Chef Hua
Chapter 114: Episode 81 Rainy Season

Chapter 114: Episode 81 Rainy Season

Without exception, every year when May and June rolled around, Fire Knife Village was destined to endure nearly half a month of rainy season.

The sky seemed to have sprung a leak, drizzling incessantly all day long, from dawn till dusk, without a moment’s respite. Just when it seemed as if the sky might clear up a bit, anyone daring enough to venture out would, within less than the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, be guaranteed a thorough soaking.

Spring busywork had ended, yet the peasants of Fire Knife Village could not settle down just yet. They still worried that excessive rain might flood the grains in the fields or too heavy downpours might damage their rooftops. Though they were tired from the prior work in the fields, they felt secure; now that they were idle, their hearts felt unsettled.

Hua Xiaomai also felt her mood dampen because of the rain.

Her riverside stall had only been in business for a couple of months, the prime time for making money, but now, because of the continuous rain, she was forced to temporarily shut down. Not wanting the water to spoil the jars of sauce, they had all been moved into the main house, crammed so tightly there was no place to step. Meals at home had to be squeezed onto a table in the slightly larger east room. Whenever Hua Erniang went into the main house to fetch something and accidentally bumped her knee, she would curse loudly, not stopping until she’d vented her frustration.

Since work in the fields was impossible, Jing Taihe’s blacksmith shop also saw a downturn in business, giving him much more time at home. The couple had ample time to stick together, sweetly annoying each other, and Hua Xiaomai, unable to stand watching and unable to go outside, could only shut herself away in the west room to zone out.

By May, the weather was already hot. Leftover flour paste, soup, and sauce would soon spoil, and that was all money lost!

Hua Erniang would sometimes visit her little sister in the west room and see her propping her head up, motionless at the table, couldn’t help but offer a few words of advice.

"There’s nothing you can do about it, what use is worrying? It’s not like we only have one stall— even those with actual shops, like the sundry and dry goods stores, are surely affected by the business downturn. You can’t outstubborn the weather. Once the rain is over, we can go back to business as usual. Just consider this time off as resting at home, what else can you do?"

"I’m worried about my chilies," Hua Xiaomai sighed.

Normally, this was the time for the chilies to bloom. Before the rain season started, she had checked and seen every plant in the field growing robustly, with tender green leaves and strong stems. If the weather had been good, the blooming flowers would have attracted bees and butterflies for pollination, and then by June or July, the fruits would have been ready to harvest.

But now? With this ongoing rainy season, it was hard to know if the blooming would be affected. Those chilies were so crucial to her, and if something went wrong, she truly wouldn’t be able to handle it!

If only she had known, she should have asked Meng Yuhuai to inquire with the gardener at Mr. Zhao’s place about any special care the chilies might need during the rainy season. Now, it seemed to be too late.

Hua Erniang didn’t care as much about the chilies as her sister did and didn’t think too deeply about it, casually saying, "Why bother with that! Hasn’t your brother-in-law already built a shelter over the vegetable patch in the backyard? It’s protected from the rain and the wind, so what could go wrong?"

Hua Xiaomai just shook her head without speaking. Hua Erniang tried to persuade her some more but seeing that it had no effect, she abruptly left, saying, "I think you’re really obsessed," and walked out.

...

On the fifth day of the fifth month, the Dragon Boat Festival was still celebrated amid a downpour.

The Jing Family’s old home called Jing Taihe and Hua Erniang back for a meal, but Pan Grandfather, feeling sorry for her, had made arrangements in advance for Hua Xiaomai to join them in celebrating the festival at his own home.

Therefore, Hua Xiaomai had something to do; she made many zongzi two days in advance, including savory ones with roast meat and salted egg, as well as sweet ones with honey dates, red beans, and fresh fruit flavors. She picked out five of each kind to send to Pan Grandfather’s home.

Before leaving, Hua Erniang reiterated her instructions to Hua Xiaomai, basically reminding her to stay safely at Pan Grandfather’s house and not to wander outside aimlessly. After eating, she should return home to boil the mugwort and have a bath before bed. Hua Xiaomai agreed to everything and saw them out before heading to the neighboring courtyard herself.

The dinner was, as usual, prepared by Hua Xiaomai, with rich chicken soup, spicy eel, jumping fresh fish, various vegetables, zongzi, and a table laden with dishes. Pan Grandfather had also specifically bought some rice wine, insisting that they should all have a drink on this particular day.