Chapter 600 Still My Favorite

Song Chunxue was surprised to find that the person from the Hu family was Hu Wanyu, Hu Wanying's older sister.

The woman who insisted on marrying Xie Zheng back then.

After several years apart, Hu Wanyu had long since shed her girlish demeanor. Her cheeks were rounder, her steps were lighter, and her slightly plump face showed more peace and gentleness, making her look like a gentle and loving mother.

Sanwa welcomed the people into the courtyard and then went to the yamen.

"It's our fault for letting you come first, Miss Hu, please come inside." Song Chunxue stood on the steps, thinking that it was fortunate that she only brought a maid and a servant, otherwise the marriage between the second son and her sister would probably fall through.

Hu Wanyu raised an eyebrow slightly and glanced at Song Chunxue with a hint of a smile.

"So you knew why I came here. You're such a lazy mother. You've already had your second child, but you're not worried about your second son's marriage at all. Is your second son really that unsatisfactory to you?"

Song Chunxue followed her into the house. "It's not that he's unhappy, it's just that he's never in a hurry. A few days ago, I asked him when he was going to go to your house to propose marriage, and he said that your Wanying wants to wait a year and doesn't want to get married and have children too early."

Before Hu Wanyu could speak, she quickly added, "However, I didn't plan to wait until then. I came down the mountain today to prepare some things, go to propose marriage, and finalize the engagement."

Hu Wanyu looked at Xia's mother, who was holding the baby, and asked, "Is this your husband Jiang's mother-in-law?"

"Hmm? Yes, this is Mulan's mother." This Lord Jiang made her feel a little dazed, and she couldn't help but chuckle. "It's not quite right to call him that all of a sudden. From now on, just call him Sanwa."

The cook served tea, which Hu Wanyu picked up and drank, her gaze falling on Song Chunxue with a rather meaningful expression.

The child started crying, so Xia's mother took the child to Mulan's room.

Only the two of them remained in the room.

Hu Wanyu put down her teacup, fiddled with her handkerchief, and smiled maliciously.

"Young lady, just say what you want to say. Why are you staring at me like that?" Song Chunxue looked at her face. "Are you doing well with your husband now?"

"Fortunately, ever since I stopped caring about who he was seeing outside, he's become a bit more clingy to me and more measured in his actions." Saying this, she leaned back. "Why haven't you and Lord Xie made any moves yet? I thought you were so busy having a sweet time with Lord Xie that you forgot about your son's important life event."

"..." No wonder she was smiling so slyly; she wasn't holding back any nice words.

"You still believe what happened back then? I was just used by Lord Xie to fend off unwanted suitors. Besides, we're fellow disciples now. If there were anything going on, it would have happened long ago. Don't make wild guesses." Song Chunxue pointed to the steamed buns on the plate. "Try my family's sesame bran steamed buns."

The filling of the sesame seed buns is made from sesame powder, and they are fried in oil. It's a hassle to make, and although they don't taste very good, it's worth trying something new.

Back in the village, Song Chunxue would only do it once every few years. Not only did she not have time for it, but she also couldn't bear to part with that little bit of sesame oil.

Hu Wanyu pinched off a small piece and looked at her with slight disappointment.

“We’ve known each other for a long time, so I won’t treat you like an elder,” she said, looking you up and down. “Besides, you don’t look like an elder anymore. You don’t look like a woman who has given birth to five children. Actually, you don’t need to think too highly of Xie Zheng. I heard that he hasn’t taken a fancy to anyone else all these years.”

Song Chunxue laughed, "Where did you hear that from? You still can't forget him?"

“No, that’s not it,” Hu Wanyu said, her cheeks flushing. “It’s a little embarrassing to say. I was young and naive back then, and I was bold. Now I can’t do that kind of thing. Besides, older women don’t really care about young girls. What’s the difference between that and taking care of a child? The key is that you can beat a child, but you can’t hit or scold a wife who’s like a child. You can only have a headache.”

“You’ve thought things through quite well, but I’m getting old after all. My eldest sister passed away at this time, and I’m finally free. Why should I pair up with someone? I think being a widow is fine. Lord Xie is a good man, but once you start living together, it’s all about the mundane things like firewood and oil. I know that better than anyone.”

Hu Wanyu was stunned for a moment, and remained silent for a long time.

She took a bite of the sesame seed bun. "Hmm, it's pretty good."

Song Chunxue also ate a piece. "I haven't had this in years, it's really delicious. How many children do you have now?"

“Three is enough. I don’t want to have any more.” As she said this, she looked out the door and lowered her voice, “Is there any talisman to prevent me from having children? I feel nauseous every time I drink contraceptive soup.”

This stumped Song Chunxue. "I'll ask my senior brother later, just in case there really is something easier than taking medicine."

“That’s right. How could you have five children back then, four of them sons, and still be able to support their education…” Hu Wanyu sighed. “Listening to you, I feel like you lived like an old ox, never having a moment’s rest.”

Who can argue with that? She doesn't even dare to think back to those days, when she slept later than a dog and got up earlier than a rooster, her eyes always on work.

She can practice swordsmanship like that now, but she could never farm like that again.

You can't force yourself to endure hardship. We're not starving, so why treat yourself like an animal?

"I heard that a Taoist nun came to the temple, and she's Master Zhang's junior sister. She paid someone to find you an actress, but even that didn't win you over?"

Song Chunxue smiled faintly, "You only care about these useless things?"

"What else could I care about?" Hu Wanyu crossed her legs. "If it weren't for the fact that it's nice to have a man to warm the bed, I would really like to remain a widow and do whatever I want, just like you."

"..." This child.

"Listen to the nonsense you're spouting! Do you think you'll have a good life if people hear this?"

"I'm just telling you, my mother will definitely scold me if she hears this," Hu Wanyu said seriously. "If I really become a widow, I might..."

"Going to see Lord Xie again?" Song Chunxue glanced at the Hu family maid chatting with the cook in the courtyard. "It seems he has always been your favorite."

“I thought he had aged in the last two years, or at least gained weight. But I ran into him on the street a few days ago. He’s such a hardworking person, but he’s still the same as he was five years ago. In fact, he’s dressed more elegantly. His dark green clothes make him look much more sophisticated than that silly young man in his twenties.”

"..." Seeing Hu Wanyu's envious yet regretful expression, Song Chunxue was shocked by her audacity.

Children who are spoiled will say anything.

However, Xie Zheng looked best in dark green clothes; he was very eye-catching from afar and suited his appearance perfectly.

"Besides, don't you think his appearance still has that unyielding spirit that's very attractive? I've heard that women, especially older women, blush when they see him. You can resist such good meat being offered to you. I think you're the real Liu Xiahui."

"It's pointless to keep talking," Song Chunxue earnestly advised her. "Why don't you give it another try? What if he has a hard time controlling you now?"

Hu Wanyu was speechless.

"Forget it, you're such a disappointment. I only have respect for him as an elder now. I used to think you weren't good enough for him, but now I realize you're the best match for him. I'm worried for you."

At this point, she stretched her neck forward and said, "Do you know that the Wang family is having a banquet tonight and has invited Lord Xie to drink? They have found two beauties for Lord Xie, one of whom I have seen before. She is incredibly voluptuous."