The Game of Life

Chapter 569: Chapter 567 Taifeng Building Matchmaking Agency

Jiang Feng hesitated about whether to step forward or not.

Indeed, Ji Xia’s laziness was absolutely unacceptable, especially this kind of flattery-based shirking was even more dangerous. It always reminded Jiang Feng of Jiang Junlian and Jiang Junqing.

But he thought the pancake-like thing Zheng Da was making looked really appetizing, with egg wash brushed on and lots of black sesame sprinkled over it—it would definitely smell fragrant when baked.

Scrumptiously fragrant!

Jiang Feng watched as Zheng Da placed the peach pastries on the baking tray and put the baking tray in the oven before he slowly approached, pretending to be curious, “Master Zheng, what are you making here?”

“Ji Xia wanted to eat some flaky pastry, so I made some for her.” Zheng Da felt that Ji Xia was a good child in every way, sensible, obedient, and sweet-talking—100 times better than his son who only knew how to argue with him and refused to date. It’s just that the master chef wasn’t quite up to par.

“Xiaxia, that’s really not acceptable of you. How could you let Master Zheng make food for you when he rarely visits?” Jiang Feng politely chided Ji Xia, taking out 20 yuan from his pocket and handing it to her, “Go buy oden to eat outside.”

“Thank you, Master!” Ji Xia took the money with practiced ease, “Master Zheng, I’ll come back later to eat the flaky pastry you made.”

Then, like a child eager to escape from school after class, Ji Xia showed no reluctance to leave the flaky pastry behind and scampered off with the money.

“By the way, Jiang, do you have time now? There are some things I want to discuss with you alone. How about we talk outside?” Zheng Da felt he needed to have a serious talk with Jiang Feng about Ji Xia’s education.

Such a good prospect should not be wasted—under Jiang Feng’s teaching method, even the best talent could be spoiled.

Although Jiang Feng didn’t know what Zheng Da wanted to talk about, why not take the opportunity to slack off with a clear conscience? Anyway, he had already finished the dishes like the Eight Treasures Chestnut Fragrant Pigeon and Sweet and Sour Yam, and Comrade Jiang Jiankang could handle the remaining dishes on his behalf.

Jiang Feng gladly agreed, informed the two sirs, and then led Zheng Da to the changing room.

“Master Zheng, just speak your mind,” Jiang Feng said after making sure no one else was in the changing room and closing the door.

“It’s nothing serious, just a few questions. Ji Xia is your apprentice, right? How long has she been with you?” Zheng Da asked.

“Less than half a year, I took her on last year,” replied Jiang Feng.

“So, is she planning to pursue Red Chef activities or White Chef in the future?”

“Although I’m a Red Chef, Xiaxia really wants to learn White Chef techniques, and she shows quite some talent in that area. She’ll probably become a White Chef in the future,” Jiang Feng said.

Zheng Da frowned slightly, “I watched Ji Xia kneading dough just now. She may have a wild approach, but her basics are good—definitely a promising talent. With proper training, her future is boundless. It’s just…”

Zheng Da didn’t finish his sentence; he was concerned that Jiang Feng might not be able to properly cultivate Ji Xia’s skills.

“I’ve seen you working on Red Chef tasks in the kitchen for the past two days, and I wonder what your White Chef skills are like?” Zheng Da decided to ask indirectly.

“A bit inferior to Xiaxia,” Jiang Feng honestly admitted.

Zheng Da: ?

“You probably know about my situation since Master Huang must have mentioned something to you these past two days. There isn’t really anyone in our family studying White Chef skills. We mostly specialize in Red Chef, and even my grandfather only has a passing mastery of White Chef. Besides my grandfather, my uncle is a bit better at White Chef techniques, but he’s a tailor. Cooking isn’t his main profession. Over the years, he’s only made pastries for my aunt to eat at home, and there’s only so much one person can eat.”

“As for Xiaxia’s situation, I, as her master, am quite clear about it. She hasn’t really studied White Chef for many years. She has some foundation and is not too bad, but it’s an undisciplined style. I’d like to teach her, but my own approach is even more undisciplined. I’ve basically never learned White Chef,” Jiang Feng continued.

“Originally, I wanted to ask my uncle to teach Xiaxia, but he has his own matters to attend to—he has to cook for my aunt at home. Sometimes, he also sews and alters clothes, leaving little spare time in his day. So, these days, I have been pondering finding a master who specializes in White Chef techniques to teach her.”

Zheng Da nodded involuntarily, his opinion of Jiang Feng changing for the better. Although this master wasn’t capable, at least he was aware of it.

He knew his own limitations.

“You’re my master’s brother, and there’s no need to keep secrets about these things. Prior to this, Xiaxia could only do noodle pulling. When it came to pastries, she was completely clueless. The water-oil crust was something I taught her just a few days ago. Truthfully, I’m not very good at it myself; I just showed her the basic method and let her figure it out on her own, and then she managed to come up with this,” Jiang Feng went on praising Ji Xia.

Zheng Da’s eyes lit up. When he had seen Ji Xia making the water-oil crust, he thought she had been learning it for a while, but to find out she had only been studying for a few days raised his estimation of her even higher.

“Considering Xiaxia’s exceptional talent, don’t you think we need to find her a good teacher?” Jiang Feng said.

“Yes,” Zheng Da nodded solemnly, feeling that it would be a terrible waste if a prodigy like Ji Xia didn’t have a renowned teacher’s guidance.

“But you know the current market environment as well as I do. There are already few White Chefs, and even fewer are excellent. Maybe it’s a bit better in Gusu, but here in Beiping, the formidable White Chefs are just a handful, and all with family traditions that never take outside disciples. The pastry shops have been passing down their craft from generation to generation,” Jiang Feng continued.

“Yes, indeed, the White Chef field isn’t what it used to be. Many young people are reluctant to learn White Chef skills now, and some pastry shops sell pastries that are even inferior to machine-produced ones,” Zheng Da empathized, even though he was the very culprit destroying the market with machine-made pastries.

“Do you have any free time coming up?” Jiang Feng asked with a smile.

“Hmm?” Zheng Da suddenly became alert.

Jiang Feng thought to himself that it was no wonder businessmen were so vigilant, they really are not like ordinary people, “I just noticed that you got along quite well with Xiaxia just now, and she seems to quite like you. If you have some free time recently, why not spare a moment to guide her a little, at least set her on the right path?”

Although Zheng Da felt that Ji Xia was a good apprentice material, it did not mean he liked to teach apprentices. When he taught his own son, he nearly got angered to death by him. Even though he was quite fond of Ji Xia, he didn’t want to bring such trouble upon himself.

Making casual suggestions is one thing, agreeing to teach is another. The former can be treated as an offhand remark, while the latter requires serious responsibility.

Zheng Da sighed, “Unfortunately, I indeed have some business in Beiping recently and might not be able to find the time. If I do become available, I’ll certainly teach Ji Xia properly.”

Jiang Feng also knew that he had not met Zheng Da many times. Even though Zheng Da was nominally his Master Uncle, it was a recent acknowledgment, and it was unlikely for him to help teach an apprentice without any familial bonds.

Zheng Da himself had not taken on any apprentices, so how could he possibly agree to teach someone else’s?

“I was just asking casually, don’t take it to heart. If you encounter any problems here, feel free to contact me. Even though I’m not that capable, I do know some friends, and I can solve general small issues,” Jiang Feng said politely.

Zheng Da’s eyes lit up: “Xiao Jiang, there’s actually something I need your help with!”

Jiang Feng: ?

Master Uncle, you were pretty sharp just now; how did you become like this so quickly? Didn’t you realize I was just being polite?

“Ah?”

“It’s actually not a big deal, I just saw that there are quite a few female waitresses in your restaurant, who are all pretty and polite, but they’re a tad young. Do you have any that are a bit older?” Zheng Da now had no other desire than to use every avenue available to solve Zheng Siyuan’s marriage issues.

“Hah?” Jiang Feng was stunned, wondering what special preference Zheng Da had, and his view of Zheng Da immediately changed.

“Your Zheng is 35 this year and just refuses to get a girlfriend. All these years, I’ve tried to set him up with various prospects—corporate executives, white-collar workers, entrepreneurs, individual business owners, White Chefs, Red Chefs, pastry chefs, baristas—appropriate and possible matches that I’ve asked others to introduce, none successful.” Zheng Da became quite talkative as soon as this topic was broached.

“I figured that now, hotel front desk managers and the like usually are highly educated, come from similar backgrounds, and work in the same industry. Maybe finding a suitable person could work out.” Zheng Da was grasping at straws.

“Well… Master Uncle, the waitresses in our restaurant are generally quite young. Manager Fan is a bit older, but her kid is already in elementary school, so I don’t think it’s quite suitable,” Jiang Feng said with a look of difficulty, knowing Taifeng Building couldn’t possibly be tasked with solving people’s marriage problems.

Wait a second, who says Taifeng Building can’t solve people’s marriage issues?

Didn’t they have things like the Chicken Wrapped Meal and Chopped Pepper Fish Head marriage matching specials? Plus, now they had the Mixed Sweet Soup, a matchmaker’s marvel, making the Beiping matchmaking agencies pale in comparison.

“Master Uncle, are you in a hurry?” Jiang Feng asked tentatively.

“Of course I’m in a hurry, I’m nearly worried to death,” Zheng Da had no qualms about publicly expressing his concern for Zheng Siyuan’s marriage issues. He wished everyone knew about his concerns.

That way, whenever someone thought of matchmaking, they would think of Zheng Siyuan, which greatly increases the likelihood of him finding a match.

“I have a little method that might not sound very reliable, but it’s truly effective. It may not be very scientific, but I assure you, it works!” Jiang Feng said.

“You know a master who specializes in determining marital fate?” Zheng Da immediately went to superstitious beliefs.

Jiang Feng:…

“No, that’s not it. I mean, if someone introduces a potential match to Zheng, you can set up the blind date at our place. Here at Taifeng Building, we have special matchmaking menus that are really miraculous, far more effective than any of those marriage charms. Several couples have been matched already!” Jiang Feng was almost pounding his chest to guarantee it to Zheng Da.

“Really?” Zheng Da was somewhat skeptical; he had prayed for a dozen marriage charms, had even adjusted the feng shui at home, but that didn’t seem to help Zheng Siyuan get a wife.

“Really, one couple made it official right in front of me, proclaimed their feelings over the phone during mealtime, and the girl agreed on the spot. Now they are still flaunting their affection in my social media feed. Would you like to see their posts? It’s extremely sweet!” Jiang Feng immediately went to the counter, took out his phone, opened WeChat, and showed Fang Zhuoyue’s social feed to Zheng Da.

Zheng Da started to believe a little.

With superstitions like these, who says it has to be a charm? Who says a meal can’t do the trick?

“If your Zheng settles down here in Beiping, I’m certainly going to move here too. No matter what, as Ji Xia’s great-master uncle, it’s right for me to offer guidance to the younger generation. Don’t worry, Xiao Jiang, I’ll stay in Beiping these days, and I will definitely help Ji Xia master White Chef pastry making!” Zheng Da promised with full confidence.

Jiang Feng knew that from today on, the Taifeng Building Matchmaking Agency was officially open for business.

Zheng Siyuan was their first client.