Chef Hua
Chapter 108: Episode 78: All Suspects

Chapter 108: Episode 78: All Suspects

Guan Rong was choked by a statement from Hua Xiaomai, nearly stumbling backward but fortunately was sitting in a chair. He clung tightly to both armrests, panting heavily.

The incident today was clear in his own mind. According to Hua Xiaomai, if he refused to walk beside the river today, he would immediately be labeled as biased and corrupt; but the problem was, even if he went, he might not gain a good reputation and might end up being humiliated, what was he to do?

Hua Xiaomai was not in a hurry, she just stood by, smiling, occasionally looking up at the sky or glancing at the ground. On the other hand, Jing Taihe seemed quite uneasy, glancing frequently at Guan Rong with an anxious expression in his eyes.

Such a deadlock was no good, and after a while, Guan Rong finally looked up, glared fiercely at Hua Xiaomai, cleared his throat, and said indignantly to Jing Taihe, "All of you kids, I watched you grow up, and now that I am so old, why don’t you show any sympathy for me? Hmph, I merely advised you both, and if you don’t listen, what can I do?"

Jing Taihe felt moved, seeing a glimpse of light, and hurriedly asked, "Grandfather, do you mean that our stall can keep going?"

"Hmph, you are all so stubborn, not even sparing this old face of mine, how can I dare to stop you?" Guan Rong glanced at him sideways, seemingly exhausted, waved his hand, "Alright, alright, if you are determined to set up the stall, I cannot cut off someone’s means of livelihood. But next time, if someone complains about your noise again, don’t blame me for not giving you face!"

This issue... was resolved just like that?

Jing Taihe was overjoyed, feeling as if a great weight had been lifted from his heart, quickly thanked him, and walked out with Hua Xiaomai.

"My heart has been hanging all morning, but now it’s finally settled."

Coming out from Guan Rong’s house and standing by the road, Jing Taihe said to Hua Xiaomai with a smile, then shook his head, "Guan Rong watched me grow up, although my parents are not particularly close to him, but after all, we have lived in the same village for so long, how could he suddenly think of making things difficult for us? He wouldn’t even go down to the river with us to see for himself, isn’t he just blatantly trying to label us as ’disturbers’?"

Hua Xiaomai curled her lips and snorted lightly, "I asked him to go to the riverside; if he’d gone, it might have proven his impartiality, and perhaps we really were bothering someone, causing their dissatisfaction. But his complete evasion shows he is clearly biased, deliberately framing us! No matter who went to complain, they must be in good terms with his family. As a village head, handling things this way, he isn’t the least bit embarrassed!"

"Alright, now that the matter is resolved, there’s no need to overthink it." Jing Taihe pondered for a moment, could not figure it out, and comfortingly said, "It’s already late, I need to hurry to the blacksmith’s shop, so I won’t walk you home. Be careful on your way back, ask your sister to bring my meal later, alright?"

Hua Xiaomai was still pondering, looked up at him and absentmindedly smiled in agreement, saying goodbye in front of Guan Rong’s house and quickly walked back to the west side of the Jing Family’s courtyard.

Second Lady Hua was already anxious at home, walking back and forth countless times in the yard, eagerly awaiting Hua Xiaomai’s return. She quickly pulled her aside and asked loudly, "So, did Guan Rong still firmly refuse to yield?"

Hua Xiaomai looked up at her and grinned, "Second Sister, you relax, we are in the right, Guan Rong had no choice but to let us continue our stall." She went on to repeat the details of the incident.

Second Lady Hua became even angrier as she listened, wishing she could jump for joy, gritting her teeth, "Who is the shameless one who went to complain about us? I have always been upright and fearless! If they dare to do such a conscienceless thing, they should have the courage to own up to it. When the time comes, you’ll see if I can’t flay their skin!"

She paused, then continued, "There’s no need to guess; this was mostly likely the doing of Guan Rong! Seeing our stall so busy by the riverside each day, she wanted to share in the profits, and you refused her, surely she felt aggrieved. She simply went to complain about us, making sure neither of us gets any good out of it! Let me tell you, that Guan Rong and Guan’s eldest granddaughter—her name seems to be Qiu Fang—are not just a little close, their interactions are extremely frequent. Just a few words from Qiu Fang in front of the old man Guan, and this matter wouldn’t be difficult at all!"