Chef Hua
Chapter 307: Episode 177: Offended Whom_2

Chapter 307: Episode 177: Offended Whom_2

"Yes, sister-in-law, you must tell my second sister not to worry, I... and my mother-in-law are quite well," Hua Xiaomai nodded, glancing at Meng’s mother who also came out of the main room.

Chun Xi, quick to speak, pulled Hua Xiaomai over to her and said with knitted brows, "I tell you, Xiaomai girl, who exactly have you offended? The adults all know the seriousness of things and would never go to the fields to set off fireworks. Those kids who can’t stop causing trouble, they’re probably back home by now—Yuejiao’s brother said that nine times out of ten, this is someone bearing a grudge against you, looking to get revenge!"

Hua Xiaomai pursed her lips and forced a bitter smile, "Who can I offend? Even if I had the intention, I don’t have the strength! Don’t you all know? I’m busy going back and forth between the small restaurant and Sauce Garden every day. When I get home, I’m so tired I can’t even keep my eyes open, where would I find the time to offend people? Yesterday I was also feeling unsettled, but after thinking it over, I really couldn’t figure it out."

At this point, a sudden shock ran through her.

The small restaurant and Sauce Garden? Right, if that fire was truly set on purpose, those two places could very well be targeted next!

She instantly felt unsteady, breaking free from Chun Xi’s grasp, thinking of running outside, while saying, "Sister-in-law, Yuejiao, Yun’er, and Great Saint brother, please have a seat first, I really have to go to Sauce Garden and..."

"Alright, no need to bus yourself," Sun Great Saint said with a grin as he came over to stop her, "I heard about last night’s incident, so I went over to your Sauce Garden first thing this morning. I even climbed up the wall to peek inside, and there was nothing amiss. If you’re still not at ease, I can hang around there these next few days—I ought to help out somehow since I’ll be eating there afterward, right?"

"Master, I also went to the small restaurant early this morning, everything is normal there, don’t worry," Zhou Yunyun said in a soft and gentle voice.

Hua Xiaomai heaved a sigh of relief and smiled at the two of them, "Thank you for troubling yourselves, you nearly scared me to death."

"Ah, stop worrying about things that haven’t happened!" Chun Xi pushed Zhou Yunyun aside, then dragged Sun Great Saint away as well, squeezing in front of Hua Xiaomai, she glanced intentionally or unintentionally towards the courtyard wall, and said in a low voice, "Why do you have such a short memory? Saying you haven’t offended anyone, you’ve got an enemy right now, far off and yet so near!" She even gestured with her mouth towards the neighboring house.

Meng’s mother stood in the courtyard, and though she hadn’t joined the conversation, she was listening intently to the others. Suddenly hearing what Chun Xi said, she exploded in anger with a swift leap, pointing at the courtyard wall and loudly exclaiming, "Damn ungrateful wretch, too arrogant to appreciate a kind gesture! Go and ask around, are the Meng Family people someone you can bully? Haven’t you learned your lesson after a few slaps from me? Always skulking behind and playing dirty tricks, if you have the guts, come out and fight openly, see if I don’t kill you! My daughter-in-law Yuhuai might be full of faults, but at least she’s hale and hearty. Even if she’s got a thousand things wrong, I will deal with her myself, it’s not for outsiders to interfere! Hmph, your own, I bet can’t even get out of bed by now, right?"

Hua Xiaomai was dumbfounded, staring at Meng’s mother, unable to regain her composure.

It turns out that last time Guan Rong raised such a shameless fuss, she even got greeted by Meng Family’s matriarch with a slap to the ear?... No, no, this isn’t the point, the point is, just now this Meng Family’s matriarch, was she actually being protective? Protecting... her?

This mother-in-law of hers, despite usually being greedy and unreasonable, knows how to differentiate between enemies and internal conflicts at critical times!

"Why are you looking at me?" Seemingly aware of Hua Xiaomai’s gaze, the Meng Family’s matriarch turned around irritably and glared at her fiercely, "You married Yuhuai, so you are now part of the Meng family. Everything you brought with you as a dowry, including those two plots of land, bear the Meng surname! Don’t think I’m protecting you, I’m just pained to see our stuff being ruined by others!"

Truly... I couldn’t help but praise her...

Hua Xiaomai felt a surge of goodwill towards her and didn’t quibble, quickly pulling her into the main room and calling Chun Xi, La Mei, Great Saint, and the others in as well, carefully closing the door behind them.

"Mother, don’t be anxious." She bowed her head, pondering for a moment, then said to the Meng Family’s matriarch before turning to look at the others and thoughtfully adding, "I don’t think this was their family’s doing. Making such a fuss now, wouldn’t we be falling into gossip?"

"Psh!" Chun Xi scoffed at this, "If not them, then who? You’ve only been in Fire Knife Village for a year. Besides her, when have you made enemies with anyone else? I’ve said it before, the very reason she has become so frail is because she’s too cunning!"

Hua Xiaomai pursed her lips and smiled a little: "You ask me who else I’ve offended besides her, I can’t think of anyone at the moment. Even with Aunt Geng, most of her fury comes from issues with my older sister. But I truly think this might not relate to Guan Rong. You don’t know how sick she has become. I’ve seen her once, and she looked like nothing more than a skeleton, having trouble even walking across the field. Even if she had desperately gone to set the fire, she likely wouldn’t be able to leave in time. She already suffers from asthma; a whiff of smoke would probably finish her off. Her father and mother are wholly focused on treating her illness, they probably don’t have the energy left for such foolish acts, that’s the first point."

"Second, she is very scheming. If she had decided to do this, she would have aimed to hit me hard. She knows I have chili seeds in my possession, and if she wanted to set a fire, she would definitely wait until after those chili seeds were planted. What’s in the ground now? Just some radishes and cabbage, how much are they worth?"

Thinking about it, it’s truly frightening, but fortunately, it was only half an acre of cabbage that got destroyed. Although she couldn’t help feeling distressed, she could still afford the loss. If someone had burned her chili seeds, she would have been so furious she likely would have passed out!

This made some sense and left the Meng Family’s matriarch with nothing to refute, so she just muttered softly and said no more. Chun Xi and the others had no further arguments and just stood to the side frowning in worry.

After a while, Great Saint suddenly slapped his hands together and looked at Hua Xiaomai, saying, "Could it be... one of those people who wanted to work in your Sauce Garden to earn money but were refused by you?"

(To be continued. If you like this work, you are welcome to vote for it with your recommendation ticket and monthly ticket on Qidian (qidian.com). Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users, please go to m.qidian.com to read.)