Chef Hua
Chapter 63: Episode 55 Empathy in Misery

Chapter 63: Episode 55 Empathy in Misery

"I’m naturally on the same page as you, but..." Hua Xiaomai’s stepmother’s lips faltered, and all of a sudden her gaze flashed, locking onto Hua Xiaomai with a voice tinged with doubt and surprise, "What are you planning to do?... Although I have a rather strong character, I shouldn’t always have to play the villain, should I?"

Yes, yes, yes, you only ever show that fierce face to your own sister, and when it comes to the crunch, you shrink back!

Hua Xiaomai twisted her arm in annoyance and pouted, "Who made you the villain? I just wanted to be sure of what you’re thinking. You surely aren’t still fixated on... wanting me to marry Aunt Geng’s nephew, are you?"

Hua Xiaomai’s stepmother frowned, "Haven’t I told you? If you’re unwilling, I certainly won’t force you. You’re my own sister, of course I want the best for you. Reluctance never leads to anything good."

Her words finally allowed Hua Xiaomai to let the heavy stone in her heart drop, taking a long breath, "Listen to me, sister. My brother-in-law is busy in the forge from morning till night, and it’s just us two women at home. Aunt Geng’s nephew acting like this, coming and going in our yard all day, it might be fine for a short time, but in the long run, we can’t ensure that people won’t start talking... Last night when I came back, I thought I saw someone busy behind the house, it was him, wasn’t it? Brother-in-law must have seen him too, doesn’t he have anything to say about it?"

Hmph, that Aunt Geng, truly a mastermind! Sending her nephew to frequent the Jing family’s courtyard, if the villagers see and start spreading gossip, that’s as good as a live endorsement by public opinion! Women of this era are indeed not to be underestimated, so cunning and sly!

Hua Xiaomai’s stepmother let out a sigh, looking troubled, "You know what your brother-in-law is like, don’t you? Everything to him is neither here nor there. To put it harshly, you can’t get a fart out of him with three sticks! Yesterday when he saw that Chen Huosheng, he just grumbled a few words to me in private, laughed a bit, and let it be, what more could he say?"

"That won’t do." Hua Xiaomai shook her head thoughtfully, "I think, this matter still has to be handled by a man. You stay home, don’t let on in front of that Chen Huosheng. I’m going to the forge to call brother-in-law back. Whether we do it through soft persuasion or harsh words, in the end, we must get Chen Huosheng to leave our house and never come back!"

"Alright, alright," Hua Xiaomai’s stepmother nodded repeatedly, and after a moment of pondering with a look full of worry, she added, "Then you and your brother-in-law need to come back quickly. I think that Chen Huosheng is actually quite diligent and willing to work hard. Yesterday he already turned over a good half of the ground behind our house. If we wait for him to finish all the work before telling him to leave, it would seem even more like we’re being rude..."

"I got it," Hua Xiaomai replied irritably, hurriedly tightening her collar as she ran towards the door, then turned back pensively.

"Sister, I’ve always been puzzled about what Sister-in-law Zuo actually said to you that day, that made you change your mind so suddenly?"

Hua Xiaomai’s stepmother lowered her head, rubbing the edge of her clothes, her voice faltering like never before, "...She only said two or three sentences, but the most important was the last one. She said it’s good that I’m trying to make marriage arrangements for you wholeheartedly, but looking at our family’s current situation, she feared we might not be able to provide a decent dowry... I thought about it carefully, and it seems she’s right."

"Such a simple matter, and you needed someone else to remind you!" Hua Xiaomai, both annoyed and amused, shook her head helplessly and bolted out the door.

...

The wind was very strong that day, making people’s faces tighten, with a bone-chilling spring cold. It felt as if the cold wind could penetrate right through one’s clothes into the bones.

As soon as Hua Xiaomai burst outside, she was immediately enveloped by a cold breath, shuddered from head to toe, hurriedly hugging her collar closer, and scurried toward the south of the village, shrinking her head and neck from the cold. When she passed by a dry field, she spotted a figure on the edge of the plot in the corner of her eye, standing there it seemed.

Perhaps due to the freezing weather, coupled with the fact that it wasn’t quite time for spring planting yet, there weren’t many people working in the fields that day. For that reason, the figure stood out even more—slender and tall, donned in a thick water-red coat, holding a handkerchief in hand, seemingly wiping away tears in the wind.

Is that... Guan Rong?

Hua Xiaomai suddenly recalled what her stepmother had mentioned yesterday when she returned from the county, that Guan Rong had come looking for her. She instinctively moved to greet her but halted mid-stride as she was about to step forward.

Looking at Guan Rong’s state, it seemed like she was crying, right? If I went to find her now, it would definitely make her feel really awkward, wouldn’t it?

Besides, Hua Xiaomai herself was covered in bumps and really had no energy to meddle in other people’s business at the moment.

Hua Xiaomai stood still for a moment and finally decided that her own situation was more urgent. She steeled herself, turned around, and ran off, her feet whipping up the wind as she dashed straight to the southern village blacksmith’s shop, ready to jump in.

Laughter and chatter from men echoed from inside.

"...so I think, this time, Aunt Meng has really made up her mind. I heard that yesterday she already had the girl’s mother over for tea, and the two of them hit it off like a house on fire! Just waiting for Yuhuai to return from Shengzhou, and I fear it will be settled right away!"

That voice sounded somewhat familiar.

"Aunt Meng... is she really not going to consider whether Yuhuai is willing or not?"

The one who spoke this time was Jing Taihe, his voice, just like his personality, although a bit sluggish, still conveyed his kindness.

"Hey, when could she afford to care about that much?" The other person seemed to slap his thigh, speaking up again, "We grew up with Yuhuai since childhood, even those younger than him have all started families, yet he remains a bachelor. His mother must be green with envy and anxious, right? I think Aunt Meng simply has no other choice, she’s tried all the nice talk, and this time, she’s determined to get serious!"

That day, it was Great Saint, who once came to Jing Taihe to get his pot fixed, visiting the blacksmith’s shop.

The two of them, along with Meng Yuhuai, were childhood friends with a special bond. Whenever he had free time, Great Saint liked to go to the blacksmith’s shop to kill time and tease the bored. He was also a bit of a chatterbox, having heard this big piece of news about Meng Yuhuai, he couldn’t wait to run over and share it with Jing Taihe.

Hua Xiaomai stood outside the door, hearing every word of their conversation clearly, and felt a twinge of surprise in her heart.

Could it be that Meng Yuhuai was also in a situation where his family was forcing him into betrothal? Misery loves company, how sad indeed!

However... if that were true, then Guan Rong’s earlier state at the field ridge could also be explained, right?

Hua Xiaomai couldn’t quite describe what she was feeling, she sighed inwardly, stepped into the blacksmith’s shop, greeted Great Saint with a smile, then pulled Jing Taihe aside and repeated the story of Chen Huosheng running back to work in the Jing Family’s courtyard.

"I was planning to help my sister turn over the soil, but once Chen Huosheng arrived, I didn’t even dare to go to the back of the house at will." She looked pitifully at Jing Taihe and said, "My sister feels the same way, and now she’s worried and doesn’t know what to do. Brother-in-law, you must help me!"

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Second update~