Chef Hua
Chapter 42: Episode 34 Chinese New Year’s Eve

Chapter 42: Episode 34 Chinese New Year’s Eve

Hua Xiaomai was initially stunned, then she understood.

It turned out that Guan Rong came today under the guise of showing concern for her, but what really worried her was the news about Meng Yuhuai. After all this time, she was just a decoy!

She remained silent for a moment, and Guan Rong, noting her expression, carefully smiled and said, "I didn’t know brother Yuhuai returned yesterday either; I heard my mother saying that Auntie Guan next door was complaining about him not being home early in the morning, which surprised me. Didn’t brother Yuhuai say he was going out as an Escort Master? How come..."

This question was the second time she had asked, and Hua Xiaomai glanced at her, thinking what was the point of her coming here to pry? Whether Meng Yuhuai was out or at home, what did it have to do with me? It’s not like I am the one holding him back from going home to see his mother!

"I’m not very sure about that," she said with a gentle smile, shaking her head.

"Oh..." Guan Rong seemed somewhat disappointed. She pursed her lips and hesitantly added, "Little Sister Xiaomai, I heard that Wei, although just a cook, has quite a broad network. Even the County Magistrate of our Fuzhe County has to give him some respect. By asking Wei to seek revenge, isn’t Brother Yuhuai just inviting trouble upon himself? Hehe, you’ve only been in Fire Knife Village for a month or two, and I didn’t realize your relationship with Brother Yuhuai had become that good, such that he would stand up for you in that way..." She finished, then forced a dry laugh.

This remark seemed somewhat accusatory, and it also sounded rather jealous. Hua Xiaomai felt increasingly annoyed but could not show it, merely saying lightly, "Sister Rong, you misunderstand. Yesterday, it was my sister and brother-in-law who couldn’t find me, and in their urgency, they sought help from Elder Brother Meng. As you might know, Elder Brother Meng and my brother-in-law have been close friends since childhood. He helped me, indeed, considering my brother-in-law’s face. That said, for someone like me who isn’t close to him, if he could assist me this way, surely, if you or any other girl in the village were in trouble, he would undoubtedly be even more compelled to help, don’t you think?"

She then raised her eyebrows at Guan Rong with a half-smile, slightly curling her lips.

Guan Rong felt quite pleased by her final remark, a blush spreading across her face as she playfully slapped Hua Xiaomai’s shoulder and said with a smile, "I’m being serious with you!"

However, Hua Xiaomai had lost the patience to chat further. She turned her head to glance at Grandpa Pan’s yard. "Sister Rong, I promised Grandpa Pan to help him manage all the aspects of the New Year’s Eve dinner, so I need to get busy now. Maybe when I am free another day, I’ll come to visit you at your place?"

"Ah, did I interrupt your important tasks?" Guan Rong clapped her hands in regret, "Then you go ahead, you go ahead. I should get back home too; my mother is also waiting for me to help her!"

Saying so, she warmly grasped Hua Xiaomai’s hand and then cheerfully left.

...

Two days later was Chinese New Year’s Eve. Just after noon, Hua Ermu reluctantly followed Jing Taihe back to the old house in the southern part of the village. After tidying up her house and locking the courtyard gate, Hua Xiaomai went to Grandpa Pan’s next door.

The elderly couple had bought quite a lot of ingredients, filling the kitchen to the brim. Hua Xiaomai, immediately after washing her hands, began sorting through the various items in the basket. She started with a leg of lamb, boiling off the scum and then chopping it into small pieces, along with finely shredded lamb tripe, shiitake mushroom cubes, bamboo shoot cubes, and yam cubes to stew together. She also scooped up a yellow croaker from the basin and braised it whole with green onions, symbolically ensuring a "surplus year after year."

In the cramped kitchen of the Pan family, in just a short while, steam was billowing, and the fragrant aroma of the food gradually filled the air.

Pan Grandpa leaned on his cane and stood at the kitchen entrance, occasionally poking his head in to savor the aroma, then repeatedly urging Hua Xiaomai to rest a while and not to overexert herself; Pan Grandma, with her poor eyesight, still fumbled her way in, insisting on helping by their side.

Hua Xiaomai turned and looked at the elderly couple with a bemused smile, guided them into the main hall, and pressed them down into their chairs firmly, smiling cheerfully but speaking in an undeniable tone, "Listen, Grandpa and Grandma, since you’ve asked me to join you for the New Year’s watch, today this kitchen is mine alone. You two mustn’t vie with me. Just sit tight and wait for the meal. If you’re really bored, how about I fry up a plate of ’Happy Meatballs’ for you to start with? From now on, you both are banned from the kitchen. If you want anything, just call for me, got it?"

Neither Pan Grandpa nor Pan Grandma wanted to trouble her further, and quickly waved their hands to decline. After chatting with them briefly, Hua Xiaomai dashed back into the kitchen, checked the stove’s fire, and cooked Chicken with Chestnuts and Shiitake Mushrooms. Next, she made Red Bean Rice Cake using cooked, mashed red bean paste, fatty meat, and half-steamed glutinous rice dough.

Given that Pan Grandma and Grandpa were of advanced age and had poor teeth, most of the dishes Hua Xiaomai prepared for the New Year’s Eve dinner were quite soft, including the Red Bean Rice Cake. Not only was it season-appropriate, but it was also less chewy and more tender and soft than regular rice cakes, making it especially suitable for the elderly couple.

After being busy all afternoon and as evening approached, with all the dishes ready, Hua Xiaomai went back to the neighboring Jing Family courtyard to wash off the smell of cooking and changed into a new outfit made specially by Jing Erniang. On her return to Pan Grandpa’s house, she found the couple had already set the dishes on the table, and Pan Grandma had somehow procured a jar of honey wine. She cracked open the mud-sealed jar, and a sweet fragrance immediately filled the air.

Two large red lanterns hung at the courtyard entrance. As the sky darkened, Pan Grandpa lit the lanterns, casting a red glow all around; the indoor brazier was also lit, the charcoal crackling warmly, creating a festive atmosphere in the slightly chilly courtyard together with the bright red lanterns outside.

Seeing Hua Xiaomai standing outside, smiling and looking around, Pan Grandma waved her over.

"Come on, Xiaomai, come over here. You must be worn out today!"

She was that typical kind of grandma found in the countryside, always showering infinite affection on the younger generation. She pulled Hua Xiaomai into a hug and chattered, "Poor child, spending New Year’s with us. Come, taste this honey wine. It was brought back last year by Eldest Ji and is quite precious. We, the old folks, hardly ever drink it!"

"Before even a bite of food? Drinking this could lead to tipsiness!" Pan Grandpa set a steaming clay pot on the table, gave Pan Grandma a look and said with a tone of mild irritation, "Xiaomai has been working all day; we should at least try her cooking first! Come on to the table, we’re all family here, no need for formalities."

Hua Xiaomai helped the elderly to their seats at the table, then sat down herself and served them both a piece of the Red Bean Rice Cake, cheerfully saying, "Grandpa, Grandma, the other dishes are just fine, but this one you must try while it’s warm. After eating this Red Bean Rice Cake, I promise you’ll have a sweet and prosperous New Year!"

True enough, Pan Grandpa took a small bite and grinned ear to ear, "Indeed, a fine treat! The cake feels like it melts the moment it touches the tongue, sweet but not cloying, a mouthful of delightful flavor! Xiaomai, I knew you were skilled in cooking but never imagined you’d manage pastries so well. If you were to open a pastry shop, you’d surely make a fortune!"

Hua Xiaomai didn’t downplay her talent, grinning broadly and chin up, "Grandpa, I do make decent pastries, but what I’m truly best at besides cooking are the preserved fruits. Green Crispy Plums, Candied Waxberries, Salt Plums, Almond Crisps... Those are really worthy of praise!"

*********

Hua Xiaomai had her New Year’s Eve dinner early, and I too, wish everyone a prosperous New Year in advance, may all your wishes come true~