Chef Hua
Chapter 138: Episode 93: How to Choose

Chapter 138: Episode 93: How to Choose

The residents of Fire Knife Village mostly relied on agriculture for a living, so they seldom had the chance to interact with rich and prestigious individuals. Therefore, when several strangers with a sophisticated look and distinguished air appeared at the small roadside stall by the river, the villagers couldn’t help but grow curious.

Those eating at the stall naturally pricked up their ears to gather information about what was happening, and the idlers walking by the riverbank repeatedly made excuses to pass by the stall, craning their necks and looking around as if by accident.

When they heard Song Jingxi inviting Hua Xiaomai to Provincial City to be the head chef at her restaurant, the crowd immediately burst into a buzzing debate.

"That Taoyuan House, have you heard of it? Listen, a friend of mine from Prefecture said that the business is booming—it’s packed every evening, and if you arrive too late, there’s no room to even stand!"

"Yes, indeed, I know, too!" another piped up, "They say the owner of Taoyuan House is a woman, and when it comes to business, she’s even more astute and tough than many men. Could it be her? She doesn’t look very old either. Tsk tsk, really remarkable!"

Song Jingxi seemed in no rush, smiling with her eyes as she watched Hua Xiaomai. Only when the surrounding people had discussed enough, did she continue with a pleasant demeanor, "You also know that my Taoyuan House does pretty well. The profits alone each month are indeed ’considerable.’ Finding one or two more chefs is not difficult for me. However, these past two years, I’ve been very cautious. The kitchen is the core of a restaurant, and I truly can’t trust it to someone unreliable."

She glanced at Hua Xiaomai as if gauging her reaction, paused for a moment, and then added, "We’ve only met twice, but each time you’ve impressed me. Having tasted your cooking just now, your knife skills, heat control and seasoning were all spot on, leaving no room for criticism. To possess such solid fundamentals at your age is truly rare. Besides, you have quite an insight into the culinary arts, able to dissect and explain every aspect—it’s even more impressive. I’ve been considering, perhaps, are you the one I’ve been looking for?"

As she spoke, she laughed, covering her mouth, "After all, you’re familiar with Old Zhao and Boss Ke, so even if something goes wrong in my Taoyuan House, I’m not afraid you’ll ditch everything and run—I’ll always have a way to find you. So, I don’t need to worry about that, right?"

Hua Xiaomai also laughed a bit with her, but she was undecided at the moment.

This was the third time someone had offered her a position as a head chef, and each offer was more prestigious than the last. Although the Lianshun Escort Agency and Chunfeng Restaurant were also quite nice, they couldn’t compare to the well-known Taoyuan House in Provincial City. If she could become a chef there, spending three to five years to make a name for herself, afterwards she would never have to worry about making a living wherever she went.

So this time, did she need to use her mother as a shield like before, decisively refusing the offer without a second thought?

However, her small riverside stall had only been set up for a few months, and business was just starting to pick up. The cash box was getting heavier by the day. If things continued like this, in another two or three years, she might save enough money to open her own small restaurant.

Should she devote herself wholeheartedly to her own small business, or should she leave everything behind and grab onto the stirring spoon of a well-known restaurant in Provincial City?

This really was... a tough choice to make!

Observing her hesitation, Song Jingxi held her hand, speaking gently, "Of course, you don’t have to feel pressured because of this. I’m a very cautious person and won’t ask you to take over the entire kitchen right away. If you come with me to Provincial City, you’ll start by doing some miscellaneous tasks alongside me for a while, to understand the kitchen routine. When you have a clear idea of it, and when the time is right, I will gradually delegate big responsibilities to you. At first, I’m afraid I won’t be able to offer a very high salary—obviously, it won’t be unreasonably low either. But if you really have the ability to manage my kitchen well, why would I shortchange you?"

"This matter..." Hua Xiaomai bit her lip, looking up contemplatively, "Miss Song, could you give me some time to think about it? It’s all so sudden, I’m a bit overwhelmed, and besides, I also need to ask my family what they think..."