Chapter 430 Give Me a Chance

A bittersweet warmth welled up in Song Chunxue's calm heart; she knew that Lord Xie had always been sincere.

That's just how he is; he's too genuine, so it's hard for him to meet someone like him.

At that moment, Song Chunxue understood that he truly cared about her.

However, she would never again treat him like a fish cooked in lukewarm water.

After today, she would no longer make him do meaningless things.

Song Chunxue patted the back of his hand, "I understand, Xie Zheng. I've known what kind of person you are for the past three years. I won't misunderstand you just because of what others say."

She patiently explained, "I'm not angry. You can eat without worry. I've prepared braised pork ribs and stewed chicken with potatoes for you. The broth is especially delicious when mixed with noodles."

Xie Zheng lowered his head and took half a step back, releasing her wrist. His scholarly face showed a rare hint of shyness.

Song Chunxue avoided eye contact, saying, "You look great in this outfit today. The kitchen is smoky, it'll get dirty."

Xie Zheng looked down at his dark blue brocade robe, and the jade belt around his waist was one he had spent half an hour choosing.

Suddenly feeling recognized, he felt light on his feet, and the smile on his face unconsciously widened.

"Okay, I'll go outside first. Just let me know if you need any help."

Seeing him retreat with several glances back, Song Chunxue sighed inwardly.

The white moonlight shines in the sky, and here are the young men.

The poem she had just seen last night flashed into her mind in an instant.

Although Xie Zheng was not a young man, at this moment, his unsteady demeanor was no different from that of a young man.

What should I say to him?

He lacked vision and ambition. When he was young, he was only focused on being a good official. He only realized the importance of love when he was old.

Song Chunxue wasn't belittling herself; she genuinely felt unworthy.

But to have won the heart of such a person for even a moment in this life is her honor.

She is a ruthless person and will not become obsessed.

She turned around, tied on her apron, and got to work.

Seeing this, Liu Chunshu gave a wink to the kitchen helper waiting outside the door.

Some of them went inside to start a fire, others found plates to serve the dishes, and still others started preparing the sauce.

The fourth and second brothers stood outside the door, wanting to help but feeling that going in would only cause trouble.

The fourth brother looked at Liu Chunshu and said, "They said there was only one kitchen helper, but I feel like they are very skilled in everything in the kitchen."

Liu Chunshu smiled but remained silent.

In less than half an hour, the large round table in the courtyard was filled with dishes.

Each person has a bowl in front of them; some have plain noodles, while others have hand-pulled noodles in chicken soup.

"Sister Song's cooking is amazing! She made so many delicious dishes, it's such a feast!" Huang Mo smiled and stood up. "Sister Song, please sit down, let's eat together."

"Eat quickly, I'm not really good at cooking, I used to just make noodles. Please make do with this, don't let it get cold."

Huang Mo laughed and said, "How could that be? They all look delicious, so I won't be polite."

The fourth brother was very talkative and could respond well to Huang Mo's words, while the second brother was no longer reserved today.

Xie Zheng was unusually talkative today, and his smile was more pronounced than usual. He inadvertently praised every dish.

For some reason, Song Chunxue silently twitched his toes; he was being too strange.

After they had eaten and drunk their fill, each of them carried a small jug of wine and walked out of the courtyard towards the higher mountains.

The stone steps on the mountain were very steep, running straight up the ridge to the top of the mountain, which took them half an hour.

On the Double Ninth Festival, people climb to high places to enjoy the view.

Huang Mo would occasionally recite appropriate verses, prompting Xie Zheng to compose poems in response.

Xie Zheng wasn't as boisterous as him, and although he couldn't quite handle it, he was still infected by his enthusiasm. In the pavilion on the mountaintop, they recited poems, composed verses, and drank wine amidst the mountains and rivers.

The second and fourth brothers were also educated, and they chatted and laughed on the other side.

Song Chunxue listened quietly, looking down at the entire Jin City from here. She saw the square city gates and the Yellow River flowing outside the city, nourishing this fertile land and inspiring her to want to see more cities.

The mountain wind howled, and the further the sun slanted westward, the colder it felt.

They didn't have time to watch the sunset from the highest point before they descended the mountain, caressing the stone chain.

Back in the courtyard, everyone put on extra clothes without prior arrangement.

This Double Ninth Festival was very lively.

Song Chunxue cherished it very much.

She went to the kitchen to boil water and make tea, then asked everyone to sit inside while she went to the kitchen to prepare dinner.

She had just picked up the kitchen knife when Huang Mo came in from outside.

“It’s still early. Sister Song has already prepared everything. Let them take care of the rest. As the hostess, how can Sister Song go to the kitchen and work alone?”

As he spoke, Huang Mo lowered his voice, "I understand Xie Zheng's thoughts, and I don't believe Sister Song doesn't understand them either."

Was he there to play matchmaker?

“I understand, but don’t you think it’s inappropriate?” Song Chunxue’s voice was flat. “As his friend, shouldn’t you have tried to persuade him?”

Huang Mo paused, then turned around and smiled, "Why would I advise him? I think it's quite appropriate."

"Then you must not be his close friend."

"This..." Huang Mo said helplessly, "I know your concerns, but life is too short..."

"Life is short, but that doesn't mean you can do whatever you want. I only feel gratitude towards Lord Xie, and I have no romantic feelings for him."

She originally said this to Xie Zheng's face, but since she had talked to Huang Mo about it, perhaps she could ask him to persuade Xie Zheng so that he wouldn't hold a grudge for too long.

Huang Mo sighed, "Sure enough, I wasn't wrong. I understood that day. Sister Song was just too restrained. You two were both too self-controlled, which isn't good."

“So you must find him a passionate, outgoing, interesting, and talented woman who is a good match for him.” Song Chunxue ladled boiling water into the teapot. “You go first, I’ll bring a pot of hot tea.”

After a greasy lunch, everyone ate a bowl of fermented noodle soup for dinner. Then, the second and fourth brothers set up an iron pan and started roasting mutton.

Everyone sat together and began to talk about the past and reminisce.

As they chatted, Huang Mo's eyes lit up, and he asked about Xie Zheng's family.

They also talked about Xie Zhao.

“Actually, at your age, it’s not too late for you to have a son yourself. Xie Zhao is, after all, a nephew from a collateral branch of the family. He’s good enough to be your housekeeper. That kid is unsteady on his feet, and your family’s affairs are not worth entrusting to him,” Huang Mo said casually. “It’s time for you to settle down and start a family.”

Xie Zheng's gaze quickly swept over Song Chunxue. "I'm going to the outhouse."

Having achieved his goal, Huang Mo stood up.

"You can tell from the fourth brother that he's not as skilled as me. I used to grill meat all the time. Give me a handle, and I'll teach you how to grill it until it's crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, making it even more delicious."

"Very well, I would be grateful if Lord Huang would be so kind as to offer his guidance."

...

Song Chunxue went to the backyard and saw Xie Zheng standing by the stone bridge, staring blankly at the spring.

Fortunately, the fourth brother had specially lit a lantern here, so it wasn't pitch black.

The moonlight on the ninth day of the lunar month was not bright enough.

“The starry sky is beautiful,” Xie Zheng looked up at the night sky, his deep voice soft, “There are some things I’ve kept hidden for too long, and I want to get them off my chest.”

"But I'm clueless about romance and I'm also quite ruthless. Maybe we should just stop talking?"

These words seemed to have stepped on his tail, and he suddenly turned around and walked in front of Song Chunxue, their sleeves touching.

Why?

His voice was low and hoarse, "Are you still trying to hurt me because of societal expectations?"

"I……"

The next moment, he suddenly stretched out his arms and gently encircled Song Chunxue.

"Can't you give me a chance to try?"