Chef Hua
Chapter 522: Episode 281 Drunkard_2

Chapter 522: Episode 281 Drunkard_2

The two of them agreed and were about to rise and head down to the kitchen to get busy. Hua Xiaomai then said, "Master Tan and Yun’er, you two go down first. Master Wang, there are a couple of things I’d like to discuss with you."

Wang Zhanrui more or less knew what she wanted to talk about and stood aside. After Master Tan and Zhou Yunyun had left, he scratched his head and said stiffly, "If you feel I’ve been rude or offended you, I apologize. But I truly didn’t mean anything else by it..."

Hua Xiaomai flashed him a smile, "I wasn’t really upset, I just wanted to talk to you. We’ve all been working together here for a long time and understand each other’s temperament. Even if someone says something unpleasant, we can overlook it among ourselves. But have you ever thought, one day, if a guest wants to ask you about a dish and calls you over, will you still act like this? Wouldn’t that just drive people out the door? A person’s temperament is born with them, and changing it is as hard as reaching the heavens, but who told us to choose this line of work? We have to be patient and keep some things in check, there’s no harm in that."

"...I’ll try my best," Wang Zhanrui replied, reluctantly, after brooding for a moment.

Those who are talented often have peculiar temperaments, and Hua Xiaomai knew this well. She was also aware of her own faults. She had not brought this up to embarrass Wang Zhanrui and, after making her point, she simply smiled at him, "That’s all I wanted to say. Go get busy, we can talk about the medicinal cuisine later tonight."

After Wang Zhanrui had left, the evening saw Daoxiang Garden closing for the night. As the staff dispersed one by one, the three of them, along with Zhou Yunyun and Old Mother Meng, remained in the hall. They took out the medicinal ingredients to take another close look. They decided on two recipes that were less expensive and more acceptable to people: Winter Melon Lotus Leaf Duck and Poria Stewed Pigeon. While planning to discuss further, suddenly, they heard a commotion outside the door.

The eastern part of the village near the official road was considered a remote area of Fire Knife Village. The villagers seldom came this way, and usually, after the small restaurants closed for the day, the outside would quickly become quiet.

Now, with the door of the restaurant half-shut, who could be running over at this time?

Feeling curious, Hua Xiaomai got up and cautiously walked to the door to take a look outside.

To her astonishment, it was Meng Yuhuai. However, he wasn’t walking over by himself; rather, he was being awkwardly supported by the arms by two people heading in the direction of Daoxiang Garden. Draw a little closer, and the strong scent of alcohol on them was easily detectable.

Is he... drunk?

She suddenly widened her eyes in surprise.

Meng Yuhuai was drunk? If this were to be told, not a soul in Fire Knife Village would believe it!

"What happened?" She immediately stepped out, extending her arms to take her man from the two men, but was pulled back by Old Mother Meng behind her.

"Don’t move him; handle his stomach carefully," Old Mother Meng looked up and swept her gaze over the two men’s faces, recognizing one of them named Li Yingchun, and said in a rough voice, "What got you into this state?"

The tone of her voice clearly conveyed her displeasure.

Drunk people couldn’t ride horses, so the two men had hired a carriage to bring Meng Yuhuai back. Unfortunately, the driver was in a rush to return to the city before the curfew and only agreed to stop at the western entrance of the village. In haste to turn around and leave, Li Yingchun and his companion had no choice but to help Meng Yuhuai to the eastern part of the village, sweating profusely and gasping for air.

"Grandma, sister-in-law," Li Yingchun said laboriously as he nodded and smiled at Old Mother Meng and Hua Xiaomai, "Let’s get Yuhuai brother inside and seated first, he’s... a bit heavy."

Hua Xiaomai quickly pulled Old Mother Meng to the side to make room, and Wang Zhanrui and Master Tan also rushed over to help, moving Meng Yuhuai inside the house.

It was only then that Hua Xiaomai had the chance to take a proper look at him.

...Well, from their first meeting to getting married, over such a long time, she had never seen Meng Yuhuai drunk to this degree, almost as if he had passed out, completely unconscious. While others would have red faces from drinking, he was deathly pale. Once they placed him by the table, he lay straight and motionless.

Hua Xiaomai hurriedly went over and touched his forehead, feeling that his temperature was still within the normal range, and then turned to look at Li Yingchun with furrowed brows, "How did he drink so much?"

"It was several banks from the city, coming to discuss cooperation with our Escort Agency. They arranged a dinner in the evening, and Brother Yuhuai led the two of us there," Li Yingchun said as he shook his head with a sigh, "Sister-in-law, you should have seen it; they were all hooked on drinking, an entire table piled with jars of wine! Brother Yuhuai naturally didn’t want to drink, but how could he refuse under those circumstances? Glass after glass kept pouring down; how could he not be drunk without a moment’s rest?"

"Why didn’t you guys..." Hua Xiaomai was somewhat displeased, unconsciously starting to complain, but caught herself halfway realizing it wasn’t appropriate, and promptly stopped.

But Li Yingchun had already grasped her meaning, and with a note of regret said, "Sister-in-law, we did want to intervene, but Brother Yuhuai is in charge at Lianshun Escort Agency. When they toast him, how could we, his younger brothers, dare to speak up to stop it? We truly couldn’t stop it!"

That was the truth, and if anyone was to be blamed, it wasn’t them. Hua Xiaomai managed a forced smile, "Thank you for bringing him back; you must be exhausted? Sit down and have some tea... The city is already under curfew; how are you going to get back?"

Li Yingchun and his companion were not polite, taking the teacups and draining them in one gulp, then waving their hands, "Sister-in-law, don’t worry about us. Where can’t big men like us spend a night? Being drunk is especially uncomfortable, and I reckon Brother Yuhuai will probably make a fuss tonight; you will have your hands full, so don’t mind us. We’re off then, alright?"

After saying this, he bid farewell to Old Mother Meng, turned around, and walked out. (To be continued. If you like this work, welcome to Qidian (qidian.com) to cast your recommendation ticket, monthly ticket. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users can read at m.qidian.com.)