Chapter 467: Chapter 465: Recent Developnts of Sun Guanyun
Not being able to taste the lon that Dong Shi never ntioned, Jiang Feng felt extrely regretful during the entire evening’s business hours, but he believed there would be more opportunities in the future.
As the Dong brothers, Dong Shi and Dong Li, gradually integrated into the lon-eating culture of Taifeng Building and let down their guard to beco harmonious colleagues, Jiang Feng believed that there would no longer be any gossip in Taifeng Building that they couldn’t get hold of.
Everyone in the North had grown tired of the usual lons, and the hottest topic of late was still the outstanding White Chef from Gusu, poached by Ling Guangzhao, a topic that had yet to be fully understood. Jiang Feng had t the man several tis; he was just an unremarkable ordinary man without any distinguishing features, and he spoke with a gentle and delicate voice, carrying a bit of a Southern accent.
Extraordinary culinary skills must have a source, even if one hasn’t been lucky enough to be ntored by a famous chef. It might be like Zhou Shi, who had rotated among well-known restaurants to pick up skills. But this Master White Chef was different, as if he’d popped out from the cracks in a stone. Even Pei Shenghua had only found out that his family used to run a pastry shop in Gusu, not a famous one, just a simple shop like the baozi stands you find at the entrance of a neighborhood.
Jiang Feng almost wondered if Ling Guangzhao’s ancestors had appeared in his dreams, instructing him to find such a master in Gusu to help Eight-treasure House regain its glory. Thanks to this Master White Chef, the reputation of Eight-treasure House had greatly improved recently, and its business was booming day by day, seemingly on the verge of a rebirth.
It seems Taifeng Building might not be able to wait for Eight-treasure House to close down before poaching their head staffer after all.
At this thought, Jiang Feng let out a very regretful sigh.
The evening’s business had already ended, and everyone was briskly and energetically cleaning up the kitchen, preparing to gather their belongings and head ho. It was rare for the entire kitchen staff to be so excited, so Jiang Feng’s sigh stood out strikingly.
“Fengfeng, what’s wrong?” Wu Minqi asked with concern.
Jiang Feng was soone who sighed often, and for a variety of reasons. Previously, when Wang Hao was writing a novel based on him, he would frequently sigh with pity over Wang Hao’s limited days before his impending “destruction” by others. Nowadays, most of his sighs were due to television plotlines that didn’t et his expectations, and occasionally, he sighed with regret for not having managed to get his favorite dish for dinner.
Wu Minqi carefully reviewed the events of the day. “Taste” was published, making Taifeng Building the biggest winner. The recruitnt had gone very well, having hired three skilled chefs who seed easy to get along with. The staff al that evening was made by Jiang Weisheng, so there was no need to fight over dishes.
“Fengfeng, did you forget to do sothing?” Wu Minqi asked.
“I’ve just realized we might not be able to poach the head staffer from Eight-treasure House,” Jiang Feng said with a look of regret.
Wu Minqi: …
?
So… did Ji Yue offend you today?
Jiang Feng sighed deeply again, only then belatedly realizing that Wu Minqi seed to have spoken to him a mont ago. “Qiqi, what were you just saying to ?”
It was Wu Minqi’s turn to sigh deeply. Although she had gotten used to Jiang Feng’s delayed reactions when he was lost in thought or daydreaming, she felt that after getting married, especially after having children, she might find her husband’s premature aging behavior quite botherso.
Wu Minqi had already started looking at bridal magazines recently.
“I thought you might have forgotten sothing, that’s why I asked if you forgot sothing again,” Wu Minqi explained.
With Wu Minqi’s reminder, Jiang Feng suddenly realized he had indeed forgotten sothing.
He had forgotten to call Sun Jikai and inquire about the price of dishes at Jubao Building.
“Qiqi, I just rembered my mom asked to call Sun Jikai to find out their Jubao Building’s dish prices, and I forgot to call. Dong Li and the others are staying behind for a tasting soon, so I’m going to make a call outside. Can you keep an eye on things for ?” Jiang Feng glanced at his watch, thinking it was just past 10 p.m., and Sun Jikai shouldn’t be too busy to answer a call.
Wu Minqi nodded, “Should I ask Old Zhang to stay too?”
“Ask him if he wants to; if he’s willing, he can also help with the tasting. Rember to have Xiaxia stay too, let her try more dishes and get so exposure,” said Jiang Feng before darting off towards the changing room for his phone.
The changing room and bathroom have always been sacred places where gossip spreads. With custors still dining in the restaurant, Jiang Feng felt it wouldn’t be appropriate to make a call in the main hall. So, wrapped in his down jacket and holding his phone, he headed straight outside to the roadside to make the call.
The nights in Beiping City in January were colder than other places.
Jiang Feng, bundled up in his down jacket and holding his phone, hadn’t even opened the WeChat interface before the cold wind made him shiver. Observing that there were no custors in the neighboring 24-hour convenience store, Jiang Feng decided to make the call from the warmth of the convenience store.
The convenience store owner, as usual, was absorbed in watching dramas on his tablet, living the kind of carefree life many people could only dream of, without the slightest intention of contemplating his future. Seeing Jiang Feng entering, the store owner casually waved his hand in greeting, as it was a common occurrence.
“Oh, off work already?”
“Not yet, just borrowing your place to make a call,” Jiang Feng said, confidently walking over to a high stool and sitting down.
The store owner nodded and went back to his drama.
Jiang Feng dialed Sun Jikai’s WeChat call.
The WiFi connection was still from the convenience store.
The phone rang for a while, about 20 seconds before it was answered.
“Hello?” Sun Jikai’s voice sounded sowhat weary.
He had just co out of Sun Guanyun’s hospital room, and had answered far too many calls today—calls from classmates, friends, colleagues, his father, his mother—so nurous that he had thought about turning off his cell phone and pretending he didn’t exist. If the call wasn’t from Jiang Feng, Sun Jikai felt he might have impulsively hung up in irritation.
He had just seen Sun Guanyun’s test results.
The outlook was not promising.
“Well, although it’s been a long ti since we’ve been in touch, I saw Grandpa Sun’s new dish featured in ‘Taste’ today, so I wanted to call and congratulate you,” Jiang Feng said, uttering words he found incredibly awkward himself.
Upon hearing Jiang Feng’s words, Sun Jikai couldn’t help but reveal a sowhat chuuni cold laugh. He had been receiving insincere phone calls all day, mostly starting with that sa line. He hadn’t expected that even Jiang Feng couldn’t escape the cliche.
Ever since ‘Taste’ beca an annual publication, the articles written by Xu Cheng himself had beco extrely precious. Since winter began, Sun Guanyun’s health had been deteriorating. Winter was tough for the seriously ill elderly, and Sun Guanyun had been hospitalized since last week, unable to hold on any longer. Since then, probing inquiries, both overt and covert, had been ceaseless.
While Sun Jikai was worried about Guanyun’s illness and busy managing Jubao Building, he also had to guard against his second uncle’s recent aggressive moves and watch out for his own mother, who had been consistently pulling him back like a hindering teammate.
Now, even his treasured friendship seed to be starting to deteriorate.
Overtaken by various annoyances, which triggered his chuuni deanor, Sun Jikai said indifferently, “It’s okay, can’t compare to the publicity Taifeng Building gets.”
Jiang Feng was taken aback on the other end of the phone; Sun Jikai’s tone seed to indicate he was not in a good mood. But since he had already made the call, no matter how foolish, the question had to be asked.
“Not bad, not bad. The publicity Taifeng Building gets is all thanks to the cooking competition. It’s no match for Grandpa Sun’s new dishes,” Jiang Feng said with a laugh, making polite conversation.
On the other end of the phone, Sun Jikai let out a cold laugh. Sure enough, after not seeing each other for a few months, Jiang Feng had beco like those other competitors, starting to probe.
Tainted with the sll of money and the foul stench of cunning and deceit.
“Well… you know, our restaurant is new and we’re inexperienced, especially in setting nu prices. We’re not as savvy as Jubao Building. My mom wanted to call and ask you, how does Jubao Building set its prices? Could you send sothing over for to reference? We plan to raise our prices after the New Year, and we want to see how an established business like yours that has been featured in ‘Taste’ sets its prices.”
Sun Jikai: ???
For so reason, this abrupt change in the conversation and the nonsensical dialogue felt oddly endearing to him, causing even his voice to beco friendly and gentle.
“That’s no problem. I’ll send it to you in a bit,” Sun Jikai said, feeling incredibly relaxed and happy.
“Thank you so much. You’ve really helped us out a great deal; you know we’ve always struggled with setting the right prices for our nu,” Jiang Feng said, genuinely from the bottom of his heart.
Sun Jikai thought, since the mont you priced Ji Xue’s stir-fried beef noodles 8 yuan higher than mine, I could tell you really weren’t good at pricing.
“It’s the least I can do. If you have any questions in this regard, don’t hesitate to call,” Sun Jikai said obligingly.
Jiang Feng felt that since Sun Jikai had been so polite, he should reciprocate. But not knowing what to say, he decided to express concern for the other party’s elder.
“Thank you for that. Oh, and with the cold weather, the elderly are prone to catching a chill. My Granduncle Weiming went to the hospital today because he caught a cold last night. I hope Grandpa Sun is doing alright?” Jiang Feng said and then imdiately regretted it, realizing that the South was not like Beiping—Sun Jikai’s place was much warr than Beiping.
Sun Jikai could tell Jiang Feng was only asking out of politeness. He just needed to respond formally that everything was fine, no major issues, and they could end the call.
But the words stopped at his lips.
All these days, he had been telling people related or unrelated that Sun Guanyun was fine and only hospitalized as a precaution against the changing weather since he was advanced in age.
After telling the lie a hundred tis, he nearly believed it himself. If not for just having seen the dical results, he might truly think that Grandpa Sun would be out of the hospital in a couple of days after catching a cold.
But in reality, considering Sun Guanyun’s current health, it might be difficult for him to be discharged again.
He kept the truth from everyone, not daring to be honest with anyone, not even his own parents.
Yet, he desperately wanted to tell soone trustworthy the truth, to also remind himself that Sun Guanyun didn’t have much ti left.
“Not very good,” Sun Jikai said.
“Huh?” Jiang Feng was stunned.
“My grandpa’s condition is quite bad. I just saw the hospital’s test results. It doesn’t look promising,” Sun Jikai said.
Jiang Feng didn’t know what to say for a mont, and after so thought, he replied, “Maybe it’s not as serious as you think. My second cousin studies dicine, and many conditions that seem severe to us are not a big deal to doctors. With Grandpa Sun’s strong spirit, I’m sure he won’t have any major problems.”
“I hope you’re right,” Sun Jikai said with a bitter smile.
Both fell silent for a while before Sun Jikai spoke up first, “I’ve got so things to take care of, so I’m going to hang up now.”
“Alright,” Jiang Feng replied.
Looking at the disconnected WeChat call, Jiang Feng rembered how Sun Guanyun had been coughing frequently the last ti he saw him, and he suddenly felt uneasy.
Grandpa Sun might really not be in good shape.
Thinking this, Jiang Feng felt a tightness in his chest, recalling the period right after Li Mingyi’s death, and he felt a heavy sense of constriction.
Birth, aging, sickness, and death, the impermanence of life.
Inescapable, unavoidable.
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