Chef Hua-Chapter 678: Episode 359 Return to the Village
As they talked, another gust of wind rose over the lake, swirling around the small boat and bringing with it a heavy mist that struck their faces directly.
Meng Yuhuai turned his head to look at Hua Xiaomai, laid down the bamboo pole he was using to propel the boat, and reached out to gently brush aside the damp strands of hair covering her face, smiling softly as he said, "What did you want to say?"
"Um..." Hua Xiaomai squinted at him, "That night at the inn, there was a commotion downstairs; I knew you were concerned about me being frightened and not being able to sleep, so you stayed up all night in the room. At that moment, I thought I must thank you properly, but afterward, I realized there are more things I should thank you for than just that one. For instance..."
She stopped abruptly, thought for a moment, looked up at Meng Yuhuai’s face, then shook her head, "No, it’s better left unsaid."
The man couldn’t help but laugh: "What’s wrong with you?"
Hua Xiaomai shrugged and gave him a sneaky smile, "I just realized that if I were to list everything one by one, it would take quite a lot of time and saliva. It’s so hot today, and it’s rare for the two of us to be out alone. Wouldn’t it be better to save some effort and just enjoy the quiet time on this little boat?"
Almost three years ago, she arrived here all alone, not knowing anyone except the couple of Flower Second Mother, and without any skills except for being able to cook two dishes. It was then that Meng Yuhuai appeared, on one hand disdaining her for not being a "good girl" who was demure and knew etiquette, while on the other hand generously offering her all sorts of help.
At first, he was like a wall, impersonal, yet capable of quietly keeping all troubles at bay; but now, he was like a thick coat, closest to her, wrapping her up snugly, providing both warmth and security.
This person who was to spend his life with her had been there from the beginning, which was truly a wonderful thing, yet...
Oh my, she found these thoughts so cheesy that she couldn’t even bear to voice them out loud.
Though Meng Yuhuai didn’t know what she was pondering, he could guess from the look on her face. Being a decent person, he didn’t pry further, chuckled softly, and said, "Well, let’s leave it at that," and thus the subject was dropped.
They both found the center of the lake peaceful and tranquil, so they lingered there for a while, taking shelter under the canopy when the sun became too intense, and nibbling on the snacks they had bought along the way until late afternoon when they left to meet Meng’s mother and little Walnut at the inn, in order to attend Han Fengzhi’s banquet.
That evening at Biyue Pavilion, host and guests all enjoyed themselves immensely.
Han Fengzhi was in high spirits and took it upon himself to cook, preparing a table full of exquisite dishes to celebrate Daoxiang Garden’s victory at the Eight Treasures Conference and to bid them farewell for their journey. He insisted that Meng Yuhuai join him in a few drinks, his face flushing bright red.
"This morning, Xue Lao summoned me to his home, and you probably know why," he said, squinting at Hua Xiaomai.
He continued, "I laid out everything that happened two years ago at the Eight Treasures Conference, how Song Jingxi swapped my Conch, and I also mentioned how that woman has been tripping you up these past years. You should have seen how angry the old man got, banging on the table so loudly! The Eight Treasures Conference prides itself on fairness, and this incident was like a slap in the face to them. From the looks of it, they’re thinking of punishing Taoyuan House severely, and it’s likely that Song Jingxi won’t be able to participate in the Eight Treasures Conference for the next three to five years."
Hua Xiaomai nodded, murmuring assent without saying much more.
She had already avenged herself, and she did it in the most direct and dignified way. Whatever happened to Song Jingxi in the future was no longer her concern.
Guessing that she wasn’t too interested in this matter, Han Fengzhi didn’t dwell on it and changed the subject, asking with a smile how long they planned to stay in Tong’an City and describing several famous local sites. He cheerfully offered to take a day off the next day to show them around, as it might be a long while before their paths crossed again.
Hua Xiaomai didn’t hesitate to take up his offer, and the next day, their whole family joined him, taking in all the famous sights of Tong’an City. On the third day, they set off early in a hired carriage for home.
Wang Zhanrui and others had left earlier, taking all the heavy household items with them, so Hua Xiaomai and her party had an easy journey back to the village. They didn’t rush the driver and enjoyed a leisurely trip back, arriving at home in the evening. After a relaxed dinner and sorting out their purchases, they each went to bed for a good night’s sleep.
