Chapter 15 – Next time, for sure

The first light of dawn crept in.

Xu Lian woke up feeling refreshed, his mind sharp as he glanced at the translucent screen floating before him:

[Name]: Xu Lian

[Stage]: Skin Refining Stage

[Skills]: None

[Items]: None

[Notes 1]: Yang Chan’er’s favorability is 75/100. It hasn’t reached 90/100, so you can’t get any progress points.

[Notes 2]: If favorability exceeds 90/100, each additional point will grant you one progression point. However, if favorability drops below 90/100, regaining it will not award any further progression points.

[Notes 3]: As long as your favorability remains above 90/100, each child Yang Chan’er bears for you will grant you one additional progression point.

After reviewing the details, Xu Lian felt clear-headed.

“Xiya and I grew up together, so her favorability had directly reached over 90/100. As for Chan’er, we’ve only known each other for two days, yet her favorability is already at 75/100. That’s pretty good.”

He was satisfied. Building a relationship required time and patience; it wasn’t something that could be rushed or achieved overnight.

“There’s no need to rush with Chan’er. I already have an unused progress point. All I need now is a Snake Tendon to advance. That’s the immediate priority.”

Xu Lian began contemplating where he could find a python tendon.

Given his position as assistant manager at the mining site, overseeing hundreds of workers, he was confident that a reward of some silver could motivate someone to acquire it for him.

After all, no one knew what he needed the tendon for, so there was no risk of exposing himself.

“With rewards come willing men. That’s the plan,” Xu Lian decided, now that he had a clear direction to secure the python tendon.

With a creak, the door to the inner room opened.

Li Xiya stepped out, looking visibly fatigued as if she hadn’t slept well. She retrieved the small ceramic cup from the outer door and glanced toward Yang Chan’er, who lay curled up in the bedding like a kitten, her face pale.

She glared at Xu Lian. “You have no restraint.”

Xu Lian smiled sheepishly and stood up quickly.

After washing up and snacking on some dried beef, he announced, “Xiya, I’m heading to work.”

He briefly embraced her. Despite the norms of this era, where capable men often had multiple women in their lives, Xu Lian still felt a twinge of guilt toward her.

Li Xiya murmured a soft “Mm” and handed him a small dagger.

Although Xu Lian’s strength at the Skin Refining Stage made him capable of handling nearly 80 men unarmed, he accepted the blade and tucked it into his belt before hitching up his small black donkey cart and heading out.

“Son-in-law!”

Yang Ye waited at the roadside and waved at him.

Xu Lian slowed the cart to let Yang Ye climb aboard.

Yang Ye asked, “Was Chan’er obedient?”

Xu Lian hesitated for a moment before replying, “Very obedient… She also gets along well with Xiya and the others.”

Yang Ye nodded in agreement. “That’s good. She’s lucky to marry someone as capable as Brother Lian and enjoy a good life. The women back home are all happy for her.”

Xu Lian suddenly had an idea. Pulling the cart to a stop, he said, “Father-in-law, why don’t you take the reins? Practice driving the cart. When we reach the mining site, I’ll arrange for you to work as a stone transporter.”

“Great!”

Yang Ye eagerly took the reins and quickly became proficient after a few tries. “This isn’t difficult. I practiced a bit before and got the hang of it.”

Xu Lian let it be. In Green Bamboo Town, many had practiced on borrowed carts, and every man dreamed of working as a stone transporter.

“Over there! Over here!”

At the next intersection, Zhang Yuan, who had been waiting, waved vigorously.

Yang Ye slowed down the cart to allow Zhang Yuan to hop on.

Zhang Yuan cast an envious glance at Yang Ye, hesitated for a moment, and then said to Xu Lian, “Brother Lian, I’ve made up my mind!

Xu Lian raised an eyebrow. “Decided what?”

Zhang Yuan scratched his head, looking embarrassed. “I’ve been hauling stones for a living, barely earning enough grain. The three women in my family are constantly arguing and threatening to kick me out so they can bring in a more capable man to support them. Instead of being kicked out, I might as well make the decision myself and… help you out.”

Xu Lian was confused. “Help me with what?”

Zhang Yuan said, “Don’t play dumb. Isn’t it obvious that you want the youngest of my three women? I’ve already told her about you being promoted to assistant manager, and she’s willing to move into your household. You can take her home tonight. I’ll do this for you, but you have to help me out – give me a better job!”

Xu Lian almost fell off the donkey cart.

Earlier, when Zhang Yuan had looked at Li Xiya, Xu Lian had teased him out of annoyance. He never expected Zhang Yuan to take it seriously.

“No, no, no, I can’t accept this.”

He immediately refused.

Zhang Yuan became worried. “Come on! We grew up together – we are childhood brothers! Why are you pretending with me? Be a man-if you want something, just say it. I won’t judge you.”

Xu Lian was at a loss for words. If stubbornness were a contest, Zhang Yuan would win. “I really don’t want this. I was just joking before. Don’t take it seriously.”

Zhang Yuan’s eyes reddened. “I don’t care! I’ll bring her to your house tonight. I can’t afford to feed three women with what I make now, and I refuse to be kicked out. Will you just stand by and let that happen to me?”

Xu Lian mulled it over.

He had already taught Zhang Yuan a few hard lessons and was no longer angry with him. It wouldn’t hurt to give him a helping hand.

As the assistant manager of the mining site, Xu Lian knew that as his strength and position grew, he’d need to cultivate a loyal circle of people. He couldn’t handle everything on his own.

“It’s not out of the question to give you a job,” Xu Lian said calmly, “but there are two conditions.”

Zhang Yuan beamed. “Name them!”

Xu Lian said, “First, stay away from my women. I’m not like other men who casually swap women in and out. I take my relationships seriously and they are permanent.”

Zhang Yuan quickly grinned sheepishly. “Got it. From now on, Xiya is like my mother – Yang Ye’s daughter too! They’re both my mothers!”

Yang Ye chuckled. “Does that make me your grandfather?”

Xu Lian continued, “Second, if I give you a job, you’ll be under me. From now on, you will follow my orders.”

Zhang Yuan pounded his chest. “I’ll listen to you! Whatever you say, I’ll do!”

Yang Ye chimed in eagerly, “Son-in-law, I’m under you too! I’ll follow your lead!”

Xu Lian could see through their intentions. It was clear that they were betting on his rise as assistant manager. Even a fool could see that following him had its benefits.

When they arrived at the mining site, Xu Lian brought Yang Ye to the registry to put down his name as a stone transporter.

Zhang Yuan, who was eagerly following behind, stared expectantly.

Xu Lian didn’t act unilaterally; instead, he sought Manager Han Du’s opinion first. “Brother Han, I’d like to assign two people under me to some tasks. Is that okay?”

Han Du’s face darkened slightly before breaking into a smile. “Brother Xu, what are you saying? You’re an official manager here as well. Do you really need to ask me about such a small matter? Handle it however you see fit.”

Xu Lian glanced at Yang Ye and Zhang Yuan.

They quickly understood and thanked Manager Han.

Xu Lian understood that Han Du’s deference stemmed from his “relationship” with the quarry patrol inspector.

Not overthinking it, Xu Lian added Yang Ye’s name to the stone transporter roster.

Then he wrote Zhang Yuan’s name under the stonemason apprentice roster. “Brother Yuan, start as an apprentice stonemason. Once you’ve learned the craft, you can officially work as a stonemason.”

“Great, great!” Zhang Yuan was overjoyed. As an apprentice, he could only earn one ration per day. After he mastered the craft and became a full-fledged stonemason, he’d earn three rations a day, a significant step up.

Han Du dismissed Yang Ye and Zhang Yuan to their tasks before calling Xu Lian into his office. Opening a wooden box, he revealed a severed head. “Are you satisfied, Brother Xu?”

Xu Lian looked at Liang Yan’s head and nodded. “Thank you, Brother Han.”

Han Du said with a smile, “Here at the site, it’s just you and me running things. If anyone else bothers you, just say the word and I’ll handle them for you.”

Xu Lian understood what Han Du wanted and replied, “Brother Han, you’ve shown me such generosity. I’m not ungrateful. The next time I meet the quarry patrol inspector, I’ll definitely put in a good word for you.”

Han Du’s face lit up with joy. “Thank you, Brother Xu!”

To be honest, I don’t even know the Quarry Patrol Inspector that well… Xu Lian thought to himself. Still, he knew that saying “next time, for sure” was enough to reassure Han Du, like giving him a dose of confidence.