Chapter 495: Chapter 397: Since Ancient Times, Fairies Have Matched With Cowherds

“Are there still groceries in the fridge?”

Seeing Xu Hongdou’s casual demeanor, Zhao Heng said with some helplessness.

Lately, he hasn’t really liked eating out because he’s basically eaten everything he wanted to already. Especially at the hospital, he frequently orders takeout, and during night shifts, he definitely orders all kinds of random late-night snacks.

So he prefers to eat at home, some homemade dishes, which are healthy and not too salty. The dishes outside taste fine, but afterward, he has to drink a lot of water to quench his thirst.

“I think so, my sister just ordered some groceries from Seahorse Fresh yesterday and had quite a few things delivered.”

Xu Hongdou thought for a while and said.

“Then you can be my assistant, let’s not eat out today.”

Zhao Heng rolled up his sleeves, ready to start cooking in the kitchen.

“Brother-in-law, you can cook?”

Xu Hongdou looked at Zhao Heng as if she had discovered a new continent.

Young, handsome, talented, good-natured, and can cook – did Xu Man Ni save the galaxy in her previous life?

No, she definitely saved the entire universe!

“Never heard the saying, ’A poor child manages the household early’?”

Zhao Heng said casually.

Next, with Xu Hongdou assisting, Zhao Heng quickly finished cooking.

“Brother-in-law, this is such a lavish spread! It’s just the two of us, can we finish all this?”

Sitting at the dining table and looking at the spread of dishes, Xu Hongdou said with some surprise.

This table of dishes was colorful and flavorful, with four dishes: tomato-braised ribs, Kung Pao chicken, oyster sauce lettuce, and broccoli with shrimp. The soup was a loofah and clam soup, and the cold dish was a simple smashed cucumber.

Although it looked quite simple, it was more than enough for two people, with both meat and vegetables, ensuring nutrition and health.

And they were all dishes that went well with rice, perfect with fragrant white rice.

“Each dish is about the amount you’d get from the cafeteria lady at school, how can we not finish it?”

Zhao Heng looked at Xu Hongdou and said casually.

“Wow, your cafeteria lady really gave generous scoops..”

Xu Hongdou commented jokingly.

“I’m so bored, my sister has to work this afternoon.”

As she ate, Xu Hongdou said, feeling a bit listless.

“Brother-in-law, do you have work this afternoon?”

Looking at Zhao Heng, Xu Hongdou suddenly asked.

“I’m off this afternoon.”

Zhao Heng replied.

“Off? That’s great, why don’t you accompany me for a walk? I’ve been so bored lately..”

Xu Hongdou looked at Zhao Heng with longing, pleading.

Both Zhao Heng and Xu Man Ni usually have to work, and Xu Hongdou is in the middle of recuperating, unable to do much, so recently she’s been so bored at home she’s practically growing cobwebs.

“I have something to do this afternoon.”

Zhao Heng looked at the listless Xu Hongdou and said.

“What’s up?”

Xu Hongdou asked somewhat unwillingly.

“I need to go to Yanjing University this afternoon.”

Zhao Heng said.

“Huh? Why are you going to Yanjing University?”

Xu Hongdou asked with some confusion.

She graduated from the Central Academy of Fine Arts, which is next to Yanjing University. Xu Hongdou often wandered around Yanjing University during her school days, so she was very familiar with it.

“I’m doing a master’s and doctoral program there, going for classes.”

Zhao Heng said nonchalantly.

“A master’s and doctoral program at Yanjing University? That’s impressive!”

Xu Hongdou widened her eyes and gave him a thumbs up.

Now Xu Hongdou remembered that even though Zhao Heng is already the vice director of the Anesthesia Center at Eastern Hospital, his highest degree seemed to be a bachelor’s?

Being able to become vice director at the Eastern Hospital with just a bachelor’s degree, without anyone having any objections, seemed even more impressive!

“Since I’m free anyway, why not tag along with you for a stroll? My Central Academy is just next to Yan University, and I’m very familiar with it.”

After a pause, Xu Hongdou marketed herself.

“Suit yourself.”

Zhao Heng responded noncommittally; although Xu Hongdou was indeed beautiful, he thought that most people only saw her as glamorous and stylish like a fairy from the outside, but her appearance at home was another story.

Not that Xu Hongdou wasn’t pretty without makeup at home; in fact, good-looking people often look better without makeup. It’s just that her untidy appearance at home was a bit of a disillusionment with the fairy image.

“Then it’s settled.”

Xu Hongdou said happily, that she could go for a stroll in the afternoon, especially to the familiar Yan University, and also visit her alma mater. How meaningful is that? This way, it won’t be boring at all, right?

“Do the dishes.”

Soon, Zhao Heng finished eating, put down his bowl and chopsticks, and said to Xu Hongdou.

So what if she’s a fairy, if she can’t cook, at least she can wash the dishes, right?!

“Alright.”

Perhaps because she could go for a stroll in the afternoon and wouldn’t be bored anymore, Xu Hongdou, who usually didn’t like washing dishes, agreed without hesitation this time.

Before long, Xu Hongdou finished washing the dishes, tidied up the kitchen for a change, changed into a new outfit, and put on some light makeup.

Looking at Xu Hongdou, who was obviously well-dressed, Zhao Heng couldn’t help but take a few more glances.

“Doesn’t it look good?”

Seeing Zhao Heng inspecting her, Xu Hongdou couldn’t help but ask.

“It looks pretty good, a bit like your sister.”

Zhao Heng thought for a moment and said.

“Like my sister? What kind of evaluation is that, does looking like my sister mean it’s good?”

Hearing that response, Xu Hongdou seemed not very satisfied.

“Am I prettier, or is my sister prettier?”

Xu Hongdou asked Zhao Heng with a bit of anticipation.

“Your sister.”

Zhao Heng replied without even thinking.

“What the heck!”

Hearing such a straightforward answer, Xu Hongdou was somewhat dissatisfied immediately, but amidst her dissatisfaction, she also felt reassured.

“No wonder my sister is so at ease with you. Sometimes you’re really not good at making girls happy. At times like this, you should say that I’m prettier.”

Xu Hongdou said, pursing her lips.

“Are you ready? If you are, then let’s go.”

Zhao Heng didn’t respond to Xu Hongdou’s words, he just said very plainly.

It’s best not to respond to those kinds of words.

He knew that when Xu Hongdou said these, it was just a subconscious expression.

Beautiful women, after all, don’t want others to overlook their charm.

“Alright, why are you rushing?”

Xu Hongdou said.

Soon, the two of them left the house, and Xu Hongdou appeared very joyful as soon as she stepped out the door.

“Weren’t you raised in North City? You should have a lot of classmates and friends, right? If you’re bored, why not just casually call a couple of them to accompany you for a stroll?”

Seeing Xu Hongdou eagerly going out for a stroll, Zhao Heng asked somewhat puzzled.

“Nowadays, who has the time to accompany you shopping? Everyone is busy with their own things, it’s tough in every industry these days.”

Xu Hongdou said slowly.

If a person reaches a certain age and suddenly finds that the classmates and friends around them are all busy, rarely in contact, then it’s an indication that everyone is busy working for a living, striving for life’s necessities.

“I thought you were someone detached from worldly concerns.”

Hearing Xu Hongdou say this, Zhao Heng felt like he was seeing another side of her. Her laid-back demeanor was just a façade; her inner world was much richer and more substantial than it appeared.

“I really wanted to be a fairy who is detached from the mundane world, but nowadays, the term ’little fairy’ has become a derogatory term.”

Xu Hongdou said with a bright smile.

This smile was truly like a hundred flowers blooming.

The Xu family’s genes, how can they be this good, both the elder sister and younger sister are beauties.

In the age of the internet, there’s a puzzling trend: using up and overusing what originally was a beautiful term. The term “little fairy” is the most typical example.

“When a fairy descends to the mortal world, she should match with a cowherd, but where are the cowherds now?”

Zhao Heng said offhandedly.

Actually, the original version of the Seven Fairy Maidens comes from the Feathered Robe Lady in “In Search of the Supernatural”. The story is quite different from both the current TV versions and the popular folk tales.

The gist of it is that once upon a time, a farmer saw seven maidens bathing in a pond, with their clothes drying by the pond’s edge, and the farmer sneakily took one.

The other maidens finished bathing and put on their clothes, leaving. But one maiden couldn’t find her clothes and stayed behind, ending up marrying the farmer. Over three years, they had three children. One day the maiden found the stolen clothes, put them on, and without hesitation, flew away.

The farmer, seeing his fairy wife leave, was heartbroken and cried to the heavens. The fairy wife seemed to hear the farmer’s cry and really came back.

The farmer was moved to tears.

“A hundred days of grace for one day of marriage, the fairy wife still loves me!”

Then…then the fairy came back to take the three kids and flew away again!

The original text is as follows: [In Nanyu County of Yuzhang, a man saw in the field six or seven maidens, all dressed in feathered robes, not knowing they were birds. He sneaked over and took a feathered robe from one of the maidens and hid it. When he approached the birds, all the birds flew away, except for one who couldn’t. He married her, and they had three daughters. Later, the mother made the daughter ask the father and found out the robe was under stored grain. She got it, dressed, and flew away. Later, she returned for the three daughters, and they also flew away]

“It’s best if the cowherd you’re talking about is a serious one.”

Xu Hongdou said with a smile.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep