Chapter 3: Marriage is the Only Way to Eat

No interest in love?

Could it be that he practices the Path of Heartlessness?

But mortals cannot cultivate immortality, and there is no spiritual energy here.

So that’s not the reason.

She couldn't figure it out—why he would have no interest in love.

However, she did understand one thing: this body already had an engagement with Lu Changzheng, one that had been decided long ago.

"Then... could you help me find someone who is willing to marry me?"

Her eyes were bright, looking at him with full expectation.

It was clearly Lu Changzheng who had brought up having no interest in love first, but seeing her so openly talk about finding someone else to marry, his heart sank a little.

"You want to get married?"

"Yes!"

Little Ginseng answered with a sweet voice, feeling no burden at all.

Her features were very delicate. After fainting and resting for a night, her complexion was much better than when she had arrived yesterday.

Although she was still very thin, when she smiled, shallow dimples appeared.

Soft and sweet.

Those exceptionally bright eyes were like a clear, bottomless stream. Looking into those eyes, no matter how much irritation one felt, it would all subside.

Lu Changzheng’s thin lips twitched, and it took a long moment before he squeezed out a few words: "What kind of person do you want to marry?"

He was the one who said he didn't want to marry; it was only reasonable for her to look for someone else.

If she looked within the military, he would at least know their true character. It wouldn't hurt to keep an eye out for her.

"Hmm, first of all, he has to provide me with food, not hit me, and have a house to live in."

Jiang Tang answered with utmost seriousness, her small face looking very solemn. "I don't want to eat dirt, and I don't want to be out in the wind and rain. I want to live inside a house."

Her tone was a bit aggrieved.

Lu Changzheng’s heart sank further.

"You couldn't live at home before?"

"I did live at home! But I would still get rained on. When the wind and rain hit me, it hurt so much, it hurt so much."

Jiang Tang thought back to the environment where she had grown up. There was an Old Tree Grandpa nearby, and his dense branches and leaves had shielded her from a lot of the wind and rain.

But there were times when he couldn't block it.

Whenever that happened, the leaves on her head would be battered until they were swaying wildly, and if the wind was too strong, it would even rip the leaves right off her head.

She still remembered that pain even now.

As she recalled it, Jiang Tang shook her head repeatedly.

It was too terrifying; she never wanted to go back to that kind of life again.

"Lu Changzheng, can you help me? If you help me, I will repay you." Jiang Tang snapped back to reality, grabbing his hand and shaking it gently.

She used the same tone she used to act spoiled with Old Tree Grandpa to act spoiled with Lu Changzheng.

"I will definitely repay you."

Lu Changzheng’s brows furrowed tightly.

He only needed to answer whether he could help her or not, and nothing else.

But he couldn't help but ask one more thing.

"Do you know what you have to do when you get married?"

"I know!"

Jiang Tang’s eyes lit up. "Getting married means having a chubby baby."

Little Ginseng had a concept of marriage: two people living together, and then a chubby baby appearing in the belly.

When she was still a ginseng in the mountains, she had occasionally heard passersby mention that they were going home to get married and have a chubby baby.

"You are willing to have children?"

Lu Changzheng’s face was dark and cold.

Little Ginseng was a human for the first time and lacked the ability to read the room.

She nodded ignorantly. "I'm willing!"

"As long as you don't make me eat dirt, and don't let the wind and rain blow..." Before she could finish the word "blow," Lu Changzheng suddenly reached out and took her hand.

"Go to sleep first."

He pulled her toward the room.

"Will there still be food to eat when I wake up?" Jiang Tang’s attention was easily diverted, and she immediately followed Lu Changzheng’s lead.

Lu Changzheng lowered his eyes, his gaze falling on her palm-sized face. Watching the lively expressions on her exquisite features, he gave a soft "Mn."

"I'll take you to eat meat buns tomorrow morning."

"Meat buns?"

Jiang Tang didn't understand what that was, but hearing the word "meat," she couldn't help but swallow her saliva. "They must be very delicious, right?"

"Lu Changzheng, you are so kind."

Lu Changzheng...

Seeing her so free of suspicion, Lu Changzheng felt a bit bitter and guilty.

Such a simple little girl—if she married into a family with many people, it went without saying that she would be eaten alive until not even her bones were left.

There were many people in the military, but it wasn't as if there weren't families with simple dynamics. Not to mention those further away, there were several bachelors in his own regiment with good conditions and bright futures.

He thought of those people in his mind, imagining them standing beside Jiang Tang...

As a result, he found he couldn't continue that line of thought.

"Lu Changzheng, you must come to pick me up for meat buns tomorrow, okay?"

Jiang Tang looked at the clean and tidy guesthouse room, her face full of smiles. She felt that being a human was too wonderful.

There was good food, a clean and warm place to live, and a great person like Lu Changzheng. She must keep being a human forever and ever.

Lu Changzheng was momentarily dazed by her smile, and he gave a faint "Mn."

"Okay."

"Then it's a promise."

Jiang Tang extended her pinky finger, wanting to hook fingers with Lu Changzheng.

Her slender finger was only slightly larger than a chopstick, so fragile it looked like it would snap at a touch.

Just like her, she could be blown away by a strong gust of wind.

It was no wonder she said that when the wind and rain came, it blew her swaying wildly.

"It's a promise."

He extended his thumb and gently hooked it with hers...

"Then you go quickly, I'm going to sleep now." Having received his promise, Jiang Tang didn't hesitate to shoo him away.

She really had no lingering attachment at all.

Lu Changzheng was stunned for a moment, then the corners of his lips curled up slightly.

He turned and walked briskly downstairs, leaving the two-story guesthouse.

The woman working at the front desk on the first floor saw Lu Changzheng coming down and teased him with a smile.

"When are you going to treat us to a meal, Battalion Commander Lu?"

Before Lu Changzheng could answer, Sister Niu added, "That little Jiang is so fair. I've been here for so many years and haven't seen a girl fairer than her."

"It's just that she's too thin."

"If you take good care of her, she'll definitely be the prettiest girl for ten miles around, someone you couldn't find in a hundred-mile radius."

Sister Niu was in her thirties and had a sharp eye.

She could tell at a glance that Jiang Tang had excellent potential.

It was no wonder; if she weren't, Battalion Commander Lu probably wouldn't have taken a fancy to her.

Lu Changzheng nodded slightly at Sister Niu, not mentioning that he didn't actually want to marry Jiang Tang.

"Once it's confirmed, I'll let you know, Sister."

"Alright, I'll be waiting then."

Sister Niu said with a smile. Watching Lu Changzheng about to leave, she thought of something else and called out to stop him.

"Oh, Battalion Commander Lu, it's too expensive for little Jiang to stay at the guesthouse. You should hurry and apply for a house."

"There are still houses in the family quarters. If you apply now, you can still get a good one. Once you move into your own home, maybe you'll be holding a chubby baby by next year."

Sister Niu meant no harm in saying this.

It was purely a well-meaning suggestion from a warm-hearted older sister.

After all, the guesthouse was very expensive. If one could apply for a house in the family quarters, who would want to stay in a guesthouse?

Lu Changzheng nodded. "Thank you, Sister."

He said this and walked away.

He should have been heading toward the dormitory, but he found that he had unknowingly arrived at the logistics department.

By the time he came to his senses, he was already standing at the entrance of the logistics office.

"Battalion Commander Lu, here to apply for a house?"