Chef Hua
Chapter 405 - 224: Big Job_2

Chapter 405: Chapter 224: Big Job_2

Hua Xiaomai heaved a sigh of relief, nodded repeatedly in agreement, and after exchanging a few courteous pleasantries with Magistrate Tao, Jiang, the steward, accompanied her back to the kitchen. There, they packed up the items she had brought. Once everything was in order, they carefully escorted her and Zhou Yunyun down the mountain.

Hua Xiaomai rushed back to the kitchen to meet Zhou Yunyun, quickly tidied up all the household items, and called for the little scavenger who was waiting halfway up the mountain. He pushed the handcart as they left Fangzheng Pavilion.

...

Knowing the importance of the literary banquet, Zhou Yunyun had worked with sweaty palms and feet from the moment they arrived at the low mountain. It wasn’t until now, as they entered Fuzhe County, that she finally relaxed, wiped the cold sweat from her forehead, and said to Hua Xiaomai with a slightly embarrassed smile, "Master, when Magistrate Tao called for you, was it to praise our banquet and give you a special reward? What did you get?"

"It’s just the first time I helped with a banquet; what could there be to reward? Have you been reading too many dramas?" Hua Xiaomai gave her a glance and extended the basket from her elbow towards her, "Look, this is all I got: just a bit of thorny dragon’s tooth. Thankfully, we did leave a good impression today. No matter what, our little restaurant should do better in business from now on. At least those who like to cause trouble should not dare to come bother us so easily. Isn’t that good enough? What more do you want?"

"That’s not bad, saves us the trouble of always needing Brother Yuhuai to step in for us." Zhou Yunyun smiled shyly and asked, "Right, are we going to Lianshun Escort Agency now to join Brother Yuhuai and head back to the village?"

After thinking for a moment, Hua Xiaomai said, "Let’s just go directly back to the village. He told me this morning that he had things to take care of in town and might be busy all day. It’s very likely he isn’t done yet, so there’s no use going there. Besides, I have things I want to ask you. Wouldn’t you be embarrassed if we spoke in front of him?"

Zhou Yunyun was well aware of what she meant and her face turned red again. She sped up to avoid the topic, but Hua Xiaomai grabbed her, insisting on knowing how she and Wen Huaren, the pedantic scholar, had become so acquainted and how often he had visited the little restaurant while she was away in the Provincial City. Initially, Zhou Yunyun tried to dodge the questions, but eventually, under relentless inquiry, she reluctantly revealed a little of the story.

Upon entering Fire Knife Village, Hua Xiaomai sent Zhou Yunyun and the little scavenger to carefully store their belongings in the east of the village, while she looked at the thorny dragon’s tooth in her basket.

This delicacy, extremely rare in Fuzhe County, was something the villagers might not get to taste even once in three to five years. It seemed a waste to use it at the small restaurant, so after pondering for a while, she divided it into two: she sent half to the smithy for Jing Taihe to take home for Second Mother Hua to try, and the rest she kept, planning to cook a couple of good dishes in the evening for Old Mistress Meng and Meng Yuhuai to enjoy.

After lingering at the smithy for half the day, pressing Jing Taihe for details about Second Mother Hua’s condition and explaining how delicious the thorny dragon’s tooth could be even when just boiled and dipped in sauce, Hua Xiaomai realized it was getting late and rushed home. She had not yet turned onto the little dirt path leading to her house when she saw Meng Yuhuai leading old Black down the main road.

"This is a coincidence." Hua Xiaomai stood in place waiting for him. When he came close, she said cheerfully, "Didn’t you say you’d be busy today? I thought you wouldn’t return until dark. How come you’re back so early?"

"If the matters are settled, what’s there to delay? I came back early to ask how things went for you today." Meng Yuhuai looked at her and a smile appeared on his lips, "It looks like everything went smoothly, didn’t it?"

"Of course!" Hua Xiaomai said proudly, twisting her neck, "Magistrate Tao complimented me a lot and even gave me all the remaining thorny dragon’s tooth from his home. It tastes incredibly sweet, but it’s not easy to find in our area. I used it once in the final election and have been longing for it ever since, not knowing when we might get to try it. Today’s your lucky day. In the evening, I will serve it for dinner, and I guarantee that you and mother will love it."

Thinking of it, she remembered what Magistrate Tao had mentioned earlier, so she added, "Oh right, Magistrate Tao also asked me to relay a message to you. He wants you to see him in the next few days for a matter that needs quick attention. He said you’d understand as soon as I mentioned it. What’s it about? Does it have to do with the Escort Agency?"

Meng Yuhuai laughed upon hearing this, and seeing no one around, he reached out and stroked her hair: "Now you’ve become a messenger—there is a matter, and he’s already discussed it with me once. Only, with Da Zhong and the others gone to the Provincial City, and we’re short on people at the Escort Agency, I couldn’t arrange it right away. Since he’s brought it up again today, it must be somewhat urgent. Fine, I’ll go see him tomorrow."

He continued with a chuckle, "Actually, it’s quite a significant task that can’t be treated lightly. I’ll probably have to trouble Uncle Ke to return to the Escort Agency for a few days, while I take a couple of men with me to handle it."

"What’s the matter, exactly?" She became a bit impatient as he kept her in suspense, narrowing her eyes at him half-seriously, "Out with it!"

"Magistrate Tao only briefly mentioned it and didn’t go into much detail. I only know that recently, in the last month or so, the Warehouse Guard watching over the Money Vault at the County Government has encountered some troubles, and he wants the Escort Agency to step in and smooth things out." (To be continued. If you enjoy this work, you are welcome to cast your recommendation ticket and monthly ticket at Qidian (qidian.com). Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users, please read at m.qidian.com.)