Chef Hua
Chapter 190 - 119: There’s Plenty of Time in the Future

Chapter 190: Chapter 119: There’s Plenty of Time in the Future

The person who came to apologize brought gifts, and if the host family accepted them, it also meant to a certain extent that there was still room for negotiation. Hua Xiaomai hadn’t expected her to act this way and instantly widened her eyes, ignoring the presence of outsiders. She slapped the back of Hua Xiaomai’s head: "Are you sick? What are you freaking out about!"

It hurt! Hua Xiaomai was hit so hard that stars flashed before her eyes. She mustered all her strength to steady herself and managed not to show any signs of stumbling or disgrace. She couldn’t help but curse Hua Erniang silently in her heart.

Sister, we are on the same side, you should know that, right? In front of Guan Rong and her mother, you actually hit me. Don’t you know this is embarrassing?

She gritted her teeth and managed not to reach back to rub the back of her head, keeping her expression as similar as possible to before, and looked straight into Guan Rong’s eyes.

"Sister Xiaomai, are you willing to forgive me?" Guan Rong was instantly overjoyed, hurriedly placing the basket on the table in the yard, "That’s great, I knew you were always reasonable, and you definitely wouldn’t..."

"Which ear of yours heard me say I forgave you?" Hua Xiaomai glanced at her, a smile playing on her lips, "I only let you put down the things. These baskets of eggs and Bamboo Leaf Cakes were meant to be given to me. There’s no problem with me accepting them, right?"

Guan Rong paused for a moment, then eagerly nodded her head: "Of course, if you don’t mind them, then nothing could be better!" Having said that, she even gave Hua Xiaomai a smile, which clearly had a hint of ingratiating intention.

"Besides this, I want you to do me a favor. I wonder if you are willing." Hua Xiaomai casually rifled through the basket, her eyelids half-drooping, a smile that was not quite a smile on her face.

"Sister Xiaomai, what are you talking about, when you first came to Fire Knife Village, we were best friends. If you need help, I would definitely not refuse, do you doubt it?" Guan Rong’s expression was very sincere as she stepped forward to take Hua Xiaomai’s hand but was slightly dodged by her.

"Whether you like it or not, those baseless rumors between Scholar Wen and me started from you and Aunt Geng, didn’t they?"

Guan Rong was stunned. She wanted to loudly claim, "I didn’t spread them," but the words already at her lips ended up being swallowed back down. She lowered her head, only softly acknowledging with a hum.

"You also know there is nothing between Wen Huaren and me, right?"

"...Yes."

Hua Xiaomai seemed quite satisfied, nodding her head then sighing: "Since the situation has blown up in the village, you, being a kind-hearted girl, can’t bear to see me harmed by such false rumors. Since it all started from you, I’d like you to help clarify this, would you be willing to?"

"Isn’t that what you are supposed to do?" Guan Rong seemed to breathe a sigh of relief, smiling gently. "These past few days, I have already explained things to many people in the village..."

"This is too slow, not good." Hua Xiaomai frowned unhappily and shook her head. "Although our village isn’t large, it still has perhaps a few dozen families, three to four hundred people. At the rate you’re going, explaining to each household individually, when will everyone in the village understand? Let’s do it more straightforwardly! It’s summer now, and many people go to the riverside to cool off in the evening. Since you are willing to clear my name, why not join me by the river tonight, state the whole truth in front of everyone? People will naturally pass it on, saving your effort and resolving everything more neatly, isn’t that convenient?"

Before Guan Rong could reply, Hua Xiaomai clapped her hands as if suddenly remembering something, and smiled: "Right, let’s also invite Aunt Geng. Let her help speak up as well. If there are any inconsistencies between the two of you, you can confront each other on the spot. Once things are made clear, everyone will understand, and I can finally unload this burden of being linked with someone romantically!"

Guan Rong hesitated, opened her mouth but didn’t speak for a long time.

As for that riverside, she now felt somewhat fearful. Not long ago, right there, in front of everyone, Chun Xi, La Mei and others had exposed her actions, also denigrating her as worthless. Although people tend to be forgetful, after such a long time, not many probably remembered the incident, but no matter what, just thinking about having to stand before people again and repeat her actions, thereafter possibly facing ridicule, made her feel incredibly uneasy.