Chef Hua
Chapter 237: Episode 143: Grand Opening

Chapter 237: Episode 143: Grand Opening

It is said that the owners of restaurants take the first customer who enters their store on the opening day very seriously.

There is a particular emphasis placed on this, for if the first customer is an ordinary farmer, the owner should welcome him heartily and attend to him thoroughly with joy and hospitality, as the restaurant relies heavily on the grains and vegetables cultivated by these farmers. To some extent, it is justified to consider them as benefactors.

However, if a beggar loiters at the doorway on the first day of business, the owner really should burn three sticks of incense for himself, as this almost foretells that the business may not do well and might ultimately share the same fate as that beggar.

Among these, the most coveted scenario is when the first customer is a scholar about to take the imperial examination, symbolizing that the newly opened shop will rise progressively and thrive increasingly.

Strictly speaking, this is nothing more than a way of seeking good fortune for oneself. Although Hua Xiaomai found it somewhat amusing, she had never taken it seriously. The very next morning, before dawn had even broken, she hurried to the eastern side of the village with Jing Taihe and Hua’s mother.

Chun Xi and La Mei were very diligent and responsible; they had already opened the doors and were waiting there. Before long, Meng Yuhuai and Great Saint had also rushed over, intending to help check the surroundings one more time before the opening, ensuring that nothing was amiss.

Hua Xiaomai walked around upstairs and downstairs, then ran to the kitchen to slowly heat up the basin of meat prepared the night before. It was still early and there was no need to busy herself at the stove just yet, and with nothing else to do, she leaned on the counter talking idly with Hua’s mother, Chun Xi, and La Mei.

Well, actually, she wasn’t really in the mood to chat at all. Since going to bed the previous night, her heart had been pounding nonstop—partly from nervousness and excitement and partly from fear that something might go wrong on the day of the opening. The reason she kept talking was merely to distract herself from the anxiety and to try to relax.

"I heard that in some places, on the day a shop opens, they invite dragon and lion dance troupes to perform," she said with a smile to Hua’s mother, "I’ve never seen it myself, but I’ve heard it’s really lively, with drums and gongs filling the street, the brightly colored dragon and lion dance troupes constantly turning and jumping. Leading them is a large doll shaking a fan. It’s so festive and draws everyone on the street to crowd around the shop entrance and block it completely!"

"Dragon and lion dances..." Upon hearing this, La Mei seemed a bit wistful. She rested her chin on the counter and said, "Just thinking about it seems fun. It’s a pity that it’s not popular here; otherwise, we should have invited them too. It would definitely attract everyone in Fire Knife Village to gather outside to watch the excitement!"

"Forget it, even if it were popular here, I couldn’t afford it," Hua Xiaomai said as she smiled and shook her head, "That dragon and lion dance troupe is not cheap. With that money, I’d rather prepare more good dishes..."

Before she could finish her sentence, she suddenly saw someone walking in from outside, and upon closer inspection, it turned out to be Wen Huaren, whom she hadn’t seen for a long time.

It was only the beginning of the hour of Si, far from the auspicious time to start business. What was he doing coming here all of a sudden?

"Oh!" As soon as she recognized who it was, Chun Xi immediately jumped up and hurried to greet him, her face blooming with a smile, "It’s Scholar Wen, it’s Scholar Wen! Xiaomai sister, your restaurant is definitely going to make a fortune!"

Hua’s mother was momentarily stunned but quickly caught on. Since she was carrying a little one in her belly and was not yet past three months, she dared not make big movements. Instead, she sat on a chair and cried out loudly, "It really is Scholar Wen, little sister, this is indeed a good omen!"

Wen Huaren, confused by the noise of the women, stood dumbfounded at the doorway for a long while, not daring to step inside. He simply extended the red paper he was holding forward and smiled at Hua Xiaomai, "I knew your restaurant was opening today and specially wrote a couplet for you. I’m not sure if you’ll like it. Now that you no longer set up your stall by the river, if I want to mooch meals, it won’t be so easy. But no matter what, I’m grateful for your care over these days..."

Hua Xiaomai did not expect that this sentimental scholar would be so thoughtful. She smiled, walked up to receive the couplet, and was about to speak when Chun Xi already barged forward, repeatedly gesturing with her hands and loudly addressing Wen Huaren, "No, no, you’re not here to deliver the couplet, you’re here to eat! Quick, say it again!"