“Hmm… I really couldn’t bear to let them fend for themselves. Don’t worry, I’ll support them, they won’t burden our family!”
Xu Changnian’s tone was calm, but his resolve in those words was unquestionable.
“Nonsense, we are all one family, what burden are you talking about? I’ll rest for a few days, then I’ll make a trip to Anping County to visit your eldest uncle. I’ll find a way to get some help from them… even if I have to kneel, I’m willing!”
Xu Tielin held his son’s hand, his eyes turning red as he spoke. No matter what, that was still his blood brother.
Even though they had fallen out back then, the second son had already been adopted into his elder brother’s household. If he could throw away his pride, perhaps he could still ask for some money and food.
Xu Changnian was stunned for a moment and searched through his memories. Uncle Xu Tieshu in the county?
He only remembered that when his grandfather was still alive, the Xu family worked in the county yamen, had a courtyard house in town, and lived a decent life.
Later, something happened between them and things fell apart. Xu Tielin adopted the second son to his older brother Xu Tieshu and brought the eldest to Qingshan Village.
It was only after settling in the countryside that Xu Changnian was born, and his mother died due to difficult childbirth.
“I really can support our family!”
Although he didn’t know the exact grudges among the elders, hearing his father talk about kneeling made Xu Changnian feel terrible.
He was already old, yet still had to suffer such humiliation.
Parents’ hearts are always painfully selfless.
“As long as you live well in the future… I don’t care about the rest anymore. I’ve already let it go.” Xu Tielin reached out and patted his son’s face, his expression full of contentment.
“Father, I want to learn hunting. Also, do you know how to set snares for wild pheasants? When I picked up the Frozen Rabbit today, I saw a Hungry Wild Chicken, but I didn’t know how to catch it.”
Saying more would be useless, so Xu Changnian could only change the topic and bring up the real matter.
If he wanted to fully utilize the advantage of the Information System, learning hunting was necessary.
“Hunting isn’t easy. First, you need to learn how to track prey. That’s the hardest part, it takes years of experience… and you also need to learn archery! Wild pheasants aren’t hard to catch though. Just set a hanging snare, or scatter some Millet soaked in wine…”
Once hunting was mentioned, Xu Tielin became even more spirited and began speaking enthusiastically.
There was both pride in his skills and joy at his son finally straightening out.
Especially when it came to tracking prey, that was the ability he was most proud of in his life.
Through footprints, droppings, and chewed grass roots, he could determine what kind of animal passed by, how big it was, how long ago, and whether it was male or female.
These were experiences accumulated by old hunters over many years, not something one could learn in a short time.
Xu Changnian listened carefully.
The hardest thing is tracking prey? But I have the Information System! I only need to think about picking up opportunities!
Time passed quickly. A crescent moon hung high in the sky as Qingshan Village sank into silence.
There was no nightlife in the countryside. Once it turned dark, people slept early.
Oil for the lamps and firewood for the stove all cost money. Saving as much as possible was important. Read this novel at g.com for the best experience.
Besides, there wasn’t anything to do at night anyway.
But tonight, the Xu family made an exception and lit a lamp in Xu Changnian’s room.
Creak—
After learning from his father, Xu Changnian returned to his room full of anticipation.
Handling two alone would be difficult!
The wedding night was already more exhausting than digging a cellar, and this time there were two.
But when he pushed open the door, only Shen Yourong was inside.
“H-husband…”
When she saw him enter, Shen Yourong lowered her head and spoke in a trembling voice, her hands nervously tugging at her clothes.
“Wei’er isn’t feeling too well these few days, so she went to sleep in Sister-in-law’s room… please don’t be angry.”
As for women’s matters, Shen Yourong didn’t know whether Xu Changnian understood, so she could only try to explain.
Her period had come.
Once Xu Changnian heard that, he immediately understood. He lifted the oil lamp and walked toward Shen Yourong.
His wife was still too reserved. They were all one family now, and it was necessary to deepen their relationship.
“Gently~”
…
Soon, the oil lamp was blown out, and the Xu household fell into darkness. Only Yun Niang in the neighboring room suffered.
These mud walls had no soundproofing at all; everything could be heard clearly.
She was at a passionate age, and having been widowed for a long time, she naturally tossed and turned, unable to sleep.
…
No one knew how long had passed.
Shen Yourong lay in Xu Changnian’s arms, perfectly satisfied, her fingers absentmindedly drawing circles on his chest.
It was her first time, so how did he know so many moves? He truly deserved the title of rascal; he must have gone to those places before.
Shen Yourong thought silently.
“Husband, there are some things I shouldn’t hide from you. I want to tell you.”
Xu Changnian did not respond, but something pressing against her made her slightly uncomfortable.
“Actually, our family did not fall victim to bandits. We were exiled from the capital!”
“Our Shen family used to be an official family. Later, we committed a great crime… the women of the family were exiled to the borderlands, and that’s how we ended up near Anping County.”
“There were hundreds of exiles traveling together. On the way, the officers encountered an accident… and we sisters escaped near Qingshan Village.”
Shen Yourong muttered softly.
She didn’t know whether Xu Changnian heard her or not. She simply spoke to herself as if comforting her own heart.
But deep inside, she was terrified.
A pair of unfortunate sisters attacked by bandits was one thing, but escaped exiles were something entirely different.
Once their identities were discovered, anyone sheltering them would face execution of the entire household under the Empire’s law.
Would her husband understand things like the capital, official families, exile? Was she overthinking this?
Shen Yourong tried to comfort herself.
For the people of Qingshan Village, going to the county once already meant they had seen the world.
“I know. Your family was framed by treacherous officials and wrongfully punished… don’t worry, one day I will clear your injustice for you all and take back that damn emperor’s throne!”
Half-asleep, Xu Changnian muttered. He didn’t really understand what Shen Yourong was saying.
But as a transmigrator from Blue Star, once he heard words like capital and exile, his mind immediately filled in the rest of the story!
Mumbling like sleep-talking, he said a few words and then fell into an even deeper sleep.
“Husband…”
Hot tears streamed down from Shen Yourong’s eyes. Someone actually dared to say they would clear her family’s injustice?
That was treasonous talk!
Yet it moved her deeply. Her lips trembled. Although the truth was that her father truly had abused power and corruption had been uncovered…
Shen Yourong couldn’t hold back anymore. She kissed Xu Changnian and rolled with him again.
In the neighboring room, Yun Niang suddenly sat up, gritting her teeth as she glared toward the wall. Was she not allowed to sleep in the middle of the night?!
…
The next morning,
When Xu Changnian woke up, Shen Yourong had already gotten up. He was alone in the room.
Taking advantage of the empty space beside him, Xu Changnian immediately contacted the Information System. As the familiar compass appeared before his eyes, a whole day had passed— the compass finally began spinning again!
“It seems the cooldown time for the Information System to gather intel is about one day. That’s pretty good.”
“Let’s start extracting intel!”