Chef Hua
Chapter 140: Episode 94: Missing

Chapter 140: Episode 94: Missing

"Blockhead!"

Ke Zhenwu was already fuming with rage. Hearing Lv Bin spout such foolish words only added fuel to the fire. He didn’t bother to save Lv Bin’s face, lifting a foot and kicking him square in the behind, bursting out angrily, "He’s not even dead, and you’re running off to tell his family for what? His household has only an old mother. If she finds out, won’t she be scared out of her wits, possibly even fainting on the spot? If she suffers a fright and something untoward happens, how are you going to explain that to him?!"

His words were loud and clear; Lv Bin also knew that he had acted rashly and dared not say more, staying quietly behind the two men. Hua Xiaomai, who was standing not far behind, frowned unconsciously upon hearing this.

From the few words Ke Zhenwu let slip, she had only gathered that something significant must have troubled the Escort Agency and that the incident had come about suddenly, catching everyone off guard. However, now, with the two men arguing so fiercely, the undercurrent of their words incited speculation.

Between the lines of Lv Bin and Ke Zhenwu’s conversation, they had vaguely mentioned "water thieves," and Ke Zhenwu cursed the thieves for "lacking principles." Does that mean someone from Lianshun Escort Agency encountered trouble while on an escort assignment? And they mentioned that the person in trouble has just an old mother at home...

Didn’t Ke Zhenwu mention earlier when he first arrived by the river that Meng Yuhuai had gone out on an escort assignment? Could it be...

At this thought, Hua Xiaomai felt her heart sink. Without taking the time to think whether she should inquire further, she hurried forward a couple of steps and called out, "Uncle Ke, that..."

Ke Zhenwu turned around at her call, glancing at her face, perhaps discerning her intentions from her expression, and immediately said in a lowered voice, "Don’t meddle, just make sure you look after your business well."

Without further ado, he strode up the river bank, joining Master Zhao and Song Jingxi to ride in their carriages toward the county. Lv Bin quickly followed, mounting his horse and galloping away with a flick of the reins.

Hua Xiaomai stood on the spot, dazed for quite a while, not sure what to feel. Luo Yuejiao seemed petrified by the sudden commotion, timidly calling out, "Sister Xiaomai," but receiving no response. Hua’s mother and Jing Taihe exchanged glances and walked over to her, showing no trace of gentleness as Hua’s mother punched Hua Xiaomai hard on the back, raising her voice, "What are you daydreaming for, lost your soul or something? Are we still running our stall or not?"

"Ah..." Hua Xiaomai finally came back to her senses, steadying her heart, she turned her head and smiled at her mother, then went behind the stall to finish cooking the noodles she had rolled out halfway before throwing them into the pot.

...

After Ke Zhenwu and the others left, Hua’s mother and Jing Taihe did not hurry home but stayed at the stall to help Hua Xiaomai with the business. Once the crowd had dispersed, they pushed the cart and headed home together.

Hua Xiaomai had cooked about twenty or thirty bowls of noodles that night and had also put effort into preparing a few dishes for Song Jingxi, feeling quite tired afterward. After putting everything away and washing up, she prepared to go to her room to rest.

Hua’s mother was talking with Jing Taihe in the main room. They also brought out the plum soup that had been simmering during the day, ready to call Hua Xiaomai over for a bowl, but saw her outside pouring water, holding a basin, about to return to the west room. Hua’s mother immediately called out to her.

"Why the rush, it’s not even late. You should at least have a couple of bowls of the plum soup to beat the heat, so you can have a comfortable sleep tonight."

"I don’t want any," Hua Xiaomai turned her head and smiled at her sister, "I’m a bit sleepy and want to head to bed early." Saying so, she turned to leave.

"Hey!" Hua’s mother, unforgiving and persistent, quickly caught up and grabbed her arm, sighing, "Even if you want to sleep, it’s not urgent right this moment. Come here, I have something to ask you."

With no way to avoid it, Hua Xiaomai abandoned the wooden basin and followed her mother into the main room, casually picking a chair to sit down on, and took the bowl of plum soup Jing Taihe handed her, offering thanks with her voice.

Hua’s mother also took a seat, resting one leg on top of the other like a regal mountain king, rolling her eyes and asking, "Who was that woman dining by the river with Master Zhao today? She doesn’t seem to be Zhao’s wife, considering her age? And you even went to the trouble of making her those fine dishes. When I was cleaning up the tables earlier, I noticed how exquisitely prepared they were—they were truly exceptional. What was she doing here today? Couldn’t be just to eat your meal, that simple, right?"

Initially disinterested in speaking, Hua Xiaomai thought it over and realized it wouldn’t be good to keep this from Hua’s mother. Sooner or later, she would have to let her know. Then she brought the plum soup to her lips, took a sip, and slowly said, "That’s Song Jingxi, she’s here in Fuzhe County for some procurement. She runs a restaurant in the provincial city called ’Taoyuan House,’ and I hear the business is going very well. I had met her once at Master Zhao’s residence before, and today she came to taste my cooking and casually asked if I’d be willing to be the head chef at her Taoyuan House."