Chef Hua
Chapter 480: Episode 262: The Monster

Chapter 480: Episode 262: The Monster

As August was approaching, the first batch of chili sauce was ready in Zhenwei Garden. Since Hua Xiaomai hadn’t visited as often lately, Pan Ping’an made a special effort to send over two small jars by a young boy, intending to await her approval before shipping it off to Provincial City to sell.

The newly made chili sauce glistened with a layer of red oil on the surface, the chilies finely chopped, with white sesame seeds sprinkled throughout. Garlic paste and over a dozen spices were also added. Getting closer, the strong, spicy aroma hit you right in the face. If you took a little taste on your tongue, you could savor the rich layers of flavor, the fragrance lingering for a long time.

Meng Lao Niang had a preference for strong flavors, having been smitten by dishes made with chili ever since she tried them. In her free time, she had heard Hua Xiaomai mention a dish called "Nine-flavor Beef Tripe," and just hearing the description of how it was prepared made her mouth water. Now, seeing this newly made batch of chili sauce, she was even more eager, hurriedly buying ingredients and urging that she wanted to try making it that very night.

Beef tripe is delicious but difficult to clean. Hua Xiaomai couldn’t be bothered to explain this to Meng Lao Niang over and over, so she simply sat down with a large basin in the cool shade of the courtyard, scooping two bowls of flour mixed with some vinegar to slowly scrub the tripe, soon covered in sweat.

Chun Xi and La Mei were running into the courtyard, hand in hand and flustered, at just that moment.

Upon entering, they didn’t announce their business but looked around curiously, poking their heads in every direction. Hua Xiaomai didn’t rush them, smiling as she watched them, until she couldn’t help but laugh and asked, "What are you looking for? Even if you’ve lost something, it wouldn’t be in my house, would it?"

"Xiaomai sister, is Yuhuai brother not home?" Chun Xi kept craning her neck to look around, "He hasn’t come back yet?"

"Hmm," Hua Xiaomai turned to look at the sky, "He might take a little longer. What’s the matter, sister-in-law, do you have business with him?"

"Oh, this is troubling!"

Chun Xi slapped her thigh and squatted down next to her, beckoning La Mei to come closer too, and said with a worried frown, "A strange person has turned up on the east side of the village. He doesn’t seem like a local, carrying a big bundle and squatting just by the wall of our little restaurant, insisting he wants to see the owner. We told him the place is currently under renovation and the owner rarely visits, but he won’t listen at all, adamantly saying he must meet you. What should we do?"

Hua Xiaomai also felt puzzled and scratched her forehead, "Did you not ask him what he wants with me?"

"Have we not asked? Do you think we’re fools?" La Mei took up the conversation, looking anxious, "We talked our mouths dry, but he just wouldn’t say! We were afraid it might be something important and didn’t dare send him away hastily, and it didn’t seem right to bring him to your home without knowing. We thought it best to inform you first... But now with Yuhuai brother not here, and with you in your condition, it’s not safe for you to go!"

Hearing this, Hua Xiaomai looked down and pondered for a moment. She couldn’t figure out who might be looking for her at this time, yet she worried the visitor might truly have important business and found herself unable to make a decision.

While she hesitated, Meng Lao Niang strode out from the kitchen, waving her hand dismissively and bellowed, "What a fuss over a trifle! You’re giving yourself a headache over nothing! If you’re that scared, I’ll just go with you. In broad daylight, I don’t believe he can do me any harm!"

Without further ado, she really did untie her apron and tugged on Hua Xiaomai’s arm to leave.

A real heroine!

Hua Xiaomai quietly admired her in her heart and quickly said with a smile, "But if Yuhuai comes back..."

"Don’t mumble and dawdle with me. Just tell the neighbors across the courtyard to pass the message, won’t that do? Hurry up, dinner is not ready yet, how long do you want to delay?"

She wasn’t listening to Hua Xiaomai at all, took her by the left hand, and with a commanding wave of her right hand at Chun Xi and La Mei, strode out the door.

...

When they reached the east side of the village, they indeed saw a man about twenty-seven or twenty-eight years old squatting by the wall at the entrance of the little restaurant, with a cluster of vibrant Campsis flowers next to him. Apparently bored, he was hanging his head, idly picking up little stones to play with.

He was dressed plainly, his clothes looking like they’d been worn for many years, dull and gray. At a glance, he didn’t seem like anything more than an ordinary peasant. Hua Xiaomai couldn’t make out his features clearly but was certain she had never seen this man before. This made her even more perplexed. Before she could approach, Chun Xi and La Mei, mustering their courage, already ran up to him, shouting, "Hey, weren’t you looking for our boss? She’s here now, if you’ve got something to say, spit it out!"