Chef Hua
Chapter 99: Episode 73 Locust Leaf Cold Noodles_2

Chapter 99: Episode 73 Locust Leaf Cold Noodles_2

As the weather gradually warmed up, the trees by the river grew lush and thick, their vibrant green colors especially pleasing to the eye. Between two particularly robust trees, someone’s daughter had tied a swing, adorned with colorful ribbons that drifted gently in the breeze coming off the river.

Hua Xiaomai was suddenly in high spirits, and as she stood up intending to sit on the swing, she heard a man’s voice hesitating behind her.

"Not selling noodles today...?"

She turned around and saw that it was Wen Huaren from the southeast branch, and her eyebrows knitted together immediately as she looked at him with displeasure: "Of course, I am selling noodles, just not to you."

Wen Huaren had heard news of the noodle stand’s opening day and, seeing that everyone in the village praised its delicious taste, he wanted to try it himself. Alas, he was embarrassed by the shallowness of his means, and upon hearing that these noodles were priced higher than others, he hesitated to decide. Today, all of Fire Knife Village was gathered together to celebrate the festival, and he, alone at home, felt the isolation more acutely and thus set out to try his luck.

The moment he heard Hua Xiaomai say she would not sell him noodles, he became slightly anxious and quickly took two steps forward, giving Hua Xiaomai a bow before saying loudly, "Miss Xiaomai, do you have some misunderstanding about me? Why are you so unwilling to sell me the noodles?"

"Who allowed you to call me Miss Xiaomai? We are not familiar with each other, you should at least call me..." Hua Xiaomai paused here, suddenly realizing that the title "Miss Hua" also didn’t sound very pleasant, so she waved her hand impatiently, "Ah, whatever you like, just don’t think because you got a deal at Granny Sun’s, you can get the same from me. I’m not that easy to talk to. Go do whatever you need to!"

Having said this, she turned to head back to her stand.

Wen Huaren became even more anxious and hastened to catch up, saying in a flurry, "It’s not important that you don’t sell your noodles to me, but some things need to be made clear. That day, I was only short of paying Granny Sun one cent. Although I live a frugal life, I am not to the point of taking advantage of such a small thing as a mustard seed. I had rummaged through my pockets and had not a single copper coin left! I know that what I did was not appropriate, and as soon as Granny Sun comes back to sell her sweet soups, I will surely pay her back that one cent. If you do not believe me, just watch me when the time comes!"

He spoke with such sincerity that he was nearly swearing by the heavens, and Hua Xiaomai gave his face another look.

Guan Rong had mentioned before that Scholar Wen’s family seemed to be struggling, and now observing his clothes, which appeared to have been worn for many years, and his slightly pallid complexion, it was clear his nutrition was lacking—not enough to stir a sense of compassion in her, but Hua Xiaomai wasn’t heartless. She impatiently said, "These are your own words. When Granny Sun comes again, I really want to see if you will repay her—Do you want to eat noodles? Did you bring money?"

Upon hearing this, Wen Huaren immediately perked up, nodding his head quickly and undoing his coin pouch from his waist. All the copper coins clinked into his palm, which he then presented to Hua Xiaomai, saying, "People say your family’s noodles are more expensive but also taste particularly good. Although I am poor, I too am a person who delights in delicacies. I’ve turned my house upside down and found a few coins, which is all I own! I wonder if you would be willing to make me a bowl of that ’Zhachiang’ noodles?"

Hua Xiaomai glanced at the copper coins in his palm, which totaled around a dozen or so, and her brows furrowed: "You only have these few coins left and you still want to eat ’Zhachiang’ noodles? Are you planning on surviving tomorrow? This amount is enough to buy you a large basket of steamed buns that could last you five or seven days, yet you’re ready to devour them all in one sitting, don’t you find that wasteful?"

"No worries, no worries, " Wen Huaren waved his hands smilingly and said, "It’s still a bit cool in the mornings and evenings. In a few more days, I will pawn my winter clothes and quilt, and with that..."

"Pawning clothes for winter?!"

When Hua Xiaomai heard this, she thought it was just preposterous. Indeed, what use is a scholar? What on earth was going through this man’s head?

"Not to mention whether the pawnshop would even accept that ancient winter garment you’ve worn for who knows how many years, even if you actually managed to pawn it, can you guarantee that when winter comes again you’ll definitely have money to redeem it? Living day to day like this, I really can’t tell if you’ll die of hunger or freeze to death first. Today is the Cold Food Festival, we can’t light the stove, so where am I supposed to make your fish and wheat bran noodles?"

Wen Huaren simply smiled wryly and did not answer.

Hua Xiaomai also found his demeanor a bit unbearable. Reluctantly, she walked over to her food stall, grabbed a bowl of cold noodles, mixed it with sesame oil and mustard seed oil, scooped a spoonful of divine sauce, and slammed it on the table with no good grace, saying, "Four cents, take it or leave it!"

"Is this... Locust Leaf Cold Noodles?" Wen Huaren looked down and blurted out with surprise.

"You do know your stuff," remarked Hua Xiaomai, giving him a look.

The Locust Leaf Cold Noodles were made by pounding freshly picked young locust leaves early in the morning into juice and thoroughly mixing it with flour to form a dough. The dough was then cut into strips of varying widths, steamed until cooked, and finally, the perfectly cooked noodles were cooled in the refreshing well water. When eaten with the seasonings, it not only gave a sense of coolness but also carried the fresh fragrance of locust leaves, making it a delightfully refreshing dish.

Filled with joy, Wen Huaren fished out the money and immediately started gobbling down the bowl. Hua Xiaomai couldn’t be bothered with him and, seeing no other customers coming, she went to sit on the swing nearby, idly swaying back and forth. Scholar Wen kept talking to her while he ate, but out of ten sentences, she might respond to one or two at most.

...

Meng Yuhuai hadn’t returned to Fire Knife Village in a long time. Today was the festival, and a couple of days earlier, his mother had continuously sent people to urge him to come home, saying that it was just improper to stay away during the holiday. Unable to avoid it any longer, he finally made a trip back to the village and, after having dinner at home, led his horse out slowly, preparing to return to the County. As he passed by the river, he turned his head for a look.

There, as expected, a few tables and chairs were set up along with a food stall by the riverbank. Only one person sat at a table, busily eating. Not far from them, on a swing, a figure in a pale yellow dress blended into the vibrant greenery all around, languorously swinging, her garment fluttering with a leisurely ease.

He stood on the small path by the river for a while, then turned to leave, but just at that moment, the Hua Xiaomai on the swing looked back, pausing slightly.

In the night, he couldn’t make out her expression clearly, but Meng Yuhuai felt as if she had smiled for a moment before waving in this direction. (To be continued. If you like this work, you’re welcome to visit Qidian (qidian.com) to cast your recommendation and monthly tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users, please go to m.qidian.com to read.)