Chapter Ninety-Seven: Pearl Cabbage, a Performance

Kai Kun squeezed through the crowd into the kitchen. “Senior Jiang Yun, did you make the pearl cabbage I ordered?”

“Not yet. I’ll make it last!”

“Senior Jiang Yun, pearl cabbage is a proper signature dish! If you don’t start it now and wait until later, there won’t be enough time!”

“Don’t worry. Yours won’t be forgotten.”

Kai Kun poked around the kitchen, touching this and peering at that with the air of an overexcited child, which irritated Jiang Yun to no end.

“Hello? Anyone here?”

A girl’s voice came from outside.

“Whoa! What are all these people doing gathered here?”

Zhao Mai squeezed through the crowd and into the kitchen.

Jiang Yun rolled his eyes. Great. Another curious child.

“Senior Jiang Yun, is that pot simmering over the low flame my tomato casserole?”

Jiang Yun nodded.

He began making egg waffles, taking a stainless-steel bowl and cracking in six eggs before adding honey, white sugar, and flour, stirring them into a smooth batter.

Jiang Yun held a spoon over the flame, then poured the batter into it.

He worked with complete concentration, while Zhao Mai and Kai Kun chattered beside him, marveling at everything they saw.

“Hello? Anyone there?”

A man’s voice came from outside the kitchen.

“It must be Brother Chen Long. You two go take a look first!”

Zhao Mai blinked in surprise. “Chen Long? The action star Chen Long?”

Jiang Yun said irritably, “Who else would it be?”

“Oh, yeah!” Zhao Mai leaped up excitedly.

Chen Long stood in the living room and nearly jumped when he saw seven or eight people crowding there. “Whoa! What’s with this huge crowd?”

He came to the kitchen doorway and looked inside. “Jiang Yun, so you’re the one cooking!”

“Mm-hm.” Jiang Yun nodded.

“Are you making egg waffles?”

“Yes.”

“I’ve never seen them made this way before.”

Jiang Yun replied politely, “Brother Chen Long, please rest for a while. They’ll be ready soon.”

“Brother Chen Long, I’m Kai Kun!” Kai Kun introduced himself.

“I’m Zhao Mai.”

Chen Long nodded. “Hello.”

“Hello, Brother Chen Long!”

Chen Long said in a commanding tone, “Kai Kun, and Zhao Mai, you two come out first. The kitchen is too small.”

Wasn’t that just calling them tactless? The two of them were utterly embarrassed.

After they left the kitchen, Jiang Yun finally let out a breath of relief. At last, they were gone; having people stare at him there made him feel uncomfortable all over.

Inwardly, Jiang Yun silently thanked Chen Long. He truly could not have carried himself with that kind of authority without being disliked.

Once the egg waffles were done, Jiang Yun placed them in the oven to keep warm.

Then he began making the pearl cabbage.

This dish was simple enough. Jiang Yun used the remaining batter to make a thick, rustic soup, then added a few cabbage leaves. Done. A cabbage dumpling soup, rebranded with a grander name as pearl cabbage.

Right then, Huang Kang and He Ling returned as well.

“Whoa! You’re here!”

“Teacher Chen Long, you’re here too!”

He Ling and Huang Kang greeted the others politely, then exchanged a few courteous words with Chen Long.

Huang Kang glanced toward the kitchen. “Whoa, what are all the camera crew doing gathered around the kitchen?”

In the kitchen, Jiang Yun rolled his eyes. Did every single person have to say that upon arrival?

“Senior Jiang Yun is cooking!” Kai Kun explained.

“What? Jiang Yun is cooking?” Huang Kang asked in surprise.

“Mm.” Zhao Mai nodded. “Mr. Jiang Yun has already made all the dishes we ordered!”

“Old Huang, you can take it easy today!”

Huang Kang wore a look of deep relief.

Jiang Yun walked out of the kitchen. “Wash your hands, and let’s eat!”

“Old Huang, wash up and eat. Let’s see how Jiang Yun’s cooking tastes!”

“Alright!”

Everyone sat around the dining table while Jiang Yun brought out the dishes.

“Your braised shrimp and tomato casserole!”

“Thank you, Teacher Jiang Yun!”

“Brother Chen, your egg waffles!”

“Thanks.” Chen Long studied them. “Not bad, honestly. Looks the part.”

Kai Kun eagerly reached out. “Brother Chen Long, let me taste one!”

“Smack!”

Chen Long knocked his hand away. “I’m saving these for dessert after the meal!”

He looked distinctly displeased. Honestly, everyone else called me Brother, and you just follow suit? I’m almost sixty. You’re really too casual. Calling you a fearless newborn calf is already flattering you.

Chen Long grumbled to himself.

Kai Kun gave an awkward smile, withdrawing his hand in embarrassment.

Trying to cover his embarrassment, Kai Kun turned to Jiang Yun. “Senior Jiang Yun, where’s my pearl cabbage?”

Jiang Yun carried over a small white clay pot and set it on the table. “Here, Kai Kun. Your pearl cabbage!”

Kai Kun froze. “This is pearl cabbage?”

“Of course. What’s the matter?”

“No, I mean, this is pearl cabbage?”

“Yes. What exactly is the problem?”

“Senior Jiang Yun, don’t take me for a fool. This is clearly cabbage dumpling soup!”

“Hahaha!”

“Ha-ha-ha!”

The others burst into laughter.

Huang Kang draped an arm over Kai Kun’s shoulder. “Kai Kun, I think this pearl cabbage is perfectly fine! Look, how much do the dough morsels resemble pearls?”

Kai Kun looked aggrieved, inwardly cursing. Like hell they do!

“Jiang Yun, come sit beside me,” Chen Long called, waving him over.

Jiang Yun removed his apron. “Alright.”

Everyone began eating. Chen Long sighed, “Would be perfect if we had some wine.”

“We do! Erguotou,” Huang Kang said. “You can exchange for it with the production crew.”

Chen Long’s eyes lit up. “Really?”

“Really.”

“Then good!” Chen Long looked toward the camera crew. “Director, bring me a bottle of Erguotou!”

The director said, “Erguotou is fine, but Mr. Chen Long has to perform a program first!”

“This...” He had not expected the production team to pull a move like that.

Chen Long said, “Fine. But I need someone to work with me.”

“Sure. Who do you want to team up with?”

“Jiang Yun.”

“Hm?” Jiang Yun blinked. “Alright.”

The director said, “Fine, then let Jiang Yun cooperate with you!”

Jiang Yun stood up. “Brother Chen, what are we performing?”

“We’ll recreate the steel mill fight scene from Drunken Fist!”

“Sure. But Brother Chen, is your body up for it?”

“It’s fine. No problem.” Chen Long thumped his chest.

The two of them moved to a spacious area in the living room.

“Alright, both of you get ready!”

“Begin!”

Boom!

Chen Long struck a stance. “Lyu Dongbin, drunk with the wine pot, lifts a thousand pounds.”

Jiang Yun raised his leg and unleashed a flurry of right kicks, his feet a blur as he struck.

Chen Long swayed, half-drunk and half-awake, turning aside to evade Jiang Yun’s kick.

Still staggering, Chen Long pressed forward.

He drew a punch with a gust of force and sent it toward Jiang Yun.

Jiang Yun reacted instantly, kicking the punch away.

Chen Long’s legs swayed. “Tie Guai Li, spinning and colliding at the knee, drunk yet true.”

Boom!

Chen Long kicked out directly, meeting Jiang Yun’s kick head-on.

The next second, Chen Long clutched his leg and grimaced in pain, as if a monkey had been scorched on the rear.

Ha-ha-ha!

Everyone else laughed aloud at the sight of him.

“Again!”

Jiang Yun threw a punch. It was fierce and domineering, slicing the air with a sharp whistle.

Chen Long stumbled and clashed straight on with Jiang Yun.

The two exchanged moves repeatedly, their motions smooth as flowing water, full of visual flair.

They were locked in a hard-fought stalemate.

Boom!

Jiang Yun threw another punch, but in a momentary mistake, it landed squarely on Chen Long’s chest.

Thud, thud, thud!

Clutching his chest, Chen Long staggered backward several steps before collapsing onto the floor.

“Cough, cough!” He coughed violently a few times.

Jiang Yun hurried to his side. “Brother Chen, are you alright?!”

The camera crew panicked as well.

Huang Kang and He Ling rushed over immediately.

Note: Thanks to “Nine Nether and Soul Devourer” for the one monthly vote and eight recommendation votes!

Thanks to “Jinchuan” for the one monthly vote!