Episode 12 Intentional or Unintentional

As soon as these words were spoken, Elder Qiao was taken aback and his face flushed crimson. His lips quivered for a while, seemingly inflamed with anger, yet he did not know how to respond for the moment. An onlooker outside the door couldn't hold back and chuckled, even Meng Yuhuai's lips twitched slightly, a rare occurrence.

Qiao Xiong was startled and hurriedly approached. He pulled Hua Xiaomai back by the hand and sheepishly addressed Elder Qiao, "Heh, heh, who praises themselves like that? Little Sister Hua is young and doesn't understand things. These are just the words of a child. Please, Father, don't judge her harshly. However..."

He suddenly changed tack and continued, "I have personally tasted this young lady's cooking, and the word 'exceptional' is truly no exaggeration!"

"Hmph!" Elder Qiao childishly turned his head away.

"Elder Qiao, I too have tasted the dishes made by Little Sister Hua, and they indeed are good."

Just then, leaning on the door frame and having been silent for a long while, Meng Yuhuai suddenly spoke up, "Although it's just home cooking, it's absolutely delicious. Whether the dishes are light or rich, she manages to season them perfectly. Delicacies from the mountains and seas are inherently tasty, even when cooked in plain water, they leave a lasting flavor. But to make ordinary meat and vegetables taste extraordinary truly shows real skill. I know you cherish old friends, but if you trust me, why not give her a chance?"

Hua Xiaomai did not expect him to speak up for her and was taken aback.

The day they met in the short forest, Hua Xiaomai had made some "handsy" movements towards him. Seeing him get angry, she left abruptly. Today, at the paper shop, he hadn't even glanced at her, acting as though she didn't exist. Hua Xiaomai thought he was still angry, but unexpectedly, he jumped in at the crucial moment!

Although Meng Yuhuai was young, he was "the youngest yet most capable leader of the Lianshun Escort Agency." He took good care of the neighbors and was well-liked. His words held weight with Elder Qiao. The old man seemed quite impatient as he glanced at Hua Xiaomai, then bowed his head in thought for a moment and reluctantly tapped the ground with his cane.

"I'm not some unreasonable old fool. Since Meng Yuhuai speaks for you, I'll let you have a try," he stated sternly at Hua Xiaomai, "But let me say this first, if the meal is good, it's fine, but if there's the slightest mishap, don't even think about getting paid a single penny!"

When he relented, Old Zhao instantly became anxious, disregarding everything else. He ran over and grabbed his sleeve, pleading pitifully, "Elder Qiao, this..."

Preparing the reunion dinner would merely keep one busy for a day, yet it could earn one four diào of money, a whole four ounces of silver! Previously, when Qiao Xiong ordered a banquet from the town's restaurant, Old Zhao accepted it knowing he couldn't compete with their master chef, but now, even a young girl had taken his place!

Elder Qiao had fully agreed to help him speak, and he thought that the four diào of money was almost certainly his, but unexpectedly, even the old man had turned against him now. The money that was within his grasp had slipped through his fingers, and he could not swallow his anger!

"Enough, don't say anymore," Elder Qiao said regretfully, glancing at Old Zhao and pointing at Hua Xiaomai, "This girl is just here to cook one banquet, collect the money, and leave. She's not taking your job, so what are you worried about? Rest assured, as long as I breathe, the kitchen of Qiao's Paper Shop will always be under your control. I have spoken, and what I say, I can uphold. Everyone present has heard it; anyone who crosses you must first deal with my cane!"

Knowing the situation was irreversible, and any more talking would be futile, Old Zhao dishearteningly nodded in agreement, thanked Elder Qiao, and went to prepare lunch without further mention. Elder Qiao gave Hua Xiaomai a sharp look and dropped a severe warning, "Mind yourself," then cast a stern glance at Qiao Xiong and staggered off, heading back to his own house.

Qiao Xiong heaved a sigh of relief, wiped the cold sweat from his forehead, and found a secluded room. He had Hua Xiaomai and Meng Yuhuai come in, and for half an hour, they meticulously discussed and debated every detail of the menu, recording all the required ingredients, raw materials, and various seasonings on paper. He also repeatedly reminded Hua Xiaomai to come earlier on the third day of December. With that, today's matters were finally settled.

Worried about her stepmother back home and fearing her suspicions due to her long absence from the house, Hua Xiaomai hurriedly left the paper shop and headed towards the west of the village. Just after a few steps, she saw Meng Yuhuai ahead and, after a brief thought, hurriedly caught up with him. Smiling broadly, she said, "Meng Big Brother, thank you for speaking up for me today."

Meng Yuhuai was deep in thought and was caught off guard by her voice, swiftly turning around. His face looked slightly unnatural as he said in a subdued tone, "It was merely a small effort, no thanks are necessary. Since you've traveled so far to seek refuge in Fire Knife Village under Madam Hua, you must have encountered difficulties. Taihe and I have been close as brothers from childhood, so it's only right for me to lend a hand with his family affairs. However..."

He lowered his head to look at Hua Xiaomai's face, his brows lightly furrowed again, "You are not a local of Fire Knife Village, and being a young lady, you should be even more cautious with your words and actions normally. Your sister and brother-in-law have a hard life. Since you've come to seek refuge, you should consider them more and avoid inappropriate actions that might bring them shame."

Hua Xiaomai understood what he was implying and was quite disinclined to agree.

Despite his young age, he always carried an air of grave seriousness as if he bore great enmities—quite dull indeed. It was only a touch, wasn't it? You're a man; are you afraid of being touched? Besides, as a woman, if anyone should feel aggrieved, shouldn't it be her?

She knew the villagers of Fire Knife Village were conservative, and interaction between men and women was greatly restricted. But what of it? Though she had arrived here through time travel and had no choice but to live on, she was willing to respect the local customs, but that did not mean she would treat those outdated rules like sacred laws!

Hua Xiaomai didn't take Meng Yuhuai's words seriously at heart, but on the surface, she made a show of appearing wronged and aggrieved, pouting and speaking in a low voice, "What do you mean by that? When have I not been cautious with my words and actions? I am well aware that coming to my sister and brother-in-law is irregular and I have been very careful. That day… that day in the low woodland… It wasn't on purpose!" As she spoke, her eyelashes quivered, seemingly on the brink of tears.

Meng Yuhuai, not used to dealing with women and always taciturn, saw her about to cry and couldn't help but panic. He waved his hands hastily, stuttering, "You, don't cry, I didn't mean anything else, just a casual reminder. Taihe is my brother. Well, in any case, the incident that day was just a misunderstanding. I haven't taken it to heart, and you shouldn't worry about it too much either."

"Really?" Hua Xiaomai suddenly lifted her head, her eyes sparkling with vitality, "Do you really think it was just a misunderstanding that day, and you don't blame me?"

Sweat formed on Meng Yuhuai's forehead as he quickly nodded, "Yes, I don't blame you; it really was just a misunderstanding."

...As if!

Even today, he vividly remembered the challenging smile at the corner of her lips that day; how could he possibly see her actions as an accidental mishap? She did it on purpose! The sisters of the Hua Family, one rowdy and unrefined, the other outwardly polite but oddly quirky—none was easy to deal with!

Hua Xiaomai switched from anger to joy, revealing a broad smile, her eyes curving, cheeks slightly flushed, and hands clasped over her heart, seemingly sincere but exaggeratedly said, "Meng Brother, you really are a good man! No wonder all the young ladies in Fire Knife Village can't stop praising you. Today, I truly believe it!"

Being strictly proper all the time, teasing him turned out to be rather amusing...

"Don't talk nonsense!" Meng Yuhuai was greatly embarrassed, waving his arms and stepping back, "You… you better go home quickly, aren't you secretly helping Uncle Qiao with the New Year's meal without your elder sister knowing? If you go back late, she might become suspicious!"

Hua Xiaomai opened her mouth, wanting to say something more, but just at that moment, as if to echo her remark that "all the young ladies in Fire Knife Village praise Meng Yuhuai highly," a gentle and slightly excited female voice suddenly came from nearby.

"Yuhuai Brother, are you still in the village? I thought you had gone on an escort mission again!"