Chef Hua
Chapter 70: Episode 59: Sugar Water Stall

Chapter 70: Episode 59: Sugar Water Stall

Although Hua Erniang was not keen on her younger sister doing business with Guan Rong, to put it bluntly, she was afraid of being taken advantage of, but it was fine for the two of them to chat and play together when they had nothing else to do. Seeing Guan Rong coming, she still pulled her aside for a warm chat and then casually pointed towards the kitchen, "There, my little sister is busy inside. Go find her, let her pour you a bowl of warm water to drink. You must have caught quite a bit of cold wind on your way here, right?"

Guan Rong smiled a little shyly and thanked her. She walked to the kitchen door, leaned on the doorframe, and said with a playful smile, "Hua Xiaomai, the sugar water boiled by that old lady in Guzi Village tastes really good. I haven’t had it in several months, and I really miss it. How about we go together and try some, okay?"

Hua Xiaomai really didn’t want to go.

She had indeed been very busy these last few days, as she would soon hand over the pastries she had made to Pan Ping’an. Although Hua Erniang and Jing Taihe were helping her out, it was still most reliable for her to watch over the stove herself. Going out for sugar water, if it were an idle time, might be a fine choice, but at the moment, it would undoubtedly be a waste of time.

Moreover, now whenever she saw Guan Rong’s face, the bleak figure crying against the wind on the ridge would inevitably come to mind, making her feel as if she had unintentionally stumbled upon some secret. Why was Guan Rong coming to find her now, to drudgingly share her woes?

...Maybe not, then. It wasn’t that she wasn’t kindhearted. It’s just that, this matter had nothing to do with her at all and absorbing all that negative emotion might even affect the taste of the pastries and dishes she made!

Thinking thus, Hua Xiaomai also curved the corners of her mouth towards Guan Rong, "I’m sorry, Rong Jie, but I’m afraid I might not be able to make the time. The uncle next door, Pan Ping’an, is fond of the preserved fruits I made, and wants to try selling them in the Provincial City. He needs me to deliver in three days, and look at how late it is, I still need to steam pumpkins... so..."

"Have you started making preserved fruits again?" Guan Rong suddenly widened her eyes, unable to help but glance at the large steamer on the stove, "That business must earn a lot, right? Indeed, with your cooking skills, you don’t have to worry wherever you go, unlike me, who has always relied on my parents to live and has to spend money on medicine every few days..."

She quickly took two steps to catch up to Hua Xiaomai, grabbed her hand, and earnestly said, "Hua Xiaomai, I know you’re busy, but after a hard day’s work, you should relax a bit, shouldn’t you? The old lady’s stand is just by the river. We’ll go and come back, it won’t take more than an hour. I’m cooped up at home all day; it’s really stuffy. Can you just keep me company? Although I’ve been living in the village for over a decade, I barely have any friends..."

So, those three girls who were with you the first time we met were ghosts, huh?

Hua Xiaomai suddenly felt very deflated.

Guan Rong was born frail and was also very good at playing the victim. No matter what she asked for, if you dared to refuse her firmly, she would immediately stare at you with those watery eyes, showing a woebegone expression, making it impossible for you to get angry, let alone harshly refuse.

Isn’t that really quite a skill?

How should I refuse? I don’t want to go out! Hua Xiaomai screamed silently in her heart and was troubled about what to do when Hua Erniang, of all people, just had to butt in and stir things up.

"Look here, Hua Xiaosan." Perhaps Hua Erniang overheard the conversation between Guan Rong and Hua Xiaomai from the courtyard. She trudged to the kitchen door and called out loudly, "If the Guan Family sister is inviting you for sugar water, just go out with her for a walk! You’re always spinning around that stove; spend too long there, and you’ll turn into a yellow-faced woman before you even get married. We’ll watch the steaming pot for you, there won’t be any problems. Just go and come back quickly, okay?"

As she spoke, she even rushed back to the eastern room, took out twenty or thirty copper coins, and put them into Hua Xiaomai’s hands: "I have often heard that the old lady’s sugar water is exceptionally good. Since you’re going, might as well bring back two bowls for your sister and brother-in-law too, let us taste it as well."

With Hua Erniang’s support, Guan Rong was even less willing to give up. She twisted Hua Xiaomai’s arm and whispered, "Come on, Hua Xiaomai, let’s go together..."

Hua Xiaomai was so annoyed she could hardly stand it, and thought she would have to go along this time or she wouldn’t be able to avoid it. Thus, she nodded her head, took off her apron, went back to the western room to quickly tidy up, and followed Guan Rong out the door.

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