Chef Hua
Chapter 224: Episode 136 Not a Loss_2

Chapter 224: Episode 136 Not a Loss_2

They were chatting casually over tea in the kitchen when suddenly, they heard Hua Erniang’s voice rising from the courtyard.

"Eh, why are you back?"

Followed immediately by Jing Taihe’s rather hesitant response, "Ah, there’s a matter, is my little sister at home?"

Looking for her? Hua Xiaomai paused, her eyes darting around as she stood up and walked to the kitchen door, grinning at the courtyard, "Brother-in-law, are you looking for me?"

Jing Taihe glanced at her face, seeming a bit embarrassed, nodded slightly, and beckoned, "Little sister, come here, I have something to tell you."

As he spoke, he looked toward Luo Yuejiao, smiled apologetically, "Yuejiao, you’re here too? I’m sorry, but there’s something I need to discuss with your sister Xiaomai. Could you..."

"Oh!" Luo Yuejiao foolishly agreed, "Can I go stay in the vegetable patch then?" Without waiting for Jing Taihe’s reply, she ran behind the house and began pulling at the grass.

Hua Xiaomai obediently walked over to Jing Taihe, her face apologetic, "Brother-in-law..."

Jing Taihe looked at her, "Just now, Meng Yuhuai came to the blacksmith shop looking for me..."

She had guessed it right; it was indeed about this! Hua Xiaomai felt awkward and didn’t even wait to hear what Jing Taihe was going to say next, slipping away immediately.

Why can’t Meng Yuhuai wait even this long? He only spoke with her last night, and today he already ran to the blacksmith shop to "clear things up" with Jing Taihe?

"Don’t even think of running away!" Hearing the words "Meng Yuhuai," Hua Erniang instantly became cautious, caught up to her, and skillfully grabbed Hua Xiaomai by the collar, pulling her in front of Jing Taihe, then turned around and asked, "What did Brother Meng tell you?"

Jing Taihe didn’t answer her question but just stared at Hua Xiaomai with a smirk and sighed, "What exactly did you fabricate about me in front of Meng Yuhuai?"

"Hehe... How could I fabricate anything about you, brother-in-law, you are always so good to me..." Hua Xiaomai kept edging away, "If I were to spout lies and slander you, wouldn’t that make me utterly ungrateful?"

"That is indeed curious," Jing Taihe almost laughed, striving to appear serious, said solemnly, "If you didn’t say anything, why would he come asking me out of nowhere if I disapproved of him for his age, unwilling to let you be with him?"

Hua Xiaomai felt a headache coming on. That guy usually seemed so sharp, how could he actually be so naive? Even if she had to clarify things with Jing Taihe, was there really a need to tell him all that?

"I... I was just joking," she said, lowering her head and pretending to be willingly admitting her fault, her lips pouting pitifully.

"Joking?" Jing Taihe shook his head helplessly, "Well, I won’t beat around the bush with you. Yuhuai came to see me today, specifically about the ’marriage’ matter. He said if you and your elder sister have no objections, he would begin arranging everything. Although there’s no need to rush, these matters are always complex, and planning ahead could ensure a more thorough preparation."

"Oh," Hua Xiaomai replied softly, not daring to utter another word.

She wanted to skimp over it, but someone wouldn’t let her. Hua Erniang grabbed her ear and started scolding her fiercely, "Just an ’oh’ and that’s it? What did I tell you, I knew you had a thing with him, but you just wouldn’t admit it! Have you no brain? I’ve told you, Meng Family’s elder brother might be fine, but his mother is not easy to deal with. Any girl married to him is bound to have a hard life. Why must you insist on banging your head against the wall? Tell me, did you two talk about this when he brought you home last night? Look at you, Hua Xiaomai, secretly fixing things up with him!"

"I didn’t..." Hua Xiaomai subconsciously tried to fob her off, but a glare from Hua Erniang made her soul fly away in fright, and she no longer dared to hide anything, spilling everything, "We just mentioned it briefly. I told him I wanted to open the restaurant on my own, and I want to see if I could earn money with my chili next year, so this matter needn’t be rushed. He agreed..."

Jing Taihe smiled faintly, quietly stood up, and went into the main hall, leaving the courtyard to the two sisters.

"So, you’ve made up your mind?" Hua Erniang pulled Hua Xiaomai to the side and stared intently at her face, seriously asking, "Do you really like him? Before when I urged you to marry, you utterly refused, giving me all kinds of attitude. Now all of a sudden, you...

"Didn’t I say? It’s not like I have to marry immediately. I still have many things to do," Hua Xiaomai’s voice was as tiny as a mosquito’s hum, "Besides, that man last time was Chen Huosheng, not Meng Family’s elder brother... Now that I think about it, luckily I refused decisively. Just look at Aunt Geng’s behavior, her relatives needed to be discounted!"

Hua Erniang waved her hand impatiently: "Don’t bring up that nonsense to me. I’m asking you one more time, have you really made up your mind?"

"Sort of... I guess," Hua Xiaomai sneaked a glance at her and after a long pause, finally replied.

"Alright then!" Hua Erniang clapped her hands, rushed into the hall to pull Jing Taihe out, "Go tell Meng Family’s elder brother, that we have no objections. Since little sister still wants to open a restaurant, let’s delay this matter a bit, so I can save up some more for her dowry. But our two families should come to a preliminary agreement. You know, the village girls, any who aren’t engaged yet, treat Meng Family’s elder brother like a delicacy within reach. It’s better to settle this early to avoid any further complications!"

That... straightforward?

Hua Xiaomai sneaked another glance... Wasn’t she complaining about his fierce mother?

Seeming to guess her thoughts, Hua Erniang turned back and glared at her fiercely, irritatedly saying, "Don’t look at me with those doggy eyes. What can I do when it has come to this? Besides other considerations, just looking at Meng Family’s elder brother, he is beyond reproach. If you end up with him, it wouldn’t be a loss." (The story continues. If you like this work, welcome to qidian (qidian.com) to vote for recommendation tickets and monthly tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users please visit m.qidian.com to read.)