Chapter 15: Your New Father
"Isn’t it obvious? I’m here to find a husband in less than seven days!" I said proudly, folding my arms.
---
Zu Shi’s lips curved into a sly smile as she clapped her hands.
"Husband Figure 1, step in!"
The first man marched in, tall and muscular, flexing like he was about to wrestle a cow.
I squinted at him. "Do you know how to cook?"
He puffed his chest. "Cook? No, but I can eat a lot!"
I rubbed my forehead. Exactly what I need... a human rice barrel.
"NEXT!" I barked.
Zu Shi chuckled and waved. "Husband Figure 2, step in!"
This one had the air of a young scholar, stroking his tiny beard like he was some ancient sage.
I leaned forward. "If I give you three taels, how much allowance would you leave me after buying wine and books?"
He blinked, then laughed. "Allowance? Wife, why would you need allowance? A virtuous woman should—"
I didn’t even let him finish. "NEXT!"
The third one entered with fancy robes and an even fancier accent. His words dragged like he was auditioning for a bad stage play.
"My fair maiden, I shall provideth you—"
"Stop," I cut in, waving a hand. "Your phonics are giving me a headache. NEXT!"
The fourth rushed in, short with a grin wider than his face. "I may be short, but my heart is—"
"Also short," I muttered. "NEXT."
Number five came with a hoe over his shoulder, clearly a farmer.
I asked, "How much can you earn in a month?"
He scratched his head. "Eh... enough for me and my three chickens."
I stared at him flatly. I already have three kids, do I really need three chickens too?
"NEXT."
Number six was a shy pretty boy, smiling nervously.
"Can you fight?" I asked.
He chuckled softly. "Ahh... no, but I can sing lullabies."
I pinched the bridge of my nose. My children need protection, not karaoke nights.
"NEXT!"
Finally, Zu Shi smirked. "Last one! Husband Figure 7."
A man walked in, not too tall, not too short. He had steady eyes, the kind that didn’t flinch when they met mine. For a moment, I thought maybe... just maybe...
I asked cautiously, "What do you want in a wife?"
Without hesitation, he said, "Someone who can curse me, scold me, throw a ladle at me... and still save me the best piece of braised meat at dinner."
I blinked.
Zu Shi’s smile widened. "Oho? This one sounds promising, doesn’t he?"
But the more I stared, the more I shook my head. Nope. Still not it. Too poetic, too unreal. If I marry him, I’ll end up feeding four babies instead of three.
"NEXT!" I shouted, standing up.
Zu Shi groaned dramatically. "Lin Xu, you’re impossible!"
I just sighed. Maybe finding a husband in seven days really is impossible. But I’ll be damned if I settle for a useless man.
After the unsuccessful search, I went back home with Yiling.
Upon arriving, Yan Mei was already seated with the boys.
She stood up and worriedly walked up to me. "Lin Xu, where have you been? It’s already so dark and you’re just returning now. I hope nothing happened?"
"Nah! I’m fine, just had to do some things. Why are you here though?" I asked as I took a seat.
Yan Mei glanced at Yiling, then leaned closer, lowering her voice.
"I... I actually went around today, trying to meet some of the village matchmakers. I thought maybe they could help find you a good husband before your seven days run out."
I blinked at her, surprised. "You did what?"
She fidgeted with her sleeves. "But every single one of them turned me down. Some didn’t even let me finish my sentence. It’s like they’ve all suddenly agreed you’re not... eligible."
My lips twitched, and then it clicked. Of course. I leaned back in my chair with a dry laugh.
"Let me guess... Aunt Lu’s handiwork, isn’t it? That woman probably bribed or threatened them. No wonder every door’s slammed shut."
Yan Mei bit her lip, worry shadowing her expression. "Then what are you going to do, Lin Xu? If no one’s willing to help, how will you...?"
I cut her off with a sharp grin. "Then I won’t bother with them. If the whole village wants me husbandless, fine."
Her eyes widened. "So you’ll just give up?"
I stood, brushing imaginary dust off my skirt, feeling the old stubbornness rise in my chest.
"Give up? Never. If the village won’t give me a husband, then I’ll get one outside. I’ll run away if I have to. Seven days is plenty of time if I use my own methods."
Yan Mei gasped. "Run away? Are you insane? Do you even know what’s out there?"
I shrugged, my voice dropping into something more serious.
"Better the unknown outside than marrying Big Man Lou. I’d rather risk it all than live caged."
The room fell silent for a beat, only the faint sound of the boys giggling in the corner filling the space.
Yan Mei stared at me like I had grown horns. "You’re really serious about this, aren’t you?"
I smirked, leaning forward. "Dead serious."
After Yan Mei left that night, I got my gun and basket ready to go hunt. If I was going to run away, I needed to make a lot of money so I could provide for my kids before fully settling down in another village.
Upon arriving at the mountain, I was only able to catch some rabbits today. I didn’t really find a good catch, but on my way back, my system was triggered.
Then I heard sounds coming from some dry bushes. I pushed aside the dry bush and froze.
There was a man lying there, his clothes torn, his face pale with sweat. His hand pressed against his belly, and that’s when I saw it—an arrow sticking out, blood soaking through.
My heart jumped. Someone was actually alive here?
Before I could even move, Susu’s voice rang in my head.
[ Warning! Warning! Living presence detected! ]
[ Identity level: S-Class Character. His existence can change 70% of the plot line. ]
I blinked hard. "S-Class?!" My heart thumped.
Quickly, I whispered, "Susu, who is he? Tell me now!"
[ To unlock his identity, you need 10,000 gold coins. ]
"WHAT?!" I almost screamed. "Do I look like I’m made of money? I don’t even have enough for salt right now!"
[ Then identity cannot be revealed. ]
I wanted to cry. Ten thousand?! That meant this man was very, very important. But who the hell could he be if he wasn’t the male lead? I know how the male lead looks and he doesn’t look like the male lead one bit. He’s way more handsome.
I panicked, crouching down. "Hey, don’t you dare die here. I already have three kids to feed, I don’t need a dead body on top of that!"
No response. Only heavy breathing.
With a heavy sigh, I reached out. "Fine. I’ll save you."
It wasn’t easy dragging him. He was heavy, way heavier than I thought. But somehow, I managed to pull him onto my back, staggering down the mountain path.
Step by step, sweat dripping down my face, I carried him home.
By the time I pushed open my door, my legs were jelly.
Mo Yuen and Mo Yiling jumped up, shocked. "Mama?! Who is this man?!"
I dumped him gently onto the bed and gasped for air. "Don’t ask me. I don’t know who he is. All I know is..."
"He’s your new father!"