Chef Hua
Chapter 503: Episode 272 Autumn_2

Chapter 503: Episode 272 Autumn_2

Having finished speaking, they all entered the garden together.

As the row of ground lamps by the lotus pond were lit up, the garden, somewhat deserted at night, immediately livened up amidst the chirping and laughter of people.

The cooks and helpers of Daoxiang Garden, every single one of them, had stayed. Naturally, neither Meng Yuhuai nor Old Lady Meng planned to leave. Below the stoves, the fires blazed, sending up swirling hot air mixed with thick aromas that lingered without dispersing.

For the Mid-Autumn Festival, an array of mooncakes, Youzi, oranges, and various melons and fruits were indispensable. That afternoon, Hua Xiaomai sent a helper to buy two osmanthus ducks from the city, along with several jars of osmanthus wine, all arranged on the long table.

There were still plenty of hairy crabs sent by Xu Ershun, which after being marinated in Shao wine and cleaned, were cut into pieces. Half were turned into a soft and tender steamed crab with egg white and green onion; the other half were deep-fried to a slight red tint, then boldly topped with a big spoonful of chili sauce and cooked with green onion pieces, ginger, and garlic into a fragrantly spicy crab dish.

There were also small ’lotus pods’ made of chicken breast and tofu, drizzled with a gentle clear sauce, tender and fragrant upon tasting, adorned with a few lotus petals for a cute red and green presentation – one wouldn’t just enjoy eating them, but even just looking was enough to bring joy to the heart.

Qing You and Ji Xiang, the younger helpers, were thrilled from the moment they entered the garden. They ran around the fishpond, shouting and laughing, playing until they forgot their own names. Master Tan and Wang Zhanrui, being two years older, were a bit more composed, content to sit by the pond and drink, accompanied by the bountiful dishes on the table. Old Lady Meng, who also enjoyed a drink or two, sat slightly apart with a small dish of spicy crab, cracking open crabs and sipping wine, looking quite comfortable.

Hua Xiaomai, in the kitchen, had been overcome by a pungent whiff of chili, causing a slight upset in her stomach. She didn’t dare to sit directly on the cool stone seats, so she moved a bamboo chair to sit beside the table. Just as she sat down, she saw Wang Zhanrui holding up a crab leg in her direction.

"Master, your culinary skills are truly exceptional. This crab is spicy and numbing, so fragrant! I mentioned before that I wanted to have a cooking contest with you when we have time, ignore what I said – cough, I couldn’t possibly compete with you, except in tea-scented dishes, I really have no dish to present!"

He was usually taciturn and somewhat eccentric, but today, having had a few drinks, he became much more animated, fully opening up in a way that was more lively than usual.

Hua Xiaomai smiled back at him, "There’s no harm in exchanging skills. It goes for you and Master Tan, too. As long as it doesn’t hurt the harmony, that’s good. However advanced our cooking skills may be, there are always things we’re not best at. The three of us are skilled, and it’s good to give each other pointers."

As she spoke, she pointed at Zhou Yunyun, who was not far away, "There’s also my young apprentice. If you two have the time, please give her some guidance too, teach her a trick or two. It’s especially hard for a girl to learn cooking; I must ask you both to look after her more."

Zhou Yunyun heard her name mentioned and her face instantly flushed red. After a moment’s thought, she stood up and gave a bow to Wang Zhanrui and Master Tan.

"I get impatient with apprentices, but if she’s interested, I won’t be stingy..." Wang Zhanrui nodded and was about to say something more when he noticed Meng Yuhuai handing a small bowl to Hua Xiaomai and quickly closed his mouth.

"This thing is cooling in nature; you shouldn’t eat too much of it now, just taste a bit." Meng Yuhuai kept his voice low, as if not wanting to draw attention, "But the lotus pods made of tofu, they’re harmless, you can eat more of those."

With his consideration, Hua Xiaomai felt delighted inside, yet even with her thick skin, she still felt a little embarrassed in front of so many people. Glancing to the side, she saw Chun Xi and La Mei already wearing expressions as if they were ready to tease at any moment. She quickly replied with a smile, "I can handle it myself; you don’t need to worry, go eat something yourself."

And then he pointed to Meng Lao Niang, who was just taking a sip from a glass: "Going to have a couple of drinks with mother would be nice."

Meng Yuhuai knew what she was thinking, smiled, nodded, and stood up to join her. Hua Xiaomai then turned to look at Wang Zhanrui: "We could only spend the reunion festival at the shop, no matter what, I feel like everyone has been somewhat wronged. As for Master Wang’s family members..."

"I don’t have any family," said Wang Zhanrui, perhaps stung by her interaction with Meng Yuhuai, his tone a bit harsh, "I’m all alone, well-fed by myself without the worry of a whole family."

It was a bit difficult to continue the conversation after that remark. She couldn’t very well slap her chest and guarantee she would find him a wife, could she?

After a pause, she looked towards Master Tan. Before she could speak, he said with a bitter smile, "My wife and children live in the city. They have each other for company, so there’s no need for me to worry too much."

Truly, everyone had their own troubles...

Hua Xiaomai pondered for a moment, vaguely forming an idea, but she didn’t plan to think it through right then. She changed the subject and picked up some lighthearted banter.

After a good hour of merriment, the night deepened, and since they had to open the shop the next morning, everyone gradually left, leaving only the three from Meng Family by the pond.

The osmanthus wine was mellow and sweet, refreshing to drink, but it had a strong kick. Meng Lao Niang couldn’t hold her liquor and began to get sleepy, nodding off on a stone stool, her head dropping from time to time.

Meng Yuhuai took a complete Youzi peel, threaded it with a candle to create a simple Youzi lantern for Hua Xiaomai. The light was warm and cozy, subtly giving off a hint of the Youzi peel’s fragrance. Although it wasn’t particularly beautiful, Hua Xiaomai liked it very much, playing with it nonstop in her hands.

Meng Lao Niang’s snoring could be heard from a distance.

She turned her head to look, then raised her eyes to Meng Yuhuai, "You’re big and tall, not easily chilled, take off your outer clothes and drape them over mother to keep her from catching a cold and feeling uncomfortable all over."

Meng Yuhuai agreed and indeed took off his outer garments to cover Meng Lao Niang. After thinking it over, he simply moved her into a comfortable chair to let her rest comfortably for a while.

"This is the first time we’re spending the Mid-Autumn Festival together," she said, pursing her lips as he returned, "This year there are three of us, but by this time next year, there will be four."

"Isn’t that so?" Meng Yuhuai also showed a hint of a smile, "In the future, our family will only grow bigger—speaking of which, with all the recent busyness, I’ve been so muddled. The mooncakes you made were good, we should send some to Brother Taihe and Lady Hua."

At his words, Hua Xiaomai was momentarily stunned, then clapped her hands in realization: "Ah, I forgot!" (To be continued. If you like this work, we welcome you to vote for it with a recommendation ticket or monthly ticket at Qidian (qidian.com). Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users, please visit m.qidian.com to read.)