Chef Hua
Chapter 470: Episode 257: Heart Piercing

Chapter 470: Episode 257: Heart Piercing

There was a moment when Hua Xiaomai really didn’t want to step through the door.

In recent days, the atmosphere at home had already been somewhat off.

The aged matriarch of the Meng Family wore all her emotions on her sleeve, never considering saving face for anyone. Tang Maolin’s family of three had been staying in the Meng Family courtyard for nearly half a month, always using the excuse of "being unable to find work" to avoid talking about moving out. She was quite displeased but managed to suppress her anger out of consideration that, after all, they were blood relatives.

However, although she hadn’t erupted, she had been scowling all day long, looking as menacing as a debt collector whenever she met anyone—it was frankly quite frightening. Tang Maolin and his wife, Ding, were already treading lightly around her, and Dongyan wouldn’t dare easily approach her—what had set off the conflict today?

Hua Xiaomai glanced in the matriarch’s direction, saw her full of vim and vigor, knew she must not have been at a disadvantage, and felt a little more at ease. She touched her belly, let out a soft sigh, and stepped into the courtyard.

What could she do if she didn’t want to enter? This was her home. With the elderly matriarch fighting alone inside, how could she, as a daughter-in-law, just stand outside and watch the excitement as if it were none of her business?

"Master..."

Yun’er was timid and particularly afraid of this kind of scene. Seeing Hua Xiaomai lift her foot to step inside, she quickly grabbed her sleeve.

"You’re pregnant, don’t go in, it’s frightening..."

Hua Xiaomai turned back, smiled at her, and patted her hand, saying softly, "Why don’t you head home first? We won’t practice cooking today, we’ll wait until tomorrow..."

Zhou Yunyun hurriedly shook her head: "I’d rather stay with Master."

As she spoke, she anxiously glanced at the shattered dishes and bowls scattered on the ground within the courtyard.

This girl, inward looking and timid, struggled to say a full sentence in front of strangers, but she was very thoughtful...

Hua Xiaomai, now silent, led her into the courtyard and first checked on Tang Maolin, then shifted her gaze to Ding and Dongyan.

At that look, she immediately gasped.

Dongyan was still alright, but Ding had a palm-sized piece of skin scraped off her forehead, from which blood seemed to be oozing, the wound’s edges red and swollen, including the area near her eyebrow, which had also swelled. She had apparently been crying for a while, her eyes red and puffy—it was quite a shock at first glance.

This... couldn’t be the handiwork of the matriarch, could it?

Hua Xiaomai had already been feeling somewhat uncomfortable from the fumes at Zhenwei Garden, and since becoming pregnant, she felt easily frightened; any loud noise nearby would send her heart pounding. Seeing Ding’s head wound now, she instinctively stepped back and quickly looked toward the matriarch.

"Xiaomai is back?"

Yet her mother-in-law seemed remarkably calm, her face breaking into a distant smile: "How did the hiring of the chef go, all settled?"

This was the first time the matriarch had openly asked her about the small restaurant’s business in front of Tang Maolin’s whole family. Hua Xiaomai, whose mind was not on this topic, had to patiently answer: "Yes, I’ve come to an agreement with Chef Tan. He will start working at the restaurant when we reopen in August."

"Hmm," the matriarch nodded, "Now that you’ve hired one, don’t worry too much. Take your time looking for another chef."

As she spoke, she gestured at Zhou Yunyun with a lift of her chin: "Yun’er, your master didn’t eat anything in Sauce Garden, did she? People with a baby on the way cannot go hungry. Would you please go to the kitchen and prepare something for her to eat, then pack a simple bag and accompany her to the County — I’m tied up here, so I’m counting on you."

"Mother, what are you doing?" Hua Xiaomai was clueless and had never heard her speak so courteously. She felt even more uneasy and promptly asked.

"Hmph, with all this chaos in the house, what if you get hurt?" The matriarch sneered, "It seems I am becoming gentler with age for even my own younger brother dares to trample over me! You want to discipline your wife, where else can’t you do it? Why in front of my eyes? Who are you trying to show?

So it was Tang Maolin who had raised his hand? He seemed so mild-mannered on most days, yet he had such a fierce temper? No wonder the matriarch was so tough—turns out it was a matter of family tradition!

Hua Xiaomai couldn’t help muttering to herself, but soon she sensed that something was amiss.

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