Chef Hua
Chapter 93: Episode 70 I’ll help you wash the dishes_2

Chapter 93: Episode 70 I’ll help you wash the dishes_2

Hua Ermu was momentarily lost for words, biting her lip and discontentedly drooping her eyelids, she said, "So what if you use high-quality ingredients? Most of the people who came for noodles today ordered the cheapest clear soup noodles. A couple of bowls of the meaty noodle dishes, the stir-fried pork noodles and saozi noodles were sold. The most expensive fish zha noodles, aside from the Great Saint brothers, nobody else would touch them! What’s the use of your fancy ingredients then?"

"Others may not choose the expensive noodles, but I can’t afford not to have them. I don’t need to explain that to you in detail, do I?" said Hua Xiaomai, curling her lip and giving Hua Ermu a sidelong glance.

Hua Ermu had a temper and was about to hit her when Jing Taihe quickly stepped in the way, speaking calmly, "Why resort to blows just because you disagree? Little sister makes a good point. Business is something you build up bit by bit. Look at my blacksmith shop—it wasn’t popular when I first opened either, and now? Even the vegetables you grow behind the house need watering and fertilizing before they gradually mature. So, why are you in such a hurry?"

Hua Ermu was left without a comeback and felt resentful, pouting childishly without saying a word. This expression on her naturally made Hua Xiaomai want to laugh and cry, but Jing Taihe found his wife’s behavior incredibly cute, covertly reaching under the table to pull her hand.

Hua Xiaomai clearly saw his actions through her eyelashes, turned her back to stealthily smile, picked up the cash box and stood up, saying seriously, "I’ll keep the money for now. Once a month is up, let’s calculate the profits then." Before she finished, she dashed back into the western room.

...

From that day on, Hua Xiaomai set up her stall by the river every evening. Each day before leaving, she would prepare dinner so that Jing Taihe could have a meal ready when he got home, rather than eating at the stall every day—no matter how tasty the food, eating the same thing could eventually become dull, even nauseating at the scent.

Hua Ermu often accompanied her younger sister to look after the stall, but with many domestic chores at home, there were times when she was held back. Seeing her sister busy, Hua Xiaomai simply told her there was no need to come, as the business had been just the same for the past few days and she could manage on her own.

The business improved slightly on the second and third day, but selling about fifteen or sixteen bowls of noodles each day was about the limit. Hua Xiaomai always had confidence in her cooking skills and was not in a rush, maintaining her cheerful demeanor, coming and going from dawn till dusk, full of enthusiasm.

Then on the fourth day, Guan Rong arrived.

At that time, Hua Xiaomai was busy making a bowl of ’confused noodles’ and didn’t initially notice her. Guan Rong stood behind a large tree, looking over and then crisply called out, "Sister Xiaomai."

Turning her head and seeing it was her, Hua Xiaomai immediately smiled, "You’re here, Rong? What are you standing over there for? Come over!" She waved to Guan Rong as she spoke.

"Hey!" replied Guan Rong cheerfully, really running over in a few quick strides, and as soon as she reached the stall, she started apologizing.

"I had planned to come on the opening day, but my sickness hadn’t fully passed, and my mother absolutely refused to let me leave the house. It wasn’t until today, after pestering her, that she finally nodded in agreement. Don’t hold it against me!"

Hua Xiaomai gave her a playful look and pulled her over to the wooden signboard, listing the five or six types of noodles, "Pick whatever you want to eat, I’ll treat you."

After a moment’s thought, Guan Rong cautiously ordered a small bowl of clear soup noodles. Hua Xiaomai seated her at an empty table, quickly boiled the noodles, served them, then swiftly took care of the other tables before sitting down beside Guan Rong. They chatted idly back and forth.

Since the stall was new, Guan Rong found everything fascinating, asking endless questions from all directions. She was also a slow eater. It took her a full stick of incense to finish a bowl of noodles, during which Hua Xiaomai greeted two more tables of customers. It wasn’t until almost the end of the night, when the place was empty, that Guan Rong drank the last sip of her soup and reached into her bosom for money.

"What are you doing?" Hua Xiaomai quickly reached out to stop her, "Didn’t I say I would treat you? A bowl of noodles isn’t worth much. The fact that you came to visit and supported me makes me happy enough. It shows that you really treat me as a friend. If you give me money, I’ll get mad!"

Guan Rong bit her lip and smiled, then playfully jostled with Hua Xiaomai a bit before relenting, looking around, she asked, "Sister Xiaomai, are you running the stall by yourself? Where are Brother Jing and Sister-in-law Jing?"

"My second sister was meant to come," Hua Xiaomai said with narrowed eyes and a smile, "but I thought, after my brother-in-law works all day at the blacksmith shop, he shouldn’t come home to an empty house. It isn’t right to do this all the time, so I told her not to come. Besides, business is slow now that we’ve just started, and I can handle it alone."

"Hmm, that makes sense," Guan Rong nodded in agreement, "but... although our village is peaceful, there are still a few ruffian-like characters. If they come to cause trouble, as a young lady, wouldn’t you be at a disadvantage?"

This was something Hua Xiaomai had also considered before. She thought that with people always coming and going by the riverside, no one would dare go too far in messing with her, so she wasn’t too worried. Now hearing Guan Rong raise the concern, she answered with a laugh, "If they dare come, I dare to beat them up. You all know about my second sister’s fierce temper, but I’m not a vegetarian either... Hey, what are you doing?"

Before she could finish speaking, her eyes suddenly widened with surprise because Guan Rong had swiftly squatted by the washbasin on the ground, tilting her face up to smile at her and said, "I ate your noodles but didn’t pay, and I feel quite embarrassed. How about... I help you wash the dishes?" (To be continued. If you like this work, please come to Qidian (qidian.com) to vote for the recommendation ticket, monthly ticket. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users please visit m.qidian.com to read.)