Episode 22 Guan Rong is Missing

Hua Xiaomai didn't know what he meant, and sure enough stopped and turned around.

"Uncle Ke," Meng Yuhuai slightly bowed to Ke Zhenwu, who was standing in front of the hall, "You know I've never been partial, and I speak frankly even today. You always enjoy delicacies and often say that as long as the taste is delightful, you are willing to spend any amount of silver coins. This young lady Xiaomai, although young, has exceptional culinary skills, and the dishes she prepares are impeccable in color, aroma, and taste. As for bamboo shoots, let alone our Fuzhe County, where they aren't sold at all, even if they were available, I fear they couldn't compare to those she prepares personally. Thirty cents per jin is indeed not cheap, but it would be a pity to miss out, so..."

What was happening; was Meng Yuhuai actually speaking up for her again? Hua Xiaomai turned her eyeballs, surprised, and looked at the man in front of her.

Last time at Qiao's Paper Shop, he was just a guest, merely speaking a few words of fairness in front of old Master Qiao, which was still somewhat normal. But this time, he was the leader of the Shun Escort Agency, and depended on Ke Zhenwu for his wages! Was he, by helping her, an "outsider," betraying his own employer by biting the hand that fed him?

"Alright, alright, I get your point," Ke Zhenwu seemed quite helpless as he shook his head, "It's rare for you to speak up for someone, and since you've spoken, I must give you face. That girl—"

He showed a smile as if teasing a child, "Are you sure your bamboo shoots cost exactly one cent each?"

Hua Xiaomai hesitated, glanced at Meng Yuhuai, and still nodded: "Mmm."

"Well then, thirty cents per jin it is, who asked me to be so fond of good food?" Ke Zhenwu sighed deeply, "Dazhong, go and get a scale, let's see how many jins these bamboo shoots total, and make sure there's no cheating!"

A man agreed and went off, and Hua Xiaomai couldn't help but purse her lips forcefully, struggling not to let herself laugh out loud.

Did she... really make a sale?

She felt so excited that her palms began to sweat, and turned again to look at Meng Yuhuai, her voice as low as a mosquito's, "Thank you, I owe you a favor..."

"No need," Meng Yuhuai did not look at her, and looking straight ahead, he said, "I've said before, Taihe is my brother, I was only speaking up for his sake, nothing more."

Who cares whose sake you were speaking for, as long as I made the money! Hua Xiaomai secretly stuck out her tongue, and seeing that man named Dazhong bringing the scale, she quickly went forward.

There were a total of thirty-one jins of bamboo shoots in the basket, and Ke Zhenwu, rather generously, didn't mind the odd amounts and directly gave her one string of coins. Hua Xiaomai cautiously put the copper coins into her purse, and just as she was about to leave, Ke Zhenwu called out to her from behind.

"Miss, don't be in such a hurry to leave," he slowly walked down the steps, stroking his long beard back and forth, and said with a chuckle, "Today at Shun Escort Agency, I bought all your bamboo shoots, which is indeed a good start for your business, right? I have a request, could you possibly agree?"

Hua Xiaomai didn't understand what he was implying but felt no fear, and tilted her head and smiled, "Please tell."

"Look, it's almost noon, and Sister-in-law Zuo should be getting ready to cook," Ke Zhenwu smacked his lips, as if recalling a taste, "Earlier, you mentioned the Chicken Golden Bamboo Shoots from Jinyue Prefecture, and I kind of miss it. Yuhuai mentioned that your cooking skills are excellent, but I wonder if you can prepare this dish?"

"I can," Hua Xiaomai realized somewhat, and smiled as she nodded her head, "Does Master Ke want me to prepare this dish for you to try?"

"Don't call me master, I'm just a martial artist; calling me Uncle Ke like Yuhuai will do," Ke Zhenwu waved his hands repeatedly, "That's exactly what I meant; my mates are always running around all year, and today they are all gathered, so let's add some fine dishes to the table. Would you be up for it?"

"No problem." Hua Xiaomai always had boundless enthusiasm for cooking, and without further thought, she agreed, turned around to find Zuo Jinxiang, followed her into the kitchen, found out where everything was placed, and immediately rolled up her sleeves and got busy.

The bamboo shoots were sliced as thin as hair, placed in a spider and deep-fried to a golden brown in hot oil, rinsed with boiling water to remove the grease, then added to chicken broth and simmered for the time it takes half a stick of incense to burn;

Chicken breast and fat pork were chopped together and mixed with beaten eggs, seasoned with salt, ground Sichuan pepper, and damp tapioca flour, and then combined with simmered bamboo shoots, stirring until even;

he heated the iron pot, added oil, and poured in the mixed bamboo shoots and chicken paste. He stir-fried it over high heat, plated it, and finally sprinkled finely chopped ham on top, completing the dish of Chicken Golden Bamboo Shoots.

The entire process was crisp and orderly without any mess. Zuo Jinxiang watched with amazement, and when the dish was served, its color was as bright as the morning sun, the fragrance of the chicken and the freshness of the bamboo shoots complementing each other, steaming hot. Ke Zhenwu caught one glimpse and his eyes widened, unconsciously swallowing a mouthful of saliva.

Zuo Jinxiang quickly prepared the other dishes and brought them out. Everyone sat around a large round table in the courtyard, devouring the food, voices of "delicious, delicious" praise echoing around.

"This is the taste, ah, this is the taste!" Ke Zhenwu stuffed another mouthful of bamboo shoots, cradling his bowl and repeatedly expressing his admiration, "Girl, at your age, where did you learn such skills? If you ask me, it's even more delicious and authentic than what I had at Jinyue Prefecture! Incredible, incredible! Today I truly enjoyed a feast. Come, come, don't just stand there; join us if you don't mind!"

"I'd better not, I still..." Hua Xiaomai quickly shook her head, but before she could finish, Meng Yuhuai sitting across the table suddenly coughed lightly.

"You should head back to the village early." He said, frowning seriously, "The sky is getting darker, and it looks like it's going to rain at any moment."

So bossy! Hua Xiaomai muttered in her heart, pouting, "I was about to leave anyway!" She turned back and bid farewell to Ke Zhenwu and Zuo Jinxiang, then ran out of Lianshun Escort Agency with her empty basket.

"This girl, truly, her cooking skills are beyond reproach, it's just that she's a bit obstinate," Ke Zhenwu watched Hua Xiaomai's retreating figure, smiling and shaking his head, "But it's also common; anyone with real talent tends to have a bit of temper."

Meng Yuhuai didn't respond, only looking up at the sky again.

An hour later, as expected, it began to pour—a rare, heavy rain for winter. Although it was only afternoon, the sky had darkened as if evening had come, with fine, continuous drizzle falling relentlessly. In no time, a thin layer of water had accumulated in the courtyard of the Lianshun Escort Agency.

Meng Yuhuai and some brothers covered the carts in the yard with a layer of tarpaulin, then sat under the gallery drinking tea and chatting. In the midst of their laughter, they saw a greenish-yellow figure stumble through the gate and dash straight to the front hall, it was Hua Xiaomai.

Meng Yuhuai frowned out of habit and immediately stood up, "… how have you returned again?"

Checking the time, shouldn't she have nearly reached Fire Knife Village by now?

Hua Xiaomai's hair was completely wet, most of her clothes soaked, she looked at him in panic, "Brother Meng, I can't find Guan Rong!"

"The Guan family girl? Did she come to the county with you?" Meng Yuhuai hadn't expected this, he quickly approached her, "Don't panic, take it slow."

"I came to the county with Sister Rong to sell bamboo shoots." Hua Xiaomai was completely flustered, catching her breath, and said hurriedly, "We split up at the market on Tiansheng Street. I left some bamboo shoots with her to sell while waiting for me, and if she got tired, she was to rest at the tea house outside the city. I was to find her there. But… but just now I left here and went straight to the market, and didn't see her. I went to the tea stall outside the city, still couldn't find her! With such heavy rain, and her being frail, if she gets drenched, she will surely fall ill!"

Meng Yuhuai pondered for a moment, "Are you sure she was not at either place?"

"I'm sure!" Hua Xiaomai nodded vigorously, eyes welling with tears, "I was afraid I may have missed her along the way, so I ran back and forth twice. What should I do now?"

"Don't panic. Let's go out again and look for her." Meng Yuhuai tried to sound soothing, calling over his shoulder, "Dazhong, get us two sets of raincoats."