So, You’re the Henpecked One? 37

Chapter 37

The words “go ahead and kiss me” were enough to ignite all of Lin Zhao’s passion.

Her eyes lit up, and she was so excited that her cheeks flushed slightly. As if afraid that Chu Xihuan would change her mind, she stood up, leaned over her, and quickly gave her a kiss on the cheek. Then, she pulled back with a satisfied expression and smiled happily.

Feeling her kiss on her cheek, Chu Xihuan glanced at Lin Zhao, who was smiling like a fool, and found it both amusing and endearing. She had originally thought that this person would take the opportunity to kiss her on the lips.

“Xihuan~ You sleep well. I’ll go and make breakfast,” after the kiss, Lin Zhao’s voice became even softer and more clingy, like a piece of melted malt sugar.

“Mm,” Chu Xihuan hummed softly.

Chu Xihuan watched Lin Zhao walk out of the room with a light step and took a deep breath to calm the faint heat rising in her body.

Before they got married, she would have never thought that Lin Zhao would be such a clingy person. She had originally thought that she would be out all day, but who knew that she would want to stay at home for all twelve shichen (approx. 24 hours) and not go anywhere. Even if she did go out, she would try to come back as quickly as possible.

Chu Xihuan lay comfortably on the bed. It was a good thing that the things she needed to do could be done at home. Otherwise, if she had to get up early every day like Lin Zhao, she probably wouldn’t be able to get used to it.

In a daze, it didn’t feel like much time had passed when Lin Zhao opened the door and peeked her head in, smiling at Chu Xihuan. “Xihuan, breakfast is warming in the pot. Remember to eat when you get up.”

Chu Xihuan hummed “mm.” “Be careful on your way out.”

Lin Zhao’s eyes lit up slightly, and she nodded repeatedly, leaving in a very happy mood.

She arrived at the carpenter’s shop. Her second sister was not yet there, so she followed the master and diligently helped out, learning the trade. It wasn’t until nearly the Hour of the Snake (approx. 9-11 AM) that someone came to call her, telling her to go and see the owner.

Before going to see Chu Ningyi, Lin Zhao patted her chest to make sure the book was still there. She sighed in relief and followed the person to the front hall.

When she saw Chu Ningyi, before she could even speak, Chu Ningyi was already trying to contain her excitement. “Did you bring the book little sister asked you to bring?”

“Oh, oh, I brought it.” Lin Zhao’s “second sister” didn’t even come out before she quickly answered her question and took the book from her robes, handing it to Chu Ningyi.

Seeing that the book was safely in Chu Ningyi’s hands, the breath that Lin Zhao had been holding finally let out. She had successfully completed the task Xihuan had given her!

She was very reliable!

Chu Ningyi took the book. Thinking of what kind of book it was, her cheeks grew warm, but because she was still in front of Lin Zhao, she had to maintain a composed expression so as not to give anything away.

“Thank you, sister-in-law. I’ll return it to little sister after I’m done reading,” Chu Ningyi said with a gentle smile, looking at Lin Zhao and reminding her, “Since you’re already married, you must treat little sister well.”

Lin Zhao already had a very good impression of this second sister, so when she heard her say this, she naturally nodded vigorously. “Mm-hm! I will!”

Even without her second sister’s reminder, she knew that she would be good to her wife!

Seeing her so sincere and pure, Chu Ningyi was satisfied and told her to go about her business.

After Lin Zhao left and she was alone, Chu Ningyi finally carefully examined the book in her hand. The title was quite elegant, and you couldn’t tell much from it alone.

However, when she opened the book, the opening sentences made her blush.

This, this book is so explicit? The two women at the beginning are already kissing and caressing each other’s bodies.

The more Chu Ningyi read, the redder her face became. Little sister was secretly reading such books! And she had hidden it so well in the past!

The more she read, the wider Chu Ningyi’s eyes became. She felt as if her understanding of the world had been turned upside down. First, it was that this was how two women did it, and then it was that they could also do it like that! She felt as if she had opened a secret door and learned a lot of incredible things.

*

Far away at home, Chu Xihuan didn’t know what her second sister was thinking. She had already finished breakfast and was in the study, researching what else she could do to better improve their family’s situation.

Actually, her painting skills were quite good. The landscape painting hanging in the main hall was even painted by her. In the past, many people had come to ask her for paintings, but she had always considered herself a purist and had never sold her paintings. But now…

Chu Xihuan felt that times were different, and she couldn’t act like she used to.

Recalling Lin Zhao’s overly thin body, Chu Xihuan sighed softly. To nourish her, she couldn’t just let her eat like she used to. It wasn’t enough to have meat and vegetables; she also had to pay attention to the combination.

Just these things alone would be a considerable daily expense. If she continued to be so proud, she and Lin Zhao would really have to eat chaff and wild vegetables.

Since she was a child, Chu Xihuan had never suffered in terms of food, clothing, and shelter, so she naturally wouldn’t let herself suffer now. Otherwise, wouldn’t she be asking for trouble?

If she were to really sell her paintings, she would have to spread the news, which gave Chu Xihuan a headache. Wouldn’t that mean she would have to go to the people she had refused in the past? Sighing, she really had to bow down for a few dou (approx. 6 liters) of rice.

After thinking about and arranging their future livelihood, it was getting late. Chu Xihuan bit her lip and finally chose to go out and buy groceries.

It was not in her nature to give up so easily. She would definitely conquer the art of cooking. If one day was not enough, then a month. She didn’t believe that she couldn’t make delicious food!

Considering that she had forgotten to cook rice yesterday, the first thing Chu Xihuan did when she started cooking today was to cook rice. Not sure how much water to add, Chu Xihuan simply added a lot more, so that even if it didn’t turn out to be rice, at least there would be porridge to eat.

With yesterday’s experience, starting a fire was at least a little easier. Chu Xihuan had bought half a chicken today, planning to make soup with half and cook the other half. She figured that today’s dishes wouldn’t go too wrong.

Looking at the ingredients, she couldn’t help but let out a long sigh. No wonder good cooks were so sought after. In the past, when their family’s cook wanted to leave, her mother had to go to great lengths to keep her, afraid that she would be poached by another family.

When Lin Zhao returned home with the groceries, she saw that the chimney of their kitchen was already emitting white smoke. She was taken aback for a moment, then immediately realized that Xihuan was probably cooking again.

She hurried into the house and, sure enough, saw Xihuan busy at the stove. When she saw her return, she seemed to sigh in relief and directed her to get a bowl and watch the fire.

Lin Zhao did as she was told with a confused expression. Smelling the aroma of food in the air, she blinked. It seems a little fragrant?

Chu Xihuan scooped the dish from the pot. This time, it looked much better than the last time. At least there were no black, burnt things.

Looking at the dish, a hint of satisfaction appeared on Chu Xihuan’s face. She then washed the pot and heated the oil again, at the same time reminding Lin Zhao not to make the fire too big, as she was afraid that if the fire was too big and she couldn’t control it, it would burn again.

“Oh, okay,” Lin Zhao replied blankly, watching the fire carefully.

Chu Xihuan was completely satisfied when she stir-fried a plate of green vegetables. She felt that with such an appearance, it couldn’t be that bad, at least better than yesterday.

“Alright, we can eat now,” Chu Xihuan called to Lin Zhao, eager for her to taste it, preferably to make her forget all about the food she had made before!

Lin Zhao looked at the dishes Chu Xihuan had made, then at the ones she had bought but hadn’t cooked yet, and blinked. “Oh, okay.”

Then she would make the ones she had bought for dinner.

Lin Zhao excitedly went to get the bowls, while Chu Xihuan checked the rice she had made. Sure enough, it had turned into porridge. It was a little wetter than rice and a little drier than porridge, but at least the staple food was made today, which was acceptable.

Lin Zhao looked at the dishes on the table, her eyes sparkling. “Xihuan! You’re so amazing! It smells so good!”

Chu Xihuan snorted softly, also very satisfied with Lin Zhao’s reaction.

“Xihuan, you must be tired,” Lin Zhao said after praising her, pressing her lips together. Xihuan had just started cooking and had already made two dishes and a soup. It must have taken a lot of time to prepare these things.

Chu Xihuan was slightly taken aback. Hearing her ask this, her heart softened again. “It’s alright,” she said softly.

She didn’t say she wasn’t tired, nor did she say she was tired, just a simple “it’s alright.” But after hearing this, Lin Zhao’s eyes turned red, and she lowered her head, poking the porridge in her bowl with her chopsticks. “I’m sorry, Xihuan. I’m so useless.”

Not only could she not give Xihuan a good life, but she even had to let her worry about these trivial matters.

At her words, Chu Xihuan glanced at her and smiled slightly. “Is your skin itching for a beating again?”

Lin Zhao, who had been sad just a moment ago, was speechless.

She looked at Chu Xihuan with red-rimmed eyes, not understanding why she was suddenly being fierce with her again.

“If you’re eating, then eat properly. Why are you saying these things that spoil the appetite?” Chu Xihuan continued to smile, but her gaze made Lin Zhao’s skin tighten.

Lin Zhao was sullen but didn’t dare to say those words again.

Seeing her like this, Chu Xihuan mercifully served her a bowl of soup and placed it in front of her, her voice very gentle. “Drink up. Don’t say such things in the future. If you say such things again, aren’t you just proving that my judgment of people is terrible?”

Otherwise, why would she have chosen her?

Lin Zhao stared blankly at Chu Xihuan’s gentle expression. She should have been very moved, but for some reason, she felt her whole body tense up, as if Xihuan were threatening her!

The gentler she was, the more ferocious she seemed!

Lin Zhao didn’t dare to say anything more. She picked up the bowl and carefully drank the soup. Then, her eyes lit up slightly. It was surprisingly delicious!

“So delicious!” Lin Zhao exclaimed.

Seeing her like this, although Chu Xihuan was very satisfied with her reaction, she still didn’t quite believe her sense of taste. She served herself a bowl and took a sip, and then she was also stunned.

Although the taste was not amazing, compared to the things she had made the last two times, this taste was simply too normal!

“I-I succeeded?” Chu Xihuan murmured, not even daring to believe it herself.

“Xihuan, it’s especially delicious!” Lin Zhao sincerely expressed her thoughts without any reservation.

Chu Xihuan composed herself and took a piece of the chicken she had cooked. However, after chewing a couple of times, the joy on her face gradually faded.

Heh, she knew it. Things couldn’t be that simple.

This cooked dish was extremely mediocre. It could only be said that it was cooked.

However, Lin Zhao’s sense of taste seemed to have really failed her. Every time she took a bite, she would follow it with a compliment, and there was not even a hint of difficulty on her face.

Chu Xihuan was speechless.

Could it be that this Lin Zhao’s sense of taste has been ruined by her own cooking for a long time?

**

Author’s Note:

Zhaozhao: I’m glad I met you. [Pitiful][Starry Eyes][Hug][Red Heart][Red Heart][Red Heart]

Xixi: [Rolling Eyes][Rolling Eyes]