Chef Hua
Chapter 360: Episode 203: Shiny Silver Oh!_3

Chapter 360: Episode 203: Shiny Silver Oh!_3

While speaking, he pulled out a stack of papers from his chest and pushed them in front of Hua Xiaomai, chattering nonstop, "Those seven or eight eateries, not one left out, all signed orders with us for at least a year, and there are five or six smaller restaurants that came too late, missed the sauce we sent last month, and were so anxious that they quickly signed orders with us as well. Goodness, that’s fourteen or fifteen orders in total, you’ve practically got half of the Provincial City in the palm of your hand! Plus the other orders from different places—girl, you’re really going to strike it rich!"

It was only then that Hua Xiaomai truly felt joyful, and she smiled as the corners of her mouth curved up.

Leaving aside other places and looking only at the orders from the Provincial City, she could make five or six hundred silver taels a year. For wealthy families, that might not be much, but it really was the most money she had earned since arriving at Fire Knife Village! After sharing forty percent of the profits with Wu Wenhong and Pan Ping’an, she would still have plenty left, plus the income from the small restaurant, she thought she could do anything with the money!

At that thought, she suddenly remembered something, slapped her hand and exclaimed loudly, "Oh no!"

"What’s with you, Xiaomai, can’t you say something auspicious?" Pan Ping’an was very displeased and frowned, "It’s clearly a great thing, yet you insist on saying ’oh no’; aren’t you being unlucky?"

"No!" Hua Xiaomai became somewhat anxious, shook her head vigorously, "I’ve been too busy recently, my mind’s all muddled! It’s been over two months since I last visited my second sister, and I forgot to share with her the profits from the small restaurant. Oh no, Uncle Ping’an, why don’t you sit for a while, since I have some time now, I need to rush over and see her, or else it will be too late, I’ll have to get busy with the evening meals again!"

"So that’s why." Pan Ping’an understood and said, "The kind of person you are, your brother-in-law knows well, he definitely won’t blame you, and besides, they aren’t short of money to spend. Since you’re going now, I might as well go with you. This time I brought back Big Tiger and Little Tiger too, those boys are getting more rambunctious, if I’m not home, my father and mother can’t manage!"

He was very thoughtful, already standing up, and didn’t forget to remind her, "Right, there are always people coming and going in your small restaurant, you must keep this silver and orders safe, if you lose them, you wouldn’t even have time to cry!"

Hua Xiaomai responded, "I know," and scooped up the money and orders from the table, first went to the inner hall downstairs to divide the profits of the last two months and took half with her, then went with Pan Ping’an to Sauce Garden and safely stored the items, and then, while it was still early, hurried towards the west of the village.

It was now the afternoon, and after entering April, the weather gradually warmed up. The Buddha’s hand tree at the entrance of Jing Family courtyard also emitted a soul-soothing fragrance. Occasionally, a few dark green leaves floated down from the treetop with the wind, sticking to one’s body, making it seem like one was enveloped in that aroma, which felt exceptionally comfortable.

Hua Erniang’s delivery day was approaching, her belly had grown very large, and her steps were somewhat unsteady as she walked slowly in the yard, seemingly tidying something up.

Hua Xiaomai had not been back in a long time, she peeked into the courtyard from outside, and immediately felt immensely connected. Initially, she wanted to sneak in and slap Hua Erniang on the back, but on second thought, she feared scaring her and causing an accident, so she stood properly at the doorway and smilingly called out, "Second sister."

Hua Erniang turned her head in response, her eyes immediately brightening, and walked briskly towards her and thumped her on the forehead, half-jokingly and half-angrily scolded, "You dead girl, you still know to come back? After getting married, you’ve put your sister and brother-in-law out of your mind, you probably haven’t thought of us for a long time, right? Such a conscienceless thing, if I weren’t pregnant, I’d definitely have you taste the cane!"

"Can’t you be a bit calmer..." Hua Xiaomai smiled wryly as she supported her arm, carefully leading her to sit down by the table, and sincerely said, "How could I not think of you and brother-in-law? But I’ve just been so busy recently, running around all day, I really couldn’t manage everything. You can blame me all you want, and I won’t have a word to argue, but first, please take this money."

As she spoke, she reached into her pocket, opened it in front of Hua Erniang, and looked at her with a grin.

Inside the pocket, there were more than thirty silver taels, shining brightly under the sunlight, all in broken pieces, piled up like a small mountain of silver.

Hua Erniang gasped in surprise, "This much? Aren’t we supposed to split it equally? Why are you giving me so much?"

"This is the recent two months’ profits for you and brother-in-law," Hua Xiaomai raised an eyebrow proudly, "Starting last month, the small restaurant could make over thirty taels each month. I had so much Copper Coin that I asked Yuhuai to exchange it all for silver in the County. If you find it inconvenient to spend, I can exchange it for Copper Coin again."

"You came all this way just to give me money!" Hua Erniang was also pleased, patted her on the head, "I’m glad the small restaurant is making money, but your brother-in-law and I aren’t relying on this money for food. You don’t need to keep thinking about us."

As she spoke, she sighed.

"What’s wrong?" Hua Xiaomai was clueless, looking left and right, and noticed she seemed to have moved quite a few boxes out, all piled up in the courtyard, so she asked in confusion, "Why have you dug out those things that haven’t been used in ages? You might give birth any day, can’t you rest properly?"

"I wish I could!" Hua Erniang rolled her eyes obviously and grumbled, "Just thinking about it irritates me—your brother-in-law’s parents said, with the baby about to be born, it’s hard for a couple to cope alone, they want me to move back with him to the old house!" (To be continued. If you like this work, please go to Qidian (qidian.com) to cast your recommendation ticket and monthly ticket. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users, please visit m.qidian.com to read.)