I'm Alive

Chapter 46: I've Come Back to Life

"Only twenty percent. At least fifty."

"You're too greedy. Thirty percent, max."

"Forty. Any less, and I'm out."

"Forty, fine. But you'll handle the upfront capital, setting up the company, recruiting the team, product development, and marketing." Jiang Hao said.

Zhen Xiaoqiu glared at Jiang Hao, fuming. "If I'm doing all that, what are you doing?"

"Me? I'll be the technical advisor."

Setting up a company in Hong Kong was simple. Registration had agencies, staff had recruitment firms, food production had contract manufacturers. The most important part was marketing, and Jiang Hao already had a full plan.

In just a few days, the company was formed. Jiang Hao and Zhen Xiaoqiu each invested 500,000. Zhen Xiaoqiu was the legal representative, holding 40% of the shares; Jiang Hao was the majority shareholder with 60%.

Making Exploding Pissing Beef Balls wasn't complicated. With the right formula, production was easy. A few cans sat on the table. Jiang Hao said to everyone, "To make a good product, the most important thing is to know your product. Everyone, come taste our Exploding Pissing Beef Balls. You'll need to put in the effort when it comes to sales later."

Everyone crowded around, grabbing one after another. Every single person said it was delicious.

Zhen Xiaoqiu ate one, frowned slightly, and said, "It's not as good as the ones you made that day. Something's missing."

Jiang Hao lowered his voice. "Miss, that day I made them by hand—meticulous work, every technique spot on. I spent half a day just pounding the beef. Now it's mechanized production. How could it reach that level?"

"But it's still decent. If that day's beef balls were a ten, today's are at least an eight. Look how happy they are eating. Don't worry, plenty of people will love them." Jiang Hao said.

It was like a work of art. A master's hand-carved piece had soul and could be called art. A machine-carved piece was just a craft. There was a huge difference, but industrialization meant sacrificing artistry.

That episode of "Gourmet Roast" also aired on the TV station. This time, the show wasn't about roasting some restaurant. The title had changed to: "The Miraculous Exploding Pissing Beef Balls."

The show opened with Jiang Hao in chef's attire, scooping beef balls from a pot. The balls swirled in the milky white broth, looking beautiful. A voiceover began.

"Over two hundred years ago, in Songjiang, south of the river, a retired imperial chef named Zhou returned to his hometown. He had achieved fame and glory, named one of Emperor Qianlong's top chefs of the realm."

"In his old age, he enjoyed his grandchildren. One of his grandsons suddenly developed anorexia, worrying the whole family. Chef Zhou came up with an idea: combining beef and Mantis Shrimp, he created Exploding Pissing Beef Balls. His grandson ate them and was cured of his anorexia."

"The Exploding Pissing Beef Balls spread, lasting over a hundred years. In the Victorian era, sailing fleets came to China, tasted this delicacy, were amazed, and brought it back to present to Queen Victoria. She praised it highly and named it 'Tribute Balls.'"

"But war and chaos caused this craft to gradually disappear. Today, we introduce Mr. Stephen Chow, the ninth-generation descendant of Chef Zhou and the God of Cookery. He has recreated the Exploding Pissing Beef Balls using his ancestor's recipe. We're here to verify whether these beef balls can truly cure anorexia. Please stay tuned."

Leaving a cliffhanger, whetting appetites. By this point, no one cared why today's food show was different from before.

It was still about food, after all.

But a tiny beef ball curing anorexia? Hah, what would doctors be for?

Jiang Hao, along with ATV's camera van, arrived at St. Mary's Hospital, which treated the most anorexia patients in Hong Kong. Jiang Hao and Zhen Xiaoqiu negotiated with the director, wanting to test the beef balls' effect. But the director and doctors didn't believe their beef balls could attract anorexia patients at all.

"Impossible. A beef ball curing anorexia? Ridiculous. If that could cure patients, your beef balls would be Immortal Pills." A young doctor sneered.

"Why not give it a try? What if it works? Even if they don't like it, there's no loss, right?" Jiang Hao said.

The director thought it over. "You can try, but no coercion."

"Of course." Jiang Hao nodded.

The doctors brought over thirty anorexia patients to the cafeteria. These people were sallow and gaunt, eyes vacant, walking weakly like zombies, on the verge of starving to death.

They were tormented by their illness. It wasn't that they didn't want to eat—otherwise, they wouldn't be in the hospital. It was neurological or physiological reasons that made them hate eating; they threw up anything they consumed.

A large pot was set up. The beef balls brought this time weren't canned products. To build a reputation, Jiang Hao had specially made this batch by hand.

The aroma of Beef Bone Seafood Soup wafted out. The supervising doctors couldn't help swallowing. Someone murmured, "Smells great. Should be good."

The young doctor who had objected earlier said, "Smelling good doesn't mean it tastes good. Might just be all show."

Bowls of Exploding Pissing Beef Balls were served. The patients stared at the beef balls, but no one was willing to try. They had developed a fear of food. Eating was worse than taking medicine.

Jiang Hao stepped forward. "You have to have the courage to take the first step. Once you do, you'll find the sky might not be gray anymore—it could be blue skies and white clouds."

"You suffer every day. Don't you want to end this pain? Don't you want to live a normal life? You could find a girlfriend, find a boyfriend, spend time with family, travel happily. Right?"

A young girl finally wavered. She reached out first. Her hands were skin and bones, like chicken claws. She picked up a beef ball and said, her voice tearful, "I'm only nineteen. I want to wear pretty clothes. I want to swim at the beach. I want a boyfriend. Wuwuwu."

She closed her eyes, mustering all her courage and strength, and sobbed as she shoved a beef ball into her mouth. Everyone's eyes were on her. The girl bit down hard, and her expression suddenly froze.

Everyone else froze too. Had it failed? Any second now, she might throw up.

"Delicious. Really delicious."

The girl opened her eyes, stars shining in them. Her mouth moved quickly, words slurred. "So good. I haven't felt this way in so long. I feel like I've come back to life. I can eat."

Tears streamed down her face as she spoke.