My Wife Came From A Thousand Years Ago

Chapter 96: Winter Melon

There were no grand speeches or passionate declarations. Xu Qing simply said a sentence offhandedly, but by the next day, he was already preparing.

He placed a few bank cards on the table and did the math. All together, he had just over 40,000 yuan in savings, accumulated since his university days.

No debts, no negative assets. His credit card was never used—he just paid the annual fee on time. He had once thought of canceling it, but figured it might come in handy in an emergency, so he kept it.

Most of the 20,000 yuan in the stock market had already been withdrawn, leaving only a few thousand behind. Thanks to Jiang He, his few months of staying here had unknowingly made him yearn for stability. It was a strange mindset, but by sheer luck, he had pulled out most of the funds over the last two months. He managed to avoid the winter bear market, only getting stuck with a few thousand yuan.

As an UP creator, his monthly income was around 4,000 to 6,000 yuan. On good months, he could almost reach five figures; on bad ones, just 2,000 to 3,000 yuan. He knew he needed to increase his output and keep a regular posting schedule to attract active followers and stabilize his income.

If he could reach 100,000 followers, he could take on ads worth around 1,000 yuan and also earn creative incentives...

Xu Qing leaned over the desk, writing and thinking, occasionally adding another point.

His movie reviews were still in the early stages, generating no income. If he wanted to take it seriously, he’d need to increase his output and speed, as well as ride trending topics to catch attention. But even if it worked, this income would be much less stable than from his UP content. Only with diversified platforms and ad revenue streams could he make it viable—but that was still a long way off. For now, it was just a hobby and not worth too much effort.

The stock market’s volatility meant it couldn’t be relied on for steady income. At most, he could occasionally seize an opportunity to make a quick buck. Counting on it for consistent income would likely leave him with nothing.

...

More and more words filled the paper, outlining his current situation, future plans, and career prospects. A branching diagram slowly took shape. Xu Qing finally put down the pen, staring at his summary. He tapped his forehead with the pen, realizing with some regret that he really had been drifting through life.

Living alone, with no one to feed but himself, had made him lazy and complacent. After all, trying hard doesn’t guarantee success, but not trying ensures comfort.

The old man had seen right through him.

The midday sunlight streamed through the window, casting a small golden patch on the floor. Winter Melon lazily lay in that spot, occasionally flicking its tail.

Jiang He had started cooking the pork ribs Xu Qing had bought yesterday. Wiping her hands, she stood at the kitchen door, watching Xu Qing focus deeply on his notes, staying quiet.

For some reason, a sense of peace welled up inside her. This life was pretty good.

Xu Qing seemed to feel her gaze and suddenly turned his head, only to see Jiang He’s back as she turned away.

He smiled, turned back, and drew a big circle on the paper, then wrote down a number.

Jiang He was easy to support, but she was also growing rapidly. Life would change.

In two or three years, or maybe less, Jiang He would fully adapt to modern life. If he hadn’t met his goals by then and was still in this mediocre state, he’d have to consider the old man’s advice and settle down with a stable job.

“The ribs smell great. How about inviting my mom over for a meal someday?”

Feeling accomplished, Xu Qing stretched and shouted toward the kitchen, enticed by the fragrant aroma of the ribs.

Jiang He agreed readily. After all, she’d had many meals at his mom’s place—this was just returning the favor.

“What are those cards?” she asked curiously as Xu Qing finished up.

“Bank cards, for holding money.”

Xu Qing spread the cards out. “Pick one. You can use it until you get your own.”

“Don’t I already have a wallet?” she said, referring to her WeChat Wallet.

“It’s different. If I give you this card, you’ll be curious, then search it up on Baidu, and you’ll learn about banks.”

He picked out an Agricultural Bank card, knowing Jiang He’s obsession with farming. “Take this one. There’s no money in it yet. During the New Year, I’ll give you a red envelope, and you can save the money here. Now, give me your phone, and I’ll link it to WeChat.”

Since her WeChat was registered with his identity, linking the card went smoothly. With verified information, Jiang He took another step toward being a modern woman.

Jiang He carefully examined the bank card and put it away. “The food’s almost ready. Wash up for dinner.”

“On it.”

Xu Qing leisurely enjoyed the care of his ancient housemaid. All she needed to do now was warm the bed. He happily hummed a tune while washing his hands. Just as he was about to sit down, his phone rang.

“Hello, Qingzi. I’m feeling terrible,” came Wang Zijun’s voice.

“Funny, I’m feeling great.”

“…Come out for a drink.”

“Nope, I don’t want you ruining my good mood. Call Haozi.”

“…”

Dejected, Wang Zijun hung up. The sound of a woman calling for dinner in the background made him even more miserable. He muttered a curse and dialed Qin Hao.

“Haozi, I’m feeling terrible. Come out for a drink.”

“Huh? I’m busy,” Qin Hao replied amidst noisy chatter.

Wang Zijun sighed, grabbed his keys, and prepared to go out for a walk. “On duty? Where are you? I’ll come watch the fun.”

“No, I’m shopping with a girl. Call Qingzi.”

“…”

“Hello? Hello?” Qin Hao called out, confused by the disconnected call.

“Black fatty, what are you doing?” a girl shouted ahead.

“I’m sturdy!” Qin Hao retorted, frustrated. Ever since they got close, she kept calling him ‘black fatty.’ If not for pacifying his family, he’d have blocked her ages ago.

He couldn’t stand people who confused sturdy with fat.

...

“We’ll have another meal tonight. Don’t throw out the soup—tomorrow morning, use it to make noodle soup. It’ll be amazing.”

Xu Qing gnawed on a rib, giving Jiang He instructions.

That sounded delicious. Jiang He stared at the rib soup, tempted to make noodles right now.

The simple pork rib stew, without fancy seasonings, was clear but flavorful. The meat clung to the bones—one word: delicious.

They ate until only a small portion was left. Xu Qing, satisfied and burping, cleaned up the dishes and suggested a walk to digest and meet the neighbors.

“Should we take Winter Melon for a walk?” he asked, hearing the cat meow.

“Can we?” Jiang He thought it was unhealthy for the cat to stay indoors.

“Probably… Hold on.”

Xu Qing found a string, tied it gently around Winter Melon’s neck, tested the fit, and handed the leash to Jiang He. Holding her hand in his other hand, the three of them headed out.

The sun was just right—not too cold, not too hot.

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