Chef Hua
Chapter 270: Episode 159 Round 1 - Encounter 2

Chapter 270: Episode 159 Round 1 - Encounter 2

Having to get up early in the morning to fuss about in the kitchen would be considered a chore for many, but for Hua Xiaomai, it was precisely her heart’s desire.

Only in this place, constantly filled with the scent of cooking oil, could she do as she pleased. In this not so spacious space, everything was willing to heed her command. She handled everything with ease, and what was troublesome to others become unadulterated pleasure in her eyes.

...However, trouble wouldn’t stay away just because she was enjoying the pleasure of cooking. Just as she untied her apron, leisurely surveying her surroundings and planning to eventually make this still incomplete kitchen her own territory, a very displeased shout suddenly came from behind her.

"What are you doing?!"

Though it was a shout, it wasn’t exactly that either. This noise was fundamentally different from Hua Erniang’s usual roaring; it wasn’t as violent, but it held an underlying chill of menace, causing a cold shiver to run down Hua Xiaomai’s neck.

Turning around, she saw Meng Lao Niang with a stern face standing at the kitchen door, her sharp gaze scanning over the stove, and her brows knitted together in a frown.

Hua Xiaomai hurriedly called out "Mother" and then touched her own forehead somewhat bewilderingly: "I am... cooking..."

"Does your family need to eat a meal in the morning, being so particular?" Meng Lao Niang curled her lips and rolled her eyes, "No wonder everyone says that ever since Jing Taihe and Hua Erniang housed that little auntie, their days have been getting more and more luxurious. Humph, my family doesn’t have that much spare money, eating two meals a day is plenty for us!"

Isn’t this deliberately picking a quarrel? Hua Xiaomai secretly grumbled in her heart. She certainly knew that the people of Fire Knife Village didn’t have the habit of eating breakfast, but as a new bride trying to make a good impression and showcase her skills, that couldn’t be wrong, could it?

"There were still so many leftovers from yesterday, and even if you were truly starving, just reheating something would’ve been fine. Why make new dishes? Have you been running a restaurant for so long that you’ve lost the concept of frugality? Wasting things for nothing!"

Hua Xiaomai took a deep breath, and suddenly remembered Hua Erniang’s words: "If it’s a trivial matter, let her have her way, it won’t cost us a piece of flesh." Her eyes darted about and she forced a smile, chose not to pick up on Meng Lao Niang’s hints, and directly offered a dried fried crispy roll, shaking it in front of her: "Mother, would you like to taste?"

The surface of the dried fried crispy roll was fried to a beautiful golden color, extremely appealing, and the rich aroma of the pork filling seeped through the thin bean curd skin, wafting in waves, truly tempting. Meng Lao Niang originally intended to assert her dominance over Hua Xiaomai, but somehow, her throat, betraying her intentions, involuntarily swallowed twice, and with an impatient flick of her hand, she said, "You can’t just eat things that haven’t been served. Doesn’t your family have any manners? Don’t waste words on me, the proper thing to do first is to offer incense with Yuhuai to your father-in-law."

With that, she turned and walked out quickly.

Hua Xiaomai busily responded obediently, and once Meng Lao Niang left, she covered her mouth and giggled secretly.

...

In the hall, the incense and candles were all prepared, and on the ground, two cushions had been laid out. Hua Xiaomai and Meng Yuhuai washed and changed their clothes again, and they paid their respects to Old Master Meng’s spirit tablet with solemn bows. Meng’s mother inevitably murmured a few words beside them, but soon they gathered themselves and brought out the prepared dishes one by one.

For some reason, since entering the hall, Meng’s mother’s face turned as dark as charcoal. When Meng Yuhuai spoke to her, she would reluctantly respond with a few words, but if Hua Xiaomai spoke, she would completely adopt a "I can’t hear, I can’t hear" attitude, continuing to eat silently.

Sitting between the two, Meng Yuhuai’s expression became noticeably displeased, and several times he almost couldn’t help but say something. Each time, Hua Xiaomai would kick him under the table, and he would swallow his words.

Whether it was the village gossips or Hua Ermother, who had many grievances about Meng’s mother, they had all hinted, more or less, that the relationship between mother and son was not close, and sometimes, even quite tense. Hua Xiaomai didn’t know the reason, but she at least couldn’t let them start arguing on the second day of their marriage because of her; that would make her life very difficult in the future.

After thinking for a moment, she picked up a fried "crunchy bell," placed it in Meng’s mother’s bowl, then turned to give Meng Yuhuai a piece, saying with a smile, "Mother, try this fried ’crunchy bell’ and see how it tastes. If you like it, I’ll make more in the future."

Meng’s mother still did not speak but gave her a sidelong glance. She didn’t refuse, took a golden bite into her mouth, and immediately furrowed her brow.

"You cook without using onions? There’s fresh coriander and onions right behind the house; you could just cut a bunch. How much effort could that take? Ah, everyone in the village praises your culinary skills, and you even run your own restaurant, yet you don’t even know such a trifle?"

Hua Xiaomai wasn’t annoyed and pushed two small dishes with salt and pepper and sweet sauce closer to her, "Mother, if you prefer more onions and coriander in the dishes, I’ll remember and add more in the future. But this fried ’crunchy bell’ should be eaten with salt and pepper and sweet sauce. Both of these condiments have strong flavors, and with the taste of tofu skin and pork already so rich, adding onion would be a bit too much and overpower the flavors."

Hearing this, Meng’s mother rolled her eyes and muttered softly, "Don’t give me that rigmarole. I’m a layman, I don’t understand your professional jargon!"

"You complain if it’s not to your liking, and when it’s explained to you, you get sarcastic. Why bother, mother?" Meng Yuhuai could barely hold back and finally retorted sharply.

Meng’s mother felt wronged on the spot, glared at him, and her throat tightened, "Just after getting a wife, you forget your mother. I only said a few extra words, and you have to defend her like this? It’s only the second day, how will I live in the future?!"

With that, she was close to crying.

Hua Xiaomai’s head ached with the situation, and she quickly kicked Meng Yuhuai under the table again, then turned to Meng’s mother with a smile, "Hehe, mother, please eat quickly. If the fried ’crunchy bell’ gets cold, the tofu skin will soften and the taste will be greatly reduced, ah haha..."

She put on a thick-skinned face, making Meng’s mother feel it was difficult to keep complaining. Meng’s mother took a couple more bites of the fried ’crunchy bell’, followed by a few spoonfuls of porridge, then suddenly threw her spoon into the bowl, raised her head, and fixed her stare on Hua Xiaomai’s face.

"I want to ask you, where did you take the things from the hall?" (To be continued. If you like this work, you are welcome to come to Qidian (qidian.com) to cast your recommendation ticket, monthly ticket, your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users, please go to m.qidian.com to read.)