Chapter 91 Hot Clear Noodle Soup

Chapter 91 Hot Clear Noodle Soup

Very reasonable, very reasonable.

It's just like job hunting and receiving offers; you need to have a fallback option in hand before negotiating a higher salary with HR A.

The problem is, why should Chen Zuo Niang be the fallback?

Xianjin nodded in strong agreement. "…but we're afraid that even if we find one, Seventh Uncle will still find it insufficient."

Chen Jianfang's expression was calm. "What face does he have to complain? When the Cui family came to propose, he treated them as treasures. Since he didn't consult the clan when setting the engagement, he cannot seek help from the clan when facing difficulties—there's no such thing as not accepting the clan's support but refusing to fulfill clan obligations."

He stood, while Xianjin sat in the rocking chair. The cherry blossom tree loomed above them, and the soft light from the lanterns in the corridor cast shadows on the ground like pavilions under clouds.

Chen Jianfang involuntarily lowered his voice, fearing that the calculations of human nature might disturb the tranquil summer night. "Therefore, since Seventh Uncle sought my help and agreed to let me negotiate with Cui Heng, Zuo Niang's future has been placed in my hands."

"You could have refused," Xianjin felt the weight of his burden was too heavy.

Chen Jianfang shook his head slightly, repeating the words he had spoken the other night. "I am the eldest grandson of the main branch; I must take it on."

There was an unusual maturity and seriousness in the young man's eyes.

Xianjin's heart trembled, turning her head away to hide her emotions, and deliberately laughing louder. "I thought you also disapproved of breaking off engagements easily!"

Chen Jianfang shook his head. "I prepared for both scenarios. When I proposed the niece of Governor Xiong, if Cui Heng wasn't interested, I would then propose his marriage to Zuo Niang, representing the Chen family's agreement to purchase another two-story house as part of her dowry, and personally invite Master Qiao to dine with Governor Xiong to help Cui Heng get onto the list of county magistrate candidates."

Xianjin was stunned.

Chen Jianfang lowered his head, his thin lips curling into a slight mocking smile. "Unfortunately, he chose the second option without hesitation."

Xianjin looked at him, her expression frozen.

A frail scholar, a future head of the family bearing responsibilities, a schemer with deep calculations…

She had never seen such a man, neither in her past life nor in this one. In her previous life, she had struggled through her twenties in a hospital, always mindful of her fragile heart, avoiding deep connections with others.

Of course, there were moments when her heart pounded fiercely—when a young intern whispered "Don't be afraid" during surgery, when she glimpsed a boy's straight nose through the gap between bookshelves in the library, or when a fellow patient with bony fingers offered her an apple…

There were many such moments.

But none compared to this one.

A cold and reserved scholar, shouldering the family's prosperity and mundane affairs, calculating and retaliating with deep schemes.

Xianjin sat in the rocking chair.

The rocking chair stopped moving.

Xianjin's heart was rocking.

Swinging left and right, up and down, like sitting on a moonlit boat amidst floating clouds and dawn light, trembling repeatedly in her empty chest.

It felt like… the sensation of her heart condition from her past life was returning.

Like standing by the shore facing waves taller than palm trees; or standing on a cliff, hearing the wind rustle through the trees, birds singing in the forest, saplings sprouting, and… her stomach rumbling.

Chen Jianfang was slightly dazed.

Xianjin's heart settled, her face flushed, and she hurriedly explained, "I didn't eat much tonight! Zuo Niang said she rarely eats out! So I didn't order any dishes! I only had two bowls of plain tofu soup, a small bowl of coarse grain rice, three mushroom shumai, and four or five pea sprout buns!"

Chen Jianfang's dazed expression turned to surprise.

If this is called not eating, what does his belly full of hot tea count as?

Giving his stomach a bath?

Xianjin slapped the rocking chair and stood up, raising her head and shouting, "Oh, it's late! Time to sleep!"

Raising your head to bluff, are you trying to hide your red cheeks?

Chen Jianfang allowed himself a smile, clearing his throat. "Let's go."

"Where?" Xianjin tilted her head and asked.

Chen Jianfang gently placed the cloth bag on the rocking chair. "I'll treat you to Yangchun noodles."

...

In the deep of the night, after the watchman had passed, stalls were set up along the shore of Black Creek. Chen Jianfang walked familiarly to a secluded corner and greeted the owner. "Two bowls of vegetarian noodles."

Turning to Xianjin, he asked, "The owner also makes glutinous rice cakes, soybean cakes, bean paste cakes, salty fried dough twists, and crispy strips. Do you want anything else?"

"Add two glutinous rice cakes, a dish of sugar, and soybean flour." Xianjin carefully examined the neatly arranged pastries.

Chen Jianfang smiled. "One bowl of vegetarian noodles is enough for me."

What does that mean?

Does he want to eat glutinous rice cakes too?

Then he should order them himself…

Is he shy?

Xianjin hesitated, then readily changed her mind. "If you want some too, let's make it three."

Chen Jianfang: "…"

Aren't you worried about overeating?

He remembered Xianjin's attendant, Suo'er, who had been like an inflated sugar figure. When she arrived at the beginning of the year, she looked like a skinny bean sprout, but now she was as sturdy as a young calf.

The same could be said for the others in the workshop.

Except for the lean and capable Master Li Sanshun, all the other workers had broad shoulders, narrow waists, and elbows that bulged as if hiding cotton balls, looking extremely robust.

Chen Jianfang glanced down at his own wrist. His build wasn't weak, but it certainly couldn't be described as robust.

The noodles were served—a bowl of vegetarian clear broth noodles. The broth was a dark brown color, the noodles handmade with eggs, topped with finely chopped scallion whites and coriander roots, emitting a fresh scent of vegetables and a faint aroma of spices.

Xianjin took a sip of the broth.

The broth was fresh, not the kind of freshness from meat, but a slightly sweet taste with a subtle hint of salt.

It seemed to be made from fruits, radishes, kelp, seaweed, and some flavor-enhancing vegetables like onion bulbs, ginger slices, and onions.

Xianjin praised, "Delicious!" She then added with a smile, "You and Third Uncle are indeed close relatives; both of you have a knack for finding good food! Even a simple bowl of vegetarian noodles is exquisite!"

Chen Jianfang took a bite of the noodles, swallowing before saying, "Qiao Hui brought me here once..."

After speaking, he regretfully stopped himself.

That afternoon... Xianjin and Qiao Hui sat side by side in the small courtyard... chatting and laughing. The ease on Xianjin's face was something he had never seen when talking to him.

This feeling...

He didn't know how to describe it.

There was discomfort and timidity; there was resentment and a sense of relief; there was disappointment and an overwhelming unease.

Qiao Hui, the radiant and carefree Qiao Hui.

It seemed only a relaxed and untroubled Qiao Hui could sit with the cheerful and free-spirited Xianjin, putting aside worldly calculations and frustrations, chatting aimlessly and laughing together.

What could he do?

He was boring, silent, serious, and taciturn.

Even when eating vegetarian noodles together in the evening, apart from stealing glances at the top of their heads while they ate, there was nothing else.