Daily Life!

Yinlian Village had a population of about two thousand, with several hundred households.

About one to two hundred years ago, a group of people from the north migrated south, bringing with them much culture, customs, and surnames from beyond the Southern Border.

Furthermore, because the northerners were powerful and had many Immortal Masters, the local tribesmen admired strength. Thus, each tribe and village adopted surnames.

Zhao, Qian, Sun, and Li became prevalent.

With the teachings of Immortal Masters, customs changed, and the tribal villages and wilderness gradually developed a semblance of civilization.

Several decades ago, the 'Tianlin Immortal Master' from Tianlin Cave began to rule over the surrounding three hundred tribal villages, bringing about even more enlightenment.

For example, marriage customs and the like also became more proper.

However, in families like Meng Nan's, there weren't so many rules.

Moreover, his parents had passed away, and his household consisted only of his elder brother Meng Ba, his sister-in-law, and their three children.

Fewer people meant fewer matters.

"My sister-in-law has a good temper, she's just a bit naggy."

"If we lived together all the time, minor friction would be unavoidable."

"But now that I'm married, I won't be living here. I found a piece of land a few days ago, the location is quite good. I plan to build two rooms there, and we'll move in then."

Meng Nan held Zhao Xiaoshuang's hand as they walked out of the house, telling her about his family situation and his future plans.

The location for the new house didn't need to be scouted; it was set to be by the bamboo grove.

However, there wasn't a bamboo grove there yet. Meng Nan had planted it himself, and he would only start arranging it after building the house and moving in. There was no rush for now.

As they spoke.

They walked out the door.

The sun was high in the sky.

Both of them had woken up relatively late.

His elder brother Meng Ba had already gone to work.

His sister-in-law was at home with the three children, boiling pig feed. Seeing Meng Nan and Zhao Xiaoshuang come out, she called from the window, "The porridge and eggs are heated for you, come and eat."

"Oh!"

"The newlyweds are already this lovey-dovey!"

His sister-in-law, named 'Sun Mei', saw Meng Nan holding Zhao Xiaoshuang's hand and wore a teasing smile on her face.

Zhao Xiaoshuang, blushing, quickly pulled her hand away and greeted Sun Mei as 'Sister-in-law'.

Only then did Sun Mei stop teasing them.

In the following days.

Zhao Xiaoshuang familiarized herself with Yinlian Village while helping Meng Nan with his work--

Choosing a site.

Building the house.

Procuring tools such as measuring squares, saws, axes, planes, hammers, chisels, wood rasps, hand drills, ink lines, and so on. Some were bought in Yinlian Village, while others were made by Meng Nan himself.

Zhao Xiaoshuang only then learned that Meng Nan also knew carpentry and basket weaving skills, something she had no idea about before marrying him.

And his skills were excellent.

"Hey!"

"Isn't this the new daughter-in-law of the Xiao Meng family! Your basket is quite unique, did you bring it from your village?"

Meng Nan showed off his skills a little, weaving several baskets and some delicate small items like bamboo dragonflies and grasshoppers, intending to build his reputation and open up sales channels.

During his eight years in the future timeline, besides cultivation, he had already mastered carpentry and basket weaving. With the crystallization of his wisdom from his previous twelve years in the village and at home, and by studying these finished products, he could now practice and refine his skills. His current craftsmanship was no worse than his peak period before his death twelve years later.

His skills were absolutely no problem.

Zhao Xiaoshuang had been assisting and busy these past few days. After Meng Nan made some bamboo products, she proactively took a basket, filled it with small dragonflies and grasshoppers, and walked around Yinlian Village.

Nominally, she was going to chat with the young women, married women, and aunties in the village to get acquainted.

However, she always managed to sell quite a few baskets, winnowing fans, and some small toys.

Although the three hundred tribal villages of Tianlin Cave were relatively isolated from each other, this was true for ordinary people. Those in the Inner Qi Stage and True Qi Stage could still travel between the villages to a limited extent, so the connections between the villages were quite good. Coupled with the pleasant climate and abundant produce, there was no shortage of food and clothing.

The lives of ordinary people were actually quite good.

Every household had some spare money, more or less, and was willing to buy some exquisite bamboo products, or tables and chairs.

Ordinary people dared not leave the village, fearing poisonous insects, venomous snakes, and fierce beasts outside. But there were also those in the 'Inner Qi Stage' or even 'True Qi Stage' who, relying on their considerable cultivation, traveled between the three hundred villages, buying low and selling high, making a lot of money.

"Our village alone has several hundred households and thousands of people. If every family custom-orders a set of furniture, that's enough to keep us busy."

"Even after every family has a set, there are still other villages."

"With your skills, your future days will surely be prosperous."

This evening, Zhao Xiaoshuang took out the deposits she had collected that day from her purse. It was a small pile of copper coins and a few pieces of silver. It was a considerable sum.

She placed the money on the table, took a sip of water, her eyes and face filled with anticipation for the future, brimming with hope.

With a skill in hand, she wouldn't worry about making a living.

This lifted a great weight from her heart, and she was cheerful all day.

"I've been running around all day."

"Come and soak your feet."

Meng Nan chuckled upon hearing this, patted the stool beside him, and beckoned Zhao Xiaoshuang over.

"Mhm."

Zhao Xiaoshuang had grown quite familiar with Meng Nan over the past ten days. They had a comfortable, almost old-married-couple vibe, and she responded with a hum before sitting down.

The couple soaked their feet in hot water.

After Zhao Xiaoshuang sat down, Meng Nan took out two notebooks from the bedside table and handed one to Zhao Xiaoshuang. "We don't lack for food or clothing at home, and we'll have plenty of free time from now on. Since you'll have nothing else to do, you can cultivate with me when you have the chance. Anything you learn, any difficulties or challenges you encounter, you can jot them down in this notebook. It might be helpful for your cultivation."

As he spoke, Meng Nan asked, "Are you interested in cultivation?"

"Cultivation!"

"Of course, I'm interested."

Zhao Xiaoshuang looked at the notebook in her hand, then shook her head. "It's just that my aptitude for cultivation isn't good. I've been cultivating for two years and I'm still only at the 'Fetal Breath Qi Sensing' stage."

When Zhao Xiaoshuang said she was interested in cultivation, it wasn't because she longed to become an immortal or explore the profound mysteries of the Great Dao and the secrets of the world.

She only knew that achieving success in cultivation would lead to a better life.

Even if she didn't become an immortal master, just reaching the 'True Qi Stage' or 'True Essence Stage' would make a huge difference in her life. In her original village, and even in the current settlement, those at those stages were important figures.

Cultivation offered tangible benefits.

She naturally wanted to cultivate and achieve success in it.

It was just that cultivation was too difficult. Zhao Xiaoshuang had cultivated for two years and hadn't even reached the 'Visualization Realm'. If she continued to cultivate in this lifetime, at best she would only reach the 'Inner Qi Stage', which wasn't very useful.

Coupled with the influence of her family and those around her, she had already given up the idea of cultivating.

Most women, after marrying into their husband's family, had to manage household chores and daily life. Even if they had some leisure time and a little extra money, which of them would be willing to spend it on arduous cultivation with no hope of success?

Zhao Xiaoshuang had thought she would be the same, living an ordinary life from then on, never to speak of cultivation again.

But.

Judging by Meng Nan's intention--

"You want me to cultivate with you?"

Zhao Xiaoshuang held the notebook and asked hesitantly, "Cultivation costs money."

Cultivation required good food and drink, and sometimes medicinal herbs for assistance.

Food and drink alone would cost a lot.

Although Meng Nan had his carpentry skills and could likely support his own cultivation, adding her to the equation might be a different story.

They would have children in the future, three of them, and money would be needed everywhere. They had to save some.

If they both cultivated.

And spent it all.

What would they do later?

Zhao Xiaoshuang thought about it more deeply.

On this side, Meng Nan smiled and said, "My skills are good, and I work quickly. We don't lack money at home right now, so you can cultivate first. If we lack money later, you can stop. It won't cause any delays."

It would definitely be fine in the initial stages.

Meng Nan added a few more words, explaining a bit.

"Alright then."

"I'll cultivate too."

After listening, Zhao Xiaoshuang agreed, and then she smiled.

Her happiness wasn't entirely because she could still cultivate after getting married; it was more because Meng Nan treated her so well, warming her heart.

Holding the notebook, Zhao Xiaoshuang carefully placed it aside, worried it might fall into the water.

With her hands free, she hesitated for a moment before taking Meng Nan's hand, leaning her head against him, feeling a sense of peace and security.

Thanks to Lin Yuan Dk for the 3000 reward; thanks to 'Shan He Lue丶' for the 2400 reward; thanks to 'Wu Jin Cang Ku' for the 500 reward! Thank you all for your support!