Chef Hua-Chapter 674: Episode 357: The Choice

Daoxiang Garden’s three rooms all faced favorable directions. There was some sunshine in the morning, but as the sun moved to the other side in the afternoon and with the bamboo blinds drawn, the room instantly became cooler, much cooler than the lobby downstairs.

Wang Zhanrui, holding a greasy paper package in his hand, stepped through the door and caught sight of the little walnut on the couch, immediately stopping in his tracks.

"I heard from the staff that everyone had a good time drinking together at noon. I couldn’t make it and felt I should explain— is the child sleeping? Then I’ll come back later..."

As if responding to him, the little walnut mumbled something indistinctly and turned his head to giggle at him.

"He is very lively, obviously not going to sleep," said Hua Xiaomai with a smile as she ushered Wang Zhanrui inside, "It’s very hot outside, and since there’s nothing much to do, come and sit for a while."

While speaking, she poured a cup of warm tea for him from the pot on the table.

Wang Zhanrui hesitated slightly, thought for a moment, then also sat down in the chair and set the paper package on the table.

"At noon... Mr. Xue took me to a restaurant for a meal. The marinated duck legs there are famous in the city, so I bought two. We’ve been in Provincial City for two or three days, busy only with the affairs of the Eight Treasures Conference. We haven’t even been anywhere else or tasted the specialties from other homes. These duck legs are highly praised by everyone, I tried them but found them to be just so-so, not comparable to the mixed flavors of Daoxiang Garden. The duck meat, though, is tender and flavorful enough. Do you both want to try?"

As he spoke, he turned and smiled at Meng Yuhuai, pulling him to sit at the table as well. 𝓯𝓻𝓮𝙚𝙬𝓮𝙗𝒏𝙤𝒗𝙚𝙡.𝒄𝒐𝓶

Hua Xiaomai took the paper package, sniffed it near her nose, noting that the aroma was still quite rich, but she did not plan to taste it right away. Deliberately ignoring the key point of Wang Zhanrui’s earlier statement, she pursed her lips and said, "Yes, it’s not easy to come to Provincial City. If we don’t enjoy ourselves to the fullest, it would be such a waste. That’s why we plan to stay a couple more days to roam around and buy some novel things to take back. It wouldn’t be a wasted trip then. Yun’er is worried about the business back at the shop, afraid that Chef Tan can’t manage alone, so she plans to rush back early tomorrow morning. Xiu Miao and Qing You, too, will go with her."

"Ah..."

Wang Zhanrui nodded, "Then I’ll... leave early tomorrow morning as well. Your family should have a good time together. I better not intrude anymore."

"Up to you, just decide for yourself," Hua Xiaomai responded, went to open the window slightly to let some air in, and then wrapped the little walnut’s thin blanket around him again.

There was silence in the room for a moment, and a gust of wind from outside flapped the bamboo blinds lightly.

"That..."

Wang Zhanrui, appearing a bit uncomfortable, licked his lips, took a small sip from his tea cup, and attempted to make conversation with Meng Yuhuai, "Considering our Daoxiang Garden has also returned with a victory this time, we should properly celebrate. I missed the noon banquet, so if you’re free tonight, brother Yuhuai, let’s have a few more drinks. After all, there’s nothing important to handle following this, a bit of drink wouldn’t hurt, right?"

"Sure." Meng Yuhuai smiled, nodding his head in cheerful agreement.

Following this...

Then Master Wang ran out of things to say again, clearly feeling restless, yet from his demeanor, it seemed he wasn’t planning on leaving just yet.

After settling the little walnut, Hua Xiaomai returned to the table, slowly pouring herself a cup of tea. Suddenly looking up at Wang Zhanrui, she took a deep breath, smiled, and said, "Master Wang, if you have something to say, just speak freely. Haven’t we discussed this before? Keeping things to yourself will only lead to mutual suspicions unnecessarily. Why hold back?"

Wang Zhanrui glanced at her swiftly, usually notorious for his strange temper, but now seeming almost afraid of upsetting her: "Actually... I just wanted to talk about what Mr. Xue approached me for today."

It was indeed about this...

Hua Xiaomai wasn’t surprised at all, turned to look at Meng Yuhuai, saw that he also understood completely, and couldn’t help but start to laugh: "Alright, speak, I’m listening."

"Mr. Xue and my father know each other,"

Wang Zhanrui spoke with some difficulty: "Not very intimately, at most just as a gourmet, he had met my father, the so-called ’foremost chef in the world,’ a couple of times. But he is really an expert in gourmet food, he remembers any delicious food he’s tasted just once—last time he came to Daoxiang Garden and invited you to the Eight Treasures Conference, after tasting my cooking, he felt my culinary style was much like my father’s. This time he was even more certain. I was reluctant to reveal that I am Wang Tonghe’s son just because I didn’t want to flaunt my father’s reputation, but since he has already recognized me, there’s no point in hiding it any longer, I simply acknowledged it."