Chef Hua
Chapter 388: Episode 216 Delight_2

Chapter 388: Episode 216 Delight_2

"Good, very good, no complaints!" Shopkeeper Deng rushed to praise, "Today, thanks to the young lady’s help, otherwise I wouldn’t have known how to manage this scene!"

Meng Yuhuai turned and smiled at him, then looked down at his wife who was pleased as a flower and pretended to be serious, "Do your hands itch if you don’t cook for a day? On someone else’s turf, you meddle with the stove without a word, you..."

"Can you blame me?" Hua Xiaomai half-jokingly glared at him, "In this scorching weather, if I hadn’t seen Shopkeeper Deng so worried that he was pulling his hair out, who would have the patience to roast by the stove? I call this helping others for joy. You don’t even praise me, and you scold me the moment you see me—I’m a good person, not taking it to heart with you, otherwise... okay, okay, don’t rush to scold, look at the dish first!"

On the table was a large white porcelain plate, lined with a layer of steamed egg whites. In the center of the plate, slices of chicken wrapped around fish skin and shark fins were bound with dried gourd into the shape of a torch, drizzled with chicken fat and broth, and a thick sauce made of salt, casually garnished with cherries and stems of mustard greens. It looked exceedingly fresh and appealing, and when eaten, one bite was a "fire torch," impeccable in color, aroma, and taste.

"It’s a pity that this dish was made for someone else, and you can only feast your eyes," Hua Xiaomai said with some regret, pursing her lips, "Otherwise... why don’t we buy some dried goods from the sea as well, and make it at home for Mother to try?"

At this moment, the man had already put a small torch into his mouth and showed a surprised expression. Hearing her words, he looked up somewhat uncomfortably and smiled at Meng Yuhuai, "Since it’s the lady’s craftsmanship, would you care to share this meal with me? I can’t finish it alone."

Before Meng Yuhuai could reply, Hua Xiaomai immediately shook her head, "No need, I can take good care of my own husband’s taste, you just enjoy your meal! Now do you believe that the ingredients are flawless? Then you shouldn’t bother Shopkeeper Deng anymore, causing trouble on both sides, why bother?"

Having said that, she no longer paid him any attention, pulled Meng Yuhuai out from the crowd that still didn’t want to disperse, and chuckled, "Is everything with the Yuan Family settled now?"

Meng Yuhuai was infected by her smile, his lips also curving slightly, "Everything is clearly arranged, no need to go tomorrow. I was really worried about you, fearing you might be bored, but I didn’t expect you to be so enthusiastic."

"Ha, I was really busy today, bought a lot of things, spent quite a bit of money, you better not give me a scowl when you see it." Hua Xiaomai squinted her eyes and smiled, "It’s still early, we can’t stay cooped up in this inn all the time. According to you, what shall we do?"

"If you’re not tired..." Meng Yuhuai thought for a moment, then lowered his head, "I know of a place outside the city, it’s particularly would be appropriate to visit in this hot weather. We can still stay in Provincial City for a couple more days, there’s no rush to go other places, how about we go take a stroll there? It’s a bit far though..."

"No matter, you know Provincial City better than I do, I’ll follow your lead." With many people around, Hua Xiaomai couldn’t make a move herself, so she just nodded vigorously and leaped out of the hall ahead of him.

...

Tong’an City, situated next to a mountain, towered much higher than the dwarf forests outside Fire Knife Village, presenting an awe-inspiring view with its stunning scenery.

Especially during April and May, when various flowers on the mountain bloomed in succession, creating a riot of colors in purples and reds, mixing splendidly with the distant verdant trees and the tender new leaves in the woods, reflecting off each other, a sight too beautiful for words.

Last night, it seemed as if it had rained in these woods. The leaves and petals were dotted with droplets of water that, when hit by sunlight, shimmered translucently, sparkling and creating countless circles of light. A mist hung in the air, and walking through the woods enveloped one in a light fog, ethereal as if stepping into a fairyland.

Meng Yuhuai led Hua Xiaomai out of the city and straight up the mountain. After walking for about the time it takes an incense stick to burn, they rounded a bend, and the view suddenly cleared, revealing a creek with abundant flow.

In such stifling weather, merely approaching the creek was enough to feel a rush of coolness all over, without even needing to touch the water. With no one else in sight, Hua Xiaomai couldn’t help but rush over, pulling up her trouser legs, and with a splash, jumped into the water.

There turned out to be quite a few fish in the creek which, startled by her disturbance, scurried about in panic, rubbing against her calves, causing a sensation both ticklish and prickly. Meng Yuhuai, standing at the bank, did not intervene but only crossed his arms and laughed, "How about it, isn’t this place rather nice?"

"It’s more than nice!" Hua Xiaomai, splashing water everywhere, wiped her face and exclaimed with excitement, "How did you find such a perfect spot? It’s quiet, cool, and just a breath in fills your nose with the fresh scent of the leaves. I’d say it’s much better than any of those pavilions and towers in the city!"

Without waiting for his reaction, she extended her arm into the water and haphazardly grabbed, calling out loudly, "Come on, let’s catch some fish!"

Meng Yuhuai was simply helpless, "We don’t have a basket; even if we catch them, we can’t bring them back. Isn’t it all just busywork?"

"We don’t need to bring them back. We can just cook them here by the creek—surely you have a Fire Stick on you?" Hua Xiaomai glanced at him, triumphantly saying, "Didn’t you say you couldn’t stand food with too much seasoning? Today, I’ll let you taste the real, natural flavor, I guarantee you’ll love it."

After a pause, she chuckled and added, "You know, we really are looking too far for what lies close at hand. If I remember correctly, there’s a spot just like this by the dwarf forests outside Fire Knife Village, also rarely frequented. Why didn’t we think of going there for a visit before?"

Meng Yuhuai, sitting down to take off his shoes, responded without hesitation, "If we were in the village, even waiting a whole year, we’d probably never have such an opportunity. You’re always busy running between the small restaurant and Sauce Garden. If I suggested a stroll in the woods, you’d probably think I was after your life."

No sooner had he spoken these words than he realized they were somewhat inappropriate. It was too late to take them back; raising his head, he saw Hua Xiaomai had indeed stopped what she was doing and was looking up at him.(To be continued. If you like this work, please visit Qidian to cast your recommendation ticket and monthly ticket. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users, please read at m.qidian.com.)