Chef Hua
Chapter 277: Episode 163: Excitement

Chapter 277: Episode 163: Excitement

The restaurant was in the midst of its busiest time of day. Every so often, groups of two or three would enter from the outside, take a look around, and upon seeing that there were no seats available, they would mutter something under their breath. They would then call over Chun Xi or La Mei and, if agreeable, be led by them to one of the more elegant rooms upstairs. It wasn’t long before Zhou Yunyun came rushing out of the kitchen in a hurry.

"Master..." She was still somewhat timid in front of strangers, and pulling at the back of Hua Xiaomai’s clothes, she spoke softly, "A group of guests upstairs ordered a good number of dishes, and they have been waiting for quite a while. If we delay any further, I’m afraid they’ll get angry..."

Wu Wenhong was also somewhat aware that he had been detaining Hua Xiaomai for too long. Hearing this, a hint of guilt appeared on his face, yet he was still reluctant. He gave her a quick glance and said anxiously, "Girl, what can we do? Do you have any idea?"

Hua Xiaomai first turned to nod at Zhou Yunyun, indicating that she had a plan in mind and signaling her to go back to the kitchen. Then she turned back to Wu Wenhong and said thoughtfully, "The two of you are friends of Uncle Su, and it is only right and proper for me to help with this matter. However... I may know how to cook a few dishes, but I am completely ignorant of medical matters. Although this condition is certainly related to diet, but..."

Wu Wenhong assumed she was going to refuse and immediately showed a trace of bitterness. Shaking his head, he said, "I can’t blame you for this. Even I was utterly confused when Su brother asked me to come to Fire Knife Village to find a small restaurant. The only reason I made the trip was out of sheer desperation. It’s alright, it’s alright, we have delayed you enough today; we will just..."

As he spoke, he was about to stand up and take his leave.

Hua Xiaomai was not someone who enjoyed taking on troubles. Frankly, she found them bothersome. She had just gotten married, and there were endless matters to attend to at home. The business of the restaurant had just started to pick up, and she genuinely did not have the inclination nor the desire to expend her energy on side matters.

Yet Wu Wenhong had been introduced by Su Yuchang, that uncle who was quite knowledgeable and would not likely engage in meaningless actions. Therefore...

"Please hold on," she thought for a moment, then stood up and called out to Wu Wenhong with a smile, "I won’t lie to you, this is the first time I have encountered this situation and I truly have no solution at the moment. May I ask for a few days to come up with a plan? You two are heading to Provincial City to seek medical advice, aren’t you? If you don’t mind the trouble, please visit my little restaurant again on your way back—I can’t guarantee that I will have a solution, but I will give it my best effort. If it doesn’t help by then, please don’t blame me."

Already resigned to disappointment, Wu Wenhong was suddenly hopeful upon hearing her proposal, and his eyes brightened. Waving his hands and speaking loudly, he said, "You mustn’t say that, young lady. We are strangers to each other, and I am already grateful that you are taking my matter so seriously. I am most familiar with my wife’s ailment, and for the past six months, even the doctors have been helpless. How could I possibly demand that you cure her? Please don’t feel any obligation, just take your time to think about it. Once we return from Provincial City, we will surely trouble you with another visit!"

Hua Xiaomai responded with a smile, exchanging pleasantries like "The journey to Provincial City is long, and even though Lady may not have an appetite, you should eat well to keep your strength up." She saw him pull out his purse to settle the bill, insisting on departing, so she proceeded to escort them towards the door.

As they passed a table of diners near the entrance, Lady Wu’s steps faltered, and she stopped. Turning her head to look at the table, she fixated on something for a long time before softly exclaiming, "So beautiful..."

This was probably the first thing she had said since entering the restaurant. Wu Wenhong’s surprise was needless to say, and Hua Xiaomai also suddenly widened her eyes, following Lady Wu’s gaze to see that there were three or five dishes on the table. The most eye-catching amongst them was the "Squirrel Carp" in the center.

This dish, named for its resemblance to a squirrel, could be considered a signature dish. It was available in most restaurants and taverns, big or small. An entire fish was sliced into diamond shapes, fried to a golden brown in oil, and then covered with a thick onion and ginger sauce. Honey cherries were placed where the eyes should be, and after plating, two sprigs of coriander were arranged on the fish for decoration. The golden, green, and red hues were indeed very appealing.