Chef Hua-Chapter 697: Extra Story 2: Parents’ Heart_2

Which is superior and which is inferior is always determined through comparison. Zuo Jinxiang’s culinary skills aren’t bad, but ultimately cannot compete with those of Hua Xiaomai, and given that the tough guys at the Escort Agency aren’t particularly discerning, the food ends up lacking in finesse.

The soy sauce duck... um, its color seems not red and shiny enough; a big bowl of braised pork belly also has more fat than lean, which looks greasy enough to be unsettling; and what about that pumpkin bowl, has it been steamed too long? The pumpkin has turned mushy...

Little Walnut crouched at the edge of the table, checking out the dishes, unable to find a single one that seemed edible. Out of sheer hunger, he reluctantly took a few bites.

By evening, Meng Yuhuai took him to Chunfeng Restaurant, and ordered a few signature dishes. Yet the little guy still felt he couldn’t bring himself to eat.

Strange, these dishes obviously look beautifully colored and well arranged, so why do they taste so bland and flavorless?

It’s not just in comparison to his mother’s cooking, even the dishes made by Aunt Yun can’t match up!

Little Walnut suddenly started to feel a bit of regret.

If he had known this would happen, he really should have finished that bowl of egg custard before leaving home...

...

Little Walnut stayed at the Escort Agency for three days, the first of which, Hua Xiaomai found quite delightful.

With the little mischief-maker not at home, there was no need to worry about him causing trouble outside and having someone come knocking at the door. Her heart felt settled, indescribably at ease.

However, by the second day, she started to feel out of sorts.

The large house was eerily quiet, from the front yard to the back yard, there was not a sound to be heard. Although Youzi was also mischievous, she was after all a little girl, and her age limited the trouble she could cause. Hua Xiaomai, even on her busiest days, always had to keep one eye on her son. Now that she had some freedom and leisure, why did it feel somewhat uncomfortable?

Mother Meng murmured from morning until evening about how the house seemed to lack something with Little Walnut gone. After grumbling for a while, she got heated and picked a quarrel with Hua Xiaomai. Hua Xiaomai had no desire to engage in a verbal tussle with her, and with Daoxiang Garden closed for the day, she had nothing better to do than to take the two little girls and find excuses to be in the kitchen, making a couple of snacks from time to time, not for eating, but just to pass the time.

Out of the three children in the family, only Youzi showed some interest in cooking.

Speaking of which, Hua Xiaomai always found this puzzling.

Unlike the lively Youzi, Chengzi was born with a docile temperament. Hua Xiaomai thought she would really enjoy cooking, but to her surprise, Chengzi had no liking for it at all; she simply couldn’t stay by the stove – one moment complaining about being overheated by the fire, another grumbling about the smoke; standing reluctantly in the kitchen for a short while before finding an excuse to slip away.

On the contrary, it was the ever-restless Youzi who loved standing by and watching Hua Xiaomai cook, and it was only during this time of the day that she could be still for a moment.

Hua Xiaomai didn’t have any strict intentions to pass on her cooking skills to family members only. Cooking is seriously hard work, especially for girls, and the industry is even tougher. Since the family was doing well, neither she nor Meng Yuhuai thought it necessary to let their daughter suffer this hardship.

Nevertheless, since Youzi was interested, she was also willing to teach; having an additional skill is always beneficial.

That afternoon, the mother and daughters were in the kitchen making Chestnut Cake. Chengzi helped pass things over a couple of times, then as usual stealthily ran off. Youzi, however, assisted Hua Xiaomai from beginning to end, focusing on mixing the flour and chestnut powder together, getting her hands and face all white, looking both cute and funny.

"Mother, can I add the sugar now?"

After stirring for quite a while, Youzi wiped the stray hairs on her cheek with her hand and asked in a soft, delicate voice.

"Hmm..."

Hua Xiaomai turned to glance at her: "Stir it a hundred more times. I’m counting for you, and then we can add the sugar."

A three-year-old little girl, how could she understand how to cook? Youzi had already done a great job to reach this point.

"Okay." Little Youzi agreed with enthusiasm, her hands busily at work, and with some hesitation, she pursed her lips, "Mom, when is brother coming back? I miss him."

"You miss your brother?"

Hua Xiaomai’s face showed surprise: "That’s odd, don’t you always say that he bullies you all day? Why are you missing him now?"

"I just miss him..." Youzi pouted, "He promised to help me make a bamboo whistle, but he hasn’t finished it yet."

"Ah, so you miss his things."

Hua Xiaomai couldn’t help but laugh, wipes her flour-covered fingers playfully against Youzi’s nose: "Didn’t we agree to invite your aunt and uncle tomorrow to our house for a mutton stew? Once the stew is on the table, your brother will be back. Don’t worry, mom promises to urge him to finish that bamboo whistle for you, okay?"

Reassured, Little Youzi happily nodded her head and turned her attention back to the bowl of mix in front of her.

The following evening, Jing Taihe and his wife truly brought Tie Chui to the Meng Family.

His wife was now also pregnant with their second child, over seven months along, and walked with less agility. Yet, stubbornly unwilling to admit defeat, she wanted to help in the kitchen. Hua Xiaomai wouldn’t allow it, and not daring to use force, she only had her sit by the stove and chat.

"Is Walnut definitely coming back today?"

His wife, who couldn’t stay idle, being unable to handle the stove, took a cabbage to clean, all the while she said cheerfully: "You don’t know, Tie Chui has been staying with us in the county, incessantly talking about coming back to play with his little brother. Now we’ve finally come, but Walnut has gone to the Escort Agency. Just before we left the house, he was still grumbling to me, worried that he might not see him today!"

"He’ll definitely be back." Hua Xiaomai also turned to smile at her, "I don’t know if he has lost weight these last two days. He wouldn’t eat properly at home, and it’s probably even harder to endure three meals a day at the Escort Agency. I am just hoping to get him to overcome this habit."

As she spoke, she carefully lifted the soup pot and carried it into the main hall to place on the brazier.

The aroma of the mutton soup gradually filled the room.

"Not to accuse, but you really are heartless."

His wife followed her into the main hall, half-jokingly slapped her: "Such small children, and you have them learn martial arts? My Tie Chui is even older than Walnut, and I can’t bear to let him suffer."

"You know I don’t want him to learn martial arts, why bother..."

Hua Xiaomai shook her head, and before she could finish her sentence, she heard Mrs. Qin cheerfully call out.

"Is he back?!"

Walnut was lifted down from the horse by Meng Yuhuai, and immediately dashed through the door, barging into the main hall. Upon seeing the mutton stew on the table and smelling the thick scent of the soup, he couldn’t help but "gulped", swallowing a mouthful of saliva. (To be continued. If you like this work, we welcome you to Qidian (qidian.com) to cast your recommendation ticket, monthly ticket, Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile phone users, please read at m.qidian.com.)