Chef Hua
Chapter 173: Episode 110 Three-flavor Chicken (Part 1) (1 more update)_2

Chapter 173: Episode 110 Three-flavor Chicken (Part 1) (1 more update)_2

As the plate passed in front of Hua Xiaomai, she lightly sniffed and compared the aromas of the two dishes, quickly coming to a conclusion. When the chopsticks were offered to her, she stepped back with a smile, waved her hand, and said, "No need."

The surrounding buzz of conversation rose and fell in a chorus.

"This white and tender meat, so bland and flavorless, who’d have the patience to eat it? The sauce is also oddly matched, not fragrant, not fragrant!"

"Hmm, indeed, if we’re speaking honestly, the sautéed mushrooms with chicken balls are far more delicious, tender and smooth, bursting with freshness and flavor in every bite! The reputation of a culinary family truly isn’t unearned!"

Some went even further, having tasted only a bite the size of a thumb, they conclusively proclaimed, "Look, just watch, that man surnamed Tan, today he’s almost certain to lose even his pants!"

Upon hearing this, Hua Xiaomai surveyed her surroundings and suddenly comprehended something, causing her brows to furrow slightly.

Such a match... seemed a bit unsuitable, didn’t it?

While pondering, she heard someone call her name. Turning her head, she saw Scholar Wen Huaren from by the riverside of Fire Knife Village, flashing her a broad smile and waving enthusiastically at her from across the crowd. Before she could speak, he had squeezed through to her side in just a few strides.

"Miss Xiaomai, have you come to join in the excitement as well?" Wen Huaren greeted her cheerily, then turned his head and nodded at Hua Erniang, "I never expected we could meet here, what a coincidence!"

"Why are you here?" Hua Xiaomai gave him an incredulous look, then suddenly realizing, she drew out her words with a smirk, "Oh... that’s right, such a rare opportunity to eat without paying, how could you pass it up? Surely you plan to have a full meal here today, don’t you?"

Wen Huaren’s face reddened slightly, and he waved his hand vigorously saying, "Miss Xiaomai, don’t make fun of me, I came into town today to buy books and just happened to come across Master Tan’s culinary competition with Master Huang from Dongchang Pavilion on Tian Sheng Street, so I stopped to watch for a bit. Speaking of which, there are quite a few people from our village in town today, I even saw the Guan Family girl earlier—did you and Sister Jing come along with her?"

Nonsense, how could she possibly arrange to go shopping with Guan Rong considering how things stood today? She wasn’t crazy!

Hua Xiaomai gave Scholar Wen a pointed look, the corners of her mouth curling into a smile that somehow seemed rather intimidating: "What do you think?"

"Ah, my apologies, my apologies, I forgot for a moment that you and Miss Guan had already..." Wen Huaren took a step back, then quickly changed the subject, "That, Miss Xiaomai, about the two dishes just now, you’ve tasted them, haven’t you? With your cooking skills so refined, in your opinion, in today’s competition between Master Tan and Master Huang, who will be the victor, who the loser?"

Hua Xiaomai glanced at the man surnamed Tan in the blue shirt, but didn’t answer Wen Huaren. Instead, she looked up and countered, "Do you know what they are competing for?"

Wen Huaren immediately nodded, leaned in a bit closer, and said in a low voice, "Did you see the small tavern behind Master Tan? ’Tan’s’ has been around since his grandfather’s time, and in his hands now, business has been in decline, coming to the point of not making ends meet. Though the tavern is only a tiny storefront, it is still his family’s legacy. Master Tan does not want to see it fail under his watch, so, bit by bit, he has borrowed a considerable amount of money from Master Huang to keep it afloat, but..."

"But he can’t pay it back, correct?" Hua Xiaomai nodded in understanding, her eyes darting, "So what’s the purpose of this competition?"

"I only know what they told me." Wen Huaren’s voice grew even lower, "Tan’s place may be small, but it’s right in the busiest, most bustling spot. That owner of Dongchang Pavilion, Mr. Huang, has been eyeing the shop to take over for a long time. But Master Tan just wouldn’t sell no matter what. Now that there’s been this added trouble with the silver coin, Mr. Huang came up with this idea. They’re to compete in making ’Three-flavor Chicken.’ If Master Tan wins, the deadline to repay the debt can be pushed back another half a year. If Master Tan loses, he must sell the shop at a low price to Mr. Huang on the spot to cover the debts!"

So that was it, Hua Xiaomai chuckled to herself.

Fair is fair, paying back debts is the right thing to do, and the conditions of the competition Mr. Huang of Dongchang Pavilion proposed weren’t too harsh. But a competition must be fair, and if someone were to tamper with it behind the scenes, it wouldn’t look too good once exposed, would it?

No wonder the onlookers had all been voicing such opinions. This Mr. Tan had, in fact, been carrying the word "lose" on his shoulders from the start.

Hua Xiaomai immediately found it dull and, without paying attention to Wen Huaren, turned to her second mother and whispered, "There’s nothing worth seeing here. We should go, buy the wine, and head home quickly." With that, she tugged at the sleeve of her sister and made to leave.

But to her surprise, Wen Huaren suddenly became anxious, stepping forward to block their way, pleading, "Miss Xiaomai, why won’t you watch the end? Could you at least tell me if Master Tan has any chance of winning?"

Hua Xiaomai glanced back at him, annoyed. After some thought and unable to hold back, she whispered, "Look at all these people gathered to watch. If I’m not wrong, seven or eight out of ten have been paid to be here to boost the crowd and cheer on command. When you take someone else’s silver, your conscience can’t speak the truth. Master Tan can’t afford to pay anyone to shout on his behalf, so he’s bound to lose. Don’t you see that?"

After saying this, she turned around to leave again.

Wen Huaren, upon hearing this, became even more frantic, so much so that in his urgency he forgot himself completely, grabbing Xiaomai’s sleeve, "You mean to say... in broad daylight, is there no justice left? Miss Xiaomai, what do you think should be done about this?"

"Hands!" Hua Xiaomai looked down at her arm.

"Are you asking for death?" Hua Erniang burst out in rage, ready to nail Wen Huaren in the face with her fist.

Scholar Wen retracted his hands quickly, his face a picture of misery, "Miss Xiaomai, although I don’t know Master Tan personally, I can’t bear to see him tricked and losing his family’s business. You have such talent in cooking, why won’t you help him?"

"How can I help?" Hua Xiaomai was half-amused, half-irritated, "You’re kind-hearted, but don’t you see the clear picture? Everybody here belongs to Mr. Huang. There are only the three of us, what can we do? I can’t think of a way, nor do I wish to offend people. This matter, I..."

"Miss Xiaomai, have you forgotten how everyone helped you by the riverside that day?" (To be continued. If you enjoy this work, you are welcome to come to Qidian (qidian.com) to cast your recommendation ticket and monthly ticket. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users please visit m.qidian.com to read.)