C9 Want a Wife but Not a Husband

"Oh man, they all got a taste for that pork feast before, so they all shouted to come over."

"But don't you worry, they didn't give us a heads-up before dropping by. If we run short on dishes, I'll take the heat. No need for you to fret."

Xu Jialong dismissed the concern with a wave of his hand, readily accepting the blame.

Guests come to feast with the expectation of plenty. If the food runs out, the Chef is in for a tongue-lashing. Faang Hua certainly didn't want to be on the receiving end of that, but Xu Jialong's offer to shoulder the responsibility was a huge relief.

"Uncle, rest easy. I've made extra dishes."

"Haha, I knew you'd handle everything perfectly. But with your culinary skills being top-notch, everyone's been holding out all afternoon just for this meal," Xu Jialong said with a hearty laugh.

Faang Hua was torn between amusement and embarrassment. After all, he was now a chef of Great Master Level; it would be odd if people weren't drawn to his cooking.

[Ding! Achievement mission triggered. 'Gaining a Bit of Fame' achievement unlocked. A random system reward awaits.]

A Village Feast in Small Zhuang Village that earns one a bit of fame comes with a reward?

Faang Hua wasn't sure what the system would grant him, but he was hoping for cash.

While Faang Hua's family wasn't exactly struggling, there were still financial pressures. He had finished college, but his sister, Faang Lan, was about to start. Expenses were cropping up everywhere, and being able to add to the family savings would be a blessing.

Lost in thought, Mrs. Taohua gave Faang Hua's shoulder a pat.

"Hua, all done with your work? Come join us at the table, sit right here!"

Faang Hua turned to see the spot Mrs. Taohua was indicating, right next to a charming girl who bore a slight resemblance to her.

With a teasing smile, Mrs. Taohua said, "Hua, you're at the age for marriage, aren't you interested in finding a wife?"

Under the eager eyes of Mrs. Taohua and Mrs. Cuihua, Faang Hua could only offer a resigned smile.

At such a prime age in your twenties, there's no need to rush things...

But Mrs. Taohua was just having a bit of fun, prompting Faang Hua to take a seat with ease.

"Mr. Hua, it's been a while."

"Tian Tian, indeed, we haven't seen each other since you left for college in another province," Faang Hua said with a smile.

Mrs. Taohua's daughter, Tian Tian, was an acquaintance of Faang Hua's. After junior high, Tian Tian, a stellar student, got into a high school in the city and later attended a university in another province, so they weren't very close.

Tian Tian was holding a selfie stick with a phone mounted on it, engaged in a live broadcast.

Nowadays, everyone, regardless of age, is aware of the massive reach of TikTok. With a bit of talent, one can easily gather a following, and it tends to be a bit easier for girls than for guys.

Faang Hua had tried his hand at it too, but with lukewarm results, he eventually gave up.

"It's been three or four years, then."

"Yeah, I'm live streaming right now. I had a lot of downtime in college, so I started sharing bits of my daily life, along with some shopping hauls."

"This time, I'm back for a feast, and a lot of my followers are city folks curious about what a rural Flowing Feast is like. So, I thought I'd stream it and give them a glimpse," Tian Tian explained with a smile.

The live stream had plenty of viewers, but Tian Tian refrained from interacting with them.

Out here in the countryside, and especially in public, if Tian Tian were to chat carelessly on her phone, the gossip could spread like wildfire, and who knows how the story might end up.

So, Tian Tian was content to let her viewers simply watch the live stream.

"To city dwellers, a countryside Flowing Feast is often perceived as just a communal potluck, with less-than-ideal cooking conditions."