Chapter 3

Yang Shouwen's home was at the back of the village, situated beside a small stream. Across the stream lay the vast and misty Tiger Valley Mountain.

A small, independent courtyard housed three buildings, each with five rooms and seven beams.

The main hall was at the front, with the side rooms at the back, forming a two-tiered layout that exuded a unique elegance and simplicity.

Yang Shouwen stopped at the door, and before he could knock, the gate opened a crack, and a petite figure darted out from behind it.

"Brother Xizi, why are you so late today?"

The figure threw itself into Yang Shouwen's arms, and a sweet, innocent voice followed.

Yang Shouwen couldn't help but smile, his eyes filled with a tender affection as he held her close.

"Today, Big Yellow got a bit wild, so I came back a bit later... Hehehe, did you behave today, Little Nuan?"

In Yang Shouwen's arms was a little girl, around eight or nine years old, with two buns on her head and a rosy face like a ripe apple, very adorable. Her name was Yang Nuan, and her nickname was Little Nuan. She had no blood relation to Yang Shouwen but was the daughter of the family's cook, whom Yang Shouwen had watched grow up since she was a baby.

About nine years ago, a pregnant woman fainted at the Yang family's door.

Yang Shouwen's grandfather, Yang Dafang, took pity on her and took her in. A few months later, she gave birth to a girl, who is now the little Yang Nuan in Yang Shouwen's arms. After Yang Nuan's birth, the woman stayed in the village and became the Yang family's cook. As for who Yang Nuan's father was, the woman never said, and Yang Dafang never asked.

In any case, Yang Nuan took her mother's surname and became Yang Shouwen's little shadow.

After Yang Dafang's death, Yang Chenglie ignored Yang Shouwen, and the family was supported by Yang's wife.

The little girl responded to Yang Shouwen's words with a clear, crisp voice, "Little Nuan was very good today and even helped Mother wash your clothes."

"Really?"

Yang Shouwen showed his approval and lifted the little girl high.

"Little Nuan is so capable."

The little girl giggled, her laughter clear and ringing in Yang Shouwen's ears.

At this moment, the gate opened, and a middle-aged woman walked out from behind it. She wore a simple dress, a wooden hairpin in her hair, and an apron made of flowered cloth around her waist. Seeing Yang Shouwen, a kind expression appeared on her face, and she said softly, "Big Brother, you're a bit late today. Little Nuan was crying earlier, saying she wanted to find you."

"I'm sorry, Auntie. I'll come back earlier tomorrow."

The woman was Yang Nuan's mother, Lady Yang. As for her real name, Yang Shouwen wasn't very clear. In the past, when his mind was muddled, he couldn't remember many things, so he always called her Auntie, even forgetting her real name.

Lady Yang led the yellow ox into the yard and tied it to the stable.

Yang Shouwen, still holding Yang Nuan, followed behind and helped tie the ox. Then he put down Yang Nuan and held her hand as they walked into the main hall.

In this large house, only three people lived.

"Little Nuan, go fetch some water. Big Brother has worked hard all day, so he needs to wash up. Dinner will be ready soon."

Yang Nuan agreed and ran off to fetch water.

Yang Shouwen said, "Auntie, I'll go pay respects to Grandfather first and come back later."

Yang Dafang had passed away two years ago, but Yang Shouwen still paid respects to him every day.

Lady Yang agreed and went to the kitchen to prepare dinner. Yang Shouwen then walked through the main hall and into the back courtyard.

In the back courtyard, there was a flower bed by the stream.

On either side were two side rooms, each with three rooms. When Yang Dafang was alive, Yang Chenglie would bring his family to visit on his days off. However, after Yang Dafang's death, the house became much quieter. Yang Chenglie and his family lived in the county town and rarely came here unless it was a fixed day for ancestral worship.

However, each room was kept clean.

Lady Yang was a very diligent woman and cleaned the rooms every day.

By now, it was completely dark.

Yang Shouwen entered one of the side rooms, lit an oil lamp, and then walked to the altar in the room, lighting three incense sticks.

"Grandfather, I'm back!"

After lighting the incense, he sat down in front of the altar, as if talking to himself, "Today, Big Yellow went wild and almost hurt a child in the village. But fortunately, I learned martial arts from you, and I have a strong body, so I managed to subdue Big Yellow... Luckily, nothing happened, or there would have been more gossip, and I would have been in trouble again."

As he spoke, his eyes turned red.

Reborn for seventeen years, although these seventeen years were hazy and wasted, they also gave Yang Shouwen a unique kind of happiness. Yang Chenglie didn't like him, but his grandfather treated him like a treasure.

To be honest, he didn't suffer much in these seventeen years. Instead, he lived carefree under his grandfather's care. His mind was closed, and he couldn't sense the malice around him, so he was always happy, and life was simple.

Practicing martial arts, learning, herding cattle, and listening to his grandfather's stories...

Over the seventeen years, he had unknowingly integrated into this era.

"Ah Chunu is now better and no longer has headaches.

However, I'm not happy because I keep having strange dreams where a woman calls me 'Prince Consort.'

Hehe, do you think I'm just imagining things?"

After speaking, he got up, knelt down, and bowed three times in front of the altar. Then he stood up and said, "No matter what, I won't forget what Grandfather taught me and will continue to practice diligently. Auntie is very kind to me, and Little Nuan is very well-behaved. She even learned to wash clothes... Well, that's all for today. Grandfather, you should rest early too."

Talking to his grandfather's altar every day had become a habit for Yang Shouwen. Even when his mind was unclear, he did this. Now that his mind was clear, he hadn't changed this habit.

He walked out of the room and gently closed the door.

At this moment, a sound came from the main hall's courtyard, followed by Little Nuan's crying.

Yang Shouwen's heart tightened, and he ran back to the main hall in two steps.

In front of the porch, a basin of water had been knocked over, spilling water all over the ground, making the porch wet and slippery.

Little Nuan was sitting in a puddle, crying loudly.

A young man stood on the porch, shouting at Lady Yang.

"You wretched woman, what have you done? Why did you put the basin at the door and dirty my clothes... Do you know how much this new outfit costs? Three hundred coins! Can you afford to pay for it? And you, little wretch, if you cry again, I'll sell you."

The young man was aggressive, and Lady Yang was too scared to speak.

Hearing that she might be sold, Little Nuan stopped crying and sat on the ground, looking at the young man, occasionally sobbing.

A surge of anger rose in Yang Shouwen's heart.

He rushed out of the main hall and picked up Little Nuan.

"Hey, isn't this my foolish big brother?"

Before Yang Shouwen could speak, the young man said, "Big Brother, how do you teach these wretches? They have no manners. I knocked on the door for a long time, and no one came to greet me. I had to open the door myself, which is outrageous.

But then again, I forgot, Big Brother... Otherwise, I'll find you a sensible one and sell these wretches. Big Brother can live more comfortably."

Hearing that she might be sold, Little Nuan clung to Yang Shouwen's neck.

"Brother Xizi, Little Nuan is good. Brother Xizi, don't sell Little Nuan. Little Nuan is very obedient."

Ah Chunu was Yang Shouwen's childhood name. However, before the nursery rhyme, only Yang Chenglie and Yang Dafang could call him that. Yang Shouwen had another childhood name, Xizi, which was more commonly used, and Yang Nuan was more accustomed to calling him 'Brother Xizi.'

The young man called him 'Big Brother' repeatedly, but there was no respect in his words.

His name was Yang Rui, Yang Shouwen's half-brother, thirteen years old.

When Yang Chenglie remarried, he intended to make his new wife the official wife. However, Yang Dafang disagreed, and the matter was delayed. Yang Rui was smart and very much loved by Yang Chenglie, but he carried the stigma of being a concubine's son, which made him unhappy.

Yang Shouwen looked at him and suddenly asked, "Yang Rui, why are you here?"

"Why am I here?" Yang Rui laughed, "What a joke. This is my home. Why can't I come here?"

With that, Yang Rui lifted his leg and stepped onto the porch.

But before his other foot could follow, Yang Shouwen suddenly kicked him in the chest.