Chef Hua
Chapter 170: Episode 109: Bustling

Chapter 170: Episode 109: Bustling

What was originally a vexing matter turned out to be a profitable affair for the family of Hua Xiaomai in the end. When it really came down to it, it could even be considered a blessing in disguise. Hua’s mother was so delighted that she danced around with joy, and Hua Xiaomai naturally felt light and happy as well, as if a great burden had been lifted from her shoulders. After Pan Ping’an left and she had rested for a bit, she immediately went to the kitchen to get to work.

Running a food business at home, an array of seasonal vegetables was always a must-have, constantly stocked. Tofu, gluten, fragrant spring vegetables, wild mushrooms... All sorts of common ingredients from the market, with just a touch of cooking, could turn into dishes of endless flavors. The eggplants, green onions, and flat beans grown in their own little backyard plot, paired with chicken, duck, or pork, whether stewed, blanched, or braised in soy sauce, were rich and refreshing in turns. To say nothing of eating - even just placing them on the table, getting a glance, and smelling the aroma was enough to make one’s mouth water.

In the summer, it was the best time for fat and juicy frogs. The people of Fire Knife Village called these creatures "water chickens." During breaks from farming, exerting a bit of effort to catch them in the paddy fields could yield quite a haul in less than half a day, strung up with grass ropes and carried in bamboo baskets, crouched by the village paths to be sold. These animals were not expensive, and they added a fresh dish to the dinner table, with especially tender meat. Thus, they were very popular during this season.

Hua’s mother happened to come across someone selling water chickens when she went to buy vegetables that morning, so she brought two strings of them back home. The plan was to have her younger sister make water chicken porridge to sell at the stall by the river in the evening. Hua Xiaomai saw how plump the water chickens were and, on a whim, decided to take one string and quickly cleaned them, ready to make "Garlic Water Chicken."

Using minced garlic, pepper powder, salt, soy sauce, and flour as a marinade, she soaked and mixed the diced water chicken meat thoroughly, let it marinate for about the duration of a cup of tea, then poured it into the hot oil frying pan. When the flour-coated chicken meat turned golden brown and was about to be taken out, she sprinkled over a handful of finely chopped lemongrass, gave it a quick stir, and then it was ready to be plated and served.

Lemongrass has a faint cool and slightly sour scent which complements the spicy and rich garlic flavor well, highlighting the water chicken’s tenderness and savoriness to the fullest. That evening, at the Jing Family’s dining table, everyone enjoyed their meal tremendously, and Da Zhong, the foodie, couldn’t stop exclaiming how satisfying it was. He wished he could take the whole plate to himself and have it all to his content.

"Xiaomai sister, your cooking skills are really... incredible!" He kept eating non-stop while finding a moment to continually praise her, busy to no end, "Whoever marries you is surely striking it rich—they’d wake up laughing from their dreams!"

Discussing a girl’s marriage was not only something that should not be brought up for discussion publicly, but even if it were to be discussed, it was certainly not his place to do so. Hua’s mother frowned, her eyes shooting daggers as she berated Da Zhong with thunder in her voice: "What are you talking about!"

"Have you drunk too much?" Almost at the same time, Meng Yuhuai also reprimanded in a low voice, pressing a warning hand on Da Zhong’s shoulder.

Da Zhong was too engrossed in the revelry of eating to think about what should and shouldn’t be said. After being reminded, he realized he had misspoken and quickly squeezed out a smile, nodding apologetically to Hua Xiaomai, "Xiaomai sister, I didn’t mean anything else; I was just purely complimenting your culinary skills. This garlic water chicken is really too delicious, haha... too delicious..."

"Tomorrow I’ll go to Lianshun Escort Agency to ask Sister-in-law Zuo for your address and find out your wife’s full name," Hua Xiaomai said with a smile that was not quite a smile, looking at him. Although she was clearly joking, she deliberately put on a gloomy face, "When I see your wife, I’ll tell her that you’re always hanging around with young girls when you’re out on escort duties, getting too close for comfort. I simply can’t stand it and had to let her know."

Laughter erupted from around the table, but Da Zhong himself had a pained expression, waving his hands and standing up to bow deeply to Hua Xiaomai, "Xiaomai sister, I’m wrong, truly wrong, some jokes just can’t be made—they’re not for fun! My wife takes everything seriously, and if you so much as mention it, she’ll believe it. Then I’ll be stuck with no way to clear my name! Please don’t use Sister-in-law Zuo’s methods on me, isn’t my apology enough?"

Laughter rang out again, and Hua Xiaomai also couldn’t help but let out a laugh, suddenly feeling as though there were two focused beams of attention on her, making her cheeks feel somewhat hot.

She turned her head, but the person swiftly looked away, leaving only a lingering gaze that met the light in her eyes head-on.

Follow current novels on freewe(b)novel.c(o)m