The Game of Life TGOL

Chapter 522: Chapter 520 New Year’s Call (Please vote for monthly tickets!)

Jiang Feng squatted in the corner of the courtyard, finished his pancakes, and put the plate back in the kitchen before carrying the dumplings into the living room. When he returned the plate to the kitchen, Jiang Junqing and Jiang Junlian, the two sisters, were no longer there. The spotless, shiny iron pot on the stove testified to their ability to scrub pots.n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

There was nobody in the living room, but from the various rooms, he could faintly hear the sound of phone greetings. Generally speaking, the hour after breakfast on the first day of the lunar new year was when the Jiang family members made phone calls to wish others a happy new year. This activity, symbolizing the world of adults with good wishes, was currently participated in by only Jiang Zaidi among the younger generation, while the others typically sent a quick New Year’s greeting on QQ or WeChat.

Jiang Feng sat in the living room, silently eating the dumplings that still retained some warmth. When he reached the last one, he saw Jiang Zaidi, in his pajamas and a face full of stubbornness, walking out of his room while on the phone.

“Yueru, did you see the new plan I sent you yesterday? Have a look and see if there’s anything that needs to be changed. Let me know if there’s any issue; we’re going to start work after the new year, so it’s best to settle the plan in these few days.”

“What’s so hard about that? It’s good to be idle during the big holiday. Taking a few hours to revise a plan for you doesn’t take much time.”

“You want to make some more changes to the pipes, right? No problem, I’ll come up with something new for you in the next two days…”

“Alright, I need to go have breakfast now, so I won’t keep you. Oh, and happy new year. Don’t forget to take me to that Peking duck restaurant you mentioned when I get back.”

“Don’t worry, I’ll have time and be ready whenever you call, talking about work,” Jiang Zaidi said as he hung up the phone.

Jiang Feng, who’d just swallowed his last dumpling: …

De, do you remember how you cursed that client last year for making you revise plans non-stop?

“Little bro, any dumplings left in the pot?” Jiang Zaidi asked.

“About three or four bowls’ worth,” Jiang Feng replied, passing the bowl to Jiang Zaidi. “De, would you take the bowl to the kitchen for me? I think I dressed too lightly today; I need to go back to my room and put on an extra layer.”

This year’s winter seemed colder than usual.

“Who else hasn’t gotten up?”

“I think Cheng hasn’t gotten up yet.”

Armed with information on the ‘enemy’, Jiang Zaidi swiftly set off towards the kitchen with Jiang Feng’s empty bowl.

Jiang Feng returned to his room, rummaging in his suitcase for a light sweater. Just as he was hesitating between a black one and a grey one, his phone suddenly rang.

It was a strange number from Guangdong Province.

Jiang Feng answered the call.

“Master, happy new year!” Ji Xia’s cheerful voice, loud enough to deafen Jiang Feng’s ears, came through the phone.

“Xiaxia, lower your voice,” Jiang Feng said with a laugh.

“Master, guess with whose phone I’m calling you?” Ji Xia lowered her voice.

“Your mother-in-law’s?” Jiang Feng guessed.

“It’s mine. My mother-in-law just gave it to me, and she got me a SIM card too!”

“Master, I have to tell you, my mother-in-law was so happy with those things I brought home. She said the pastries from Beiping are especially delicious. Last night, during the Spring Festival Gala, she ate a lot of sachima. Next new year, when I go home, I will buy even more things for my mother-in-law! Sister Huihui told me there are now vacuum-packed Peking ducks. Master, do you know where to buy vacuum-packed Peking ducks? Next new year, when I go back home, I want to buy a vacuum-packed Peking duck for my mother-in-law.”

“Oh right, also, last night I made ribs and noodles for my mother-in-law. I pulled the noodles and my sister cooked the rib soup, and my mother-in-law said it was delicious. When I’m back, I will also make it for you, Master.”

“And there’s more…”

Ji Xia prattled on with a long string of stories, like a little bird chirping non-stop on an early morning branch, her voice brimming with a lively spirit, clearly very happy.

“Xiaxia, have you had breakfast?” Jiang Feng waited for Ji Xia to finish everything she wanted to say before he spoke.

“I did, just had it, ate fuyuan that my mother-in-law made.”

“Fuyuan?” It was the first time Jiang Feng had heard of this dish.

“It’s like a pancake made by frying rice flour and shredded radish together. We always eat this at our house on the morning of the first day of the new year,” Ji Xia explained. “Master, what did you have for breakfast?”

“I just had lamb dumplings and pan-fried bread.”

“Wow, I want to eat lamb dumplings too. I haven’t had lamb dumplings yet.” Ji Xia exclaimed enviously, “Okay, Master, I won’t talk to you anymore, I still have to call Wu to send New Year’s greetings! Bye.”

“Bye.” Jiang Feng ended the call, thinking the black sweater was nice, and prepared to wear the black sweater.

Just after he dressed, Jiang Feng’s phone rang again, this time the call was from Wu Minqi.

Jiang Feng decisively pressed the answer button and spoke first, “Hello, Qiqi, I was just about to call you, happy New Year.”

“Happy New Year,” Wu Minqi said, “Did Xiaxia just call to wish you a happy New Year?”

“She called a few minutes ago. If Xiaxia hadn’t called me, I wouldn’t have thought to call anyone else to wish them a happy New Year,” Jiang Feng said, “Qiqi, how have you been these past couple of days, busy?”

“Not bad, it’s always like this during the New Year, I’m used to it. I’m combing my hair right now, getting ready to head to the restaurant,” Wu Minqi said.

“Does Wu Family Restaurant stay open for the entire New Year period?” Jiang Feng asked.

“We don’t close, but we do have shifts, and starting from the first day, there will be fewer people working in the kitchen. Actually, it’s only on New Year’s Eve that the customer flow increases a bit, the rest of the time it’s manageable,” Wu Minqi explained, “But enough about that, I should also get ready to head out. Fengfeng, if I remember correctly, you’re visiting to wish happy New Year today, right?”

“Today and tomorrow I’m going to visit each household in the village to say some auspicious phrases. Around here, we start visiting relatives from the third day of the New Year,” Jiang Feng said, “Be careful on the road.”

The conversation ended.

Ji Xia’s New Year’s call seemed to set things in motion. After finishing the call with Wu Minqi, Jiang Feng received several more New Year’s calls, all from kitchen staff. Eventually, even Ji Yue, who had already sent New Year’s greetings on WeChat at midnight, made a special call to wish him a Happy New Year, clearly inspired by Ji Xia.

One call after another, Jiang Feng didn’t forget to make a New Year’s call to Professor Li while sitting on his bed, losing track of time.

The last call was from Zhou Shi. After the year-end party, Jiang Feng had lost contact with Zhou Shi. Zhou Shi also didn’t post much on social media, which meant Jiang Feng never had the chance to like his moments.

“Young boss, happy New Year,” Zhou Shi said.

“You’re still calling me ‘young boss’ after I’ve resigned; I can’t handle that title. Happy New Year,” Jiang Feng said with a laugh.

“It’s habit to call you ‘young boss.’ If I called you something else, that would feel odd,” said Zhou Shi with a laugh, his voice sounding much lighter than before, apparently a reflection of a recent good mood which lightened his tone.

“Sounds like you’ve been doing well recently, everything going smoothly? How’s the private kitchen coming along?” Jiang Feng asked.

“Thanks to your blessing, everything’s going well. The renovation is almost done, and we expect to open shortly after the New Year. These days my mom has been busily consulting people to pick an auspicious day,” Zhou Shi said.

“Just picking a day? She hasn’t arranged a matchmaking session for you?” Jiang Feng asked.

“She did, but the person wasn’t interested in me,” Zhou Shi said with some resignation, “My mom cares about face, and she was so upset that the first match didn’t take a liking to me. She said that since the restaurant isn’t open and I don’t have confidence, I shouldn’t be matchmaking. She wants to wait until the business is booming before arranging another session.”

“That’s not too bad. If you really can’t find a match, you should come to Beiping; I’ll treat you to a sweet soup, and I guarantee your match will be successful,” Jiang Feng said.

Zhou Shi: ?

Zhou Shi laughed twice and took Jiang Feng’s words as a joke, “Okay, if the matchmaking still doesn’t go well, I’ll count on your sweet soup.”

Just as Jiang Feng was about to say something else, he heard Jiang Junlian calling him from outside, “Hey, bro, hurry up, grandma’s getting impatient.”

“I have to go, I’ve got things to do here and everyone’s rushing me, gotta hang up,” Jiang Feng ended the call and walked out of the room.

Mrs. Jiang, seeing that Jiang Feng had finally come out, anxiously grabbed the dumplings, ready to leave, and didn’t forget to complain, “What were you dawdling for in your room? I had agreed with Li Cuihua to visit her house at 9 a.m. today, and now it’s almost 9:10. She’s definitely going to make fun of me for forgetting the time because I’m old.”

“Grandma, don’t rush. Don’t you have dumplings in your hand? Old Madam Li definitely won’t make fun of you. When we come back, I’ll make you glutinous rice lotus root. I just looked up a recipe online and pondered it for a while. You’ll get the first one I make!” Jiang Feng comforted her.

“Glutinous rice lotus root?” Mrs. Jiang’s expression eased, “Put in more sugar, I know this dish, it tastes best with plenty of brown sugar. Remember not to waste the syrup after it’s cooked, it’d be a shame to pour it away.”

“And when you’re cooking it, use fewer sticks of kindling; the glutinous rice lotus root takes a long time to cook, too many and it’s just a waste of firewood.”