Chef Hua
Chapter 57: Episode 49: A Good Thing or a Trouble

Chapter 57: Episode 49: A Good Thing or a Trouble

Hmm? This expression?

Guan Rong felt sudden suspicion arise in her heart.

Having lived with her for some time, she had come to understand her second mother well. Although her second sister loved and protected her, the coquettish demeanor she was displaying now was reserved only for Jing Taihe, and absolutely not something she would show in front of her.

No good deed goes unpunished... Hm, something’s definitely up!

"Second sister, you haven’t rested yet?" Guan Rong’s tone remained casual as she patted the bed beside her, "Come sit."

Hua Xiaomai’s second mother then swayed gracefully into the room, squeezing close to Guan Rong on the bed and slipping her hand into hers, her voice soft, "Why aren’t you sleeping, sitting here all by yourself daydreaming?"

"I’m not daydreaming. I’m just thinking about the menu for the Spring Wine we’re hosting for Lianshun Escort Agency in a couple of days," Guan Rong replied, pursing her lips slightly.

Her second mother then lifted her hand and stroked her hair, "My little sister is so capable. Look, you haven’t been here long but you’ve already earned so much money for the family. Having a skill is truly reassuring; wherever you go, you feel confident! Like those wild mushroom buns you made tonight, your brother-in-law alone ate six of them! I think he’s gotten a bit fatter these days..."

As she spoke, she started looking Guan Rong up and down again, "Hmm, I think you’ve put on some weight too, your face looks rounder and fuller, not like when you first came, all gaunt and skinny. I felt embarrassed for you just looking at you!"

"Really?" Guan Rong subconsciously touched her own face, reaching for the mirror.

She too felt that the body she now inhabited was too thin and utterly lacking in appeal, but perhaps gaining a bit of weight wouldn’t be so bad?

"Oh, what’s the use of looking in the mirror at this hour? Would I lie to you?" Her second mother revealed her true colors with just a few words, impatiently slapping away her hand, "Little sister, I have something to tell you. It’s about the good news I mentioned to you this morning."

Could it be that she came running here, foregoing even accompanying her husband, not to bring up that subject?

Guan Rong suddenly felt inexplicably nervous, biting her lower lip and nodding calmly, "Oh, alright, go ahead. I’m listening."

"Ha, it’s about Aunt Geng. I ran into her on the ridges yesterday, and she just wouldn’t stop praising you."

Her second mother seemed quite unaccustomed to such serious conversation, she lowered her head and laughed while fidgeting with her fingers, "She said that a girl as hardworking and hardy as you is hard to come by even in Fire Knife Village, and she brought up her distant cousin’s son. The lad is eighteen this year, lives in the neighboring village, and has been farming with his family for generations. They own a good fifteen to twenty acres of land."

Guan Rong: "..."

Just as she feared, when her second mother spoke about finding her "a good family" to marry into a few days ago, Guan Rong felt her heart rise to her throat, hoping that no one in the village would take an interest in her. Yet, to her dismay, it hadn’t been long before someone came knocking!

How was this good news? It was clearly a huge problem!

She had already thought it through very clearly; since she had crossed over to this era, she was more than willing to respect the local customs, but to expect her to marry a man she did not know at all, just like the other girls in Fire Knife Village... sorry, that was as difficult as reaching the heavens.

Absolutely impossible.

Seeing her remain silent, her second mother grew anxious and gave her a nudge, "Why aren’t you saying anything?"

"What should I say?" Guan Rong lifted her eyelids and glanced at her.

"Slap!" Hua Erniang slapped Hua Xiaomai on the back without any pretense of politeness.

"You’re not dumb, I’ve made myself crystal clear, how can you still not understand? Stop playing dumb with me!" She leaped off the bed with a hu, hands on hips, her presence dominating, "I’ve told you, we’re not looking for a family with substantial wealth; getting by is enough. What matters most is that he treats you well and doesn’t bully you. I’ve seen that lad before when he visited Fire Knife Village, and he’s honest and upright. He’s the right age for you, and his family doesn’t lack food or clothing. What part of him doesn’t meet your standards?"

Hua Xiaomai’s heart sank heavily. Seeing Hua Erniang like this, who seemed so eager, but still...

"Erjie, isn’t it a bit early to talk about this now? I’m working as a chief cook for others and I can earn quite a bit of money. Every month, Uncle Ping from the Pan family buys the candied fruits I make... I, I don’t want to get married just yet."

"Early? Nonsense!" Hua Erniang glared at her firmly, "Go and ask around, in the entire Fire Knife Village, which girl your age isn’t engaged? It’s not like you’re getting married right away. After the engagement, won’t it still take a good year and a half to prepare? You like cooking and running the kitchen, then just mind your business and don’t worry about anything else; it won’t hold you back from both!"

"What about Guan Rong? She isn’t engaged either, is she?"

"Ha, she wishes she were, but with her frail health, she’d need to find someone brave enough to marry her! Besides, you’ve known her for so long, can’t you see through all her little schemes?"

Hua Erniang roared for a while, then sighed, took Hua Xiaomai’s hand, and said earnestly, "Xiao San, you’re my own sister, and I know what you’re worried about—do you think that lad isn’t good-looking? But he’s decent, not ugly at all. Besides, what use is a handsome face on a man?"

As if, Hua Xiaomai secretly rolled her eyes in her heart. If Jing Taihe didn’t have a clean face with rosy lips and white teeth, even if you married him, would you still be all over him whenever there’s a chance, not letting go, as you are now?

"Erjie, you acting like this now..." you’re like a madam in a brothel!

She ultimately didn’t dare to voice the latter half of the thought and felt it was better to speak her mind sooner rather than later, so she took a deep breath and looked earnestly into Hua Erniang’s eyes, "Erjie, I really don’t want to get married right now. Let’s just drop this matter, please don’t worry about it for me anymore."

"Nonsense!" Hua Erniang was completely furious, her eyes widened as if she was ready to devour someone, "With our parents gone, I only have you as a sister. If I don’t look after you, who will? Are you still counting on that shameless, unreliable Hua Dashan to arrange things for you? That would be throwing you into the pit of fire, never to come out! If you don’t get married, what, are you planning to depend on me and your brother-in-law for the rest of your life?"

Hua Xiaomai knew her sister meant well and understood that her words were uttered in frustration, yet at that moment, her stubbornness surged, and her voice rose, "Anyway, I just don’t want to get married right now, I’m serious, can you please not push me, Erjie?"

Jing Taihe was startled awake by the sisters’ increasingly loud argument and suddenly felt very sorrowful.

Little sister, your Erjie is doing this for your own good, please don’t argue with her...

Erniang, if the little sister really doesn’t want to, let it be, why make the sisters fight until they are black and blue?

Of course, he only dared to think these thoughts to himself, never venturing near the western room at that moment to avoid getting burnt.

Hua Erniang felt like hitting someone, her fists creaked as she clenched them tightly, her voice seething with anger, "Anyway, Aunt Geng will come to our house to discuss this matter personally tomorrow, you..."

"I’m busy." Hua Xiaomai didn’t wait for her to finish, turning her neck to one side.

"Hmph, you can try, but if you dare to step out the door, I’ll break your legs!" Hua Erniang snorted coldly and stormed out, slamming the door behind her.

***********

That’s a wrap, after the talking comes the closing~