Chef Hua
Chapter 443: Episode 243 Vulnerability and Strength_2

Chapter 443: Episode 243 Vulnerability and Strength_2

Meng’s old mother was so frightened by these words that her soul nearly split apart, her eyes reddening in an instant, yet she could not cry, only hiccupping intermittently, her mouth agape for a long time without being able to make a sound.

Hua Xiaomai’s throat trembled, and she bit her teeth hard, eventually bursting out a question, "How long has it been?"

"Yesterday morning he entered the mountains..." Great Saint glanced at her, saw her ghostly pale complexion, and was startled himself, "Sister, maybe you should sit down first, I..."

"In other words, it has been two days and a night already." Hua Xiaomai obediently sat down immediately, "He isn’t a confused man, he can’t possibly lose his way, and he wouldn’t go about business without leaving word, so either something has happened to him, or he’s run into some situation, right?"

Great Saint lowered his head and dared not make a sound, while Zhou Yunyun desperately tugged at Hua Xiaomai’s sleeve, "Master, don’t panic; Brother Yuhuai is so capable, he won’t easily..."

"I’m quite calm, aren’t I sitting here properly?" Hua Xiaomai turned to glance at her face and then said, "Brother Great Saint, you were in a rush to find my brother-in-law, were you thinking of inviting him to go with you to Lianshun Escort Agency again?"

"Yes, that Escort Agency is in utter chaos right now. I was thinking... although Brother Taihe and I can’t go outside the city to search for people, at least we can help out and set things in order..."

"Fine, I’ll go with you. Brother Great Saint, would you first deliver the groceries back to Sauce Garden, then come back with the ox cart to pick me up? Sorry for the trouble." Hua Xiaomai nodded her head, standing up from her chair before he even finished, appearing ready to return to her room to prepare for departure.

Great Saint was utterly confused about what she was thinking, frowning and staring dumbfounded, "What are you going to do? The Escort Agency is a mess; with your condition, going there will only add to the chaos. Someone will have to look after you..."

"I’m not causing trouble." Hua Xiaomai had already reached the door when she heard this and turned around, "My man is missing; it’s only right for me to wait for news. I won’t wander around; I’ll just sit in the Escort Agency. I don’t need looking after. At the very least, as soon as there’s word about him, I’ll know right away without having to wait for someone to inform me."

Turning again to gaze at Meng’s old mother, "Mother..."

"Go." Meng’s old mother instantly nodded her head, "Staying at home in a state of anxious helplessness would probably be worse for the child. I know because I’ve been through it. That... Yun’er, could you accompany my Xiaomai for a visit?"

"Sure, don’t worry, Granny. I’ll go with my master." Zhou Yunyun quickly agreed.

Hua Xiaomai also "hmmed" in response, changed her clothes, and on coming out saw Great Saint still hesitating by the yard gate and laughed, "Aren’t we leaving?"

Great Saint, with no other options, hurried out, first delivering all the groceries to Sauce Garden, calling Taihe, and then coming back to the Meng residence to pick up Hua Xiaomai and Zhou Yunyun, and set off again for Fuzhe County.

...

As Great Saint had said, indeed Lianshun Escort Agency was in complete disarray at this moment.

The majority were still searching in the mountains outside the city, and those who were left in the yard were restless, checking out the entrance every so often or whispering in huddles, "How come there’s still no news? Should we call back those few people from the Provincial City? Can those officials who just choke down their rice in the Government Office do anything substantial?"

Ke Zhenwu’s eyes were bloodshot, his hair slightly disheveled as if he had not returned home last night and had stayed at the Escort Agency. He was huskily shouting, "Bullshit! If we wait for those people from the Provincial City to come back, it’ll be too late! What are you doing, thinking sitting down will bring him back? Get a couple of men to go check outside the city again!"

Having just lost a capable helper, now two others were missing, one of whom was the pillar—just last year, half of his Escort Agency had been taken over, and now with this crisis, it was clear that his business could not go on!

Hua Xiaomai stepped through the main gate and took a look all around.

The familiar faces she saw every day were all there, only hers was missing...

She didn’t greet Ke Zhenwu and, seeing that both Great Saint and Jing Taihe had hurriedly walked away, she led Zhou Yunyun to find an inconspicuous corner to sit quietly, without speaking a word.

Zhou Yunyun stayed by her side for a while but couldn’t contain herself and whispered, "Waiting here is useless, if we could go near the city gate to check..."

"Even if they don’t allow it, we shouldn’t go," Hua Xiaomai said soberly, "We’re not bothering anyone by being here, but if we foolishly run to the city gate, we really would be causing trouble."

Ke Zhenwu did not notice her, but Zuo Jinxiang, who rushed out from the kitchen to help, turned her head and spotted her sitting quietly under the tree, immediately widened her eyes and hurried over, tugging on her arm and scolding, "What are you doing here? Is this... Did Sun let it slip? Ah, I made it clear to him..."

Lowering her voice, "Running around with a baby in your stomach, if someone accidentally bumps into you..."

"I’m just sitting here, not moving. No one will bump into me." Hua Xiaomai lifted her face and smiled at her, "I couldn’t bear to wait at home."

"Tsk, this really is..." Perhaps seeing that she was still composed, Zuo Jinxiang muttered under her breath, turned around and went back into the kitchen, and in a short while, she brought out a big bowl.

"Hurry, I made you a bowl of noodles; in your condition, you can’t go hungry. My cooking can’t compare to yours, but even if you just stuff it into your mouth, you have to eat a bit."

Hua Xiaomai reached out to take it and said with a smile, "Thank you, Sister-in-law Zuo, I am indeed a bit hungry..."

But when she went to pick up the chopsticks, her hand suddenly trembled, and the hot soup splashed all over her. (To be continued. If you like this story, you are welcome to Qidian (qidian.com) to cast your recommendation ticket, monthly ticket. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users please visit m.qidian.com to read.)