I Pampered Twin Sisters During a Famine and Built a Self-Sufficient Empire with Wives and Wealth! - Chapter 3:

Chapter 3:

Seeing Xu Changnian walk over, Yun Niang’s chest rose and fell violently with anger. 

One hand rested on her hip while the other pointed straight at his nose. 

The tenderness from earlier had completely disappeared, and her eyes were already searching around for a stick. If it weren’t for the old man and her daughter being present, she would definitely have exploded on the spot and fought with Xu Changnian again.

“Third son, you fainted earlier, did you get cold?” 

Seeing his son come in, Xu Tielin wanted to lose his temper, but he still couldn’t bring himself to do it. He had three sons. The eldest, Xu Changqing, had passed away. The second, Xu Changxuan, had been adopted into the eldest brother’s family. Xu Changnian was the third. When he was born, his mother died during childbirth, so Xu Tielin spoiled him excessively out of guilt, which created endless bad habits and turned him into a notorious scoundrel known throughout the region. He only hoped that after Xu Changnian got married, he would at least restrain himself a little.

The one most afraid of Xu Changnian was Xiao Yue. When she saw her third uncle enter, tears instantly filled her eyes. She wanted to rush into her mother’s arms, but Yun Niang was furious as well, so she instead hid herself in Shen Wei’s embrace. 

Xu Changnian also felt helpless. He hadn’t even done anything yet, and his little niece was already terrified to the point of crying. 

Just how terrible was this scoundrel in his previous life? 

In such a good family, everyone treated him like an enemy.

Especially after hearing his father’s words, he now finally understood how the former delinquent version of himself had been raised. He was spoiled far too much. Constantly causing trouble at home, trading food for alcohol, even dragging two wives back home—shouldn’t he have had at least three legs broken by now?

“I’m fine.” Xu Changnian said, “These two wives… Father, Sister-in-law, are you satisfied with them? If you have no objections, then let’s just settle it like this.” 

He felt guilty inside. He had heard everything that everyone said earlier, but he still had to pretend he didn’t know anything and continue acting like a shameless rascal.

Would reasoning help right now? 

Would saying that he had changed, that he wanted to be a good person, do anything? 

Useless. Whatever he said right now would only sound like nonsense to Yun Niang. They would still quarrel, and things would eventually still get ruined. If he wanted to keep the Shen sisters here and stabilize the household, he needed to be ruthless.

His meaning was obvious. Neither of the two wives could leave. As for sending them to a brothel, absolutely impossible. 

Any woman chosen by Xu Changnian could not be touched by anyone else. That included Yun Niang. As for Old Xu Hei wanting Yun Niang to do needlework at his place, did that bastard really think Xu Changnian couldn’t guess his intentions? 

The lingering shadow of Wei Wu still haunted his thoughts… Old Xu Hei, just try making a move.

After speaking, Xu Changnian stopped talking. He picked up a bowl of clear Millet porridge and gulped it down. It really didn’t taste good, and it even scratched his throat, but in this disastrous famine year, Millet was literally life-saving food, and his mindset began to change unconsciously. He finished a big bowl and even licked the last grain clean.

Everyone else in the house stared cautiously at him, afraid he would continue causing trouble. 

The most awkward one was Shen Yourong. Her toes could almost dig through the floorboards, and her index finger twisted nervously behind her back. 

Xu Changnian wanting to keep her was, of course, a good thing. She was happy in her heart. Even if this man was a scoundrel and shameless… in front of staying alive, those things no longer seemed that important. 

But staying in the Xu family simply wasn’t realistically possible. It had taken so much effort just to secure survival for her younger sister… she still had to leave.

A few years ago, not to mention such countryside villagers, even noble sons from aristocratic families in the capital would have found it difficult to even meet her and her sister once. In the end, Shen Yourong could only sigh inwardly at how unpredictable life was.

After eating and drinking his fill, Xu Changnian tossed the bowl onto the table, cupped Shen Yourong’s cheeks with both hands, and kissed her firmly. 

Before everyone inside could even react, he pushed open the door and walked out while calling back, “Wife, help your sister-in-law wash the dishes and clean the pots. Wait for me to return from hunting, and then we will consummate the marriage. If I find out you’re being lazy… hmph!”

Xu Changnian actually wanted to talk properly, but if he wasn’t tough, this family would immediately fall apart. 

Even though what he was doing seemed outrageous, it at least bought him time, and within that time, a miracle might be possible. 

“I must have committed some great sin in a past life…” Xu Tielin clutched his chest and limped back into his room. 

Was this son even salvageable? 

“Rascal! And you’re going hunting?” Yun Niang could only scold weakly. 

What else could she even say? 

That delinquent would definitely go fool around with Liu Ermazi. It seemed impossible to send the two sisters away now. That bastard even said if he didn’t see them tonight…

If this blew up, the family wouldn’t even survive the winter. 

They might not even last until tonight before the entire house got torn down. It looked like she really had no choice but to go to Old Xu Hei’s place to do needlework. Yun Niang sighed helplessly.

Shen Yourong’s face was as red as an apple. 

Although she had already resolved herself, this was still her first kiss… and it even happened in front of everyone. 

For a refined lady like her, it was unbearably embarrassing. In the end, Shen Yourong could only pick up the bowls and help Yun Niang with the housework. They still had to leave eventually, but if she ran right now, it wouldn’t just be her sister who suffered— even the Xu family would fall into chaos.

There were no chickens, no dogs… only that little bit of Millet left in the jar.

…

Xu Changnian stood in the village, looking into the distance at three towering mountains. Memories slowly surfaced in his mind. 

The closest one was called Xiaoyue Mountain. The terrain was relatively gentle, hunters often went there to hunt and woodcutters frequently gathered firewood there, so paths had already been formed and it was relatively safe. 

But because too many people went, the resources were nearly exhausted, and big gains were rare. The Information System’s target pointed him to the foot of Xiaoyue Mountain to pick up a Frozen Rabbit.

The second mountain was called Black Wind Mountain. Just the name sounded dangerous. Wolves and bears often appeared there, and only experienced veteran hunters dared to take risks there. As for the furthest mountain in the distance, he had almost no memory of it… only a vague impression that it was extremely dangerous and that bandits seemed to have appeared there before.

“There wouldn’t be some Black Bear Monster up on Black Wind Mountain, right? I don’t even have a cassock for him to steal…” 

Walking alone through this unfamiliar village, Xu Changnian felt both afraid and cold, so he could only joke with himself for courage. 

But after walking for a short while, he realized he had overestimated himself a little. Although it was early winter and most of the snow from a few days ago had melted, his cotton-padded jacket was far too thin. 

The cold wind pierced straight through him.

Father should have a sheepskin coat. Next time he went up the mountain, he’d have to borrow it. 

Fortunately, this time he only needed to go to the foot of the mountain and bring the rabbit back. Just as he walked to the village entrance, passing a messy-looking household, Xu Changnian suddenly smelled alcohol.

“Come on, cheers!” 

“Brother Liu, about those two young ladies from this morning, why did you let that Xu family brat take advantage?” 

“You don’t understand anything. Do you really think I don’t know what kind of situation the Xu family is in? Their food is practically already in our stomachs as wine.” 

“Let me guess, Xu Changnian is probably fighting with that shrew Yun Niang right now. Later, we brothers will go… hehe…” 

“You’re so smart, Brother Liu. Once chaos breaks out at the Xu family, we’ll slip in…”