Although he intended to hire someone to help Lin Sangui with the work, Lin Ze definitely had no intention of doing it quietly.

Doing good deeds without leaving a trace did not fit his current situation. He wanted to publicize even the slightest good deed he did. It was impossible for people like Chen Shuju to sit back and enjoy the benefits, being lazy and taking advantage of him.

Zhang Xiu expressed his agreement with this as well.

After the couple reached a consensus, they spent the afternoon at home discussing the details of their future plans.

As dusk approached and the villagers gradually returned home, Lin Ze finally took Zhang Xiu's hand and went out, making a grand show of going to the He family to hire workers.

This time, although Zhang Xiu still felt a little embarrassed holding hands, he did not resist or feel as anxious as before. There was a hint of a different sweetness in his heart.

That was the beginning of budding emotions. All couples start by holding hands with a shy and embarrassed feeling.

On the way, they encountered villagers who secretly greeted them with surprise. Lin Ze, however, shamelessly displayed a loving appearance, like a newlywed couple.

When someone asked them where they were going at this hour, Lin Ze responded enthusiastically and confidently,

"We're going to the He family to hire workers."

A group of villagers immediately became curious,

"What kind of work are you hiring for?"

"During the busy harvest season, there's only my father working in the fields over there. I'm not very reassured. As for our own family here, Ah Xiu and I haven't managed it properly yet, so we can only spend money to hire help. Although we've cut ties, my father is still there…"

Lin Ze had an expression of indescribable hardship, and those who did not know would truly think he was a filial son.

Zhang Xiu wanted to laugh, but he held it back and cooperated, timidly tugging at his sleeve and whispered,

"Husband, let's go and talk to the He family quickly. Father must be tired from working alone today. The sooner we find someone, the sooner we can help him…"

"…"

Even the obedient Xiu Ger said that. It meant that Lin Ze's intention to hire someone was definitely not just empty words.

The villagers who heard this felt emotional. They used to think that Lin Ze was arrogant and unpleasant, but now it seemed that it was all prejudice!

Look at how filial he was. Not only did he willingly give up his share of the family property during the separation, but he was also still concerned about Lin Sangui. No wonder Lin Sangui likes him the most. Such filial piety!

"You're right. Today, with only your father working in the fields, we can hardly bear to see how exhausted he must be…"

"That's right, Lin Ze, at noon your father didn't even have someone to bring him food. In the afternoon, I saw Chen Shiju arguing with your father in the field. She's really an annoying woman…"

Other villagers also chimed in, indignant and eager to share what they had witnessed.

Because of the separation, Chen Shuju had been unhappy these past few days, constantly throwing tantrums at Lin Sangui. She did not help in the fields anymore and even stopped cooking meals. She would laze around all day.

If she did not go to the fields, Lin Xiaolian naturally followed suit and did not go either. As for Lin Jianwen, he never lifted a finger to help around the house, always using the excuse of studying. Even the elderly couple were so old, so they could not do much physical work.

Coincidentally, second uncle Lin had something else to attend to today, so there was only Lin Sangui left in the fields, working hard and looking exhausted, which happened to be witnessed by the villagers.

Lin Ze became infuriated upon hearing this. This was outrageous! How could they bully his father like that? He shouted in anger,

"This is too much! I'm going to confront them! Let's go to their place!"

After saying that, he grabbed Zhang Xiu's hand and headed towards the Lin family.

The villagers who were eager for some excitement did not rush back home either. They picked up their hoes and followed along. There was not much entertainment in the village, so they relied on the gossip from other households to spice up their lives.

Thus, after the separation of the Lin family that day, the house was once again filled with villagers.

Lin Ze also fully cooperated with everyone's mood of spectating the excitement. Even before entering the house, he began angrily questioning.

The whole speech revolving around the theme of: "Lin Jianwen, how could you let our father, at such an advanced age, work in the fields all alone without having anything to eat?"

His voice was loud, filled with sorrow and indignation. It was so powerful that even the listeners could not help but feel outraged.

Although the villagers knew that the answer to Lin Ze's questioning would be Lin Jianwen's lack of filial piety, and that a disrespectful scholar would affect the village's reputation, thus they should not join in the commotion.

However, Lin Ze, being someone who had achieved a managerial position even before he time-traveled, was particularly skilled at rallying and mobilizing the emotions of his subordinates. Each word he spoke had an overwhelming influence.

Moreover, today's fact was that Lin Sangui was working alone in the fields, which the villagers could not ignore. Under the heat of the moment, they could not help but join in the uproar.

In their hearts, they thought that as long as their village people did not spread the word outside, and outsiders did not know about it, it would not affect anything.

However, they believed that those who were unfilial within the village must be scolded! Otherwise, what would happen if their children followed their example?

So when Village Chief Li Laofu arrived after receiving the news, the entrance of the Lin family's house was already crowded with people. The villagers who followed the trend pointed at Chen Shuju and Lin Jianwen, their faces livid, and berated them without any chance of defending themselves.

And Lin Ze stood there, no longer having any place to display his acting skills…

The husband and wife, understanding each other well, remained silent. They watched their noses and observed their hearts, pretending that they were not the ones who caused this situation.

Lin Sangui stood dumbfounded at the doorway, unable to comprehend the enthusiastic villagers who were "seeking justice" for him.

"This is absurd! As elders, why are you blindly joining in this commotion!"

Village Chief Li Laofu, who had understood the situation, almost coughed up blood from anger. He stared at the crowd of villagers who were eager to spectate and joined in the verbal abuse, feeling that his own lifespan was shortening.

The villagers, who were enjoying the thrill of stirring up emotions, were interrupted and felt unsatisfied. They believed that they were righteous enforcers standing up for justice.

"We didn't scold them wrongly, Village Chief. The Lin family has gone too far. Didn't you see how exhausted Lin Sangui was working alone today? He didn't even have lunch!"

Finishing their statement, they did not forget to seek conclusive evidence, "Lin Sangui, did you have lunch today or not?"

"I didn't eat lunch…"

Before he could finish his sentence, the villagers slapped their thighs in excitement, their emotions running high.

"See, Village Chief, we didn't scold them wrongly!"

Lin Sangui had a foolish expression on his face, and the second half of the sentence that got stuck in his throat was: "…My wife couldn't do anything, so I came home in the afternoon and made shredded meat noodles for myself. As the saying goes, you have to treat yourself well during the busy farming season."

However, this foolish expression was interpreted by everyone as being too heartbroken to speak. While he was busy working outside, his wife and son did not help, and now they did not even give him food to eat. It was a chilling feeling!

The villagers sympathized greatly.

Although Village Chief Li Laofu felt that something was not quite right, he had seen Lin Sangui working alone in the field today and did not want to bother asking further. He quickly settled the matter and hurried home to have his own meal.

"Chen Shuju, you really never change! Starting from tomorrow, if you don't work in the fields with Sangui, don't consider yourself a married woman of our village anymore! And after the busy farming season, you will have an extra two months of self-reflection in the ancestral hall!"

After saying that, he looked at Lin Jianwen with disappointment, his tone stern.

"Lin Jianwen, you are a scholar, and even more so, a talented scholar with accomplishments. Uncle doesn't want to say much to you anymore. Lin Sangui is your own father, who has worked hard for half his life to support you and your brothers' education. You should reflect on that…"

Although no one scolded him directly, the vague reprimand only fueled people's imagination. From this point on, Lin Jianwen's image in the villagers' minds had hit rock bottom.

Lin Jianwen was like a mute, unable to express his bitterness.

He did not have any intention to mistreat Lin Sangui. It was just that every year during the busy farming season, he never paid attention. How could he have known that Lin Sangui would be working alone in the fields today, and his mother did not bring him any food?

"Uncle, the youngster has been too absorbed in studying and neglected the household chores. I will remember this in the future."

Lin Jianwen bowed with a respectful attitude, quite adept at smoothing things over.

With a sidelong glance at Lin Ze, he felt intense hatred in his heart, firmly believing that today's situation was orchestrated by Lin Ze.

Although Lin Ze did intentionally plan this, his goal was only to publicize his "filial piety" and not let them take advantage of him after he spent money hiring workers. He had no intention of setting Lin Jianwen up. Who could have predicted that things would develop into this scenario?

If anyone were to blame, it would be the sharp eyes of the masses and the passionate hearts of the people. It was truly a case of the power of the people!

When faced with challenges, Lin Ze never backed down. Lin Jianwen was cunning, so he did not need to be too straightforward.

"Second brother, although there have been rifts between us and our relationship has been severed, we were once a family. As your older brother, I have to say this to you: from now on, you will be the only one studying in the family. You have to work hard, bring honor to our ancestors, and ensure that dad can live a good life. But don't neglect the matters at home just because you're focused on your studies. As for me, I can only fulfill my filial duty to dad by helping him in the fields. I will hire more people to assist him…"

Lin Ze followed suit and bowed, his expression filled with sadness.

Everyone listened and sighed once again. The eldest son of the Lin family… It was such a pity.

Lin Jianwen's face turned pale, and he could not hold it in any longer.

"Don't worry, big brother. I'm also dad's son. I will hire workers to help him in the fields!"

This was what they were waiting for. Lin Ze, with a frowning expression, responded,

"Oh, how can this be good… Well, since I've separated from the family, I shouldn't be involved in household matters anymore. It might damage your reputation if word gets out."

"Here's what we'll do. I've already discussed the wages with the He family. It will be 30 coins per person per day, including lunch. Later, you can go and deliver the money to the He family. Mrs. He isn't feeling well and is taking medicine, but we're all from the same village. Even if you give them the money first, they will still work as usual. What do you think of my suggestion, second brother?"

At this point, with everything said, was there any room left for rebuttal?

Facing the collective gaze of the villagers, Lin Jianwen held back the blood rising in his chest and spoke each word slowly through his teeth,

"Big…brother…has…truly…considered…everything…thoroughly."

"Oh, well, who made me the elder brother? I have to bear more responsibilities. But since I've been separated, the future of the family will rely on my second brother. It's getting late, so you should hurry and go to the He family to hire workers. Otherwise, it would be impolite to disturb their mealtime."

Lin Ze remained composed and accepted the response.

Then he turned to Lin Sangui and bowed,

"Father, forgive me for not being able to personally take care of you during this time. Please rest well. Tomorrow, Ah Xiu and I will go to the mountains to catch some wild chickens to raise for you. When you come to your son's house, you can make up for it. Ah Xiu and I will leave first. Please eat more tonight and don't tire yourself out."

After saying that, he held Zhang Xiu's hand and left. As they squeezed through the crowd, he looked back three times, reluctant to leave.

"Oh, my eldest son…"

Lin Sangui was so moved that his emotions surged and overwhelmed him. Unable to bear it, he sat down at the doorway, wiping away his tears with a heavy heart.

"Hey, Sangui, don't be so sad. At least you have a filial son like Lin Ze. Didn't Lin Ze say he'll have you stay at his house for half of every month? With such a devoted son who can't be found anywhere else in the village, you should be happy."

The villagers, feeling both sympathy and anger, went up to console him.

Lin Sangui agreed with them, tears streaming down his face.

"Yes, my eldest son is truly filial. When he was studying, he would still help me in the fields during the busy farming season. He cares for me so much… wuwu…"

Lin Jianwen, who had never worked in the fields while studying, and now had to spend money and effort, was so furious that he nearly fainted.

As he lost both the woman and the soldiers (suffered major loss), Lin Jianwen was infuriated to the point of vomiting blood. On the other hand, after Lin Ze returned home, he hugged his own wife and laughed to his heart's content.

He swore that he truly would never spend money in vain and silently do good deeds for others to take advantage of. He really did not intend to ride on Lin Jianwen's reputation to climb up. But the enthusiastic villagers were just too supportive, and he could not control the situation.

If he could not control it, what else could he do? Naturally, he would just go along with it and make the best of a bad situation. After all, he had already become enemies with Lin Jianwen, so it did not matter if they became enemies once again.

"You're really cunning…"

Zhang Xiu could not help but comment as he saw Lin Ze's laughter. He was annoyed that this guy was so carefree. Alsom why was he hugging him?

"My wife is also good. We're a perfect match made in heaven, both of us being cunning together."

Lin Ze boasted gleefully. If it were not for Zhang Xiu's cooperation just now, the people in the village would not easily believe his words.

His wife may look weak, but deep down he was definitely shrewd, with great potential for acting innocent while secretly being powerful. He almost fooled him too. Previously, he had really thought his wife was a pitiful little thing.

"Nonsense, enjoy yourself. I'm going to the He family's place. I haven't even informed them about the work yet…"

Zhang Xiu blushed and did not want to pay him any attention. He turned around and left.

Honestly, ever since he met this guy, his face has never been a normal color!

Lin Ze looked at his wife blushing again and could not help but feel excited.

"Alright, go ahead. By the way, ask He Xiangfeng if he's willing to join us in the mountains tomorrow. Having an experienced hunter with us would be safer. But I'll promise my wife and make sure to come back early. After dinner, we can spend some quality time together."

With that said, Zhang Xiu, who had just reached the doorway, stumbled and lost his balance.

Lin Ze laughed at the sight.

The farce at the entrance of Lin's house spread quickly throughout the village.

In just a short while, the entire Heba Village knew about it. Naturally, the He family was no exception. They did not go to witness the commotion themselves, but word spread among the villagers.

There was also Zheng Xiaoluo, who loved excitement. After the farce ended, he ran to the He's house to inform them of the news. After all, Lin Ze had mentioned that he wanted to hire people from the He family to help with the work, paying thirty coins a day!

The He family was one of the relatively impoverished households in the village. It was not because the members of the He family were lazy or genuinely poor. On the contrary, the He family owned over a dozen mu of high-quality farmland and a sizable mud-brick house. In terms of property, they were considered well-off in the village.

Moreover, the two ladies of the He family were skilled embroiderers. Their embroidered handkerchiefs sold for a higher price than those of other women in the village.

That's right, the He family had two wives. He Laozhu (not sure if it's his name, or 'father He') was the only rural man in the village who had married two women in the many years. He was envied by the men in the village when he was young. Such treatment was only available to wealthy men.

However, this was not because He Laozhu was promiscuous. The two wives, who were sisters, had fled from another place during a time of hardship. He Laozhu initially only had his eyes on one of them.

However, the elder sister did not want to leave her younger sister without anyone to take care of her, and the younger sister was too reliant on the elder sister to bear being separated. The younger sister had not found a suitable man in the village at the time.

So, after discussing it, the two sisters decided to marry He Laozhu together.

After all, there were only the two of them left in their family. If they were to marry separately, they did not know if they could stay in the same village. Over time, they would surely lose touch. It was better to marry together and spend the rest of their lives together, continuing to take care of each other as co-wives.

And so, the initially clueless He Laozhu ended up with two beautiful wives, and over the years, the family lived harmoniously.

The only downside was that they had too many children. They had a total of eight sons, as well as two Xiao Gers and two daughters!

This made Old Lady He (grandma He) both happy and worried. Having many descendants was a good thing, but having too many mouths to feed was a problem. In order to support this group of grandchildren, the once prosperous family fortune was slowly depleted.

By now, their eldest grandson, He Xiangfeng, was already twenty-five years old and had just recently entered into an engagement, thanks to his own efforts in pursuing a relationship.

As for the remaining grandchildren, they were still single and had no prospects for marriage, all because they could not come up with the money.

So, earning thirty coins a day per person was extremely important for the He family.

Although they did not go to the town to do odd jobs often, they could not leave the house during busy farming seasons. Therefore, working in the village was more convenient for them.

"Brother-in-law, is this true? Did the Lin family say they need a few people?"

Upon hearing the news, everyone in the He family was willing to help, but they were unsure of how many people the Lin family needed. They had plenty of able-bodied workers in their own family.

Since He Xiangfeng was getting married to Zheng Xiaoluo next month, the younger siblings in the He family started using more intimate terms of address.

Zheng Xiaoluo felt shy but liked it. He and Zhang Xiu had contrasting personalities, with one being quiet and the other being lively.

"I'm not sure. They didn't mention it at the time. But the Lin family has a lot of fields, and it's only Lin's father working alone. So, they probably need at least five or six people. This time, Lin Ze, that bastard, did something good…"

The siblings in the He family vigorously nodded, expressing their strong agreement.

However, He Laozhu and the two wives found it strange.

"We don't have much interaction with Lin Ze. How could he think of us for such a good thing?"

He Xiangfeng thought for a moment and said, "On the day they moved, I and Luo Ger went to help them pack up the house and even gave them some things. Lin Ze should remember that and repaid it."

After having a close conversation with Lin Ze last time, he felt that Lin Ze was not exactly like how the rumors in the village described him. There was a hint of humanity in him, and it was possible that he had been affected by family circumstances.

If that were the case, it made sense. The members of the He family nodded, thinking that Lin Ze seemed to remember kindness after all.

However, Zheng Xiaoluo felt that it was more likely that Lin Ze thought of the He family because of Zhang Xiu. He was present during the commotion, and he heard what Lin Ze said.

At that time, Lin Ze had mentioned, "Mrs. He's health is not good, and she's taking medicine…" How would Lin Ze know that if he did not have any interaction with the He family? It must have been Ah Xiu who told him. But why did he talk to Lin Ze about these things? Ah Xiu despised Lin Ze and would never speak to him if given the choice. So why discuss these matters?

Moreover, during the entire process, Lin Ze was holding Ah Xiu's hand, and surprisingly, he did not struggle. There was no unwillingness on Ah Xiu's face, and he even stole a few glances at Lin Ze, with a look that was hard to describe… He did not know how to put it, but it seemed like he was smiling.

Zheng Xiaoluo felt that something must have happened between Ah Xiu and Lin Ze that he was not aware of. Ah Xiu was actually looking at Lin Ze with a smile? He was concerned.

He wanted to call He Xiangfeng and go together to visit Lin Ze's house. Ah Xiu was his closest friend, so naturally, he cared about him.

However, before they could take action, Zhang Xiu came over ahead of them.

Zhang Xiu had a good relationship with Zheng Xiaoluo, and naturally, the He family was welcoming towards him. Plus, he had just received help from Lin Ze, so the He family warmly received Zhang Xiu when he visited.

They fetched water, brought out chairs—although there were many members in the He family, their relationships were harmonious, unlike the two brothers in the Lin family causing unrest in their own household.

Zhang Xiu was naturally calm and composed, not easily shaken by events. Besides, he was currently sitting in the He family's house, surrounded by familiar people, so he felt even more at ease.

Setting aside his own matters for the moment, he explained the hiring of workers to the He family once again and then brought up the idea of He Xiangfeng accompanying them into the mountains.

"My husband wants to gather some things in the deep mountains to make a living. However, it's dangerous in the mountains, and it's not appropriate for just the two of us. Brother He, as an experienced hunter, it would be much safer if we go together."

After transmigrating, Lin Ze discovered that after merging with the original body, his physical condition had been restored to his modern state. He had some knowledge of physical fitness and basic combat skills, but he realized that it was not enough to venture deep into the mountains. The main issue was his unfamiliarity with the terrain and the lack of knowledge about wilderness survival. It was easy for accidents to happen if an ordinary person ventured into the mountains without the guidance of a professional.

The villagers in the village only roamed around the mountain slopes. If they wanted to go deeper into the mountains, they would go in groups or seek the guidance of experienced hunters.

"No problem. I was planning to go into the mountains to hunt anyway."

He Xiangfeng had no objections and readily agreed.

Sitting beside them, Zheng Xiaoluo did not pay much attention to Zhang Xiu's words. However, he did catch the three words Zhang Xiu used to refer to Lin Ze—"my husband."

Oh no, oh no! Did Ah Xiu fall ill and become confused? He even called that bastard Lin Ze "my husband" in front of others! But Zhang Xiu used to refer to Lin Ze as "him" when they were outside!

Zheng Xiaoluo's impatient nature was about to drive him crazy, but he could not directly ask in front of the He family.

Fortunately, Zhang Xiu had some private matters to discuss with him. After finishing their conversation with the He family, the two boys went outside and hid in a corner to speak privately.

"Xiaoluo, I won't be leaving for now. Take this money and consider it as payment for the things you bought for us…"

Before Zheng Xiaoluo could say anything, Zhang Xiu handed him a bag of money.

Since he was temporarily not leaving, it was only right to repay the money that Zheng Xiaoluo and He Xiangfeng secretly provided for his travel expenses. Zheng Xiaoluo's family had an ordinary financial situation, and the He family was even poorer. They could not just take all those things for free.

"What? You're not leaving!"

Zheng Xiaoluo was dumbfounded upon hearing this news.

They had just agreed on this yesterday, so why the sudden change today? Even if there was a change, it happened too quickly. It was only overnight!

What exactly happened? He felt like he missed out on something significant.

Zhang Xiu felt a bit sorry for Zheng Xiaoluo.

Upon hearing about his situation, Xiaoluo hurriedly rushed back from his grandmother's house in the neighboring village. He then grabbed Brother He and asked him for help, coming up with ideas and even arranging everything, including the travel arrangements. Xiaoluo put in a lot of effort and even provided resources to assist him. They worked hard for quite a while, all with the intention of helping him, but then he suddenly changed his mind…

However, Zhang Xiu could not tell Xiaoluo about Lin Ze's situation. He could only try his best to explain.

"He talked to me about it. He said we should continue to observe and see how things go. We're already married, and if we can get along well, that's great. But if we can't, he said he will divorce me openly and let me leave with dignity."

Regardless of what was said before, being able to divorce openly and with dignity was undoubtedly better than running away secretly.

If that was truly the case, Xiaoluo would definitely support him.

But… "Can we trust that bastard's words?"

It was understandable that Xiaoluo would ask such a question. Based on Lin Ze's previous behavior, it was hard for anyone to easily believe that he could have a change of heart so quickly.

Although people in the village were saying that Lin Ze had come to his senses and wanted to live a good life, most of them still had a skeptical attitude towards his relationship with Zhang Xiu. They were watching with hesitation.

If Zhang Xiu had heard such words from the previous "Lin Ze," he would not have believed a single word. But now that Lin Ze had changed person, it was different.

Although Zhang Xiu did not know why he had such trust in the current Lin Ze, whom he had only recently met.

"He's not the same person he used to be. He entrusted me with the family's money, land deeds, and house deeds. When my aunt and cousin came to find him this morning, he even drove them away. If he's really trying to deceive me, the cost would be too great…"

As Xiaoluo listened, he could hardly believe that they were describing "Lin Ze."

"He really drove Zhang Yinzhu away?"

"Yes. In any case, I have a good grasp of the situation. You and Brother He can rest assured. I'll go back now. Don't tell my mother about our escape plan. I don't want her to worry, and we don't want to accidentally reveal our plan to the public."

Otherwise, if Lin Ze found out, he would…

Ah, he did not know what would happen, but he was certain Lin Ze would not resort to physical violence. However, Lin Ze definitely would not forget it easily. He might bring up various unequal conditions against him. That man was just a shameless rascal.

Thinking about Lin Ze's improper appearance, Zhang Xiu could not help blushing and feeling annoyed.

Zheng Xiaoluo had never seen him blush before, and he was stunned for a moment.

After Zhang Xiu walked away, Zheng Xiaoluo finally snapped out of it and suddenly remembered.

Oh no, he already told auntie about the escape plan!

She seemed to have gone to town today to sell jewelry for some extra money. She even mentioned going to another village to collect funds from old friends. It would take a few days for her to come back!

Zhang Xiu did not know that Zheng Xiaoluo was so proactive. Right after they finished discussing, he had immediately gone to inform his mother.

After finishing the matter with the He family, Zhang Xiu hurried back home before it got dark.

There was no way around it. Lin Ze appeared to be gentle on the outside but was a beast inside. When there were no outsiders around, he behaved like an improper rascal, and Zhang Xiu could not resist when he was teased by him.

Lin Ze did not dare to go too far either, although he had a sharp tongue. At night, he behaved properly, at most just cuddling with the person to sleep.

They prepared everything they needed for entering the mountain that night and had a pleasant dream.

The next day, Lin Ze and Zhang Xiu woke up early.

Although there were no smartphones or alarm clocks in ancient times, the village raised roosters. When it was time, all the roosters in every household would crow together. It was impossible not to wake up unless they had stayed up too late the night before.

He Xiangfeng woke up even earlier. Lin Ze had just finished preparing breakfast in the kitchen, and he was already at the door.

Zheng Xiaoluo also came along. After separating from Zhang Xiu yesterday, he could not let go of his concerns and still found it hard to believe that Lin Ze had quickly let go of Zhang Yinzhu and had a change of heart.

Knowing that Zhang Xiu and Lin Ze were going into the mountains together today, he decided to come along.

As for informing Zhang Liu Mei about Zhang Xiu not leaving, they could discuss it later. Right now, the main concern to solve was other, since his (ZX) mother was not in the village.

Although a Xiao Ger's physical fitness could not compare to the real men here, it was still better than that of the girls. In poor families, the Xiao Ger was considered half a labor force, so there was no problem with him joining them in the mountains.

"It's still early now. Let's have a meal before entering the mountains. I just made some fresh cakes as provisions. Let's sit down and have some together," Lin Ze warmly suggested.

Due to his professional habits, as he used to work in the project client development department, he was accustomed to smoothly interacting with people and believed that it was better to build a good relationship before discussing matters. A friendly approach was always better than hostility.

Zheng Xiaoluo and He Xiangfeng could not resist the warmth. Everyone liked a hospitable person.

Thinking that Lin Ze's cooking skills were good, they decided to be less reserved and have some more food. However, when they saw what Lin Ze brought out, both of them were at a loss for words.

The greasy and shiny fried egg pancakes made with white flour—could that be called ration? They had not eaten something so delicious even during the New Year!

And then, in front of Zhang Xiu, there was a large bowl of steamed minced meat with eggs… Zheng Xiaoluo and He Xiangfeng could not help but regret sending the high-quality white rice earlier. They had indirectly given Zhang Xiu with the idea of him leaving with some extra money.

With Lin Ze's way of eating, would Zhang Xiu still have an excuse to sell grain and secretly run away?

Zheng Xiaoluo and He Xiangfeng felt a pang in their hearts from mooching off this meal.

When they were about to set off, and they saw that apart from the fried egg pancakes, Lin Ze had also prepared a dozen boiled eggs, Zheng Xiaoluo and He Xiangfeng had only one thought in their minds: He could not manage the house's money!

"I don't know how many days we'll be staying in the mountains, but I prepared for only three days' worth. Zhang Xiu's health is not good, so he needs some supplements. Two eggs a day is a must," Lin Ze explained.

Lin Ze was aware that his way of eating was considered extravagant by village standards. However, as a modern person, he could not bring himself to eat hard and lumpy black buns and watery vegetables like the villagers did. Unless absolutely necessary, but right now, he had enough money from the recent separation to sustain them for a few months. No worries there.

Upon hearing this, Zheng Xiaoluo and He Xiangfeng were satisfied and no longer felt distressed. Zhang Xiu had suffered a lot of hardships and abuse in the past. It was indeed time to make up for it. It was rare for Lin Ze to think of this, indicating that he had truly changed his mindset.

Zhang Xiu smiled, feeling sweet in his heart. This man may not be serious, but he had a good heart.

However, soon enough, Lin Ze said something that made people want to punch him.

"And I need to make up for it too. They say 'like cures like' (to treat an ailment with a medication of similar characteristics), so I must eat. Zhang Xiu and I will have four eggs a day, twelve eggs for three days, just perfect…"

Lin Ze had a look of hopeful anticipation for the future, but his expression was begging for a beating.

The two Xiao Gers had puzzled expressions on their faces. Like cures like? Eggs?

(maybe to make babies…?)

"Let's just hurry up and head to the mountain."

He Xiangfeng, the sensible one, could not bear to listen anymore. He pulled Zheng Xiaoluo along and went ahead.

Lin Ze's face was beaming with a smile as he grabbed his own spouse and followed along. The two couples entered the mountain together.

The geographical location where Heba Village was located was not too remote.

However, in ancient times, any randomly chosen mountain that remained undeveloped would still have a high degree of primitiveness. Therefore, the big mountain behind Heba Village could definitely be described as a deep forest. Ferocious beasts roamed within, making it quite dangerous.

However, with He Xiangfeng, an experienced hunter who frequently ventured into the mountains, leading the way, as long as they did not wander off, it was safe to walk in familiar terrain.

Since He Xiangfeng was accompanied by two Xiao Gers and the "bookworm" Lin Ze, he did not dare to provoke real wildlife. After entering the mountain, he set up several traps and spent the rest of the time taking everyone on a stroll, collecting wild fruits, mushrooms, and other edible items.

Rather than calling it mountain exploration, it was more like a countryside excursion.

Zhang Xiu and Zheng Xiaoluo happily picked fruits and mushrooms. These items could be found on the slopes behind the village, but with many villagers collecting them, there was not much left for each household.

Sweet fruits were picked early by others, leaving behind the sour and undesirable ones.

With fewer people coming into the mountains, there were plenty of fruits and better quality ones too. They could either enjoy them personally or sell them for money.

Even Lin Ze joined in the excitement, picking baskets of delicious wild fruits. He also collected a good amount of wild nuts such as walnuts and pine nuts. He wished he had a mythical portable space to store all these goodies!

However, these wild fruits and nuts were just a side thought for Lin Ze. The most important goal for his mountain expedition was to find honey.

"Just looking for honey?"

He Xiangfeng was surprised when he heard that. He had thought that Lin Ze entered the mountains to search for precious medicinal herbs. He did not expect it would be solely for honey.

If that was the case, there was no need to venture into the mountains. Honey could be found on the slopes behind the village, and it was much safer than going into the mountains.

Zhang Xiu helped explain, "My husband wants to find honey to make desserts for a business…"

"Desserts!"

Zheng Xiaoluo and He Xiangfeng were astonished. They looked at Lin Ze, finding it hard to believe that he had such culinary skills.

It should be noted that real desserts were not the simple sugar cakes and sweet pastries commonly mentioned in the village. Making desserts was a complex art, and those who could run a dessert shop had generations of accumulated knowledge and signature recipes to sustain their business.

Although Lin Ze was not planning to open a shop right away, even if he set up a small stall, the desserts had to be genuinely delicious to attract customers.

After all, sweet treats were priced high, and if the taste was not good enough, why would people buy from his small stall when there were proper dessert shops available?

Lin Ze was well aware of this. However, coincidentally, he not only knew how to cook regular dishes but also how to make desserts.

In the era of information explosion, there was no need to specifically learn these things. There were countless tutorials available online, and as someone who enjoyed eating, how could he not take a look and study them?

"I have noted down a few dessert recipes from miscellaneous books I read in the past. They are desserts that are not commonly found in our area. I plan to make them and sell them in the town, starting small. As you know, I have spent many years studying books, and I'm not particularly skilled in farming. In the future, I need to have a means of livelihood…"

"Making desserts requires a lot of sugar, and sugar is expensive. At the moment, I don't have enough capital, so I need to think of an alternative. Honey happens to be suitable for my needs. There are fewer people coming from the mountains, but there is an abundance of wild honey. Even if I don't make a profit from selling desserts, I can still earn a decent amount by selling the honey."

"I know how to track and find beehives, so as long as luck is on our side, we will definitely come across a good amount of wild honey."

In reality, Lin Ze was not worried at all about not being able to sell his desserts. He was just trying to reassure everyone.

Because sugar was expensive, people in the area had a strong craving for sweet treats. As long as the desserts were not terribly bad, they would sell without a problem. A new and delicious dessert with a unique flavor would undoubtedly be well-received.

Lin Ze had carefully considered this small business venture. He needed to dedicate a lot of time to prepare for the provincial exam in three years. Engaging in other types of businesses would consume too much energy and time.

But selling desserts was much simpler. They could be made at home, and either he or Zhang Xiu could go to town to sell them. He would not have to constantly stay at the stall, freeing up time for studying and revision.

If the small business went well and they had enough funds, opening a dessert shop would be even better.

"The main reason is that the trouble I caused in the private school in the past has made it impossible for me to find a job in town now. Relying solely on a few acres of land won't be enough for Zhang Xiu and me to sustain our lives in the future…"

As Lin Ze spoke, he also felt somewhat helpless.

In that case, with the original host's scholarly knowledge, he could easily find a position as an accountant or work as a tutor for a wealthy young master, where the work would be easier and the pay would be better.

"That's true. When you make some desserts, we'll taste them and give you feedback for improvement."

He Xiangfeng and the others thought it made sense and seemed impressive, but they did not know how skilled Lin Ze was in reality. They could not give a proper evaluation.

However, considering that Lin Ze had only studied books in the past and had not done any practical work, everything he said was just empty talk. Even if it was for Zhang Xiu's sake, they needed to observe and assess Lin Ze carefully.

"Okay, once I make them, I'll treat you all to taste them. Give me your feedback, and I'll make improvements. But for now, let's focus on finding the honey."

Lin Ze was not disappointed with their reaction. It was only natural that he could not convince people without specific products.

Besides, everyone had their own preferences. What he thought was good might not be good for others. So he needed to choose which desserts to make based on the locals' tastes in order to make money.

Since they had a goal in mind, their actions became clear.

Under the guidance of He Xiangfeng, they first found a forest with a high number of blooming flowers. Then they searched for bee excrement on leaves and weeds, as well as the flight direction of the bees, in order to locate the beehives.

It sounds simple in theory, but it was not easy in practice. Fortunately, Lin Ze had some experience. He had visited a honey farming base during his project discussions before and learned a lot from the experienced beekeepers.

With everyone's hard work, Lin Ze and the others spent five days in the mountains, exploring almost every corner of a large mountain before they finally stopped.

Surprisingly, their luck was good. They managed to collect over 200 catties (100kg, 220lb) of wild honey!

They could attribute their success to the low number of people venturing into the mountains and the knowledge Lin Ze had acquired from the modern beekeepers about tracking and finding honey. Without these factors, it would have been nearly impossible to find such a substantial amount.

Honey was a valuable commodity, especially in the less refined sugar production techniques of ancient times. Sweet things were considered rare.

Wild honey had even higher nutritional value than commercially raised honey. In town, a cattie (0,5kg; 1.1lb) of regular honey sold for twenty coins, but wild honey could easily be sold for twenty-five coins or more.

Roughly estimating, they could earn at least four taels of silver from the honey they collected!

It may not sound like much, but considering that the typical dowry for marrying a bride in the village was usually around two taels of silver, the value of four taels of silver becomes apparent.

"We're going to make a fortune… we're going to make a fortune!"

Zhang Xiu and Zheng Xiaoluo were overjoyed. Suddenly having four taels of silver felt like striking it rich for them.

Even the usually composed He Xiangfeng could not help but smile. The honey they obtained from this mountain expedition was enough to match the gains from several previous trips.

Of course, the price they paid was not small. Almost everyone had their faces and hands covered in bee stings.

Luckily, they had come across regular beehives. If they had encountered hornets, well, it would have been a different story altogether.

Now that they had found what they were looking for, it was not safe to stay in the mountains for too long. After discussing among themselves, Lin Ze and the others unanimously decided to return.

Otherwise, even if they found something else, they would not have any hands left to carry it. Apart from the honey and the previously collected wild walnuts, pine nuts, and fruits, He Xiangfeng's traps had also caught a few wild chickens (pheasants) and mountain hares.

Looking around at the things in the forest, Lin Ze could not help but sigh, realizing that indeed, they were living off the resources of the mountains. With a hint of regret, he expressed his desire to come back another time, but for now, they had to give up.

However, as they looked at the honey stored in bamboo tubes, everyone's smiles were radiant.

They packed up their belongings and began their journey back following the same path. This time, Lin Ze took the lead, Zhang Xiu and Zheng Xiaoluo walked in the middle, and He Xiangfeng guarded the rear.

However, just a short while after they started their return journey, an indescribable sense of unease welled up in Lin Ze's heart.

"Wait a moment, it seems like something is coming towards us," he said, his voice filled with concern.

He Xiangfeng, being an experienced hunter, had a stronger sense of danger. He immediately signaled everyone to be cautious.

Hengheng— (rumble)

Just as He Xiangfeng's words fell, everyone heard a strange sound.

Hengheng jiji (sound of an animal), accompanied by the sound of rapidly moving hooves.

"It's wild boars! There are two of them!"

With his abundant hunting experience, He Xiangfeng immediately guessed what it was and how many there were.

Lin Ze quickly reacted as well, "Put down your things and climb up a big tree!"

Currently surrounded by mountains and forests, with rugged paths, it was simply impossible to run away. Even ordinary people could not outrun wild boars that roamed the mountains all year round.

He Xiangfeng might be skilled at hunting, but now there were two wild boars approaching, and their sizes were uncertain. Even if he was capable, he could not handle them alone.

Furthermore, there were Zheng Xiaoluo and Zhang Xiu by his side. Both He Xiangfeng and Lin Ze would not feel at ease confronting the wild boars directly.

Pigs could not climb trees, so taking refuge in the trees was the best choice for now.

Zhang Xiu and Zheng Xiaoluo nodded with pale faces, obediently setting down their belongings and backpacks, and followed He Xiangfeng and Lin Ze to climb two large trees respectively.

Fortunately, they were all children who grew up in the village and knew how to climb trees.

Bang!

The wild boars were also very fast. Just as the four of them climbed up the trees, the wild boars caught up and rammed into the trees with their sharp tusks, creating a tremendous bang sound.

Lin Ze looked down and his face grew serious.

Although they could not tell if the wild boars below were fully grown, judging by their size, they were estimated to weigh around two to three hundred catties (100-150kg; 220-330lb). They were not easy to deal with.

Moreover, the two wild boars seemed to be highly agitated, constantly ramming into the trees. They did not even bother to eat the delicious fruits in the baskets on the ground.

If it was not for the fact that they had chosen two thick trees, a few more impacts from the wild boars would have caused the trees to break.

"These two wild boars seem to be agitated. We can't let them keep ramming into the trees. If this continues, the tree won't hold for much longer."

He Xiangfeng said. He was accustomed to walking in the mountains and knew more about the local wildlife than humans. It seemed like the two wild boars below would not leave on their own.

After a few seconds of solemn silence, he looked at Lin Ze.

"I can deal with one of them…"

The implication was that he wanted to drive away or kill both wild boars, and Lin Ze would have to handle one of them alone.

As for Zheng Xiaoluo and Zhang Xiu, their physical fitness was not on par with that of men. Even if they had the strength, Lin Ze and He Xiangfeng were unwilling to let their loved ones take risks.

If they could not even protect the ones they loved, what kind of leaders would they be?

"I can give it a try, but directly confronting them head-on is too risky. Let's try other methods first…"

Lin Ze's face was also grave.

The previous 'Lin Ze' was a weak scholar, but after the transmigration, his physique had become much stronger. If he really had to fight against the wild boars, he had some chance of winning.

However, the premise of winning was only against one boar. If, after he and He Xiangfeng went down, one of them faltered and fell, the other would be left facing both wild boars!

They never expected their luck to be so terrible, encountering wild boars right before leaving, and not just one, but two of them!

Lin Ze observed the surrounding environment and his gaze fell on the rope that Zhang Xiu had not thrown away earlier, making a decision.

"Ah Xiu, give me the rope. Brother He, let's set up a trap to control their movements."

The wild boars' attack methods were limited to ramming, tusks, and their running speed. When it came to combat techniques, humans were definitely more skilled.

Therefore, as long as they could restrict the wild boars' movements, they would have a much easier time dealing with them.

He Xiangfeng, being an experienced hunter, quickly grasped Lin Ze's plan and his eyes brightened. He looked at Lin Ze with a newfound appreciation.

"Great idea!"

Indeed, educated people with sharp minds were impressive. He had not thought of this approach himself.

In the past, when they encountered wild boars, the hunters would either rely on their strong physical fitness to escape or directly kill the boars with their combined strength. They had never encountered a situation where they had to engage in a standoff with the wild boars, so they naturally had not considered other methods of dealing with them.

Zhang Xiu and Zheng Xiaoluo each had a coil of hemp rope with them. The specific use of the rope could not be fully explained, but it was something they always carried when entering the mountains for many purposes.

Now, it was perfect. Two wild boars and two ropes!

The wild boars below were ramming fiercely, and time was running out. Lin Ze did not have time to bask in his own glory. After negotiating with He Xiangfeng, he immediately took action.

The two ropes were tied around the thick branches of the tree, forming a trap.

"Ah Xiu, hold onto the tree tightly. If we fail and fall, you two should run immediately. Brother He and I will hold off these two beasts. If I die… don't remain a widow. Find someone else to marry, but take my memorial tablet with you."

Before taking action, Lin Ze could not help but worry and advise Zhang Xiu, along with leaving behind some final instructions.

It was not that he wanted to be superstitious, but rather, it was always good to be prepared for any eventuality.

Taking his transmigration as an example, there were no signs at all before it occurred. Fortunately, the money he earned should belong to his parents after they pay the inheritance tax. It was better to be safe than sorry.

At first, Zhang Xiu, who was moved by his words, heard the last sentence and responded, "…"

"Nonsense! Marrying someone while carrying my ex-husband's memorial tablet? Only you can come up with such an absurd idea. Xiu Ger would never keep you by his side to mourn!"

Zheng Xiaoluo retorted and could not help but be both annoyed and amused.

These past few days of close contact had revealed that Lin Ze was behaving well. Zheng Xiaoluo thought that Lin Ze had truly changed for the better, but it turned out he was still a jerk. Marrying someone while carrying his ex-husband's memorial tablet—how would the new husband feel about that?!

"Xiao Luo, hold onto the tree tightly."

He Xiangfeng, feeling that Lin Ze's words resonated with his own thoughts as a man, looked at Zheng Xiaoluo's expression as he (ZXL) mocked Lin Ze. In the end, he could only squeeze out this sentence.

The tense atmosphere was somewhat dispersed by Lin Ze's lightheartedness. The fear in everyone's hearts was alleviated to some extent.

Thinking that if he died, his wife would belong to someone else, Lin Ze and He Xiangfeng took a deep breath and approached the two wild boars, aiming to trap their heads with the nooses.

They could not lose, they could not die. If they died, their wives would end up warming someone else's bed. That was absolutely unacceptable!

The possessiveness of a man towards his wife was sometimes unimaginable, especially for Lin Ze and He Xiangfeng, who had struggled to find and pursue their wives.

Both men brimmed with determination. They did not treat the wild boars as wild boars, but as rivals for their wives right then and there.

No matter how ferocious the two wild boars were, could there be anything scarier than a man who faced his romantic rival with bloodshot eyes?

Zhang Xiu looked at Lin Ze's expression as if his wife had already been stolen and he was about to devour someone. He pursed his lips, hesitated for a few seconds, and deliberately nodded with red eyes.

"Well, I promise you. If you die, I will remarry and bring your memorial tablet with me. Brother Ah Dong from Shangshui Village has a good temperament. He used to like me, and he's still unmarried. He will definitely agree. Don't worry, Lin Ze, I will remember you…"

This statement irritated Lin Ze, and his face immediately turned dark.

What was this talk about Brother Ah Dong from Shangshui Village? Wife, I'm not dead yet!

Before he could even shout in frustration, Lin Ze had already successfully trapped one of the wild boars below. It started howling, jumping, struggling, and shaking its head.

Seeing this, Zheng Xiaoluo's eyes lit up, and he gave Zhang Xiu a thumbs-up while shouting to He Xiangfeng.

"Brother Feng, come on! If you lose to Lin Ze, I'll make my dad cancel our engagement with your family!"

That could not happen!

He Xiangfeng's eyes widened, and with a swift motion, he released the rope, successfully trapping the other wild boar's head in the noose.

"Ao ao ao, ang ang!"

Their movements restricted, the two wild boars simultaneously let out loud cries.

He Xiangfeng, being a professional hunter, reacted quickly. He immediately let go of the rope and took out his bow and arrows, shooting several arrows towards the eyes of the wild boars.

One of the wild boars was hit by an arrow, losing an eye.

It was a perfect opportunity!

He Xiangfeng and Lin Ze seized the chance. They both jumped down from the tree, grabbed thick dead tree branches from the ground, and quickly sharpened them with their machetes. Then, they swiftly stabbed towards the bellies of the wild boars.

"Ao~~~~"

The two wild boars let out a wailing cry.

They had to seize this opportunity. Lin Ze and He Xiangfeng carefully approached with their machetes, aiming for the fatal weak point at the forehead of the wild boars, and delivered a fierce final blow.

The sharp machetes directly lodged into the heads of the wild boars. After a cry of pain, the two wild boars fell lifeless.

"Hahaha!"

Lin Ze exhaled and, together with He Xiangfeng, slumped to the ground, both covered in blood. The two men, who had snapped out of their jealousy, looked at each other and burst into laughter.

Indeed, a wife was a man's motivation, and this statement was absolutely true. They had truly been consumed by anger just moments ago.

The two Gers on the tree also let out a sigh of relief and quickly climbed down from the tree, rushing towards their respective partners to check on them.

"Wuwu, Brother Feng, I lied to you just now. I won't be with anyone except for you. Let me take a look… Is this blood from the wild boars or from you? Wuwu…"

Zheng Xiaoluo had a straightforward personality. Once the danger had passed, his tense nerves relaxed, and upon seeing his partner covered in blood, he immediately felt heartbroken and burst into tears.

He Xiangfeng did not know whether to push him away or not. In the end, he could only smile and let him touch and feel as he pleased.

Zhang Xiu hurriedly ran over to Lin Ze's side, not as outwardly expressive as Zheng Xiaoluo, but filled with worry in his eyes.

Lin Ze secretly wished that his young man would be as intimate and affectionate, throwing himself on top of him, crying and acting spoiled like Zheng Xiaoluo. But he knew that Zhang Xiu's personality could not handle such actions.

Lin Ze could only take the initiative himself. He pulled Zhang Xiu into his embrace, resting his chin on top of his head, and spoke softly.

"I'm fine…"

"Mm (yeah)."

Zhang Xiu, buried in his chest, nodded with slightly reddened eyes. It was the first time he took the initiative to get close, reaching out to hug Lin Ze's strong waist.

Feeling the slender arms around his waist and the head against his chest, a handsome smile appeared on Lin Ze's face.

His wife finally dared to hug him. The courage shown today was truly worth it!

But now was not the time for further sentimentality.

"Alright, let's hide the honey, then we'll take the wild boars back before coming back for the other things."

The two wild boars lay in pools of blood, and the strong scent of blood would easily attract other predators in the mountains. The urgent task was to quickly take the wild boars away.

Fortunately, they had four people, so temporarily hiding the other items and carrying away the two wild boars, along with several pheasants and rabbits caught in the previous traps, posed no problem.

Although it was a thrilling experience, the harvest was abundant.

Two wild boars, with each one weighing at least three hundred catties (150kg; 330lb), plus several pheasants and rabbits.

When Lin Ze and the others carried the game back to the village, it caused quite a commotion.

It was not uncommon to hunt wild boars, and a few hunters working together could accomplish that. However, what was difficult to believe was that this time, Lin Ze and the others, who had little experience, managed to hunt not just one, but two wild boars weighing over three hundred catties each!

People found it hard to believe and wanted to credit all the achievement to He Xiangfeng alone. However, that was impossible. If He Xiangfeng was really that skilled, his family would have become rich through hunting long ago.

So, the wild boars were hunted by He Xiangfeng and… a weak scholar and two Xiao Gers together?!

"Yes, Lin Ze and I each took down one. Lin Ze has good skills."

He Xiangfeng confirmed.

He did not take all the credit and smiled as he explained to the curious and shocked villagers.

To be honest, he used to think that scholars were only good at intellectual pursuits and were often sour and pedantic. Today, his perspective had changed.

Lin Ze not only had a sharp mind, but his physical skills were also impressive. Overall, he was much stronger than an ordinary scholar. He truly did not expect that Lin Ze would dare to confront wild boars.

Zheng Xiaoluo had similar thoughts. These few days of getting to know Lin Ze had greatly changed his perception of him.

Leaving aside the careful care Lin Ze showed towards Zhang Xiu in the mountains, just the fact that he could confidently say that he would hold off the danger and let his wife run away when they encountered the wild boars made Zheng Xiaoluo believe that Lin Ze had indeed changed, as Zhang Xiu had previously mentioned.

"Oh my, it was really Lin Ze who hunted them…"

"Well, I always thought scholars were weaklings who couldn't lift a finger. I didn't expect Lin Ze, the eldest son of the Lin family, to be so capable."

"I'm not surprised. Lin Ze helps his father in the fields every year. He must have built up his physique…"

"You're right. We really underestimated Lin Ze before. No wonder Lin Sangui likes his eldest brother so much. Lin Ze is much more impressive than Lin Jianwen. It's a pity that he has been ruined by that shrew, Chen Shuju…"

He Xiangfeng's explanation sparked a lively discussion among the villagers, and in the process, they could not resist gossiping about the Lin family.

Since He Xiangfeng was helping to build up their reputation, Lin Ze naturally had no reason not to cooperate. While engaging with the villagers, he also wanted to make them somewhat fearful and wary of him, which would be the best outcome.

"The villagers are too kind. It was all thanks to luck and Brother He's experience. I can't finish eating the wild boars at home, so I'll slaughter them later. If anyone wants to buy some, you can come to my house. We're all villagers, so the price will be three coins less than the town's pork."

Lin Ze smiled, maintaining an amicable demeanor without losing his distance, which gave off a distinctive feeling.

The villagers could not help but feel a sense of awe, followed by joy.

The main reason the villagers did not eat meat often, aside from being poor, was that there was no meat available in the village! They could not always go to the town just to buy meat—it would not be cost-effective.

Now that Lin Ze had hunted a wild boar and was selling the meat, at a price three coins cheaper than the town's, they could not miss such a good opportunity. Even if they were not particularly hungry for meat, they would still buy a pound to take home.

"Oh, that sounds good! Lin Xiucai, wait for me, I'll go home and get the money!"

"I want to buy too! Lin Xiucai, save two catties for me…"

The people who were originally calling Lin Ze now reverted back to calling him Lin Xiucai. They excitedly rushed home to get money, eager to eat the meat.

They also informed their relatives, neighbors, and close acquaintances—this was how relationships were maintained in the village.

Since they returned in the afternoon, most of the villagers were still working in the fields, so only a few people stopped them along the way.

After these enthusiastic villagers left, Lin Ze and the others continued to carry the wild boars back home.

Lin Ze's house was closer to the road leading down the mountain, while He Xiangfeng's house was further away. Since He Xiangfeng was planning to sell half of the pork anyway, they decided to bring both wild boars to Lin Ze's yard and deal with it there before returning.

Once they entered the yard, Zhang Xiu and Zheng Xiaoluo quickly ran to the kitchen to boil water.

Lin Ze was capable of cooking, but he could not handle the task of butchering the pigs and dividing the meat. He entrusted that to He Xiangfeng, who assisted him by doing the necessary preparations and organizing the pig blood and offal.

Pig blood and offal were considered delicacies and could be turned into delicious dishes. Lin Ze loved these dishes, especially as accompaniments to alcohol. Just thinking about it made him crave for them.

"Brother He, how about I exchange some of the meat for the pig offal from your pig later?"

Unable to resist the temptation of the delicious offal, Lin Ze could not help but make the request to He Xiangfeng.

Despite his refined and handsome appearance, Lin Ze was actually a playful rascal and a food lover at heart. He had two main passions in life: earning money to support his wife and enjoying good food. For him, that was enough.

His first wish had not been fulfilled in the modern world, but now he had the opportunity, plus he anticipated having to raise a son in the future because his wife would give birth to their child.

As for why he was so certain that they would have a son, it was because in this world, the children born to them would either be boys or Xiao Gers. For him, both were sons!

He Xiangfeng did not understand why Lin Ze wanted the pig's entrails, and he found it a bit strange. Although people in the village also consumed them, they were not particularly fond of them because they were not well-prepared. Usually, people ate them to save money and enjoy the taste of the meat. However, if Lin Ze wanted them and was willing to exchange meat for them, He Xiangfeng was more than happy to agree.

"Alright, just give me a couple of catties of the pig's entrails; you can discount all of it from my pig."

Lin Ze said, pleased with the arrangement.

After speaking, He Xiangfeng continued to chop the pig.

Lin Ze quickly gathered the pig's entrails that had been scooped out, thinking about what delicious dishes he could make for Zhang Xiu.

He did not have grand ambitions; his greatest desire was to support his wife. It was a traditional mindset deeply ingrained in the men of the Lin family. He thought it would be wonderful to sleep next to his wife every night.

In the kitchen, Zheng Xiaoluo and Zhang Xiu witnessed the scene, and Zheng Xiaoluo was truly astonished. He grabbed Xiu Ger curiously and said,

"Ah Xiu, tell me the truth. Did you give Lin Ze some love potion? How did he change so quickly? I see him now, and he's so good. Even though he's generous with his food and drinks, he seems to be thinking about the future. He's even willing to do the dirty work of handling pig entrails. He's such a talented young man, and most importantly, he hasn't mentioned anything about Zhang Yinzhu for so many days!"

"You're the one who gave Big Brother He a love potion. As for my husband, he just had an epiphany. After all the things that happened in the Lin family recently, everyone has undergone some changes in their personalities. There's nothing strange about it…"

Zhang Xiu explained, as he pursed his lips, a sweet smile lingering at the corners of his mouth, keeping Lin Ze's secret firmly to himself.

He enjoyed the current days. No matter Lin Ze's background, even if he truly was a ghost, Zhang Xiu did not care at all. If Lin Ze's current behavior was his true nature, then he was more than willing to be this "ghost's" husband for a lifetime.

Zheng Xiaoluo had never seen Xiu Ger smile so sweetly or heard him call Lin Ze "husband", and it filled him with a sense of sorrow, as if his son had grown up and no longer needed him.

Zheng Xiaoluo's tone was full of resentment,

"Ah Xiu, you prioritize love over friendship! It's only been a few days since Lin Ze changed, and you already favor him like this…"

"Who was it back then, when you and Big Brother He were together, that picked the delicious fruits and didn't give me the first share?"

Zhang Xiu tilted his head, not backing down, with a mischievous smile on his face.

Zheng Xiaoluo instantly surrendered, blushing,

"You still remember that one time! Stingy!"

Zhang Xiu's lips curled up, and his smile was unusually bright and radiant.

Once the water was boiling in the kitchen, He Xiangfeng and Lin Ze had finished cleaning the wild boar in the yard. They were now waiting to remove the hair before cutting it into pieces for sale.

The villagers arrived at just the right time, and news spread quickly throughout the entire village.

In a small village like Heba Village, with only two to three hundred households, any information would spread rapidly when people gathered together.

Even Li Laofu came over and thoughtfully brought his own scale with him.

"You've thought this through, Uncle. We were worried about not having a scale. You handle the portions the best, so please help with weighing the meat. I'll bring a piece of pork belly back for you later. You must not think I'm stingy; otherwise, if there's not enough meat for the villagers, I'll surely get scolded…"

Lin Ze skillfully played the social game, understanding that to live well in the village, he needed to build a good relationship with the village head.

Without a second thought, Lin Ze took a rope and tied a piece of meat for Li Laofu, placing it aside for him.

Not only did Lin Ze refuse to accept money, but he also framed his words beautifully, leaving Li Laofu with no room to refuse. Taking the "bribe" in front of everyone, he did so with a clear conscience and even gained some face from it.

The villagers were all happy and laughed heartily, wondering why they had not noticed before that Lin Ze was actually very easy to get along with.

Li Laofu naturally felt pleased in his heart, with a smile on his face,

"Alright, then I won't be polite."

"That's right, Uncle. By not being polite, you treat me as an equal. Oh, by the way, please tell my father to come over to my place tomorrow. I want to treat him to a half-month feast of whole pig meat…"

Lin Ze said with a cheerful smile, casually mentioning the matter.

Now that he was Lin Sangui's son and he had gained so much wild boar meat, if he did not show filial respect to him, it would be disrespectful. However, he was not willing to send it directly to Lin Sangui's house. If he did that, it might benefit his enemies instead, and that would not sit well with him.

Therefore, he decided to invite Lin Sangui over. He could be petty sometimes, as nobody is perfect, and his heart was not that generous.

"Well, just remember your father."

Li Laofu sighed. He did not think Lin Ze was petty, but that he could not let go of the things Chen Shuju had done. Anyone in his shoes would have a hard time forgiving her.

Moreover, even though Lin Ze's biological mother had left due to the old lady's (grandma) reasons, Chen Shuju had also whispered in her ears, and now that Lin Ze knew his true identity, it was not an exaggeration to call those people enemies.

The other villagers did not see anything wrong with Lin Ze's approach either. Besides, they were still waiting to buy meat; how could they afford to offend anyone?

Everyone continued to line up happily. Thankfully, there were two wild boars, and not all families in the village had come to buy meat. So, there was enough for each person present.

Lin Ze was in charge of negotiating and keeping track of the accounts, He Xiangfeng was responsible for cutting the meat, while Zhang Xiu and Zheng Xiaoluo helped out by passing things around. The two couples cooperated seamlessly.

Most of the villagers were disciplined and respectful. The few who tried to take advantage were easily dealt with by Lin Ze's persuasive words.

However, there were always some particularly ill-mannered individuals, like Yang Guifang.

Last time, she faced a setback and did not seem to learn from it. Today, upon hearing that Lin Ze had brought back wild boar meat from the mountain, she brought her daughter along to stroll around, completely disregarding the fact that her daughter was about to get married soon.

She did not even bother to wait in line and simply cut in front.

"Oh, Lin Ze, I heard someone say that you brought back wild boar meat from the mountain. I didn't expect it to be true. This meat looks so fresh. Yinzhu loves stewed pig trotters the most. Quick, pack four pig trotters for Auntie, and give me a few more pounds of pork belly…"

Yang Guifang's eyes greedily focused on the pig trotters that Lin Ze had deliberately left for Zhang Xiu's soup. She immediately requested to have them wrapped up without offering any money.

In her mind, why would she need to pay Lin Ze for anything? Just bringing her beautiful daughter out for a stroll was enough for her.

Last time, Yang Guifang did not care about Lin Ze's bad attitude. She thought it might be because she had withheld her daughter's affection for too long, and that's why Lin Ze was throwing a tantrum. According to her, men were like that—lacking perseverance.

So today, to continue taking advantage of the situation, she even instructed her daughter to change into a different outfit before they came, reminding her to show a sweet smile to Lin Ze.

Zhang Yinzhu felt angry, but when she saw there were pig trotters and meat available, she reluctantly put on a good face for Lin Ze.

"Big Brother Lin, sorry for the inconvenience caused last time."

Zhang Yinzhu said with a slight smile and a curtsy, presenting herself like a well-bred young lady from the city.

She displayed full courtesy without being impolite.

While most of the villagers knew the intentions of these two mother and daughter, Zhang Yinzhu's manners left them at a loss for words.

Lin Ze sneered inwardly but did not show it on his face. He maintained a cheerful smile.

"Oh, it turns out Miss Zhang also likes pig trotters. How coincidental! I specifically left these pig trotters for…"

Lin Ze started to say, but before he could finish, the surrounding villagers had already revealed expressions of "just as expected."

Zhang Xiu's eyes dimmed, and Zheng Xiaoluo was so angry that she stomped her foot.

Zhang Yinzhu felt relieved; she knew Lin Ze could not possibly dislike her. After all, she was considered one of the most outstanding girls among several villages.

Yang Guifang, on the other hand, was so excited that she reached out to grab the items.

However, halfway there, she was scared back by Lin Ze, who suddenly picked up a knife and slammed it down in front of her, looking displeased.

"Yang Auntie, what are you doing!"

Lin Ze's imposing appearance directly frightened Yang Guifang, making her tremble.

"Take, I'm taking the pig trotters, huh? Didn't you say that they were specifically for my daughter Yin Zhu?"

Yang Guifang protested.

"Which ear of yours heard me say that? I meant to say that your daughter also likes them, just like my wife. I hadn't even finished speaking, and you came up to grab them. What's the meaning of this? I left these for my wife!"

Lin Ze's anger was evident, his eyes turned red, and he had an enraged expression on his face.

"I have lost my home, my money, my future—everything! All I have left is my wife, and you people still want to bully him. In broad daylight, you even snatch the pig trotters meant for my wife. It's unbearable! You wicked woman!"

Lin Ze exclaimed in sorrow and anger, raising his hand to deliver a slap.

He could not stand these people who never learned their lesson, thinking that he was a good-natured pushover like a Bodhisattva who would forgive anything.

With a loud smack, not only did Yang Guifang look dumbfounded, but the villagers were also stunned.

Although the village had its share of men who would hit women, there were very few who would do so in public. Moreover, they only dared to hit their own women; laying a hand on a woman in general would invite the scorn of others.

Furthermore, Lin Ze was a younger generation, and in the history of Heba Village, there had never been a case of a younger generation hitting an elder.

For a moment, everyone present was dumbfounded, including Li Laofu, who stood there with a blank expression, unable to process what had just happened.

Lin Ze did not care whether everyone was shocked or not. After delivering a slap and a few more slaps to Yang Guifang, he finally stopped and quickly went to complain to Li Laofu.

"Uncle, this wicked woman has gone too far. She even wants to snatch the meat my wife needs for nourishment! What does her daughter have to do with me? Why should I save pig trotters for her daughter? She just blabbers nonsense, hoping to take things for free. What if my wife misunderstands because of her words?!"

"Even if they don't care about their reputation, I do care about mine! She said those things on purpose to make me argue with my husband. Moreover, Zhang Yinzhu is about to marry my former second brother. If such rumors spread, how can I carry on with my life if people think I have improper thoughts about her…"

"I know I did some foolish things in the past, but that was because I couldn't accept it and couldn't understand. Now, it's all in the past, and I don't want to dwell on it. I just want to live a good life with Xiu Ger. But this wicked woman won't let me live in peace…"

The expression of sorrow and indignation on Lin Ze's face made it seem like he was the one who had been slapped.

The villagers felt that something was off, but they could not pinpoint what it was. They were so stunned that they even overlooked the issue of a younger generation daring to hit an elder.

"Lin Ze, what nonsense are you spouting!"

Yang Guifang regained her senses and immediately yelled when she heard Lin Ze vaguely insinuating that her daughter was promiscuous.

She conveniently ignored the fact that she had just been slapped several times. The burning pain on her face kept her from bursting into tears.

She did not see anything wrong with taking her daughter out to have some fun and take advantage of the situation. She did not explicitly say anything, and her daughter did not do anything wrong either. They were just going out for a walk. The village did not have any rules stating that young girls could not go out and meet people.

As for others approaching her daughter and offering gifts because she was pretty, she could not control that, and no one could say anything about it.

But now, with Lin Ze saying that they did not care about their reputation, it sparked some wild thoughts!

Yang Guifang was furious and scolded with her hands on her hips.

"You clearly didn't explain yourself properly; don't tarnish my daughter's reputation! You are like a toad lusting after swan meat (someone who desires or pursues something that is far beyond their reach or out of their league), unable to marry my daughter, and now you want to ruin her marriage! Zhang Xiu is just a worthless young man; what right does he have to eat pig trotters? As his aunt, he should be showing me respect. What's wrong with me taking a pig trotter? Even if I'm a jinx, eating meat won't shorten my life…"

"How dare you insult my wife!"

Lin Ze felt a sense of satisfaction in his heart, but his face turned angry again, and he kicked Yang Guifang.

"Ouch!"

Yang Guifang let out a miserable cry as she fell to the ground, finally awakening the bewildered villagers around them.

No one expected things to escalate so quickly, and they certainly did not anticipate Lin Ze resorting to violence without any hesitation. People rushed forward to restrain him.

However, Lin Ze wore an expression of rage as if he was about to go mad, his expression still filled with sorrow and indignation.

"Don't stop me! Today, even if I have to risk it all, I will teach this wicked woman a lesson. What's wrong with my Xiao Ger? Isn't he a person too? My Ah Xiu has suffered since childhood, and even after marrying me, he hasn't had a good life. It was my fault before, I couldn't understand…"

"But now I want to treat him well, live a good life together. I'm useless now, so I was willing to risk my life to hunt wild boars to nourish my wife's body, and yet someone still has maliciousness on him. He can't even eat a pig trotter without being cursed as an unlucky person…"

"Anyway, I, Lin Ze, have no future prospects left, and I don't care anymore. Now I only have one wife. If I can't even protect my own wife and let him be bullied at will, what kind of man am I!"

Lin Ze expressed his sorrow and indignation, his eyes turning red.

The crowd fell silent, not knowing what to say. They wanted to point out that he should not resort to violence, especially against an elder. However, upon further thought, they realized that Lin Ze's anger was somewhat justified.

It had only been a few days since the devastating blow to the Lin family, and now they had separated, with their future prospects ruined. Lin Ze had lost everything except his wife. It was understandable that he would be furious if someone coveted his wife's nourishing meat and insulted her.

Moreover, everyone understood that Yang Guifang's intention in taking her daughter out was to take advantage of Lin Ze's infatuation with her daughter.

Little did they know that Lin Ze had come to his senses now…

With mouths agape, the surrounding villagers did not know what to say.

Some of the wives who had caught their own husbands ogling at Zhang Yinzhu could deeply relate to the situation. They expressed great indignation and agreement with Lin Ze's actions.

That shameless slut Zhang Yinzhu always relied on her looks to go out and wander around, leading to their husbands being fooled by Yang Guifang and giving away things before and after marriage!

These wives whispered and discussed among themselves, although they tried to keep their conversations discreet, their voices were not low.

Although they did not explicitly mention anything about Zhang Yinzhu, their implicit criticism was evident.

Zhang Yinzhu's face turned red as she listened to their words.

She had grown up enjoying the flattery and attention from the village boys. She never actively asked for anything; she merely expressed her preferences, and those boys voluntarily gave her gifts.

She did not steal or snatch anything. If people willingly gave her things, she reluctantly accepted them. It was just the envy of these wives and girls in the village!

And now, Lin Ze had publicly humiliated her as well.

Yang Guifang was also infuriated by the comments, but she knew she could not let things continue like this, or it would end up causing trouble.

"Shut up, all of you! You're just jealous of my Yinzhu! And you, Lin Ze, stop spouting nonsense. Don't think I don't know what you're thinking. You want to tarnish Yinzhu's reputation, prevent her from marrying your brother, and take the opportunity to marry her yourself, don't you? You can forget about it!"

Surprisingly, hearing Yang Guifang's outburst, some villagers started to doubt the situation. After all, it was evident to everyone that "Lin Ze" had shown interest in Zhang Yinzhu before.

Upon hearing her mother's words, Zhang Yinzhu immediately wiped away her tears with a handkerchief and stared at Lin Ze with a disappointed expression.

"Brother Lin, we are bound by our parents' wishes and the matchmaker's words. Please stop this. Soon, I will be your sister-in-law. I will not elope with you… Today's incident, I don't blame you. Take care of yourself."

With her words, it confirmed the previous rumors of Lin Ze's desire to elope, as well as his current despicable intention of trying to smear her reputation in order to marry her.

Lin Ze chuckled with anger.

He had not expected this woman to be so cunning and bold, daring to utter the words "elope." This was ancient times, and regardless of whether the woman had any intentions, such rumors were never good once they spread.

But before anyone could respond, Zhang Xiu, who had been silent all along, suddenly walked up and slapped Zhang Yinzhu across the face.

Smack!

"…"

Zhang Yinzhu stared at Zhang Xiu in disbelief, covering her face with her hand.

The surrounding villagers were once again dumbfounded, completely frozen in shock.

"Cousin, we all know in our hearts who was the one talking about eloping."

Zhang Xiu calmly said as he looked at Zhang Yinzhu. His pair of phoenix eyes were shining brightly, no longer displaying his previous timid demeanor.

Zhang Yinzhu was stunned by this new side of Zhang Xiu.

Yang Guifang did not notice Zhang Xiu's eyes and screamed when she saw her daughter being slapped.

"Zhang Xiu, you jinx! How dare you hit your cousin!"

"Why wouldn't I dare? This slap is what she owes me…"

Zhang Xiu turned his head and looked at Yang Guifang, his gaze filled with resilience and a determination to protect himself.

"Back then, when you saw that my husband had a strange illness and had no future prospects, you wanted to cancel the engagement, but you couldn't bear to give up the generous dowry from the Lin family. So you came up with the idea of swapping brides. I didn't want to, but you forced me by using my mother as leverage. And after I got married, you took advantage of my husband's previous affection for you and repeatedly asked him to borrow money…"

"As for whether those borrowings were genuine or if you directly took them, you all know it well. Don't you dare smear my husband's name with talk of eloping. Aunt, it was you who approached my husband back then, saying you needed to borrow thirty taels of silver in an emergency. My husband didn't have it, so you gave him a handkerchief, implying something. I believe everyone can see what is embroidered on that handkerchief and understand the implications!"

As he spoke, Zhang Xiu turned around and then quickly returned.

Zhang Xiu unfolded the handkerchief, his gaze filled with sadness. Embroidered on it was a pair of mandarin ducks, symbolizing something that was self-evident.

Yang Guifang's face turned pale. She did not expect the handkerchief to be in Zhang Xiu's possession, and she certainly did not expect him to have the audacity to open it in front of everyone.

Zhang Yinzhu's expression grew even uglier. Although it was her mother who had taken out the handkerchief, she was aware of its existence.

"Nonsense! You, Zhang Xiu, how dare you ruin your cousin's reputation for the sake of your husband! You don't even care about your relatives anymore. I'll tear you apart…"

Yang Guifang shouted as she tried to rush forward and destroy the evidence.

She deeply regretted their actions. They had dared to do all this because they thought Lin Ze was naive, and they needed money desperately. They had come up with this terrible idea to get money from Lin Ze.

After all, they had not said anything explicitly. Lin Ze had been deluding himself, and if something happened, he would not dare to speak out. They just had to deny everything.

That's why they had given Lin Ze an ambiguously embroidered handkerchief, making him think that Zhang Yinzhu also had feelings for him, so he would wholeheartedly work to gather money for them. Who could have known that so many complications would arise later…

"When you swapped me for another marriage, did you show any ounce of care for me? Aunt, for the sake of money, you were even willing to manipulate my husband into eloping with her. Are you not afraid of ruining your niece's entire life?"

Zhang Xiu felt extremely distressed, but compared to Zhang Yinzhu and her mother, he still directed most of his blame towards Yang Guifang.

If everyone believed that Zhang Yinzhu had a hand in misleading Lin Ze into thinking about eloping, it would ruin her for the rest of her life. At least now, by shifting the responsibility onto Yang Guifang as a foolish mother who played with her daughter's reputation, they could salvage some of Zhang Yinzhu's future.

Originally, Zhang Xiu had kept the embroidered handkerchief from his original body to protect himself in case his escape plan failed and he needed to bring up evidence of Lin Ze's elopement with Zhang Yinzhu. Then the villagers would sympathize with him, thinking he had no choice but to spare him.

Little did he expect that he would not need to use it, and it happened to help clear Lin Ze's reputation.

"I didn't plan on saying it, as it sounded absurd, and it was merely my own speculation. Ruining the girl's reputation wouldn't be good…"

Lin Ze walked up and embraced Zhang Xiu. Since his wife was being so supportive, he naturally could not lag behind.

"In the past, although I could not let go of the arranged marriage, I also couldn't betray Ah Xiu. I talked to Ah Xiu about this when I went back. Not only did Ah Xiu not blame me for my past mistakes, but he was also willing to be with me. Miss Zhang, I am not worthy of you, and I dare not presume the meaning behind the embroidery on the handkerchief. After all, I have studied the teachings of the sages for so many years. Now, I just want to treat Xiu Ger well."

Originally, he did not plan on dealing with Zhang Yinzhu and her mother. As long as they did not bother him, he did not want to have any interaction with these people.

But now that Zhang Yinzhu and her mother had actively provoked him, he could not be blamed for not being polite. Those who lack shame should be well aware of it themselves.

"Nonsense, I haven't done such a thing! You, you all bully us because we are currently in a weaker position. Lin Ze, just wait, I will have my man come and deal with you. Yinzhu, let's go. This scoundrel wants to ruin your reputation. Don't talk to him anymore!"

Yang Guifang knew the truth of the matter in her heart, but she did not dare to argue further. If they continued to argue, they would only end up at a disadvantage.

After shouting a few more words, Yang Guifang quickly pulled her daughter away, full of hatred towards Lin Ze and Zhang Xiu.

Who would have expected that Lin Ze would suddenly become clever, and the usually timid Zhang Xiu would gather his courage? Could it be that even a rabbit bites when it was cornered? How infuriating!

The farce ended when Yang Guifang and her daughter, Zhang Yinzhu, left, leaving the villagers in a state of confusion.

Even Li Laofu, the village chief, had a bewildered expression on his face, feeling that something was not right while looking at Lin Ze, who still appeared indignant. However, he could not pinpoint exactly what was wrong. The main issue was that when the two, Lin Ze and Yang Guifang, each slapped one another, it not only stunned Zhang Yinzhu, but also left everyone else dumbfounded.

Since Li Laofu could not figure out what was wrong, he simply stopped thinking about it.

After all, since the person at the center of the beating had left without pursuing the matter further, why should he go looking for trouble for himself?

However, regarding Lin Ze's behavior of resorting to violence without any provocation, it had to be mentioned that if the villagers started imitating such actions in the future, it would be a headache for him as the village chief.

"Uncle, rest assured, I was just too excited earlier. As long as they don't bully my wife, I can agree to anything."

Lin Ze promptly apologized.

However, when it came to his words… Well, saying it was like saying nothing. If anyone dared to provoke his wife, he would probably resort to violence again.

They did not expect this bookish scholar to have such a fiery temperament!

Unfortunately, Li Laofu and the other villagers could not come up with any counter arguments. Could it be that protecting one's wife was not appropriate?

No, that was not acceptable. Any man would not allow their wife to be bullied. If it were them, they would probably resort to violence as well.

In the end, after struggling to find a response for a while, everyone tacitly put aside the previous commotion and stopped caring about it.

Through this incident, everyone's perception of Lin Ze changed once again. They now saw him as a cornered wolf, someone not to be provoked unless necessary.

As for now, eating meat was more important!

With Yang Guifang and her daughter, the troublemakers, gone, the villagers' enthusiasm and attention returned to the wild boar meat once again.

It was not easy for rural families to have a taste of meat. Recently, they had been busy with farm work and exhausted. It would be nice to buy some meat and replenish at home. Besides, the meat sold by Lin Ze was three coins cheaper than in town.

The remaining villagers maintained order and did not cause any more trouble. The meat was quickly sold out.

Lin Ze and the others were in a very good mood as they counted the copper coins, completely unaffected by the earlier incident.

"Lin Ze, take good care of Xiu Ger. Things will get better. I'm going back with Luo Ger. I'll go to the mountains to collect things with my brothers at night, so you don't need to go."

He Xiangfeng said, patting Lin Ze's shoulder before leaving. His attitude now had a touch of camaraderie.

Zheng Xiaoluo also looked at Lin Ze more favorably. It was evident that Lin Ze's attitude towards Yang Guifang and her daughter had won their hearts.

"Don't worry, I understand."

Lin Ze replied, smiling and nodding.

Actions speak louder than words when it comes to providing assurance. He knew that Zheng and He were good to his wife.

He Xiangfeng and Zheng Xiaoluo did not expect any assurance from Lin Ze. After all, they were all in the same village, and every action of his could be observed. Moreover, Xiu Ger was not the kind of person who would let himself be bullied without informing them. They had no reason to doubt Lin Ze's sincerity.

After exchanging greetings, Zheng and He took the remaining wild boar meat and left.

With no one else in the house, Lin Ze finally returned to his true nature. He turned around and lifted Zhang Xiu, spinning him around in the room.

Zhang Xiu was startled by his sudden action. The spinning made him dizzy, and his face turned red. This man was really incorrigible.

But Lin Ze paid no mind to that. How could he call him his wife if he did not hold him? After spinning around and feeling happy, he brought his face close to his and gave him a kiss, then asked with anticipation,

"Ah Xiu, were you afraid that someone would take me away just now?"

Otherwise, why did Ah Xiu, who used to be silent, suddenly step forward and slap Zhang Yinzhu? This did not seem like something Zhang Xiu would do according to his personality.

Hearing Lin Ze's question, Zhang Xiu's face grew even redder, and he dared not look at him directly.

"Don't give yourself too much credit. I did it for my own dignity. After all, you are my nominal husband. If my husband flirts with other women in public and I remain silent, how would the villagers perceive me? Besides… I truly despise them, so I took the opportunity for revenge."

The youngman lowered his head, speaking plainly and calmly for his own sake. However, the deepening blush on his face could not deceive anyone.

In the past, when Zhang Yinzhu was involved with 'Lin Ze,' why didn't he speak up? He appeared timid and powerless, but now he could not help but stand up? In simple terms, it was a matter of indifference before and caring now.

Lin Ze had long known what kind of person his wife was. He might deny it with his words, but deep down, it was a different story.

All his efforts over these days had not been in vain. Zhang Xiu was trying to accept him.

"Good! Whatever Ah Xiu says, goes. In the future, if we encounter such situations again, make sure to step up early and protect me, your man. Feel free to give those ignorant fools a beating. Even if the sky falls, your man will bear the brunt!"

Lin Ze was incredibly satisfied with the term 'your man.'

Zhang Xiu had a mix of wanting to laugh and blushing. This person could never be serious at any time.

While struggling against his strong arms that held him, he urged,

"Let go of me quickly. Calculate how much money we made today, and I'll go make something to eat."

"Let's eat later. Let's calculate the money together."

Reluctant to let go, Lin Ze stubbornly lifted him and sat him on his lap before pouring the coins from the jar onto the table to count.

The pile of copper coins resembled a small mountain, bringing joy to the sight, but counting them was undeniably mentally exhausting.

A total of 340 catties of wild boar meat was harvested, with over 200 catties sold to the villagers. Items like ribs, pig trotters, pig head, and offal were kept by Lin Ze himself, as he enjoyed eating them.

In addition, there were two hind legs of the pig reserved to be cured into Jinhua ham (famous ham from Jinhua city), and a dozen catties of pork belly for regular consumption.

Compared to directly consuming the meat, these by-products of the pig were considered valuable in Lin Ze's eyes. It was only because the villagers could not handle them properly that they treated these delicacies as ordinary goods.

In the town, pork was sold at fifteen coins per cattie, while Lin Ze sold it three coins cheaper. With over 200 catties of wild boar meat, he earned around two taels of silver.

Zhang Xiu happily counted the copper coins. He had never held so much money at once.

However, when he thought about how the wild boar was obtained, he could not help but feel a sense of fear. It was something that Lin Ze risked his life for. If it were not for his good luck, the consequences would have been unimaginable.

He also recalled the scene where Lin Ze instructed him to find an opportunity to run while dealing with the wild boar. Zhang Xiu felt a bittersweet sensation in his heart. He never expected Lin Ze to act that way in a life-or-death situation.

Did this man treat everyone so well? Zhang Xiu wondered.

Unable to resist his curiosity, Zhang Xiu cautiously probed,

"Lin Ze, you… must have treated your previous wife very well, right?"

Someone as good as Lin Ze would have married long ago, and his wife must have been a beautiful and gentle woman.

As for why he assumed it was a wife and not a husband, it was because in this world, people with a little family background would marry girls. After all, girls were more suitable as wives. Zhang Xiu naturally also had such thoughts/opinion.

If that were the case, Lin Ze would definitely find an opportunity to go back and see his family.

"Before coming here, I had not been married yet, my wife. If you want to ask something, just ask. Your husband will be honest and tell you everything…"

Lin Ze could not help but laugh when he heard Zhang Xiu's question. His wife was trying to get inside his heart, it seemed.

"Ah Xiu, you don't have to worry about anything. I hadn't been married or had any romantic relationships before coming here, and I am willing to stay here. A big part of the reason is because of you."

"Ah Xiu, you should have confidence in your own excellence, you know? If someone like you were in my hometown, you would definitely be highly sought after. I would have to line up from afar just to pursue you. Now, I've gotten lucky. If my friends were to find out, they would be so envious of me…"

"Forget about my hometown. Even here, if my wife takes care of himself and dresses up a bit, he would undoubtedly be the most beautiful boy in Qingshan County!"

Lin Ze spoke proudly, believing that his wife was truly beautiful.

Apart from some limited education and illiteracy due to the circumstances, which could be changed, his wife was the best.

Zhang Xiu's face blushed slightly, finding it hard to believe.

Lin Ze had a way with words, sweet-talking as if he had applied honey. He was smooth-tongued and persuasive.

He did not even know what he looked like himself. The villagers could not see, and Lin Ze saw him through the eyes of a lover, so it was like self-praise.

But despite knowing that Lin Ze was trying to coax him, Zhang Xiu could not help but feel an indescribable sweetness. It was a feeling he had never experienced before.

Being held in Lin Ze's embrace, Zhang Xiu felt an overwhelming sense of comfort from the chest pressed against his back.

He leaned slightly against Lin Ze's body and took the initiative, saying, "Lin Ze, I'm hungry…"

"Then let's have a meal. How about making fried egg noodles? Do you like that?"

Lin Ze's mood soared in response to Zhang Xiu's small gesture, and he was utterly accommodating.

Zhang Xiu smiled, with his lips curling up.

"Yeah, then I'll help you with the cooking."

"Alright, then I'll carry you there!"

Lin Ze proudly continued to hold Zhang Xiu, unwilling to let him down even for the short distance from the main hall to the kitchen.

Zhang Xiu had no choice but to quickly extend his arms and wrap them around Lin Ze's neck to prevent himself from falling.

Looking at Lin Ze's face, Zhang Xiu's heart raced, feeling like a lively and restless deer inside.

Laughter filled Lin Ze's humble home.

However, during dinner time, both the Lin and Zhang families were anything but peaceful. The house was filled with constant arguing, and naturally, the main targets of the arguments were Lin Ze and Zhang Xiu.

No one could have imagined that the two husbands, who were previously foolish, weak, and incompetent, would become so confrontational, each trying to outdo the other. It was as if a rabbit, when pushed to its limit, could be fiercer than a dog!

The Zhang family spent the whole day arguing at home, wanting to vent their frustrations on someone. However, now that Zhang Xiu had married away and Zhang Liumei had left and not yet returned, they had to suppress their anger and keep it to themselves.

And then they began to worry about their daughter's marriage. Even if Yang Guifang took full responsibility and claimed that she was greedy and took their daughter's embroidered handkerchief to cheat for money, rumors about Zhang Yinzhu would still circulate.

Lin Jianwen's provincial examination was approaching, and they could not afford any issues with the marriage.

If Lin Jianwen could achieve a good ranking in this examination, the Zhang family would prosper alongside him. If Lin Jianwen failed, it would not matter either. After all, he would still have the title of a Xiucai, and their daughter would still be the wife of a scholar. Lin Jianwen could continue taking the examinations, and in the end, his future would still be promising.

On the other hand, in the Lin family, Chen Shuju's hatred for Lin Ze had reached a point where she wanted to devour his heart.

Lin Ze had ruined the good image her son had built in the village with the separation of the family and the busy farming season. Now, he had also tarnished the reputation of their future daughter-in-law. It seemed like they were destined to be at odds with each other.

"And that little bi*ch Zhang Yinzhu, she's about to get married, and she's still wandering around everywhere. Has she never had any experience with men in her eight lifetimes? It seems that all the pretty ones are indeed sl*ts!"

Chen Shuju's mouth showed no mercy, and she continued to spew hateful words without considering that Zhang Yinzhu would soon be her daughter-in-law. She had no qualms about saying anything offensive.

There was a reason why she disliked girls who were good-looking. It was because Jiang Rongniang was chosen by Lin Sangui in the past precisely because of her looks.

"You lazy woman! Haven't you learned your lesson yet? Instead of spreading gossip all day, why don't you accumulate some virtues?"

When Chen Shuju brought up Jiang Rongniang and started criticizing her, Lin Sangui's face turned ugly. He angrily set down his bowl and went back inside.

The household was constantly filled with noise and arguments, making it an unsettling environment.

Lin Jianwen's expression also did not look good.

Although he did not truly have strong feelings for Zhang Yinzhu, regardless, she would soon be his wife. She represented his reputation and dignity.

"That's enough, mother. We are not allowed to bring up this matter again. Let's move the wedding date forward and use the joyous occasion to silence the village gossip. The sooner we get married, the sooner I can use the money to buy books…"

Lin Jianwen gave the order with a serious face. If he had not been born into a poor family, he would not have had to sacrifice his own marriage for money and marry an ignorant country girl.

"Son, is that book you're talking about really that good? Buying it will guarantee your success? Aren't you just being deceived? It's a hundred taels of silver, you know."

Chen Shuju did not understand what her son was thinking, but when he mentioned buying a book, she became interested and also a bit worried.

Six months ago, her son told her about a book that, if read, would ensure success in the examinations. But it required a hundred taels of silver to obtain.

Otherwise, she would not have agreed to the proposal of changing the marriage partner with the Zhang family. Despite Zhang Yinzhu's beauty, she was still a village girl. How could she be worthy of her son?

However, the Zhang family promised to provide a dowry of several dozen taels of silver if Zhang Yinzhu married into their family. That was why she agreed.

"It should be fine. This is the information we received from the nephew of the county magistrate…"

Lin Jianwen nodded, but deep down, he was still uncertain.

If they were deceived in this matter of buying leaked examination questions, they could only bear the loss. However, the lead came from the nephew of the county magistrate, so it should be reliable, right? Moreover, if everyone else was buying it except him, wouldn't he be left behind?