Chef Hua-Chapter 675: Episode 357 Choice_2

Hua Xiaomai nodded: "Hmm, and then what?"

"Then..." Wang Zhanrui scanned her face again, "then he asked me if I had any intention of developing my career in Tong’an City. He said, even if no one else knew I was Wang Tonghe’s son, just with those two dishes I made at the Eight Treasures Conference, combined with his connections, it would be enough for me to establish myself in the Provincial City..."

"Are you saying that Old Master Xue is also planning to dip his toes into the food industry and compete with us for a living?"

Hua Xiaomai furrowed her brows, her face showing restraint.

"He has never been in the food business, simply because all these years, he hasn’t found a chef that truly satisfies him. He was slightly moved when he came across you at the Eight Treasures Conference two years ago, but knowing that you were from Taoyuan House and thinking you would stay there as a chef, by the time he realized the reality, you had already opened a restaurant in Fire Knife Village. He said, it was after meeting me at this Eight Treasures Conference that he had this thought again."

These words from Old Master Xue were clearly an acknowledgment of Wang Zhanrui’s culinary skills and strength, yet he seemed uncomfortable with such praise, his brows knotted as if deeply troubled by it.

Observing his expression, Hua Xiaomai couldn’t help wanting to laugh, and it took a great effort to suppress it before she huffed indignantly, "So it seems, Master Wang, you are indeed in demand! First Song Jingxi came to poach you, and now the famous gourmet of the Provincial City is persuading you—I thought Old Master Xue was kind to me, but it turns out, he isn’t so decent after all!"

"Don’t say that,"

Wang Zhanrui frowned deeply, making a ’川’ with his brows: "I know in my heart, he is not like Song Jingxi. That woman, to put it bluntly, just wants to use me as a pawn, and it’s uncertain where I would end up once she has achieved her goal; but Old Master Xue... he believes that you alone could hold up the Daoxiang Garden. To you, my presence is merely the icing on the cake, I..."

Apparently a bit anxious, his words came out somewhat incoherent, and he stumbled over his words, clearly quite earnest.

Meng Yuhuai was a generous person, and feeling sorry for him, glanced at Hua Xiaomai: "That’s enough, isn’t it? Who bullies someone like this?"

Hua Xiaomai raised an eyebrow, surprised as she turned to look at him. 𝙛𝒓𝒆𝙚𝒘𝒆𝓫𝙣𝓸𝙫𝓮𝒍.𝒄𝒐𝓶

It was strange, she had never mentioned to Meng Yuhuai about Old Master Xue stopping Wang Zhanrui, yet somehow, he seemed to understand her thoughts clearly?

"Don’t look at me, who do you think you’re fooling with those little schemes of yours?"

Meng Yuhuai’s lips curled into a half-smile.

Wang Zhanrui looked puzzled, his eyes shifting back and forth between the two: "What do you mean?"

"Ha!"

Hua Xiaomai couldn’t hold back any longer and burst out laughing with a slap on her hand: "Don’t be nervous, Master Wang, I was just playing with you. I’m not so foolish, Old Master Xue was a stranger to you before, and I could vaguely guess what he might say, even if I wasn’t there to hear it. But after all, it is your decision to make, so I wouldn’t mention it, nor would I want to ask and influence your judgment."

She said this and then sighed deeply, speaking earnestly, "Although Mr. Xue may not understand the matters of the kitchen, he is very influential in the culinary world of Provincial City. His recognition of your skills is indeed a great opportunity for you. Let me tell you the truth, I’m sincerely happy for you. Hmm, although, I must admit, I do feel a bit displeased that the old gentleman didn’t even bother to inform me before approaching you directly. But it’s fine, who harbors ill will and who holds good intentions, I can figure it out. You just make your own decision on this matter, and no matter what you decide, I have no objections."

"Do you really think so?"

Wang Zhanrui was caught off guard and looked at her face in disbelief.

"Do I seem like the kind to say one thing and mean another, who loves to show off?" Hua Xiaomai cocked her head and curved her lips into a smile, "If you really want to know what’s in my heart, of course, I don’t want you to leave. But now, with such a great opportunity before you, if I were to forcefully stop you, you would regret it later."

As she spoke, she turned her head to look at Meng Yuhuai, covering her chest with a pained expression on her face.

"Tell me, where could you find another tavern owner who sees the bigger picture like me? Master Wang, if we happen to cross paths at the Eight Treasures Conference someday, please be kind to me, alright?"

With a master chef like Wang Zhanrui, the tavern surely thrived, but truth be told, who in this world is willing to be forever overshadowed? People like him are rightfully qualified to have complete control over the entire kitchen.

Wang Zhanrui felt somewhat moved by her earlier words, but as he listened on, he couldn’t help but find it amusing, his expression growing increasingly strange as he exhaled deeply from his chest.

"Actually, in front of Mr. Xue earlier, I’d already made my decision. I told him that I was determined to work at Daoxiang Garden for a long time, and I don’t plan on leaving right now. I asked him to give me two years; if after two years, he still intends to open a restaurant and wishes for me to be the chef, then I’ll come to Provincial City to help him. But tomorrow, I’m still heading back to Fire Knife Village with Qing You and the others—that’s what I told you when I first walked in, didn’t you understand?"

"You mean..."

Hua Xiaomai was taken aback, subconsciously wanting to speak again, but realized there wasn’t actually much to ask anymore.

Could this be considered ’after the gloom, comes the bloom’?

She couldn’t help but look at Meng Yuhuai, who was also smiling, a relieved expression on his face as he watched her. She curved her lips into a smile and chuckled.

...

That night, Meng Yuhuai and Wang Zhanrui took Qing You along and drank for the entire night in the lobby downstairs. Despite the waiter yawning and urging them several times, they still felt unsatisfied, so they ended up taking a jug of wine to their room, drinking until close to midnight before heading back to their own rooms, reeking of alcohol.

Hua Xiaomai couldn’t wait for him to return and had already fallen asleep with Little Walnut in her arms on the couch. Fearing he might disturb his wife and child, he didn’t dare to light the lamp and tiptoed towards the bed, but carelessly stumbled over a stool, causing a quiet "clang" sound.

Little Walnut wrinkled his face and turned irritably a couple of times, seemingly annoyed, and miraculously emitted a sound similar to "tsk" from his mouth. Hua Xiaomai was startled awake and instinctively patted the baby, her eyes bleary as she glanced at Meng Someone’s face, "Why so late—where shall we go tomorrow for fun?"(To be continued. If you enjoy this work, please visit Qidian (qidian.com) to cast your recommendation ticket and monthly ticket. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users, please go to m.qidian.com to read.)