Our Family's Assets

"All right... all right... You two sisters have married me now, so you have to look forward. Life has to go on, after all. In these years of relentless drought, survival is what matters most."

"Of course, now that you two have married me, your husband won't let you suffer and toil with me, and I won't let you go hungry either."

"You two said you'd turn sixteen in a few days. What day is it?"

At that, the younger sister, Yang Ailian, hurriedly said, "Husband, actually, we'll both turn sixteen tomorrow." After saying that, Yang Ailian blushed and lowered her head, overcome with embarrassment.

"Oh... then that's two blessings at the door! Today is the happy day of our wedding, and tomorrow is your birthday. Looks like we'll have to celebrate properly today."

"Come with me, you two. I'll show you our family's assets," Zhou Yao said.

Yang Aijin and Yang Ailian followed Zhou Yao to the backyard, where they saw two oxen, so many wild boars, and three sheep. Good heavens!!!

Zhou Yao then took the sisters to look at the vegetable patch beside the house. Yang Aijin and Yang Ailian were utterly stunned. Were those fresh vegetables?

Our eyes aren't playing tricks on us, are they? Could we be hallucinating? The sisters rubbed their eyes and looked closely again. Once they were sure these were real vegetables, they were overjoyed, and the smiles on their faces spoke for themselves.

Zhou Yao then took them to see the kitchen. They saw all kinds of seasonings in the cupboard, and the rice jar was filled to the brim with rice, not millet.

Another jar held flour—real flour, pure white as snow, not that gray kind.

Beside it was a large water vat filled to the brim, and all the water was so clear they could see the bottom. The sisters went over and scooped up half a ladleful, each taking a few sips. Wow... this water is so sweet and refreshing. It tastes so good!

For the past two or three years, most of the Great Zhou State had been in the grip of drought. Grain yields had fallen, and in some places, not a single grain had been harvested. There were no vegetables either; nothing at all could be grown in the fields.

Many rivers throughout the Great Zhou State had dried up, with hardly any water left in them. The water the common people drank was very muddy and barely enough to meet their daily needs; they could do nothing else with it.

We sisters haven't had a proper bath in a year, either. Back when we washed clothes and cooked in the military camp, we could still wash ourselves from time to time. But for the past year, we've been sent here and there by the authorities, out to the countryside for men to choose as wives. We haven't had a chance to bathe at all, nor any water to bathe in. Many country people may not have bathed in two years.

Yang Aijin and Yang Ailian also saw cured meat and sausages hanging above the kitchen stove. This... this... this...

Everything the twin sisters had just seen and heard had left them shocked beyond measure. Apart from the imperial palace, it was truly hard to find another place with the same provisions as their husband Zhou Yao's home.

What incredible luck brought us twin sisters to marry Husband Zhou Yao in the end? This is entirely a blessing we earned in our past lives.