Lu Wenyao thought back to the time before his family had separated from the main household.
They had to live in his grandparents’ house in a small annex, which had only a single common room and two bedrooms.
This tiny dwelling was made of bamboo, which his father had to cut and carry back himself from the forest behind the village.
The roof and walls were lined with grass and leaves to keep out the wind and rain during storms.
Meanwhile, his father’s siblings—or rather, Lu Wenyao’s uncles and aunts—did not live in such a dilapidated structure.
Grandfather and Grandmother had decided that since his father was the third son and had a son himself, he should be separated into his own quarters, even though the logic seemed questionable at best.
But his father, being the most dutiful of his siblings, accepted his mother’s decision without complaint, enduring hardships others didn’t have to bear.
The rest of his father’s siblings lived together in the main house, each with their own room in a sturdy building made from solid, well-sealed hardwood.
As for his own family, until recently, they had all worked hard for the main household, with no time for smiles or conversation.
They would focus solely on getting their tasks done quickly, just to find a moment of rest.
After completing his share of chores, he’d rush to read his books before the daylight faded.
Once darkness fell, he could no longer study; although there was a lamp, lighting it was out of the question.
The reason was that using the lamp to read at night was seen as wasteful.
If his grandmother noticed, or if someone mentioned it, his family would face retribution.
They might be given extra work, have their food portions cut, or be otherwise penalized under the excuse of “compensating for the wasted lamp oil.”
And then there was Zhao Yingying, his lazy, quarrelsome wife.
After marrying into the family, she did little to help.
She constantly picked fights with his relatives, complaining that she didn’t get enough food or that the household rations were too meager.
Sometimes, she would parade around in new clothes just to show off.
When she was bored, she would take it out on him, either by making a fuss that he wouldn’t share a room with her or by scolding Xiao Bao to get attention.
But there was one thing she kept hidden from everyone.
She stashed food in her cabinet: rice, dried meat, flour for cooking, various treats, and even honey.
Although he was aware of her stash, he had no interest in what she’d squirreled away.
Yet, as he watched the scene before him now—the warm, happy image of his wife and son—he realized this was what a home should feel like.
‘Wait… wife?’ he thought to himself, startled.
‘Am I really thinking of her as my wife?’
‘She is my wife, and the mother of my child.
If she really has changed, then I won’t send her away, at least not for our son’s sake.’
‘But can someone with such a terrible personality really change so drastically in such a short time?
It’s possible she might be planning something; after all, she’s always been crafty,’ he thought, torn between suspicion and curiosity.
As he wrestled with these doubts, he didn’t even notice that his gaze had been fixed on Zhao Ying all this time—long enough for her to sense it.
Feeling the intensity of his stare, she turned to look at him, and their eyes met, both filled with a mix of surprise and curiosity.
Realizing they’d been caught looking, they quickly looked away in opposite directions.
“Ever since Ah Ying almost drowned and moved into this house, she’s changed completely, almost as if she were a different person,” Madam Zhang remarked with a gentle smile.
“It’s been for the better.
Her personality has improved so much.
She’s the reason our family is doing so well now.
And isn’t she lovely, too?”
Hearing this, Lu Wenyao frowned slightly and asked, “She almost drowned?
Was Xiao Bao with her?”
“No, Xiao Bao didn’t fall in.
That day, she took him to buy something at Elder Xie’s house near the edge of the village.
Somehow, she wandered over to the river and fell in.
She seemed to be unconscious and barely breathing, but Xiao Bao shook her until she started coughing up water and came to.
I’m not sure exactly what happened, but she says that coming so close to death made her realize the importance of life.
She said she decided to change for Xiao Bao’s sake,” Madam Zhang explained.
Lu Wenyao took this in, frowning deeply but remaining silent as he thought it over.
When he saw Madam Zhang stand up to carry the gathered weeds to a pile, he got up to help Father Lu water the plants.
With the extra hands, they finished the work earlier than usual that day.
“Xiao Bao, you did a great job today.
Come along, let’s wash up so we can eat,” Zhao Ying said, smiling at her son.
“Yes, Mother!” Xiao Bao nodded eagerly, taking Lu Wenyao’s hand and leading him to the basin by the well to wash up.
Meanwhile, Zhao Ying returned to the kitchen to heat a large pot of water for bathing and began warming the food she had already prepared.
As she walked out of the kitchen carrying a tray of dishes, she nearly bumped into Lu Wenyao, who was heading in.
Startled, her hands wavered, almost dropping the dishes.
Lu Wenyao quickly reached out to steady her hands, securing the tray firmly.
“Careful!
These are hot.
I’ll carry them.
You go sit down,” he said, his tone somewhat awkward.
Zhao Ying didn’t argue, but she noticed the swift, fluid way he turned and took the tray from her.
‘Hmm, not just a mere scholar, it seems.
He’s clearly had physical training—quick and sure in his movements.’
“It’s fine; there are more dishes to bring out,” Zhao Ying replied.
She returned to the kitchen and brought out two more dishes, walking to the dining area with him.
After arranging everything on the table, they all sat down and began their meal together.
Lu Wenyao observed everyone’s reactions and noticed that nobody seemed surprised by the meat dishes on the table; they ate naturally, as if accustomed to it.
It seemed that while he’d been away, he’d missed a great deal.
“Xiao Bao, drink your fish soup first,” Zhao Ying said, handing him a bowl of milky fish broth.
“Hehe, Mother, I forgot!” Xiao Bao gave an awkward chuckle and obediently drank the fish soup.
“You’re probably tired of fish soup by now,” Zhao Ying teased gently.
“Once I find some goat, I’ll make delicious goat’s milk for you.
But for now, you need to drink the fish soup; otherwise…”
“Otherwise, I’ll stay small and won’t grow tall like Father!” Xiao Bao finished her sentence with a determined nod.
“Alright, I won’t be difficult.”
Xiao Bao’s cute response brought more laughter from his grandparents.
Once he had finished his soup, Zhao Ying turned to serve the chicken broth to everyone else.
“Now that Ah Yao’s back, tomorrow I’ll go into the forest myself to check the traps,” Father Lu announced during the meal.
“Ah Ying and Ah Yao, why don’t you take the herbs to town?
You can buy supplies on the way back, and I’ll stop by Tang Xian’s place to see if he’s heading to town.
If he is, I’ll ask him to take you both.”
Hearing this, Zhao Ying looked over to Madam Zhang and suggested, “Mother, you should come along with us so we can shop together.”
Madam Zhang hesitated.
Although she had been feeling bold earlier, her nerves began to surface again.
“Ah Ying, why don’t you take Xiao Bao with Ah Yao?
I’ll stay home and keep watch.”
“Come on, Mother, come with us,” Lu Wenyao added, trying to encourage her.
He wasn’t exactly eager to spend the whole day alone with Zhao Yingying just yet.
“Father can stay home, and when we get back, he can go check the traps.”
“Grandmother, come along!
I want to go with you!” Xiao Bao chimed in.
“Oh, so Xiao Bao doesn’t want to go with his mother now?
I see how it is—he has his grandmother and forgets all about me,” Zhao Ying teased, poking fun at him.
Xiao Bao, already used to his mother’s playful teasing, looked at Lu Wenyao and retorted, “Mother has Father now!
She’ll forget all about Xiao Bao soon enough.” He even mimicked Zhao Ying’s wink.
The whole family burst into laughter, everyone except Lu Wenyao, who only managed a small smile.
After dinner, everyone went their separate ways.
Lu Wenyao joined Zhao Ying and Xiao Bao to help with the dishes.
“There’s no need for you to help; we’re nearly done,” Zhao Ying said.
The truth was, Zhao Ying was beginning to accept the idea of her husband’s presence.
She just needed a little more time to adjust.
“It’s fine, you’ve had a long day.
Go take a bath, and I’ll finish up here,” Lu Wenyao offered.
Zhao Ying didn’t argue—she was genuinely tired today.
She took Xiao Bao to bathe, and after helping him change, she sat him down to review the characters he had learned the previous day.
Then, she went to bathe herself.
Normally, Zhao Ying would slip away to her hidden cabin in the mystical dimension to use its modern bathroom, complete with endless supplies of shower gel, shampoo, and exfoliators.
But with Lu Wenyao newly home, she opted for the outdoor bath instead.
Upon entering, she tested the water and found it already warm—likely thanks to Lu Wenyao who had heated it for her.
‘Hmm…thoughtful of him,’ she mused.
Touching her face, she noted that her once-problematic skin was now clear.
The acne and dark spots had nearly vanished, so a light touch of foundation or cushion would be more than enough to even her complexion.
With this thought, she allowed herself a little fantasy—could he be falling for her, maybe even love at first sight?
‘Get a grip, Zhao Ying, don’t get carried away,’ she chided herself inwardly.
Still, she couldn’t help but notice her husband’s good looks.
He could practically be a supermodel!
She thought with a laugh, ‘I didn’t have to find my own husband, and I got a superstar-level one.’
“Thank you, heavens,” she whispered, her spirits lifting as she joyfully splashed around.
Then it hit her—Tonight he’ll be sharing the bed with me!
What should I do?
Should she tell him to sleep in the study?
Not really an option.
Or lay a mat on the floor next to the bed?
No, that would be far too awkward.
‘Oh well,’ she sighed, ‘he is my husband, after all.’
And he is incredibly handsome, she thought, recalling the celebrities she used to admire in her past life.
Her heart melted every time she looked at him.
Thank you, heavens, for giving me such a good-looking husband!
And what if something…happens?
She wasn’t inexperienced after all; in her past life, while she hadn’t been in a relationship, she’d had a few flings.
Besides, this body was rather…well-endowed.
Goodness!
she laughed to herself.
Other than her face resembling her previous life, this body came with quite an upgrade in the chest department!
As Zhao Ying indulged in her daydreams, completely unaware, two pairs of eyes were observing her house from afar.
The two individuals reclined casually in a tree, perfectly camouflaged, unseen by ordinary eyes.
They watched silently, unmoving, from their hidden vantage point above the isolated mountain path.