Chef Hua
Chapter 226 - 137: Suspected_2

Chapter 226: Chapter 137: Suspected_2

Renting a storefront meant that a fixed rent had to be paid monthly, which inevitably involved a certain level of risk. Sometimes she wondered, what if she lost money, was it really worth it? But...

Since she had helped Song Jingxi win the top position at the Eight Treasures Conference, she had proven to a certain extent that her cooking skills could not be underestimated by anyone. If she could hold her own in the vast Provincial City with her skills, why couldn’t she own her own restaurant?

As things stagnated momentarily, she forced herself to stay calm. Apart from going to the riverbank to set up her stall in the evening, her days were filled with teaching Luo Yuejiao to cook or helping Hua Erniang in the fields. She did not have a moment’s rest.

That afternoon, Hua Xiaomai made her usual winter melon and lotus leaf soup for heat relief. Once it cooled, she took it to the fields for Hua Erniang. From afar, she saw a graceful figure bending over busy in the fields.

Under the scorching sun, as strong as Hua Erniang was, she was still a woman. Such weather was unbearable even for men, let alone for her. Concerned, Hua Xiaomai hurried over, pulled her up, and dragged her to a tree by the road. She immediately ladled a bowl of soup and forced her to drink it, frowning as she said, "I told you I’d come to help, and eight times out of ten you push me away. Two acres of land, how can you manage them alone?"

Hua Erniang drank most of the winter melon and lotus leaf soup, rubbed her waist, and said unconcerned, "The seeds were just sown, and the weather is fiercely hot, we need to water often these next few days. Once the seedlings stabilize, I won’t need to be in the fields daily until after the fall, when the threat of pests will require more hard work. But how about you, what about that restaurant you thought of opening?"

"I don’t have a clue." Hua Xiaomai pursed her lips, "I intended to find Zheng Yakuai to scout a reliable location for me, but many things are still unclear, and I dare not act rashly. I can only wait a bit longer."

Hua Erniang scratched her temple, pondering, "Last time we were at the County, didn’t that tavern owner Tan, in not so many words, want to hand over his place to you? I saw the location is not bad, and the size of the place is just right..."

"I’ve thought of that." Hua Xiaomai nodded, "But you heard him too, he mostly wanted me to buy it, where would we get that much money? If we mention ’renting’ to him, he might not agree! Moreover, even if we did rent, the rental in the County is completely different from the prices near Fire Knife Village, heaven and earth apart. Opening a restaurant there, if the business goes bad, the loss would be greater. Uncle Pingan should be back by mid-month, I plan to wait and see how much money he brings back so we can make a better calculation."

"Then you really need to think this over carefully." Hua Erniang nodded in agreement and then tilted her head to look at her face, probing, "You... aren’t you resolute in waiting to open that restaurant before settling the marriage with Big Brother Meng?"

"The person who forbade me from seeing him too much was you, now you’re the anxious one, which of your words should I take seriously?" Hua Xiaomai did not directly answer the question, but smiled lightly and gave her a half-joking glare.

"Tsk, times have changed!" Hua Erniang slapped her back, "You’re not getting any younger, and he is six or seven years older than you. Since you both have mutual feelings, it’s only right to settle things sooner rather than later, otherwise..."

She hmphed softly, pursing her lips and said, "You know very well, in Fire Knife Village, Brother Meng is quite the catch. As for other girls, they might just hide and seek some verbal advantage, but I’m worried about Guan Rong! Your thing with Brother Meng hasn’t spread yet, but you can’t cover the sky with one hand. If she finds out one day, she might start causing trouble in the background. If she stirs up some disaster, your tears won’t save you!"

While speaking, she stretched her hand to rub her waist.

Hua Xiaomai felt unsettled by her words, and suddenly, seeing her movements, was struck by concern. She grabbed her hand and said, "Sister, your waist hurts? Oh dear, set other matters aside, I’m talking serious here—you truly can’t keep bending over working in the fields every day. What if you get pregnant? What would happen to the little one in your belly?... Oh, I think this cooling nature of the soup might not be freely drinkable for you anymore, I’ll think carefully if there’s any other food that can relieve the summer heat for you..."

"Oh, speaking of which, I just remembered!" Hua Erniang suddenly slapped her palm, "My period..."

"What’s wrong, what’s wrong?" Hua Xiaomai immediately tensed up.

"My period... it should be in these next two days, no wonder I feel my waist is sore!" Hua Erniang tilted her head and chuckled, "That medicine that old immortal prescribed, I’ve been taking it for so long, not sure if it works or not, but my period has been very regular, never more than three days early or late!"

"...Sister, don’t breathe too heavily when you talk!" Hua Xiaomai, relieved, patted her chest, "I was scared you were pregnant!"

After speaking, she pulled her up and dragged her towards home, without letting her say more.

"Even if it’s just because your period is coming and your waist feels sore, you should rest for these couple of days and not do heavy work. You can leave the field work to me; taking care of that vegetable patch behind our house before has given me a bit of experience, so you need not worry, I promise I won’t screw up, all right?" (To be continued. If you like this work, you are welcome to cast your recommendation ticket and monthly ticket at Qidian (qidian.com). Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users, please read at m.qidian.com.)