CHAPTER 632: EPISODE 336: TO GO OR NOT TO GO

Hua Xiaomai was just threading half a fish onto a bamboo skewer when she suddenly heard these words, paused in her motion, and asked incredulously, "What do you mean? Isn’t the Eight Treasures Conference always only open to eateries from the Provincial City?"

"Ha!" Old Xu slapped his palm and shook his head, "The Eight Treasures Conference has been held for a good fifteen years. At first, some small eateries were willing to join in the fun. But you know, just the cost of purchasing all sorts of rare ingredients takes a lot of money. People couldn’t afford it, and secondly, the skills of cooks in small diners can hardly compare with those of master chefs in big restaurants. Gradually, they simply stopped participating in this thankless task. Especially in these last four or five years, it has been the same old faces, coming and going. Eventually, doesn’t it get tedious?"

As he spoke, he picked a piece of grilled tofu and tossed it into his mouth, chuckling, "The Eight Treasures Conference is indeed famous, but frankly, it’s just the restaurants in the Provincial City closing their doors and playing among themselves, ultimately lacking any real interest. Thus, not long ago, when everyone gathered and discussed it, they all felt that we should bring in something fresh and invite well-known eateries from all over Tong’an Prefecture to make it really lively. It would be a real treat for us judges, wouldn’t it? Your Daoxiang Garden has been quite the trendsetter, how can we leave you out? It all depends on whether you are willing or not!"

Hua Xiaomai did not answer immediately, first turning to look at Meng Yuhuai.

Honestly, Old Xu’s words did stir her heart a bit.

The Eight Treasures Conference was indeed a grand event in the Tong’an Prefecture. Not only those participating restaurants and eateries looked forward to it, but even ordinary people were extremely excited about it. Even if they couldn’t enter the venue, they would crowd outside, craning their necks to see and using various means to find out what the theme of the year was, what exquisite dishes were prepared, and which restaurant was the most outstanding. Every year in early July, this was the talk of everyone, attracting much attention.

In previous years, she had witnessed the grandeur of the Eight Treasures Conference and was immensely impressed. If this year they truly planned to invite all the diners from Tong’an Prefecture, what kind of spectacle would it be? Such a rare opportunity, if she couldn’t participate, she would undoubtedly regret deeply!

But...

Two years ago, she was still an unmarried girl, setting up a small stall by the river to make a living. Back then, she could easily run off to the Provincial City as long as she convinced Old Lady Hua. But now, she was not only married and had a child, she was also running a large Daoxiang Garden; it wouldn’t be so easy anymore.

The Eight Treasures Conference might only last one day, but it still required some effort in preparation, likely needing one or two days in Provincial City beforehand. Everything else was negotiable, but what about Little Walnut? By that time, he would be just five months old, exactly when he couldn’t be without his mother. Could she just carelessly leave him behind?

Even if Mrs. Meng agreed absent-mindedly, she herself couldn’t bear to do it!

...Is there really never anything perfect in this world?

In a moment, numerous thoughts spun through her mind as she stared blankly at Meng Yuhuai. Feeling her gaze, he felt the hairs on the back of his neck stand up. Smiling slightly, he said, "Why keep looking at me? If you can’t make up your mind right now, think it over later, Uncle Xu didn’t force you to decide immediately."

"Isn’t that so?"

Old Xu, noticing Hua Xiaomai’s hesitation, stroked his long beard and said, "There’s still plenty of time till July; girl, you can take your time to think about it. After you decide, simply send someone to the Provincial City to inform me. But don’t delay too long, by June at the latest, I’ll need a firm answer. You know, we need to put in some effort to arrange Huayin Pond and build temporary rest pavilions for each eatery. If we’re late, we won’t catch up."

Hua Xiaomai nodded and said, "Okay."

"Alright then, now that the official business is done, shouldn’t you put in more effort and grill some extra for me to eat?"

Old Xu took a long sigh of relief and chuckled, tapping her face with his finger: "Just to make it clear, eh? I rarely come to Fire Knife Village, don’t think you can get rid of me with just this one meal. Tomorrow I’ll stay another day, and you will have to make a couple of decent dishes to satisfy my craving, what do you say?"

"Of course." Hua Xiaomai smiled in response, bending down to brush a layer of sauce over the half fish she had been holding for a long time.

...

Barbecue is always delicious to eat and even more fragrant to smell. Chun Xi and La Mei, along with others at the front diner, kept busy but occasionally caught the thick scent drifting from the yard. Their stomachs had been growling over and over, and once they finally closed for the night, they couldn’t wait to follow the smell, bringing more vegetables and fish. They ate while laughing and talking, thoroughly enjoying themselves until they gradually dispersed around the hour of Hai.