My Taoist nun girlfriend is from the Republic of China era, 1942.

Chapter 48 What I feared most came to pass! (Please vote with monthly tickets!) (Two chapters combined, not split)
It was past 11 p.m. when Lu Yuan was still staring blankly at his thesis on the computer in his study. There was a gentle knock on the door.

"Lu Yuan, come out here for a moment."

Lu Yuan walked out of the study and saw a steamed crab, its body completely reddish-brown, on the dining table, with a dish of ginger and vinegar next to it, the aroma wafting into his nose.

"Why are you eating again?" Lu Yuan asked, puzzled.

Chen Xiaomiao said indignantly, "It hurt your hand just now, it can't live past tonight! I'll use it to practice and learn how to steam this thing."

Lu Yuan was amused by her confident logic, pulled out a chair, sat down, and pretended to sigh.

"What a pity. This crab prodigy thought that breaking free from the net meant breaking free from the cage and was about to ascend to the upper realm. However, he offended my spirit pet and recklessly injured me, angering my Daoist partner."

Ultimately, he was killed by magic, cooked, dismembered, and eaten; all his cultivation was reduced to food for others.

Chen Xiaomiao was stunned, not understanding what Lu Yuan was babbling about, but seeing his beaming face, she grinned along with him.

"What is Lu Yuan muttering about, like a storyteller?"

"Hmm... I've been reading too many fantasy novels lately."

What is a fantasy novel?

"It's about writing a story about Sun Wukong's Journey to the West."

"Oh……"

After the two finished eating the "Crab Tribe's Pride," Chen Xiaomiao cleaned up the dishes and suddenly remembered something.

“Lu Yuan…”

She came out of the kitchen wiping her hands and asked uncertainly, "Can we stop turning on that metal air conditioner in my room from now on?"

I feel it's getting chilly; a blanket will be fine at night.

Lu Yuan was picking his teeth when he heard this and paused. It took him a moment to realize that Chen Xiaomiao was talking about the air conditioner.

As he pondered, an idea suddenly popped into his head without warning.

"Xiao Miao, is the air conditioner in your room always on?"

"Yeah." Chen Xiaomiao nodded blankly, then asked, "What's wrong? Can't that thing be left on forever?"

"No..." Lu Yuan's tone changed slightly: "You mean the air conditioner in your room has never been turned off since the day you moved in?"

"OK."

Chen Xiaomiao still had that matter-of-fact expression: "Isn't the ice cellar in the kitchen like that too?"

Lu Yuan gasped and quickly took out his phone to check the payment app.

Seeing that Lu Yuan's expression was off, Chen Xiaomiao also became nervous and asked in a low voice, "Lu Yuan, did I... do something wrong again?"

"well enough."

Lu Yuan forced a smile, got up, and went into Chen Xiaomiao's room.

He picked up the remote and pressed the power off button, only to find that the window was also open.

No wonder this house didn't turn into an icebox...

Lu Yuan turned around and cleared his throat: "Xiao Miao, remember this thing is called an air conditioner. You should turn it off when you're not in the house or when it's not hot."

Why?

"Otherwise, the machine will easily break down."

Lu Yuan was afraid that Chen Xiaomiao would feel guilty and choose to downplay the issue, so he added, "Don't worry, our air conditioner is of excellent quality. It can run for a month without any problems. Just be careful in the future."

But at these times, Chen Xiaomiao's mind is always exceptionally sharp.

She asked stubbornly, "Lu Yuan, don't hide it from me, have I gotten you into trouble again?"

Seeing her like this, Lu Yuan knew he couldn't hide the truth any longer, so he had no choice but to confess.

"Air conditioners are electrical appliances, just like lights, refrigerators, and televisions in the home. As long as they are used, they require electricity. And now we have to pay for the electricity we use, which is collectively called electricity bills."

Chen Xiaomiao's heart clenched, and she swallowed hard: "How much is the electricity bill...?"

"With your air conditioner running like this, with the windows open, the electricity bill will probably be around seven or eight hundred yuan a month."

"Seven...eight...hundreds..."

Chen Xiaomiao's head went blank as if she had been hit hard by a heavy hammer.

She had assumed that the iron box was like a refrigerator in the kitchen, something that had to be kept running all the time. She never imagined that the cool air it blew out was actually made from piles of hard-earned silver!

Seeing that her face was pale and her lips were trembling, Lu Yuan quickly comforted her, "This is my fault. I was in such a hurry to move in that day that I forgot to explain it to you. Don't take it to heart!"

"Um...I'm fine!"

Chen Xiaomiao caught her breath, forced herself to cheer up, and gave Lu Yuan a smile that looked more like a grimace: "I understand, I'll definitely be more careful in the future."

"Are you really alright?" Lu Yuan was still worried.

"It's okay!"

"Then get some rest."

Seeing this, Lu Yuan didn't say anything more, turned around and left, closing the door behind him.

The soft click of the lock closing was like the last straw that broke the camel's back.

Chen Xiaomiao could no longer hold on. Her legs gave way, and she slumped onto the edge of the bed, staring blankly out the dark window. Only those few words kept replaying in her mind.

"Eight hundred yuan..."

"Eight hundred yuan..."

Her eyes were empty and lifeless, and her lips moved unconsciously, over and over again, as if she were under some kind of spell.

"Eight hundred yuan..."

On the first day of the National Day holiday, Lu Yuan slept soundly until the sun shone into the room before leisurely getting out of bed.

Stepping out of the room, it was quiet. The idiot was lying lazily wagging his tail at the balcony door.

"Xiao Miao?" Lu Yuan called out, his voice echoing in the empty living room.

"I'm here!"

The sound was muffled and came from the direction of the restroom.

Lu Yuan yawned and asked, "Is there anything to eat? I'll have something to eat."

There's cold porridge in the kitchen!

After Lu Yuan finished drinking the cold porridge in the kitchen, he heard the sound of running water in the bathroom and curiously went over to investigate.

The door wasn't closed properly, leaving a crack.

Chen Xiaomiao was squatting in front of a plastic basin, vigorously scrubbing clothes with her head down. Her sleeves were rolled up high, revealing two fair and slender arms, and beads of sweat were seeping from her forehead.

Lu Yuan leaned against the door frame, looking a little dazed.

"What are you doing?"

Upon hearing this, Chen Xiaomiao turned around, her expression one of complete indifference.

"Washing clothes!"

"Don't we have a washing machine at home?"

"Didn't you say that thing uses a lot of electricity?"

Chen Xiaomiao stopped what she was doing and said seriously, "Don't worry, my hands are clean too, no worse than that iron lump."

Lu Yuan's temples throbbed, and a sentence stuck in his throat, unable to be uttered for a long time.

Well, the matter of the 800 yuan electricity bill still left a knot in the girl's heart.

He didn't say anything more, waiting for Chen Xiaomiao to finish washing and wringing the last piece of clothing, and then watched her carry the basin to the balcony.

After hanging up the clean clothes one by one, Chen Xiaomiao clapped her hands, turned around and saw Lu Yuan still standing there, gesturing for her to come over.

Her heart skipped a beat. She walked hesitantly to the living room sofa, sat down on the edge, and placed her hands neatly on her knees, like a primary school student waiting for a scolding from the teacher.

Lu Yuan said seriously, "Chen Xiaomiao, let me ask you, what do you think your status is in this family?"

This question stumped Chen Xiaomiao.

She blinked her dark eyes, her fingers unconsciously twisting the hem of her clothes. Wife?
No, no, becoming Lu Yuan's wife would ruin him...

Concubine? Secondary wife?

Lu Yuan also said that this is no longer in fashion.

After thinking for a long time, she gave an answer she could understand: "I... I guess I'll be your maid?"

"A maid?"

Lu Yuan almost laughed out of anger, but patiently continued, "Fine, even if you're a maid, let me ask you this: is there any logic in the world where an employer doesn't pay their maid? Have I, Lu Yuan, ever paid you?"

"Yes, I did!" Chen Xiaomiao said matter-of-factly, "You gave me two thousand three hundred yuan!"

"That's your living expenses, money for buying groceries, rice, oil, salt, soy sauce, and vinegar!"

Lu Yuan was both amused and exasperated: "Besides, what kind of maid would settle accounts with her master, insisting on splitting food and drink 20/80?"

Chen Xiaomiao was speechless for a moment, her little face turning red.

She counted on her fingers, trying to figure out how the two thousand three hundred yuan became money for groceries, rice, flour, and oil, and how it became her share of the "two".

But my brain is like a lump of paste; the more I stir it, the more confused I become.

This employer in front of her doesn't seem to have ever openly given her a "monthly wage"...

Lu Yuan leaned back into the sofa and continued to mutter, "And another thing, you're just a maid, what money are you saving for me, the master?"

Washing machines and air conditioners are things you buy to use!
"To save a few dollars on electricity and let items you bought for thousands or tens of thousands of dollars sit idle is a huge waste!"

"But...but that eight hundred yuan..."

Chen Xiaomiao brought up the matter again, hesitantly, clearly indicating that this "huge sum of money" had become a hurdle in her mind.

"Eight hundred it is!"

Lu Yuan interrupted, "Let me ask you again, when you were in the Taoist temple, did you... or anyone else in the temple, never break anything or cause trouble?"

Chen Xiaomiao thought for a moment, then muttered softly, "Little Gu went to the county town market once and lost the mule that pulled the millstone in the temple. He was terrified when he came back, and then the old master said..."

She paused, then mimicked her master's tone, reciting slowly.

"It's gone, so what? Getting all worked up and beating your chest in frustration will only upset you and disrupt your composure. It's not worth it."

"That settles it then! Look how much the demeanor of your master is that of a Taoist master!"

Lu Yuan began to explain the financial situation to her: "You can't buy a mule for eight hundred yuan these days. If you're so concerned about this little bit of money, aren't you disregarding your master's teachings?"

Chen Xiaomiao fell completely silent.

Lu Yuan's combination of moves was logically sound and cunning, shattering her stubborn thoughts.

I can't think of any reason to refute this at all...

Lu Yuan softened his tone again: "Don't do such stupid things again, understand? When the weather gets colder in a few days, I'll be the one who feels sorry for you if your hands get frostbite."

Chen Xiaomiao waved her hand, subconsciously retorting, "I'm used to hardship, I'm tough, I'm not afraid of the cold, you don't need to worry about me."

Lu Yuan:......

More than a month has passed, and Chen Xiaomiao is still struggling to adapt to modern society.

Lu Yuan knew he also bore some responsibility; he taught things haphazardly, just whatever came to mind, without any systematic approach.

Moreover, with so many things to do, there are always areas that can't be taken care of.

But this living ancestor fell from the sky more than eighty years ago, and there's no set pattern to it. It's a real problem...

"Alright, go get ready, take this idiot with you on your trip!"

"What are you going for?"

"Give this stupid dog a second vaccination."

Lu Yuan pointed to the idiot who was gnawing on his slippers under the table.

The little guy is growing very fast; it's already a size bigger than when it first arrived. In a few more months, Chen Xiaomiao will probably have trouble holding it.

On the way to the vet, Chen Xiaomiao sat in the back seat holding the dog and asked curiously, "Lu Yuan, what is a vaccine?"

"vaccine……"

Lu Yuan thought for a moment and explained in a way that Chen Xiaomiao could understand: "Didn't I tell you about bacteria yesterday?"

Vaccines are like government notices, informing the body's soldiers in advance what each type of bacteria looks like. When the bacteria actually appear, the soldiers can immediately recognize and eliminate them, preventing illness.

As soon as he finished speaking, Lu Yuan suddenly froze, realizing a serious problem.

vaccine……

Chen Xiaomiao, a person who lived since 1942, has never received any vaccines.

COVID-19? Cholera? Plague?

For her, a virus that modern people can easily resist with a single vaccine might be a death sentence.

Lu Yuan felt a chill run from his tailbone to the back of his head, and dared not think any further.

She's been healthy and energetic for over a month now, which seems incredibly lucky.

Chen Xiaomiao was already frail and thin; a gust of wind could blow her away.

If she were to actually contract some kind of flu virus, the consequences would be unimaginable.

No, we have to take her to the hospital for a thorough full-body checkup!
But the thought was extinguished by a bucket of cold reality.

The same old problem remains—no ID card.

How do I register? How do I create a medical record? I can't even get into the hospital.

Ask your grandma for help? Use connections at the hospital?

How do I explain this to the elderly?
"Lu Yuan, what's wrong?"

Chen Xiaomiao noticed his unusual behavior and asked in a low voice.

"fine……"

Lu Yuan glanced at her in the rearview mirror and forced a smile: "Thinking about my thesis, it's giving me a headache."

Upon arriving at the pet hospital, the smell of disinfectant hit us.

Erbaiwu seemed to sense something ominous, tucked his tail between his legs and burrowed into Chen Xiaomiao's arms, letting out a mournful "woof woof" sound.

"Useless!" Lu Yuan said with a laugh, but he was not really paying attention.

The veterinarian was examining the dog inside, while he stood outside, his eyes constantly glancing at Chen Xiaomiao, as if he were scrutinizing a precious piece of porcelain that might shatter at any moment.

On the way back, the car windows were open for ventilation.

"Ah sneeze——!"

Chen Xiaomiao sneezed loudly without warning, startling the listless idiot in her arms.

"What's wrong?" Lu Yuan asked casually.

"No...it's nothing, it must have been choked by the dog hair." Chen Xiaomiao rubbed her nose, her voice a little muffled.

Lu Yuan didn't pay much attention. After the car entered the residential area and stopped, Chen Xiaomiao got out of the car with Erbaiwu in her arms. She had only taken two steps when she sneezed twice in a row, making her sway.

"Is it really okay?"

Lu Yuan locked the car and quickly followed to check it carefully.

Chen Xiaomiao's face seemed a little redder than usual, and her eyes were a bit unfocused.

“I…” She sniffed, her brows furrowing slightly. “I feel a little dizzy and uncomfortable… I want to go back and lie down for a while.”

Lu Yuan's heart tightened suddenly, and without saying a word, he reached out and pressed his hand against Chen Xiaomiao's forehead.

Sure enough, it was scalding hot...

No way, is what I feared most about happening?!

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(End of this chapter)