Wang Hao calculated the money everyone gave for the meal, which amounted to more than four hundred bucks. To facilitate future discounts on meal costs for Jiang Feng, Wang Hao even kept a separate notebook recording how much money each person had contributed, the very picture of thoughtfulness.
"Ding, game update complete."
Jiang Feng turned and entered the bathroom.
Player Name: Jiang Feng
Level: 5 (0/1000)[Injectable: Yes/No]
Remaining Experience Points: 4115
Skills: Appraisal (Intermediate): You can obtain most information.
Cooking Porridge (Intermediate): You can only master some correct proportions of ingredients and basic fire control.
Knife Skills (Advanced): Your knifework has surpassed the majority of chefs. (Proficiency: 0/100000)
Fire Control (Beginner): You can only control some basic fire levels. (Proficiency: 0/1000)
Seasoning (Beginner): You can only make it non-lethal. (Proficiency 0/1000)
Lies (Intermediate): You can now tell lies without blushing. (Proficiency: 0/10000)
Math (Beginner): Your level is only on par with an ordinary freshman. (Proficiency: 0/1000)
Physics (Beginner): Your level is equivalent to that of a high school student. (Proficiency 0/1000)
English (Intermediate): It's just the level a university student should have. (Proficiency 0/10000)
Food Testing (Beginner): A waste of heavenly resources. (Non-upgradable)
Note:
1. Please explore skills on your own.
2. Experience points can be converted into proficiency at a 1:1 ratio.
[The rest is omitted due to repetition]
Jiang Feng: ...
I know I'm a poor student, no need to remind me :)
When Jiang Feng came out of the bathroom, he looked a bit off.
"Feng, what's wrong with you?" Wang Hao asked a bit too eagerly.
"Constipation."
...
That evening, after receiving a call from Mr. Jiang Jiankang, Jiang Feng went to the store with the seasonings and Wang Hao.
The uncles and other relatives were already there, the store was open, and the sign was still not hung. Jiang Feng first took the seasonings to Wang Hao in the kitchen, then led him directly upstairs.
As soon as Wang Hao stepped onto the second floor, he was taken aback.
The room was full of burly men, regardless of gender, age, or size; they all had the same imposing physique, displayed ferocious looks, and even the two plump twin sisters who appeared to be only junior high students showed signs of future dominion.
Wang Hao suspected he had mistakenly walked into a gathering of gang bosses.
"Feng... Feng, your family has a tradition of sumo wrestlers?" Wang Hao asked nervously, swallowing hard.
"A tradition of chefs." Jiang Feng led Wang Hao to the family table, with one table for adults and another for the younger generation, very pragmatically arranged.
The dishes were served and still steaming hot.
As soon as Wang Hao sat down, either Jiang Junlian or Jiang Junqing turned to him with a smile. Jiang Feng had difficulty telling the twin cousins apart as they looked so identical, especially since he did not often interact with them.
"Four Joyful Meatballs, Lion's Head Meatballs, Dongpo Pork, Sweet and Sour Carp, Three Earthly Delights, Kung Pao Chicken, Nine Turns Intestine, Sweet and Sour Yam, Fish Head Tofu Soup," Jiang Feng pointed to the dishes, introducing them one by one to Wang Hao. He glanced at the tips and offered a friendly reminder, "I advise you not to drink the Fish Head Tofu Soup, my dad isn't too good at that one."
[A pot of Fish Head Tofu Soup with too much oil, not enough salt, and incorrect fire control]
It seemed Mr. Jiang Jiankang was distracted while cooking the soup.
When Wang Hao first came up with Jiang Feng, he was too busy looking around to notice, but now that he sat down and listened to the introduction, his mouth started to water uncontrollably.
The scent of meat irresistibly invaded his nose, Jiang Jiankang did not focus much on presentation, but it did not seem off-putting; one whiff was all it took to discern the quality of the food.
Wang Hao loved sweet flavors, so he grabbed a piece of Sweet and Sour Yam first.
The sugar coating was even, the fried yam not as powdery as when steamed but still maintaining a bit of chewiness. The exterior was smooth and crispy while the interior was soft and pleasantly sweet.
Immediately, Wang Hao's eyes moistened.
"Feng, you're so lucky to have such a dad," Wang Hao said with immense envy.
Jiang Feng silently offered him a piece of Kung Pao Chicken, "This is my dad's specialty."
With an inelegant munch, Wang Hao had not yet swallowed the yam when he stuffed the Kung Pao Chicken into his mouth and mumbled his praise, "Delicious, delicious!"
Jiang Jiankang's Kung Pao Chicken was not spicy but rather on the sweet side, a peculiarity given that Wang Hao was tackling two sweet dishes at the same time.
Jiang Jiankang's forte was Kung Pao Chicken, but the star of the dinner table was the Dongpo Pork.
Jiang Jiankang loved pork knuckle, whereas Jiang Weiguo did not. This Dongpo Pork was a result of Mr. Jiang Jiankang personally learning from other state-owned restaurants that specialized in pork knuckles, and after years of refinement and careful experimentation, he perfected his own version. Named Dongpo Pork, it had since lost any resemblance to the authentic dish.
The pork knuckle had been stewed for at least four hours, rich in soy aroma, easily separating at the touch of chopsticks.
It was tender and sweet, fatty without being greasy.
Mr. Jiang Jiankang's exceptional cooking somewhat made up for the uncles and aunts' regret of not being able to enjoy Sir's cooking.
To the Jiang Family Members, spoiled by Sir's culinary skills, this meal was satisfactory but not dazzling.
Mr. Jiang Jiankang's extraordinary performance couldn't compare to Sir's everyday stir-fry.
But Wang Hao was different, lacking the opportunity to enjoy Sir's cooking every New Year, and also without the financial means to dine daily at star-rated restaurants, he felt as if he had visited a paradise after being well-fed and watered, almost wanting to take Mr. Jiang Jiankang on the spot as a godfather.
"Feng, you really are my bro, why didn't Uncle open a store at UAL University earlier! If we're short on cash, we could crowdfund it!" Wang Hao gazed at the clean empty plates on the table, his tears nearly falling.
After such a meal, how would he face the purgatorial meals of the campus cafeteria?
With that thought, Wang Hao couldn't help but become overtaken by sadness, pulling out his phone and beginning to furiously type.
"What are you doing?" Jiang Feng saw Wang Hao composing a lengthy message and asked.
"Advertising, letting everyone taste Uncle's cooking skills."
Jiang Feng couldn't help but give a side glance.
"Ding, gained 1 point of fame, quest progress (1/100)."