Can someone please recommend the best guide(s) for Shenmue II to complete both 'Fangmei Birthday Event' AND the 'duck races' event? It's been years since I've played through the game and done both events, so I'm not too hot on the finer details and I know if you do the chawan sign at the Blue Sky Cafe at the wrong time, you can get an event in which Eileen and Fangmei show up, but it messes up the Birthday event (so maybe you can't do both? I can't quite remember).
The best guide is one you write yourself.
Duck Racing:
1. Obtain a Bronze Medal. The easiest (and most immersive) way of doing this is to fail the A button QTE in Lai Lai Eatery when chasing Wong, and then compensate the waitress after you've earned some money (i$30). You can also win one from Roll it on Top in Lucky Charm Qr., or find one in the Vacant Lot near the Come Over Guest House (but this is only open after speaking to Izumi and Eileen).
2. Speak to Izumi (Tomato Mart) and Eileen (Pigeon Park). Eileen only appears after you start staying at Da Yuan Apartments.
3. Go to the third floor of the Pine Game Arcade and fight ($20 per attempt). You'll fight Eileen first, and Izumi afterwards. At this point you can optionally go and speak to Izumi and she'll show you her "special place", but this isn't required at this stage.
4. Go to Man Mo Temple and start catching leaves (you must have seen the cutscene where Xiuying is crying over her brother in order for the game to let you catch leaves again). If you catch multiple leaves multiple times in a row, you'll hear a "quack" and see a feather fall down - catch the feather and you'll get the opportunity to catch your very own duck.
5. Go and speak to Izumi and you'll be able to race your own duck ($50 per attempt). Your duck's stats start poor but increase every race depending on how you race. Overshooting corners more will increase your handling faster, going all out running out of energy will increase your stamina faster, etc. Winning a race earns you a Gold Medal.
Extra: After winning the Gold Medal (or sometimes, before - I don't know why though), you'll get the opportunity to race against mallard ducklings, a hen mallard, a drake mallard, and even (if it's raining) a penguin.
Fangmei:
Start Disc 2 of Shenmue II (i.e. start airing out the books) by February 25th. It's possible to complete the birthday sidequest starting later, but this gives you best results on all versions of the game. After airing out the books, talk to Fangmei. Walk away from her, and then walk towards her, and let her start a conversation with you. Many conversations have choices to make, and answering "wrong" will make her stop talking to you, but if you're paying attention the wrong answer should be obvious. Do this about 5-6 times every day.
February 27th: you should be at the point in the story where you can do Chawan signs. Do a Chawan sign at Man Mo Bistro, and follow the directions to Come Over Guest House and then Man Mo Park. Lose the QTE and fight; Xiuying will save you and Fangmei will look after you - this significantly raises her affection level for you. On the Xbox version (and possibly the re-release), Fangmei will not be around after this event.
February 28th: Go to Pigeon Park and talk to Eileen. From tomorrow onwards, both her and Fangmei (even if she previously disappeared) will be in Man Mo Bistro until 1:30pm.
March 1st: Go to Man Mo Bistro and talk to Fangmei and Eileen. Wait outside for the pair to leave, and then follow Eileen until she stops to look at some pots. Talk to her and you'll learn that Fangmei's birthday is on March 3rd.
March 2nd: Repeat the procedure, but this time follow Fangmei. When she passes Complete Clothier, a cutscene will play; head inside the store and buy her a present (for $150 - make sure you have the money!).
March 3rd: Head to Da Yuan Apartments and give her the present.
On your last day in Hong Kong: Head to Da Yuan Apartments and get a
very special cutscene. Doing this will also give you a bonus cutscene at the end of the Kowloon part of the game.
Extra: On your first day of airing out the books, don't speak to anyone - just waste the entire day buying capsule toys. On the following day you'll get a cutscene with Fangmei where she tells you the Wulinshu is in the Man Mo Temple library.
Extra: After speaking to Fangmei and Eileen at Man Mo Bistro, head there anytime after 1:30pm for a unique QTE with Fangmei.
Extra: After speaking to Fangmei and Eileen at Man Mo Bistro, do the Chawan sign at Blue Sky Garden for a cutscene with them. They will not be around after this event (so make sure you do it on or after March 3rd).
Extra: After the fight in Dou Jiang Diner, go to the back of Man Mo Temple for yet another cutscene featuring Fangmei.