aren’t ready yet, wow…” the three inexperienced youngsters gasped in amazement.

“Eat the dishes first to avoid them getting cold, and we’ll cook the dumplings after finishing the vegetables,” Jiang Huiqin said with a smile. She and Jiang Chengde placed the dishes on the table, and she fetched a bottle of sorghum liquor for Jiang Chengde from a nearby cabinet before sitting down to join the meal.

Jiang Weiguo and Jiang Weiping, already famished, couldn’t wait for Jiang Huiqin to sit down and immediately grabbed their chopsticks to pick up food. But their little hands grappled clumsily with the oversized chopsticks, losing grip of the shrimp—snag one and drop another. The shrimp fell onto the table, and they continued to fumble, drop, and try again, failing to secure a single shrimp in their bowls even after several attempts.

It was only when Jiang Huiqin could no longer bear to watch that she helped the two brothers each get two shrimp into their bowls, thus concluding the comedic shrimp-grabbing ordeal.

“Don’t help them with their food; they’re not incapable of using chopsticks. When eating, you mustn’t rush. How can you pick anything up if you’re flustered with your chopsticks? Just take it slow and pick it up yourself,” said Jiang Chengde.

“We don’t have custom-made chopsticks that are especially small. Naturally, they’re not suited for Weiguo and Weiping. Besides, I won’t get many more chances to help them with their food, so why not take this opportunity to do it a few more times,” Jiang Huiqin laughed.

“Auntie, why won’t you be able to help us with our food in the future?” Jiang Weiping asked as he peeled a shrimp, as delicately as he ate.

His method of eating was of the gentle sort. Jiang Weiguo, on the other hand, ate with more gusto, biting directly into his food.

“Auntie is getting married in a few days. I won’t be living at home after that, and since I won’t be eating with you, how could I help you with your food?” Jiang Huiqin said gently.

“Then, will you come back home to eat during the holidays?” asked Jiang Weiguo.

Jiang Huiqin shook her head.

“Will we make zongzi together during the Dragon Boat Festival?”

Jiang Huiqin continued to shake her head.

Jiang Weiguo was getting anxious: “What about New Year’s? Will we still make dumplings together for New Year’s?”

Jiang Huiqin smiled and patted his head, still shaking her head.

“But…”

“Alright, little brother, when Auntie gets married, it’ll be just like Red Plum next door. I’ll be moving to Mingyi’s house. How could it be the same as it is now?” explained Jiang Weize, the eldest among them.

Jiang Weiguo and Jiang Weiping both pouted as if they could hang oil bottles from their lips, their faces full of displeasure.

Jiang Huiqin couldn’t help but laugh upon seeing their expressions: “What’s the matter? What’s gotten our sixth and seventh brothers so upset?”

“I don’t like Brother Mingyi anymore,” Jiang Weiping declared indignantly.

“You don’t like your Brother Mingyi now? When he used to come to our house and bring you all those snacks, you liked him a lot, didn’t you? You used to call ‘Brother Mingyi’ so affectionately, your mouth was sweeter than anyone else’s,” teased Jiang Huiqin. Jiang Weiping was loss for words, angrily peeling his shrimp, pausing occasionally to nibble on some cabbage.

“Alright, you should actually thank your Brother Mingyi because his house is so close to ours; it’s less than half an hour’s walk away. Red Plum, who lives next door, she married off to the northwest. Unless unexpected, she likely won’t return in this lifetime. If I marry your Brother Mingyi and have the time, I can still come back to see you every day. If I were like Red Plum, marrying off to the northwest, you really might never see your auntie again in your life,” said Jiang Huiqin.

Jiang Huiqin’s words left Jiang Weiping and Jiang Weiguo bewildered, no longer asking questions as they quietly ate their food, while pondering whether they should like Li Mingyi or not.

There were only five dishes on the table, and nine people to eat, half of whom were growing boys with hearty appetites. The five dishes were almost depleted in less than 10 minutes, leaving just a bit of cabbage, braised shark’s fin with yellow sauce, and clear broth with yingchow greens.

“Huiqin, go ahead and cook the dumplings. San, help your aunt carry the dumplings to the kitchen,” said Jiang Chengde, noticing that the dishes on the table were nearly finished.

Now that everyone could talk, Jiang Wei’an and Jiang Weiyou were pulling at Jiang Weize and Jiang Weijin, inquiring about the affairs in the kitchen. Initially, Jiang Weiming was also part of the conversation, but upon hearing his father’s instruction he quickly stood up to assist Jiang Huiqin with carrying the dumplings.

After bringing the dumplings into the kitchen, Jiang Weiming resumed his duty to tend the fire.

“Auntie, are you really never coming back to celebrate New Year’s with us?” Jiang Weiming suddenly asked.

Jiang Huiqin was only a few years older than him; when Jiang Weiming was just born, she was little more than a child who could hardly speak clearly. Rather than calling her Jiang Weiming’s aunt, it would be more fitting to call her his sister.

“Of course, I’ll come back. As long as I don’t marry too far away, it’s customary for married women to return to their parents’ house for New Year’s. But after the New Year’s Eve dinner, I won’t be able to eat with you anymore. Weiming, since you are so good at preparing the filling, the important task of making dumplings for our family will fall on you from now on,” Jiang Huiqin said cheerfully, and seeing that the water in the pot was boiling, she began to drop the dumplings in, one by one.

“But my filling isn’t as good as the second brother’s,” Jiang Weiming said, lowering his head.

“Who says so? Although Weijin is better at seasoning, you are good at pickling sauerkraut. When your mother was still with us, she used to pickle the sauerkraut. In the past few years, the sauerkraut in our house has mostly been pickled by you. Between you and me, I think even the sauerkraut pickled by your dad isn’t as tasty as yours,” Jiang Huiqin whispered.

“Auntie, stop joking around.”

“Alright, alright, I won’t tease you anymore,” Jiang Huiqin said with a laugh, waving her hand. “Your dad’s pickled cabbage does taste good, but he hasn’t made it in many years. I can’t even remember what it tasted like the last time I had some from your dad… Ah, I can’t remember the taste anymore.”

“By the way, are you still working the stoves at Taifeng Building? Has your dad let you do anything else?” Jiang Huiqin asked.

“Sometimes he lets me chop vegetables.”

“Then you’d better work hard. I think Wei’an will soon be old enough to work the stoves, and if you don’t hurry up and compete with Weijin for chopping, I’m afraid Wei’an will start competing with you for the stoves.”

“I will work hard!” Jiang Weiming replied with determination.

Jiang Feng: ???

Was the competition within the Jiang Family this intense in the past? Even working the stoves had to be fought over.

As the aunt and nephew talked back and forth, the dumplings were soon ready. Jiang Huiqin found two basins, one large and one small. The large basin was so full of dumplings they were almost spilling out and was carried by Jiang Weiming, while the small basin, only half-filled, was carried by her.

When the two returned to the main hall with the dumplings, the leftover scraps of food had already been distributed. Jiang Huiqin and Jiang Weiming’s bowls each had a bit of shark fin and bird’s nest scraps and two pieces of cabbage, obviously set aside especially for them.

“Time to eat dumplings, eat up quickly. If it’s not enough, we can make more; there’s still a basin full of sea cucumber and abalone filling in the kitchen,” Jiang Huiqin said with a smile.

Jiang Weiguo and Jiang Weiping were the most coordinated, each picking up a dumpling with their chopsticks right away.

Jiang Weiming did not pick up a dumpling first but instead picked up the pieces of cabbage in his bowl, evidently wanting to finish the contents of his bowl first.

“Huiqin, I’ve already made a list of your dowry. Take a look later, see if there’s anything missing, and I’ll find a way to fill in the gaps,” Jiang Chengde whispered while eating dumplings.

“Brother, the dowry should be something you prepare. It doesn’t make sense for me to do it myself,” Jiang Huiqin replied in a low voice, but Jiang Weiming, who was sitting beside her, heard every word clearly.

“Those items were prepared by your sister-in-law when she was still here. I didn’t know what else to prepare, so I just added some gold and silver. You take a look and see if there’s anything missing. These…”

Jiang Chengde and Jiang Huiqin began discussing the dowry in hushed tones. Jiang Weiming appeared to be eating the cabbage, but even he did not notice that he had been chewing the two small pieces of cabbage leaf in his mouth for almost a minute, probably turning them to mush.

The fog set in.

Jiang Feng knew it was time to leave.

“Auntie, if your dowry isn’t enough, I still have…” Jiang Feng could no longer see faces clearly, only able to hear the sound of Jiang Weiming’s shape.

“Who says my dowry isn’t enough? My dowry is very substantial. You’re so young and you’re already eavesdropping on our conversation. Go eat your dumplings. Later, you’ll be punished to help your aunt make dumplings…”

Jiang Feng could no longer hear Jiang Huiqin’s voice.

He left the memory.

For some reason, he actually felt a bit sentimental.

But it was just a little sentimentality. As soon as he left the memory, Jiang Feng immediately opened his attribute panel and found that the menu column had finally lit up with the name he wanted to see the most.

Jiang Chengde (1/2)

[Jade Cabbage S-rank]

Creator: Jiang Chengde

Dish details: This is a stir-fried cabbage dish that could even rival the Plain Boiled Cabbage in taste and texture, once an indispensable dish on the Jiang Family’s New Year’s dinner table. It disappeared from the Jiang’s New Year’s dinner after Jiang Huiqin got married, making it the final memory of Jiang Weiming’s youthful family reunions. When eaten with family members, it will slightly improve the dish’s flavor and texture. (The closer the relationship and the more people present, the better the effect.)

Times per day of preparation (0/1)

Jiang Feng: !!!

So Grandpa wasn’t boasting.

The Stir-Fried Cabbage made by Great-grandpa really tastes like ambrosia!

Source: .com, updated on N𝘰vgo.co

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