Chef Hua
Chapter 48: Episode 40: Sending Preserved Fruits

Chapter 48: Episode 40: Sending Preserved Fruits

"Terms?" Pan Ping’an was puzzled about which tune she was playing, and his heart furrowed, thinking inwardly that a little girl sure had many demands, yet his face grew ever more pleasant and agreeable. "Just say it, as long as I can manage it I will not shirk it. We’re all neighbors after all, ha-ha, ha-ha-ha..."

Hua Xiaomai knew he was worried she’d ask for the moon, which secretly amused her. She pursed her lips and said unhurriedly, "Actually, it’s nothing major. Since I’ve agreed to do business with you, Uncle Ping’an, I will just make the preserved fruits and cakes on time and hand them over to you. As for how you plan to sell them or for how much, I will not inquire at all. I only hope that when you return to the village each month, you could tell me more about the news from the Provincial City. For instance, which of the foods I make are especially popular, which are neglected, and what are the currently popular sweet and savory snacks there, and such. That’s all."

"Just... that simple?" Pan Ping’an seemed still somewhat incredulous, staring intently at her face.

"What else did you think it could be?" Hua Xiaomai almost burst out laughing, "Anyone in business hopes to earn more money. I figure, if I can better understand the tastes of the Provincial City folks, it would be beneficial with no downside, thus..."

Pan Ping’an breathed a sigh of relief, nodding his head vigorously as he agreed, "That works, that works. I will definitely keep an eye out for you! Many restaurant owners in Provincial City are my acquaintances; if I ask, they will certainly spare no details in telling me everything!"

He then exclaimed, "Little sister Hua, you’re so young yet you think so thoroughly, it’s clear that my decision was indeed the right one!"

Hua Xiaomai discretely accepted his compliments, still smiling, "But I don’t know how many Orange Cakes and Crispy Yellow Turnips I need to make, and when should I hand them over to you?"

"Right, right, right, look at my memory, this is the real issue!" Pan Ping’an smacked his forehead and, taking advantage of the motion, wiped away the slight cold sweat from his nervousness. He furrowed his brows and considered briefly, then said seriously, "I know three to five restaurants in the Provincial City that are familiar with me. I think for this first time, just make twenty jin of each item to test the market. I will be heading back to the Provincial City in two days. Can you have the food ready before then?"

"Is that too rushed, can you manage it, little sister?" Hua Erniang was somewhat worried, lifting her head to look back at Hua Xiaomai, "It’s still during the holiday season, and it’s also cold. Maybe..."

"It should be no problem." Hua Xiaomai pondered for a moment and reassured Hua Erniang with a smile, "After the fifth day, the village’s grocery stores will be open, and it’s easy to buy ingredients. It’s a bit late today, but early tomorrow, I will start working immediately."

Saying this, she tugged at Hua Erniang’s arm and looked up at Jing Taihe, softly saying, "Second sister, brother-in-law, you have to help me out!"

Hua Erniang immediately promised with great fervor, and if it weren’t for her concern about being a woman, she would even have pounded her chest to show her determination. Jing Taihe also chuckled amiably twice in response.

Pan Ping’an was overjoyed, slapping his thigh hard, "Perfect! Hehe, little sister Hua, your skills are so great, you will definitely make a name for yourself quickly! You can trust me, and I won’t treat you unfairly either. We’ll all make money together. However, from now on, the preserved fruits and cakes you make can be for your own use or as gifts, but you must not sell them to anyone else, to avoid... to avoid any disputes later!"

"Of course." Hua Xiaomai knew he would naturally have this concern and immediately nodded, "Although I’m just a girl, I still understand this principle. If you don’t trust me, Uncle Ping’an, we can make a written agreement, you and I will press our handprints, so everyone feels secure."

Pan Ping’an instinctively was about to utter the word "good," but a glance at Pan Taigong showed that his father seemed very unhappy, so he quickly said with a forced smile, "That’s not necessary, that’s not necessary. If I didn’t trust you, I wouldn’t be doing business with you in the first place!"

Pan Tai Gong squinted up at the sky, his nose humming softly and indifferently.

"It’s better to set up an agreement." Hua Xiaomai insisted, turning to smile at Pan Tai Gong, "Tai Gong, you may feel that having a written contract with neighbors makes things feel distant, but business is business. Such a document ensures security for both myself and Uncle Ping’an, just like Uncle Ping’an said, if any disputes arise later, a lack of it would truly harm our good relationship!"

Seeing her speak like this, Pan Tai Gong couldn’t say much more and heaved a deep sigh. Pan Ping’an couldn’t wait to grab paper and pen on the spot, quickly wrote the agreement, and both pressed their fingerprints on it.

Only at this moment did he feel truly at ease, and he chuckled, "Getting this done, I feel refreshed! Hua Xiaomai, so in two days, I’ll just be waiting for your Orange Cake and Crispy Yellow Turnip, right?!"

...

The next morning, Hua Xiaomai got up early, washed, and with the help of Hua Erniang and Jing Taihe, borrowed Pan Tai Gong’s flat cart. They bought about thirty pounds of fresh oranges from the village and picked several packs of dried fruits—pine nuts, hazelnuts, walnuts, and apricots—from Chen’s Dried Goods Store. They also bought some extra flour for the household and pushed it all home, where she immediately started to get busy.

Although it was already spring, the weather seemed even colder than in midwinter, and the well water felt colder than melting snow. Preparing food inevitably meant working with cold water, and even though Hua Xiaomai was thickly dressed, she couldn’t stop her teeth from chattering. Hua Erniang, unable to watch anymore, took over the task of washing and slicing the oranges. Jing Taihe, meanwhile, helped by tending to the fire and adjusting the firewood.

Although Hua Xiaomai was still extremely busy, with the help of this couple, everything seemed much easier. After collaborating for two days, they managed to prepare twenty pounds of Orange Cake and twenty pounds of Crispy Yellow Turnip just as the day was dawning when Pan Ping’an was leaving Fire Knife Village.

Provincial City was only a little more than a day’s journey from Fire Knife Village, and by selling the preserves and snacks quickly upon arrival, they could ensure that they wouldn’t spoil. Hua Xiaomai wrapped the prepared preserves and cakes in thick yellow paper, a pound per package, neatly organized in a large basket delivered to the Pan’s courtyard. Pan Ping’an immediately took out five hundred copper coins and handed them to Hua Xiaomai, openly acknowledging that he was in a rush this time and gave extra copper coins as compensation for her hard labor.

Five hundred copper coins, compared to what Hua Xiaomai usually earned for her catering services, was naturally trivial but was stable monthly income. Moreover, as Pan Ping’an had rightly said, this first time was just dipping a toe in the water; if her food became popular, the earnings would inevitably increase.

Hua Xiaomai, grinning, bid farewell to Pan Ping’an, and immediately handed the money to Hua Erniang. Jing Taihe, standing by the yard door, cleared his throat and said, "Erniang, after being busy for two days, we finally can relax. The weather is good today; why don’t you and Xiaomai go to the County and buy some cloth to make her some new clothes..."

Hua Xiaomai was momentarily surprised, then quickly replied with a smile, "There’s no need, I haven’t even worn the clothes I made for New Year’s much!"

"Why wouldn’t you need them?" Hua Erniang quickly stepped forward, "The clothes made for New Year’s are thick, look at any girl in spring without several bright spring shirts! Your brother-in-law is right, we might not be rich, but we’re not too poor for this, even if you don’t want new clothes, your brother-in-law and I still need to make some decent ones for going out. Hurry back inside and pack, we’ll go now!"

As she spoke, it was as though she remembered something and clapped her hands, "Right, the Orange Cake and Crispy Yellow Turnip that we made, besides the twenty pounds given to Pan Ping’an, didn’t we have some left over? Since we’re going to the County, why not take a trip to the Lianshun Escort Agency and give some to brother Meng to try!"