Chapter 36: Made Money, Time to Treat My Husband to a Feast!

It was only the afternoon when Ye Muqi returned to the family compound, still early in the day. She first visited the humble little shop run by the retired veteran.

The old soldier looked at Ye Muqi and clearly remembered her, a smile immediately spreading across his face.

“Buying vegetables today, young lady?” he asked cheerfully.

A few days ago, Ye Muqi had come by but only bought a bag of rice, not any vegetables.

“Yes, can I get some freshly picked ones?” she asked, nodding.

Since it was already the afternoon, the veteran’s produce stand was nearly empty. Only long-lasting items like ginger, garlic, chili peppers, and a few potatoes remained.

They were yellow-fleshed baby potatoes, the kind that looked especially delicious. Ye Muqi picked a few, planning to take out some premium beef from her storage space later to make a dish of braised beef brisket with potatoes.

She bought a few fresh vegetables that the veteran had just harvested. These were so fresh that they’d taste sweet even stir-fried simply. The flavor was completely different from vegetables that had been sitting around for a while.

After returning home, there was still some time before Rong Jingchen would get back from the military base. Ye Muqi went straight to the kitchen and took out some meat from her space. Everything in her space was fresh, so there was no need to sort through it.

Unlike yesterday’s balanced meat-and-veggie menu, this time Ye Muqi took out several types of meat—she was preparing a feast for her husband!

Why? Because it was her first time earning money in the 1980s.

She was thrilled!

…

By evening, Rong Jingchen returned home right after training. As soon as he opened the door, he was greeted by the aroma of food. There were sounds coming from the kitchen too.

Ye Muqi was already home. The house wasn’t cold and silent. A hint of softness flashed in Rong Jingchen’s eyes.

Looks like his little wife had come home on time today. Feeling relieved, he changed his shoes at the door and stepped inside.

“You’re back?”

From the kitchen, Ye Muqi poked her head out. She must’ve heard the door open just now.

“Mm.” Rong Jingchen nodded, eyes fixed on her little head. She had tied her hair into a low ponytail and was holding a spatula. She looked gentle and non-threatening.

“Go wash your hands. Dinner’s almost ready,” she said before ducking back into the kitchen.

When Rong Jingchen came out from washing his hands, two dishes were already on the table: braised pork belly and sweet and sour spare ribs—both meat dishes.

Without hesitation, he headed into the kitchen to help bring out the rest.

“Here, help me carry this soup out first.” Ye Muqi lifted the lid of the soup pot and handed him a cloth.

She turned to scoop the next dish: braised beef brisket with potatoes. The dish glistened, covered in thick, rich sauce, and as she sprinkled chopped green onions on top, it looked even more irresistible.

The soup was a hearty pork bone broth with red and white radishes. The broth was milky white, and the bones looked soft and tender. The rich aroma of meat mixed with the sweetness of the radish—just the smell made your mouth water.

Rong Jingchen carried the soup out, and when he returned, Ye Muqi handed him another plate while she grabbed two empty bowls, chopsticks, and a ladle to join him.

On the table, there were three dishes and one soup. But whether it was the food or the soup, they were all incredibly rich. On a normal day, even having one of these dishes would be considered a treat. If there weren’t just four total, you might mistake this for a New Year’s feast.

“Start with the soup,” Ye Muqi said, handing Rong Jingchen a bowl.

Although it was “just soup,” the bowl was filled with radish and bones—it was practically a meal on its own.

“Why so much food today?” Rong Jingchen finally asked the question he’d been holding in.

“Because I made money today!” Ye Muqi said with a smile, scooping soup into her own bowl. “Everything I made sold out—it was super popular, and I earned a lot!”

You could tell she was genuinely happy. She spoke with a bright smile, her eyes forming crescent moons, a dimple faintly appearing on her cheek.

Actually, even if she didn’t work, Rong Jingchen’s salary would be enough to support her. But getting to do something you love and being recognized for it—now that’s worth celebrating.

“You really are great at cooking,” Rong Jingchen nodded sincerely, acknowledging her skills.

He wasn’t just being polite—her cooking truly was amazing. It made sense that her food would be a hit—it was genuinely delicious.

There was something about her flavor that felt refreshingly new for this era.

Looking at the table full of meat dishes—especially the beef—Rong Jingchen guessed she had probably spent all the money she made today.

But that was okay. He still had some savings, and payday was coming soon. No need to worry about money for now.

“Right? If you like it, eat more,” Ye Muqi said, picking up a piece of braised beef with potato and putting it in his bowl.

Though Rong Jingchen was a bit reserved, he wasn’t cold. Just hearing his praise made her feel over the moon.

Rong Jingchen finished his soup and went to the kitchen to scoop himself a big bowl of rice.

He hadn’t eaten much in the morning and had pushed himself hard in training. At lunch, he was too distracted to eat properly and had just taken a few bites.

After such intense physical exertion with so little food, now faced with a table full of color, aroma, and flavor—he was absolutely starving.

Although there were only three dishes and one soup, Ye Muqi had prepared generous portions. She even worried at first that they might not finish it all. But Rong Jingchen ended up eating everything—including two large bowls of rice and all the dishes.

Even the soup pot was nearly empty—only a little bit left at the bottom. Anyone who didn’t know might think he hadn’t eaten all day.

Ye Muqi watched in shock. Her eyes had been on him since he neared the end of his second bowl of rice.

She knew her food was tasty, but he hadn’t eaten this ravenously yesterday.

Then it dawned on her—she made mostly meat dishes today. Could it be that Rong Jingchen really liked meat?

“Uh… is the food in your military canteen really bad?” she asked.

Typically, canteen meals aren’t great—even in modern times. People always say the food lacks flavor, has little oil, and whether or not it’s filling depends on the price.

And now it was the 1980s. Even in the military, conditions likely weren’t much better.

“It’s not that bad,” Rong Jingchen replied simply.

He didn’t think much about it. He’d always eaten canteen food and never had strong opinions.

But after eating Ye Muqi’s cooking a few times, he was starting to understand why the others always complained about the canteen. Compared to hers, the food really was bland.

“If you’re coming home for meals, I’ll make sure you eat well,” Ye Muqi said firmly. She couldn’t help much with other things, but a good meal? That she could do!

Even though Rong Jingchen didn’t say it, she could guess the canteen food wasn’t great. Otherwise, why would he eat like he was starving?

Luckily, she had plenty of meat in her space—making a hearty dinner every night was no problem.

“Oh right, don’t leave too early tomorrow morning. Eat breakfast before heading to the base.”