Chef Hua
Chapter 31: Episode 24: No Talking Allowed

Chapter 31: Episode 24: No Talking Allowed

Hua Xiaomai was completely stunned. After relieving a breath, she felt somewhat depressed. After a long while, she finally looked at Meng Yuhuai with puzzlement.

"But how is that possible? We clearly agreed to meet up at the market or the tea stall. How could she have returned to the village alone?"

"Hmm, I went to her home, and according to her, while she was waiting for you at the market, she suddenly felt very uncomfortable. By chance, she met Brother Lis an from our village and his wife, so she rode back with them in their ox cart," said Meng Yuhuai in a very light tone.

He felt that he probably could understand Hua Xiaomai’s feelings at the moment.

They had braved the heavy rain and scurried about Fuzhe County for a whole afternoon. Not only were they drenched, but their hearts were also in turmoil, not knowing what to expect. They were worried that Guan Rong might fall ill from the rain and even more afraid that she might encounter danger. In the end, after all the hustle and bustle, she had already returned home before they even started searching—for anyone, facing such a situation, it would be hard to accept, at least for the time being, right?

"Oh..." Hua Xiaomai nodded her head blankly, "Then is she okay health-wise?"

"There shouldn’t be any major issues," Meng Yuhuai’s expression was still very calm.

Hua Xiaomai gave a slight smile, "That’s good, that’s good. At least she’s safely home, and I can have peace of mind."

She had to admit that she was actually feeling quite uncomfortable right now.

Alright, the weather was terrible, and she indeed spent too much time at Lianshun Escort Agency, so it was understandable that Guan Rong was getting anxious waiting. But no matter what, this was her first visit to the county, and she couldn’t even figure out the directions yet. Didn’t Guan Rong worry even a bit that she, a young girl, might run into some trouble?

Meng Yuhuai looked carefully at the expression on her face, "You shouldn’t overthink it. As long as nothing went wrong, that’s what matters. When I came back, Sister-in-law Zuo had already prepared the meal. Go to the front yard and eat something, then rest easy at the Escort Agency tonight. I’ll escort you back to Fire Knife Village first thing tomorrow morning."

"Er, there’s no need to trouble yourself, I can..." Hua Xiaomai was about to refuse instinctively when he interrupted her with a wave of his hand.

"Enough, don’t say any more. That’s settled," he said before the words were even finished. He shoved the blue cloth bundle into her hands, turned around, and left swiftly, disappearing in an instant.

Hua Xiaomai stood at the door, let out a long sigh, took the bundle into the room and tossed it at the head of the bed, then stepped towards the front yard.

Lianshun Escort Agency was located in a small alley in Fuzhe County, quietly nestled within the hustle. The night there seemed even more serene than Fire Knife Village. After a good night’s sleep at the Escort Agency, Hua Xiaomai got up early the next day, washed the clothes that Zuo Jinxiang had lent her by the well, had breakfast, and followed Meng Yuhuai on the road back to Fire Knife Village.

The heavy rain from the day before had ceased only in the second half of the night, and, come morning, the sun peeked out, casting golden rays on the official road. The leaves of the trees by the roadside, still with droplets of water, twinkled and shone brightly. Drenched in the rain the day before but fortunately showing no signs of illness, Hua Xiaomai felt refreshed by the sunlight and her mood improved as well.

Today upon returning, Second Mother Hua would surely rage, and who knows, she might even decide to give her a thorough thrashing with the rolling pin! But what of it? Though this trip had its twists and turns, in the end, she had earned a string of coins. Even just for the sake of the money, perhaps Second Mother Hua... wouldn’t have the heart to really lay into her, right?

Meng Yuhuai, as usual, walked very fast, leaving Hua Xiaomai trailing dozens of steps behind. She raised her head to look at his figure, and couldn’t help but pout.

This man was truly no fun. He had taken the initiative to offer to take her back, and having agreed to that, couldn’t they walk together and chat? Why the need to rush so fast as if she were a burden he was anxious to shake off?

A mischievous thought struck her, and she tightened her grip on the bamboo basket she carried on her back and hastened her pace. Catching up alongside Meng Yuhuai, she walked shoulder to shoulder with him for a while, then suddenly turned her head and smiled sweetly, "Big Brother Meng, I really want to thank you for these past couple of days. I know I’ve been a nuisance to you."

"It’s nothing," Meng Yuhuai did not even turn his head, responding coldly.

"By the way, I have a question to ask you," Hua Xiaomai was not disheartened and kept her cheerful tone, "I remember one day, after we left Uncle Qiao’s paper shop, we happened to meet Sister Rong. At that time, I heard you tell her that you had to leave on an escort job soon and couldn’t spend New Year’s Eve at home. But now, with Chinese New Year’s Eve just a few days away, how come you are still at the Escort Agency and haven’t left?"

"I..." Meng Yuhuai hadn’t expected her to suddenly ask about this, and paused before saying, "I will leave in a couple of days."

"Hehe, you’re lying, right?"

"What?"

"I said you’re lying!" Hua Xiaomai smiled so broadly her eyes disappeared, "That day, Guan Rong said her parents wanted to invite you and your mother to their house for a meal, and you just made up a reason on the spot, saying that you were about to go on an escort mission, to avoid them spending money on you, right?"

She watched Meng Yuhuai’s expression carefully and continued, "Moreover, I suspect that you have other reasons for hiding out in the escort agency."

Meng Yuhuai simply stopped walking and turned around, frowning at her, "What exactly are you trying to say?"

Hua Xiaomai raised an eyebrow, "Nothing much, I just heard the villagers say that your mother is anxious about finding you a wife and is constantly looking for someone to arrange a match for you. You find it annoying, so you simply deceived her too and hid in the escort agency instead of going home for the New Year! Hmm... or maybe, you actually already have a girl you fancy in your heart, but your mother disagrees, so you’re using this as a way to confront her, right?"

"Why do you have so many questions? It’s none of your business, so stop guessing," Meng Yuhuai glanced at her, somewhat helplessly said.

"Just making conversation, just tell me if I’m right or not!" Hua Xiaomai laughed aloud.

Suddenly Meng felt a headache coming on and raised his hand to rub his forehead.

The girl’s current look was completely different from yesterday’s; whether it was her stubbornness while selling the bamboo shoots at a fixed price or her panic while looking for Guan Rong in the heavy rain, both seemed like different people compared to her current self, with that mischievous smile, just like the time they had encountered by chance in the grove outside the village a few days earlier.

Indeed, the Hua sisters were all unorthodox characters!

He shook his head, a bitter smile unwittingly spreading across his lips. Seeing Hua Xiaomai’s face full of anticipation, clearly wanting to ask more, he cleared his throat and sternly said, "Alright, from now on you are not to speak, hasten the pace!"

Having said that, he suddenly quickened his steps and had run a good distance away in no time.

"Boring." Hua Xiaomai mumbled behind him, adjusted the straps of her bamboo basket, and reluctantly followed.

Meng Yuhuai escorted Hua Xiaomai to the western entrance of Fire Knife Village but did not go into the village, turning around to head back to Fuzhe County. Hua Xiaomai loitered outside the village for a while but, fearing that her second aunt would worry, had to reluctantly make her way slowly back to the Jing Family’s small courtyard. As soon as she entered the courtyard, she saw her second sister standing there like a goddess with her hands on her hips, her right hand holding a thick and long rolling pin.

Not good! Hua Xiaomai’s heart chilled, she turned to run but was caught by the collar by her second aunt, who had hurried over in a few quick steps.

"You reckless girl, I’ll beat your legs until they’re crippled!"

Her second aunt ranted like a fierce spirit with a tense expression, inspecting Hua Xiaomai up and down. She said fiercely, "What in the world were you thinking, seeking death? Didn’t I tell you to come back early? Did you just throw my words behind you? You actually stayed overnight at the escort agency; that place is full of men, is it somewhere a girl should stay?"

Hua Xiaomai subconsciously opened her mouth to argue, but was cut off by her lifting a hand, "Shut your mouth, listen to me. I’m telling you, that bamboo shoot business can no longer continue!"

*********

Something came up this afternoon, hence the late update...