Chapter 18: My Husband Masters Immortal Arts

Xu An’s action was far too sudden.

Su Yan’er was momentarily caught off guard.

How could her husband speak of a kiss so matter-of-factly?

Oh no, I am my husband’s wife; if he wishes to kiss me, then he can.

Yet, the way he said it... was far too straightforward.

It was utterly embarrassing.

Her eyes lowered slightly, her cheeks flushed a deep crimson, yet she stole a glance at Xu An.

She couldn’t just keep him waiting like that, could she?

That would be so unbecoming to her husband.

She mustn’t let him lose face.

With this thought, Su Yan’er quickly planted a peck on Xu An’s face, much like a little chick snatching grains.

Then she swiftly bowed her head, too shy to meet his gaze.

Earlier, when her husband hadn’t seen, she wasn’t so flustered.

But now that he had witnessed it, the embarrassment was undeniable.

Feeling the warmth on his face, Xu An’s lips curved into a satisfied smile.

The little girl’s lips were thin and soft.

The sensation was incredibly pleasant.

He wondered about that delicate, pink little tongue...

Ahem...

How naughty.

Clearing his throat, Xu An composed his thoughts and looked at the little girl who wished she could bury her head in his chest, and smiled gently.

This little one really was easily embarrassed.

“Yan’er, since you’re not sick, get up and wash up. I’ll make breakfast for you,” Xu An said, patting her head.

“Hu... husband,” the little girl suddenly lifted her head, her eyes shimmering with a faint purple hue, hesitating as she looked at Xu An.

“I’m here. What’s the matter?” he asked.

“Do you... do you think I’m an immodest woman?” she inquired shyly.

Xu An couldn’t help but laugh.

“Yan’er, why would you think that?”

“Because you kissed me sneakily?” Su Yan’er was too bashful to lift her head.

Her husband really was something else, speaking so candidly about such matters.

Xu An looked at her and asked, “Yan’er, do you like me?”

“Like?” Su Yan’er’s face showed confusion; she didn’t understand why her husband would ask that.

“Yes, like! The kind that makes your heart race!” Xu An carefully chose his words.

Recalling how her heart pounded when she kissed her husband just now, Su Yan’er replied seriously, “I... I like my husband’s...” Too shy to finish, she lowered her head, her voice barely audible.

Xu An smiled softly.

“Well then, isn’t that perfect? You like me, and I am your husband. If you want to kiss me, isn’t that natural?”

“If we had to be so cautious when facing someone we like, life would be terribly dull.”

“So whether or not you’re modest really doesn’t matter much!”

Is that so?

It seemed that in her husband’s eyes, she wasn’t dull after all.

The little girl nodded, half understanding, her heart swelling with joy.

...

After rising, the two began their morning routine.

In this world, there were no toothpaste or toothbrushes.

People usually brushed their teeth using charcoal ash and bristle brushes.

Xu An pondered that when he had leisure time, he might fashion a more refined toothbrush from bamboo.

He could also make toothpaste.

Then he set about preparing breakfast.

Breakfast was simple, but for most people in this world, it was already a luxury.

Boiled eggs, white rice porridge, and a bit of leftover meat from the previous night.

Seeing Xu An boil five eggs at once, the little girl’s face was filled with concern.

“Husband, if you want to eat, cooking your own would be enough. I can just have some porridge.”

Understanding her reluctance to eat, Xu An chuckled.

“Don’t talk nonsense. You’re injured now; you need more nutrition to heal faster.”

“Nutrition? What is nutrition?” the little girl asked, tilting her head.

“You can think of it as something our body needs to recover.”

“Oh, so that’s what nutrition is. Husband really knows a lot.”

“But such a good thing... it feels a bit wasteful to eat it,” she still hesitated.

She naturally wanted to eat, having never tasted a boiled egg before.

But she felt that one egg must be worth quite a lot, and it would be gone in just a few bites — far too extravagant.

“Don’t think so much. Our family won’t ever lack food from now on. Eat without worry!” Xu An reassured her with a smile.

“All right then, thank you, husband.”

“When my leg heals, I’ll take care of you.”

Su Yan’er’s eyes shone with clear light as she spoke softly.

She didn’t know where her husband’s confidence came from.

After all, their home had nothing, and she was injured and unable to work.

Still, she chose to believe Xu An.

If her husband said they would never lack food, then they never would.

They finished breakfast quickly and tidied up the dishes.

Xu An then looked at Su Yan’er mysteriously.

“Yan’er, you wanted to know my plan, right? I’ll show you now.”

With that, he walked into the kitchen.

Su Yan’er tilted her head, filled with curiosity.

Her husband’s confidence must mean something extraordinary.

Soon, Xu An returned carrying a bowl filled with tiny granules.

They were translucent and white as snow.

It was crystallized white sugar.

Though perhaps not as pure as modern industrial sugar, in this world, it was undeniably top-notch.

“Yan’er, guess what this is?” Xu An asked cheerfully, holding the bowl before her.

Su Yan’er stared at the sparkling white granules, thinking hard but unable to guess.

Salt?

But salt wasn’t that white.

“I can’t guess. What is it, husband?”

Her large, bright eyes were full of eagerness.

“It’s food. Taste it.”

Xu An dabbed a bit on his finger and fed it to Su Yan’er.

She gently sucked on his finger, feeling a tingling, delightful sensation.

The feeling was so strange it made Xu An reluctant to let go.

But it passed quickly in his mind.

“Wow, it’s so sweet!” Su Yan’er exclaimed, lifting her head with amazement.

“This is sugar, of course it’s sweet.”

“Sugar?”

Su Yan’er was even more puzzled.

This sugar didn’t look like any she’d seen before.

Wasn’t sugar usually black or brown?

Xu An noticed her thoughts and explained with a smile, “This is white sugar, more precious than brown or black sugar.”

“Ah? That must be very valuable!” The little girl’s eyes lit up.

“Yes, very valuable. That’s why I said our family will never worry about food again.”

“Did you make this, husband? You can make white sugar?” she asked, tilting her head, her eyes sparkling and adorable.

“Of course!” Xu An replied proudly.

“You’re amazing, husband! How did you make it?” The little girl was full of curiosity, gazing at him with admiration.

“I just purified the raw red sugar. How about that? Doesn’t it look like magic?” Xu An chuckled.

“Your brown sugar can turn into white sugar?”

Su Yan’er’s eyes widened, gasping sharply. “That’s no magic, it’s clearly a divine art!”

This little one knew how to flatter!

Hearing her sincere praise, Xu An felt very pleased.

Then he warned, “Yan’er, you must never tell anyone I can make white sugar. Innocent men bear the burden of having treasures; if others find out, we’ll be in trouble. Understand?”

“Mhm, don’t worry, husband. I understand!” Su Yan’er nodded solemnly.

“All right, Yan’er. I have to go to the city today to sell this sugar and buy some raw sugar in return. Stay home and wait for me.”

“Think about what you want me to bring back, and I’ll get it for you.”

Xu An took out a cloth bag and poured the sugar inside.

The little girl thought seriously for a moment.

“Husband, please buy some radish and cabbage seeds. When my leg’s healed, I can plant them, and we’ll have food through the winter.”

“I’ve thought about that too, but no rush,” Xu An gently pinched her little ear. “Think some more. Anything else you want to eat? I’ll bring it back for you.”

With her husband’s hand touching her ear, the little girl felt a soft, tingling sensation, and her cheeks flushed.

“There’s nothing else.”

“All right, then stay home and wait for me. Don’t wander around. I’ll come back soon.”

“Okay~” The little girl obediently agreed.

A moment later, Xu An waved goodbye.

Because he left late, by the time he arrived in the city, it was already midday.

Standing before the sugar shop he had visited before, Xu An glanced inside.

A surge of anticipation welled up in his heart.

He wondered how shocked the shopkeeper would be when he saw the white sugar in his hands.

And what price the man would offer.

Without overthinking, Xu An stepped inside.