Chef Hua
Chapter 303: Episode 175 December_2

Chapter 303: Episode 175 December_2

During the New Year, the restaurant closed down, so she was inevitably idle at home for a while. Thinking about this, her heart couldn’t help but worry. It wasn’t because she was born to toil, unable to survive without working for a single day; rather... since that day of quarreling, Meng’s mother had been treating her like she didn’t exist. Whenever they encountered each other in the courtyard, it would always end up with Meng’s mother bearing a grim look on her face, as dark as the bottom of a pot—Hua Xiaomai was barely at home from dawn to dusk, yet it was already like this; if they lived together day and night, wouldn’t the roof be blown away by their disputes?

She couldn’t bear to share these vexatious thoughts with Meng Yuhuai; she could only silently sigh in her heart. Fortunate, the Lianshun Escort Agency was also closing for over ten days during the New Year. With him at home, the situation hopefully wouldn’t become too hideous.

Early in the hour of the Pig, Meng Yuhuai still came to the east end of the village to fetch Hua Xiaomai. Upon returning to the Meng Family compound, they hastily prepared some food to fill their stomachs, then washed up before returning to their room. Mr. Meng crouched by the stove, stirring the coals to make it burn brighter, before looking up and saying, "Today, Great Saint went to the county to make some purchases and stopped by the Escort Agency along the way. He discussed with me that after the New Year, he’s thinking of seeking work at your Sauce Garden."

"Hm?" Hua Xiaomai was spreading out the bedding by the bed. Hearing this, she turned around and laughed, "What is Great Saint up to? If he wants to work at the Sauce Garden, he could have just come to me directly. Why go all the way to you? Could it be... he’s too shy?!"

After pondering for a moment, she added, "But... Great Saint’s family has a lot of farmland, right? After the New Year, it’ll soon be time for the farming season. They’ll be so busy with their own affairs they won’t have the time—how is he..."

"Great Saint’s family has many hands; they won’t miss his labor," said Meng Yuhuai with a smile, "He learned from Pan Ping’an that the sauce you make sells quite well in the Provincial City; it got him interested in earning something extra for his family—his wife is pregnant again, and there are expenses everywhere."

As he said this, he glanced at Hua Xiaomai, almost absent-mindedly.

His words made Hua Xiaomai wonder. Rather than guessing by herself, it seemed better to just speak openly, so she smirked and said, "What, are you envious and want to be a father yourself?"

Meng Yuhuai was about to drink some hot tea and almost spit it out when he heard these words. He took a couple of deep breaths to calm down and then said with a mixture of laughter and helplessness, "When will you ever stop babbling nonsense? I was just mentioning it in passing. We’re both busy, and you’re also a bit young for this sort of thing... it won’t hurt to wait another two years to talk about it."

Hua Xiaomai chuckled softly, muttering, "In the end, it’s only in front of you that I can’t control my mouth. Even when facing my older sister, I have to weigh my words carefully, lest she throws a punch my way and then the Sauce Shop would be plastered right across my face!"

"So you pick on me because you think I’m a mild-mannered pushover?" Meng Yuhuai was secretly amused, but did not show it outwardly. He straightened his face, "Let’s talk seriously. Recently, many villagers have been visiting your shop, saying they want to work at the Sauce Garden. I’ve been watching indifferently, and most of them are farmers, likely looking to find some work and earn a bit of money before the busy farming season starts. When it’s time to sow the seeds, I’m afraid they’ll have to return home to arrange their own affairs, and then you may find yourself short-handed. You need to think this through carefully. Don’t just feel too proud to turn them away."

This advice truly reminded Hua Xiaomai, and she hurried to sit down next to Meng Yuhuai, clasping his arm, "Exactly, I’ve only been in the village for a year. While their faces are familiar, how could I know what they’re really thinking? If you have some free time these days, why not come by the shop and help me screen them properly, to avoid troubles later? As for Brother Great Saint, you know him as a brother and understand his character. If you think he’s fine, at least let him come to the small restaurant to discuss with me, so we can settle this matter promptly."

Meng Yuhuai agreed, and the couple sat in the house chatting idly, discussing how in the next couple of days they needed to spread a layer of wood ash over those two fields to keep them warm and also enrich the soil. This would provide the necessary nutrition for the vegetable seedlings to sturdily survive the cold winter. Mainly Hua Xiaomai spoke, with Meng Yuhuai listening and occasionally nodding, though he seemed a bit distracted, as if pondering something.

Hua Xiaomai also felt it, but since he had not decided how to begin, she didn’t rush to ask. She just quietly glanced at his face, yawned, stood up claiming she was extremely tired, and after taking off her coat rolled onto the couch.

Meng Yuhuai felt a bit anxious and stayed seated at the table for a while longer. He turned to look at his quiet and peaceful little wife on the bed, thinking that if he did not speak up soon, he probably wouldn’t get any sleep that night. So he whispered, "Xiaomai, are you asleep?"

In a mumbled reply, Hua Xiaomai partly opened her eyes, "Eh, why are you still sitting there? Hurry up and blow out the lamp, go to sleep. We have to go to the Escort Agency early tomorrow, and I also have to take care of the restaurant."

"Xiaomai..." Meng Yuhuai still sat without moving and called out once more, as if he had made up his mind, "Xiaomai, there’s something I need to tell you."

Couldn’t hold it in any longer? Hua Xiaomai inwardly laughed at his lack of decisiveness, sat up hugging the blanket and rubbed her eyes, "What is it, can’t it wait until tomorrow?... Alright, alright, go ahead, I’m listening."

"I..." Meng Yuhuai gazed at her face, as if finding it hard to start, and after pondering for a good while, screwed up his eyebrows, "The Escort Agency has taken on a job that requires us to escort to Qi State in the west. You know that area is remote and often infested with bandits, and with the New Year approaching, I fear it won’t be entirely safe. If someone else undertook this trip, I wouldn’t be at ease. After much consideration, I have decided I must personally make the journey, so..."

Hua Xiaomai had not expected this to be what he wanted to talk about, and her eyes immediately widened. She threw off the covers, leaped out of bed barefoot, rushed to him, and repeatedly exclaimed, "You’re going on a long journey? Now? We’re already into the twelfth lunar month, and Qi State is far away. If you leave now, when will you be back? Will you be able to make it home in time for the New Year?"

(To be continued. If you like this work, you’re welcome to cast your recommendation ticket, monthly ticket at Qidian (qidian.com). Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users, please visit m.qidian.com to read.)