Chef Hua-Chapter 683: Episode 361 When the Bad Guy_2

She knew that merely this one sentence might not convince Hua Erniang to take her seriously, so she candidly shared every detail about her past two years of getting along with Old Lady Meng.

"My mother-in-law, frankly, is the most protective person in the world." she finally concluded, "At home, she might pick fights with me over nothing, yet she can’t stand to see me wronged by others. Whenever someone causes trouble, she’s always the first to jump out, sometimes even quicker than Yuhuai—how should I put it? Life is full of bumps, and if she quarrels with me, I just argue back. After all, she holds no grudges, and just for that, I feel she’s much better than many people."

Hua Erniang listened somewhat dazedly, and it took her a long while to regain her composure, touching her forehead: "...If that’s really the case, your mother-in-law sounds quite good, right? At least, a lot better than the one at my home, right? Phew, this puts my mind at ease. I was really worried about your marriage to Yuhuai because of her, but now I think about it, it’s a good thing I didn’t stubbornly interfere. Otherwise, who knows what situation you’d be in now."

"Right?" Hua Xiaomai sipped her tea and smiled with pursed lips.

"Oh right..." Hua Erniang pondered for a moment then said, "I’ve discussed it with your brother-in-law, and after the New Year, we will make a trip back to Fengzhou. Although I’m not the least bit sad about Hua Dashan’s death, and would even applaud it, we can’t completely ignore what’s happening there. There’s still our ancestral home, isn’t there? I just wanted to let you know, I don’t plan to bring Tie Chui when we go back, so you’ll need to look after him during that time. Don’t concern yourself with anything else."

Hua Xiaomai thought to herself, even if you asked me to interfere, I wouldn’t know how to, given I barely know who Hua Dashan is. Following the principle that the less said, the better, she merely smiled and agreed, smoothly glossing over the matter.

...

The sisters hadn’t chatted together for such a long time as they did today. Once they started, they couldn’t stop, sitting and talking for over an hour in the room. As afternoon waned, Hua Xiaomai suddenly remembered something else she had to do today. She quickly informed Hua Erniang, told her she would pick up Tie Chui when returning to the village, then hurried out, running straight to Lianshun Escort Agency.

By coincidence, just as she entered the gate, she ran into Meng Yuhuai walking out with a young man.

The moment Meng saw his wife barging in without noticing him, he couldn’t help but laugh, quickly reaching out to grab her, chuckling, "Why have you come?"

"I wasn’t looking for you."

Hua Xiaomai winked at him: "I went to see my sister and brother-in-law, and just stopped by your Escort Agency to play the villain for a while. I’ll need to go pick up Tie Chui later—where are you headed?"

Meng Yuhuai, realizing she must have come for Han Hu, nodded and smiled softly, "I have to meet with Magistrate Tao, but I don’t expect to stay there long. If you’re done playing the villain and I’m not back yet, wait for me at Taihe’s blacksmith shop. I’ll pick you up and we’ll go back to the village together."

Hua Xiaomai happily agreed, and once inside the Escort Agency courtyard, she couldn’t help but sigh, finding Han Hu to take him to a secluded spot to explain the situation in detail.

Throughout, Han Hu leaned against the wall with his head down, listening but not responding, his face devoid of any smile as if it were going to rain.

Being the messenger in such matters often didn’t end well, but as his master, she couldn’t ignore the situation. Seeing Han Hu like this, she softly persuaded, "The two of them are from the same village, have known each other for many years. Yun’er is a bit stubborn..."

"So you mean to say, it’s because I was too late?"

Han Hu cut her off, listlessly saying, "Actually, Yuhuai bro had mentioned it to me earlier, though not explicitly, I kind of knew, but I didn’t expect, ahh... We Escort Masters are always out in the wind and rain. When we get home, all we want is a hot meal and someone who understands us by our side. Sis, you don’t know how many of the brothers in the Escort Agency envy Yuhuai for having you, a great cook. When he gets home and eats a few bites of your cooking, no matter how tired, it’s worth it. I..."

"So, this is why? Because Yun’er is my apprentice and she’s also a good cook, that’s why you fancied her?"

Hua Xiaomai raised an eyebrow, "Where do you think? Our line of work, once busy, is all day and night, and often..."

She suddenly stopped talking, the rest of her words seemingly reluctant to continue.

"It isn’t just for that. That girl Yun’er is gentle and treats people well. I think having such a wife would surely make life better..."

Han Hu, not knowing her thoughts, kept on rattling.

"However, since she’s already engaged to someone else, as long as that person treats her well, I have nothing to say. But I think she’s being foolish, how can a weak scholar compare to us martial folks, tall and strong and dependable?"

Hua Xiaomai then looked up and smiled, "Yeah, I also think people like you are the most dependable. Aren’t I a living example? You’re so good, you don’t have to worry. You’ll definitely marry a good girl in the future. Can we stop thinking about this now, okay?"

Han Hu was indeed broad-minded, waving his hand, "Alright, I won’t think about it anymore, sis, don’t you worry about me either. Watch me, I’ll definitely marry a good wife!"

Hua Xiaomai nodded and after chatting a bit more with him, turned around and returned to Jing Taihe’s forge, sewing with Hua Erniang while waiting for Meng Yuhuai to pick them up.

Around evening, the man indeed arrived, exchanged pleasantries and small talk with Jing Taihe, inquiring about the recent business of the forge and happily learning that it had been doing well.

Together they carried Tie Chui back to Fire Knife Village. Leaving the city, Meng Yuhuai suddenly said, "There’s something... today Magistrate Tao told me he’s soon to be transferred." (To be continued. If you enjoy this work, feel free to cast your recommendation ticket, monthly ticket at qidian.com. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users, please visit m.qidian.com to read.)