A Fierce Wife, A Gentle Husband - Chapter 3

The next morning, we served tea to the family.

All three brothers-in-law were present.

My eldest brother-in-law drawled, “Our new brother is certainly handsome. What books have you studied?”

Shen Wei answered seriously, “*The Complete Art of Castrating Pigs* and *Postpartum Care for Sows*. My wife said those two were the most practical.”

My second brother-in-law sneered. “The Shen family certainly knows how to educate its sons.”

Shen Wei smiled bashfully. “Father said that as long as I stayed alive and did not disgrace the family, I would already be honoring my ancestors. Now that I can carry on the Hua family line, he says our ancestral graves must be on fire.”

My third brother-in-law gave a cold laugh. “It seems Young Master Shen knows how to please his wife.”

Shen Wei’s eyes lit up as he turned to me.

“Wife, did I do well last night? I went to my brothers for advice before the wedding.”

My three brothers-in-law fell silent.

So did I.

Mother cleared her throat. “It’s time to burn incense for your father. Let him meet his new son-in-law too.”

Incense smoke curled through the ancestral hall.

Shen Wei dropped to his knees with a thud and began knocking his forehead solidly against the floor. Each crisp impact made Mother’s eyelid twitch.

“Father-in-law,” he said, rubbing his brow, “I don’t know martial arts, but I’ll do my best to treat my wife well.”

“If she’s hurt, I’ll care for her. If she’s angry, I’ll listen.”

“If she wants to eat something, I’ll buy it at once.”

He smiled, a little embarrassed. “I’m clumsy with words and don’t know how to say beautiful things, but if I make a promise, I’ll keep it.”

After the incense ceremony, Shen Wei caught his foot on a kneeling cushion. I reached out instinctively and steadied him.

His ears reddened.

“Thank you, Wife.”

Before the words had left his mouth, urgent hoofbeats sounded outside the courtyard.

A messenger rushed in and saluted.

“Captain Hua! A small enemy scouting party has been sighted near the border.”

“Strategist Yun orders you to return to camp at once and take charge of the defenses.”

I frowned.

A small scouting party?

Such sightings were common at the border. There was no reason to recall an officer from leave.

Yun Zhi’s order was… strange.

But I said nothing. An order was an order.

I turned sharply and went to put on my armor.

When I emerged at the front gate, Shen Wei was already seated neatly on the carriage shaft, clutching a small bundle.

I suddenly remembered something important.

“We’re supposed to visit your family the day after tomorrow. If I can’t make it back—”

“It’s all right!” Shen Wei waved both hands, his eyes shining. “Father, Mother, and my four brothers all like you very much.”

I raised a brow. “Because I’m good at cutting people?”

“That’s part of it!”

He nodded vigorously. “Father says I’m too handsome and too straightforward.”

“If I stayed out in the world, some wicked woman would either trick me into becoming her eighteenth concubine or some crooked merchant would chew me down to the bone.”

“They’re only at ease if I marry you and let you look after me.”

“Eldest Brother says it’s called ‘optimal asset allocation.’”

“He said a ‘nonperforming asset’ like me—no, that’s not right—a ‘rare, high-risk asset’ like me needs a ‘custodian’ with the highest credit rating and strongest risk controls. Someone like you!”

“This is bad.” Mother slapped her thigh and whispered in my ear, “My child, they aren’t looking for in-laws. They’re looking for a chief bodyguard! A lifelong one!”