My Stepbrother Is a Little Pitiful (ChatGPT Translated)

☆ 22. Chapter 21. The Little Pitiful One in Need of Company, The Little Pitiful

Chapter 21. The little pitiful one who needs company. . . The matchmaker stayed at Lin Yuxiu's house for two hours before coming out.

When he walked out with the steward, Xu Shu and Lin Yuxiu followed behind to see them off. Cheng Songer stood in the courtyard, washing the stone mortar that had been left there for who knows how long.

It was snowing, and she wanted to eat roasted sticky rice cakes. Cheng Qingzhi went to the kitchen to make them for her. She just needed to wait for him to steam the glutinous rice and then use a wooden hammer to shape it into a sticky form.

Unlike when they arrived, this time when the matchmaker and the steward passed by their house, they didn't even look back. They walked away without even giving them a second glance.

Cheng Songer smiled in her heart. It seems that Lin Yuxiu's words were quite effective. She managed to convince them so quickly.

However, she wasn't afraid that Lin Yuxiu would not continue to slander Cheng Qingzhi behind his back. After all, the news of Cheng Qingzhi's father running away with a mistress was indeed scandalous. Although the landlord's family was eager to marry off their daughter to continue the family line, they still cared about their reputation. A clean family background was undoubtedly a priority.

After seeing off the matchmaker and the steward, Xu Shu and Lin Yuxiu both glanced at her courtyard.

Xu Shu's eyes were obviously hesitant, but Lin Yuxiu was different. His eyes were full of pride, clearly ready to show off to Cheng Qingzhi. After not seeing any trace of him, he even seemed a bit disappointed.

When he saw Cheng Songer looking at him, Lin Yuxiu suddenly became shy and avoided her gaze, turning around and going back inside.

Cheng Songer wondered if she should inquire about what Lin Yuxiu and the matchmaker had discussed and subtly remind them. But at that moment, Cheng Qingzhi happened to bring out the steamed glutinous rice, so she temporarily put aside that thought.

Making sticky rice cakes was a physically demanding task. Cheng Songer took a large wooden hammer and smashed the mixture for more than 20 minutes before it started to take shape. But she was already exhausted, covered in sweat, with droplets running down from her forehead to her chin.

Cheng Qingzhi took out a clean handkerchief from his sleeve and carefully wiped her forehead, using his fingertips to tuck her sweat-drenched hair behind her ear.

His fingers unintentionally touched her forehead. In this cold weather, she felt hot like a fire.

"If you're tired, take a rest for a while," he said, his eyes filled with tenderness. His fingertips, which had touched her skin, gently caressed, as if savoring the warmth they had just felt.

"No need, I'm almost fine," Cheng Songer shook her head, her gaze firmly fixed on the sticky rice cakes.

She had a stubborn temper. If she wanted something, especially something to eat, she had to have it. It was just a simple sticky rice cake.

"Alright then, I'll go make some brown sugar syrup for you," Cheng Qingzhi said with a gentle smile, his tone slightly indulgent.

After spending about ten more minutes, the sticky rice cakes were finally ready. Cheng Qingzhi wrapped them in flour and fried them until they turned golden on the outside and soft and sticky on the inside. He then placed them one by one on a plate and poured a spoonful of freshly boiled brown sugar syrup over them. A plate of brown sugar sticky rice cakes was now ready.

Cheng Songer couldn't wait and took a bite. They were crispy on the outside and soft and sticky on the inside. Although they were a bit hot at first, the aroma of glutinous rice filled her mouth. Paired with the sweet brown sugar, they were absolutely delicious.