Chapter 5: Practice Is the Sole Criterion for Testing Truth

After a short while, Chen Fan entered the room carrying a large bowl of cabbage and tofu soup and set it down on the table. Though it was a clear broth, light and simple, it still looked quite appealing.

“How is it? Doesn’t it remind you of jade and white jade soup?”

“Master, you really know how to speak! So this is what jade white jade soup is!”

Chen Fan placed the bowl and then filled each smaller bowl to the brim with the jade white jade soup. The two sisters had intended to help but were so intimidated by Chen Fan’s commanding presence that they sat down quietly.

“Well, come on, give it a try!”

“Mmm! There’s a faint sweetness, and the aroma of the beans! It’s deliciously sweet and fragrant!”

“Master, how did you make this?”

“Actually, it’s quite simple. The leaves have natural cane sugar, so they’re sweet; the tofu is made from soybeans, which gives it fragrance. Tomorrow, Yue Rou, you go gather some more leaves, and Yue E, you take me up the mountain—I’ll help you. You both worked so hard before; from now on, I’ll work alongside you. Whatever there is to do, we’ll do it together, alright?”

After everything that had happened that day, the two sisters felt that the master might truly have changed. Their eyes brimmed with tears, glistening like crystals.

Chen Fan lifted his bowl and drank it all in one go. He didn’t put it down immediately but paused for a long moment before setting it aside, gazing at the two beautiful sisters.

“Yue Rou, you should still come with us to the mountain tomorrow. I’m worried those three might come back to bully you.”

“Alright, Master. Whatever you say goes.”

She smiled, revealing her pearly white teeth. Chen Fan’s heart skipped a beat, just as it did when he first met Yue Rou.

“Master, where will I sleep tonight?”

“By the way, Yue Rou, I only saw one bed in your home. Why’s that?”

“Master, that bed has always been for you. I usually sleep on the floor. My sister comes home occasionally and sleeps with you when she does. I can sleep in the kitchen.”

“Ah! How about this: from now on, you two sleep in the same bed as me. It’s quite big anyway. I’ll sleep in the middle.”

“Alright! I’ll boil water for your bath, Master!”

“No need, Yue Rou, I’ve already boiled it. Just fetch the water. There’s only one basin at home, right?”

“Yes, Master, that’s right!”

“Okay, go fetch the water and wash up. When you’re done, lie down on the bed and wait for me.”

The two sisters lay on the bed early, whispering softly to each other. Chen Fan washed carefully; after they finished, they boiled a big pot of water for him again. Being clean was important to him, and the more water there was, the more thorough his wash.

“Ah! Sister, it’s like this! Your leg pain shouldn’t be too bad, right?”

“Hahaha, it’s alright, little sister.”

Chen Fan slipped under the quilt. The original owner certainly knew how to enjoy life—the quilt was thick and large, made of cotton even though the mattress was straw. There was a thick cotton sheet on top, which felt very comfortable.

Yue Rou turned her back to Chen Fan, brushing her back against him. Yue E sensibly pushed Chen Fan toward Yue Rou, pressing the two of them together. Chen Fan wrapped his arms around Yue Rou from behind and gently turned her to face him.

Yue Rou hid her face in the quilt, delicate hands slipping from beneath Chen Fan’s armpit to grasp his shoulders, her head pressed tightly against his chest, her body slowly drawing closer.

Yes, she had married Chen Fan, and this was the first time she slept on a bed, the first time she slept with a man. After the day’s events, she yearned to be close to him.

Chen Fan bent his head and kissed her lightly. After that, the two drifted into a natural, beautiful dream, sleeping soundly and peacefully.

Meanwhile, Huang Ya and two of his underlings, bandaged up, were holding a banquet at home, inviting several unsavory friends and scheming about how to get rid of Chen Fan and take his two wives. They dared not snatch them directly, fearing death.

The shifty-eyed Liu Jia suggested watching for a few days to see how Chen Fan had become so ruthless and tough. Huang Ya was impatient and scornful.

“Let’s just storm his house directly, bring weapons, and deal with it. Why be afraid? We have so many of us.”

Wang Si, half-asleep, had a criminal record and had spent a few years in prison. He had been released due to a policy encouraging childbirth; otherwise, he’d still be serving time, doing hard labor and receiving penal education.

“No, no. We’ve all wanted beautiful women for years, and fights over wives are frequent. Although the authorities sometimes show leniency when women complain, if we kill the man, we’ll definitely end up in jail or be exiled to the frontier.”

“That’s true! We should observe for a few days and then find an opportunity.”

That night, every woman who had seen Chen Fan carry firewood and bring his wife home started to admire him. Men just thought he was crazy. But a seventh-rank county official, watching his soon-to-be-married daughter sleep soundly, felt very pleased.

“Master Cai, send two silver-ranked constables to keep an eye on that firewood carrier, find out everything about him. We must know him inside and out.”

“But Master, you can only call upon three silver-ranked constables in total. Perhaps we should send bronze-ranked ones instead?”

“Then send Li Xing alone. Isn’t he about to become a silver-ranked constable?”

“Yes, Master.”

Clouds imagine clothes, flowers imagine beauty, spring breeze brushes the face revealing radiant charm.

Chen Fan woke early, before dawn, and went out to sit in the courtyard. Actually, he planned to go for a run, but upon stepping into the yard, he realized he was no longer in the military camp on Earth.

At this moment, he thought of nothing but the sweet memories of last night.

This was the first time in his life he had slept with a woman.

After finishing university, Chen Fan attended military school for three years, then joined the Ministry of War. Two years later, he was assigned to a special forces battalion at the border.

Once, on a mission, he survived alone in the wild for ten days without any rations and single-handedly eliminated fugitives who had escaped to a neighboring country. He was injured and caught in heavy rain on the way back, leading to a high fever and unconsciousness. Earlier, all the dorm mates competed to be the vanguard, sleeping with windows open at night to strengthen their bodies.

What impressed him most last night was that first kiss.

How to describe it? It was like plunging your lips into ice cream and pulling them away. At first, it was chilling, but once the cold touched the skin, the blood rushed with warmth to the lips.

Then the ice melts, and your lips become warm and soft.

The sensation was very much like a kiss.

Afterward came the joyous moments that were hard to put into words—simply delightful.

To truly understand, one must experience it firsthand.

Practice is the sole criterion for testing truth.