Chapter 18: Love-Struck Chi-Chi
After a brief interaction, Chi-Chi explained her purpose to Bulma and Goku.
She had heard that Master Roshi possessed the Bansho Fan, which could summon wind and rain to extinguish the fires of Fire Mountain.
And since Master Roshi was Ox-King's teacher, with that connection, he would surely lend it.
So Ox-King sent Chi-Chi to borrow the fan from Master Roshi.
She just hadn't made it far from the vicinity of Fire Mountain yet.
After hearing Chi-Chi's full story, Bulma couldn't help but comment, "Your dad, Ox-King, is really something."
"He doesn't even know where Master Roshi is, yet he sends a kid like you to find him on foot."
"If it weren't for Goku just now, you probably would've been eaten by that dinosaur!"
Chi-Chi looked at Bulma with curiosity.
"Did you say you know Master Roshi's whereabouts?"
Bulma nodded.
"I do!"
Chi-Chi's eyes lit up.
"Really?"
Bulma nodded again.
Chi-Chi exclaimed excitedly, "That's great! Can you take me to find Master Roshi?"
Bulma nodded once more. "I can, but..."
"The purpose of my journey is to find the Dragon Balls."
"It shouldn't take too much extra time anyway."
"To secure the Dragon Balls safely, I need to make a deal with your father."
"I'll help him find a way to put out the fire on Fire Mountain, and he'll give me the Dragon Balls."
Chi-Chi nodded. "So that's how it is!"
"Among the treasures my dad has collected over the years, there should be something called Dragon Balls."
"Alright, it's settled then."
"I'll take you to see my dad tomorrow!"
Bulma nodded. "Good!"
Then Bulma changed the subject. "By the way, Chi-Chi, you're still a child, and a girl at that. You need to learn to protect yourself."
"Don't go around offering to be someone's bride all the time."
"Girls should be more reserved."
Chi-Chi's lively eyes shifted thoughtfully.
"Hmm, you're right. Girls should be more reserved."
Bulma breathed a sigh of relief. "Mhm! That's better."
However, Chi-Chi voiced another doubt. "But in the TV dramas I've watched, after the hero saves the beauty, she always promises herself to him..."
Bulma frowned. "Your parents are so irresponsible, letting a child like you watch romance shows!"
Hearing Bulma's words, Chi-Chi's previously lively eyes immediately lowered.
"I don't have a mom... Dad is often out robbing people, so I just watch TV alone at home."
Bulma was left speechless.
Before her rebirth, she had never met Ox-King's wife, nor had she seen Chi-Chi's mother.
It seemed like she had touched on a sensitive topic.
However, Bulma couldn't resist asking her question.
After all, suppressing curiosity was simply too difficult.
"How could you not have a mother? Don't tell me your father found you somewhere?"
A hint of pride appeared on Chi-Chi's face. "My dad said I originally had two mothers, but they kept fighting. Dad was afraid they'd be a bad influence on me, so he sent them away. He even told me to tell people I came with a phone plan recharge!"
Bulma was speechless. "Heh... What kind of bizarre family setup is this? Even stranger than my own family. I really shouldn't be listening to a child's nonsense..."
Just then, the aroma of food and the sizzling sound of roasting meat came from nearby.
Goku looked at them.
"You must be hungry. It'll be ready soon."
After saying this, Goku picked up a piece of roasted dinosaur meat, cut it into large slices, placed them on a plate, and brought it to Bulma and Chi-Chi.
"How does it taste?"
Bulma and Chi-Chi glanced at each other, then both took a bite. In the next moment, their eyes lit up.
Bulma exclaimed in surprise, "Wow, this is delicious!"
Chi-Chi also wore an expression of bliss, chiming in, "Yes, yes, it's really incredibly delicious. I've never eaten anything this good in my entire life."
Bulma gave Goku a thumbs-up and praised, "Goku, your roasted meat is amazing!"
Goku smiled proudly. "Of course it is. My grandfather always said my roasted dinosaur meat is especially delicious—it's my specialty! If you like it, eat as much as you want, there's plenty!"
As he spoke, Goku also picked up a large piece of roasted meat and began chewing on it.
After finishing her piece, Chi-Chi stared intently at Goku.
Noticing her gaze, Goku turned to look at Chi-Chi.
"What's wrong? Why did you stop eating?"
Chi-Chi said seriously, "Goku, you're not only great at martial arts, but you can even cook meat so well. You're too perfect. I've decided—I'm going to study cooking hard and become a good wife when I grow up. So Goku, will you marry me when we're older?"
Hearing Chi-Chi's words, Bulma couldn't help but frown.
Good grief.
After just a few conversations, Chi-Chi had already said she wanted to be his bride eight times.
Could this really be fate?
No wonder Chi-Chi managed to win Goku over at that year's Martial Arts Tournament.
Both Chi-Chi and Goku were too young to understand things at this age, and Goku still didn't understand what marriage meant even when he grew up.
So, at the Martial Arts Tournament, Goku ended up marrying Chi-Chi because of this childhood joke-like promise.
No way!
Bulma felt extremely unwilling to lose to this sudden appearance of Chi-Chi.
Just as Bulma was about to interrupt Chi-Chi, Goku spoke.
He said seriously, "Chi-Chi, marriage is for adults. We're just children, we shouldn't be talking about these things."
Chi-Chi blinked her eyes as she looked at Goku.
"Oh, alright then. My marriage should indeed be handled by my father!"
Goku: "Mm!"
Knowing Goku's attitude, Bulma finally breathed a sigh of relief.
Although it seemed like she hadn't done anything, achieving this result was enough.