Life is a Game

"More than forty years ago, there was a child whose parents both died. The relatives of that child were unwilling to support him, so he ate a meal from a hundred families. One meal from one family today and another meal from another family. Later, in order to survive, the child followed Others came from the countryside to the city, relying on their dexterous hands to become a thief, often wearing decent clothes to go in and out of restaurants and department stores to steal money, because they are young and no one suspects, they often succeed."

"Until one time, he was caught when he went to the most famous local restaurant to steal. According to the atmosphere at that time, it was not a big deal for a thief to be caught and killed, but the owner of that restaurant was a kind person. Seeing this The thief let him go when he was young, and let him work in the shop to counteract the broken items."

"The child stayed in the restaurant to work like this. The back kitchen was complicated and heavy. At first, the child only helped wash the dishes and vegetables. When there were many things, he was also asked to help peel the potatoes. Later, when others saw him The skin was peeled well and I thought his knife skills were good, so I asked him to help cut some simple vegetables. At first, the child was just working in the restaurant to pay off the debt, so he stayed just like that. Later, he was even lucky enough to be picked up by the restaurant owner He valued accepting him as a closed disciple, and even entered his family tree."

Hearing this, all three people present could tell that the child Sun Maocai was talking about was actually himself.

Sun Maocai went on to talk.

"That kid is very talented in cooking, and he surpassed all the senior brothers in just a dozen years. He has a good reputation. At first, some people were wary of him because he was a thief, but he treats anyone He is very respectful, humble, does not fight or grab, is never arrogant, and often suffers in some small things. Gradually, the people in the restaurant, including his seniors, have forgotten his past, and he has become a person who everyone A good boy and a good apprentice who are highly praised."

"Later, the owner of the restaurant passed away, and he was involved in the competition for the restaurant for some reasons you all know. The night before the final, he didn't fall asleep all night, not because of the suffering of the game, but because he suddenly Finding that he is only one step away from being the heir of the restaurant, it can even be said that he is within easy reach."

"And he wants that restaurant."

All three of them opened their eyes wide in shock, but Sun Maocai continued on as if he was really talking about something that had nothing to do with him.

"He is proud, but also inferior. He has always been proud of his talent and cooking skills, but also because of his background and being a thief. He has been able to read his words since he was a child, and he has been very cryptic for so many years. To please everyone in the restaurant, so when he found that the restaurant was in front of him and he could reach it with his hand, he was moved."

"Actually, before the game, many people secretly approached him and asked him to let go of the water during the game, and deliberately lost the game. Even if his little brother is an extremely proud person, he will bow his head in front of the family restaurant. Nothing happened, this incident will pass like this, and everything will return to normal."

"It would be great if he did that back then." Sun Maocai showed a wry smile, "But he didn't. In fact, he has always been jealous of his little brother, who has a bad mouth. He took him to practice cooking and gave him advice. The little brother of the sword worker. It may be because his master was so kind to him back then, treating him like his own son, accepting him as a foster son, and letting him go on the genealogy, which gave him thoughts that he shouldn't have."

"He won the game, he thought he would get his wish and be ecstatic, but he didn't. He regretted it the moment he saw his always proud brother lose his mind at the end of the game. He wanted a restaurant, but he I don’t want to be an empty shell with only a restaurant and no people. Things have already been done, and if you want to regret it, you have to pay the price. You all know what happened later. He left the restaurant and went to Hong Kong City. The restaurant was scattered because of internal fighting , the former FJ No. 1 Restaurant quickly declined. If it wasn’t for his little senior brother who later made a shameful famous dish to bring the restaurant back to life, the name of Jubaolou FJ No. 1 Restaurant would have become history long ago .”

"Do you know what is the most ironic thing about this farce? In this farce, the instigator was notorious, and the final winner was pointed at and depressed for a while under the title of loser, and the one who caused this because of his own selfishness The person who ended up was praised by everyone. Before his master died, he had told him to run the restaurant with his senior brother in the future, so as not to lose the reputation of the restaurant. But what did he do? The restaurant that has raised him for many years has been pushed into the abyss, and he has gained a good reputation for many years, you say it is not absurd, it is not ridiculous."

"Now my story is over."

A well-known story was told in a completely different version by the person concerned. Sun Jikai didn't know what to say for a moment. Sun Changping and Qiu Fu also reacted in the same way, but Sun Changping's reaction was slower. silence.

After a long time, Sun Jikai took the initiative to break the silence: "If that's the case, then why did this person attend his junior brother's funeral, and even offered to his junior brother's grandson to help him revive the restaurant. Even before he After the grandson lost the restaurant, did you come here early in the morning to tell him stories to motivate him?"

Sun Maocai looked at him: "Because he is making atonement."

"He left his homeland with an unknown sense of guilt and worked hard outside. Relying on his extraordinary cooking skills, he quickly gained a foothold in Hong Kong City. Gradually, his popularity became higher and higher, and even He has become a master in people's mouth, and the guilt-filled past has become evidence of his good character. The restaurant is declining day by day, but his career is booming, and the sense of guilt has been lingering in his heart. For so many years, he has always wanted to make up for what he did, but he didn't find the right opportunity."

"Then he found it now?" Sun Jikai asked.

Sun Maocai shook his head: "No, but he knows very well that this is his last chance to redeem himself. He wants this chance, and that person's grandson also needs this chance."

Sun Jikai was silent.

Suddenly, Sun Changping, who had been quietly listening to the story, spoke.

"Then what can this person do now?"

Sun Maocai smiled: "I can give you two suggestions."

"The first one, worship me as a teacher and follow me to Hong Kong City. I will hand over all the contacts I have managed in Hong Kong City over the years to you, and teach them all. In the future, you will gain a foothold in Hong Kong City. In time, you will definitely become a A master of Cantonese cuisine that is as good as your grandpa's."

"What about the second one?" Sun Jikai asked.

"Go to Peiping, go to Taifeng Building."

"Taifeng Tower?!" Sun Jikai sat up straight, stuttering, "Why...why."

"Because of Senior Brother Jiang."

"You should be very clear that there is only one name left in Jubaolou in the hands of your second uncle. Since you would rather have only one name left in Jubaolou than completely destroy it, then I suggest you think carefully about my first name. Two suggestions."

"Although I am your great-grandpa's closed disciple, I haven't had time to learn the essence of Buddha's jumping over the wall because of my young age. The only one who has learned the essence of Sun Jiafo's jumping over the wall is now probably only Senior Brother Jiang. Senior brother Jiang spent nearly ten years learning it. Even your grandfather can't get this dish. You should be very clear that Jubaolou was created by your great-grandfather's father. He built this restaurant with a little money and skill, almost nothing .Because of the Buddha jumping over the wall, Jubaolou has changed from a small restaurant with no name to the famous No. 1 restaurant in FJ.”

"If you want to be a famous chef, I can teach you, but if you want to revive Jubaolou, only Senior Brother Jiang, no, it should be Jiang Feng's grandfather, only he can help you. I know Senior Brother Jiang, if you really want to learn , he will definitely teach."

"Re... revitalize?" Sun Jikai uttered these two words with some difficulty.

"The restaurant business is the most difficult business in the world, but it is also the best business in the world. Taifeng Restaurant has been closed for more than half a century, and most of the old diners have passed away. Brother Jiang and the others still rely on them The Jiang family's craftsmanship has become famous in less than a year, and even I, who is far away in Hong Kong City, can hear people mention Taifeng Tower."

"Even if Jubaolou is no longer yours, as long as the craftsmanship of Jubaolou belongs to you, one day you reopen Jubaolou, even if it is not called this name, in the hearts of diners, this is the craftsmanship of Jubaolou, and the signboard is here. What is there to be afraid of?"

"Back then, your great-grandfather's father was able to build Jubaolou, why couldn't you?"

Sun Jikai already had a choice in his heart. It can be said that this choice was in his heart from the very beginning, but he didn't think as much and as deeply as Sun Maocai.

"Dad." Sun Jikai looked at Sun Changping, "Let's go to Peiping."

Sun Changping nodded: "Okay."

"I'll go too!" Qiu Fu looked excited, as if he was the protagonist.

"Why don't you pick a time, I'll get in touch with Senior Brother Jiang and go together," Sun Maocai said.

Sun Jikai was stunned for a moment: "You...you go too?"

Sun Maocai nodded.

"To be honest, I'm a little worried about Senior Brother Jiang's level of discipleship. Anyway, I'm unemployed now, so I might as well go to Senior Brother and see if he's willing to take me in."

"Brother Jiang's character is indeed not suitable for leading apprentices."