Chapter 58: The Two Sons of the Yuan Family

In the early morning, Chen Wuji woke up from being embraced on the left and right, and stretched lazily.

If Huo Sanniang hadn't been beside him, given how things were going last night with Shen Youwei, he would surely have done something.

When Chen Wuji moved, Huo Sanniang and Shen Youwei opened their eyes one after another.

Their eyes met, and the two blushed one after another, a shy pink more alluring than a big red cherry.

Although Huo Sanniang didn't see what happened last night, she guessed something from the sounds and movements.

As the elders say, touching hands brings bad luck.

Huo Sanniang worriedly pondered how to bring this up with Chen Wuji.

Once something gets a yes, there will be a second; as long as she finds it fun, this foolish husband of hers will only become more reckless.

Chen Wuji reached his hand under the covers, grabbing the smooth, tender thighs of Huo Sanniang and Shen Youwei, one on each side, and said, "Time to get up."

"I will serve my husband," Shen Youwei said, lifting the blanket, taking Chen Wuji's clothes, and began to help him dress.

Chen Wuji: …

He really just said it simply.

But to Shen Youwei's ears, it sounded like something else entirely.

Chen Wuji laughed and said, "I can do it myself."

"It'll be ready soon," Shen Youwei said, blushing and speaking softly.

She is more uninhibited than Huo Sanniang, already unafraid to show her beauty before Chen Wuji.

But this scene was nothing short of immense torment for Chen Wuji.

The fire, unsurprisingly, burned ever hotter.

Just as he was getting restless, Huo Sanniang joined in helping him dress; after a quick fix, she pushed him off the kang.

"Early in the morning, don't move around, hurry up and wash up," Huo Sanniang teased.

If she hadn't acted quickly, that foolish husband would surely have caused trouble again.

This matter can't be delayed any longer; today we must find a chance to talk it through properly.

If it weren't awkward to say this in front of Shen Youwei, she would have blurted it out right then.

Chen Wuji left the room full of regret.

After washing his face with cold water in the courtyard, rinsing his mouth, and forcing himself to quell the fire, Chen Wuji first went to check on the five flying squirrels.

They seem fairly content with this new home; so far none have run off and starved themselves to death from longing.

Chen Wuji opened the courtyard gate.

He planned to do nothing else this morning, first tidy up the sole storage room outside—the former pigpen—so these flying squirrels could move in.

If he gets it right, this could become a lasting business; he needs to take it seriously.

Just as he stepped out of the courtyard, he turned his head and saw Yuan Jinshi and Licentiate Yuan standing not far away.

Compared to last night, the two brothers looked a bit more spirited, at least there was a glint in their eyes.

But the deathly look on their faces remained unmistakable.

They were so hungry that the skin on their faces looked as if it had completely clung to their bones.

"Brother Wuji, we've cleaned the intestines," Yuan Jinshi said, stepping forward quickly and handing Chen Wuji the bundle wrapped in lotus leaves.

Chen Wuji didn't take it, saying, "It's fine that it's cleaned; take it and eat it yourselves."

"Brother Wuji, we can't take it; we haven't finished the wild boar meat you gave us yesterday," Yuan Jinshi said, shaking his head.

Chen Wuji glanced at him and said, "Just because you're full for one meal, you think you'll never be hungry again? And you're still being modest with me?"

"No, my father said, a person shouldn't be greedy. You've already helped us once; cleaning the intestines is what we owe, and we can't take back what we should give," Yuan Jinshi said.

Though barely in his teens, his reasoning may not hold water, but he spoke with unusual sincerity.

"Then help me with one more thing—come with me," Chen Wuji said.

"Yes."

The brothers' faces lit up, and they hurried to follow Chen Wuji's steps.

"Clear out everything inside and clean it thoroughly," Chen Wuji said, pointing to the storage room.

Yuan Jinshi carefully placed the intestines on a large stone nearby, then led his brother into the storage room to start working.

The storage room didn't hold much—just some planks, timber, and farming tools.

This impoverished family doesn't deserve to have more miscellaneous items.

While the brothers were tidying up, Chen Wuji mixed some sweet clay without straw.

The storage room is quite old, full of holes everywhere; he didn't know if flying squirrels had a talent for burrowing, but he still needed to plug the gaps just in case.

The roof of the storage room also needed to be re-nailed with planks to prevent them from flying out.

As Chen Wuji readied the mud and held a board to measure, Yuan Jinshi walked over, grabbed a handful of mud with his bare hands, and began filling the holes inside the storage room.

The youngster not only had an eye for detail but also some work experience, knowing to use stones to fill the gaps.

Chen Wuji glanced, said nothing more, and let them get on with it.

When Huo Sanniang came out after preparing breakfast, seeing Yuan Jinshi and Licentiate Yuan stunned, she walked to Chen Wuji's side and whispered, "Wuji, how did they come here?"

"These two kids are almost starving to death; seeing them, I lent a hand." After saying that, Chen Wuji briefly explained to Huo Sanniang what had happened the previous night.

Huo Sanniang nodded, "These two children are more sensible than the adults of the Yuan family, more like proper people, but also pitiful; I'll go make some extra breakfast—I've stewed snake soup, but I'm afraid it won't be enough."

"No need, wife, just prepare our own," Chen Wuji said, shaking his head and pointing to the intestines on the large stone, "I've already helped as I should; a few days ago I wouldn't have given a bit of minced meat to anyone. Wife, we're not in a position to be do-gooders now; this is enough."

If the household had a full granary of surplus grain, Chen Wuji could even raise these two boys at home.

Unfortunately, he doesn't.

Not only does he lack it, he could at any moment fall back into that previous state of utter destitution.

He has no money or grain, yet there are two enemies who are always trying to take his life.

To put it bluntly, his situation is only a little better than these two kids.

Huo Sanniang fell silent for a moment, then suddenly spat angrily, "Yuan Laoer's two brothers are good-for-nothing; why haven't they been struck dead by lightning!"