After Just Transmigrating to the Great Tang Empire, I Was Assigned Wives - Chapter 2:

Chapter 2: Living Off a Woman Isn’t Easy

Seeing Cao Xianhui tightly clutching Zhang Mu’s hand, the surrounding crowd immediately burst into discussion.

“Just what kind of person did Zhang Mu offend to end up like this? This is too miserable. The Cao family has already offended the Wang family, and this Cao Xianhui herself doesn’t even have any curves to speak of. Otherwise, with the Cao family’s background, how could their daughter fall to the point of being assigned by the authorities?”

“Exactly. Cao Xianhui is famously hard to marry off. She comes out with the magistrate’s constables several times every month. It’s been almost a year, and not a single man is willing to take her.”

“I heard once the magistrate’s constables pitied her and deliberately brought fewer girls. In the end, all the other girls were chosen, leaving only her. Guess what happened? The last uncle saw that only Cao Xianhui was left and was so frightened he died on the spot.”

“It’s no wonder men don’t want her. Look at that waist, thinner than my arm. Can she even bear children? And those legs, so long and thin, how could she have any strength? The worst part is her skin, so pale. If she stays under the sun for a bit, won’t she lose a layer of skin? How is she supposed to work in the fields?”

“Sigh, heaven is blind. Misfortune always strikes the weakest. Zhang Mu himself is as skinny as a chick, and now he’s stuck with a wife like this. How will he live from now on?”

…

Although everyone looked down on Cao Xianhui, Zhang Mu felt like he had struck gold. 

Fair skin, delicate beauty, long legs, she was absolutely a top-tier beauty of the Great Tang Empire.

Damn it, no more arguing with the officials. It’s her.

Just as Zhang Mu was grinning foolishly at Cao Xianhui, Qian Meiyou rushed over and kicked him.

“What did I tell you? Pick a woman with a big face, wide hips, and a sturdy frame. Look at what you chose. Just for show. Can she even work?”

“Old Qian, different people have different tastes. I like this type. Look at what you chose. You’ll have to turn off the lights at night, or you won’t even get started.”

“Fine, fine. Do whatever you want. When there’s no one to work in the fields later, don’t come crying.”

After saying that, Qian Meiyou led his fierce wife home. Zhang Mu also held Cao Xianhui’s hand and followed. It wasn’t that he wanted to follow Qian Meiyou, it was simply because they were headed the same way. They were neighbors, living door to door.

When Qian Meiyou stopped, Zhang Mu knew they had arrived. Looking at his home in this life, Zhang Mu felt as if ten thousand alpacas were stampeding through his heart.

This could be called a home?!

Looking at the mud walls and thatched roof, a house that blocked neither wind in winter, sunlight in summer, nor rain during storms, Zhang Mu’s heart shattered instantly.

“Husband, is this your home?”

“How is it? Not bad, right? Syrian style.”

Cao Xianhui fell silent.

Seeing her stunned expression, Zhang Mu quickly added, “I mean primitive style.”

Cao Xianhui remained silent.

“Husband, come with me.”

“Where?”

“To my home. To be honest, my family does a bit of business and has some wealth. From now on, you can live with me at the Cao family. I’ll support you.”

Zhang Mu fell silent.

“Damn.”

Since he had nothing anyway and his home was so poor that even rats would cry upon entering, why not take the ready-made opportunity to live off someone else?

Besides, was there anything better in this world than living off a woman?

Zhang Mu followed Cao Xianhui to the Cao residence. Although the Cao family was not a great aristocratic clan, they were still merchants. Just from their mansion alone, one could tell they were wealthy and well-established.

“Hui’er, how did it go? Did anyone choose you?”

“Father, your daughter is finally married. Look, this is my husband.”

Hearing this, Cao’s father hurried over and sized Zhang Mu up from head to toe.

“Not bad, not bad. Though you’re not as handsome as I am, it’s already rare these days to find a young man with all his limbs intact.”

Zhang Mu fell silent.

Hearing this, Zhang Mu understood. After decades of war, there were hardly any young men left with complete bodies. Those who were intact were all in the army.

“Husband, this is my father.”

“Your son-in-law Zhang Mu greets Father-in-law.”

Seeing Zhang Mu so tactful, Cao’s father was quite pleased.

“Hui’er, this is the husband you found?”

Hearing this voice, Zhang Mu turned to look.

Damn. What a charming and mature woman, still graceful and full of lingering allure.

“Husband, this is my mother.”

Hearing Cao Xianhui say this, Zhang Mu immediately stepped forward respectfully and said, “Your son-in-law Zhang Mu greets Mother-in-law.”

Seeing how well Zhang Mu conducted himself, Cao’s mother was overjoyed. After a whole year, her daughter’s lifelong matter was finally settled.

“Mm, not bad. You have a sweet tongue. Since you chose my daughter, you are now a son-in-law of the Cao family. Our Cao family has no sons, only Hui’er as our sole daughter. After your father-in-law and I pass away, everything here will belong to you. Now that we’re family, I won’t hide anything. Although our Cao family appears wealthy, it’s actually just a facade. Business is hard these days. Every industry is controlled by powerful aristocratic families, and small families like ours can only follow their lead. Especially the Wang family next door, they’ve been eyeing us greedily. You must be careful in the future and never offend the great families. Also, our Cao family takes in a son-in-law, we do not marry out our daughter.”

Zhang Mu fell silent.

The Wang family next door? Could it be that branch from Taiyuan?!

Taking in a son-in-law?!

Damn it, even living off a woman isn’t easy.

“Mother-in-law, since you’re being so straightforward, I’ll speak plainly. I don’t care whether I marry in or not, but any children must take my surname, Zhang.”

“No. We take in a son-in-law precisely to continue our family line. If the children take your surname, what’s the point of taking in a son-in-law? Do you think our Hui’er can’t get married? With our Cao family’s wealth, what kind of son-in-law couldn’t we buy?”

“Mother-in-law, since you say so, then let’s call off this marriage. The court hands out wives every day. I can just go get another one.”

Hearing this, the Cao family panicked immediately.

Call off the marriage? 

That would be disastrous. 

Although their daughter was talented, in these times, talent meant nothing. What mattered was wide hips for childbirth and a sturdy build for work.

Moreover, the Wang family next door was watching them closely. Other than this foolish young man, who else would dare marry their daughter?

From this perspective, their daughter truly wasn’t desirable.

“Xiao Mu, don’t be in a hurry. Matters like this are like doing business. Everything can be negotiated.”

Hearing this, Zhang Mu said casually, “Father-in-law, you’re also a man. You should understand. As men, we work hard every day, and in the end, even the children don’t carry our surname. Would you accept that?”

“I would. Your father-in-law’s name is Zhang Anquan, and your mother-in-law is Cao Yunxi. Hui’er took her mother’s surname.”

Zhang Mu fell silent.

Damn, so this father-in-law himself had married into the family.

It seemed the Cao family was determined to carry on their line through sons-in-law.

In this world where women outnumbered men, the Cao family still refused to marry their daughter out. Wasn’t it because they relied on their wealth while he was poor?

But as a transmigrator, earning money shouldn’t be difficult.

Thinking of this, Zhang Mu smirked and said to his mother-in-law, “Since neither of us will back down, let’s make a bet. If before the child is born I can build up a fortune greater than the Cao family’s, then the child will take the surname Zhang. Otherwise, the child will take the surname Cao. What do you say?”

Cao Yunxi fell silent.

If this boy started immediately, with good luck, a child could be born within a year.

In an era controlled by powerful families, starting from nothing and surpassing the Cao family’s accumulated wealth in one year was simply a fool’s dream.

“Fine, it’s settled. No need to choose another day. Tonight you will consummate the marriage. Hurry and bathe and change. It’s time to plow the field and sow the seed.”

After speaking, Cao Yunxi turned to her daughter and said, “Hui’er, what are you standing there for? Hurry up. Go wash yourself and lie in bed waiting.”

Zhang Mu fell silent.

Sigh, where is there ever true peace in this world? All peace is merely the result of struggle, without exception.

Take Qin Shubao, the Grand Marshal of the Great Tang Empire’s armies, for example. Impressive, right? In his youth, he was known as Little Mengchang.

Even in later generations, he would be considered as famous as Lord Guan.

But looking at the things Qin Shubao did when he was young, they were far from honorable.

In his youth, Qin Shubao mastered various weapons and martial skills. As the saying goes, those with great skill are bold. How could someone capable live quietly?

Proud and ambitious, Qin Shubao served the government while also befriending figures from the underworld. But those who mingled in both black and white circles were no simple people. As a young and poor newcomer, who would take him seriously?

Later, Qin Shubao met Shan Xiongxin, the leader of the underworld across seven provinces. Only then did he rise.

Shan Xiongxin admired him greatly and often brought him to gatherings to build his reputation. Qin Shubao seized the opportunity and, within a few years, earned the title of Little Mengchang of Shandong.

At that time, everyone in the martial world would respectfully call him Second Brother Qin.

When Qin Shubao’s mother celebrated her birthday, powerful figures from both the underworld and official circles came to pay respects. 

Was it because of Qin Shubao? 

No, it was because of Shan Xiongxin.

Throughout history, when figures from the underworld grow powerful, they always want to accomplish something grand.

A group of lawless leaders, encouraged by Cheng Yaojin, who had once robbed even Yang Lin, the Prince of the former Sui Empire, raised a banner of rebellion at Wagang Stronghold.

But those who thrived in the underworld lacked political sense.

They could get by on loyalty and brotherhood, but to truly grow strong, that wasn’t enough. What mattered was understanding human relationships.

Soon enough, their first attempt at rebellion failed.

People who gathered under one banner spoke of brotherhood when times were good, but when the situation turned unfavorable, who still cared about loyalty?

After all, loyalty is for the living. If you can’t even preserve your own life, what right do you have to speak of loyalty?

In the end, the remnants of Wagang scattered. Qin Shubao and Shan Xiongxin led a group to join Wang Shichong.

Wang Shichong valued Shan Xiongxin greatly and even gave his daughter to him.

Seeing that Wang Shichong did not offer his daughter to him, Qin Shubao became angry and later joined Li Shimin.

At first, nothing changed much. Though they served different masters, Qin Shubao and Shan Xiongxin still kept in contact and could drink together during festivals.

Later, as wars raged and rival kings fell one by one, both Li Shimin and Wang Shichong rose to prominence.

Eventually, they clashed over territory.

At that time, Qin Shubao went to Wang Shichong’s territory, not to drink with Shan Xiongxin, but to persuade him to defect to Li Shimin. Shan Xiongxin refused.

He had eaten Wang Shichong’s food, drunk his wine, and even shared his daughter’s bed. No matter what, he would not betray him.

When persuasion failed, Qin Shubao secretly convinced many former Wagang brothers to defect.

Even so, Shan Xiongxin said nothing.

Later, Wang Shichong was defeated by Li Shimin, and Shan Xiongxin was captured alive.

This was the moment that tested their brotherhood. After all, Qin Shubao had risen under Shan Xiongxin.

But when Li Shimin prepared to execute Shan Xiongxin, Qin Shubao happened to be away.

By the time he returned, Shan Xiongxin had already been executed.

And now? 

Qin Shubao still enjoyed great glory as the Grand Marshal of the Great Tang Empire, while Shan Xiongxin’s grave had long been overgrown with weeds.

Where is there ever peace in this world? 

It is merely that someone else bears the burden and walks ahead.