Chapter 4: Does It Hurt?

"What’s gotten into him today? He used to be just like every other man—lazy, pampered, and entitled. What is he playing at? Oh, I get it! He must be looking to share a bed with me. Usually, when I’m reluctant and he tries to coax me, he’ll give me a few bites of rice or let me rest for a moment. But today, he’s actually leaving the house and doing chores he’s never touched before. It looks like I’ll be stuck at home tonight, or tomorrow, or maybe even the day after. I just hope his fragile little frame can handle it!"

Without waiting for Yue'e to speak, Chen Fan stepped forward and unloaded the firewood from her back, hoisting it onto his own shoulders. He had to admit, his back nearly gave out; he couldn't blame himself, though—the original owner's body was indeed weak. However, his time in the military camps on Earth had taught him how to engage his core, align his hips with his stance, and channel his strength effectively.

He began walking forward.

Yue'e and her sister, Yuerou, were left standing there, completely dumbfounded.

"The head of the house is actually carrying it... he’s really helping Sister! It’s so frustrating!"

"What? He’s actually carrying it! And he wasn't just saying it for show!"

"Ouch! Yuerou, why did you pinch me so hard?"

"Sister, does it hurt?"

"It hurts like hell!"

Chen Fan didn't look back as he marched forward, dropping a line that would have been explosive anywhere in Zeng County.

"I said, Yue'e, your sister’s leg is injured. Hurry up and take her hand so we can head home and cook dinner together!"

The two women stared at each other, eyes wide and blinking rapidly, stunned into silence. Finally, one word slipped out.

"Okay."

Chen Fan walked down the street with the firewood on his back, followed by his two beautiful wives. Passersby stopped to watch; some took one look and immediately ran back to their courtyards to call their families. Before long, the sides of the road were lined with women holding various labor tools. There were a few men, too, but they turned away and left the moment they saw him.

"Ugh, what kind of man is that? Acting like a woman, and he even looks like a pretty girl!"

Yue'e and Yuerou felt incredibly self-conscious under the gazes, yet they felt a strange sense of pride.

The women watching had a glimmer in their eyes!

Yue'e, feeling that her husband was losing face by being spoken of this way, rushed up to take the firewood back. "Master, let me do it. I want to stay home and rest for a few days anyway to repair my hunting bow."

"It's fine. Do whatever you want, I’ll carry this. What are you doing? Go take your sister’s hand!"

The women on the street were stunned, their jaws dropping as they stared, blinking until their eyes were dry.

"Hurry up, you two! Do you want me to get angry?"

Yuerou and Yue'e felt an unprecedented sense of honor and status, though they were mostly just overwhelmed.

Chen Fan stopped and turned to glare at the sisters. He wore a fierce, menacing expression—the same one he used to intimidate enemies in the military. It frightened the sisters, though they were starting to get used to it. The onlookers, sensing there was nothing more to see, began to disperse, concluding that Chen Fan was just like any other man after all.

"Hurry up and take your sister home! We’re going back to eat!"

The sisters were even more bewildered. The passersby stopped in their tracks, jaws hitting the floor. They thought to themselves, "Who does things like this these days? They must have given him at least ten fat, healthy sons!"

"I said move it!"

Yuerou finally snapped out of it, stepped forward to take her sister’s hand, and followed Chen Fan. Yue'e followed half-willingly. They left the crowd of women standing there, dazed for a long time. Such a good man was perhaps only comparable to that Left Minister and Grand Master of the Three Clans in the Imperial Palace!

Had it not been late in the day, if this had happened in the busy market at noon, the place would have been packed solid.

The three of them soon reached home. Chen Fan set the firewood in the kitchen and called for the sisters to come help cook. They were still deeply uncomfortable with Chen Fan being so kind; he used to be the type to wait for everything to be served to him, never lifting a finger, just like every other man. Could this drastic change really just be because he took a fall? Yuerou and Yue'e exchanged glances and spoke in unison:

"Master, you should go rest! You’ve already done enough work. Let us handle it!"

Chen Fan felt these women were making a mountain out of a molehill. Why were they so reserved over such simple, trivial things that would be common on Earth? What was wrong with a man helping his wives cook or carrying firewood? Was it illegal here?

"I said move it!"

Chen Fan remembered the original owner liked to use that catchphrase, often peppering his speech with coarse language.

Yuerou pinched Yue'e hard, signaling frantically with her eyes. But the sisters, usually so in sync, couldn't grasp each other's meaning right now. Yuerou was getting desperate.

"Sister! Just do as the Master says!"

"Right. Yes, the Master is right."

They entered the kitchen to help.

"By the way, Yuerou, where is the salt kept?"

"Master, there is no salt. It costs ten coins an ounce."

"What about the sugar?"

"Master, there is no sugar. That costs twenty coins an ounce."

"What about the rice?"

"Master, there is no rice. That costs thirty coins a catty..."

"And your game? The animals you hunted?"

"Master, there is no game. That costs forty coins a catty."

"Oh! I see. Then where is the money kept?"

"Master, there is no money. That costs fifty coins a day."

"Oh, I see!"

"Then tell me, what is there to eat? I’m starving."

"There are some vegetable leaves I picked up from the market—they’re still edible if you trim them. And there’s a piece of tofu in the water jar that hasn't gone bad yet. But Master, you don't usually eat these things, and even if you do, you eat very little. We used up all the seasoning on lunch."

"It's fine. We'll have Jade and Emerald Soup tonight!"

"Master, we don't have any jade or emeralds. Yuerou doesn't know how much that costs."

"Hahaha, just tell me if we have water!"

"Master, we have water."

"You two go to the room and wait for me. You don't need to help; I can do it myself."

"But Master—"

"I said move it!"

Yuerou and Yue'e had no choice but to obediently return to the room and wait.