ng Yuhuai had been busily engrossed at the Yuan Family mansion for most of the day, ticulously inspecting every nook and corner of the estate. He made note of how many doors there were and where oversight in daily managent was most likely to occur, jotting down each detail. He ended up with pages upon pages of notes, and after several more trips under the scorching sun, he was drenched as though he had been fished out of water.
Having expended a great deal of effort, he finally completed his tasks in the afternoon. The host, surnad Yuan, was thankful for his tireless work and, as usual, wanted to keep him for al. However, thinking of Hua Xiaomai and unsure whether she was still idly wandering outside, he tactfully declined, left the mansion, and imdiately hurried to Dong’an Inn without stopping.
Just as he approached the entrance, he heard a clamor that seed almost capable of lifting off the roof.
For so reason, the main hall was filled with steam and bustling with activity. All the diners, who should have been seated quietly at their own tables, were now gathered together, so with eyes filled with anticipation, others smacking their lips and laughing nonstop, all staring intently toward the center, from where the wafting steam arose.
A richly fresh aroma pervaded the main hall, as if soone had simred a whole basin of fish into a thick soup, capturing every nuance of flavor without a hint of greasiness. It perated the air, soft yet tenaciously enveloping, filling one’s nostrils with the scent, as if diverting attention to anything else would be a sin.
Although he was not an expert on food, he had been to Dong’an Inn more than once and had a asure of the chefs’ abilities. Could it be that the scene before him was...
As if affirming his guess, the next mont, a crisp, joyful voice rang out from the center with a touch of pride and triumph, "Alright, it’s ready to be served!"
The crowd exploded once more, becoming even more tightly packed, as if they couldn’t wait to shove their heads closer.
ng Yuhuai didn’t know whether to be angry or laugh. He took large strides forward, parting the crowd and, sure enough, right at the very heart of the circle around a large steaming pot, he spotted his wife.
At that mont, she was carefully lifting the large pot lid, using a cloth as a pad to hold a dish of food from the pot. In an instant, the enticing scent, tempting enough to make one want to swallow their own tongue, beca even fiercer, hitting him full in the face like a storm.
Hua Xiaomai hadn’t noticed ng Yuhuai’s presence, but she promptly placed the dish in front of the man seated closest to her and declared with unquestionable confidence, "As I’ve already told you before, whether it’s fish skin or fish fin, the quality of what you’ve bought is excellent and there’s no need to worry. Yet, you insisted otherwise. Now that I’ve prepared this ’Fire Fish Fin,’ and you say you can judge its quality with just your mouth, go ahead and taste it."
Surrounded by the swirling heat, her features were sowhat obscured, but her confident deanor was unmistakable.
ng Yuhuai lightly arched an eyebrow.
Hua Xiaomai enjoyed being with him, that was sothing he never doubted, but... it seed that only by the stove did she truly radiate vitality. That "I’m the best in the world" posture looked utterly mischievous, yet...
The man at the table, skeptically glancing at Hua Xiaomai, cleared his throat and bravely spoke up, "Taste it, I shall! You, Lady, appear rather skilled, and there’s no doubting your culinary prowess. But how can I be certain of your words and not suspect collusion with the inn, without first tasting this dish myself?"
"Tch!" Hua Xiaomai had no interest in arguing with him and turned her head away, ignoring him. ng Yuhuai, on the other hand, could hardly bear soone else "slandering" his wife. He took two more steps forward, directly facing the man, and said sternly, "Don’t spout nonsense! We are not locals, how could we collude with the proprietors? Your words are impulsive and might cause trouble, will you take responsibility for that?"
It was already known that although typically mild-mannered, ng Yuhuai could be quite imposing when angered. The man recoiled slightly in fear, trying to save face, "And who are you to suddenly pop up? Are you perhaps related to this Lady? I rely made an offhand remark, and if it’s untrue, why would you feel so guilty as to get this angry?"
ng Yuhuai’s frown deepened, and just then, Hua Xiaomai finally noticed him, breaking into a radiant smile. She squeezed through the crowd to pull him by the sleeve, "Why are you back so early? I thought you wouldn’t be back until evening! Don’t mind him. You’ve arrived just in ti. Co, see how my ’Fire Fish Fin’ turned out."
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