A veteran of the frontier army, after marrying a wife, fought his way through the northern border.

His home was at the west end of the village, a mud-brick and thatched house with a small courtyard. There was some firewood piled up in the courtyard, and a vegetable cellar dug in the corner of the wall.

Luo Yunxiao had five acres of poor land, but now that winter was over, there was no farm work to do, so all he could do was patrol and hunt.

Pushing open the door, the room was simply furnished, with only a large earthen bed, a table, and a few chairs. There were also several holes in the walls, letting in a gust of wind.

Su Yunshang looked around, her brows furrowed slightly, but she didn't complain. She simply said softly, "It's almost noon. I'll start a fire and cook now."

Su Yushang timidly echoed, "I, I'll go help my sister start the fire."

As she spoke, she secretly glanced at Luo Yunxiao and followed her sister's footsteps.

"You must be tired from your journey, rest for a day first. I'll start a fire and cook. You can pour the millet into the rice jar, we're almost out of rice."

Luo Yunxiao saw that his three wives looked exhausted, having traveled a long way to reach Chenjia Village.

Now that they are his women, he has a lot of work to do.

The three women initially felt that Luo Yunxiao was too old, similar to their own grandfathers, and couldn't help but feel a little disgusted.

Seeing how considerate he was, her gaze softened naturally.

"Thank you for your understanding, my husband. My sister and I will clean the house and repair it later. It's drafty and quite cold inside."

Su Yushang was quick to act; since she wasn't allowed to cook, she had to do something.

Luo Yunxiao grinned widely, feeling overjoyed as he listened to his first and second wives calling him "husband" repeatedly.

"Okay, wait a moment, I'll boil a basin of water for you to wash your faces."

Luo Yunxiao's motivation wasn't just to cleanse the three women of their past; he was also very curious about what his three wives actually looked like.

Qin Hongxiu leaned against the door frame, clutching her injured right leg, and said in a deep voice, "I know a little bit of martial arts and can help you protect the hospital. In the future, I can protect you in the army and won't eat your food for nothing."

She is proud and doesn't like to owe favors.

Looking at her, Luo Yunxiao felt a warmth gradually rising in his heart.

"We're family, so what if you eat my food for free? Go and rest now, I'll buy you some wound medicine tomorrow."

Su Yunshang poured four bags of millet into the rice jar, and then she and her sister cleaned the house together.

Seeing the two women busy with chores, Qin Hongxiu felt embarrassed to sit down and picked up a rag to carefully wipe the few pieces of furniture in the room.

After a large basin of water was boiled, the three women finished washing themselves, combed their hair, and stood side by side.

Looking at their faces, Luo Yunxiao unconsciously swallowed, his eyes burning with desire.

Su Yunshang had a face like a peach blossom, eyebrows like distant mountains, and eyes that exuded charm. She had a curvaceous figure and the air of a well-bred lady.

Su Yushang has delicate features, a sweet appearance, and lively eyes, giving people a feeling of first love. She is a natural beauty.

Qin Hongxiu was beautiful and capable, without the delicate air of an ordinary woman; she truly resembled a trained martial artist.

Luo Yunxiao appeared calm on the surface, but inside she was inwardly anxious, a warm current surging in her lower abdomen, and she wanted to immediately start a bridal chamber.

What a stroke of luck! These three wives are not only beautiful, but also intelligent.

They knew to cover their faces with mud and soot along the way to minimize their presence.

If the escorting officials had known how beautiful they were, they definitely wouldn't have let them take them away.

The three women felt uneasy under Luo Yunxiao's intense gaze and lowered their heads, blushing.

Su Yunshang stammered, "Husband...do you think we're ugly?"

"No, I just didn't expect the three ladies to be so beautiful, and I was momentarily lost in thought."

"Don't stand up, sit down, I'll get you some porridge."

Luo Yunxiao happily washed the bowls and chopsticks, filled three bowls with millet porridge and placed them on the table, and then filled a ceramic dish with pickled vegetables.

He looked up and saw that the three ladies were still standing and had not yet taken their seats.

"Ladies, please sit down. From now on, we'll all eat together. Here, there's no distinction between high and low status."

The three women were initially surprised, but then touched. Despite his advanced age, this old husband was kind-hearted and treated them like human beings.

Looks like she didn't marry the wrong person.

The three women exchanged glances, then sat down and began to eat.

The Su sisters were from well-to-do families, and they always ate properly, no matter how hungry they were.

Qin Hongxiu didn't stand on ceremony and ate and picked up food with the same gusto as Luo Yunxiao.

She was really hungry.

Luo Yunxiao thoughtfully served food to the ladies, and casually asked, "I'm very curious about how you were exiled. Of course, if it's inconvenient to tell you, we can talk about it later."

With red eyes, Su Yunshang said softly, "It's come to this point, there's nothing I can't say."

My father was the head of the Imperial Medical Academy. Two years ago, he offended the powerful eunuch, the Ninth Prince, in the Poison Doctor Case. The eunuch framed him for abusing potent drugs, which led to the sudden death of the late emperor.

The women in the family were sent to the brothel, and the rest were beheaded.

"During the exile, my mother suddenly fell ill with a chronic disease. There was no medicine to cure her, and she unfortunately passed away. Her body was buried in the wilderness, without even a grave."

Su Yushang's eyes were also red, and she sobbed softly.

Qin Hongxiu put down her chopsticks and lowered her eyes, saying, "My father is General Qin Lie, the General Who Guards the North. In the third year of Yongkang, the main force of the Tartars pressed on the border, and my father requested the court's support. The Minister of War deliberately delayed the supply of provisions."

My father was forced to lead a lone army into battle, inflicting heavy losses on the Tartars, but was outnumbered and lost two beacon towers.

As a result, he was falsely accused by the Minister of War of colluding with the Tartars and betraying his country for personal gain.

The women in the family were conscripted into the army, and all the men were beheaded.

Upon hearing this, Luo Yunxiao also sighed.

When treacherous officials hold power, they bring disaster to the country and its people, while loyal and virtuous officials are unjustly accused.

He was just a poor military household on the border, and it wasn't easy for him to even have enough to eat.

The factional strife in the imperial court has nothing to do with me, so what can I do about it?

"My three ladies, don't be sad. I will take good care of you from now on."

After finishing their meal, the three women began to repair the holes in the wall. Luo Yunxiao rummaged through drawers and cabinets and found five qian of silver.

He had previously bought Qin Hongxiu for ten taels of silver, which was all his savings.

Now that there are three beautiful young women in the family, the firewood in the woodshed is not enough, and it is impossible to sleep on the kang (heated brick bed) without heating it in the winter.

So they went to the village chief's house and spent two qian of silver to buy two loads of firewood.

A load of firewood weighs 100 jin (50 kg), and Luo Yunxiao could only carry one load at most. He then spent five wen (0.5 yuan) to have Zhao Dayong, the village chief's son, help him carry it home.

Zhao Dayong put the firewood in the woodshed, turned around and saw three beautiful women doing housework inside. He was stunned and his feet seemed to be nailed to the ground, unable to move.

"What's wrong, Dayong? You want to stay for dinner?"

Luo Yunxiao tugged at him.

"Uncle Luo, you're so lucky! These three women are like goddesses descended from heaven. If you can't manage at night, I can help you."

Luo Yunxiao knew that Zhao Dayong was disrespectful and often joked around with everyone, so he didn't take it to heart.

"You brat, you're really pushing your luck. I could handle three women, let alone one more. Get lost."

Luo Yunxiao laughed and scolded as he pushed Zhao Dayong out the door. He looked up at the sky and wondered why it wasn't dark yet.

Everyone worked until dusk and finally patched up the hole in the wall. Su Yunshang took the initiative to start a fire and cook. After they finished eating, it was already dark.

As night fell, Chenjia Village was so quiet that only a few barks of dogs and the howling north wind could be heard.

The villagers don't have a nightlife; after dinner, everyone prepares to go to bed on the kang (heated brick bed).

Luo Yunxiao carried two bundles of firewood and heated the kang (heated brick bed) in the main room and the west room.

He will consummate his marriage with one of his three wives tonight, while the other two will sleep in the west room.

"The heated brick beds in both rooms are ready, and the bath water is also ready."

Ladies, it's getting late, let's rest now.

Luo Yunxiao gazed at the three radiant beauties bathed in candlelight, his face full of anticipation.

The three women exchanged glances, their faces showing hesitation.

The three young women were still inexperienced in marital relations, and their ears burned with desire.

Su Yunshang is the eldest sister, and her younger sisters and Hongxiu are younger than her, so she should set an example first.

Since she's already with the man in front of her, she'll have to sleep with him sooner or later; there's no escaping it.

She stepped forward, tucked a stray strand of hair behind her ear, and said softly, "My husband, let me help you rest tonight."

"I...I have a leg injury and need to rest for two days."

Qin Hongxiu's ears turned bright red, and she stammered.

"I understand. We have plenty of time, no rush. Ladies, please rest first."

Su Yushang and Qin Hongxiu entered the west room, and Luo Yunxiao also entered the room to take a bath.

Since it was the first time, I had to clean myself thoroughly, both from head to toe, as it was also to ensure my wife's health.

After washing himself clean, he went to bed, crawled into the covers, and closed his eyes to rest.

After taking a bath in the west room, Su Yunshang came to the main room wearing only a pink undergarment.

She gently closed the door, blew out the candles, and shyly stepped onto the warm kang (heated brick bed).

Luo Yunxiao felt a warm, soft body approaching him, his heart pounding and his Adam's apple bobbing.

A rough, large hand grabbed Su Yunshang's slender waist and flipped her over onto him.