Chef Hua
Chapter 276: Episode 162: What’s the Purpose_2

Chapter 276: Episode 162: What’s the Purpose_2

"Isn’t that so?" Chun Xi said rather proudly, lifting her chin, "You shouldn’t underestimate her because of her youth. When it comes to culinary skills, not just in our little village, but perhaps not even in the whole of Fuzhe County, could anyone surpass her. If you need anything, just speak to her, since she’s the one who runs this restaurant!"

The man was taken aback upon hearing this and quickly stood up to bow, "So, you are the Miss Hua mentioned by Brother Su? Brother Su had a meal here not long ago and after returning to Qingping County, he praised your skills highly. I thought to myself that it was remarkable for a woman to earn his praise, but I never imagined you would be so young. Indeed talented youth is to be feared, to be feared!"

While speaking, he gently nudged the woman next to him, very courteously saying, "My surname is Wu, Wu Wenhong, and this is my wife. We are also from Qingping County and have known Brother Su for many years."

Hua Xiaomai couldn’t quite understand why he was making such a big fuss, so she too greeted him properly and glanced at the table.

Today the couple had ordered two dishes and one soup: shredded chicken with fish smoothie, lotus tofu, and kidney liver soup. All were dishes of very light flavors. The dishes were barely touched and the soup seemed to have been sipped only a couple of times.

"Is it... not to your taste?" she tentatively asked, "If there’s anything you’re dissatisfied with, just let me know and I’ll remake it for you right away."

"No no, that’s not it," Wu Wenhong quickly waved his hands, sighed, and turned his gaze to his wife, "We are traveling to Provincial City to seek medical treatment."

Hua Xiaomai couldn’t help but glance at the woman again.

Indeed, if she weren’t ill, a normal person couldn’t possibly be as thin as this. Hua Xiaomai herself was rather lean, but compared to this woman, she seemed much fuller. To truly understand the phrase "reduced to skin and bones," one had to see this woman.

"Please sit, please sit..." Wu Wenhong indicated a bench by the table, suddenly realizing she had her hair in a bun, and quickly corrected himself, "Is it inappropriate to call you miss? Then... may I be bold and call you ’young lady’?"

Su Yuchang let Hua Xiaomai call him uncle from the get-go, and now this Wu Wenhong was calling her ’young lady’, which threw her off!

"It’s fine," Hua Xiaomai thought to herself, but only smiled at him outwardly and looked at the woman, slightly frowning, "Is your wife unwell?"

"Ah!" Wu Wenhong immediately sighed heavily, "Look, you are not acquainted with her and yet you can see she’s not well, which shows how frail she has become! We have consulted every notable doctor in Qingping County, but the illness has not improved at all, and has been dragging on for over half a year... She wasn’t this thin before, but now she has become like this, how can my heart bear it? Having no other choice, we must lead her to the Prefecture City to seek a skilled physician, hoping to find a cure."

Hua Xiaomai found it genuinely strange—she had merely asked casually, yet this Mr. Wu seemed to be opening his heart to her, a stranger.

Moreover, he had specifically called her out, but he seemed to have no complaints about the food. So, what exactly did he want?

She pondered for a moment and then smiled slightly with pursed lips, "Your urgency shows that the two of you must have a deep affection. Prefecture City is full of capable people; asking around there might indeed suggest a solution."

After a pause, she added, "May I ask why you called me out here?"

Wu Wenhong slapped his forehead, nodding repeatedly, "Look at my memory, I’ve almost forgotten the main issue! Brother Su, knowing I was taking my wife to the Prefecture City for treatment, specifically instructed me to stop by the small restaurant on the east side of Fire Knife Village on our way, to find a Miss Hua—that must be you, right? He said, my wife’s illness, perhaps you could offer some advice, young lady, what do you think...?"

This was really odd, she wasn’t a doctor, how could she offer a solution for an illness?

Hua Xiaomai was truly baffled, bit her lip, and looked again at the woman who seemed barely able to speak, "If I may ask, what exactly is your wife suffering from?"

"Ah, she can’t eat!" Wu Wenhong exclaimed, "For the past half year, she hasn’t had a single proper meal. Whenever it’s time to eat, it becomes her toughest moment as the smell of oil makes her nauseous, and she can’t swallow a single bite. She only eats when absolutely starving, managing to force down half a bun. We’ve changed kitchens time and time again, but none satisfy her. I understand, it’s not the cooks’ fault, it’s her condition..."

Anorexia... perhaps?

Hua Xiaomai was struck with a realization. She had heard of this condition before, but had never seen a real case. Unexpectedly, even ancient people could suffer from this disease.

She racked her brains and finally managed to recall some information, frowning, "Has your wife ever been... troubled by her figure?"

"Yes, how did you know?" Wu Wenhong was surprised, clapping his hands, "It seems I’ve truly come to the right place! It was after she gave birth to our third child last year, she gained quite a bit of weight, and always thought people would laugh at her for being obese, thus she stubbornly refused to eat properly. Initially, she was panicking everyday, using a lot of effort to suppress her appetite, but over time, it turned into this state! Now that you know the reason, you must also have a solution, please help us, as long as my wife recovers, I will definitely repay you generously!"

Hua Xiaomai grimaced slightly, thinking to herself she had only heard that anorexia often stems from excessive dieting, but as for how to treat it, she wasn’t a doctor, how could she possibly have a solution?

Nevertheless, despite knowing she was merely a cook, Su Yuchang had particularly insisted that Wu Wenhong and his wife come here, which truly... puzzled her. (To be continued. If you enjoy this work, you are welcome to cast your vote of recommendation and monthly ticket at qidian.com. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users please visit m.qidian.com to read.)