"Eat up, why have you stopped?" Jin Feng pointed to the pot of porridge.
"I'm full," Guan Xiaorou replied softly.
Jin Feng's mind flashed back to her pleading words from earlier that morning: "...I can weave cloth, and I eat very little..." His heart ached as he picked up her empty bowl, scooped a generous portion of thick porridge, and placed it in front of her.
"I really am full..."
"Finish it!" Jin Feng interrupted her, his tone firm and commanding.
"...Okay," Guan Xiaorou, intimidated, obediently picked up the bowl.
Jin Feng then added a serving of greens to her bowl. "Eat these too!"
Guan Xiaorou gave a soft "Mm" and picked up her chopsticks again. As she ate, tears began to fall, drop by drop.
"Don't cry!" Jin Feng panicked. "I apologize, I shouldn't have yelled at you. Please, stop crying..."
"Husband... you don't need to say that. You're the head of the household. It's only right for you to scold or even hit me," Guan Xiaorou sniffled. "I'm crying because... since I can remember, this is the first time someone has forced me to eat more... and it's wheat porridge..."
"Silly girl, things will get better from now on," Jin Feng sighed, reaching out to gently pat her head. "Stop crying and eat up."
Even in modern times, a gentle pat on the head carried significant emotional weight, let alone in this backward feudal era. Guan Xiaorou felt a warmth spread from the top of her head to her heart, comforting and soothing. Yet, her tears flowed even more freely.
Afraid that further comfort would only make things worse, Jin Feng decided to pretend he didn't notice and focused on his meal. Fortunately, Guan Xiaorou soon calmed down, wiped her tears, and continued eating.
After clearing the dishes, the two sat facing each other. The dim light of the oil lamp flickered, casting an awkward and delicate atmosphere. Guan Xiaorou kept her head down, her hands nervously fidgeting with the hem of her clothes, her face flushed, and her body trembling slightly.
Two years ago, when she first joined the bridal procession, her mother had explained what would happen next... Jin Feng knew she was nervous and was about to say something to ease the tension when a rustling sound came from outside the window.
"Who's there?" Jin Feng opened the door.
"The big guy's coming out, run!" A group of children scattered in all directions.
It turned out to be a bunch of kids sneaking around to eavesdrop—a tradition in Xihebay.
"Those little rascals. They probably haven't gone far and will be back soon," Jin Feng said, pointing to the workshop. "You should go to bed first. I'll tidy up the workshop a bit more."
Jin Feng wasn't a saint. Sitting across from a lovely young woman naturally stirred his feelings. But the dilapidated house had gaps everywhere, and if someone were to eavesdrop, it would be like a live broadcast. Moreover, he could tell that Guan Xiaorou wasn't ready.
"She's already my wife. We have plenty of time. She'll be mine sooner or later. No need to rush. Let's focus on survival first," Jin Feng consoled himself, then turned his attention back to crafting the crossbow.
As expected, the mischievous kids returned twice more, causing a ruckus until late at night. When they finally quieted down, the lamp oil had also burned out. Jin Feng lay down on a wooden plank, reflecting on the strange day and planning for the future.
Unlike other time travelers with grand ambitions, Jin Feng didn't aspire to conquer or dominate. He simply wanted to earn a lot of money, live a carefree life, and marry a goddess-like wife... Well, that goal seemed to have been achieved, so he needed a new one. Since the Great Kang Dynasty encouraged taking concubines, he might as well contribute to the government by marrying a few more beautiful and obedient ones...
Perhaps exhausted, he soon fell asleep. In his dream, he became the wealthiest man in the Great Kang Dynasty, thanks to his inventions that were centuries ahead of their time. He lived the life of a decadent landlord, with businesses spanning the empire and grand mansions in every region. He escaped the heat by heading north in summer and avoided the cold by moving south in winter. He married countless beautiful concubines and spent every day agonizing over which ones to favor each night...
At the first light of dawn, Guan Xiaorou woke up. Her face was slightly pale, clearly showing she hadn't slept well—she had been torn all night over whether Jin Feng would return to bed and what she should do if he did. Should she play hard to get, or pretend to be asleep? She had tossed and turned until late before finally drifting off.
Seeing Jin Feng sleeping on the wooden plank, still fully dressed, Guan Xiaorou quickly fetched the only quilt in the house and carefully draped it over him. Then she crouched beside the plank, resting her chin on her hands, and gazed at Jin Feng as he slept.
She hadn't had the chance to look at him properly yesterday. He was much better-looking than the blacksmith in her village... taller too... and a scholar, not rough and harsh like the other men in the village who would beat their wives to establish dominance.
After stealing a few more glances, she quietly left the workshop and returned to the kitchen to prepare breakfast.
Once breakfast was ready, Guan Xiaorou found herself with nothing else to do. She sat on a wooden stump, waiting for Jin Feng to wake up.
"If only I had a loom," she thought idly.
It wasn't until the sun was well up that Jin Feng finally emerged from the workshop, stretching and greeting her with a cheerful, "Good morning!"
"Husband, you're awake!" Guan Xiaorou hurried to bring over the washbasin she had prepared earlier.
By the time Jin Feng finished washing his face, breakfast was already on the table.
After breakfast, as they were clearing the dishes, a young woman in her twenties entered the yard, carrying a small bag.
"What's she doing here?" Jin Feng wondered.
The woman was Lin Yunfang, the sister-in-law of Zhang Mancang. She had been married into Xihewan for four or five years, but Jin Feng had never spoken to her before.
Just as he was about to greet her, Guan Xiaorou stood up excitedly and called out, "Cousin Yunfang!"
"Cousin?"
"Yes, she's my cousin from my uncle's family. We were very close when we were little."
Delighted to see a relative, Guan Xiaorou was beaming.
"Cousin," Jin Feng greeted her politely, since she was family.
Lin Yunfang smiled at Jin Feng and then took Guan Xiaorou by the hand, leading her into the inner room.
"Seems like this cousin isn't too fond of me either," Jin Feng thought, rubbing his nose. He didn't dwell on it and returned to the workshop.
It took him most of the morning to finally complete the first crossbow. Fortunately, there were still some arrows left from the old blacksmith's work for hunters, which could be modified for use, saving him a lot of effort.
He strung the bow, loaded an arrow, and aimed at a wooden post ten paces away. The arrow struck the post with a thud.
"The accuracy is decent, but the power is lacking," Jin Feng muttered, frowning slightly as he adjusted the bow.
By the time he was satisfied with the adjustments, the sun was already high in the sky.
"Time to head up the mountain," Jin Feng thought, carrying the crossbow as he stepped out of the workshop.
Lin Yunfang had left at some point, and Guan Xiaorou was sitting in the yard, chin in hand, lost in thought. Beside her, a basket of dried wild vegetables was laid out to dry.
"Where did these wild vegetables come from?" Jin Feng asked casually.