Chef Hua-Chapter 700: Extra Story Four: The Best Thing

Fire Knife Village’s Daoxiang Garden was in the care of a group of staff members who had worked together for many years, and several master chefs in the kitchen were reliable. Wen Huaren also grew more adept as time went on. After the New Year, there was no need for Hua Xiaomai to personally take charge. Thus, the six members of the Meng Family stayed contentedly at their house in Provincial City, planning to visit the Daoxiang Garden branch in town on the sixth.

The three children had been playing wildly these past few days. Accustomed to life in the countryside, the sudden arrival in the bustling Provincial City was overwhelming, and everything seemed fresh and new. They nagged Meng Yuhuai every day to take them into the city, and even though shops were closed for the holiday, they were happy just running around the streets.

But on the actual sixth day, when they heard that Hua Xiaomai and Meng Yuhuai were going to the Daoxiang Garden branch, they were insufferable. No matter how much Old Lady Meng pleaded, they wouldn’t be deterred and insisted on becoming three little shadows clinging to their parents’ hems, strutting out of the house with great pride.

During the New Year, everyone had a little extra money to spend. The streets were already bustling on the fifth day when the market opened, but on the sixth, when all the major restaurants began to do business, the scene of prosperity was dazzling to behold.

With the streets crowded, taking a horse-drawn carriage was inconvenient. Meng Yuhuai, who frequently traveled to and from Tong’an City, had grown familiar with the various winding alleys and simply led his family through a shortcut to reach the Daoxiang Garden in Provincial City.

Speaking of which, the shopfront had been thoughtfully decorated at the time of its refurbishment. From the outside, it looked like a spacious and bright farmhouse courtyard, adorned with hanging dried chilis. In the wide spaces, there were trellises not for flowers, but in summer and autumn, they bore fruits and vegetables like pumpkins and eggplants, offering shade and allowing guests to eat the freshest produce.

The main house in the north was opened up to become a generous and spacious restaurant hall, while the side rooms were divided into private dining areas, all decorated with rustic charm. One step into the courtyard made one feel as if they were in the countryside.

This style of decoration, so heavy with the air of the wilds, would naturally not work in Fire Knife Village, as every household looked like this, not at all novel. However, in Provincial City, it was indeed a rare sight and became very popular when it first opened.

With about half an hour until noon, several eager customers were already seated, ordering small dishes and warming up a pot of wine, leisurely chatting and savoring the flavors. A young attendant known for his sharp eye stood at the gate. From a distance, he saw Hua Xiaomai and Meng Yuhuai leading their children over and quickly hopped off the threshold, smiling as he greeted them with a bow, then turned back and shouted towards the hall, "Shopkeeper Tian, the owner has arrived!"

The round and plump Shopkeeper Tian, who looked like a ball, hurried out to meet them. Upon seeing the faces of Hua Xiaomai and Meng Yuhuai, he laughed heartily.

"Indeed, I heard before the New Year that your family would be coming to Provincial City to celebrate. I thought to myself that you would surely visit the shop. And today, you really are here! It’s cold outside, please come in and have a seat," he said, ushering Hua Xiaomai into the courtyard, warmly pulling on Meng Yuhuai’s arm, and even found time to praise the three children, saying how "cute and clever they look, sure to be successful when they grow up." He didn’t forget to order the attendant who had just spoken to light the brazier in the private room.

Hua Xiaomai followed him to the private dining area, and not long after sitting down, an attendant brought in a blazing hot brazier, and the room immediately warmed up.

"Today is the first day we’ve opened after the New Year. Many people in the city go out to visit relatives during the holidays, so business looks a bit slow, but it’s not usually like this," said Shopkeeper Tian, barely seated before he noticed Hua Xiaomai looking around. Worried that she might think the business wasn’t good enough, and that it would be his fault, he hastened to explain: "Besides, the peak time hasn’t come yet. Wait until noon, and there will be more people—oh, right, there’s a birthday banquet today at noon. Everything is ready; we’re just waiting for the guests to arrive!"

When they first chose the location, it was Meng Yuhuai who led Hua Xiaomai to handle it. The reason they were interested in this place was because of its large backyard, which during renovations was particularly attended to by craftsmen; now, it was where all sorts of feasts were held.

Hua Xiaomai smiled at Shopkeeper Tian, "I often visit Daoxiang Garden in Fire Knife Village as well. I’m well aware of what the New Year’s business is generally like; a couple of slow days are inevitable. Besides, last December, didn’t you come to settle the accounts with me, Shopkeeper Tian? The earnings were there, laid out plainly, so how could I not know what the usual business is like?"