Chef Hua
Chapter 151: Episode 99 - Not a Big Deal This Time_2

Chapter 151: Episode 99 - Not a Big Deal This Time_2

He paused for a moment, then reiterated his point quite seriously, "In any case, I don’t want to get involved in Guan Rong’s affairs, nor do I intend to."

Hadn’t he already said that just now? If you don’t plan to get involved, then why ask anything at all? Hua Xiaomai almost blurted this out. The words were on the tip of her tongue when she suddenly realized something. She looked up, her eyes wide, with a slight curve in her lips, her expression one of amusement, "Does this mean... you plan to meddle in my affairs?"

Meng Yuhuai was a bit embarrassed, and under the oil lamp’s glow, his ears flushed a suspicious red. He cleared his throat, "Haven’t I already meddled enough in your affairs? It’s no different this time."

Hua Xiaomai nearly laughed out loud, her mood greatly lifted by his comment. She reached out and pointlessly straightened the wooden sign hanging on the outside of the stall.

"However, do you really plan to avoid her forever?" Meng Yuhuai coughed again and change the suject.

"What can I do?" Hua Xiaomai looked him straight in the eye, saying each word deliberately, "Once bitten, twice shy. I’m not afraid to tell you that I really suffered a loss at her hands before. Even though she took a tumble by this riverbank later, it was nothing more than a small interest I got back. There’s a saying I’ve told my second eldest sister-in-law before, and I don’t mind repeating it today: I’ll steer clear if I can’t cope with her. I truly don’t have the spare energy to be entangled with her all the time."

"Let it be, then." Meng Yuhuai nodded in understanding, "As long as you have a plan in your mind, that’s fine."

Hua Xiaomai "hmmed" in response, then chuckled, "Well, I’ll be going back then. If you come to have noodles tomorrow, eat one bowl less at home. I saw you taking a long walk by the riverbank; you must have been quite full, right?"

Meng Yuhuai swore playfully, "Nonsense," but he still reminded her to be careful on her way back with Luo Yuejiao, before turning to head toward the southern part of the village.

...

When she returned to Jing Family’s courtyard, she passed by the home of Pan the Elder from next door, where she faintly heard a very lively atmosphere. Pan the Elder’s laughter was loud, echoing from inside the house to the village lanes.

It seemed that Uncle Ping’an had really returned. Only at this time of each month would Pan the Elder’s mood be so cheerful. He would probably come over to discuss the candied fruits and sauces tomorrow, wouldn’t he? She wondered how much he had earned in the past few months. Judging from his enthusiasm and punctual returns every month, the business must be doing quite well, right?

After returning home, Hua Xiaomai drank the honey lotus leaf tea handed to her by Second Madame Hua and then, after cleaning up, she went back to the west room. It was inevitable that she sat at the desk to thoroughly consider her recent thoughts and ideas. She felt that there should be no difficulties or problems and then went to bed.

Indeed, after the cold winter and somewhat barren spring, summer was a rare opportunity to earn money. It was essential to seize the moment.

The next morning, as Hua Xiaomai was watering the vegetable patch behind the house, Pan Ping’an indeed paid a visit.

Before even entering the Jing Family’s courtyard, his hearty laughter had already floated in. Second Madame Hua hurried over to greet him, chuckling warmly as she made small talk, "I heard Pan the Elder sounding very happy last night, so I guessed that Uncle Ping’an must have returned, and it turns out I was right... Oh my, what happened to your face?"

Hearing the commotion in the front yard, Hua Xiaomai threw down her watering can and hurried out, saying with a grin, "Uncle Ping’an, long time no see..."

Before she could finish, she let out a shocked exclamation identical to Second Madame Hua’s, "Yikes, what happened to your face?"

Pan Ping’an, standing before them, was dressed in a brand new indigo robe and had neatly combed hair. The only thing that was hard to look at was his face.

His right eye looked as though it had taken a solid punch, the area around the eye socket was both purple and red. His nose also seemed to have been struck, the tip was bright red, and while the sight was both comical and slightly alarming, what was most exaggerated was the entire right side of his face was so swollen it didn’t resemble his normal look, as though he’d stuffed a bun into his mouth. His lips were split, and although medicine had been applied, it still looked painful to even glance at.

"It’s nothing, no big deal," Pan Ping’an spoke with a bit of a mumble, still laughing, though his smile was indeed uglier than crying, "Yesterday, on my way back from the Provincial City, I took a tumble and hit my head on a rock, haha, just a little flesh wound. As a man, could I not bear such a little pain? Don’t make such a fuss. It’s really okay!"

A fall that ended up like this? Hua Xiaomai looked at him skeptically and tentatively moved closer, fixing her gaze on his mouth, "Uncle Ping’an, did you... lose a tooth?"

"Ah..." Pan Ping’an turned his face away a bit uncomfortably, "Didn’t I tell you? I bumped into a big rock, and it knocked my teeth out. You all don’t know how much it hurt at the time! Heh heh, but it doesn’t matter. Thanks to your help, I’ve been earning quite well lately. Once I’m back in the Provincial City, I’ll get a gold tooth put in!"(To be continued. If you like this work, welcome to Qidian.com to cast your recommendation ticket, monthly ticket. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users, please go to m.qidian.com to read.)