CHAPTER 612: EPISODE 326: MOVING HOUSE

Wang Tonghe had made up his mind to slip away, and early the next morning, Hua Xiaomai, along with Meng Yuhuai, sent him off to Fuzhe County. They hired a horse-drawn carriage and bought some local specialties for him to eat on the road.

As the old man boarded the carriage, Wang Zhanrui stood by the roadside, in silence, and then said after a long pause, "Father, I’m a bit worried about you traveling alone. Otherwise... maybe I should take you to Lingquan Prefecture and then..."

"Enough, enough, I’m not at death’s door, what do I need you to accompany me for?" Wang Tonghe was impatient, glancing at him and speaking, "Daoxiang Garden is doing well, and the girl has been cooking less recently. If you leave, won’t you throw the kitchen into chaos? Besides—"

He laughed, lowering his voice a notch: "If you weren’t planning to stay here long-term, you wouldn’t have eagerly run back home to stock up on so much tea. My guess is, you’re doing quite well here, right? That girl is good company, easy to get along with, and truly skilled. In three to five years, her Daoxiang Garden will likely make a name for itself. You stay diligent working for her, and when the benefits come, you’ll definitely get your share. Ha, I probably know what you’re thinking, but the culinary business can’t be rushed. If you keep changing places every few days like before, how can you succeed?"

Wang Zhanrui hung his head and responded sullenly, "Yes."

Wang Tonghe smiled and patted his shoulder, then turned to Hua Xiaomai.

Before he could speak, Hua Xiaomai already stepped forward and said with a smile, "Do you have any instructions for me?"

"What instructions? It’s just a farewell!" Wang Tonghe also smiled, "I came here on a whim, and during this time, I crashed at your Sauce Garden. I have to thank you for your hospitality. I’m getting on in years and don’t enjoy wandering around. After today, who knows if we will meet again. That Wang brother of yours..."

He nodded towards Wang Zhanrui’s direction: "That Wang brother of yours is stubborn, but not a bad person, and the culinary skills I personally taught him should come in handy in your place. If he annoys you, for my sake, please be a bit more tolerant, will you?"

"Do you need to ask?" Hua Xiaomai replied with a smile, "Wang Master is a good chef, and I’m not foolish—why would I easily let him go?"

Wang Tonghe nodded in satisfaction: "Alright, I won’t say much more. I’m off. Even though we’re not officially master and apprentice, you’ve learned a dish from me, so there is some connection between us. If we meet again in the future, you better show me your progress, you hear?"

After saying this, he nodded to Meng Yuhuai, instructed the coachman, and slowly made his way towards the city gate.

Hua Xiaomai stood and watched until the carriage became a small black dot, disappearing into the crowd, then turned her head, asked Wang Zhanrui to return to the village first, and then cheerfully said to Meng Yuhuai, "Meng Leader, would you like to accompany me to Chunfeng Restaurant?"

...

The banquet Zhao Laoye had prepared to honor Wang Tonghe never came to pass.

Hua Xiaomai and Meng Yuhuai headed straight to Chunfeng Restaurant and got straight to the point, informing him that Wang Tonghe had already left.

"The old master said he takes to heart the kindeness and hospitality you all have offered, but he has always disliked socializing. Sitting at a dinner table makes him feel uncomfortable, so it’s better to save you the trouble and excuse himself. He left early this morning and by now, should already be on the official road," they said.

Zhao Laoye was full of disappointment but still not giving up hope, looking at Hua Xiaomai and probing, "Xiaomai girl, so you really are Wang old master’s apprentice? Otherwise, why would he specifically come for Daoxiang Garden? You know... keeping this to yourself isn’t right. Such a fortunate event—many people can’t even hope for it, and it would be something to be proud of to talk about!"

"I truly did hope to take him as my master, but Wang old master has never taken on disciples, so how could I make such a claim?"

Hua Xiaomai pursed her lips and smiled, "His visit to Daoxiang Garden was totally accidental. If you don’t believe it, you’re free to ask around in my shop."

Zhao Laoye was unwilling to believe and kept muttering, "Don’t fool me," until the pair had already stepped out of Chunfeng Restaurant’s main entrance, and he was still grumbling nonstop.

Regardless, the matter was resolved, and Hua Xiaomai let out a sigh of relief. She wasn’t in a hurry to return to the village, instead urging Meng Yuhuai to go to the Escort Agency, while she herself walked towards the county.

In March, the new house east of the village was completed. Meng Yuhuai settling accounts with the craftsmen, then he consulted with Hua Xiaomai and Meng’s mother about moving in at the beginning of April.