The Reviled God of Cooking Tries to Slack Off - Chapter 3

The old Jiang Tingzhou had always been tough. No matter how hard things got, he would grit his teeth and push through. But now, everything he had worked so hard for was wiped clean in an instant. Even the strongest person’s mindset would collapse under such a blow.

During his illness, countless memories flashed through his mind. His sleep was restless, as if he were either dreaming or lost in thought. When he finally woke up, it was already the next morning.

He had been unconscious for over ten hours. When he opened his eyes, his mouth was parched and his voice hoarse. His vision was blurry; he could barely make anything out. Someone beside him helped him sit up and slowly gave him some water to drink.

The movements were gentle, unlike before, when they had tried to force water into him. The temperature of the water was just right—warm and easy to swallow.

Jiang Tingzhou’s mind was still foggy. Freshly awake, he couldn’t tell what time or day it was. After finishing the water and regaining some clarity, he opened his mouth and muttered, “Thank you, Secretary Lin… Secretary Lin…”

“What did you say?” The reply came from a stranger—a young girl, judging by her voice. “I’m the one in the bed next to yours. Hold on, I’ll go get the nurse.”

Jiang Tingzhou fully regained consciousness after drinking the water. He opened his eyes and looked around—it was a standard hospital ward.

The room was old, the ceiling coated in dust.

How could Secretary Lin be with him now?

The patient in the neighboring bed poked her head over to look at him. She was a middle-aged woman in a plaid shirt, looking friendly and speaking in a loud voice.

She asked directly, “Young man, how do you feel? You scared us when you suddenly fainted yesterday.”

Jiang Tingzhou had suffered a high fever seizure, which had frightened not only the nurses but also the other patients nearby. A group had rushed over to help lift him from the floor.

The aunt in the plaid shirt was one of those who had helped. The person who had just given him water was her daughter, who had come to visit her. She was about Jiang Tingzhou’s age, with a round face, round glasses, and a gentle demeanor. Seeing that he was thirsty, she had offered him some warm water.

This family was full of warm-hearted people. They happened to share the same ward—just the two of them. Seeing him in such a pitiful state, they naturally lent a hand.

The round-faced girl who had fed him water looked at Jiang Tingzhou carefully and murmured, “You look familiar. I think I’ve seen you somewhere before… Have you been on TV recently?”

“Enough already—don’t go full reporter on him,” the aunt in the plaid shirt chided. Then she looked at the still-dazed Jiang Tingzhou and sighed. “You young people are really under too much pressure. Even when you’re this sick, you’re still thinking about work.”

Jiang Tingzhou lay there motionless, like a corpse. Hearing her chatter, he pieced together what had happened after he collapsed yesterday.

He had been holding his phone when he fainted, and someone had called at that exact moment. Since he was unconscious, the hospital had needed to confirm his identity and contact someone on his behalf.

In the confusion, the helpful aunt had picked up the call. She hadn’t thought much of it—just answered to help.

But on the other end, someone started yelling:

“Jiang Tingzhou, how dare you run off! You trying to play games with me? If this doesn’t get resolved today, don’t think you’ll ever live it down! Get back here now—you’ve offended the clients! If you don’t return, expect a scolding back at the office!”

The tone was harsh, like that of a debt collector. But after asking some questions, they realized it was his boss, pressuring him to return to work.

Upon learning from the hospital that Jiang Tingzhou had passed out and wouldn’t be waking anytime soon, the caller cursed again and hung up—without even a word of concern.

“He’s this sick and still expected to work? What a reincarnated Zhou Baopi!” the aunt scolded angrily. Then she turned to her daughter and added, “Your team leader’s just like that guy—only knows how to bully young people. Might as well die of stress and be done with it!”

(Translator’s Notes: Zhou Baopi, also known as Zhou the flayer, is a prominent figure in Chinese literature, particularly in the context of Gao Yubao’s semi-fictional autobiography. He is portrayed as a notorious, evil landlord whose story became widely known during socialist China and was used as a propaganda tool.)

Her daughter, a new graduate freshly tossed into the workplace, smiled helplessly.

Maybe it was because she, too, was being squeezed by management that the aunt felt especially sympathetic.

Jiang Tingzhou gave a hoarse thank-you, but he knew in his heart that Manager Yang had taken a major loss when he ran off.

It was rare to see him that angry—angry enough to lose control of his words. Jiang Tingzhou guessed that his sudden disappearance had forced Manager Yang to meet the clients himself, and things hadn’t gone well. No wonder he was so furious.

But Manager Yang’s misfortune didn’t stir Jiang Tingzhou’s emotions.
Even if he were to die of rage—what did that have to do with him?

He continued to lie there, head turned, motionless, radiating the aura of someone who had given up on everything.

The aunt noticed something was off—he looked depressed—so she tried to lighten the mood.

“By the way, your friend came to see you. He just left. He even cut up some fruit for you—it’s right over there. Eat a little.”

At the mention of “friend,” Jiang Tingzhou’s expression changed slightly. He looked confused.

Friend? Who? Did he even have any friends who would come take care of him?

His throat hurt too much to ask. The aunt added that the person looked like a high school student.

He glanced at the bedside table: oranges, cantaloupe, and grapes neatly arranged in a lunchbox, with a small fork on top.

If he hadn’t just been reborn, he really would have thought it was his all-capable secretary, Lin Bodong, who had followed him here.

At first, he had felt nothing after waking. But now, faced with the sight of fresh fruit, hunger struck.

He hadn’t eaten anything since his fever began—more than a day.

Just then, the nurse came in. Hearing his stomach growl, she gave him a once-over and said it would be good for him to eat a bit. She helped him sit up and placed the fruit box in his hands.

“You can eat a little now,” she said. “If you stay hungry, it’ll only make you feel worse.”

Jiang Tingzhou stared at the fruits for a long time. Then, slowly, he speared a slice of orange with the fork and brought it to his mouth.

Ever since he was reborn, he hadn’t felt at ease. He’d been dizzy, confused, and everything tasted bitter. But the moment that orange touched his tongue, a wave of coolness rushed through him—it was like being pulled out of a swamp of bitterness.

His tongue was more sensitive than most. He could taste nuances others couldn’t. And since he hadn’t eaten in so long, the contrast was sharp.

The orange was extremely sweet, its flesh bursting with juice. Just a light bite, and the citrusy flavor spread through his mouth, the sweetness rushing from his tongue to the top of his head.

His stomach, which had been cramping from hunger, finally eased.

So sweet.

The orange’s flavor seemed to restore some color to Jiang Tingzhou’s gray world. A spark of life returned to him.

When he was a child, living with his adoptive father, he never had enough to eat. His reverence for food was etched into his bones. Even at his saddest, a good meal could ease his pain.

As he slowly worked through the second slice, someone came into the ward—to “visit” him.

Or rather—to hold him accountable. Because the person who entered was none other than Manager Yang, still fuming from yesterday’s incident.

His expression was dark and ominous. He was tall and broad, and when he walked in, he looked like a zombie. The moment he saw Jiang Tingzhou, he let out a cold sneer. “So you’re awake now. Do you have any idea how badly you’ve screwed me over?”

He had called yesterday and found out Jiang Tingzhou was in the hospital. People’s Hospital wasn’t hard to find, and Jiang Tingzhou had expected that the man would come looking for him sooner or later.

But this wasn’t the place for Manager Yang to throw a fit, so Jiang Tingzhou didn’t respond. He just lowered his head and ate another juicy slice of orange, chewing slowly.

Was it orange season right now?

He couldn’t remember ever eating such a delicious orange before.

His nonchalant attitude only enraged Manager Yang further. Standing there, he pointed and cursed at him—saying things like “irresponsible,” “lying,” “completely lacking in character”… all of it.

The store manager had always treated Jiang Tingzhou like a subordinate, as if playing the role of a senior. But his bonus was tied to the store’s revenue, and Jiang Tingzhou had worked himself to the bone over the years, earning countless profits. His efforts were the real foundation of that bonus.

If it had been Jiang You—the favored one in the family—lying in this bed, the man wouldn’t have dared to speak like this.

Seeing Jiang Tingzhou unresponsive, like a puppet, the man stepped closer and barked, “When are you coming back? Did you see all those media posts on Weibo yesterday? They said our store was arrogant. Zhao Tongzhi and the others are still here—I persuaded them to stay another day. If you come back, I’ll consider it making amends. I won’t tell your father, and I’ll let it go.”

Jiang Tingzhou had already eaten three slices of orange. He slowly poked at a piece of honeydew and took a bite.

It was very sweet. The kind of honeydew with a taste like ice cream—soft, juicy, and fresh.

You could tell from the first bite that it was top-quality. Probably the most expensive variety from the nearest fruit shop. Not much different from the kinds used in imperial banquets.

Such carefully selected fruit—very thoughtful for a hospital visit.

He vaguely guessed who the “friend” who had come to take care of him might be.

Jiang Tingzhou was focused on his food and distracted, paying no attention to Manager Yang.

“What are you planning to do?” At this point, the nurse beside the bed spoke up. “The patient had a febrile convulsion yesterday, and the fever hasn’t subsided. His temperature was just over 39 degrees. If he had come to the hospital any later, he would’ve developed pneumonia. He needs to be hospitalized now. He can’t go anywhere!”

Manager Yang, who always insisted on having his way, didn’t listen. He thought Jiang Tingzhou was fine now that he was awake and didn’t take the nurse seriously. His temper was even worse than usual. Standing at the head of the bed, he looked down at Jiang Tingzhou and warned him, “The store’s first-quarter report is coming out soon. Do you think I’m doing this for myself? Jiang Tingzhou, the old store is doing well, and you’re the biggest beneficiary, aren’t you? I’m doing this for your own good!”

He had once brought up the competition with Jiang You in front of the board of directors. Many in the company knew about it, and Manager Yang and the others, of course, knew it well. So no matter how much pressure Jiang Tingzhou was under, they kept using this matter to provoke him.

Jiang Tingzhou had fought for himself and ended up with a high fever. He couldn’t blame anyone else—it had been his own choice. But if you had to point fingers, the so-called “vice president” position was just a pie in the sky. He was still a long way from actually getting shares or joining the board. Meanwhile, the store manager’s bonus—and all the employees’ bonuses at the old store—were tied to the store’s revenue. Saying Jiang Tingzhou benefited the most from the competition was shameless.

And now, this person was threatening him with that.

He laughed and slowly took another bite of the grape.

The grape was small and not as sweet as the honeydew, but it had a strong fragrance—like the crystal grapes he used to eat as a child. It started off with a sour note, a very distinctive flavor.

So Jiang Tingzhou felt like speaking a little.

He hooked a finger at the man, motioning him to come closer. His throat hurt, and he couldn’t raise his voice. Manager Yang leaned in and heard him say:

“Go back? Keep dreaming.” Jiang Tingzhou said, “You couldn’t make me go back even if you begged on your knees. Yang Jinhao, who do you think you are? You’re not even worthy of carrying my shoes.”

Manager Yang was stunned. He never imagined Jiang Tingzhou would say something like that.

Then he reacted—furious.

It reminded him of yesterday’s events. With new resentment added to old grudges, his rage boiled over. He felt he had to teach Jiang Tingzhou a lesson—if this attitude continued, how would he manage him in the future?

In a fit of anger, he slapped the fruit box Jiang Tingzhou was holding to the ground.

The beautifully arranged fruit platter, barely touched, fell onto the bed and floor. Oranges, melons, and grapes scattered everywhere.

The action was so sudden that the nearby nurses were startled. And almost at the same time the fruit was knocked over, Jiang Tingzhou fell with the plate. It looked like he’d been pushed.

The bed was small, and he fell off. He had an IV drip in his arm, and when it was pulled, the IV bottle crashed to the ground and shattered. Jiang Tingzhou clutched his head and cried out hoarsely, “It hurts.”

The nurse couldn’t bear it anymore and shouted at Manager Yang, “Why are you pushing the patient? This is a hospital! Get out! If you don’t, I’ll call security!”

Manager Yang was stunned. He had a bad temper, and now he pointed at Jiang Tingzhou and yelled, “Quit pretending!” He tried to grab him again but shoved the nurse aside when she stepped in to stop him.

Jiang Tingzhou, pale and sick, was dragged up from the floor covered in broken glass, then fell again. His hospital gown was in disarray, exposing a large section of his shoulder. He was so thin his collarbone jutted out, making him look especially pitiful.

The aunt in the next bed reacted quickly. When Manager Yang stormed in and started yelling, she recognized the voice—it was the same man who had cursed on the phone yesterday. She tugged at her daughter.

The girl reacted just as fast. Though she looked honest, she was clever. She adjusted her glasses and started filming.

Jiang Tingzhou had noticed her a long time ago.

When the fruit platter was overturned and he fell, the aunt openly raised her phone to record. She stepped forward, filming while shouting loudly, “Help! Someone’s beating a patient!”

“Come look! Someone’s making trouble in the hospital!”

“Is there any law or justice? What kind of bloodsucking company is this? The patient is so sick he needs hospitalization, and they’re still forcing him to work—now they’re even beating him! Come on, everyone, take a look at this man!”

When Manager Yang turned around, he saw several phone cameras aimed at him.

By the time hospital security arrived, the noise had already drawn a crowd to the door. The inpatient wing of the People’s Hospital was already busy, and now many people were filming with their phones.

The ward was a mess—sick patients on the floor, nurses hiding nearby. The scene was complete chaos. Manager Yang panicked and tried to pull Jiang Tingzhou up. At that moment, someone else entered the ward.

Seeing the situation, the newcomer shouted, “Let him go!”

It was a young man—just like the auntie had said, looking like a high schooler. He barreled in like a cannonball and shoved Manager Yang aside.

Instinctively, Manager Yang shoved back. The boy stumbled and failed to catch Jiang Tingzhou properly, falling to the ground. His hand landed on glass shards, bleeding. As he hugged Jiang Tingzhou, blood smeared onto his hospital gown, standing out sharply against the blue and white fabric.

Both of them were now on the ground, faces and clothes stained with blood. Onlookers caught it all on camera. Security finally arrived and sternly ordered Manager Yang to surrender.

Manager Yang had always cared about appearances. He had never been in a situation like this. His forehead veins bulged in fury, but he had nowhere to vent it.

Jiang Tingzhou had done this on purpose!

He hadn’t even used any force. That guy was strong as a bull—only slept three or four hours a day and never seemed tired. And now he was just sitting there on the ground, unable to get up? How could he be this weak?

He looked like an honest man with thick eyebrows and big eyes—where did he learn to play this kind of trick?

Manager Yang didn’t even get a chance to explain. And now, in this situation, he couldn’t even leave.

The hospital security stared him down and pinned him in the corner with protective gear. He felt like his arm was about to be dislocated, and the pain was unbearable.

The onlookers cheered, and some even stepped forward, looking ready to beat him.