Chef Hua
Chapter 110: Episode 79: Ask My Stick

Chapter 110: Episode 79: Ask My Stick

Hua Xiaomai lifted her head, her eyes playfully sweeping over Guan Rong’s face.

This morning, old man Liu summoned Jing Taihe, making a fuss from nothing about the issue of disrupting others with the stall, and afterwards, driven by indignation, Hua Xiaomai accompanied Jing Taihe to seek out old man Liu to argue the matter. At that time, there were only the three of them in the small courtyard, with no outsiders present. Guan Rong’s information was really quite well-informed!

Setting aside how she came to know of this matter, Hua Xiaomai put on a pleasant expression and nodded, "Indeed, I was very puzzled. If we talk about my night market stall, the noise might indeed have been a bit much, but the riverside is very spacious, and within twenty or thirty feet, there isn’t a single household, so who could we have disturbed? Fortunately, old man Liu is a reasonable person and did not make things difficult for us. He has already agreed to let us continue with our stall, otherwise, I wouldn’t dare to casually roll out my household goods like this!"

Guan Rong patted her chest as if still shaken, "That’s good, that’s good. I’ve been worried all day today, but now that you’ve said this, I can also be at ease. But who would harbor such ill will, unable to bear seeing someone do a bit better and actually rush to old man Liu to tattle?"

Hua Xiaomai thought to herself: I would really like to know that too... Could it be you?

However, on the surface, she still wore a smile, and lifting her lids, she saw the sincerely looking Guan Rong in front of her, with shining eyes, as if she harbored no secrets whatsoever.

"There’s nothing I can do, I’ve come to terms with it," she sighed, "In business, anyone who makes money is bound to attract jealousy. Though my stall has been up for less than a month and has started to bring in some income, perhaps some people have seen it and felt envious."

Upon hearing this, Guan Rong’s fingers hanging by her side moved unconsciously, her lips bitten in hesitation for a long time, before she finally said tenderly, "Little sister Xiaomai, your stall... must be making quite a bit, right?"

"Not at all!" Hua Xiaomai smiled and walked over to help Hua Erniang, igniting the charcoal stove while continuing, "Don’t let this small stall fool you, setting it up does indeed cost a fair amount, and I am still far from breaking even. But making some money every day makes me feel content."

Hua Erniang, standing beside her, arranged the various vegetables neatly. Hearing this, she bowed her head and pursed her mouth in silent mumbling, and glanced at Guan Rong on the sly.

Hua Xiaomai hastily tugged at her secretly and then turned to Guan Rong with a beaming smile, "By the way, Sister Rong, do you want some noodles? These past two days, the stir-fried noodles have been selling quite well. You haven’t tried them yet, have you? Let me cook a bowl for you..."

"No need, no need." Guan Rong quickly waved her hand, glanced at Hua Erniang, and paused briefly before coming over to pull Hua Xiaomai’s hand, "Little sister Xiaomai, I have something I want to talk to you about..."

Here we go again... Every time she puts on that face of a wronged little daughter-in-law, what is she trying to stir up?

Hua Xiaomai’s eyebrows involuntarily furrowed. Looking around, she saw that it was still early and no one was there to eat noodles yet, so she could only sigh inwardly, put down what she had in her hands, and walked out from behind the stall.

Guan Rong immediately pulled her a little farther behind a thick and lush big tree before stopping.

"What is it, Sister Rong? What did you want to talk to me about?" As soon as Hua Xiaomai settled, she immediately asked.

Guan Rong lowered her head and fiddled with her clothing hem, her words harboring for a long time, before she finally couldn’t help but ask.

"I heard... people say, yesterday Meng Yuhuai brought his brothers from Lianshun Escort Agency to eat noodles at your stall... Is that true?"

As expected, whenever she showed this expression, the matter she wished to discuss was inevitably related to Meng Yuhuai. Hua Xiaomai inwardly rolled her eyes and smiled, nodding, "Yes, speaking of which, I really should thank him properly."

Guan Rong had hoped she would elaborate, so she could continue the conversation, but unexpectedly, she was met with only a few words and then silence. After a moment, Guan Rong had no choice but to say, "Meng Yuhuai is usually so indifferent towards others, yet unexpectedly, he is such a warm-hearted person. I heard that he also gave you chili seeds, didn’t he?"

The smile on Hua Xiaomai’s lips immediately faded, her brows creased, "Sister Rong, about the chili matter, I’ve never mentioned it to anyone, and my second sister and brother-in-law are not loose-tongued people, how did you come to know about it?"

Taken aback by the question, Guan Rong hesitated, "Ah... I also forgot who mentioned it, I just remember hearing about such a thing. People say chilis are not only expensive but also rarely seen, and ordinary folks simply can’t afford them. To give such a precious thing... he just gave it to you like that?"