Chef Hua
Chapter 35: Episode 28: In Danger

Chapter 35: Episode 28: In Danger

Li Sansao hadn’t noticed the expression on Fatty Wei’s face as she chattered nonstop, pulling Hua Xiaomai along.

"Ah, after all is said and done, it was all stirred up by Qiao Xiong from that papercraft store! If he had just sat down quietly at his assigned seat and enjoyed his food and drink, wouldn’t that have been the end of it? But no, he had to go and compete in drinking at the front courtyard’s table and had the audacity to taste the soup from someone else’s table— the very same "Superior Pot" you made!"

"Uncle Qiao?" Hua Xiaomai raised her eyebrows in surprise.

Hua Xiaomai knew that Qiao Xiong loved to eat, but she had never imagined he would be greedy to this extent. Hadn’t she promised to save him a bowl of soup? Why then did he go to snatch someone else’s?

Thinking about him playfully stealing food from someone’s mouth made Hua Xiaomai burst out laughing, "What happened then?"

"What happened then?" Li Sansao said, her expression a mix of laughter and tears, as she excitedly exclaimed, "Then didn’t things turn into a mess? After Qiao Xiong had a bowl of soup, he began shouting throughout the courtyard, claiming that the taste of this ’Superior Pot’ far surpassed ’Phoenix Marrow and Dragon Liver’ and that he wouldn’t trade the experience for becoming an immortal! Once he said that, who could still sit inside? They all rushed out, spoon and bowl in hand, drinking the whole pot of soup to the last bit. And still, there were those who hadn’t had any! That’s why I was saying, it would have been better if you could make more of this ’Superior Pot’ today."

"It was my oversight," Hua Xiaomai quietly rejoiced, smiling as she willingly took the blame. "I originally thought that one clay pot of soup would suffice for a whole table, but I didn’t expect this situation. If I had known, I would have made more of each dish, so we could add more whenever needed."

"Enough, I’m just happily ranting to you. Why are you blaming yourself?" Li Sansao grabbed Hua Xiaomai’s hand, laughing cheerfully, "Hosting guests is all about the lively atmosphere. The snatching at food is half serious, half joking, making the neighbors and passersby appear more intimate and festive to any onlooker. Plus, that ’Superior Pot’ of yours truly has a brilliant name; your brother and I absolutely love it! The feast is almost over; take a rest and come see me later, I’ll calculate your wages!"

Hua Xiaomai nodded with a smile and agreed, only then did Li Sansao remember the Chunfeng Restaurant’s Fatty Wei, and turned to shout: "Chef Wei, thank you for today!" She then quickly moved to the front courtyard.

Fatty Wei sat in front of the kitchen on a chair, his face ashen, tightly clutching the teacup lid, his fingers making a crackling sound. Hua Xiaomai stole a glance at him, and thought his expression looked terrifyingly like a fierce thunder god. Secretly sticking out her tongue, she slipped into the kitchen like smoke.

As the feast neared its end, Qiao Xiong specifically made a trip to the kitchen, sipping the soup Hua Xiaomai had secretly saved for him and once again heaped praise on the ’Superior Pot’, savoring the taste for a long time before he reluctantly left. Both Hua Xiaomai and Fatty Wei were set to see Li Sansao to settle their wages, walking out of the kitchen one after the other, slowly approaching the front courtyard.

The courtyard, bustling and noisy just a moment ago, was now eerily quiet. Red paper scraps littered the ground, empty wine jars piled high like mountains, and the tables were in complete disarray.

Both banquet tables had been wiped clean by the guests, leaving hardly any dishes behind. However, the "second-class" tables which Hua Xiaomai had arranged in the front courtyard were clearly visible to the busy helpers coming and going, who couldn’t help but gather around to look and whisper a word or two.

The clay pot that had held the ’Superior Pot’, though now empty, still sat in the middle of the table. Empty and askew, it was casually tipped over. Two helpers went over to clear it up, laughing secretly, "They really ate it clean, like they’ve never seen meat or fish before?"

The other nudged him with an elbow, covering his mouth and giggling nonstop, whispering, "What do you know? I heard them saying just now, this single pot of soup outdid both tables of banquets!"

With a loud "clang", Hua Xiaomai and the two helpers all turned around, just in time to see Fatty Wei punching the table, causing the stacked dishes to clatter loudly.

His face was beet-red, his eyes bulging like cowbells, glaring intensely at Hua Xiaomai as if he wanted to devour her alive.

Not good, Fatty Wei was about to eat someone! Hua Xiaomai shuddered, not daring to linger. With wind at her heels, she darted into the main hall, heading straight for Li Sansao.

...

"Come, Xiaomai dear, come over here." Li Sansao, sitting at a table inside the main hall, beckoned Hua Xiaomai warmly with a smile, "This wage has long been prepared for you, but I’ve scatted too many copper coins today; there’s only some broken silver left at home. You won’t mind, will you?"

What a joke, of course not! Hua Xiaomai thought to herself. Since arriving in Fire Knife Village, she had never seen real silver used in transactions.

"Here you go," said Li Sansao, as she placed a small piece of broken silver in Hua Xiaomai’s palm. "I just weighed it; it’s about 25 grams. Xiaomai, the meal you cooked today was very satisfying for both your brother and me, so this silver is all for you, and I won’t skimp."

"So you originally intended to give just one or two, right?"

While busy in the kitchen earlier, Hua Xiaomai had already let go of the matter and hastily took the money and thanked her. She turned to leave but unexpectedly, Mrs. Li called her back and took out an extra two hundred copper coins.

"You’re good with the Guan girl, right? Could you bring this money to her for me?"

What does Guan Rong have to do with this?

Hua Xiaomai thought for a moment and then said to Mrs. Li with a smile, "Mrs. Li, I’m quite forgetful and careless. If I were to lose the money on the way, that would really be troublesome."

"What does it matter?" Mrs. Li said half-jokingly and unabashedly, "If you really do lose it accidentally, just cut two coins from your silver piece and give it to her. After all, I already told her that after the banquet is finished, I would give you one string of coins and her two hundred copper coins. It’s because we saw how popular your cooking was that we decided to give you a little extra!"

Hua Xiaomai’s smile finally froze on her lips.

So, Guan Rong was making money by introducing her to the Li family for cooking? Strictly speaking, it wasn’t a big deal, but why hadn’t Guan Rong told her?

"What, you didn’t know?" Perhaps noticing her odd expression, Mrs. Li frowned slightly, "That day we ran into her in the county and took her back to the village. On the way, I mentioned how hard it was to find a good cook, and she recommended you. I had already arranged with her then that if you were reliable and managed the banquet well, I would give her two hundred copper coins... Didn’t she tell you?"

"Oh..." Hua Xiaomai lowered her head and pondered for a moment, then suddenly laughed, "I remember now, Sister Rong did seem to mention it briefly. Look how forgetful I am!"

"I knew it. It only makes sense, she couldn’t have kept it from you!" Mrs. Li gave her a knowing look with a smile that was not quite a smile, "So, about this money..."

Hua Xiaomai shook her head, "Mrs. Li, you should find someone else to run this errand. I truly fear I might lose it."

"Okay, let’s leave it at that. You better hurry on home. Show the money to your older sister and let her be happy too." Mrs. Li was not insistent; she bid her farewell with a few more casual words and saw Hua Xiaomai out the door.

How could this be?

As she walked home, Hua Xiaomai’s mind continued to churn ceaselessly.

Why hadn’t Guan Rong told her about the two hundred copper coins? It wasn’t something bad, so why the secrecy?

This, and the day Guan Rong left without telling her in the county, gave Hua Xiaomai the same uneasy feeling. Guan Rong’s actions were flawless, beyond reproach, and there was no reason to criticize her, but... why did it leave such an uncomfortable feeling in her heart?

Could it be that she was being too petty?

The more Hua Xiaomai thought about it, the angrier she got. She kicked a stone on the road so hard it flew far away. Just as she was about to kick another, two hands suddenly reached out from the grass by the roadside, covered her mouth, and tightly grabbed her arms, pulling her deep into the grass.

***********

My mind’s a bit off, possibly quite a few typos, sorry everyone~╭(╯3╰)╮