Adorable Food Goddess

Chapter 50

After the feast ended, Zhao Qixuan played host once again and invited everyone to have a night tour along the Qin Huai River . Helian Jing waved his hand and declined, “I have already toured it this afternoon, I can’t take another round . You guys go ahead, I will be going home . ”

 

 

Zhao Qixuan saw that Helian Jing clearly had other matters in mind so he decided not to force him . “Alright, you go ahead . Don’t worry about the issue that you asked help for . As long as he is in Jiang Xi, my brother-in-law would find him for you . ”

“Actually,” Helian Jing started . “Now that I had given it more thought, I think it would be better if I just stop looking . ”

“What? Why?”

Because I already found him! “I just realized that maybe he was intentionally misleading me . It’s possible that he didn’t even go to Jiang Xi . I’m thankful that you’re willing to help, but let’s just forget it for now . ”

“Little Jing, we make a sad pair, huh? However, you are far more reasonable and clear-headed than me . Me? I am a simple fool . Even though I know that little Su is lying to me, I still keep searching for him, refusing to give up . Oh, why can’t I just get over it?” Zhao Qixuan said, dejected .

Helian Jing stared blankly at him . They weren’t a sad pair . They weren’t a pair, period . He didn’t have the same problem as him .

“Nevertheless, even if I crack my head open bashing against a wall, I would gladly do it . Little Jing, if there’s a will, there’s a way . I believe that as long as I persevere, there would be a day where the sky would clear and the moon would surface . I will not give up, and neither should you . ”

After that, Zhao Qixuan patted his shoulder, as if he was the one who needed comforting and left . Helian Jing saw him glance up at the moon with a mournful expression .

Ye Jiayao was feeling great even after downing six shots of Zhuang Yuan Hong . However, after she returned to the kitchen, the effects of the alcohol started kicking in . She used to be a good drinker . Her minimum was a catty of spirit, she could handle seven to eight bottles of beer with no sweat . Although she does not drink rice wine often, she could also manage half a catty of it easily . Her problem tonight was she drank six consecutive shots on an empty stomach .

Shopkeeper Li was extremely satisfied with his new hire but he observed that Li Yao was turning a bit pale . He turned to Li Erniang and said, “Second sister, go back to the inn with Li Yao . You don’t have to come back early in the morning tomorrow, but be sure to be on time for the lunch hour . ”

Li Erniang replied, “I’ll take him with me, but I won’t be coming over with him tomorrow . The inn is short of manpower and I need to be there . ”

Shopkeeper Li felt bad . “It has been hard for you these few days, I know . Heavenly Residence will compensate for the losses in your inn . ”

“There are no losses, and even if there is, I cannot ask you for compensation . It is only right for siblings to help each other out . ” Li Erniang smiled .

 

 

“Get old Guan to send you two back . ” Shopkeeper Li tasked little Lu to get old Guan to prepare the horse carriage .

Already tired and dizzy, Ye Jiayao did not refuse . She handed Shopkeeper Li a 100-taels banknote, and said, “Shopkeeper, I would have to trouble you to break the note and split this with the rest . ”

Shopkeeper Li replied, “This is your reward from the Heir-son Lord, you can keep it for yourself . ”

“I wouldn’t have been able to do it alone, everyone has a contribution,” Ye Jiayao said with a kind smile .

Shopkeeper Li hesitated for a while before finally saying, “Alright . I will split this up for you but I will only split 30% of it with everyone . ”

Although her generosity was genuine, splitting up a hundred taels would still hurt Ye Jiayao . She was currently impoverished and although she does not have to rely on others for survival, she was still strapped for cash . Shopkeeper Li’s offer worked well for Ye Jiayao so she simply said, “Shopkeeper Li, I’ll trust you with the arrangements . ”

Shopkeeper Li’s care and concern for Li Yao made other workers envious . For them, it was already quite obvious that the position of the master chef was sure to be given to Li Yao . Most of the workers have no opposing opinions on that matter and was actually wishing for Li Yao to succeed as he was amiable and generous . Li Yao acknowledged everyone’s help and even split his reward with them . Even without factoring his cooking skills in, on attitude alone, he has already surpassed Head Chef Niu by a mile .

However, Zhong Xiang firmly thought that Li Yao only made it through because of his connection . Splitting his reward and being kind to the other workers was his way to win their heart . Without Li Yao, he would’ve been the one in the limelight . Li Yao was the sand in Zhong Xiang’s eye, the thorn in his flesh that he must remove .

Ye Jiayao was a little surprised that she did not see Helian Jing as she walked out of Heavenly Residence . From what she knew of little Jingjing, his impatience would’ve forced him to wait for her outside to interrogate her .

Ah, forget it! I think I just thought too highly of myself .

Little Jingjing probably has returned to the prince’s mansion and does not need her help anymore .

Ye Jiayao opted to walk and let Li Erniang board the carriage . Now that she was dressed up as a man, she could not just ride with Li Erniang . Although the second lady was a middle-aged woman, she was still quite attractive, Ye Jiayao did not want to tarnish her reputation .

Li Erniang said, “Li Yao, you can take a seat with old Guan . ”

 

 

“No, thank you . I want to take a walk and enjoy the breeze to get rid of the smell of alcohol . It is not a long walk, anyway,” Ye Jiayao refused politely .

The horse carriage moved slowly, the  click-clacking sound that it made on the limestone pavement resonated on the empty streets .

From afar, the sweet sound of traditional Chinese musical instruments drifted over . The Qin Huai river was dotted with lights that looked like twinkling stars . Many grand pleasure boats floated along silently among the dazzling lights in the river . The vivid descriptions of history books that she read were brought to life right before her eyes .

Ye Jiayao vowed that when she gets rich, she would book a pleasure boat, invite the prettiest girl in Jin Ling, and tour the river with her . She thought about her dreams and aspirations when she suddenly remembered something . Little Jingjing already knew that she was at Heavenly Residence . There was a great possibility that he would either mention it to the dumb donkey or bring him at the restaurant .

All the hiding and pretending she was doing was all because she wanted to avoid that dumb donkey . It was not like she could just leave . She had already signed a contract and she was too honorable to break it .

Ugh! Whatever!  She was going to achieve her goals and follow her dreams no matter what happens with the dumb donkey . After all, what does she have to be afraid of? The battle at the Black Wind Ridge wasn’t even over yet, and Chunyu had already denied any connection with her . It was entirely possible that he might even pretend not to know her when they cross paths .

Ye Jiayao was too caught up in her thought that she did not realize that someone was following her from a distance .

Helian Jing played smart and decided not to approach her so hastily . He wanted to understand the situation first lest she runs from him again .

After stalking her all the way to Laifu Motel, Helian Jing waited for a long while . When big Yaoyao did not come out, he guessed that this must be the place he was staying at .

The waiter came out to close the shop and Helian Jing hurriedly waved him over .

The waiter came out to him and asked suspiciously, “What can I do for you?”

Helian Jing pulled him aside and softly asked, “Is there a man living in the inn called Li Yao?”

The waiter replied, “Yes, what is the matter?”

“He is a distant relative of mine . Both of his parents passed away and he has come to Jin Ling to seek a livelihood . I wanted him to stay over at my house and arrange a good job for him, but he is too proud and is too afraid to give me any trouble . He even refused the money I gave him! Ay! I really don’t know what to do to help him . ”

Upon hearing that Helian Jing was a distant relative of little brother Li, the waiter lowered his guard down . “Little brother Li is quite a nice person . On his first night here, he did our shopkeeper a huge favor so Shopkeeper Li likes him . Our lady boss is making noodles for Li Yao now!”

Helian Jing’s heart ached . Big Yaoyao had been busy preparing delicious foods the whole night while he himself was only eating noodles now . He must’ve been famished . Helian Jing immediately pulled out a few silver fragments from his pocket and stuffed them into the waiter’s hands . “I am very worried about him living alone outside . Could you please take care of him? Don’t let him know that I talked to you, though . He’d just feel indebted to me and refuse more help . ”

The waiter wasn’t comfortable in taking the silver so he returned them, and said, “I will do that even if you don’t pay me . He is our guest . ”

“Keep it, keep it . Just please keep me informed no matter what happens in the future, whatever issues that he has, big or small . I will send someone to hear from you every day . If he leaves, please inform me first-hand . I am working in the Helian prince’s mansion, you can find me there, just say you need to find little Jing . I will reward you accordingly for your help . ”

The waiter worked on keeping his surprise from showing .   Little brother Li has a relative that works in the Helian mansion?  “Sure, I’ll do it . ”

“You must never let him know, okay?” Helian Jing warned him .

The waiter smiled . “I won’t, don’t worry . ”

“I also heard that he is working at Heavenly Residence . ”

“Oh, yes! Little brother Li has extraordinary culinary skills and he already signed a contract as a first-class kitchen helper on his first day . ”

“Do you know how long is the contract?”

“I heard little brother Li tell our shopkeeper that it was for three years . ” The waiter continued, “He also booked an earth code room for three months in our motel . Shopkeeper Li even gave him a 30% discount .

Helian Jing felt even more saddened to learn that big Yaoyao was staying in the lowest grade room . He knew that he has to think of a way for big Yaoyao to live more comfortably .

After the walk, Ye Jiayao felt a little better . Li Erniang’s noodle also helped a great deal with her headache . She found that the second lady’s skills were indeed good as she made a normal tomato and egg noodles taste very delicious .

“Big sister has such good skills! Why didn’t she opened a restaurant? It is more profitable than an inn,” Ye Jiayao asked in between bites .

Shopkeeper Li replied, “It is not that easy running a restaurant . It’s very tiring . Second lady is not in good health and she cannot overexert herself . ”

Oh! That explains why Li Erniang looked so slim!

“Big brother, how about your children? Why have I not seen them?”

Shopkeeper Li let out a long depressed sigh . They’re gone . They fell gravely ill at the age of ten and just . . . left . :

Ye Jiayao almost choked on her noodles . She felt like slapping herself for her big mouth . “I am so sorry, I…”

Shopkeeper Li waved her apology . “It’s okay, don’t worry . Just don’t let your sister-in-law hear it . Once she gets reminded of it, she’d feel terrible and fall sick again . ”

Ye Jiayao nodded her head in understanding .

The waiter stepped back inside the inn . Shopkeeper Li frowned and scolded, “I just asked you to close shop, what took you so long?”

“T-there was a customer who wanted to stay . He asked for the price but then left because he thinks it is too expensive,” the waiter stammered

“Expensive? I have the most reasonable price in the whole of Jin Ling! Well, let him ask around and see if anyone can give him any cheaper rates!” Shopkeeper Li ranted . “Ay! It’s really hard to run a business these days!”