I spent the afternoon working near the back of the newly built rooms, right where the bamboo walls met the slope of the hill.
The old fireplace inside was small and messy, filling the room with smoke every time we cooked. To change that, I gathered gray stones and clay from the stream bank. I spent three hours building a proper brick kiln outside, firing the clay blocks until they became solid and clean. With these bricks, I constructed a closed stove that funneled all the smoke away from the house through a tall pipe.
Next, I turned my attention to the stream. Carrying buckets of water up the slope every day was a poor use of time.
I took several thick, hollow bamboo logs and split them lengthwise, cleaning out the knots inside until they formed smooth pipes. I connected them in a long line from the high waterfall down to the house. The natural slope allowed the clean water to flow continuously, pouring straight into a large wooden basin I had built inside the new bathing room.
By evening, the basin was full of crystal-clear water, and the brick stove beneath it had warmed it to a comfortable temperature.
I walked into the main room, where the girls were sitting together.
"The bathing room is finished," I told them, keeping my voice soft and calm. "The water is hot, and it flows straight from the spring. You can all wash properly tonight. I will stay outside to watch the front path."
Ye Xinyang looked up, her eyes wide with surprise. "Running water? You brought the stream inside the house?"
"It saves us from carrying buckets," I said, giving her a reassuring nod. "Your new clothes are ready on the stool. Go ahead."
I stepped outside, closing the door behind me, and sat on a bench under the night sky. The soft sound of the water wheel spinning in the distance was the only noise in the yard.
Inside the newly built bathing room, the four girls stepped into the warmth of the steam. For the past month, they had only been able to wipe their skin with damp cloths in the freezing shack. The luxury of hot, flowing water felt like an impossible dream.
They slipped out of their old, tattered wedding garments and stepped into the large wooden basin together.
"This is amazing," Chu Ning’er whispered, letting the clean water wash over her shoulders. Her skin looked bright and smooth, completely free of the pale illness she had carried for weeks.
Mo Ran sat near the edge, gently moving her calves through the water. Thanks to the blue pill, the strength in her limbs was returning rapidly. She looked down at her feet, a soft smile appearing on her face. "I can feel the heat so clearly. It doesn’t ache anymore."
Ye Xinyang helped Gu Qinghan wash her long black hair, pouring the warm water gently over her head. Gu Qinghan’s eyes were clear now, the gray fog almost completely gone. She looked around the neatly joined bamboo walls, marveling at the clean space I had created.
"Lu Chen is remarkable," Gu Qinghan said softly, her voice filled with a deep, quiet affection. "He doesn’t talk about grand things, and he doesn’t brag like the disciples in our old sects. But every single thing he builds is designed to make our lives easier. He truly cares for us."
"I used to think he was just a tool for the elders," Mo Ran admitted, her cheeks turning a pretty pink color in the steam as she looked at the door. "I said such mean things to him. But he never raised his voice. He just knelt down, fixed my legs, and gave me a way to move again. I... I don’t think I’ve ever met a man like him."
Ye Xinyang smoothed a strand of hair behind her ear, her eyes reflecting the gentle glow of the small lamp. "When my core was broken, my own father wouldn’t even look at me. He treated me like garbage. But Lu Chen took us all in. He stands between us and the elders every single day without a single complaint. He isn’t just our husband because of a forced wedding anymore. He is the person I want to protect with my life."
"Me too," Chu Ning’er chimed in happily, splashing the water lightly. "I like him the most!"
The girls laughed together, the sound light and free of any old sadness. The shared trials had woven them into a tight, loving family, and their mutual respect for my daily efforts had turned into a profound, unshakeable love.
After drying off, they put on the new outfits they had stitched. The hidden silk threads inside the fabric made the simple blue clothes fit their bodies beautifully, draping elegantly over their slender shoulders.
When the door opened and they stepped out into the main room, I turned around from my bench.
The sight made me pause. The old, bruised, and exhausted girls from last week were completely gone. Standing before me were four breathtakingly beautiful young women, their skin radiant, their hair clean and shiny, and their eyes full of life and confidence. The simple blue clothes made them look like elegant maidens from a noble estate rather than outcasts in a mountain valley.
Ye Xinyang stepped forward, her face blushing a as she held out a small cup of warm tea she had brewed for me.
"The water was perfect, Lu Chen," she whispered, her eyes locked onto mine, filled with a sweet and pure love and attraction. "Thank you. For everything you do for us."
These words, I never listen them in my life not even in my past life but after hearing these words from ye xinyang i feel genuinely happy and and soft at the same time but i hide all emotions and feelings and took the cup, my fingers brushing against hers, and gave her a warm, gentle smile. "As long as you are comfortable, the work is worth it. Go rest in the new rooms tonight. Each of you has your own private space now."
[ding! investment verified.]
[your household has achieved a highly advanced lifestyle upgrade: modern plumbing & automated hot bath system.]
[triggering 10,000x multiplier...]
[reward received: spring-water purification array] x1 & spirit-nourishing cauldron manual (low-grade manual) x1.]
[note: the purification array will automatically ensure that any water entering your home is packed with minor spiritual energy, slowly refining the bodies of your wifes while they wash or drink!]