My Wife Came From A Thousand Years Ago

Chapter 78: Pretty cute

“Eating isn’t just about filling your stomach. It carries many meanings, depending on the occasion and purpose.

For instance, when the emperor hosts a feast for his officials, it’s for celebration—everyone eats meat, drinks wine, and enjoys themselves. That’s a good thing.

Or when I took you to eat cake for the first time, surrounded by a bunch of people, it was also a birthday celebration. But beyond that, it served another purpose: socializing. People who know each other, or even don’t, gather to chat, catch up, or just make new acquaintances. Even though something unexpected happened later, that didn’t change the event’s significance.

Relationships between people aren’t just about serious matters; there are plenty of casual moments, too. Like when we eat at home, the main purpose is to fill our bellies, but it also provides a sense of stability and warmth in life. Simply put, it brings satisfaction.

Not every meal is the same. If it were only about filling your stomach, then ordering takeout every day would be enough.”

After eating his fill, Xu Qing didn’t stop. He continued grilling meat, savoring the moment. He liked Jiang He, and naturally, he enjoyed talking to her, too.

This kind of affection was different from simply craving her body. He genuinely wished her well and hoped she could enjoy all the good things this era had to offer. Sure, there were unpleasant things, too, but what did that matter?

“Food, clothing, shelter, and transportation—all of these can be elevated after meeting basic needs. In the past, you wore shoes to protect your feet from getting hurt, and you wore thick clothes to stay warm. But now it’s different. Once you’re warm, you can also care about how good you look… like this outfit you’re wearing. I picked it out after a lot of thought.

In the same way, we can find joy in eating. We can enjoy the flavors as sauces and juices burst in our mouths, and appreciate the company of the people with us. This is a kind of spiritual satisfaction. That’s why I chose for the two of us to grill here slowly and savor the experience.”

Jiang He ate the meat he grilled, her chewing slowing down as she reflected on his words.

“Do you feel it?” Xu Qing asked, putting another piece of grilled meat in her bowl.

It was a good thing they only did this occasionally. If they did it all the time, she’d definitely become a little chubby girl.

“This is why chefs create new dishes and invent new flavors. Once hunger is satisfied, the next step is to enjoy life. We have our own ways to indulge. Even those who are poor can enjoy burgers and cola. The wealthy have their lobsters and abalones. We endure hardships just for these occasional sweet moments. Without them, many people wouldn’t be able to hold on.

Even something as simple as adding a marinated egg to a bowl of noodles can be a pleasure for some. This is a spiritual satisfaction, and it doesn’t depend on status.

After a long day, coming home, putting down your bag, and having someone bring you a hot bowl of noodles—that’s incredibly fulfilling.”

“How do you know so much?” Jiang He asked, both puzzled and amazed.

“Because my income doesn’t exceed 10,000 yuan.” Xu Qing laughed. “People who make big money are always thinking about making more. Useless people like me just mess around with their girlfriends.

But seriously, every class has its own pursuits. The satisfaction I get from eating with you isn’t any less than the rich who go out partying. You could say I’m just comforting myself, but everyone sees things differently. To me, this is perfect.”

Jiang He thought for a moment, unable to understand what he meant by “useless people.” She looked at Xu Qing and said, “I think this is perfect, too.”

“Because someone is grilling meat for you?”

“No, it’s…” Jiang He got stuck. She wasn’t sure what made it so good, but it just was.

“The secret to happiness is accepting what you can’t change.”

“For example?”

“There isn’t really a specific example… Okay, how about this: I can’t stay at home all day and have a stable job with full benefits. I have to choose one or the other. That’s something I can’t easily change.”

“What are full benefits?”

“It’s like this: if you earn 5,000 yuan a month, you set aside 500 yuan for others—like me—and then when you’re old or sick, I’ll pay you back double.”

Jiang He’s eyes widened. “That sounds amazing! Wait… what if I don’t live to old age?”

“Then that money becomes someone else’s. Where do you think the doubled money comes from? You have to compete to live the longest. If you live to 200, you’ll be rich!”

Xu Qing joked, noticing that the plate was empty except for a bit of food in the pan. “Are you full? Should I get more?”

Jiang He rubbed her belly and glanced wistfully toward the food station. “I’m a bit full.”

“You ate plenty.”

The server had already cleared their table once, and now another pile of empty plates had accumulated—thanks to the thin slices of meat that didn’t fill a plate.

“I still want some of that cake,” Jiang He said tentatively.

“I’ll get it for you.”

“Wait…”

Jiang He reached out, then put her hand down. She only wanted to ask for another piece, not make him go get it. Watching Xu Qing’s back as he walked away, she glanced at the pork chop in her bowl, feeling a little conflicted.

Was this the satisfaction Xu Qing talked about?

“What are you thinking about?” Xu Qing returned quickly, handing her two pastries.

“This really is wonderful.”

“Oh?” Xu Qing looked at the cake in his hand. “It really is. Sometimes, I wish I were a woman and had a bunch of admirers. That’d be thrilling.”

“Only women can have admirers?”

“Men can too, but it’s rare. You’d have to be as handsome as me and as rich as the wealthy. Only then might it happen…”

The two of them launched into a serious discussion about admirers until the pastries were gone. Then Xu Qing waved for the server.

“There’s a prize for clearing your plates, right?”

“Uh… yes.” The server stammered, having just bet with a coworker about how many tables would win the prize. This table, which seemed the least likely, turned out to be spotless.

The two of them didn’t even seem full.

“This is a good initiative. It promotes avoiding waste.” Xu Qing took Jiang He’s hand and led her to the counter, eyeing the prizes on the shelf.

“Which one do you like?”

“That bear. It’s the color of Winter Melon.”

“Winter Melon is a cat,” Xu Qing explained to the server. “We’ll take that one, thank you.”

The server handed them the bear, and Xu Qing saw a hint of envy in his eyes.

A girlfriend, a cat, a date…

Xu Qing sighed. His life made even himself envious. Too bad this girlfriend was still fake.

And she still had a lot to learn before she could fully understand things.

“What’s this for?” Jiang He held the bear as they left, inspecting it curiously.

“It’s just a little toy. Kind of like your jade pendant—something to look at.”

“But the jade pendant can be sold for money.”

“…Then think of it as a worthless jade pendant. You can cuddle it at night, or imagine it’s me.” Xu Qing said casually, “It looks pretty cute, doesn’t it? … You’re going to squish it.”

“Thinking of it as you sounds nice.”

Jiang He now understood its purpose, and she liked it.

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