Chef Hua
Chapter 97: Episode 72: Energetic but Nowhere to Use It - Part 2

Chapter 97: Episode 72: Energetic but Nowhere to Use It - Part 2

"Oh, what’s the hurry? I haven’t finished speaking yet," Hua Xiaomai rolled her eyes, making an "I told you so" expression towards Zuo Jinxiang, and said helplessly, "Ever since the second day, she hasn’t eaten a bowl of noodles at the stall, but it’s precisely because she doesn’t eat that I find it even more troublesome! She..."

She spilled out everything that had happened these past few days, rubbing her temples as if with a headache, she said: "Now when I listen to the customers who come to eat noodles talking to her, in their words, it seems like they think the stall is run by both her and me. She is busy there every day, and although she hasn’t said anything, can I really let her work for nothing? What would that make me look like in the eyes of others?"

Hua’s second wife was at a loss for words. After Zuo Jinxiang heard this, she immediately gave a cold laugh.

"Hmph, she has the nerve to accuse you of being too self-conscious? In my view, she’s the one with countless tricks up her sleeve!"

Hua Xiaomai glanced up at her but said nothing. Hua’s second wife immediately turned her head: "Sister-in-law Zuo, are you saying that she..."

"What else is there to say? Tut tut, she’s managed to make people think she has a share in that stall. Her scheming has certainly not been in vain!" Zuo Jinxiang said sarcastically, "No wonder you said that girl falls sick every other day. With all this on her mind, how can her health hold up?"

Da Zhong looked back at her and, shaking his head with resignation, said, "Sister-in-law, about that... You haven’t even met the young lady, how can you know..."

"Pah!" Zuo Jinxiang spat on the ground before he could finish, and said fiercely, "What of it? Did you just now hear Xiaomai say that the girl is quite good-looking, so you’ve taken a fancy to her? It’s true that I don’t know her, but if what she’s doing is beyond reproach, can’t I even make a few remarks?"

Da Zhong tugged at the corner of his mouth, hurriedly kept his gaze on the jars of sauce, and dared not make another sound.

Hua’s second wife lowered her head in thought, hesitant, she said: "I thought initially, my younger sister just arrived at Fire Knife Village and knew no one; making a few friends would always be good. That Guan Rong... I didn’t have much contact with her before, and I only felt that although she was a bit weak, she didn’t seem to harbor any ill will, so I let my sister play with her when she was free, to have some company. I don’t think she’s the type to take advantage of others!"

Zuo Jinxiang’s sneer widened, her eyes rolled: "Hmm, Mrs. Hua, my words might not be pleasant to hear... Guan Rong didn’t take advantage of your family in the past not because she didn’t want to, but because your family was poor! Now that your sister has come, she can not only make pastries but also sell various foods to make money, and has even set up a stall, so why wouldn’t she cling to you? Tsk, why else do you think she hangs around the stall every day? You surely don’t think she’s simply trying to help your sister out of kindness, do you?"

"I..." Without a comeback, and recalling the incident with selling the dried bamboo shoots, Hua’s second wife suddenly became more cautious. Clapping her hands, she said loudly to Hua Xiaomai, "We definitely can’t let her get away with this! From tonight on, I will go with you to the stall as before, and if necessary, I’ll even call your brother-in-law. I refuse to believe she’d have the audacity to act so shamelessly!"

...

Zuo Jinxiang and Da Zhong stayed for a meal at the Jing Family courtyard, where Hua Xiaomai cooked a big bowl of fish sauce noodles for them. Da Zhong couldn’t stop praising it, declaring that if he had the chance, he must bring his brothers from the Escort Agency to try the delicious taste.

Concerned about returning to the County, they rested for a while after the meal before saying their goodbyes. Hua’s second wife walked them to the western exit of the village, and upon returning, she talked to Hua Xiaomai at length, reiterating, "We don’t take advantage of others, but we can’t let ourselves be taken advantage of either," going on and on until Hua Xiaomai was bothered by the nagging and grudgingly stopped talking.

Hua’s second wife was busy planning the perfect stinging comment for Guan Rong in her mind, wanting to embarrass her so that she wouldn’t dare hang around the stall anymore. To ensure her victory, she even practiced repeatedly in front of a big water jar, convinced that her wording was flawless and victory certain.

However, that night, Hua’s second wife joined Hua Xiaomai in tolerating the cold river breeze until well past the hour of the Pig, yet Guan Rong still did not show up, which led her to start worrying.

"Didn’t you say she comes every night? Why didn’t she come today of all days?" She fumed with pent-up energy that had nowhere to be released, and her frustration outweighed her relief as she incessantly questioned Hua Xiaomai. Hua Xiaomai, unable to get a word in edgewise and mixed with laughter and tears, had no choice but to cook another bowl of noodles to appease her.

"Isn’t it better that she didn’t come? I think, maybe my harsh words last night made her uncomfortable, and now she’s annoyed with me. It’s not bad this way, we both save some effort, and there’s no big scene that leads to falling out and losing face."

Despite her words, however, Hua Xiaomai couldn’t truly relax.

Guan Rong didn’t seem like the type to give up easily. Though frail, she had a certain tenacity, and this could be seen in her attitude towards Meng Yuhuai—knowing the chances were slim, she still hoped and was reluctant to let go.

Nevertheless, regardless of everything else, Guan Rong’s absence meant Hua Xiaomai could have some peace and focus on her food stall business, intent on earning more money as the top priority.

The days flew by in the blink of an eye, and before long, the Cold Food Festival arrived. (To be continued. If you like this work, you are welcome to go to Qidian (qidian.com) to cast your recommendation tickets and monthly tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users, please visit m.qidian.com to read.)