Chapter 3

“You say it — I’ll agree to everything.”

Shen Yan’s eyes were serious and sincere.

“I haven’t even said it yet, and you’ve already agreed? You’re not even going to ask me what the requests are?”

Gu Keqing looked at the man in front of her with amusement.

“Grandma Gu is a good person, and she married you to me, so no matter what you ask, I’ll agree.”

Shen Yan spoke the truth.

“That’s not okay. If you just see me as your benefactor’s granddaughter, then between the two of us…”

Halfway through, Gu Keqing couldn’t continue.

In her mind, love still came first. Although she had a good impression of Shen Yan, she didn’t know how he truly felt about her.

If he always saw her only as his benefactor’s granddaughter, what if one day he fell for another woman? Wouldn’t she be heartbroken?

Or worse — what if one day he fell in love with the female lead, Qi Zhilan? Then she’d be doomed right away.

“Shen Yan, are you planning to treat me as your benefactor’s granddaughter for the rest of your life? Won’t you ever have romantic feelings for me?”

After thinking it over, Gu Keqing decided it was better to ask clearly.

A mouth wasn’t just for eating — it was also for talking, for speaking heartfelt and honest words.

“Wife, you’ve misunderstood. I-I mean… I will repay Grandma Gu’s kindness, but as for you… I will also… like you.”

Shen Yan lowered his head, his face red as he explained, “I’m not someone who fools around with relationships. Since I’ve married you, I’ll be loyal to you alone for life, and love only you.”

Gu Keqing: “…That’s more like it!”

“Alright, then I’ll state my conditions!”

“Mm, mm — go ahead, say them all.”

Shen Yan had no intention of upsetting his wife on their wedding night.

“First, you can’t have a wandering heart. You can only like me.”

“Mm! I promise I can do that.”

“Second, no holding grudges overnight — anything that comes up must be talked out that same day.”

“I can do that.”

“Third, whatever I enjoy doing, you must fully support me. No holding me back.”

When Shen Yan heard the third condition, he frowned and asked, “Wife, if what you want to do is dangerous, I can’t agree to that.”

Gu Keqing gave him a light slap. “I’m not going to the fields — can’t I at least do a bit of small business? That’s all I mean.”

“Then… alright. But whatever you sell, you have to let me know. I’ll go with you.”

Shen Yan spoke seriously.

“Alright, it’s a deal.”

Hearing him agree to everything, Gu Keqing began planning how to make money and build wealth.

Her big castle space had all sorts of things she could sell.

But… what should she start with?

She drifted off into pleasant daydreams about the future, completely forgetting the freshly bathed groom waiting for her.

“Wife… it’s late. Aren’t you sleepy?”

Shen Yan’s heart skipped a beat as he gazed at the beautiful Gu Keqing.

How could someone be this good-looking?

Back in the army, he’d been surrounded by rough men all day.

After being sent down to the countryside, he’d been working in the fields daily.

Sure, some village girls and female educated youth had tried to flirt with him,

but he’d been utterly uninterested — wouldn’t even spare them a glance.

Yet toward his new wife, he felt something different.

A feeling unlike what he had for any other woman.

Shen Yan might be slow to warm up, but he knew this difference mattered.

“Wife?”

He tugged lightly at Gu Keqing’s hand, finally pulling her back to the moment.

“Oh… what did you say?”

She had been too busy thinking about selling goods on the black market to hear what he’d said.

“I said, it’s time to sleep.”

Of course Shen Yan knew what was expected on a wedding night, but… it seemed his wife’s mind wasn’t on that at all.

“Mm, then let’s sleep.”

Gu Keqing gave a simple response and lay down by herself.

“I’ll go blow out the kerosene lamp then.”

“Alright!”

She was already planning to wake up early tomorrow. Feeling a little sleepy, she closed her eyes.

Shen Yan, however, couldn’t sleep.

With a fragrant, soft wife lying right beside him, how could he possibly sleep?

“Wife…”

“Mm!”

“Are you… sleepy?”

“Mm…”

Gu Keqing was truly tired and had completely forgotten what usually happened on a wedding night.

In the dark, Shen Yan bit his lip, silently encouraging himself.

His wife was young — maybe she didn’t know much about these things. Once she experienced it, she’d understand.

Before transmigrating, Gu Keqing had been 22, but in the book, the original owner had just turned 19.

“Wife, can I kiss you?”

Shen Yan thought it best to ask for her consent first — even as a husband, he didn’t want to be too reckless.

“Mm? What?”

Half-asleep, she finally realized what he meant.

Her face flushed instantly, and after a long pause she said softly, “Then… okay.”

She sighed inwardly — with someone this handsome, she probably wouldn’t lose out.

Hearing her permission, the smile on Shen Yan’s lips deepened — though it was too dark for her to see.

…

When Gu Keqing next woke, the sun was already high.

To be exact — it was nearly noon.

The spot beside her was empty; Shen Yan had gone to work in the fields.

She rubbed her sore waist and muttered under her breath, “Dog man!”

Then she got dressed and climbed out of bed.

Looking at the clean sheets, she vaguely remembered that around dawn, Shen Yan had lifted her up and changed them once.

But she had been far too tired to open her eyes.

Thinking about it now made her shake her head shyly.

What kind of situation was this?!

She hadn’t even dated before, and now she was married?

Walking toward the main hall, she rubbed her stomach, which felt completely empty.

At this hour, it had to be time for lunch.

“Keqing, you’re awake? Come, sit down and have a bowl of brown sugar water.”

A hearty female voice called from the kitchen.

When Gu Keqing turned, she saw a woman of about forty, smiling broadly as she came out carrying a bowl.

Brown sugar water again?

She’d had one last night, and now another?

Did they think she’d lost too much blood and needed to replenish?

To be fair, her mother-in-law did look quite kind.

Gu Keqing secretly felt lucky — she hadn’t ended up with a wicked mother-in-law who woke her at the crack of dawn to work.

Being allowed to sleep in till midday and served brown sugar water — truly, it was a blessing in disguise.

“Mother…”

She mimicked how people of this era addressed their elders, the word feeling awkward on her lips.

“Eh! Mother will make lunch for you now — Shen Yan and the others will be back from the fields soon.”

Her mother-in-law waited for her to drink the entire bowl before going back to the kitchen.

“Mother, let me help you.”

Glancing around the primitive kitchen — earthen stove, clay pots, no modern appliances — Gu Keqing couldn’t help sighing.

She wished she could just move all the kitchen equipment from her space here.

Unfortunately… she couldn’t.

“Mother, I still have some things in my room. I’ll go bring them over.”

Before long, she returned carrying white flour and cornmeal, eggs, oil, and a large piece of beef.

She had just taken the beef from her space — perfect for lunch.

Before transmigrating, she couldn’t live without meat.

“Daughter, where did all these things come from?”