Chef Hua
Chapter 256: Episode 152 Busy Running Around_2

Chapter 256: Episode 152 Busy Running Around_2

Hua Xiaomai suspected that Su Yuchang had secretly helped. One day at noon, she grabbed a diner who came for a meal and inquired, and indeed that was the case.

"Big Brother Su mentioned that there was a decent restaurant on this official road. Since it happened to be on the way, we decided to try it," the person nodded, "If we were to rank the gourmets in Yanhui County, if Brother Su accepted being second, no one would dare claim the first spot. His family lacks for nothing, owning over thirty mu of paddy fields tended by hired people, just sitting back to collect money. With nothing better to do, he takes his wife everywhere to scout for delicacies. The couple spends most of their year traveling. These past years he has experienced quite many culinary delights, he even wrote a booklet for us who travel for business, detailing which restaurant has what dishes, which one should be avoided; as detailed as can be. His recommendations are undoubtedly reliable!"

Chun Xi and La Mei were extremely astonished, clicking their tongues repeatedly in disbelief at how influential the words of a renowned gourmet could be. Grateful beyond measure, Hua Xiaomai finally breathed a sigh of relief as she saw the business in her shop getting better day by day.

...

Suddenly, the autumn wind rose, and it turned cool.

In mid-September, the Meng Family delivered the bride price to the Jing Family’s courtyard. It was simply a standard gift including pairs of chickens and geese, bolts of cloth, and wedding bracelets, along with the auspicious date brought back from the Taoist temple, setting the wedding date for the sixth day of winter.

With less than two months left, this made Hua Ermu frantic. Being pregnant and unable to do heavy work, she busied everyone around her with various tasks. First, she took Hua Xiaomai by the ear, forcing her to make a pair of barely presentable shoes, to be sent to the Meng Family as a return gift along with half of the bride price. She also hurried Jing Taihe to withdraw money to prepare Hua Xiaomai’s dowry, which included land, clothing, and jewelry. Though she mainly stayed at home, she was so busy that she did not have a moment of rest.

Jing Taihe, feeling pity for his wife, treated her every word like a royal decree, daring not to neglect anything. In the midst of his errands, he thought of something and discussed it softly with Hua Ermu one night.

"The little sister is about to get married. I was thinking, should we also inform the eldest brother and sister-in-law?" he glanced at Hua Ermu’s expression, tentatively suggesting, "You and the little sister might not get along with him, but no matter what, he is your elder brother. A matter as big as his sister’s marriage, he should at least make the trip. It’s a long journey from Shengzhou to Fire Knife Village, and not many days are left, we should inform him early..."

"What do we need him for? To give me and the little sister trouble?" Before he could finish, Hua Ermu sat up furiously, her face clouded as if it were about to rain, "Do you forget how that disgusting Hua Dashan treated me and the little sister? If not for him, I wouldn’t have suffered from hunger and cold; if not for him, the little sister wouldn’t have endured so much hardship! Even now, whenever I recall seeing the little sister unconscious at our doorstep covered in injuries, it just breaks my heart! I can’t confront him, and the farther away from him, the better. If he dares show his face in Fire Knife Village, I swear I’ll kill him with a stick!"

She couldn’t control her emotions when speaking of these matters, her face flushing red and her eyes misting up as if on the verge of tears. Jing Taihe was taken aback, quickly patting her back while gently coaxing, "It was just a question; if you are unwilling, we won’t invite him. Why get so upset? What did Doctor Xing tell you? Have you forgotten all his advice?"

Hua Ermu held his hand, sniffing, and urgently said, "Taihe, please never speak of that man again... The little sister and I finally have a few peaceful days, and I don’t want to see him again, not even a glance, it disgusts and disturbs me! If he learns that we are now able to make some money, who knows how he’ll scheme to get it. He and his wife are like blood-sucking parasites, they won’t rest until they’ve drained us. I’ve ceased all contact with him long ago; it’s better if we just pretend we don’t have such a brother. That way, we’ll be better off!"

"Whatever you say goes, we won’t inform him, we won’t associate with him, just don’t keep that resentment in your heart, it’s not good for you!" Jing Taihe could only nod repeatedly in agreement, spending a considerable effort to finally persuade her to lie down and afterwards, he truly didn’t dare bring up the matter again.

Both of them were extremely busy, and Hua Xiaomai was no less strained on her end.

Once the wedding date was set, she and Meng Yuhuai were not to meet again until the day arrived, and though she didn’t understand this "rule," she was too busy to dwell on it much.

The small restaurant slowly picked up business, requiring her to spend most of her time in the kitchen. Although Chun Xi and La Mei could help her with picking and cleaning vegetables and roughly chopping them, most dishes still required her precise knife skills. She couldn’t afford to slack, and each night, she returned home smelling of kitchen grease.

At the same time, Pan Ping’an also returned to Fire Knife Village on schedule, bringing with him nearly seven fortunes in profit, urging her to quickly prepare next month’s sauces.

What could she do but push through? She got up early and worked late, going to bed at the end of the Hai hours, only rising before dawn, managing just over two hours of sleep each night. Though she considered herself tenacious and hardworking, as the days went by, even she found it increasingly tough.

Although working hard to earn money was worth it, if she continued like this and ruined her health before getting married, what good would it be?

That early morning, as usual, Hua Xiaomai got up early and started organizing newly fermented sauces in the yard when Luo Yuejiao’s crisp voice floated in from outside the courtyard.

"Sister Xiaomai, I’ve found you an apprentice!" (To be continued. If you like this work, please visit Qidian (qidian.com) to cast your recommendation tickets and monthly tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users please read at m.qidian.com.)