“Meat! It’s rabbit meat!”
“Heavens! I’m not dreaming, am I?”
“There’s even wild vegetable porridge to drink!”
The two rabbits in Xu Lang’s hands were like powerful magnets, instantly capturing everyone’s attention.
Those starving refugees who had been lying on the ground waiting for death struggled to their feet one by one. Their dull eyes burst with a terrifying green light, low beast-like growls rumbling from their throats as they surged toward Xu Lang like madmen.
“Everyone stop right there!”
Xu Lang roared, his voice full of force, abruptly suppressing the restless crowd.
His gaze was sharp as lightning, sweeping coldly over the twisted faces distorted by hunger.
“If you want to eat, if you want meat, fine!”
“But anyone who tries to slack off, cheat, or avoid work can get the hell out!”
He pointed at a tall, skinny man with shifty eyes in the crowd.
“You, Zhang San. Last time the royal authority distributed grain, you stole Widow Wang’s share. Get out!”
Then he pointed at another.
“And you, Zhang Youfu. You’ve got strength to beat your wife but none to work. You get out too!”
Xu Lang’s eyes were sharp. In quick succession, he singled out several well-known lazy troublemakers in the village.
Those called out turned pale, their faces alternating between green and white, but none dared argue. Under Xu Lang’s cold gaze, they slunk away to the side in silence.
In the past, they would have rushed forward to snatch Xu Lang’s rabbits.
But…
Just yesterday, Xu Lang and his beautiful wives had dealt with Zhao Erhu and his group of lackeys.
The village was small, and the news had already spread.
So after being called out by Xu Lang, they could only back down. After all, this was someone who had made Zhao Erhu suffer.
Among the remaining crowd, a sturdy young man with an honest face stepped forward, calling out uncertainly, “Brother Lang?”
It was Xu Lang’s childhood friend, Wang Erniu.
Xu Lang nodded at him.
“Erniu, you’re in.”
“Pick eight more strong and reliable workers for me. Don’t bring me any useless ones.”
“Got it, Brother Lang!”
Wang Erniu’s spirit lifted, and he immediately began selecting people from the crowd.
Soon, nine strong-looking men stood before Xu Lang.
They looked at him with eyes full of respect and longing.
Xu Lang nodded in satisfaction and tossed one of the rabbits to Wang Erniu.
“Let’s go. Time to work!”
…
The place Xu Lang chose was a patch of open land right next to his thatched hut.
The ground there was flat, and it wasn’t far from a water source… though it was just a small stream.
No bricks? Then use stones to build the foundation.
No tiles? Then use wood and thatch for the roof.
Under Xu Lang’s direction, the ten men divided their tasks clearly and worked with great enthusiasm.
Some went to the river to carry stones, while others chopped wood nearby.
As Wang Erniu and the others worked, they grew increasingly shocked.
Where to lay the foundation, how to fit wooden joints together, he knew everything clearly and directed the work with precision.
“Brother Lang, since when did you know how to build houses?”
Wang Erniu carried a thick log on his shoulder, sweating profusely as he asked.
Xu Lang brushed the dirt from his hands and casually replied, “I learned a bit from an old carpenter before.”
After saying that, he turned toward the thatched hut.
“You guys keep working. I’ll go cook for everyone!”
Inside the thatched hut, a rich aroma of meat had already begun to spread.
In a broken pot, one rabbit had been chopped into large pieces and was simmering, bubbling away, its fatty fragrance dominating the air.
In another pot was wild vegetable and bird egg soup.
Xu Lang glanced at it. The bird eggs were too small, making the soup thin and watery.
Without drawing attention, he took out seven or eight chicken eggs from his storage space and cracked them into the pot. Then he secretly grabbed two large handfuls of white flour, mixed it with water into batter, and used chopsticks to drop it bit by bit into the pot, forming plump white dumplings.
In an instant, the originally bland soup became thick and appetizing.
Outside, the men working smelled the irresistible aroma, their saliva flowing like waterfalls as their strength increased even more.
“Put in more effort! If you want a hot meal, don’t slack off!”
Wang Erniu worked especially hard.
…
On the other side, Hua Yourong took out the cloth they had exchanged for yesterday and carefully began cutting fabric for Xu Lang’s new clothes.
Murong Yanran, Xia Zhiruo, and Li Xiuzhi gathered around, awkwardly trying to help.
Hua Yourong’s needlework was excellent, smooth and graceful as flowing water.
But the other three were a completely different story.
“Ouch!”
Xia Zhiruo let out a soft cry as the needle pricked her fair finger, her eyes instantly filling with tears.
Li Xiuzhi was sweating heavily, struggling to thread a needle for a long time without success.
The most miserable of all was Murong Yanran.
A proud daughter of a military family, she was skilled with blades and spears, but this tiny embroidery needle was harder for her to handle than a heavy spear.
“Damn it!”
She cursed under her breath, her hand slipping again as the needle pierced her fingertip, a drop of blood immediately forming.
Just as she was about to throw everything away in embarrassment and anger, a large hand reached out and grasped her wrist.
“How could you be so careless?”
Xu Lang had entered without them noticing, holding a clay bowl filled with fragrant rabbit meat and wild vegetable dumpling soup.
Seeing the drop of blood on Murong Yanran’s fingertip, he frowned and, without thinking, brought her finger to his mouth.
Boom!
Murong Yanran froze completely.
A current shot from her fingertip through her entire body. Her face flushed instantly down to her neck, her heart pounding uncontrollably.
This rogue!
How… how could he dare!
Xu Lang sucked the blood clean before letting go, then glanced with concern at the obvious needle pricks on Xia Zhiruo and Li Xiuzhi’s fingers.
“You silly girls, why are you doing this?”
“Husband worked all day, so we… we wanted to make you a new set of clothes.”
Xu Lang felt warmth in his heart. He handed them the bowl.
“Eat first. Only when you’re full will you have strength.”
“I saved the best leg meat for you.”
The four women looked at the glistening, tender rabbit leg in the bowl, then at Xu Lang. Their hearts felt filled with something warm and swelling.
[Ding! Hua Yourong favorability +5! Current favorability: 105 (Deepening love)]
[Ding! Murong Yanran favorability +10! Current favorability: 65 (Affection awakening)]
[Ding! Xia Zhiruo favorability +5! Current favorability: 105 (Deepening love)]
[Ding! Li Xiuzhi favorability +10! Current favorability: 70 (Deep admiration)]
…
Outside, Wang Erniu and the nine men were devouring the food around the two large pots.
They had never eaten such delicious food in their lives!
Chunks of rabbit meat, white dumplings, and thick egg soup!
One man cried loudly while eating.
“I… I haven’t tasted meat in nearly a year!”
“Brother Lang, you’re like our reborn parents!”
The way everyone looked at Xu Lang changed.
It was a kind of heartfelt, almost fanatical admiration.
With the combined effect of the God-Level Craftsman Skill and the promise of meat, the construction progressed at an unbelievable speed.
By evening, a spacious and sturdy wooden house had already risen from the ground.
Although the roof was not yet complete, the main structure was finished. Compared to the previous thatched hut, it was like heaven and earth apart.
Hua Yourong and the other three women stood before the new house, looking at this “mansion” built in just one day, their faces filled with happy smiles.
At last, they had a proper home.
Husband was too amazing!
When they had first married Xu Lang, they had thought they would starve to death within three days…
Who could have imagined that this man possessed the power to turn decay into something miraculous?
Since marrying Xu Lang, they had never gone hungry… and could even eat meat every day.
This was something others would not even dare to dream of!
Looking at Xu Lang again, his thin frame now appeared incredibly tall and reliable in the hearts of the four women.
“Husband…” the four women’s eyes filled with tears.
At the same time, within the system.
[Ding!]
[Ding!]
[Ding!]
[Ding!]
Favorability continued to rise.
Xu Lang looked at the spacious wooden house before him, then at the four beautiful wives beside him, and rubbed his hands excitedly.
“This house is great!”
“Now, we can finally consummate together!”