20 Chapter 20: High-Difficulty Side Quest
Translator: Larbre Studio
Editor: Larbre Studio
The next morning, everyone gathered early at Healthy Stir-fry Restaurant, sitting around a six-person table waiting for breakfast.
Breakfast was plain noodles, with no added ingredients apart from a sprinkle of green onions. The noodles were hand-rolled by Jiang Jiankang, and the broth was his treasured stock.
No other ingredients were needed; a bowl of the broth was enough.
The noodles were chewy; their flavor was fresh. The group devoured their large bowls like a whirlwind sweeping away leaves.
“Feng, you’ve really had it rough, having to eat pig food with me at UAL University these past couple of years.” Wang Hao couldn’t help but sigh deeply over the delicious breakfast.
“Yeah, Feng, your family’s restaurant should have opened here earlier.” Qiu Chen agreed, then looked at Liu Zixuan and suddenly remembered something, “Zixuan, don’t you have no classes this morning? Why did you get up so early?”
“I came to the shop to help out. Waking up early is good for your health,” Liu Zixuan replied without a change in expression, as if he had never been the person who couldn’t get up for club gatherings.
There was still some time before classes, so Jiang Feng and Wang Hao walked slowly to the classrooms together.
At the bottom of the academic building, they bumped into Professor Li.
“Good morning, teacher,” Jiang Feng and Wang Hao greeted in unison.
“Good morning,” Professor Li nodded to them and stopped Jiang Feng, “Jiang Feng, I have something I want to ask you.”
Wang Hao tactfully went ahead to the classroom.
!!..
“Teacher, what is it?” Jiang Feng asked.
“I just wanted to ask; does your father know how to make clear soup with willow leaf-shaped vegetables? I saw it on the menu yesterday but didn’t actually see the dish being served,” Professor Li inquired.
Jiang Feng was startled that Professor Li had looked at the menu. He replied, “I’m sorry, Professor Li, my dad can’t make that dish, only my grandfather can. He’s currently in the countryside, but if you’d like, I can call and ask him for you.”
“I see,” Professor Li didn’t show any disappointment and continued to ask, “may I know who your grandfather is…?”
“My grandfather is Jiang Weiguo.” Sir had some fame as a head chef in the state-owned restaurant back in the day, but Professor Li was from Yanjing, so far away. Chances were he hadn’t heard of Sir.
Clearly, Professor Li hadn’t heard of Jiang Weiguo, so he just said, “Then I’ll trouble you with this, let’s head up together.”
As they were walking, Professor Li suddenly seemed to recall something, “Jiang Weiguo… Weiguo… Jiang Feng, do you know Jiang Chengde?”
“Jiang Chengde? He’s my great-grandfather,” Jiang Feng didn’t expect Professor Li to know of Jiang Chengde. According to Sir, his great-grandfather had passed away during the war.
“Jiang Feng, I must ask you to please bring your grandfather here, money is no object, nor are the ingredients, I beg you,” Professor Li suddenly became animated.
“It… it should be no problem, my grandfather just prefers staying in the countryside, he hasn’t stopped cooking,” Jiang Feng was somewhat taken aback.
“I beg you,” Professor Li bowed deeply to Jiang Feng.
An old teacher bowing to him, Jiang Feng felt helpless and blurted out, “Teacher, I need to go to the bathroom first.”
He fled as if running for his life.
“Ding, an optional side quest has appeared, please player choose accordingly.”
A side quest?
In a bathroom stall, Jiang Feng pulled up his character panel.
The side quest had changed to—
Side Quest: (Optional)
1.[Mother’s Wish]Wang Xiulian has always hoped to have a gentle, understanding, and slim daughter-in-law. Please help her fulfill this wish by finding a girlfriend who is gentle, understanding, and slim.[Choose: Yes/No]
2.[Li Junming’s Wish]Li Junming’s father, Li Mingyi, won’t be in this world for much longer. Born into a prestigious Yanjing family, he never forgot the clear broth willow leaf swallow dish made by Taifeng Building’s head chef, Jiang Chengde, when he was a child. Please help Li Junming fulfill his wish and let Li Mingyi taste the clear broth willow leaf swallow dish from his memory.[Choose: Yes/No]
After clicking yes, the task became:
[Li Junming’s Wish]Li Junming’s father, Li Mingyi, won’t be in this world for much longer. Born into a prestigious Yanjing family, he never forgot the clear broth willow leaf swallow dish made by Taifeng Building’s head chef, Jiang Chengde, when he was a child. Please help Li Junming fulfill his wish and let Li Mingyi taste the clear broth willow leaf swallow dish from his memory. Task Progress (0/1)
Task hint: This task is extremely difficult, players are advised to explore on their own.
Task reward: Unknown
Jiang Feng: …
I thank you for your exploration on your own!
He certainly knew the task was difficult. To recreate the legendary Jiang Chengde’s clear broth willow leaf swallow dish, even Sir couldn’t manage it.
Who was Jiang Chengde? In Sir’s words, he was once the man for whom the entire Beiping City’s princes and nobles, and the scions of the X Banner, had to queue up for a taste of his cooking. He could pick and choose from the most exotic ingredients; if he wanted dragon meat from the heavens, those food connoisseurs would have managed to get it for him.
One was the strongest champion; the other, a stubborn bronze.
They weren’t in the same league at all.
The professor sure was a professor; even his wishes were hard to fulfill, tougher than hidden tasks!
Jiang Feng went to the professor.
Wang Hao had already claimed a good spot, the fourth row, not too far forward and not too far back, perfect for listening to the lecture or taking a nap.
“Feng, what does Mr. Li want with you?” Mr. Li was reviewing his notes on the podium while Wang Hao asked out of curiosity.
“He wants my grandfather to make him a clear broth willow leaf swallow dish,” Jiang Feng didn’t hide it.
“Wow, Professor Li must be really rich,” Wang Hao sighed. “No wonder he’s rumored to have a quad in Yanjing.”
Who knows where he got that gossip from.
“Is the clear broth willow leaf swallow dish tasty?” Wang Hao was most concerned about the flavor.
“Never had it,” said Jiang Feng. Their household certainly wouldn’t bother with such a luxurious dish.
“Feng, I heard your family’s restaurant just opened. Let’s go show our support at lunch!” A classmate from behind chuckled. “Do we get a discount?”
“Clear your plate and share it on social media for a ten percent discount,” Jiang Feng was very principled.
“Qian Tang, let me tell you, Feng’s dad’s cooking skills are really something…” Wang Hao never missed a chance to advertise, turning to tell the classmates behind him about Mr. Jiang Jiankang’s culinary talent.
As Wang Hao spoke, he even took out his phone to show everyone the picture of last night’s pork knuckle, garnering admiring gasps all around.
“This pork knuckle is over a hundred bucks!” Wang Hao didn’t forget to stress the price.
“If it’s over a hundred, a few of us can just order one to try!” spoke another financially untroubled individual.
“The pork knuckle needs to be ordered in advance,” Jiang Feng turned to say, “It takes several hours to stew a pork knuckle; it’s impossible to do it on the spot.”
Today, Comrade Jiang Jiankang had only one pork knuckle left—if it got sold, he’d be crying while holding the pork knuckle.