My Wife Came From A Thousand Years Ago

Chapter 176: Can't afford to offend

The match ended, and Jiang He had fiercely defeated her opponent. She couldn’t help but glance back at Xu Qing.

Xu Qing was still standing like a statue, eyes fixed on the TV.

In just a few minutes, Xu Qing had earned a few hundred yuan.

"No rush, no rush," he muttered. "As long as the gameplay is good, the audience will keep coming."

The duel arena rating jumped from over 1,300 to 1,400, reaching a new tier.

"Your skills are impressive, streamer!"

"Looks so effortless when you're playing."

The floating comments on the screen gave Jiang He a little confidence. Finally, someone noticed her gameplay, even though most discussions still revolved around Xu Qing.

An hour passed. Jiang He ended the stream and spun her chair around, just about to speak. But before she could, Xu Qing’s phone, resting on the table, burst into song, forcing her to swallow her words.

"Hello?" Xu Qing answered. He wondered what Wang Zijun wanted this time.

"Your stream has massive potential!" Wang Zijun exclaimed on the other end. "You just stand there doing nothing, and hundreds of people tune in..."

"Hundreds?" Xu Qing was taken aback. He hadn’t noticed, thinking it was still the usual few dozen people coming and going.

"What are you looking at? Don’t even know your viewer count?"

"Watching the evening news."

"...What?"

"Also, the stream isn’t about me. It’s a game stream. I’m just part of the backdrop, got it?"

Xu Qing sat down beside Jiang He, phone in hand, and checked the stream stats. It was indeed impressive—at its peak, over 500 viewers. He couldn’t tell how many were there for him, how many for Jiang He, or maybe both. The mix seemed to be the key. Alone, standing still was boring, and solely playing the game lacked appeal. Together, they created a unique dynamic: no endless chatter from a typical streamer, just two people earnestly doing their thing, with the audience vibing and chatting among themselves.

Xu Qing analyzed the stream’s highlights as Jiang He leaned closer. Instinctively, he wrapped an arm around her waist as they sat together, listening to Wang Zijun explain the purpose of his call.

"...This studio, like a talent agency or guild, could be big for you! You're clearly skilled."

"Weren’t you planning to form a team?" Xu Qing recalled Wang Zijun’s New Year’s resolution about starting a gaming squad.

"Don’t remind me..." Wang Zijun sighed.

"As for this... no thanks. I’m just streaming for fun, spending time with my girlfriend. No plans to make it serious."

Xu Qing rejected the idea, unwilling to humor Wang Zijun’s wild schemes. Spending time with Jiang He was enough. After all, it was just an hour, and Wang Zijun’s ideas always involved burning real cash.

"What about the waist—"

"What waist?"

"You’ve been half-listening the entire time..."

"Ahhh!" Xu Qing yelped suddenly, cutting him off. Gasping in pain, he quickly added, "Let’s drop it. My goal is the stars and the sea. Streaming is just a casual thing."

He hung up, tossing his phone aside and rubbing his waist.

"Where did you learn that?"

"Learn what?"

"That innate womanly skill."

"Uh..."

Jiang He stood up, only to pause and sit back down as something occurred to her. She grabbed the mouse and waved it a bit. "You earned a few hundred today."

"Didn’t you earn that?"

"They sent it to you."

Xu Qing thought for a moment before asking, "Isn’t mine yours?"

"Uh..."

Jiang He had never considered this. She looked from the computer screen to Xu Qing, momentarily unsure why something felt off.

"You’re setting me up!"

Jiang He snorted and stood up to leave, only to turn at the door. "I’ll earn more than you someday!"

"You even know what a setup is now?"

Amused, Xu Qing opened Baidu on his computer and checked his browsing history. Nothing was there.

Indeed, incognito mode had outsmarted her again.

---

May—Golden Week.

For working folks, it was a great time for a break. But for the unemployed, it wasn’t much different from any other day—maybe even worse.

The main gate outside now had an electronic lock system. Xu Qing thought it would’ve been better to place it at the stairwells, but then neighbors might leave it wide open all day. On second thought, this setup wasn’t so bad.

After seeing Xu Qing earn hundreds in a day, Jiang He became less enthusiastic about manual labor. She finally grasped the deeper meaning behind his words about "making money with your brain."

Though standing still on a stream didn’t require much brainpower, it was still more than moving bricks around. Manual labor was the least efficient way to earn a living.

Every day, Xu Qing read books, watched dramas, edited videos, wrote reviews, occasionally monitored stocks, read news, and tinkered with iron rings. His routine set an excellent example for Jiang He. Use your strengths, and life becomes effortless.

"Be careful out there," Xu Qing advised as Jiang He left the house.

"Got it!"

Jiang He jingled her keys, creating a metallic clatter, then swung her bear-shaped backpack over her shoulder and headed out.

Having freed herself from manual labor, Jiang He suddenly had a lot of time. She wandered around the neighborhood daily. At first, Xu Qing accompanied her, but as she grew more familiar with the area, he trusted her to go on her own.

Outside the house, Jiang He stuffed her keys into her bag, double-checked for her phone, zipped the bag securely, slung it crossbody, and jammed her hands into the pockets of her light jacket. She strolled out of the gate, looking cool.

"Where’s Xu?" Uncle Zhao asked casually upon seeing her.

"At home, watching TV."

"Hmph, staying home all day. Doesn’t he worry about growing mold?"

Uncle Zhao shook his head, taking a puff from his cigarette as he watched Jiang He’s leisurely figure disappear into the distance.

Just a few months ago, this girl had walked with a tiger-like stride, leaving a deep impression. Now, she looked more and more like Xu Qing.

Passing by a supermarket, Jiang He hesitated, took out her phone, then stepped inside.

A moment later, she emerged with a can of cola, sipping through a straw as she strolled to a bus stop. After studying the destinations, she picked a route she hadn’t taken before. When the bus arrived, she scanned the code on her phone, found a window seat at the back, and settled in.

She once thought Jiang City was massive. But after riding the bus for so long without reaching the outskirts, she eventually realized that buses didn’t go into the wilderness.

Watching the scenery pass by, she stayed on until the end of the line. Alone now, she got off, squinting at the sun to determine her direction before heading north. The terminal was in the Northern District; beyond that lay the outskirts.

Jiang He finally left the steel jungle of Jiang City and continued northward on foot. The further she went, the more sparse and rural the surroundings became. High-rise buildings gave way to low single-story houses. After walking for over an hour, she came upon a vast expanse of flat farmland.

The open plains stretched endlessly before her, with fields of crops filling the landscape. The scent of ripening wheat wafted through the air, and Jiang He pulled out her phone to snap a picture to show Xu Qing, even though she wasn’t quite sure what she was bragging about.

She had seen videos online of these fields being harvested by large machines. The massive harvesters would devour the crops at the front, and golden grains would pour out the back like magic. Just the thought of it was thrilling.

The wheat in these fields wasn’t fully ripe yet. The stalks were a mix of green and yellow. Glancing around to make sure no one was nearby, Jiang He sneakily picked a single ear of wheat. She rubbed it between her hands, causing the kernels to pop free of their husks. Blowing away the chaff, she held the half-ripe kernels in her palm.

Curious, she tried nibbling one. It wasn’t bad. Satisfied, she pocketed the rest and looked around again, estimating the time. She plopped down by the roadside, squinting against the sunlight as she surveyed the green and gold expanse.

She mused to herself: If I built a house out here and planted a big field, Xu Qing could wield a sickle and harvest it all. That’d be pretty nice.

But she quickly realized Xu Qing probably wouldn’t be thrilled with the idea.

Meanwhile, back home, Xu Qing had no idea he was being mentally conscripted into farm labor. After finishing his video-watching session, he returned to his tinkering. This time, instead of making chainmail, he was crafting an iron basket.

He figured it would be a more meaningful gift than flowers. Flowers wither, but an iron basket, if kept rust-free, could last Jiang He until she became an old lady.

By noon, Jiang He still hadn’t returned. Xu Qing was just about to message her when he heard the sound of a key turning in the lock. She walked in, carrying groceries, and set them on the table. Then she rummaged through her pockets and pulled out a handful of wheat kernels.

"I saw the countryside! Just like I imagined—fields full of crops everywhere!"

She shook out her jacket pocket, scattering the kernels onto the table. "Want to try one?"

"?"

Xu Qing raised an eyebrow at her.

"These... might have pesticides on them. Maybe don’t eat random things, okay?"

"Pesticides?"

"For pest control."

"Am I poisoned then?" Jiang He’s expression turned serious as she stared at the kernels.

"A little bit won’t hurt, but seriously, don’t eat things you pick randomly."

Xu Qing picked up a kernel, popped it into his mouth, and shook his head. "Too tough. The younger ones taste better."

"Oh, I see."

Relieved, Jiang He left the kernels on the table and took her groceries to the kitchen to wash.

"Why’d you go so far today?"

"Just exploring."

"Got it."

Xu Qing couldn’t help but imagine her lugging a sack of corn back during the next harvest season. But he quickly dismissed the thought—it was unlikely.

"We should get an electric bike. That way, you can ride wherever you want."

"You mean those I’ve seen parked outside?"

"Yeah, the ones you don’t have to pedal. The ones you pedal are bicycles."

"A bicycle works too," Jiang He called from the kitchen, arching an eyebrow. "I can pedal really fast."

"You’d break it."

Xu Qing had briefly considered letting her experience the joy of riding on the back of a bike. But on second thought, he realized it would probably end up with her pedaling while he sat comfortably on the back.

---

Lunch that day featured small rib tips, about two inches long, slow-cooked in a pressure cooker until the meat practically melted off the bone. One bite left the bones spotless.

Judging by the meal, Xu Qing could tell Jiang He was planning on having noodles for dinner.

"We could buy a house near the city’s edge," Jiang He mused as they ate. "That way, we’d have land to grow crops. I saw some people with big yards."

"Houses near the edge are pretty cheap," Xu Qing admitted.

"So, we could do it?"

Jiang He’s motivation surged.

"But it’s not convenient. You’d have a hard time finding food or anything else nearby. Midnight snacks would be impossible to get."

"Oh... right."

Xu Qing smiled silently, touched that Jiang He wanted him included in everything. It warmed his heart.

Jiang He gnawed on a rib bone, gazing out the window. After a moment, she said, "It’d be a peaceful life."

"It would."

"Let’s see what happens. I might change my mind." Jiang He realized she was thinking too far ahead. She still hadn’t earned much money.

"Whatever happens, just take me with you."

"...Okay."

Jiang He lowered her head, focusing on her meal.

"I was always a laid-back guy," Xu Qing said. "But after meeting you, I’ve been a bit less laid-back."

"Eat your food."

---

After lunch, Jiang He grabbed her little bag and went out again. This time, she didn’t go far. She sat on the edge of a flowerbed by the road near the east side of the complex, legs dangling and swinging as she watched a few figures on a school playground across the street.

"What are you up to, Jiang He?"

Aunt Cheng walked over from afar, spotting Jiang He.

"Just resting, watching outside." Jiang He gestured toward the school, just as the school bell rang. If it were a normal day, the students would have scattered by now, but today the bell rang without much movement.

"Did you go to school here? Or do you have siblings who do?" Aunt Cheng asked curiously.

"I don’t have siblings."

"Oh. Well, I’ve got a special health lecture for May Day. Want to come grab an umbrella?"

"Sure!"

"Come on, then."

With a lively young girl accompanying her to the health lecture, Aunt Cheng felt rejuvenated, as if she were younger herself.

"When’s Xiao Yan’s school break?" Jiang He asked casually.

"Probably July or August. May Day is too short for her to visit, but she’ll come here during summer vacation to hang out," Aunt Cheng replied.

"Oh, summer break, huh."

Jiang He, learning the art of conversation, smoothly steered the topic to Aunt Cheng’s favorite subject. However, she wasn’t too clear on the concept of summer break and simply nodded to show she understood.

Screech—!

As they chatted, a yellow-shirted young man on an electric bike suddenly sped out of the nearby intersection, slamming on the brakes with a loud screech. Before Aunt Cheng could fully register what had happened, she had already been yanked a few steps back.

She glanced around in confusion and then at Jiang He, who stood calmly next to her.

"What just happened?"

"That guy almost hit you, so I pulled you out of the way," Jiang He explained, pointing to the young man, now sprawled on the ground with his bike.

"You’re really strong!" Aunt Cheng only now felt the shock, patting her chest in relief.

The yellow-shirted man had already gotten up, righting his bike and swearing under his breath.

Aunt Cheng, unwilling to let it slide, stood akimbo, her stout figure exuding authority. "Do you have eyes? You just ran a red light—"

"You—"

The young man started to retort but was silenced by Jiang He’s glare. For some reason, he felt that if he said another word, this girl might punch him straight in the face.

Faced with an elderly woman and a fierce-looking young girl, the man decided it wasn’t worth the trouble. Mumbling a few more curses under his breath, he slunk off with his bike.

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