Chef Hua
Chapter 146 - 97 - Sob Sob Sob (Second Update)

Chapter 146: Chapter 97 - Sob Sob Sob (Second Update)

Hua Xiaomai raised an eyebrow in response, "Eh, you’re not in a hurry to return to the County tomorrow?"

Perhaps because of a strained relationship with his mother, this person seldom returned to Fire Knife Village, and even when he did, he often stayed only for one night before rushing off again, sometimes even riding back to the County the same evening. Could it be that this time, he was actually planning to stay for a couple of days?

"Hmm," Meng Yuhuai glanced at her and nodded, "Uncle Ke is considerate of our fatigue from the journey and the recent skirmish, so he suggested we take a good rest. The County is rather noisy after all, so I decided to stay in the village for a while."

Initially, Jing Taihe’s attention was mostly on the tantalizing noodles in front of him, slurping them up deliciously. But hearing this, he sensed something was amiss and abruptly looked up, "Yuhuai brother, you’re not injured, are you?"

Meng Yuhuai smiled at him and glanced unintentionally, or so it seemed, at Hua Xiaomai’s face, speaking in a deep voice, "It’s nothing serious, just a superficial wound. It didn’t damage any muscles or bones, and it’s almost healed. These past two years I’ve been running around, rarely having time to stay at home. This opportunity is perfect to spend some solid time with my mother."

"Oh," Jing Taihe responded, finally feeling relieved.

After chatting for a while, everyone finished the food on the table. Meng Yuhuai then took his leave toward the southern part of the village. Hua Xiaomai, along with her mother and Jing Taihe, saw him out. On the way, they showed him the blossoming chili plants, and with a cheerful tone, she said that in another month or two, they could enjoy fresh chili. Although Meng Yuhuai wasn’t particularly interested, seeing her happiness made him smile too, complimenting the chili plants before leading his horse away.

Hua’s mother and Jing Taihe, along with Hua Xiaomai, each returned to their rooms to rest. The night passed without incident, and the next morning, Luo Yuejiao still came knocking on Hua Xiaomai’s door, seeking instruction in all sorts of kitchen matters.

Truth be told, this girl had no talent for cooking at all. When her family cooked, they didn’t pay much attention to knife skills or plating; as long as it was passable, that was enough. Observing her clumsy hands and feet, Hua Xiaomai didn’t hold her to strict standards, choosing only the simplest dishes she had learned to teach her. Yet even so, Luo Yuejiao still managed to turn the kitchen upside down now and again, leaving a mess every time she cooked, with vegetable leaves scattered all over the floor and water splashed everywhere—if someone stepped in by chance, they would think that the kitchen had been struck by disaster.

But what was good was that although Luo Yuejiao wasn’t cut out for cooking, she was an honest and straightforward person. These past few days, as Hua Xiaomai was teaching her a fish soup recipe that required fresh live carp, she would ask her mother for money and go early to the riverside to buy a string of fresh fish, bringing them to the Jing family courtyard. It was her way of ensuring that Hua Xiaomai didn’t have to spend extra because of the cooking lessons.

Such behavior, though expected, wasn’t something everyone would do—after all, the world is never short of people who love taking small advantages. It was also for this reason that Hua Xiaomai had an extra bit of fondness for her, feeling that although she was a bit clumsy, her company was much more relaxed and enjoyable than Guan Rong’s.

Today was no different, Luo Yuejiao, carrying five or six fish and running cheerfully to the Jing family yard, looked up to see Hua Xiaomai and immediately said with a smile, "Sister Xiaomai, look at the carp I bought today—big and fresh, still jumping around! Xu Ershun, who sells fish by the river, has seen me buying from him every day lately, so he reserved the best fish for me and wouldn’t even take extra money!"

Hua Xiaomai glanced at the fish in her hand and indeed saw that they were larger and livelier than usual, clearly very nice, and she laughed as she took them over, "We’re using this carp for fish soup. After boiling them, we’ll have to strip the meat off the bones, and there’s really no need to buy such good quality for that."

After a pause, she couldn’t help teasing her, "Your family works hard in the fields all year round, earning a little money, and you’ve spent it all on buying fish, haven’t you? In a few days, I’m planning to teach you how to steam chicken. At the rate you’re going, won’t there be chicken feathers flying all over this courtyard of ours?"

Luo Yuejiao laughed innocently and scratched her head, "Sister Xiaomai, don’t tease me. I know my own capabilities. You’ve gone to great lengths to teach me these past days! My mother said that when I get married next year, she could give me more clothes, fabric, and jewelry, but those are just external things. If I can learn a good culinary skill, that would be the best dowry indeed!"