CHAPTER 624: EPISODE 332: NOT FEELING GOOD

Song Jingxi had spent over an hour at Daoxiang Garden before heading to Fuzhe County at noon, saying she was going to meet up with Old Master Zhao and also visit Ke Zhenwu.

"Oh, you should have seen it, today was quite an eye-opener for me!"

In the afternoon, in the front yard of the new Meng family house, Chun Xi moved a small stool next to Hua Xiaomai, cradling a bowl of thick, fragrant red bean paste and spoke animatedly, spitting as she spoke.

"From what I could tell, those two are probably old acquaintances, and who knows, they may have had some relationship in the past."

She took a sip of the red bean paste, wiped her mouth, and, raising an eyebrow and wrinkling her nose, said, "That Ms. Song from Provincial City, must be around thirty, married, right? Tsk tsk, she just went straight for it, pulling and tugging at Chef Wang, not caring if anyone saw! I remember you mentioned, Xiaomai, that her Taoyuan House is quite famous in Provincial City. You’d think she’d have some reputation to uphold, wouldn’t you? If this gets out, how can she face anyone? Oh, I’ve seen quite a bit over the years, but today really was quite the eye-opener!"

The old lady Meng usually didn’t bother with gossip, but today she was exceptionally engaged, her eyes wide, holding the little walnut and playing the comic sidekick: "And Chef Wang didn’t avoid her?"

"Avoid her, of course he tried!" Chun Xi slapped her leg, "but after all, Ms. Song is a woman. Was he supposed to shove her with all his might? When Chef Wang shrugged off her hands, she clung on again. The backyard isn’t that large; where could Chef Wang hide?"

Old lady Meng then murmured a few sounds of amazement.

Hua Xiaomai shook her head as she listened, unable to contain herself, and looking up, she said, "Mom, Little Walnut is still a boy, isn’t it a bit inappropriate for him to hear this kind of gossip?"

"...Have you lost your mind?" Old lady Meng glanced at her as if she saw a monster, then rolled her eyes to heaven, "He’s so young, what could he understand? Do you think your son is a prodigy?"

Hua Xiaomai didn’t have the energy to argue and turned to grab Chun Xi, saying somewhat helplessly, "Sister-in-law, let’s talk about something serious. You mentioned they spent a long time together, what exactly were they discussing?"

"Wasn’t that Ms. Song just going on about how tough it is to run a restaurant in Provincial City all by herself? She said the chefs in the kitchen are unreliable, and despite how busy she is, she has to keep an eye on the place every day herself, desperately needing someone dependable to manage all kitchen affairs on her behalf. Between the lines, wasn’t she simply hoping that Chef Wang would take over her kitchen?"

Hua Xiaomai was initially taken aback, then she pursed her lips and chuckled softly.

Although she hadn’t heard it herself, Song Jingxi’s plea seemed all too familiar.

About two years ago, this woman had made the same speech to her, earnest and genuine, as if she was the only person in the world who could be relied upon.

But was that really the case? With all of Song Jingxi’s schemes, why hadn’t she been able to find a competent chef after all these years?

What she wanted was never just a capable manager for the kitchen; she hoped for someone to support her at the right time, whether it was Hua Xiaomai or Wang Zhanrui, it was all the same.

Speaking of which, it would be time to hold the Eight Treasures Conference again in a couple of months...

Two years ago, to counter Han Fengzhi, Song Jingxi had earnestly invited her with sweet words, and now she had turned her attention to Wang Zhanrui, but against whom this time?

Hua Xiaomai suddenly felt very uneasy.

She hadn’t done anything to wrong Song Jingxi, in fact, from some perspectives, she had even helped her immensely by keeping her secrets; but now, she was trying to undermine Daoxiang Garden.

"Xiaomai?"

Seeing that Hua Xiaomai remained silent for a long time, Chun Xi pushed her on the shoulder, her gaze seeking an explanation: "What’s wrong, are you confused?"

Hua Xiaomai quickly gathered her thoughts and smiled at her: "It’s nothing, sister-in-law keep going, how did Chef Wang react after hearing Ms. Song’s words?"

"Him?" Chun Xi pursed her lips, and guzzled the rest of the red bean paste from her bowl, "He kept his head down, not responding, but who knows what he was really thinking? Honestly, putting my words right here, those two are likely old flames. Chef Wang is nearly thirty and still not married, probably because he’s still hung up on her. Do you think he can remain unswayed?"