Chef Hua
Chapter 588: Episode 314: Reluctant to Part

Chapter 588: Episode 314: Reluctant to Part

Meng Yuhuai and Chun Xi, La Mei, and a few others, knowing that Hua Xiaomai was testing Zhou Yunyun’s culinary skills, didn’t want to make her too nervous, so they stayed back, lingering near the doorway to chat leisurely.

When they heard Hua Xiaomai mention the "thank-you feast," they had an idea that Zhou Yunyun had most likely passed the test. They immediately gathered around, clamoring relentlessly. One said, "We can’t miss out on the thank-you feast," while another remarked, "Zhou Family’s sister, I’ve been helping you a lot lately," and for a moment, the hall was bustling with uproar. 𝗳𝚛𝚎𝚎𝘄𝕖𝕓𝕟𝕠𝚟𝚎𝕝.𝗰𝕠𝐦

Zhou Yunyun was both startled and delighted, her mind as messy as a paste, responding with repetitive "Okay, okay," and "Sure, sure," to those asking her for drinks and food. Hua Xiaomai stood by, letting everyone discuss until they had enough, then suddenly pulled Zhou Yunyun to her side and whispered, "Think about it, you’ve just started earning a monthly wage, how much can it be? If you spend it all on treating others, you won’t save a penny for yourself, how would that work?"

Although the words were intended for her ears only, the voice was quite loud, and everyone in the hall heard it and thought she was covering for her apprentice, so they kindly shut their mouths, and Zhou Yunyun gave her a grateful look.

But unexpectedly, she changed her tone and leisurely continued, "In my view, you should just treat Yuhuai and me to a good meal, why bother with anyone else?"

These words set off a commotion in the hall immediately, with some laughing and some cursing. Chun Xi, unyieldingly, stepped forward and grabbed Hua Xiaomai’s arm, pointing at her half-seriously, half-jokingly, "Little Sister Xiaomai, your heart is too wicked! It’s just a thank-you feast, and you want us to bask in your light; would it cost you two pieces of meat? The owner of the Daoxiang Garden sees us from head to toe every day, yet you intend to hog Yuhuai all for yourself, if word spreads, it will invite ridicule!"

While saying this, she made a gesture as if she was going to twist her.

Zhou Yunyun, stuck in the middle of it all, laughed along with everyone else, but gradually, her eyes began to redden. Standing up, she struggled to step forward, and stood in front of Hua Xiaomai, her lips quivering, "Master, let me bow to you..."

As she spoke, her knees began to buckle as she attempted to kneel.

Hua Xiaomai, completely focused on jesting with Chun Xi, was genuinely startled by these words. With so many people around, she had no place to hide, so she could only forcefully turn her body aside and wave her hands vigorously, "Don’t cause a fuss, this won’t do, I don’t favor this, you mustn’t..." 𝒻𝓇𝑒𝘦𝘸𝑒𝒷𝓃ℴ𝑣𝘦𝑙.𝒸ℴ𝘮

Meng Yuhuai also stretched out an arm and lifted Zhou Yunyun slightly, shaking his head with a grave tone, "There is no need for this."

Zhou Yunyun couldn’t kneel, so she rubbed her eyes and sniffled, "If it weren’t for you, Master, willing to take me as an apprentice and allowing me to learn cooking from you at Daoxiang Garden, attentively teaching me daily and providing me a place to live, I wouldn’t know where I’d be right now. My father... all he knows is to vent his anger by hitting people, and it was only when I came here that I saw some sunshine and felt that life still holds hope. Today, Master, you let me graduate, but I... I’m not good with words; please let me bow to you, otherwise, I really don’t know how else to thank you..."

"Really no need!" Hua Xiaomai turned away, refusing to look at her, adamantly unwilling to accept her gesture.

"Xiaomai may be your master, but she is only a year older than you. To be honest, the two of you are peers. If you insist on bowing to her, isn’t that shortening her life?"

Chun Xi also persuaded from the side, "I say, just give her a proper bow, and that should be enough."

Zhou Yunyun, previously overwhelmed by emotions and a torrent of feelings, hadn’t thought much about it, but hearing Chun Xi’s words, she felt it was somewhat inappropriate, and indeed stood up.

"Then I will just give Master a bow." She said, and then bent down, respectfully bowing to Hua Xiaomai.

Hua Xiaomai, having dodged the more formal kowtow, let out a long sigh of relief, reached out to pull her up, and laughed, "You’ve been learning cooking with me for over a year, you know what kind of person I am. We don’t need those empty formalities. Don’t think that just because you’ve graduated, everything is perfect. If you really want to make a name for yourself in the catering industry, you still have a long way to go. Just work hard at Daoxiang Garden and don’t let your master lose face."

Zhou Yunyun nodded vigorously, wiped her face, and flashed a brilliant smile at her.

...

The so-called "thank-you feast" was just a joke in the end, and naturally, it came to nothing. On the sixth day of the new year, when Daoxiang Garden reopened, Zhou Yunyun formally entered the kitchen, starting to help Wang Zhanrui and Master Tan manage all kinds of tasks related to the kitchen.