Chef Hua
Chapter 348: Episode 198 Great Opportunity

Chapter 348: Episode 198 Great Opportunity

Who’s being impatient now? This fellow, though he looks like an honest man, who knew that when he bullies his own wife, he doesn’t hold back in the slightest?

Hua Xiaomai punched Meng Yuhuai in the chest and refused to help him undress anymore. She rolled over to the side with a huff and said indignantly, "After all this time, it turns out I’m the impatient one—fine, I wont serve you anymore!"

Meng Yuhuai couldn’t stop laughing, but he didn’t respond; he just waited for her to ask.

Indeed, in less than a moment, his wife couldn’t contain herself and stealthily peeked over, tugging at his sleeve with annoyance. "Didn’t you say you had something to tell me, but I don’t see you talking? If you don’t speak up, I’m going to sleep!"

Though she said that, her actions were entirely the opposite. She quickly climbed back up and grabbed his face, extremely curious, "Let me guess, did Uncle Ke mention it to you, asking you to..."

Meng someone gently pulled her into his embrace, resting his chin on top of her head and smiled, "I told you you’re being impatient, but you insist you’re not—speaking of which, this matter does relate to our Lianshun Escort Agency, but it’s not what you’re thinking. A couple of days ago, I received news that on the fifth day of the fifth month, during the Dragon Boat Festival, Magistrate Tao is preparing to hold a ’Scholars’ Banquet’, and I’ve confirmed it. The preparations will be starting soon."

"Scholars’ Banquet?" Hua Xiaomai knew the government often held various banquets, but she had no idea what this was all about, and she couldn’t help but feel puzzled, her round eyes wide, "You mean Magistrate Tao, the one of our Fuzhe County? Then what exactly is this Scholars’ Banquet?"

"You don’t even know that the magistrate of Fuzhe County is named Tao?" Meng Yuhuai was completely astonished, incredulously gaping at her, "What in the world do you spend your days pondering, aside from food, is there anything else that interests you?"

"There’s you too!" Hua Xiaomai flashed him a grin and slapped him playfully, "Focus on the matter at hand, stop dawdling!"

Meng someone had no choice but to explain slowly to her, "The so-called Scholars’ Banquet is a feast set for all the renowned and learned individuals in Fuzhe County. Coincidentally, since the fifth day of the fifth month is also the Dragon Boat Festival, it’s a chance to gather everyone together, it’s also a way to win people’s hearts. This banquet is very important to Magistrate Tao, he must find a skilled and trustworthy restaurant to host it, do you... have any interest?"

Hua Xiaomai understood, and immediately thought of the ’Moon Banquet’ during the Mid-Autumn Festival back in Tong’an Prefecture, which Song Jingxi had gone to great lengths to host. It seems that this so-called "Scholars’ Banquet" might not compare with it, but the idea was probably quite similar.

It was also from Song Jingxi that she vaguely understood that to really get her business booming, dealings with the government were indispensable. Hosting this Scholars’ Banquet would naturally benefit her greatly, however...

"For such significant events, doesn’t the government usually hand them directly to familiar restaurants? For example, Chunfeng Restaurant owned by Elder Zhao is well-known throughout our entire Fuzhe County. Even today I remember, Fatty Wei boasted in front of me, saying how he and the County Magistrate were the best of friends; how could a little-known small eatery like ours get a chance?"

"Indeed, that’s how it’s been in the past," Meng Yuhuai nodded, "but this year, for one thing, that chef Wei is a bit troublesome, stirring up chaos in Chunfeng Restaurant, and secondly, Magistrate Tao wants to make some changes. Therefore, he’s come up with this method. Any restaurant or eatery within Fuzhe County that believes they are capable can try out for it. In a couple of days, I expect the announcement will be posted."

"He... Magistrate Tao wouldn’t be planning to have a competition like the ’Eight Treasures Conference’ to select the final host, would he?" Hua Xiaomai frowned.

The Eight Treasures Conference was nice, with renowned chefs flexing their culinary muscles and exchanging skills. It was, in a sense, an appealing affair within the culinary circle. However, once interests became involved, the originally enjoyable gathering lost its flavor and mixed up in it was no fun at all.

She hadn’t told Meng Yuhuai in detail about the incident at the Eight Treasures Conference before, and now, seeing her lose interest, he was somewhat puzzled as he stroked her jet-black hair, saying softly, "If there really is a contest, would you be afraid to participate? Every time you, Hua Xiaomai, talked about your cooking skills, you had an air of ’I’m the best in the world’. Why are you suddenly afraid now?"