Chapter 359: Chef Huo (II)
Chapter 359: Chef Huo (II)
Chef Huo still remembered how Han Yong was dragged out of the state-run restaurant by his mother. She even claimed that her son would never step in another restaurant in his life and would never do such a tacky job. Back then, he had hoped that Han Yong would fight for his freedom but the man never said a word against his mother, letting her run amok as she wished. Though Chef Huo never said anything, he was quite disappointed. After all, Han Yong was his disciple and he had taught him all of his skills. When he thought about how his disciple gave up on such a good opportunity, he could not help but feel upset with him.
"Master." Han Yong did not know what to say. In fact, he wanted to fight with his mother as well but he was tired after the continuous tantrums of his mother. From hanging herself from the roof of the house to rolling on the floor, the woman had done everything in her power to make his willpower weaken. It was not until Han Yong was tired of the continuous drama in the family that Meng Yunhan gave up and stopped.
Seeing the look in the eyes of the young man, what else could Chef Huo not understand? He sighed and motioned to Han Yong, "Come with me. Let’s talk."
Han Yong wanted to refuse but just then his stomach started to grumble. Chef Huo was startled when he heard the sound and could not help but ask Han Yong, "You haven’t had dinner yet? It’s already so late at night. People have already eaten and went to sleep." As he spoke, he dragged Han Yong with him. It was only when he brought the man inside the restaurant that he realised how thin Han Yong had become in the past few years. Back then when he was working for him, the man was tall and strong.
But now he looked lanky and weak.
What was going on? Didn’t Han Yong’s mother say that she was going to make Han Yong start a business? Why did the man look even worse than he did when he was following him? There were countless questions in his mind but Chef Huo had no idea where to start. He could only offer Han Yong some meat dumplings with pork bone soup and ask, "Ah Yong, don’t think of me as someone who is nosy. Just take it as if I am worried about you as your old master." He paused and asked, "Did you not do well in your business?"
Han Yong shook his head as he took a bite of the dumplings. "No, master, I did very well in business but–" Once he began speaking, he could not hold back. Every grievance that he had suffered came stumbling out of his lips as he told his master about the good things that his mother had done to him. The more he spoke, the hoarser his voice became and soon he was sobbing like a child.
By the time he finished speaking, Chef Huo was frowning hard. He looked at Han Yong and sighed heavily. "Ah Yong, is your mother...your biological mother?" It was not that he wanted to hurt Han Yong by saying such harsh words but he really could not stop himself. Forcing him to give up on the job that he loved and making him marry a woman whose character and status were not good, Chef Huo wondered what kind of woman could do such a thing?
If she were his biological mother, her heart would ache at the thought of ruining her son like this.
Han Yong smiled wryly and said, "I am afraid that she is really my biological mother, master."
Chef Huo turned silent. He sighed and rummaged in his pockets; he took out three hundred yuan and handed them to Han Yong. "I am just a small chef; this is all I can give to you. Even though it’s not a big sum of money, I hope it can help you and your siblings."
"Master—"
"Don’t refuse it." Chef Huo waved his hand and pressed the bills in Han Yong’s hands. "I might not be your grandfather but I have always treated you like my grandson. If not for your aunt being stubborn, I would have had countless grandchildren under my wing, but look at her acting all stubborn and refusing to get married."
Chef Huo knew that there was a knot in his daughter’s heart and he never forced her to get married.
When Han Yong heard Chef Huo mention Aunt Huo, his eyes couldn’t help but soften. His aunt was a really good person; she was the one who introduced her father to him and had him teach him his skills if not for her, he would have never met with such a good master.
"Ah Yong."
Han Yong raised his head and looked at Chef Huo with a hint of confusion in his eyes.
"If you don’t mind, you can still cook with me. I know that your mother doesn’t like your passion for cooking but I can assure you, as long as you work as a cook, you will not have to worry about going hungry. There is also a worker’s dormitory here. If you follow me, then you can live in the dorms where your family won’t be able to find you."
Han Yong was tempted when he heard Chef Huo’s suggestion. Honestly, he really wanted to go back to cooking but was afraid of his mother’s tantrum, which was why he refused to turn back. But now–
Seeing him hesitating, Chef Huo got up from his chair and patted Han Yong on his shoulder. "I know that you are afraid to take a step but Ah Yong, how long can you live like this? And even if you continue living like this, can you be happy?"
Can he be happy? No, even if Han Yong had never thought about these things before, he knew that he could never be truly happy if he continued to live under the shadows of his mother.