My Wife Came From A Thousand Years Ago

Chapter 160: This matter must be explained

Xu Qing mimicked Jiang He’s habit of wiping the leaves of the ginger plant, using an old, yellowed cloth from the table. The cloth, stained and faded, had once been used by Jiang He to clean her sword. She’d had two such cloths, but the dirtier one had already been discarded. After all, a sword needed proper care—it was a swordsman’s lifeline.

Of course, that was no longer the case. Jiang He’s old sword was now wrapped in cloth and tucked under the bed. She only kept a blunt practice sword for daily drills. It never got dirty, as she would sheath it immediately after practice, leaving most of the protective oil intact on the blade.

It seemed like plants thrived after their leaves were wiped clean, though Xu Qing wasn’t sure if that was just his imagination. Compared to Zhou Suzhi’s plant in the kitchen, this ginger plant they were growing looked much healthier—its leaves plump and vibrant. Xu Qing couldn’t help but wonder if it would ever bloom.

He’d never seen a ginger plant flower before, but he imagined it might look as lovely as Jiang He’s face after a warm bath, her cheeks glowing red.

“What are you doing?” Jiang He asked, noticing Xu Qing fiddling with the ginger plant’s leaves. Then, seeing him take out his phone, she added suspiciously, “What are you looking up?”

“I’m checking its flowering period… August,” Xu Qing replied, his brow furrowed as he tapped his phone a few times. With some disappointment, he added, “Under normal conditions, ginger rarely flowers. Soil, temperature, and other factors need to be just right. It might not bloom. What a shame.”

“It looks nice as it is,” Jiang He commented.

“Yeah, just like you. Give it a little water, and it’ll thrive.”

Xu Qing sat back on the couch, still holding his phone. He’d found an intriguing snippet online:

"Traditional Chinese medicine considers ginger a yang-boosting ingredient. Hence, the saying: 'A man should not go a hundred days without ginger.' Ginger aids metabolism and circulation, making it a common element in male health treatments."

"The ancients also said: ‘Eating ginger in the morning is better than ginseng soup; eating ginger at night is akin to consuming arsenic.’"

"Within a year, ginger should not be eaten in autumn; within a day, it should not be eaten at night."

He copied this and sent it to Wang Zijun via WeChat.

Wang Zijun replied almost instantly, firing off a string of exclamations before claiming he wasn’t lacking in vitality.

"Where are you now?" Xu Qing asked.

"In France, enjoying some red wine," Wang Zijun replied, attaching a few photos.

"By yourself?"

"Of course! I’m the Single Prince Wang! Wang Zijun replied confidently.

Women? What’s that? They’re just back pain in disguise.

Xu Qing didn’t believe him for a second and ignored the reply, returning to browsing.

One tip stood out: using a beer bottle cap to peel ginger was both quick and clean—a fun but utterly useless piece of trivia.

As for eating ginger? That was out of the question. He might use it as seasoning in food, but he wasn’t exactly lacking vitality. Besides, he had martial arts to sustain him, not to mention the occasional chore like washing socks in the early morning—already quite taxing. Adding ginger to the mix seemed unnecessary.

The real reason, though, was his lack of a consistent nightlife. If he lived like Wang Zijun, indulging in lavish meals and constant socializing, ginger might have been necessary. Xu Qing wasn’t sure whether to feel relieved or regretful about his simpler lifestyle.

Glancing at Jiang He sitting nearby, Xu Qing noticed her mouthing words as she watched video editing tutorials. She occasionally paused to search up unfamiliar terms or internet slang. Her progress was evident—far beyond her early struggles of not even knowing how to split a video without scissors.

Seated cross-legged, Winter Melon was curled up in the crook of her legs like a regal empress, paws tucked under its body. Its tail flicked occasionally as Jiang He absentmindedly patted it, eliciting a contented squint from the cat.

“Life is unfair. Even a cat has it better than me…” Xu Qing sighed dramatically, expressing his envy for Winter Melon.

“Hmm?” Jiang He turned to look at him, then at Winter Melon, puzzled by his remark.

“I’m saying, I wish I could lie there like that.”

“Not a chance,” Jiang He replied without hesitation.

“Why not?”

“Because…” Jiang He paused, finally stroking Winter Melon’s back as she answered, “You’re too big to fit.”

Xu Qing’s expression turned mischievous. “So if I could fit, it’d be okay?”

Even if he couldn’t curl up, his head could rest on her lap. Once Jiang He had showered and was in her pajamas, he could lie down with his head on her lap while watching a movie—streaming efficiency +100%, happiness +100%.

Just the thought made Xu Qing feel a nosebleed coming on.

“Still no!” Jiang He said, eyeing him warily, as if afraid he might suddenly pounce.

“It’ll happen eventually,” Xu Qing shrugged, opening his computer to browse. “Aren’t you going to shower? Fresh and clean, we can watch a movie together.”

“Why do I have to shower first?”

“Because it’s relaxing after a shower.”

“I don’t want to.”

“Fine.”

Xu Qing figured the real reason was that her new pajamas hadn’t arrived yet. Wearing her current set, which might inadvertently reveal her floral-printed undergarments, she’d feel too insecure, especially if they watched in their usual close proximity.

His mind wandered, and he absentmindedly clicked on Once Upon a Time in China. It was a good idea to curate his public image now that his family—and even neighbors—were watching his videos.

The classic kung fu scenes of Jet Li, Zhao Wenzhuo, and others stood out. The fights had a raw, authentic feel, unlike today’s over-the-top explosive stunts. Back then, each actor’s strengths shone—be it footwork, weaponry, or hand-to-hand combat. Xu Qing thought of editing these scenes into a highlight reel with a catchy title. It’d definitely be a hit.

Perhaps the intense fight sounds drew Jiang He over. Xu Qing noticed her sitting beside him.

“It’s a martial arts film?” she asked.

“Yep, Wong Fei-hung. He can kick so fast his legs become a blur.”

“That’s impressive.”

“Not as impressive as you,” Xu Qing teased, slipping an arm behind her. Jiang He shifted slightly, her eyes darting nervously.

Despite her apparent wariness, the cozy atmosphere was undeniable. The dim lighting and their shared space felt naturally intimate, something Xu Qing realized was integral to a proper date.

He held her legs close, marveling at their warmth. Slowly, his fingers wrapped around her foot, appreciating its delicate texture. He let out a quiet sigh of contentment.

“Can you stop being… so weird?” Jiang He couldn’t hold back her protest.

“This isn’t weird. Just focus on the movie.”

“…Fine.”

Her foot, however, felt powerless under his grip, and the sensation made her both embarrassed and oddly at ease.

Winter Melon soon grew bored and leapt onto Jiang He’s lap, snapping her out of her thoughts.

“I want to livestream playing games,” she said, avoiding mention of her current predicament.

“Why gaming?” Xu Qing asked absently.

“At first, I thought about livestreaming cooking, but you were right—I need to learn the tricks first. If I rush into it, I won’t have any income. Livestreaming games is more stable as a starting point.”

“Fair enough. Tomorrow, why not try some duels?”

“Duels?”

Xu Qing explained the concept of PvP battles. Jiang He’s reaction speed might make her a natural competitor.

“Alright. Tomorrow.”

For now, they returned to the film. Xu Qing, still holding her feet, suppressed a grin. This cozy moment was too good to rush.

“Explain yourself!” Jiang He finally demanded, seeing him sniff his hand after releasing her foot.

“…Let me explain.”

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