Chef Hua
Chapter 78: Episode 63 Exploded

Chapter 78: Episode 63 Exploded

"Hmm, the sweet soup Grandma Sun cooked is really tasty. Even your brother-in-law, who doesn’t usually like sweets, said it was good after eating the two bowls of walnut paste you brought back the other day."

Having been encouraged by that white-bearded immortal-like doctor, Hua Erniang was filled with joy. She was chatting with Jing Taihe about their bright future full of children and grandchildren when she caught the words "sweet soup" and responded without thinking. It was only after a moment that she realized something was amiss and quickly turned her head.

"What are you up to, say that again for me to hear?" Her smile froze a bit at the corners of her lips, and her tone was not so friendly as she stared unblinkingly at her younger sister.

Second Sister, you’re a bit slow on the uptake...

Hua Xiaomai sighed reluctantly and patiently continued, "Grandma Sun’s sweet soup stall does quite well for business; both adults and children like it. I saw with my own eyes, people were crowded around her to the inner third and outer third layers, packed tight. It shows that even though we in Fire Knife Village aren’t rich, as long as the food is good, nobody minds spending a bit more money. So, I was thinking of following suit and setting up a small stall to sell food, and then..."

"Can’t you go a day without causing trouble?"

Without waiting for her to finish, Hua Erniang interrupted irritably, "You’re a young lady, and you should be proper. Why would you want to set up a stall? Granny Sun sells sweet soup because her family is in dire straits and she has no other choice but to make money that way. And you? Are we starving or freezing you? With you doing embroidery for others and selling candied fruits and sauces for money, you’re never at peace for a single month. And now you still want to set up a stall? I think you must wholly dislike being alive! What did Doctor Xing say today, huh?"

"We are not starving or freezing, but ultimately, we’re barely getting by with what we have." Hua Xiaomai gazed upward and mumbled softly, "Besides, there are countless ways for a household to spend money. Are you saying we make too much?"

"Hey you..." Hua Erniang bristled with sudden irritation, raised her hand as if to strike, but Jing Taihe stepped in to mediate, "Look at you, getting all worked up again for what?"

He then turned to Hua Xiaomai with a smile, "Don’t be afraid, Little Sister. Tell us, what do you plan to sell at your stall?"

"Actually, I haven’t thought it through completely and was planning to discuss it with you all." Hua Xiaomai, who had backed away to a safe distance, glanced at Hua Erniang warily, and pouted, "But I figure that in winter, we could prepare some warm porridge, soup, and noodles that would comfort both body and soul; in summer, when people come out to enjoy the cool of the night, a couple of dishes suitable for accompanying drinks would surely be popular. As for spring and autumn..."

"Enough, enough already! I’m sick and tired of your endless chatter!" Hua Erniang’s eyebrows shot up, and she stood with hands on hips in a classic teapot stance, her tone sarcastic, "You’ve got the whole year planned out, always hovering around the kitchen. Do you still plan on getting married or not?!"

Not this topic again—when would it ever end?

Hua Xiaomai now got a headache at the mere mention of "marriage." She’d just managed to send Chen Huosheng away a short while back, and even had an unpleasant fallout with Aunt Geng because of it. There had been peace for two days, so why was Hua Erniang bringing this up again?

She was really getting irritated and dreaded the thought of Hua Erniang doing something foolish one day, dredging up matches like Zhang Huosheng, Li Huosheng, or Deng Huosheng. In her desperation, without giving it much thought, she blurted out, "Marriage, marriage; is that all you ever think about? I’m telling you this—if you can bring out a decent dowry, I’ll marry right away!"

Thinking it over, she added, "I’ll marry anyone!"

She had thought to herself that it was exactly this approach that had made Zuo Jinxiang come around. Surely it would work again, but she did not anticipate stirring up a huge mess.

"You said it!" Hua Erniang immediately exploded, her face turning red with anger as she ground her teeth, "Starting from tomorrow, we’re cutting back on expenses. Not a shred of meat will be seen at the dinner table, no new clothes, nothing nonessential will be bought! Ah, and that medicine Doctor Xing prescribed for me today was quite expensive. Rather than wasting money, better not to take it at all. Even if I have to pinch pennies, I’ll save up for your dowry!"

With that, she turned and headed back to the eastern room, slamming the door behind her with a bang.

Hua Xiaomai was stunned.

She seemed to have caused a problem... But weren’t they just discussing the business of running a food stall? How did it escalate to this?