Chef Hua
Chapter 55: Episode 47: Good News

Chapter 55: Episode 47: Good News

Guan Rong arrived very suddenly, almost as if she had sprung from nowhere, which left Hua Xiaomai rather startled. She looked down at the hand Guan Rong had slung on her arm and said blankly, "Uh... Guan Rong, did you need me for something?"

What was going on? Didn’t she have asthma? How could she run faster than a rabbit?

"I’m about to head back," Meng Yuhuai originally had a smile on his face, but now it had faded completely. He slightly furrowed his brow, nodded at Hua Xiaomai, and said, "That settles the matter regarding the Spring Wine." After finishing speaking, he turned and strode away.

Guan Rong stared blankly in the direction he had left, her gaze filled with a touch of loss. It wasn’t until Hua Xiaomai tugged at her arm and called "Guan Rong" again that she suddenly came back to her senses, pursing her lips and managing a strained smile, "Oh, there is something I need your help with."

Hua Xiaomai took in her expression without pointing it out and pulled her to sit down in the courtyard. She handed her a cup of hot tea, smiling, "Just speak up if you need help. No need for niceties."

Guan Rong glanced out of the courtyard one more time before letting go of her concerns. Holding the tea bowl, she said, "It’s actually not a big deal. Before the new year, didn’t my family make a jar of bamboo shoot oil? Yesterday when my mother opened it, she found the color a bit cloudy, and it seemed to have a strange smell—although it isn’t valuable, it was made with effort by my family, and it’d be such a waste if it were spoiled. Knowing your culinary skills are good, my mother sent me to ask when you might have time to come back with me to check on it."

It was probably due to a loose seal that let in some dirt or dirty water. It wasn’t difficult to fix, although it would take some time.

Hua Xiaomai reflected for a moment and said, "I should be able to help with this, but I might not be free today or tomorrow. My brother-in-law went to the county today for a drink and came back a bit drunk. I’m worried that my sister alone can’t handle him and think I should stay at home to help out; as for early tomorrow morning, I plan to go into the forest as the young peach leaves are sprouting nicely now, and I want to collect some to make sauce. Does your mother need this urgently? Could I come to help her after I return from the forest tomorrow?"

As soon as Guan Rong heard this, her eyes lit up, "You’re going to the forest to pick peach leaves? Is it that patch of low forest to the west of the village? Can I go with you tomorrow?"

"You?" Hua Xiaomai opened her mouth in surprise, "But isn’t your health not very good? What if it worsens..."

"It’s nothing!" Guan Rong quickly waved her hand, "The doctor said that the air is good in that forest, and it benefits my asthma to walk there now and then. Besides, we are just going to pick leaves, not in a hurry or a rush. As long as we walk slowly, it should be fine. I can go with you, and we can chat while we work, isn’t that fun? Sister Xiaomai, I left you alone in the county last time and went back to the village on my own; I’ve felt guilty since. This time, let me come with you and help!"

As she spoke, she even tugged lightly on Hua Xiaomai’s arm a couple of times.

To be honest, after those past events, Hua Xiaomai had always been cautious around Guan Rong. However, since they lived in the same village, they needed to maintain appearances. Seeing her plead so earnestly, Hua Xiaomai found it hard to refuse and merely smiled, "How can you still remember something that happened so long ago? Alright, alright then. Tomorrow morning at the beginning of the hour of si, I’ll wait for you at my front door, then we can enter the forest together."

Guan Rong nodded repeatedly, clearly elated. She bit her lower lip as if she still had something to say. After hesitating for a moment, she held herself back and merely said with a smile, "Then it’s settled, I’ll come find you early tomorrow morning!"

...

Hua Xiaomai carefully stored the chili peppers that Meng Yuhuai had sent her in a small jar, planning to plant them in a small expanse of vegetable patch behind her house when the weather warmed up a bit. To avoid them being knocked about by Hua Erniang, she decided to keep them in her room. The thought of using those bright red delights in her cooking soon filled her with joy.

That night, it rained, with raindrops as fine as cow hair rustling on the leaves, drenching everything throughout the entire night until early next day, when it gradually stopped.

Hua Erniang, knowing that her sister was headed to the forest that day, boiled a pot of unsightly mixed grain porridge very early in the morning and insisted she drink two bowls. Then she helped her shoulder her basket, straightened her clothes, and suddenly turning around to see Guan Rong already waiting outside the courtyard, she frowned and pulled at Hua Xiaomai’s collar, nudging towards the door, "Is she going with you too?"

Hua Xiaomai glanced at Guan Rong and nodded, "Yes, what about it?"

Guan Rong pursed her lips, "It’s not that I have anything against her, it’s just that she’s so frail, a gust of wind could knock her over. It’s fine if you play with her on normal days, but bringing her into the mountains, something might go wrong and her family would surely blame us! It’s not that I’m being mean, it’s just better to be cautious with people."

"What can I do?" Hua Xiaomai felt somewhat helpless. "She insisted on coming, and she spoke so sincerely, how could I flatly refuse? We’ll just have to be a bit more careful, that’s all. Also, after picking the peach leaves, I need to stop by her place to check on their bamboo shoots oil, so I might come back later. You’ll handle dinner, okay?"

Guan Rong replied impatiently, then pulled her aside and said mysteriously, "Yesterday, I ran into that Geng Erniu’s aunt in the village... Yes, that Aunt Geng, she told me something nice. Your brother-in-law made a fuss all night, and I didn’t get a chance to tell you."

Uh? Smiling so slyly?

A sense of vigilance arose in Hua Xiaomai, and she stared at her: "What is it?"

Who knew that Guan Rong would start being secretive, waving her hand, "Oh, it’s good news anyway, I’ll tell you slowly when you get back tonight. Go on, go on, they are waiting for you, be careful, the road is slippery!"

"Got it!" Hua Xiaomai glanced at her suspiciously, then took off at a trot, pulling Guan Rong out of the village.

In the short forest to the west of Fire Knife Village, there were many wild peach trees. In early spring, when the freshly sprouted peach leaves were most tender, they could be easily twisted off with your fingers, and the moisture would seep out—perfect for making fairy sauce.

The mountain path was somewhat muddy, and having to watch over Guan Rong, Hua Xiaomai did not dare to walk too quickly. Fortunately, there were plenty of peach trees. The two selected the freshest, most tender leaves to gather. In just half an hour, they had picked nearly half a basket.

The air was indeed fresh and moist in the forest. Guan Rong and Hua Xiaomai chatted as they walked. Not only did Guan Rong not feel uncomfortable, but even her voice sounded louder than usual, and she enthusiastically told Hua Xiaomai all sorts of village gossip—who had got married, who had sent off a daughter in marriage—and the conversation eventually turned to Meng Yuhuai.

"Xiaomai, yesterday I heard you and Brother Yuhuai talking about Spring Wine. What’s that about?"

She casually stuffed a handful of peach leaves into Hua Xiaomai’s basket behind her as she spoke.

Have you been holding onto that question all night?

Hua Xiaomai found it a bit amusing, but kept a straight face, "Oh, it’s the Lianshun Escort Agency wanting to host a Spring Wine. Uncle Ke wants me to cook, so he had Brother Meng come and see if I’ll be available."

"Uncle Ke?" Guan Rong looked at her, and for some reason, her expression seemed a bit forlorn, "So that’s why Brother Yuhuai came back. No wonder he only stayed for a night, and rushed back to the county first thing this morning."

Hua Xiaomai didn’t want to discuss Meng Yuhuai too much, so she just hummed noncommittally without engaging further. As Guan Rong paused and opened her mouth to speak again, they heard a rustling sound of leaves breaking. Looking up, they saw someone coming out of the forest.

*****

O, haughty youths, do I simply ask for a recommendation ticket? Sigh...

Tomorrow there will be a double update, afterwards, every one hundred and fifty recommendation tickets will prompt an additional Chapter. I’m running while crying T^T