Chapter 18 — Help You Earn 7,300,000 Yuan, You Only Give Me 70,000 Yuan?

I covered my eyes with a scarf. Oil poured in. In my ears, there was only the sound of oil popping and popping. On Tham Ngoc Dung's side. The sound of a shovel stirring food rang out continuously. Soon the fragrance spread. Tieu Man tightened his grip on the corner of his apron. Mumble as if praying:

“Calm down…”

“Calm down...”

I waited exactly three breaths before adding the ingredients. Someone immediately spoke up:

“She's slow.”

Manh Hoai An says:

“She's waiting for the oil to release steam.”

I don't listen to those rumors. I only heard a very slight change in the basin. The dish is completed. The blindfold was taken off. Tham Ngoc Dung makes crispy pan-fried tofu. Beautiful colors. Outstanding fragrance. Just making a plate of tofu and onions is so simple that it couldn't be simpler. The judges tasted Tham Ngoc Dung's dish first. Everyone complimented it. Then move on to mine. The chopsticks stopped simultaneously. Lady Hua spoke up:

“Soft outside.”

“The inside still holds water.”

Manh Hoai An's student couldn't help but ask:

“Blindfolded like that…”

“How do you know when the tofu will burst?”

“Before putting it in the pan, you must listen to its sound.”

“If humidity is high.”

“The oil will explode quickly.”

“If humidity is low.”

“The sound of the oil will be compressed.”

Trieu Thanh stood next to him and muttered:

“Pretending to be a god and pretending to be a ghost.”

Manh Hoai An glanced at him.

“You try it for me.”

Trieu Thanh immediately shut up. Second round. Tham Ngoc Dung's face could no longer remain calm. Until the lottery of the third round is opened. The whole hall suddenly fell silent. On the paper there are only two words: No ingredients specified. No limits on how to do it. Tham Ngoc Dung looked at the problem. Suddenly burst out laughing.

“I will definitely win this round.”

She immediately sent someone to bring a delicate clay pot. The most famous dish of the Tham family. Doan Vien Hotpot. It was also the food I hated the most when I was a child. Every time the Tham family holds a family banquet. I could only stand outside the kitchen door. Look at them gathered around the dining table. Co Thua Trach walked up next to me.

“Thanh Hoa.”

“Don't compete again this round.”

“She's not home.”

“It is impossible to cook the flavor back.”

Chu Ngan immediately kicked over the empty barrel next to him.

“Do that again!”

Co Thua Trach was still looking at me. The tone seemed to be offering pity.

"It's the truth."

“For so many years you have been alone.”

“Has anyone been waiting for you to come home?”

I put the knife down on the cutting board. Co Thua Trach was stunned. I turned my head to look. La Tay and her mother. Along with the regular customers from Nam Hang who just came running. The fat man who often comes to the restaurant holds up his lunch box.

“Boss Tham!”

“Your shop hasn't locked the door yet!”

“We're looking after you!”

Aunt Luu carried a basket of vegetables.

“Freshly picked vegetables.”

“There are wormholes too.”

“Bringing cheers for you.”

Old man Qin also brought a bucket of fish.

“The fish have also arrived.”

“It's not from the Tham family.”

I received the vegetable basket from Aunt Luu's hand. Speak softly:

“Return…”

“It doesn't have to be blood and flesh.”

The last dish I made. It's a pot of Nam Hang mixed vegetable soup. Sliced fish. A few pieces of chicken. There aren't any expensive ingredients. When the pot of soup is served. Tham Ngoc Dung smiled contemptuously.

“This is what you call returning?”

“A chaotic potpourri?”

The fat customer immediately couldn't bear it.

“What do you know?”

“I come back every day to work overtime I just want to eat this dish.”

Lady Hua took a sip. Say nothing. Just quietly gave the bowl to Mr. Hua's butler. The butler finished drinking. Eyes are not red. But the hand clasped the bowl tightly.

“After the old man fell ill…”

“What he remembers most is this taste.”

“It's like coming home.”

“Someone still left the light waiting for me.”

Manh Hoai An drank the entire bowl of soup. Gently put it down.

“Third round.”

“Shen Qinghe won.”

Tham Ngoc Dung jumped up.

“No way!”

Manh Hoai An looked at her.

“Lost all three.”

“Sorry.”

The eyes of the entire hall simultaneously fell on Tham Ngoc Dung. She gritted her teeth. Each word jumped out from between my teeth. But she was not satisfied. The word "loser" cannot be erased in front of everyone. Right on the spot. Lady Hua informed the writer of the results of the three rounds of the exam. Pasted right in front of Van Dinh Son Trang gate. Manager Chau was about to rush in and tear it apart. But the Hua family's butler held his wrist tightly.

“Try touching it again.”

“I make you pay for the whole door.”

Manager Chau immediately withdrew his hand. I hugged the wooden box and prepared to leave. Co Thua Trach chased him all the way to the hallway.

“Thanh Hoa.”

“Can we talk for a bit?”

Chu Ngan immediately blocked in front of me.

“Talk about how you sold her?”

Co Thua Trach tried to hold back his anger.

“She and I have an engagement.”

“I'm just an outsider.”

I looked at him.

“Do you remember that?”

Co Thua Trach's voice softened.

“I admit I was wrong.”

“But you also know.”

“For the past few years, the Co family has had to rely on the Tham family's parties.”

“I cannot offend Ngoc Dung.”

“So you chose to offend me.”

He bowed his head.

“I will understand you someday.”

I laughed.

“Back in the day it was because I was stupid.”

Co Thua Trach's expression immediately became unsightly.

“Thanh Hoa.”

“Don't say such cruel words.”

“I can help you get back what belongs to you.”

“Just don't get too close to Chu Ngan.”

Chu Ngan burst out laughing out of anger.

“What qualifications do you have to set conditions?”

Co Thua Trach ignored him. From his pocket he took out an old ring.

“This is what my mother sent my mother to keep for her that year.”

"Tell me to wait until the day I get married and then give it back."

“Go back.”

“I will return it to you.”

I looked at the ring. It's a silver ring. The inside is engraved with a small cinnamon leaf. I've never seen it. But I immediately realized that it was my mother's handiwork.

“Give it to me.”

Co Thua Trach immediately held the ring tightly.

"Follow me to the Co family's house."

Chu Ngan intended to rush in and rob him. I raised my hand to stop him.

“Co Cheng Ze.”

“You used my mother's things to threaten me.”

“This is the second time.”

He frowned.

“I just want to get you back on the right path.”

“What is the right path?”

“Being my wife who knows how to cook?”

"Or make a step for Tham Ngoc Dung to step on?"

He frowned.

“Don't always think other people are that bad.”

I nodded.

“Okay.”

“Then you give me the ring back.”

He immediately fell silent. Didn't move at all. I laughed.

“Even pretending to be a good person…”

"You're not completely fake either."

Right at that moment. At the end of the hallway, a cold female voice rang out.

“Thua Trach.”

“Put the ring away.”

The lady of the Co family wears a dark purple cheongsam. Behind there are two relatives of the Co family. She looked at me like I was looking at a sticky tablecloth dust.

“Tham Thanh Hoa.”

“Haven't you been disruptive enough?”

“Disgrace at the winter party.”

“Now you want to rob the Co family?”

I looked straight at her.

“That's something my mother left behind.”