Chef Hua
Chapter 448: Episode 246 Fresh Food

Chapter 448: Episode 246 Fresh Food

This was probably the best night of sleep Hua Xiaomai had since the Lianshun Escort Agency’s incident, not a single dream, and she woke up to broad daylight.

Meng Yuhuai had come straight home from the forest on the outskirts of the city last night, and today he still had some follow-up matters to attend to. He had to meet with Magistrate Tao and couldn’t stay to rest at home. After breakfast, he quickly led out Old Black and left, telling Hua Xiaomai he would try to return as early as possible.

Old Lady Meng was extremely dissatisfied; she had a cold expression throughout breakfast, and once he left, her anger surged to the top of her head. She slammed her chopsticks down and said indignantly, "What is this attitude! I’ve been worried sick for him, unable to eat or sleep well, my heart almost leaping out of my chest, and yet, he doesn’t even bother to explain what happened and just turns around and leaves!"

While speaking, she grabbed Hua Xiaomai’s arm, "You tell me, where in the world is there a son like him? You better watch out, once the child in your belly is born, you must teach them well. Otherwise... humph, he’ll turn his back and won’t recognize who you are!"

In her heart, Hua Xiaomai thought, last night he had indeed wanted to explain, but who made you refuse to listen? Yet now you’re complaining. However, she plastered a big smile on her face and said gently, "Yuhuai is probably afraid that Mom is still angry with him! Besides, he does indeed have things to do today, and any delay would be unacceptable. Magistrate Tao is an official after all, how can he afford to slight him? If he offends the magistrate, I’m afraid our Escort Agency won’t be able to do business in the future! Besides, aren’t I still here? I’ll keep Mom company..."

"You?" Old Lady Meng cut her off before she could finish, snorting coldly and glancing at her, "Save your breath, don’t try to be clever with your words in front of me, you are no better than him! At least he usually knows what’s important; as for you? To speak crudely, you’re honestly nothing but a troublemaker!"

"Have you ever seen a troublemaker who can cook? Would you dare to eat that?" Hua Xiaomai approached her and said sourly, "I see now, plain and simple, you’re biased, aren’t you? The treatment of a son and a daughter-in-law really isn’t the same, huh?"

"Isn’t that the truth?" retorted Old Lady Meng, without the slightest intention to deny it, lifting her head proudly. She then glanced at Hua Xiaomai’s belly and frowned, "Last night I forgot to ask you, after loitering in the Shun Escort Agency for an afternoon, it definitely couldn’t have been easy. Do you feel unwell anywhere? If you do, say it early so we can go see the doctor. Don’t let it fester in your belly and mess everything up!"

"Um..." Hua Xiaomai didn’t want to brush off her concern and thought about it earnestly for a moment before shaking her head, "I didn’t feel unwell at all, just a bit tired at most. The Escort Agency was all chaotic yesterday, I didn’t want to bother others, so I just sat in a chair the whole time, which made my back sore. But after a night’s sleep, I’m fine today."

"You look like a gust of wind could blow you two miles away, yet you seem to withstand a lot..." muttered Old Lady Meng in a neither warm nor cold tone, then added, "And tell me, what exactly has Yuhuai been through these past few days, did he encounter any danger in the mountains?"

Hua Xiaomai rolled her eyes and then nodded with a smile, "Sure, but it’s boring just talking about it at home, why don’t we go out for a walk? What do you think, Mom? You heard it yesterday from Yun’er, our little restaurant’s bamboo grove is already set up. Since Yuhuai won’t be back until the afternoon at the earliest, let’s take a walk over there, just to stretch our legs. It’s not good for the baby to always be sitting or lying down at home, right?"

"You always have something going on! No rest from dawn till dusk, what’s the point of wandering outside in this hot weather!"

Old Lady Meng, as usual, had a couple of complaints as if extremely reluctant, rolling her eyes emphatically. But Hua Xiaomai didn’t care about whatever she said, and went over to grab her arm with a teasing smile, "So are you coming or not?"

"Let go!" Old Lady Meng reflexively tried to push her away, but halfway through the motion, she remembered such action was quite inappropriate and hastily retracted her hand, "Fine, you win. I’ll risk my life to accompany you this one time, can you not stick to me? I’m covered in sweat!"

"I insist on arm-in-arm!" Hua Xiaomai giggled, pulled her along without further ado, and they went out the door.

...

Having not gone to the village east for over half a month, she was somewhat baffled upon arriving at the little restaurant’s door for a check.

The garden behind the shop was beginning to take shape; although all the elements were not yet in place, one could get an idea of the layout.