ushernet Chapter 125: Gentleness can't beat
Chapter 125: Gentleness can't beat
Chapter 125: Gentleness can't beat
They had shepherd’s purse for dinner.
After spotting this vegetable at the market, Jiang He grew quite fond of it. But when she saw its price, she felt it wasn’t worth it. She hesitated for a long time until Xu Qing bought it for her. "Wild or not, if you can’t pick it yourself, it’s worth money and therefore valuable," he said.
They scalded it in hot water and mixed it into a salad. It was refreshing and tasty, and Xu Qing liked it too.
"Did you eat this often back in your time?"
"Sometimes," Jiang He replied.
"Do you miss home?"
"No, I don’t miss it. It’s just... just..." Jiang He couldn’t quite describe the feeling in her heart.
If given the chance now to choose between going back or staying here, she would undoubtedly choose to stay. But those people, those memories—they still lingered in her thoughts.@@@@
If she did go back, Second Madam would surely scold her for being foolish. "Why give up a life this good, something others can only dream of, and return to such hardship? If that isn’t stupid, what is?"
"Give it at most two years," Xu Qing said gently. "I’ll take you to Gusu and see if anything’s unchanged, like Hanshan Temple, for instance. You’ve traveled the Jianghu, so you must’ve seen a lot. Places like Chang’an—some of them have preserved their original look."
Xu Qing had been planning this for a while. No matter what, they had to visit those places—wander around, take a look.
"That way, it’ll fulfill a wish. Things change over time. What’s past is past. Whatever crimes or guilt belong to that time; you don’t need to carry them with you."
"I’ve already looked up what Gusu looks like now... I’ve seen pictures online," Jiang He said. "It’s completely different."
"Of course it’s different."
"Then there’s no need to go," she replied, more rational than Xu Qing had expected. "Life now is good enough. Let the past stay in the past. That Gusu can live on in my heart."
"Alright, I’ll listen to you," Xu Qing agreed. Jiang He was going through a period of transition. She no longer felt completely out of place, but her mindset was still not fully modern.
After dinner, Xu Qing did the dishes as usual, while Jiang He checked her wallet on her phone. She had over 4,000 yuan left.
This was what remained after selling all the gold coins and repaying Xu Qing for the TV. It wasn’t a fortune, but for someone from her background who had been here for less than a year, it was a small windfall.
She had earned it entirely through her own hard work, driven by a strong desire to repay her debts and earn money.
"This is a time when, as long as you work hard, you can live well, isn’t it?" she asked after getting her first "fortune."
"Yes," Xu Qing replied decisively. "But this goodness is relative. If you think your current life is great, then it’s great—because you’re free from other pressures, competition, and societal expectations.
"But when greed takes over, this money will only bring you pain."
"Greed for what?"
"Fame, status, material pleasures," Xu Qing explained.
"I’ve done my research," Jiang He said. "I’ve thought it through."
"You’ve been thinking about this for a while?"
"A long while."
Xu Qing fell silent, closing his eyes to think before finally speaking. "We could also open a shop. Like the one where I bought those hand warmers for you... an online shop."
"I’ve researched that too," Jiang He said, resting her head on his shoulder. "You mentioned it last time, so I looked into it. Everything’s worth trying."
"..."
"You don’t seem very enthusiastic?" Jiang He asked.
"No, it’s just... let me think." Xu Qing hugged her tightly, burying his face in her neck and taking a deep breath. "Let me think it over."
The phone on the table rang. Both of them turned to look at it. After three rings, Jiang He picked it up and handed it to Xu Qing—it was Qin Hao calling.
From the sound of the wind on the line, Qin Hao seemed to be outside, possibly on his way home.
"How’s that girlfriend situation of yours?" Qin Hao asked.
"What situation?"
"Isn’t she undocumented? You can’t keep it that way forever. I looked into it—this is a tricky issue. If you want to handle it, pick a time to go to the registry office and see if there’s a way to sort it out."
"Of course, I’ll sort it out eventually. What did you find out?"
"It depends on her situation. Just saying she’s alone isn’t enough. The review process is strict..."
Qin Hao rambled on, while Xu Qing leaned back on the couch, holding the phone to his ear as he and Jiang He listened together.
Seeing Jiang He sitting cross-legged, Xu Qing mischievously nudged her toes, making her tense up and glare at him.
"Let’s meet up another day to talk in person. When are you free for some skewers?"
"Not anytime soon..." Qin Hao replied.
"That’s fine, no rush."
"You’re not even worried about your girlfriend’s issue?"
"Who knows, we might break up someday..." Xu Qing glanced at Jiang He. "If we break up, it saves the hassle."
"..."
Qin Hao was momentarily stunned before replying, "I’m hanging up. Bye."