Chef Hua
Chapter 342: Episode 195: A Dog Can’t Change its Habit of Eating Shit

Chapter 342: Episode 195: A Dog Can’t Change its Habit of Eating Shit

Each year during March and April, Fire Knife Village was always bustling with activity.

Across the fields, people were busy sowing seeds, bending over their work with fervent energy, sweating profusely without any time to rest. If they could exchange a few words with their companions, that was considered a break.

It was a time blessed by favorable weather, the sun warm and gentle, the temperature just right. Households with paddy fields hurried to plant the early rice, and those with dry fields were anxious to get various vegetables and fruits into the ground, all hoping for a bountiful year after months of hard work.

The two plots of land near the threshing floor had been prepared a month earlier, fertilized with manure and ash, now rich and fertile. The chili seeds had been soaked the night before; if cared for properly after scattering them into the earth, by June or July, bright red chilies would fill the fields, a delightful prospect just to think about.

Meng Yuhuai knew that Hua Xiaomai treasured these chilies like gems. Setting aside the work of Lianshun Escort Agency, he stole a day or two of leisure time to tend to them early.

As someone trained in martial arts, he had strength to spare. Combined with his experience in farming from his younger years, a mere two mu of land was no big task for him. Upon arriving, he didn’t waste any time; he hitched up his clothes and got straight to work. Following the methods Hua Xiaomai taught him, he sowed the chili seeds, and by noon, much had been accomplished.

Passing farmers would always stop to see what others were planting. Seeing the fresh seeds beside Meng Yuhuai, one shouted, "Hey, Yuhuai brother, with such good land of yours, you should plant something profitable, but what... what are you planting with such effort?"

Meng Yuhuai, turning his head, nodded at the man and simply said, "Planting chilies."

"Chilies? Aren’t those just for show?" The man on the ridge was puzzled, then slapped his forehead, "Oh I remember now, your wife used to cook a dish or two with chilies at her stall by the river. I’ve tasted it; indeed, it was not bad. But that kind of stuff, we in Fuzhe County don’t really eat much of it. When it’s time for harvest, who are you going to sell them to—this must be your wife’s idea, huh? Tsk, I know you’ve just got married not long ago, still in your honeymoon phase, but you can’t just spoil your wife like this. Your household might not rely on these two mu of land for a living, but farming is always important. How can you be so careless?"

Meng Yuhuai just smiled and went back to his work without engaging in the conversation.

The man, finding no interest in his words, shook his head, sighed, and walked away.

Meanwhile, Hua Xiaomai in the little restaurant east of the city was also incredibly busy.

The shop had been closed for two days, yet the business hadn’t suffered at all. By noon, it was still packed with customers. Inside the hall, people crowded; the queue at the takeaway stand outside stretched to the main road. For such a small establishment, it was unexpectedly bustling like a market.

Hua Xiaomai shuttled between the kitchen and the entrance; passing through the hall, groups of diners stopped her to complain incessantly.

"Boss lady, your not opening for business these past few days has really caused me trouble! Do you know how disappointed I was, coming down from that road and seeing the shutters of your shop closed? That’s not good, you know! Now, I’ve gotten into the habit of eating here every noon. If you keep closing so often, do you expect me to travel on an empty stomach?"

Such "complaints" didn’t upset anyone; instead, everyone was rather pleased. Hua Xiaomai cheerfully made her apologies, smiling as she said, "I really am sorry. These past two days, there were some urgent matters in my Sauce Garden, and I couldn’t open the shop. I’ve caused you trouble. I’ll make sure to pay attention to it in the future. In a little while, I’ll send you a plate of our homemade dessert as an apology, how about that?"

At these words, other customers naturally protested, demanding fair treatment. A couple of desserts weren’t worth much and Hua Xiaomai felt she could afford to offer them. She immediately promised one plate to every table, then hurried into the kitchen. She checked on the ribs stewing in the clay pot, seeing that the surface was three parts cooked, she took it off the stove to simmer with the lid on for the time it takes to brew a cup of tea, and then took over the beef Zhou Yunyun had prepared to stir-fry.