The Game of Life - Chapter 771 - Chapter 771: Chapter 770: Gift (3) (4000)

Chapter 771: Chapter 770: Gift (3) (4000)

The following events were rather dull, Jiang Feng had seen too many people sleep in his memory and had no interest in admiring a handsome guy’s sleeping posture.

While Zhang Guanghang was sleeping, Jiang Feng tested the extent of his current activity range, it wasn’t very large, just barely five or six meters to pass through walls. With such a limited range of activity, Jiang Feng was destined not to wander around while Zhang Guanghang was asleep, so he could only take a look at Zhang Guanghang’s bookshelf.

Actually, Zhang Guanghang’s room was quite modern—a typical room of a child from over a decade ago, with a bed, a desk, bookshelves, a wardrobe; except for being somewhat larger, it was no different from any other child’s room.

The books on Zhang Guanghang’s bookshelf were mostly in French. The Chinese books were those headache-inducing ones like ‘Doctrine of the Mean’, ‘Analects’, ‘I Ching’, the kind that you wondered why he would read and if he could even understand them. The only book Jiang Feng found somewhat normal was the Records of the Grand Historian.

If this Records of the Grand Historian had annotations, it might still be read like a storybook.

Besides these puzzling books, there were many notebooks, sticky notes, various kinds of notepads, and stacks of draft paper on Zhang Guanghang’s bookshelf, all very clean and tidy, tidy to a point that didn’t seem like a normal kid who had to do homework every day would have.

Jiang Feng vaguely remembered when he cleaned his desk after graduating from high school, he unexpectedly found a pack of squid slices that had gone missing for a year, now covered in mold underneath nearly half a meter thick pile of draft paper and exercise books.

When Zhang Guanghang finally woke up, Jiang Feng was already so bored that he had started counting the stains on the wall.

After waking up, Zhang Guanghang began to do his homework. After writing for more than an hour, Xia Mushi came in to check on his study progress. Xia Mushi, like Jiang Feng, couldn’t understand anything. His way of checking progress was by judging how many words Zhang Guanghang had written; as long as it felt like enough words had been written, the progress was considered okay.

For this, Jiang Feng could only sigh; it was truly not easy for Zhang Guanghang to grow up so normally.

After finishing homework, it was almost time for the evening business. The dinner, like lunch, had four tables of customers, and the dishes they ordered were vastly different. Compared to the rather plain lunch, dinner was somewhat richer, including a dish of braised chicken with mushrooms.

A whole chicken was too much for two people, Zhang Guanghang was at an age when he had a bigger appetite, but it was only normal for his age. Xia Mushi put the leftover half dish of braised chicken with mushrooms in the fridge, signaling Zhang Guanghang could go watch TV now, and only then did Jiang Feng realize that Zhang Guanghang didn’t seem to have any entertainment activities during the day.

He didn’t know what the morning was like, but according to previous memories, Zhang Guanghang was probably accompanying Xia Mushi to buy groceries in the morning. The whole day was either spent practicing cooking or studying, with only TV watching at night, such a familiar lifestyle made Jiang Feng’s eyes inadvertently moist.

This was just like his summer and winter vacations during elementary and junior high!

The TV was in a special room, and this was when Jiang Feng couldn’t help but criticize. He didn’t understand at all what Xia Mushi’s concept for room allocation and decoration were.

In theory, since Fen Garden was inhabited by only two people, Xia Mushi and Zhang Guanghang’s rooms should have been adjacent. But that wasn’t the case; there was a distance of at least fifty meters between Xia Mushi and Zhang Guanghang’s rooms.

The residential part of Fen Garden, aside from the main hall that was decorated normally with display shelves, ornaments, and tables and chairs, the rest of the rooms were oddly decorated to the point that it was impossible to understand what those rooms were meant for. Maybe it was simply because the house was too big, with too many rooms, and they didn’t know what to do with them, so they ended up decorating here and there, making it look like a mess.

Some rooms only had cabinets, some only had beds, some were like storage rooms, and others were just baffling.

For instance, the room for watching TV—a room that was at least forty square meters in area, and it contained only a table, two chairs, and an old-fashioned square TV. That table wasn’t even placed in front of the chairs; it was used to hold the TV.

After watching TV, Zhang Guanghang washed up and went to bed while Xia Mushi went back to his room to make phone calls—Xia Mushi owned a mobile phone.

Xia Mushi liked to pace back and forth when he was on the phone, and if the call was long enough, he could even walk a full circle around Fen Garden. However, this call didn’t seem so pleasant, Jiang Feng heard Xia Mushi’s roar from afar. To hear clearly what he was yelling about, Jiang Feng deliberately moved as close as possible to Xia Mushi, with half of his body stuck in the wall just to barely make out the words.

“Fart, he’s just a thirteen-year-old kid, and you’re making him go and understand on his own; what the hell are you for? He could get a sugar-coated haw stuck on his face just a couple of years ago, and you’re asking him to accept it. When I went back to Beiping and found everyone was dead, I was in my twenties and I couldn’t accept it!”

Xia Mushi’s voice suddenly rose, giving Jiang Feng a start.

“If he could be fooled a couple of years ago, why can’t he be fooled now?”

“Can’t keep it a secret? I stay with him alone for ten months a year and I can’t keep it a secret, and you all, so many adults, only look after him for two months and you can’t keep it a secret either. So what if he can’t see them? Both of you are still alive, did he see you when he went back? Don’t give me all that bullshit, I warn you, you are not allowed to say anything.”

Jiang Feng couldn’t hear the rest because Xia Mushi, cursing as he went, walked away.

Jiang Feng could tell that in that long string of words just now, there were many times where Xia Mushi almost swore but swallowed the words back down. Jiang Feng was clear about the specific outcome of their negotiation, Xia Mushi must have won.

After Xia Mushi hung up the phone, he went looking for Zhang Guanghang with a sour face, telling him he didn’t need to go back to France in half a month. Something had come up in France, so they decided to send his home tutor directly to Beiping for an international business trip.

Zhang Guanghang asked why, and Xia Mushi made up a hasty excuse, saying his aunt and uncle ate something bad and got sick, went to the hospital for surgery.

Zhang Guanghang believed such an absurd excuse without any suspicion, showing just how easy it was to deceive him at that moment, but it all depended on who was doing the deceiving.

Just as Jiang Feng had expected, the next morning, after breakfast, Xia Mushi took Zhang Guanghang grocery shopping. They bumped into other residents out for walks along the way, all from the neighborhood.

Seeing Zhang Guanghang, they acted as if it were nothing out of the ordinary and didn’t show any sign of surprise. Those who were less acquainted just nodded at them as a greeting, while those who were friendlier directly called out, “Yo, off to buy groceries?”

The market was still the same one from his memory, only the old man selling candied haws was no longer at the entrance. Instead, there was a vendor selling sugar figurines. Xia Mushi casually asked Zhang Guanghang if he wanted to buy a sugar figurine. Zhang Guanghang shook his head, declining.

The shopping methodology was still whimsical, with no specific target; they’d stroll around the market and whatever looked good they’d buy. Whatever was bought would be served to guests for lunch and dinner.

Xia Mushi seemed to have arrived a bit late that day, for he didn’t fancy any of the fresh produce, only symbolically buying a few pounds of pork and some vegetables. Ultimately feeling the groceries were insufficient, Xia Mushi reluctantly placed an order for six chickens with a vendor, asking him to deliver them directly to Fen Garden later.

After shopping, Xia Mushi carried the groceries and headed home, but Zhang Guanghang was reluctant, pulling on Xia Mushi’s hand to stop him, and reminded him, “Take a picture.”

Only then did Xia Mushi remember that there was indeed the matter of taking a picture.

Since the groceries were not that many, Xia Mushi directly carried them and led Zhang Guanghang to the photo studio.

It was a very old photo studio. Jiang Feng thought that by this time, there should be photo studios all over Beiping City. That Xia Mushi could find such an old-fashioned studio was truly not an easy task. Just by looking at the sign and the interior of the studio, Jiang Feng felt this studio wasn’t much different from the one where Jiang Huiqin and Li Mingyi had their wedding photos taken, except that the camera wasn’t the same antique model.

You could imagine what business was like for such an antique photo studio.

The owner didn’t expect customers so early in the morning and was extraordinarily enthusiastic, asking, “Sir, are you bringing your grandson to take pictures?”

After saying that, the owner then noticed Zhang Guanghang wasn’t a pure-blooded Beiping kid and instantly praised him, “Wow, your grandson’s mixed-blood, isn’t he? He’s really good-looking.”

Xia Mushi was preoccupied with other thoughts and didn’t pay attention to what the owner said, “Let’s take a group photo.”

“Do we need to change clothes? Our store has vintage-style robes and suits. It’s just an extra twenty yuan to change clothes, much cheaper than other photo studios.” The owner enthusiastically pitched, “It’s just that you two are a bit early, and the makeup artist hasn’t arrived yet. But you two don’t need makeup anyway, with your grandson looking so adorable, he’ll look good no matter how you take the picture.”

Jiang Feng glanced around the store. There were very few clothes in the shop—about seven or eight at a glance—with some low-quality props stacked in the corner. Aside from the owner himself, there was no second person, which made Jiang Feng wonder if the so-called makeup artist even existed.

“No need for all that fuss, just a group photo will do,” said Xia Mushi.

“Alrighty,” the owner was still enthusiastic, leading Xia Mushi and Zhang Guanghang to the photo area and pointed at the only prop that looked to be of decent quality and texture, a Taishi Chair, “How about this? You can sit on the chair and have your grandson stand beside you. This way, the photo will look better.”

Xia Mushi took a look at the chair and felt it was acceptable. He nodded in agreement, and the owner quickly moved the chair over, gesturing for Xia Mushi to sit down.

Once Xia Mushi and Zhang Guanghang settled on their positions and poses, the owner lifted a camera that seemed professional and was about to take the shot. But something felt off, and he set the camera aside after looking at Xia Mushi and Zhang Guanghang.

“Sir, could you smile just a little? You look too serious. Look how happy your grandson is. Try to smile a bit, be more gentle,” the owner said.

Xia Mushi managed a kind smile with some effort.

Perhaps due to the tension of being photographed, Xia Mushi’s smile looked worse than a cry, and his kind smile turned into a wry one.

Owner:…

“You might as well keep the expression you had earlier, having a bit of dignity is quite good too.”

Xia Mushi:?

Xia Mushi sternly erased his smile and went back to his former expression, wooden with a touch of seriousness.

Zhang Guanghang’s face still bore a bright smile tinged with a hint of naivete alongside his youthful and handsome face, making Jiang Feng feel deeply that Zhang had indeed gotten less handsome over time.

If Zhang could maintain his youthful and somewhat handsome face now, Taifeng Building would have no worries about business. Just let Zhang entertain guests with teppanyaki outside, and a smile while bowing his head to cook would make Taifeng’s guests feel…

Wait a second, why not send Zhang out to do teppanyaki?

Jiang Feng fell into contemplation.

While Jiang Feng was deep in thought, the photo was taken, and Xia Mushi had paid.

The owner told Xia Mushi they could pick up the photo in the afternoon. Xia Mushi nodded, picked up his vegetables, and led Zhang Guanghang back towards Fen Garden.

On the way, Zhang Guanghang couldn’t suppress his curiosity and asked, “Master, is this your first time taking a photo?”

“I’ve had photos taken before,” Xia Mushi replied.

“Why are there no photos at home?”

Xia Mushi glanced at him, “They were taken many years ago. It was a family portrait; later, a fire burned it all up.”

Zhang Guanghang fell silent.

Today was Xia Mushi’s birthday, but he had no intention of celebrating for himself. Business went on as usual, work was done as usual, and even lunch wasn’t any more lavish because it was his birthday—it was a simple stir-fry and the leftover braised chicken with mushrooms from last night’s dinner.

After lunch, Zhang Guanghang didn’t go back to his room to sleep but nagged Xia Mushi, hoping he would make him a pie.

“A pie?” Xia Mushi suddenly became alert, as if he was back under the reign of fear governed by Shafu Roast Chicken, “What kind of pie?”

“Apple pie!”

Xia Mushi: ???

Jiang Feng could even read Xia Mushi’s mind.

What’s with you French people and apples? If you’re going to cook, why do you have to pick apples?

“Do you know how to make it?” Xia Mushi asked.

Zhang knew how to make apple pie; it was a simple, easy-to-make home dessert. The problem now was that there was no oven in Fen Garden, so Zhang couldn’t make it himself. That’s why he wanted Xia Mushi to do it. In Zhang’s eyes, his master was omnipotent, and even without an oven, he could surely make something similar to apple pie.

Xia Mushi: …

No, I can’t.

Giving the apprentice face, Xia Mushi felt it would be quite unfair not to make one, given the expectation. He asked in detail what an apple pie was and concluded that it was basically an apple cake.

A thick-crusted baked cake, at that.

Zhang described the apple pie as the kind of large, round dish pie Jiang Feng imagined could hardly be made with anything but an oven. If it were the kind of thin-crust, rectangular pie sold at KFC, maybe pan-frying or deep-frying could pass for it.

Xia Mushi began to struggle.

He knew how to make baked cakes, but those were meat-filled. Now tasked with making an apple-filled baked cake, he was afraid he could manage the cake part but Zhang might be scared to eat it.

“Let me think about it,” Xia Mushi dropped these words and sent Zhang back to his room to sleep. After waking up, he could do his homework while Xia himself stayed in the kitchen, battling with apples, figuring out how to make this thick-crust apple cake.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated on N𝘰vgo.co