How About You Marry Me

The young girl's first attempt at cooking ended in disaster.

She had also nearly set the kitchen on fire.

Fortunately, Xiao Mo reacted quickly and put out the flames in the kitchen.

Even if there hadn't been a fire, Xiao Mo thought the meal Bai Ruxue made this time was inedible.

This was because, in Bai Ruxue's understanding, "cooked" simply meant boiled.

Bai Ruxue's original plan was to boil the water and then throw the rabbit and wild chicken directly into the pot.

But people don't actually throw live fish directly into the pot to boil them when they make boiled fish, do they?

However, seeing Bai Ruxue looking down at herself, full of self-blame, Xiao Mo didn't scold her. Instead, he encouraged her, "It's okay, I'll cook today."

"Xiao Mo, I'm sorry. I'll definitely learn how to cook well from now on," Bai Ruxue said, lifting her head. Her eyes were misty, as if she would cry if Xiao Mo scolded her any further.

Xiao Mo nodded. "No rush, take your time."

He scooped the rabbit and wild chicken out of the pot and began preparing the ingredients.

Bai Ruxue watched Xiao Mo cook, wondering if there was anything she could help with.

She saw Xiao Mo gut the rabbit and chicken, wash them clean, and then cut them into small pieces to stir-fry with ginger, garlic, and scallions.

Only then did she understand that human cooking was so elaborate.

After that, Bai Ruxue began to learn how to cook in the human way.

Bai Ruxue's teacher was the village chief's wife—Aunt Chen.

As for how Bai Ruxue got connected with Aunt Chen...

It was all thanks to the village chief's second daughter, Wang Ying.

Wang Ying heard that a fairy sister had come to Brother Xiao's house, and she was very beautiful, so she came to take a look.

Bai Ruxue, who was naturally pure-hearted, quickly hit it off with the little girl Wang Ying.

When Wang Ying heard the fairy sister say she wanted to learn how to cook, she immediately led Bai Ruxue to her mother.

Faced with such a beautiful girl's request, Aunt Chen naturally couldn't refuse.

And so, Bai Ruxue became Aunt Chen's "disciple."

Aunt Chen was also very enthusiastic. Every day, she would come to Xiao Mo's courtyard to teach Bai Ruxue how to cook.

At first, Aunt Chen was quite patient.

After all, looking at Bai Ruxue's fair, delicate hands, Aunt Chen knew that Bai Ruxue must have been a young lady from a good family, someone whose fingers had never touched dirty water.

So Aunt Chen was mentally prepared, knowing that this young lady would definitely know nothing.

But gradually, Aunt Chen began to get agitated.

"No, no! You have to scale the fish first! And remove the innards! You can't just throw it into the pot!"

"I-I'm sorry."

"Why are you putting so much chili in? Are you trying to make Xiao Mo's mouth burn off?"

"I'm sorry!"

"Stop adding salt! Is salt free? Do you want to make Xiao Mo choke to death?"

"I didn't mean to."

"Alright, alright. Now put in the cilantro. Xiao Mo likes cilantro."

"Enough! Cilantro is a seasoning, not something you stir-fry like cabbage!"

Every noon, Xiao Mo, reading in the courtyard, could hear Aunt Chen scolding Bai Ruxue.

Aunt Chen always left cursing, saying things like "So stupid, I'm never teaching you again."

Every time, Bai Ruxue would be scolded until she cried.

But Aunt Chen would come back the next day, and Bai Ruxue would wipe away her tears and continue to diligently learn how to cook.

There was no other reason. Although Bai Ruxue was clumsy, she was beautiful and learned very seriously.

Besides, Aunt Chen had a sharp tongue but a kind heart. Once her anger subsided, she would think of this beautiful young girl again.

As the days went by.

Aunt Chen scolded Bai Ruxue less and less often.

One noon, three months later, Aunt Chen didn't scold Bai Ruxue once.

That noon, as they watched Xiao Mo pick up his chopsticks, both of them were very nervous.

"Delicious." After taking a bite of the rabbit meat, Xiao Mo nodded.

"Hooray!" Bai Ruxue jumped up happily.

Aunt Chen couldn't help but wipe away a tear.

She had finally succeeded, it hadn't been easy.

Besides cooking, Xiao Mo's clothes were also washed by Bai Ruxue.

Every morning, Bai Ruxue would take her and Xiao Mo's clothes to the river to wash them.

The village aunties and elder women were also very enthusiastic, teaching Bai Ruxue how to wash clothes clean.

After some time, the aunties and elder women became familiar with Bai Ruxue.

They even occasionally made suggestive jokes with Bai Ruxue.

But Bai Ruxue didn't understand them at all.

Seeing Bai Ruxue's bewildered look, the aunties and elder women would just smile without explaining.

Bai Ruxue was very confused, so she ran back to ask Xiao Mo.

"Xiao Mo, why did Auntie Wang say men have three legs? But you only have two legs? Where's your third leg? Let me see."

"Xiao Mo, why did Aunt Chen say I'm fertile, and if I get pregnant, the whole family won't starve?"

"Xiao Mo, Aunt Sun asked me if you sneak into my room at night and do bad things to me. What are bad things? Are you going to come into my room tonight?"

Faced with Bai Ruxue's questions, Xiao Mo didn't know how to answer and could only remain silent.

Sometimes Bai Ruxue would also return to the mountain to visit her sister, bringing her some delicious persimmon cakes from the village and telling her about some interesting things she had encountered.

When the weather was hot, Bai Ruxue would fan Xiao Mo with a fan. Even if she was sweating profusely, she would only wipe herself dry slightly and then continue fanning Xiao Mo.

When the weather was cold, Bai Ruxue would crawl into Xiao Mo's bed to warm it for him.

Although Xiao Mo said it wasn't necessary, Bai Ruxue was always insistent.

Since the cost of writing brushes, ink, paper, inkstones, and books was high, Bai Ruxue would go hunting and then give the game to Aunt Chen to help sell.

Or Bai Ruxue would learn sericulture and silk weaving from Aunt Chen.

When Bai Ruxue fed the silkworms, she would always mutter, "Silkworms, you must spin lots of silk~"

Since the village chief had nothing more to teach Xiao Mo.

Xiao Mo often had to go elsewhere to seek knowledge and listen to lectures from other teachers.

Seeking knowledge cost money. Fortunately, the County Magistrate of Qingshan County wanted to gain favor with the local scholars.

Therefore, tuition fees for apprenticeship and travel expenses could be subsidized by him.

When Xiao Mo went to study elsewhere, Bai Ruxue would also go with him.

The two walked through the mountains and forests. Bai Ruxue would hunt for Xiao Mo, roast food for him, and fetch water for him.

Xiao Mo only needed to walk forward and study diligently.

Winter arrived, and Bai Ruxue began to feel sleepy.

Every night, Bai Ruxue would go to bed early and sleep until the sun was high in the sky. Then she would wake up in a panic, complaining to Xiao Mo, "Why didn't you wake me up? I haven't even washed my clothes yet."

Unknowingly, Bai Ruxue became more and more skilled at everything, from washing clothes and cooking to doing housework, like a virtuous wife.

It was deep winter.

One morning, Bai Ruxue woke up and found that her skin was covered with a layer of crystal-clear snake skin.

The young girl was startled and quickly looked in the mirror. There was also a layer of white snake skin on her face, and her eyes were hazy.

"Oh no! I'm going to shed my skin! What should I do, what should I do?"

Bai Ruxue paced back and forth in the room, her small hands tightly gripping her sleeves.

Finally, Bai Ruxue stopped, her eyes filled with determination. "It seems I have to run away!"

Bai Ruxue picked up a pen and paper and left a letter for Xiao Mo, roughly saying, "Something has come up at home, my sister is sick, and I have to go back to take care of her. I'll be back in the spring."

Then Bai Ruxue transformed into a snake and quickly crawled out the window, climbing up the mountain.

"Ruxue. Wake up. Ruxue."

It was already past noon, and Bai Ruxue still hadn't woken up. Xiao Mo knocked on the door. The room was empty, except for a letter on the table and the white, crystalline snake skin on the floor.

After returning to the mountain, Bai Ruxue darted into a cave.

Her sister was already hibernating. Bai Ruxue lay down beside her sister, looking out at the heavy snow outside the cave, her heart filled with worry.

"Without me cooking for him, will he starve?"

"What will he do if no one washes his clothes?"

"No one will warm his bed, will he be unaccustomed to it?"

As she thought, Bai Ruxue's head grew heavier, and she finally fell into hibernation.

When spring arrived, Bai Ruxue opened her eyes and shed her skin again.

When she saw her own body, Bai Ruxue was startled.

She was now fifteen feet long and one foot thick.

The knowledge etched into Bai Ruxue's blood told her that she was no longer a snake, but a python.

Transforming back into human form, Bai Ruxue looked down and found that she couldn't see her toes.

Walking to the edge of the pond, Bai Ruxue looked at her reflection in the water.

The woman's figure was graceful and enchanting. Below her slender shoulders, her full, round breasts were outlined by the silk sash around her waist, creating a breathtaking curve. Beneath the thin veil, her voluptuous form was faintly visible, rising and falling slightly with her breath, like warm jade exuding fragrance.

Her waist was slender, perfectly fitting within a single grasp, like a delicate willow swaying in the wind.

And beneath her skirt, two jade-like legs were slender and long. Even hidden by the pomegranate skirt, one could glimpse her elegant and poised demeanor.

Those peach blossom eyes gazed tenderly, like newly bloomed peach petals. The corners of her eyes curved slightly upward, possessing a natural charm and grace, as if stained with rouge, spreading a tempting light blush.

"Is this me?"

Bai Ruxue looked at herself in the water in surprise.

She turned around and looked at her side profile. The curves of the woman in the water rippled and flowed like mountain ranges.

"It's pretty, but my shoulders feel so sore."

Bai Ruxue frowned and supported her two prominent mounds in front.

"Forget it, I need to get down the mountain quickly. Half a year has passed, I wonder if Xiao Mo has been eating properly."

When she descended the mountain and arrived at the entrance of Xiao Mo's courtyard, Xiao Mo was reading as usual.

"Xiao Mo."

Bai Ruxue called out to the man in the courtyard.

Xiao Mo looked up and saw the woman in the white dress outside the courtyard. He was stunned for a moment before finally reacting, "Miss Bai?"

"If it's not me, then who?"

Bai Ruxue walked into the courtyard.

Wherever Bai Ruxue walked, Xiao Mo's gaze followed.

"Why… why are you staring at me? Am I… am I that strange?" Bai Ruxue felt a little embarrassed by Xiao Mo's gaze, her body feeling hot.

"No, it's just that we haven't seen each other for half a year, and Miss Bai has changed quite a bit. I wasn't used to it for a moment," Xiao Mo said, retracting his gaze. "My apologies, I was being impolite."

"So, compared to before, have I become prettier or less pretty?" Bai Ruxue asked playfully, as always.

"Prettier," Xiao Mo replied honestly.

Before, Ru Xue was as pure as a young girl.

But now, Ru Xue had fully blossomed, possessing a hint of sultriness amidst her purity.

"If I'm pretty, then look more," Bai Ruxue said, her eyes curving. "If it's you, Xiao Mo, I don't mind~"

"That's still not quite right," Xiao Mo said with a smile, shaking his head.

"What's not right?" Bai Ruxue tilted her head. "I'm beautiful, and it's for you to look at."

"..." Xiao Mo was momentarily speechless.

"Miss," Xiao Mo thought about how to explain, "there's still a distinction between men and women."

"I don't understand."

Bai Ruxue didn't understand.

If it were anyone else, she would naturally observe the distinction between men and women.

But she didn't dislike Xiao Mo, so why should she bother with such things?

Xiao Mo always had some strange principles.

Unknowingly...

Another two years passed.

In winter, Bai Ruxue would go up the mountain to hibernate.

Every time she woke up from hibernation, Bai Ruxue would become thicker and longer, but her human form's appearance remained unchanged.

One day, Bai Ruxue went to the river to wash clothes.

She didn't know what the village's aunties and gossips had said to Bai Ruxue.

After Bai Ruxue returned, she kept staring at Xiao Mo.

She stared while they ate, and secretly glanced at him while he hung clothes.

When she had nothing else to do, she would sit in front of Xiao Mo and watch him.

"Miss Bai, is something the matter?" Xiao Mo put down his book and took a sip of tea from the table.

"Mmm-hmm." Bai Ruxue nodded. "Xiao Mo, when are you going to marry me?"

"Cough, cough, cough!" Xiao Mo choked quite badly. "Miss Bai, what did you say?"

"I asked, when are you going to marry me?" Bai Ruxue asked.

"Why does Miss Bai ask this?"

"Because Aunt Li told me to ask~"

Bai Ruxue straightened her willow-like waist, her snowy mounds casting a shadow on the stone table.

"Auntie Li said that since I'm unmarried and you're unmarried, and we live together every day, and we're both adults, why aren't we married yet? Auntie Li said that when her son was your age, he already had grandchildren old enough to buy soy sauce," Bai Ruxue said.

"This..." Xiao Mo thought for a moment and explained, "Miss Bai, people can only get married if they like each other."

"But I like you?" Bai Ruxue blinked her eyes. "Don't you like me?"

Xiao Mo smiled. "Then, Miss Bai, what is our relationship?"

"Friends," Bai Ruxue blurted out.

Xiao Mo shook his head. "But Miss Bai, liking someone as a friend isn't enough."

"Then what kind of liking is enough?"

Bai Ruxue felt dizzy. Did liking come in different kinds?

"Well..." Xiao Mo pondered for a moment. "It's hard to say, but if one day Miss Bai understands, you'll know if you want to marry me or not."

"Then if one day I understand and still want you to marry me, will you marry me?"

Xiao Mo was stunned for a moment, then looked gently at the girl's peach blossom eyes.

"Okay."