Chef Hua
Chapter 96: Episode 72: Energetic but Nowhere to Use It

Chapter 96: Episode 72: Energetic but Nowhere to Use It

Hua Xiaomai spun out like a whirlwind, running and shouting. She rushed headlong into the courtyard, suddenly gasped in the cold air, and then fell silent.

There, Sister-in-law Zuo sat in the middle of the courtyard, all smiles—now that was fine, she was a woman after all. But fatal was that not far behind her, there was Great Saint!

Great Saint, with his hands clasped behind his back, was strolling with interest among some large sauce jars. Hearing her shout, he turned around, joined by Sister-in-law Zuo and Zuo Jinxiang, who all fixed her with a piercing gaze.

Dead... Hua Xiaomai glanced down at herself—hair uncombed, face unwashed, even her shoes not properly on—and wished she could vanish into a crack in the ground. However, it was Sister-in-law Zuo who quickly sprung into action, striding over in a few steps while hissing, "What are you still standing there for?" as she pushed Hua Xiaomai toward the western room, not forgetting to nod apologetically at Zuo Jinxiang and say, "Forgive us, how embarrassing."

Hua Xiaomai hastily changed her clothes, and Sister-in-law Zuo brought in a basin of water for her to wash up. Only when she was tidied up did she emerge, awkwardly greeting Zuo Jinxiang and Great Saint.

"Sister-in-law Zuo, and brother Great Saint, uh... I didn’t know you were coming. I thought it was just my second sister at home." She sat next to Zuo Jinxiang and turned to smile at Great Saint, "What brings you to the village?"

"I heard you set up a stall selling food, so naturally, I had to come and congratulate you. As for Great Saint, I dragged him along to keep me company." Sister-in-law Zuo said with a smile, patting Hua Xiaomai’s hand as she noticed her discomfort, "Oh come on, we’re all familiar here; no need to be so shy, no one is laughing at you!"

Hua Xiaomai stuck out her tongue, then exclaimed in surprise, "Strange, how did you know I had set up a stall? It’s only been open a few days..."

"Someone from your village went to the county for some errands and stopped by the Escort Agency to see Leader Meng. He mentioned it. Thinking of your new business, I felt I must come and congratulate you. Even our employer knows about it and said he’ll visit when he’s free!" Zuo Jinxiang said cheerfully.

Sister-in-law Zuo was emptying out leftover water outside the courtyard and came in just in time to add, "Mm, Great Saint told him while visiting brother Meng."

Hua Xiaomai nodded understandingly. Setting up a food stall by the river was indeed a novelty in Fire Knife Village, and since Great Saint and Meng Yuhuai were childhood friends, it was normal for him to drop by and talk about it.

After a moment, she smiled at Zuo Jinxiang, "Even Uncle Ke knows? Oh, it’s just a small stall, not a proper shop. You making a trip for it is too much trouble. It’s a pity that my stall only opens at night, otherwise I’d invite you and brother Great Saint to come by. Sister-in-law, how about this? Why don’t you and brother Great Saint stay for lunch and try my noodles, how does that sound?"

"Exactly, that’s what you should do. Don’t rush off, sister-in-law. We can chat a bit," Sister-in-law Zuo chimed in from the side.

Zuo Jinxiang thought for a moment, considering that Ke Zhenwu knew she was in Fire Knife Village today and probably didn’t expect her back at the Escort Agency to prepare lunch, so she nodded in agreement.

Sister-in-law Zuo brought an old, blackened kettle over to refill their teacups, then turned to ask Hua Xiaomai, "Right, what were you trying to say to me just now? Charging out with all limbs flailing, what was so urgent?"

Well...

Hua Xiaomai glanced at Zuo Jinxiang and quickly peeked in Great Saint’s direction, undecided about whether to divulge the matter in front of them.

"What? Can’t speak in front of us?" Zuo Jinxiang quickly sensed her hesitation and teased with a half-smile, "Why not sidle up to your sister and whisper? We’ll just cover our ears!"

"No, it’s not that—" Hua Xiaomai pushed back with a smile, then upon further consideration figured there was nothing really to hide. She scrunched up her eyebrows and bit her lip, "Sister, actually, these past few nights, Guan Rong has been visiting my stall. She..."

"What, she’s been expecting you to treat her to noodles daily?" Sister-in-law Zuo jumped in before she could finish, her face growing anxious, "Didn’t you say you already treated her to a bowl of plain noodle soup the first time? Ha, a small bowl of noodles is only four copper coins, certainly nothing substantial, but we’re running the stall to make money, not to feed her for free! I thought she was quite sensible; why would she behave like this..."