章 9: Episode 6 Taking Over the Kitchen_2

Hua Xiaomai knew in her heart that Hua Erqiang's mother was looking out for her best interests, but seeing a chance slip through her fingers once again, she felt a tinge of pity. Yet with no idea what to do about it, she could only sigh quietly to herself.

That evening, there were plenty of wheat cakes left over. Once Hua Xiaomai had some free time, she took some to the elderly Pan next door. On her way back, she saw Hua Erqiang's mother sitting in the courtyard, staring blankly at a basket of red dates in the corner.

In the dead of winter, she hadn't even put on a coat, just an over-shirt. She looked so cold that Hua Xiaomai couldn't help but shiver. Hesitating for a moment, she went over, touched her hand, and frowned, "Erqiang, it's too cold out here in the courtyard. You should go inside. Do you want me to get a coat for you?"

"Am I that fragile?" Hua Erqiang's mother replied nonchalantly with a soft chuckle, pulling Hua Xiaomai down to sit next to her. Pensive, she said, "Back in our old home, winters would bring heavy snowfall! Suddenly, I remember when you were little, how you loved to follow me everywhere, only to come back with a neck full of snow every time. Mother would see it and beat me up good. I really despised you back then, thinking, 'Why should I take the blame for your mischief?'. But looking back now, since I was the elder sister, it was my responsibility to take care of you. I deserved those beatings."

Hua Xiaomai didn't know what to say, so she just took the woman's hand into her own to warm it and remained silent.

"I'm telling you this so that you won't take today's events to heart," Hua Erqiang's mother paused before continuing, "People in Fire Knife Village are just like this. To them, those of us who come from elsewhere will always be seen as inferior, afraid we'll take advantage of them, get some benefit. But to be honest, who cares? Do they think they are so wealthy? Those busybodies in the village just love to gossip. If you don't show them some firmness, they will really overstep their boundaries! I don't want to hide it from you; living here, you'll likely hear quite a bit of idle talk. No matter what you hear, don't take it to heart. Just tell me, and I will take care of them. Remember that, will you?"

Hua Xiaomai silently nodded and then rubbed her temples, "But Erqiang, I really do enjoy cooking. The offer the older Meng brother mentioned today, actually... it did tempt me a little..."

"Are you out of your mind?" Hua Erqiang's mother couldn't help but clonk her on the head, showing no mercy, "What's so great about cooking? It's tiring, not to mention you end up covered in grease. Over time, it won't even wash off! Once you're married, you'll have to take care of all the cooking for the family, and while you're still unmarried, you should relax as much as you can! Remember, as long as I, Hua Erqiao, have a bite to eat, you won't be short of anything!"

"You don't understand."

Hua Xiaomai truly didn't know how to explain it to her. The satisfaction and sense of accomplishment that came from cooking a dish with one's own hands was simply indescribable in words.

"Of course, I don't understand!" Hua Erqiang's mother glared at her, "Are you saying you've been pushed around by Hua Dashan that..."

She was about to say "that damn fool," but realizing that would be cursing herself as well, she quickly changed her wording, "Are you saying that Hua Dashan has driven you up the wall? Who else seeks out suffering like you do?"

"Hey, Erqiang!" Hua Xiaomai simply hugged her arm, dragging out her voice playfully, "If you don't agree to what older brother Meng said today, that's fine. But at the very least, let me take over cooking at home from now on, can I? I really do love to cook, it makes me happy. You and brother-in-law are so busy every day, and there isn't much else I can help with, but the least I can do is make sure the two of you eat well twice a day without spending extra money, okay?"

"Why are you..." Hua Erqiao started to become a bit impatient and clicked her tongue.

Hua Xiaomai quickly cut her off, "Don't be in such a hurry! As you've said, people in the village have long tongues and love to gossip. If you scold me in front of others, acting fierce and terrifying, it's just because you don't want to give them any leverage. As your sister-in-law, if I laze around the house all day without doing any proper work, who knows how they'll talk about me! I make our daily meals tasty and cost-effective, and when I have time, I even deliver some to Old Man Pan next door... You know, Old Man Pan loves to chat about household matters, and with his endorsement, even if outsiders want to criticize, they wouldn't know where to start!"

"What do we have to fear from them?" Hua Erqiao muttered, yet her expression had already softened somewhat.

Taking advantage of the momentum, Hua Xiaomai gripped her arm and shook it twice, putting on a pitiable expression, "Please, Second Sister, let me give it a try..."

"Oh, all right, all right!" Hua Erqiao was so harried by her that her clothes got all wrinkled, and she pushed her plainly and without courtesy, "If you really want to try, then do it for a couple of days. If you find it too tiring, let me know early on, got it? Your arms and legs are so thin, a moment of carelessness could break them!"

Phew! Her objective attained, Hua Xiaomai finally let out a sigh of relief, nodding her head hurriedly, happily agreeing with a hearty laugh.

From that day forward, everything in the Jing Family's kitchen fell upon Hua Xiaomai.

Jing Taihe was a person who tended to be content with what fate offered. As for his diet, he normally didn't pay much attention. Even if the food that Hua Erqiao cooked was terrible, he could swallow it without so much as a frown. Unexpectedly, after Hua Xiaomai took over the kitchen for just two or three days, his tastes grew more discerning. He started requesting different dishes every day, and seeing the food he liked on the table, he would beam with joy, and his appetite markedly increased too. Although Hua Erqiao didn't want her younger sister to work too hard, seeing her husband's complexion getting rosier by the day, she couldn't help but feel delighted and thus let Hua Xiaomai be.

For several days in a row, Jing Taihe had been forging farming tools for a village family at the blacksmith's forge, preparing for use after the spring began. That morning, before he left, he discussed with Hua Xiaomai, saying that he wanted to eat wontons.

After weighing things in her mind, Hua Xiaomai thought that while big meat-filled wontons were delicious and hearty, given the current situation of their household, they were definitely unaffordable. But if there wasn't even a bit of meat, it would be too bland. After much consideration, she decided to go to the mountains to dig up some shepherd's purse, chop it fine, and mix it with fatty meat to make the filling, to add some flavor and save on meat expenses.

In winter, most wild vegetables were nowhere to be found, but shepherd's purse was still growing lushly and wildly. Hua Xiaomai didn't even need to go into the woods; she dug up a large handful by the field ridges. Seeing that it was still early, she decided to wander further into the mountains, to see if she could find any delicious Wild Mushrooms.

It had rained the night before, so the ground in the woods was somewhat wet and slippery; every step felt like skating. Hua Xiaomai tried to step on dry fallen leaves, moving forward bit by bit, when suddenly she heard footsteps ahead. She looked up to see Meng Yuhuai, carrying two wild hares, striding towards her.

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