Chapter 35: The Easy-to-Please Sister-in-Law

Why had that wizard given her a lover’s fruit?

A-Yu once again miraculously understood the meaning in Mu Tong’s eyes. “Because we’ve joined our households. A-Tong, now that you and I are together, you can’t join up with anyone else. I’d be angry.”

A-Yu gazed at Mu Tong with utmost seriousness. She was his only wife, and she would belong to him alone. Strange—what was a wife? Why had this unfamiliar word appeared in his mind? A-Yu found it very strange, but the moment he wondered what a wife was, an answer appeared in his head: A wife was like a mother—she could only be the woman of one’s father.

So that was it? A-Yu was overjoyed. Yes! A-Tong was his wife! I am her husband!

Wait—why had the word “husband” appeared too? What did it mean?

A husband was like a father—he could only be the man of one’s mother!

This answer made A-Yu even happier, and he blurted out, “From now on, I’m your husband, and you’re my wife!” His voice was both doting and domineering.

Mu Tong stared at A-Yu, dumbfounded. What did joining households have to do with husbands and wives?

That was what she thought, and that was what she asked aloud.

“Joining households is like getting married in your homeland. Yes, getting married! We’re married now, so you can’t go back on it. The gods have approved it.”

One new concept after another surfaced in A-Yu’s mind, and he understood their meanings perfectly. Of course, even he did not understand why he knew the customs of A-Tong’s homeland, yet he still said those things aloud, because saying them was to his advantage. Besides, he and A-Tong were now one family. No one could separate them.

This time, Mu Tong was truly shocked. Good heavens—even the words “your homeland” had come out of his mouth. Could the two of them really have fused into one?

Yet from A-Yu’s expression, he seemed completely unaware of Shen Kai’s existence. He did not know Shen Kai existed, but he knew certain words he had no business knowing…

Mu Tong’s expression grew complicated. She genuinely had no idea how to face this man now. Should she treat him as Shen Kai—or as A-Yu?

What troubled her even more was that she had originally thought she was merely a village official going down to the countryside to share a household with someone, only to discover that she had sold herself instead…

She had never wanted to marry, no matter what, while she was on Earth. Who would have thought that on her very first day in another world, she would become the wife of a primitive tribesman? Even if this man would eventually turn into Shen Kai, that could not change the fact that he was a native of this world…

A-Yu, however, did not care about any of that. Having proclaimed his claim over her, he kissed Mu Tong passionately once more.

“I’ll help you wash.”

A-Yu brought a basin of hot water into the hut and was just about to help Mu Tong wash herself when she dodged away.

Mu Tong shot A-Yu a fierce glare. This man had far too much energy. Between last night and this morning, she had lost count of how many times it had happened, yet he still looked as vigorous as a dragon and tiger.

How infuriating! He was clearly from a primitive tribe, yet his combat strength was astonishingly high. She had trained in martial arts for so long and consumed countless miraculous treasures for strengthening her body, so how had she still lost in a simple contest of strength?

If she had not been worried about Shen Kai being inside his body, she would have pulled out her gun and shot him dead long ago!

“Get out!” Mu Tong did not want to remain sticky and uncomfortable, nor did she want to wash those parts in front of this man.

“…All right.”

A-Yu did not want to leave, but judging by Mu Tong’s expression, she absolutely would not wash herself unless he went out.

Once he had left, Mu Tong quickly took the basin and washed herself inside the hut. She had secretly taken it out of her ring while he was not looking and hidden it among her pile of luggage.

Alas, whenever she thought of how she had fallen from being an exalted cultivator to an ordinary mortal, and from a materially abundant modern society to a primitive tribe lacking almost everything, Mu Tong felt miserable.

It was always easy to go from frugality to luxury, but difficult to go from luxury to frugality. Mu Tong had grown accustomed to living high above others and indulging herself. Faced with such a tremendous reversal, it would be a lie to say she felt no bitterness or disappointment.

Still, Mu Tong had been spoiled since childhood, but her will was not so easily crushed. Even with the enormous burden of A-Yu suddenly added to her side, she would not be defeated.

Wherever she fell, she would rise again there.

Gritting her teeth, Mu Tong refused to believe that she could not thrive here simply because she had lost her cultivation. With the knowledge she had brought from the modern world, the super-intelligent brain Little Strong, and the vast supplies stored in her equipment, she could still live well on this primitive continent.

After straightening her clothes and tidying the bedding, Mu Tong carried the basin outside and poured the dirty water beneath an unknown tree beyond the wooden fence.

A-Yu and Duoji were squatting in the courtyard preparing breakfast. When Duoji saw Mu Tong emerge, he beamed.

“Sister-in-law, the food is ready. We can eat right away.”

Mu Tong looked at his little painted face and nodded. Just how early had this child gotten up? He had already prepared breakfast?

After pouring out the water and returning inside, Mu Tong saw that bowls, chopsticks, and food had already been set out on the stone table. There were two stone bowls and one wooden bowl. The meal was once again purple-rice and green-bean porridge, accompanied by three roasted wild chickens.

Roast chicken first thing in the morning?

Thinking of how early Duoji must have risen, Mu Tong said nothing. The child was so young, yet he had gotten up early to prepare breakfast for her. How could she complain?

She tore off two chicken wings and began eating them with the purple-rice and green-bean porridge.

A-Yu and Duoji each picked up a roasted chicken and devoured it like a whirlwind. Before Mu Tong had finished her two wings, the two of them had polished off both the chicken and the porridge.

A-Yu picked up the remaining chicken, from which Mu Tong had already torn off the two wings, and twisted it. One drumstick came away.

“Here. Eat quickly. Eat more and grow taller.”

Mu Tong was speechless. She was 1.68 meters tall. That might not be considered tall, but she certainly was not short either.

Then she glanced at Duoji, who was only eleven and already 1.75 meters tall, and wisely said nothing.

The people of this tribe were all very tall. Adult men generally stood between 1.8 and 2 meters, and even the adult women seemed to be at least 1.7 meters tall. By comparison, her own height of 1.68 meters was indeed a little short.

But she was already twenty-five. How could she possibly grow any taller? She thought her current height was perfectly fine and had no particular need to increase it.

She shook her head helplessly. “No, I’m full.”

“No. You have to eat at least one more drumstick!”

Without giving her a chance to refuse, A-Yu stuffed the roasted drumstick into her hand. “A-Tong, don’t worry. I’m an excellent hunter. I can keep you fed.”

I truly cannot eat another bite! Who cares whether you’re a good hunter? I can support myself!

Mu Tong seethed inwardly.

“Big brother, I want it.”

Duoji stared fixedly at the drumstick in A-Yu’s hand. Since Sister-in-law said she could not eat it, could he have it instead?

“Here.”

A-Yu gave all the remaining chicken on the table to Duoji, but no matter what, he insisted that Mu Tong eat the drumstick in his hand.

With no other choice, Mu Tong forced down the enormous drumstick—and then let out a loud belch.

A-Yu laughed. Duoji laughed too.

Sister-in-law had such a small appetite. She would be so easy to feed.

After breakfast, Mu Tong washed the pots and bowls, then asked Duoji to call A-Ku’s mother. She had to process the reeds and devil’s-tongue yam. She had promised A-Ku the night before and did not want to break her word.

Before long, A-Ku arrived with his father and mother.

Mu Tong was surprised to discover that A-Ku’s hair had been cut short, and so had his father’s. Their cutting tools were probably not sharp enough, however, because both their hairstyles were uneven and jagged, making them look extremely awkward.