My Wife Came From A Thousand Years Ago

Chapter 42: I'll support you

"That's oil, this is salt, soy sauce, MSG... Pay attention now, and remember how much I use," Master Xu patiently instructed, focusing hard on securing his own livelihood for the foreseeable future. "Wait for the oil to heat up, then add the green peppers and stir-fry them first..."

Standing beside him, Jiang He watched intently, occasionally sneaking glances at him. Deepening their bond... living together like a small family... Eating together during the day, sleeping together at night?

"Did you get that? Don’t use too much seasoning—too much MSG will make you stupid," Xu Qing added, noticing a strange expression on her face.

"Got it." Jiang He steadied herself, avoiding his gaze and instead focusing on the sizzling wok.

"What are you thinking about?"

"Nothing, I'm perfectly at peace."

"Huh?" Xu Qing was puzzled.

"I mean, it smells good," Jiang He mumbled, pressing her lips together.

Ever since they started cohabitating—no, ever since Jiang He had been taken in—this was their first attempt at cooking at home in two months. A simple meal of stir-fried shredded potatoes with green peppers and a pot of rice.

Xu Qing, being a pragmatic person, didn’t see any issue with this. Food was for filling the stomach, and if they wanted something more luxurious, they’d have to wait until Jiang He mastered cooking. For now, he figured introducing her to the basics of cooking was enough, and this casual meal would suffice.

"It smells really good," Jiang He remarked. She wasn’t a picky eater and seemed quite excited, eyeing the large plate of stir-fried potatoes. She had always thought that delicious dishes required complex and precise techniques—beyond the capabilities of casual cooks—and that's why people preferred eating out rather than cooking at home.

But Xu Qing had casually tossed the ingredients together, and in just moments, he had a fragrant dish ready. It was magical.

"This is delicious! Are these potatoes grown in the ground too?" She tried a bite with her chopsticks and was instantly captivated. The way she looked at Xu Qing changed entirely.

She’d noticed dirt on the potatoes, which confirmed her theory: if one had their own piece of land, they could grow and cook their own food. Cooking also seemed remarkably simple—no need for starting fires or complex methods.

It felt like she’d found her way forward.

Jiang He realized she’d been overcomplicating things. This world wasn’t all that different from her own; at its core, the necessities of life—food, clothing, shelter, and transportation—remained largely the same.

"Of course, where else would they come from? Thin air?" Xu Qing replied casually, juggling two freshly steamed potatoes from the rice cooker. "Here, have one. Careful, it’s hot... Steamed potatoes are delicious; they’re my favorite."

Seeing Jiang He lost in thought, he chuckled. "It's normal you’ve never seen them before. These came from the Westerners. If—just hypothetically—you ever go back, build a massive ship and head southeast until you find another continent, then bring them back. You’d be remembered forever! Historians would sing your praises!"

After a moment of consideration, he pulled out his phone and searched for "potato Tang Dynasty," but, predictably, found nothing useful. He then tried "Tang Dynasty Jiang He" with no results either.

"Well, that settles it. You can’t go back."

"Huh?" Jiang He was confused.

"You’ll understand later. Now, eat."

Xu Qing sighed. If there were any traces of her existence in history, he’d find them—just like the records of Wang Mang that have persisted for over two thousand years.

"I was thinking," Jiang He began, holding her bowl thoughtfully, "maybe I could find a plot of land to cultivate. That way, I can settle down here."

"Land?"

"Yes, farming my own crops. Even if I’ve never seen these potatoes or cakes before, I can learn to grow them," she said confidently.

"Uh... I advise against that unrealistic dream. Farming isn’t practical," Xu Qing replied, exasperated.

The Chinese people’s deep love for land was undeniable. No matter the time or place, they always longed for a piece of land to call their own. To them, land symbolized stability and roots. But times had changed.

"Why not? I’m strong. As long as I save enough for initial supplies, I can find some unclaimed land to cultivate. When the supplies run out, I’ll temporarily rely on your support again. I’ll pay you back and save more grain. In three or four years, I could have my own land," Jiang He said, her eyes shining with determination.

The biggest challenge in opening new land was the lack of reserves. Without sufficient supplies, the grueling physical labor of cultivation would drain one’s energy, even life force. But here, food was plentiful and affordable, eliminating the most critical obstacle. Her only concern was whether all the land had already been claimed.

Buying land, however, didn’t even cross her mind. In her worldview, land was life itself—it wasn’t for sale. Even if someone were foolish enough to sell, she wouldn’t stand a chance as an outsider.

"With my own land, I could..."

"Whoa, whoa, stop right there," Xu Qing interrupted, massaging his temples. "Focus on adapting to life here first, okay?"

"..." Jiang He hesitated, her grand plans momentarily stalled.

"You’ll realize later how laughable this idea is," Xu Qing said, exasperated. The thought of her spending years farming, only to end up weathered and aged prematurely, was too much. No way was he allowing that.

"Fine..." Jiang He muttered, biting back her plans. She felt like a rootless drifter in a bustling city, surrounded by prosperity that seemed utterly disconnected from her.

"This is your home now. At worst, I’ll take care of you," Xu Qing said softly, unable to ignore her forlorn expression.

"You’ll take care of me?"

Jiang He froze, recalling snippets from her earlier internet searches. She stammered, looking away awkwardly.

"Don’t misunderstand. It’s purely platonic. Like Winter Melon," Xu Qing clarified quickly.

Coming from over a thousand years ago, she was still amusing and fun to have around. If possible, he’d prefer she stayed.

"As for the future... We’ll figure it out when the time comes. One step at a time."

"I... I... Don’t joke about such things, young hero!" Jiang He exclaimed, clutching her chopsticks tightly. "You’ve shown me great kindness by taking me in, and I will repay it. But... But... Marriage... is not an option!"

???

Xu Qing was stunned. Marriage? He hadn’t said anything about that!

Why was this lady knight so off-track?

"This isn’t my home—it’s yours. I’m just staying temporarily. We are... completely above board..." Jiang He trailed off.

"Rest assured, we’re completely above board," Xu Qing echoed knowingly. "Alright, temporary lodger it is. Do I look like a bad person to you?"

"... You’re a good person."

"No, no, don’t say that again."

Xu Qing suddenly felt awkward. Why did being called a "good person" feel like receiving a rejection letter?

"I’m a young hero—remember that. Don’t call me a good person."

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