hotmtlnovel Chapter 42: I'll support you
Chapter 42: I'll support you
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.
"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."