CHAPTER 600: EPISODE 320: HAD SOMEONE BEAT HIM UP.

The slap landed on the table, causing a muffled "thud," startling the little walnut quite a bit, but he didn’t cry immediately—just pursed his lips in a wronged way.

Meng Yuhuai, seeing this, felt somewhat displeased, clicked his tongue, and took little walnut into his arms, cradling his head with his big, cautious palm and hugging him securely. He glanced at Hua Xiaomai and lowered his voice, "How can you be so thoughtless? What if you scare him badly?"

Lately, he had gained more confidence in holding children, but his muscles were too stiff, making little walnut uncomfortable, who started flailing his legs and arms. Hua Xiaomai also felt somewhat guilty and murmured, looking down, "Alright, alright, it’s my fault, isn’t it? I truly didn’t mean to...just couldn’t hold back my anger at the moment..."

This whole affair was enough to make her blood boil.

Selling a daughter to a wealthy family, what kind of concept was that?

To put it nicely, she was going to be a cook, but in reality, wasn’t she just a servant at someone else’s beck and call? Subject to the supervision of senior chefs, and inevitably ostracized by others, with Zhou Yunyun’s meek nature, it would be strange if she wasn’t bullied!

If she only had to withstand some grievances in the kitchen, that would be one thing, but the girl was also quite pretty, timid yet charming. If by chance someone in the family took a fancy to her and caused some trouble, it could really be...

Zhou Qing was planning to sell Zhou Yunyun for twelve or twenty taels of silver, such a high price signified it was likely for a dead contract, and the girl’s whole life thereafter would not be hers to decide. Zhou Qing was callous to this extent—if she, as Yunyun’s mentor, stood by idly, what would that make her?

She lowered her head and took little walnut back into her arms to gently console him, and as she did, she lifted her eyes and said, "My heart feels so heavy, Yunyun is so pitiful, with such a father. She never had a peaceful day since childhood. Finally, she started to learn cooking with me, started to stand out, seemed like she finally had some prospects, and then her father immediately came up with the idea to sell her... You should’ve seen how that girl cried today. Usually at the shop, she still has to hold it in desperately. How can I..."

"I know it’s hard for you, but..." Meng Yuhuai started with a frown, but then a cheerful shout came from outside.

"No holding back, I’m really here to sponge a meal off you!"

It was Sun Great Saint.

The two had no choice but to temporarily set aside the matter and went out one after the other to greet him with smiles.

In the kitchen, Old Mother Meng had moved out the dishes one by one, and also turned to Sun Great Saint with a smile, "In terms of cooking skills, I’m no match for Xiaomai, just make do with what we have, don’t mind it."

"Mother, what are you talking about? I’ve been freeloading off your house since I was a kid. My favorite is that braised pork in soy sauce you make. No matter how my mother tries, she can’t replicate it!"

Sun Great Saint exchanged pleasantries with Old Mother Meng, then turned his head to Meng Yuhuai and took a look at Hua Xiaomai, laughing, "What’s this situation with the two of you? I’ve just come to eat—surely you two money-makers aren’t afraid of me eating you out of house and home?"

Meng Yuhuai was amused yet helpless and exchanged a few friendly words with him before leading him over to the table in the main room to sit down.

Who would have expected that Sun Great Saint would be so determined to get to the bottom of things? After exchanging a few casual remarks, he circled back to the matter at hand, grinning, "Don’t blame me for being nosy. Normally you two get along so well, and Brother Yuhuai is not the type to mistreat his wife. Now that business is booming and your son is growing up healthy and cute, what could make both of your faces look so bad? Speak out, if it’s some minor squabble between the two of you, I can’t intervene, but if there’s anything I can help with, just give me the word."

Meng Yuhuai had grown up with Sun Great Saint and knew well that he was a reliable and steady person. At his words, Meng Yuhuai glanced over at Hua Xiaomai and saw her give a slight nod, so he cleared his throat.

"It’s not that Xiaomai and I had a quarrel. It’s about her apprentice, Yunyun."

He recounted the whole matter from start to finish. Upon hearing it, Sun Great Saint immediately slapped his thigh and declared loudly, "Damn it, that’s news! I’m well aware that this world has parents worse than pigs and dogs, willing to sell their children for money, but having lived in Fire Knife Village for over twenty years, I’ve never actually seen such a thing happen. It’s not something our village condones! Even if life is hard, I’ve never seen anyone abandon their child. That Zhou Qing has some nerve, selling his daughter for drink, truly a piece of work!"

And then looking at Hua Xiaomai with a bold expression, he declared, "Brother Yuhuai, I can’t take your side this time, Sister Xiaomai is right—how can we turn a blind eye to this matter?"