TFS – Chapter 97 Extra 2

_{I could not decide the name of this chapter, so I am leaving it as it is. You can suggest the name and we can use the most suitable name possible.}

Six years later, in Pingshan Village.

Tang Chunming stood at the doorway with his four children, gazing into the distance. his eldest, Li Lin, was already twelve years old and had grown tall enough to reach his chin. Among his children, Li Lin resembled him the most in appearance. Perhaps because of this, he was also the most indulged by their father. On the other hand, the other two boys and the youngest, Li Miao, received stricter discipline from Li Feng as they grew older. Li Feng had taken on the role of a strict father.

Despite looking like Tang Chunming, Li Lin had a very different personality. While his mother was carefree and easygoing, he had always been meticulous and sensitive. However, with the love of his parents and careful guidance from Elder He, he gradually turned his sensitivity into intelligence. Over time, he became his mother’s right-hand man, allowing Tang Chunming to finally leave household matters behind and explore the world beyond Pingshan Village.

The second child, Li Sen, was two years younger than Li Lin, but he was already just as tall. With his round face and sturdy build, he had inherited his mother’s carefree nature completely. He had never been one to worry and was a total optimist. Even though he was constantly bossed around by their little tyrant, Li Miao, he never got upset about it. In fact, he didn’t even feel that following his younger brother’s orders was embarrassing. Among the four siblings, Li Sen had the lowest status—Li Miao was the family’s little overlord, and as for the youngest child, even Tang Chunming couldn’t control him. Let alone Li Miao or Li Sen! The only people the youngest would listen to were their eldest brother, Li Lin, and their father.

“Mother, will Uncle bring us gifts when he comes back?” This was Li Miao, clinging to Tang Chunming’s arm as he asked.

“Mother, is Father coming back with Uncle? Last time, Er Mao lost to me! I have to tell Father.” This was Li Sen. Among the children, he was the only one to inherit their father’s martial arts skills. Although Li Miao loved climbing mountains and playing in the water, he had no patience for learning martial arts. Instead, he was more interested in what Rong Yue taught him. As for the youngest child, he was even lazier—he had shown this trait since birth. No one in the family had such a personality, so it was a mystery where he got it from.

The youngest yawned lazily, his eyes half-closed. Seeing this, Tang Chunming smacked him lightly and scolded, “You reek of alcohol! Did you stay in the side room all night again? If you keep this up and don’t rest properly, don’t expect to get anything from me in the future!”

The three older brothers all turned to look at the youngest, trying to hold back their laughter. Ever since he was a child, the youngest had displayed a peculiar passion—for alcohol. Maybe the fact that he grabbed a wine cup during his first birthday celebration had truly determined his fate. He loved drinking, brewing, and studying winemaking techniques. Even though he was only eight years old now, he had already caused a major incident at the age of four. One day, he sneaked into the family’s underground wine cellar. The entire village searched for him without success until their dog, Xiaohua, led them to the cellar. When they found him, he was fast asleep, reeking of alcohol. Elder He checked his pulse and confirmed—he was completely drunk!

Compared to his twin brother, Li Miao, the youngest had been far less troublesome in his early years. He didn’t cry or fuss and was always quiet. Even when learning to read with their eldest brother, he was calm and obedient—completely unlike the energetic second and third brothers, who were constantly bouncing off the walls. But after that incident with the wine, Tang Chunming realized he had misjudged. The real troublemaker was this one! Unless Li Feng personally stepped in, no one could keep an eye on him. Even if they locked the wine cellar, he would find a way in. If not, he would sneak off to the village’s winery, where the adults saw him as just a child and often let him taste their freshly brewed wine. That only made him even harder to control.

Tang Chunming wasn’t worried about much—except for whether drinking at such a young age would harm him. The idea of raising a little alcoholic was truly distressing. But after observing the youngest for a long time, Elder He reassured them. He was perfectly healthy and even seemed to have a natural talent for tasting and brewing alcohol. At least now, they wouldn’t have to worry about the family’s winemaking skills being lost in future generations.

Looking at the little boy who barely reached his waist, Tang Chunming had felt like crying without tears. Compared to the youngest two, even the mischievous third child—whom he used to call a little rascal—seemed well-behaved. Among all his children, only the eldest, Li Lin, truly made his feel at ease. The rest were little troublemakers, one worse than the next.

It was Li Feng who comforted him. He said that if their child loved something, they should let him explore it while setting proper boundaries. As for how to keep the youngest in check, Li Feng came up with a solution—using items from the space as leverage. He even took the youngest into the space once and explained the difference between their family’s premium wine and the regular wine from the village winery. Only then did the youngest accept his parents’ rules and start restraining himself—at least a little.

Among the four children, only Li Lin and the youngest, Li Mu, knew about the existence of Tang Chunming’s space. Li Sen had been inside when he was very young, but once he grew old enough to form memories, he never went in again and had no recollection of it. Li Lin, however, remembered visiting a magical place in his childhood. He also knew that much of the food their family ate still came from there. But he had never once mentioned it to any of his younger brothers.

It was actually Li Feng who decided that Li Sen and Li Miao shouldn’t know about the space. Those two were too lively, and there was a risk they might accidentally let something slip. To be safe, they were kept in the dark from the very beginning.

When the fourth child obediently reached school age like the other children in the village, Li Feng and Tang Chunming rewarded him with a small brewing apparatus that he could operate on his own. At first, they kept an eye on him a few times, but once they saw he wouldn’t cause any trouble, they let him experiment freely.

Perhaps he was truly born with a talent for it—this little one actually managed to brew a batch of liquor from start to finish all by himself. Although the quality of his brew was still a far cry from Tang Chunming’s, they had to admit that with a bit more practice, his skills could soon rival the village’s professional brewers.

Now, whenever he had free time, he would hide away in his personal brewing room. He even went beyond the basics Tang Chunming taught him and began researching on his own. To improve his knowledge of fermentation, he also learned some medical skills from Elder He. The adults in the family saw that this youngest child was full of energy, but unlike other kids, he channeled it entirely into brewing, showing little interest in other forms of play.

“The carriage is coming! I’ll go call Grandmother!” Ah Sen had the sharpest eyes—he spotted it from a distance and immediately turned back into the courtyard, shouting at the top of his lungs.

“Grandmother, come quickly! Little Uncle is almost here!” The third child, Li Miao, waved toward Wang Ying. The children were all much closer to their grandmother than to Tang Chunming.

“I’m coming, Ah Miao! Stand properly, don’t jump around. You’re already eight years old—almost a grown-up!” Wang Ying scolded his grandson with affectionate exasperation.

Li Miao let go of his mother’s arm and ran over to hug his grandmother’s arm, acting spoiled. “Grandmother, I’m only eight! Mother says I’m still a little kid, and so does my godfather. So you don’t have to worry! When I grow up, I’ll be just like my big brother.”

Tang Chunming rolled his eyes. Like his big brother? Not in a million years. And then there was that troublemaker, Rong Yue, who kept taking Li Miao out with him, making him wilder by the day. To make matters worse, the boy had a sweet tongue and knew exactly how to coax people into happiness. Tang Chunming really didn’t want to admit that this was his child.

Wang Ying laughed at his antics. He hadn’t had a biological grandson yet, but these children, though not related by blood, had grown up under his care. When his son was away studying, these kids had kept him company and alleviated much of his loneliness. To him, they were no different from his own grandchildren. He lovingly patted Li Miao’s head—a privilege Tang Chunming would never enjoy.

Before long, the carriages approached. Two of them, one after the other. The first was driven by Li Feng himself. Despite being a third-rank Mighty General, he had taken on the task of personally fetching his brother-in-law, Tang Chunrong, from the county. The second carriage carried Li Chengzu and his husband, with a coachman driving for them.

They had just returned from the capital after enduring the grueling autumn examinations and successfully passing the spring civil service exam. Both Tang Chunrong and Li Chengzu had now officially earned their jinshi titles.

“Mother! Brother!” Tang Chunrong lifted the carriage curtain and stepped out. He had grown into a refined young scholar, exuding a scholarly air. When he saw his family, his warm smile deepened, and he greeted his nephews with great affection.

“Little Uncle!”

Li Sen and Li Miao couldn’t wait any longer and dashed forward, calling out affectionately.

The curtain of the second carriage was also lifted, and Li Chengzu and his husband greeted Tang Chunming’s family. Tang Chunming didn’t bother with formalities and urged them to head home quickly—Li Zheng (the village head) and his husband, along with their child, were eagerly waiting for them at home.

“We’ll come to see Brother Feng and Brother Ming later, once we’ve settled in,” Li Chengzu and his husband responded with a smile before instructing the coachman to continue toward the village. The roads in the village were now wide and smooth, so they no longer had to deal with the trouble of carriages getting stuck when passing side by side, as they had in the past.

Li Chengzu had married the year after he passed the xiucai (scholar) exam. His husband was someone he had personally chosen, much to the disappointment of many families who had hoped to form an alliance with the Li Zheng’s household. At the time, even wealthy families from the town and county had sent matchmakers, all with the intent of securing a connection with Pingshan Village, which had become a valuable asset. With Li Feng, the Mighty General, as a powerful backer, and Rong Yue, an imperial merchant, providing financial support—not to mention Tang Ji Tribute Liquor, which bore the emperor’s personally inscribed name—these families had no choice but to seek influence through marriage, as they dared not use any underhanded tactics. A successful marriage alliance would grant them access to all these invaluable resources.

For Li Zheng and his husband, the marriage negotiations were more stressful than setting up the village’s brewery. One wrong step could offend countless people. Though Pingshan Village had strong backing, it still needed to maintain good relations with outsiders. In the end, it was Li Chengzu who chose his own partner—a ge’er from their county school teacher’s family. They were of similar age, had met before, and understood each other’s temperaments. When Shen Fulang heard his son’s choice, he immediately went to meet the family. He was very satisfied with what he saw—the match was suitable, and there would be no complications for the brewery. Without hesitation, the marriage was swiftly arranged.

Tang Chunrong was led into the courtyard by his two eager nephews, one on each side. He turned his head and managed to exchange a few words with Li Lin and Li Mu before being dragged along again. Tang Chunming knew exactly how clingy his second and third sons could be and scolded them from behind, ordering the “little troublemakers” to walk properly. Only then did they behave a little more appropriately.

“Little Uncle, what’s the capital like?”

Li Miao had traveled to many places with Rong Yue, but he had never been taken to the capital. He had always longed to see it, as it was the grandest city in the Great Qing Empire. His godfather had promised to take him there when he was older. “Did you see my godfather, Little Uncle? When will he take me on another trip?”

“You’re staying home this year. Don’t even think about going anywhere,” Tang Chunming interjected from behind. His eldest brother and Elder He needed time to properly discipline the boy.

Elder He stood in the courtyard, watching the family chatter and laugh as they entered, a warm smile on his face.

Over the years, despite growing older, Elder He did not seem to have aged much. His spirits were high, and he looked much better than when he had first arrived.

At first, it was Tang Chunming who had taught Li Lin his early lessons, but later, all the children’s education had been handed over to Elder He. As a result, they developed a close bond with their grandfather, especially Li Lin, who had been studying medicine under him.

The children clung to Tang Chunrong for a while before finally giving their mother and brothers a chance to speak with him.

Wang Ying had been staying at his stepson’s home. When he received news that his son had arrived in the county and that Li Feng had gone to pick him up, he decided to wait there so they could all return to Zhenshan Village together.

Tang Chunming teased his younger brother, “We’ve been waiting for quite some time now, just waiting for you to come back and get married. Mother can’t wait to hold a grandchild.”

At Ah Rong’s age, remaining unmarried was considered late, but his marriage had actually been arranged two years ago. However, due to his fiancée observing a mourning period and Tang Chunrong preparing for the imperial examinations, they had decided to wait until the results were out before proceeding with the wedding.

“A wedding will happen, but Mother already has grandchildren—there are four of them right in front of him,” Tang Chunrong replied smoothly. He was no longer the shy young man who used to blush at his brother’s teasing, which left Tang Chunming feeling a bit regretful.

Li Feng squeezed Ming Ge’er’s palm. The years of experience outside had not been in vain—Tang Chunrong was no longer the boy he used to be. They hadn’t talked much on the way home, but Li Feng had asked him about the capital and his experiences there.

As for Tang Chunrong’s future husband, he was not from an ordinary farming family but from a bureaucratic household, and the matchmaker was none other than Yao Zhiling. Since Yao Zhiling knew that Li Feng had a younger brother-in-law, he had offered considerable assistance in the capital. However, the initial connection between the two families had been made by Tang Chunrong himself, and Yao Zhiling had later stepped in to facilitate the match. His future father-in-law was a fourth-rank civil official, which would be highly beneficial for Tang Chunrong’s political career.

In a letter, Yao Zhiling had assured them that the young ge’er had a good temperament. Yao Zhiling’s own husband had interacted with him several times. Because of the distance, Tang Chunming hadn’t had the opportunity to meet the family, as he was busy taking care of the children at home. However, his stepmother had traveled to the capital to assess the match, and judging by his expression upon returning, he had been quite satisfied.

Tang Chunming understood well that his younger brother’s career would benefit greatly from marrying into an official family. A husband from such a background would be familiar with the intricate rules of the bureaucratic circle, which would help Tang Chunrong integrate into it more easily. If he had married someone from a farming family, it would have been much harder for him to navigate the social scene among government officials and their spouses.

However, this also meant that the relationship between his brother and his stepmother might not be easy. His stepmother was a strong-willed ge’er due to his own past experiences. Since Tang Chunrong was his only biological son, he was especially indulgent toward him. But his future husband would not receive the same treatment, which meant there would be inevitable conflicts to navigate. Of course, that was Tang Chunrong’s problem to deal with—Tang Chunming had no intention of getting involved.

Even for himself, the bond he shared with his brother was built not just on the original body’s memories but also on years of real companionship. But this future brother-in-law was a complete stranger to him, so naturally, his loyalty lay with his own brother.

Tang Chunrong then shared his future plans. After the wedding, he would receive an official appointment. Both he and Li Chengzu hoped to serve in local government for a few years to gain experience before seeking positions in the capital. Their mentors—General Yao and his future father-in-law—had also advised them that young officials like them would find it difficult to advance in the capital right away. However, if they first gained achievements in the provinces, they could establish a solid foundation. Then, with the right support, it would be much easier to secure a stable position when they returned to the capital.

His future in-laws were originally a family of integrity, but they chose Tang Chunrong primarily because of the resources and prospects behind him. Though his current foundation was still shallow, he was not entirely without backing in the capital. Whether it was the Yao family, now elevated to the rank of Marquis of Zhen Guo, the close ties with the imperial merchant Rong family, or even the powerful general who no longer held office—these were all forces that could not be overlooked.

Even though that infamous battle had long passed, people in the capital still remembered the fearsome reputation of the mighty general. Many found it difficult to accept that such a war god, who had made enemies tremble in terror, had retired to farming as soon as the war ended. Yet, precisely because of this, the Emperor himself often recalled him and frequently brought up his name in conversation.

Of course, this marriage only happened because genuine feelings had developed between Tang Chunrong and the young ge’er. If that hadn’t been the case, Tang Chunming would never have allowed his younger brother to sacrifice his true self just to chase political advancement.

In the blink of an eye, Tang Chunrong’s wedding day arrived.

Back when the distillery was first established, Tang Chunming and Li Feng had agreed to set aside a portion of their shares for Tang Chunrong. Out of their 40% stake, they had earmarked 10% of the profits for him. That money had remained untouched, carefully preserved by Tang Chunming. It hadn’t been used for his imperial exams or his travels, making it the perfect fund to support him now.

When this large sum of silver was presented, neither Wang Ying nor Tang Chunrong was willing to accept it—it was simply too unexpected. While they knew Tang Chunming had made a lot of money over the years, they had no idea of the exact amount. Even the village head and others weren’t fully aware, as the couple had multiple sources of income beyond the distillery.

But Tang Chunming was adamant. He shoved a thick stack of banknotes into Tang Chunrong’s hands, saying, “I originally wanted to buy you a large mansion in the county, but since Mother already bought one, there’s no need for that. Silver is more practical. Besides, you’ll be appointed as an official soon. Once you’re out there, there will be plenty of expenses. You can’t always go asking your husband for money when you need it.”

“Listen to your brother,” Li Feng chimed in from the side, helping to persuade him with a teasing tone. “You’re not like me. I can spend your brother’s silver without anyone laughing at me. But the people you’ll be dealing with are all government officials. If you’re short on money, you’ll be looked down upon, and it will be hard for you to establish yourself.”

His words, laced with humor, managed to bring a rare flush to Tang Chunrong’s composed expression. Compared to his brother-in-law, he was still too thin-skinned. He thought to himself that if one day he could also say, without hesitation, that spending his husband’s money didn’t matter, then perhaps his relationship with his future spouse would be as strong as that of his brother and brother-in-law. Over the years, witnessing their deep bond up close had made him increasingly envious, but he also knew how rare and precious such love was.

Wang Ying sighed. His stepson’s devotion to his son was no less than that of blood-related siblings. Everything his son had achieved today was inextricably linked to his brother and brother-in-law. The powerful figures in the capital had only extended their help to Chunrong because of those two. If they were offering this money now, they must have thought it through carefully.

Thus, Wang Ying also persuaded, “Since this is a gift from your brother and brother-in-law, you should accept it, Ah Rong. Just remember it in the future.”

“Of course!” Tang Chunrong said solemnly before finally accepting the stack of banknotes.

On top of the original sum they had prepared, Tang Chunming and Li Feng added more, rounding it up to a total of 50,000 taels. Even among wealthy families, this was not an amount that could be easily taken out.

Tang Chunrong understood that, despite how far he had come, it would still be difficult for him to truly repay his brother and brother-in-law. But as his gaze fell on his nephews, he made a silent vow—going forward, their two families must always support each other, ensuring their bond lasted for generations.

Since the groom’s family was of official status and held a respectable position, the wedding was held in the county town at the residence Wang Ying had purchased for his son. Wang Ying didn’t want his son to lose face or be looked down upon by his in-laws, so he used his savings to buy this three-entry courtyard house and even hired servants to maintain the household.

As for himself, Wang Ying still preferred to return to the countryside. He had spent his entire life farming—moving to the city would only leave him feeling lost. Unlike other families, he never intended to keep his son tied to his side to care for him. What mattered most to him was his son’s happiness. As long as his son was well taken care of, that was enough. What he truly looked forward to was holding a grandchild as soon as possible.

On the wedding day, many familiar faces gathered in the county town.

The village head’s family, including Chengzu and Chengzong, as well as the married couple from the nearby town, Zhang Xiu’s family, Zhang Changming and Wang Mo’s family, Sixth Uncle, and other close villagers all arrived early. Even Teng Yu, who had left for Dingzhou Prefecture long ago, made a special trip back to help. His restaurant business had expanded to multiple locations, making him busier than ever.

Chengzong, unlike his elder brother and Tang Chunrong, had not participated in the imperial spring examinations. He had only recently passed the autumn provincial exam the previous year, earning the title of juren, though his ranking was on the lower end. He considered himself lucky to have passed at all, knowing he wasn’t as gifted as his older brother. Moreover, he wasn’t particularly interested in climbing the ranks of the officialdom. Instead, after obtaining his juren title, he chose to enter the county academy while occasionally returning to the village school to teach and guide the younger students.

The village head and his husband were quite satisfied with this outcome. At least one of their sons would remain close to home, managing family affairs and village matters alongside his elder brother. This way, their family would continue to thrive, and the brothers would support each other well into the future.

Meanwhile, Zhang Xiu was beaming with joy—his long-cherished wish had come true as he was now heavily pregnant. When he had asked Doctor Hu to check his pulse, the diagnosis revealed that he was expecting a ge’er baby, which made him overjoyed. His two sons, Da Mao and Er Mao, found their parents’ excitement rather amusing. They exchanged knowing looks—this youngest sibling of theirs was practically going to be raised as their child.

Da Mao had rushed over from the county academy, where he was studying as a xiucai, while Er Mao had been leaning more toward martial arts as he grew older. Over the past few years, his skills had significantly improved, and in another year or two, he would follow Li Feng’s advice and enter the military camp for training. This new addition to their family came at the perfect time—just as both of their sons were about to leave home to pursue their paths, a baby ge’er was arriving to keep their parents company.

Upon arriving at the residence, Er Mao immediately sought out Ah Lin and pulled him aside to chat in private. However, their conversation was soon interrupted by Ah Sen and Ah Miao, who weren’t about to let Er Mao monopolize their eldest brother’s attention. As for the adults, they simply let the younger generation sort things out among themselves. If genuine feelings developed between them, they would be happy to see it happen.

To Tang Chunming and Li Feng, Er Mao was practically like a son. They had poured even more effort into raising him than Da Mao, so seeing him grow up filled them with pride.

“Ah Rong has finally married his husband,” Zhang Xiu sighed as he gently patted his belly. “Mother Wang can finally put his worries to rest.”

Among the young men who had married in recent years, Ah Rong was the oldest. But considering his spouse’s noble background, the wait had been worthwhile.

“Next, it’ll be my Da Mao’s turn,” Zhang Xiu added. “Eldest Brother has it good—once he’s done arranging the marriages of his two sons, he can finally relax.”

Shen Fulang chuckled, “That’s right. We’ll be waiting for Da Mao’s wedding banquet next. Has he taken a liking to anyone yet?”

“Not yet,” Zhang Xiu replied with a casual wave of his hand. “He has his own opinions now, and I’ve been too preoccupied to keep an eye on him. Let him handle it himself for now. Besides, Ah Rong only got married at this age—Da Mao can take his time too. Once this little one is born, I’ll have time to meddle in his affairs.”

He wasn’t too worried. After all, in Pingshan Village, which family would ever struggle to find a good ge’er to marry?

“That’s right. Each generation has its own blessings. I’ve already let my sons live their own lives—I haven’t kept a single one tied to my side,” Shen Fulang said with an open-minded smile. He had suffered under a controlling mother-in-law in his younger years and had seen too many cases of domineering mothers-in-law, especially ones like the notorious Zhao mother-in-law. Because of that, he had no intention of forcing his sons to stay by his side for filial piety. Besides, he and his husband had more than enough money—they didn’t need their sons to support them.

“Exactly. That’s why having a little ge’er is good—someone like Ah Lin, who is so thoughtful and considerate. I’d be happy if the one in my belly turns out even half as good as him,” Zhang Xiu sighed. He, too, had suffered under a harsh mother-in-law. Having watched Ah Lin grow up, he truly hoped that Ah Lin and Er Mao would become a couple. But of course, Er Mao would first have to win over Ah Feng and Ming ge’er—after all, Ah Lin was the one they valued the most.

Hearing them talk about mother-in-laws and ge’ers, Tang Chunming couldn’t help but laugh. “Who says gers are always considerate? Just look at my third son—does he seem thoughtful? He’s no different from a little rascal! My fourth son, Ah Mu, is the one who’s actually more caring.”

Everyone nearby chuckled at that. At that moment, the third son was busy chasing after Er Mao, playing around wildly, while the fourth son, Ah Mu, stayed by Tang Chunming’s side. However, if one looked closely, they’d see that Ah Mu’s eyes were dull—he was practically dozing off with his eyes open. Listening to his mother-in-laws and ge’ers chat was simply too boring for him.

“The new Fulang has arrived! He’s been welcomed in!”

“Ah Mu, hurry! Your new uncle has arrived—go take a look!” The commotion from outside reached the inner courtyard. Ah Sen and Ah Miao quickly pulled the drowsy Ah Mu to his feet.

Tang Chunming knew his son all too well and waved him off, urging him to run outside. If only he could balance out his personality with his third brother, Ah Miao, things would be much better.

Then came the wedding ceremony—the full set of traditional rites, which was no easy feat. It was nothing like the simple wedding Tang Chunming and Li Feng had back in the day. Since this time they were marrying a ge’er from an official family, every custom and formality had to be strictly followed.

For Tang Chunming, this was also the first time meeting his younger brother-in-law, as well as his in-laws. They had arrived from the capital in advance and had been staying in another residence nearby, waiting for the wedding to be completed before returning home.

From his perspective, his younger brother-in-law and his brother made a good match. The ge’er had a scholarly and refined air about him, and Tang Chunming had already heard from Ah Rong that his spouse had been well-educated since childhood. That meant the two of them would have plenty in common.

Moreover, the ge’er’s mother was a kind and gentle person. Even when meeting Zhang Xiu and Shen Fulang—who were from farming families—he showed no airs of superiority. His conversations with Wang Ying and Tang Chunming were warm and friendly, leaving a good impression.

By the time the banquet began, Rong Yue finally arrived, rushing in at the last moment.

As always, he was carefully protecting the person beside him—someone who, every time Tang Chunming saw, never failed to make him laugh.

Over the past few years, Rong Yue had indeed found himself a live-in husband. And as fate would have it, that husband was someone both Tang Chunming and Li Feng knew—none other than that big guy, Yu Mu.

And now? That very same Yu Mu had become a fourth-rank military officer.

In officialdom, it’s nearly impossible to find someone willing to become a live-in husband—but then, there was Yu Mu, an absolute oddity. His unusual circumstances played a big role in this.

From a young age, Yu Mu possessed extraordinary strength and an enormous appetite, which led the villagers to see him as a freak. Even his own family disliked him, and before he could reach the age of marriage, they had already driven him out by forcing an early division of the household. Effectively, he had been kicked out. Furious, Yu Mu enlisted in the military, where his strength became an asset. He distinguished himself on the battlefield, earning numerous merits and steadily rising through the ranks.

Because of his difficult childhood, Yu Mu never felt much attachment to his home village or family. In his free time, he preferred seeking out Li Feng and Tang Chunming, where he could actually experience a sense of home. It was during these visits that he met Rong Yue. How their relationship developed from acquaintances to lovers and eventually to marriage was something even Li Feng and Tang Chunming weren’t too sure about. But ultimately, the two complemented each other—one willing to spoil, the other willing to be spoiled—so their union never felt out of place.

Most notably, Yu Mu never interfered in Rong Yue’s business affairs. He didn’t think it was shameful for a ge’er to be more capable than a man in the outside world. Since he had long considered himself someone without a family, the status of live-in husband, which was a disgrace to others, meant nothing to him. Instead, he saw it as an immense blessing that someone as outstanding as Rong Yue would choose him. He was utterly devoted, treating Rong Yue as if he were the most precious treasure in the world.

His formidable background also deterred certain members of the Rong family who had been scheming to control Rong Yue’s marriage in order to secure their place as the next head of the family.

“Ah Yue! Big Brother Yu! You’re finally here!” Tang Chunming called out.

“Heh heh, boss, sister-in-law, we’re late. But we didn’t miss the drinking, did we?” Yu Mu chuckled, rubbing his big head while protectively shielding Rong Yue beside him.

“What’s going on with you two?” Tang Chunming found Yu Mu’s behavior a little odd.

Li Feng, however, had a sudden realization. His eyes lit up as he asked, “Is Rong Fulang pregnant?”

Yu Mu’s grin widened even further. “Heh heh, hahahaha, that’s right! I’m going to have a child! Hahaha…”

Rong Yue, looking uncharacteristically flustered, rolled his eyes at Yu Mu. “You big fool, if you keep grinning like that, you can go back to the military camp and stay there. Don’t bother coming home.”

“Heh heh, I won’t laugh anymore, I won’t laugh anymore. And I’m definitely not going back to camp.” Absolutely not. Who would take care of his Fulang and child if he went back? He was overjoyed—he wanted nothing more than to stay glued to Ah Yue’s side every second of the day.

“Master! Master! You’re finally here! I missed you so much!”

A small figure came charging toward them at full speed. However, before he could throw himself at Rong Yue, Li Feng swiftly intervened, catching his overly enthusiastic third son and holding him back.

Seeing that his Father was stopping him from reaching his Master, Li Miao put on a pitiful expression, inwardly reflecting on whether he had done anything wrong. Hmm… aside from directing his second brother to help him beat up Er Mao’s big brother… cough. Suddenly feeling guilty, Li Miao wondered—could it be that Er Mao had tattled on him? Hmph! If that was the case, then there was even more reason not to let Er Mao get close to his big brother! Clenching his tiny fists in determination, Li Miao made up his mind.

Tang Chunming, however, had no pity for the little ge’er, grabbing him by the ear and scolding, “Your Master is pregnant with a baby! Do you think he can handle you recklessly charging at him like that? Where are all the manners we’ve taught you?”

“Ah—A little brother? Mother, I was wrong! Father, let me down, I want to see my little brother!” Li Miao immediately pleaded for mercy, sneaking glances at his Master, hoping he would help plead his case.

Sure enough, Rong Yue spoke up. “Ah Miao didn’t know, so why punish him? Come here, Ah Miao, let Master have a look at you—you’ve grown taller and even more handsome.”

Li Feng had never actually intended to punish his son. He subtly tugged at Ming ge’er’s hand and freed the boy’s ear. The moment he was released, Li Miao sprang toward Rong Yue, sweetly calling out to Yu Mu as well. This little rascal had long since replaced his two older brothers as Yu Mu’s favorite child.

Li Miao circled excitedly around Rong Yue. His master was pregnant, and now his Master was pregnant too—he was going to have two younger brothers! This was the best news ever. He had always wanted a little brother who was different from Ah Mu, but his mother refused to have another child. Now, his wish had finally come true! His joy was so overwhelming that he looked as if he couldn’t wait for Rong Yue to give birth on the spot.

Meanwhile, Li Mu, the fourth brother, didn’t care that his third brother was the favorite. After all, whatever good things the third brother got, he always shared half. So… he could have all the attention while Li Mu focused on more important matters—like waiting to split the money his third brother would earn in the future.

Feeling utterly relaxed, Li Mu yawned.

Tang Chunming, always highly attentive to pregnant people, quickly stopped his overly eager third son from pestering Rong Yue further. He ushered Rong Yue inside to rest, knowing that the journey had likely been exhausting. At the same time, he sent someone to summon Elder He for a checkup. “If I had known, I would have told you to stay home and rest. You could’ve just sent word—we would’ve understood. There was no need to rush over.”

“It wasn’t planned. I started feeling unwell halfway through the journey, and this big fool insisted on seeing a doctor. That’s how we found out.” Rong Yue’s face softened into a smile.

To outsiders, Yu Mu seemed like a rough and unrefined brute, but in Rong Yue’s eyes, he was the purest person. Once he set his heart on someone, he would give them everything, offering the greatest tolerance and devotion.

It was precisely because of this that Rong Yue had used a few small tricks back then to make sure he won Yu Mu over.