Chapter 4: "I Won't Let My Wife Suffer Anymore"

"What did you remember?"

Chen Xiulan turned to look at him and asked.

"I just remembered that there are more mushrooms over there," Lin Heng quickly made up an excuse as he realized he'd acted out of character.

"Then let's go up the hill to find them quickly. We can't let others pick them first. They sell for eight or nine yuan per kilogram," Chen Xiulan nodded. She was always reluctant to eat things that could be sold for money.

However, what Lin Heng had actually remembered was a dog. He recalled that in May, just next month, someone had found a two-month-old wolfdog pup behind the town's school. The dog grew up to be incredibly intelligent, almost as if it could understand human speech, and helped a man, surnamed Li, who worked as a mountain guide. The dog helped him find truffles, catch foxes, sable, rabbits, wild boars, and other prey, earning the man a lot of money. He used to proudly boast about it when going to the market. Unfortunately, when the dog grew old, the man sold it to a dog trader without any hesitation.

Thanks to his reincarnation, Lin Heng now had an excellent memory and was able to recall this small event.

Lin Heng decided to intercept this smart wolfdog and buy an air rifle or a bow and arrow, so that he could start hunting in the mountains and earn his first bucket of gold.

In his previous life, when he was bored, he had joined an archery club and practiced archery. He could also use an air rifle. In the 1980s, there were no restrictions on firearms or hunting, and mountain hunting was a great way to make money.

Many ways of making money suddenly came to mind—he recalled which areas would be demolished, where highways would be built in the future, and what goods would increase in value. He remembered it all.

The problem, however, was that he had no money, no starting capital. Knowing all this was of no use unless he was willing to engage in reselling goods. In recent years, reselling goods across provinces had also been quite profitable, but Lin Heng wasn't interested in that; he didn't want to be separated from his family.

Therefore, he still decided to go hunting in the mountains and later pursue farming and animal husbandry. That way, he could get rich without having to leave his family. Once he had some money, he could slowly grow his business without rushing.

He was reincarnated in this era and had a broader vision, so there was no need to hurry. Family was more important than business.

"Let's go, up the mountain. Did you just say there are morels there?"

Chen Xiulan handed Lin Heng a small bamboo basket and took the child from his arms. She looked at him with her bright eyes.

When Lin Heng didn't move, she urged him, "What are you zoning out for?"

Lin Heng snapped out of it, smiled slightly at his wife, and said, "Nothing. I just realized you look more and more beautiful."

Chen Xiulan had delicate features. She wasn't breathtakingly beautiful, but she was undoubtedly pretty. At first glance, she might seem average, but the more you looked at her, the more you found her attractive.

Lin Heng thought back to his previous life and regretted that he had never appreciated her enough. He had truly taken his blessings for granted.

Chen Xiulan blushed slightly, turned her head, and started walking, "Stop saying these nonsense things. Hurry up and go find the mushrooms."

However, inside, she was secretly pleased. Since they got married, Lin Heng hadn't said anything nice about her looks.

Lin Heng went into the house to grab a sickle. As he was leaving, he noticed the slingshot he'd made hanging on the wall. It was something he had made as a toy in the past.

He hadn't touched it in years, always wandering around the city with his friends, living an idle life.

After a brief pause, he decided to take the slingshot, tucked it into his waist, locked the door, and placed the key in a fixed spot in the pile of firewood outside. He then quickly caught up with his wife.

At that moment, his wife had just reached the yard of the Liu family next door and was stopped by Liu's daughter-in-law, Li Caifeng, who started chatting with her.

"Xiulan, you're carrying the child and still going up the mountain? You really have it hard. My husband never lets me do this!"

Li Caifeng pretended to show concern but was actually flaunting her superior status.

"Not heavy. I'm fine carrying her," Chen Xiulan said calmly. "At least my husband doesn't get drunk and act crazy."

Li Caifeng pursed her lips and stopped talking. She knew Chen Xiulan was subtly mocking her for being abused by her husband.

"Xiulan, you have good taste. How do you think my new outfit looks? I'm so lucky that my husband caught a fox recently, sold its skin, and bought me this shirt."

Li Caifeng eagerly showed off her new red and white striped floral shirt, proudly bragging about her husband's good fortune.

"This shirt was so expensive! Even after negotiating, they wouldn't sell it for less than two yuan. I didn't want it, but my husband still bought it for me in the end."

Li Caifeng looked at Chen Xiulan's patched-up clothes and couldn't hide her smugness.

"It's nice, really. But I have to go find mushrooms now. I'll talk to you later." Chen Xiulan said, trying to leave.

However, Lin Heng's voice came from behind, "It's just so-so. This shirt would only cost one yuan in the city. It doesn't look good on you, Caifeng."

Li Caifeng was quite overweight, and with that shirt on, she looked like a colorful hen. She had been trying to make her friend feel inferior, but Lin Heng couldn't stand it.

Her expression darkened instantly when she heard Lin Heng's comment. She turned to him and sneered, "Why don't you buy one for your wife, then? I bet she'd look great in it."

"He already bought me other clothes. They're at home." Chen Xiulan answered and quickly pulled Lin Heng away.

"Well, I'll come by another day to see what style your clothes are." Li Caifeng's sarcastic voice trailed off.

As they walked away, Chen Xiulan sighed, "Why provoke her? She'll probably spread rumors all over the village. It's not worth it, just let it go."

She had long been used to the petty behavior of the village women.

"I'm not worried. I'll buy you something better next time. You don't have any new clothes, after all." Lin Heng smiled, determined that his wife would never suffer again.

"No need. I can patch up the clothes at home. Let's save money for necessities." Chen Xiulan shook her head.

"Don't worry, we'll have money soon. I'm going to make a fortune, and we won't have to be so frugal. Clothes are a necessity." Lin Heng promised.

"And you said you wanted to visit your family. I'll take you there for the New Year," Lin Heng continued.

Chen Xiulan wasn't from their county but from the neighboring Greenwater County. Though they were both in Taibai City, the two families were far apart. After marrying Lin Heng, Chen Xiulan had only visited her family once.

After they split their family, she had been burdened with too much work at home and hadn't been able to visit her family again. Before she passed away, she hadn't visited more than ten times, and every time, she had to borrow money to buy food.

Her brothers often scolded her, saying she deserved it for marrying Lin Heng despite their objections.

Lin Heng had always regretted not giving her a better life, and it weighed on his conscience.

Chen Xiulan turned to glance at Lin Heng, feeling he was unusually considerate today. "I don't need you to make a lot of money. I just want to live a good life with you at home."

Her wish was simple and pure.

Lin Heng didn't know what to say. It all seemed so trivial in comparison to her simple, kind-hearted wish. He sighed, looking at her and said, "Let me carry the child for a while."

"I can carry her!" Chen Xiulan continued walking, scanning the area for mushrooms.

"I said, I'll carry her. You've carried her long enough." Lin Heng insisted, walking over to take the child from her.

Chen Xiulan glanced at him, helplessly handing over the child.

(End of Chapter 4)