The Farm Girl’s Charismatic Fortune
Chapter 268 - 264: Really Not Bad

Chapter 268: Chapter 264: Really Not Bad

The next day, He Xinghua woke up feeling as if her entire body had been rolled over by a millstone, aching unbearably.

She thought of the events of the previous night and couldn’t help blushing.

Fortunately, the person beside her was already gone, probably off to run up the mountain.

She guessed he was exercising, as he would help her carry water every day after his workout.

At that time, she knew he was strong and had good stamina, thinking that marrying such a man was very reassuring.

But when that strength and stamina were used on her...

Even though she herself admitted to being stronger and having better stamina than many women, she couldn’t handle it.

He Xinghua blushed as she put on her shoes and got out of bed, but the moment she stood up, her legs went weak, and she fell straight back onto the bed.

Ruo Hai happened to push the door open and saw this scene: "..."

His face was a bit flushed, but he quickly stepped forward to help her up and asked with feigned composure, "Didn’t hurt yourself, did you?"

He Xinghua’s face reddened even more, and she shook her head while looking down: "No."

The bed was very soft; she had never slept in such a soft bed, so how could she have hurt herself?

Then neither of them had anything to say, and the air was tinged with a hint of awkwardness.

After all, although they were now husband and wife and had done the most intimate things, they hadn’t spent much time together and were not familiar with each other.

Ruo Hai was better off, as this wasn’t his first marriage, and he had been through this situation before. He quickly calmed himself and said, "You lie down; I will give you a massage. Otherwise, you won’t be able to walk."

"No, no need, I’m fine. We, we should hurry up and go to serve the tea!"

"There’s no rush." Ruo Hai still helped to soothe his bride’s muscles, after which He Xinghua felt much better, though her legs were still a little weak, but at least she could stand firm and walk.

Then Ruo Hai went out to fetch a basin of hot water for her to freshen up, and after she had finished, he simply used the cloth she had used to wash his face.

So, the Ruo Family saw a bride with a flushed face being gently supported by Ruo Hai that morning.

Granny Lei was very happy.

The eldest had taken a wife, and the couple seemed to have good feelings for one another, so she considered it another significant matter resolved.

During the tea ceremony, she gave He Xinghua a pair of jade bracelets of excellent quality.

They were imperial gifts.

Ruo Hai, being the oldest, only needed to serve tea to Granny Lei.

Then came the Ruo brothers and Ruo Xuan sisters to pay their respects to Ruo Hai and He Xinghua.

He Xinghua had prepared gifts for each of them, the men receiving different styles of pen holders, neither too expensive nor too cheap, but very exquisite. For the women, she prepared embroidered items, all purses with different designs featuring flowers they liked, embroidered very nicely.

For Xuanbao, she prepared a pair of cute silver bracelets.

Then the Ruo children also gave her gifts; especially Ruo Zhou, who even called her "mother," which moved He Xinghua greatly. She felt the weight on her shoulders grow heavier, determined to treat this child well.

Ruo Hai saw that Ruo Zhou had also prepared a ring for him, and when Ruo Zhou voluntarily called her mother, he breathed a sigh of relief.

He was marrying her, and he had been a bit afraid that his son wouldn’t accept it, worrying that the boy would feel sad, lost, or abandoned.

Fortunately, his son seemed happy and was able to accept it.

When Ruo Xuan saw her uncle almost moved to tears, she immediately said, "I picked them out, but it was big brother who paid the silver. Uncle, don’t they look good?"

Ruo Hai smiled and patted his beloved niece’s head: "Xuanbao’s taste is, of course, the best!"

Madam Jiang chuckled, "You kids prepared gifts for your new aunt, but had your big brother pay the silver? Is there any sincerity left?"

Madam Liu also laughed, "Exactly, every time you buy something, it’s your big brother who shells out the silver. You don’t see yourself buying anything for your big brother usually. Your brother’s purse is empty; you’ll need to pay him back the silver later."

Ruo Zhou laughed and said, "No, they always give me gifts, and besides, it doesn’t matter who pays, there’s no need to repay, big brother has silver."

Ruo Hai patted his son’s head and laughed heartily, "Haha...As the eldest brother, Zhou should! If you’re ever short of silver, just tell Dad, and I’ll give you some."

...

The family enjoyed a harmonious breakfast together and then went about their business.

Xuanbao and her mother went into the city because Xuanbao’s uncle had gotten married yesterday, and she saw her aunt, who she felt might give birth to a little cousin in the next couple of days; it would be better for her to stay in town!

Ruo Hai and He Xinghua were sent back to their room to rest by Granny Lei.

The eldest son was due back at the military camp after the new year, and the time he could spend with his wife was too scarce; they should spend more time together to strengthen their bond.

When the couple returned to their room, He Xinghua brought up the two chests of gold, silver, and jewelry he had given her, "Those two chests are imperial gifts and your glory. As the eldest son of our family, we haven’t divided our household, so that glory is our family’s glory. It wouldn’t be right to give it all to me. How about I give some to Mother and the younger sisters? What’s your take on dividing it up?"

Ruo Hai looked at her and asked, "What do you think is the best way to divide it?"

He Xinghua shared her thoughts, "I was thinking of taking one chest to share with Mother and the younger sisters, then select some of the best to keep in a chest for Xuanbao, for her dowry in the future. Xuanbao is a Commandery Princess, and wearing imperial gifts will help her save face and not be looked down upon. Also, the earlier and more abundantly a girl’s dowry is prepared, when there’s the capacity, the better. What do you think?"

After this experience of marrying someone off, He Xinghua truly felt that the more and earlier a girl’s dowry is prepared, the better, if there’s the capacity.

That way, there’s more confidence when marrying off.

Xuanbao is so smart, such a lovely and endearing girl, she will assuredly marry well in the future!

Ruo Hai saw that she was sincere and not just putting on an act, and her words were pleasing to hear, referring to Ruo Family as "our family," showing that she now sincerely regarded the Ruo Family as her own.

No matter how much genuine feeling was behind her words, a daughter-in-law who knows how to please is still a good one.

And since Mother said she had a good character, and Xuanbao said she was his good match, he was starting to believe it now.

Ruo Hai then said, "You’ve considered everything thoroughly, let’s do as you suggest."

He had always believed that men should be in charge of external affairs, and women in charge of domestic ones, and that a reliable wife should be heeded.

Giving everything to Xuanbao was indeed not appropriate; since ancient times, a major source of family conflict has been uneven distribution, leading to favoritism.

Her arrangement was better, providing for the whole family.

Although he did indeed favor Xuanbao a bit more, feeling that the other nephews would always be under his watchful eye, able to be supported by him for a lifetime, Xuanbao would marry out and might not always be able to receive help whenever she needed it.

Moreover, everything their family had was because of Xuanbao; only because of her did their family undergo such changes and attain such wealth and honor.

Yet, as the eldest son of the family, he still needed to strive for fairness to prevent long-term discontent.

He Xinghua, hearing this, was very pleased, "Then I’ll go divide it up."

Ruo Hai looked at her genuine smile and nodded.

Although his new wife wasn’t a great beauty, she was very good.

Thinking this, he left the room to see how the martial training of the children in the family was coming along.

Ruo Hai would always set martial training tasks for the children every time he came home.

The men of Ruo Family should not neglect martial arts!

A man skilled in martial arts can protect his family indoors and defend his country outdoors!

Even Xuanbao, so young, already had better archery skills than her older brothers.

So whenever he had the chance, he would rigorously train the children, even considering employing the training intensity of the Feiyan Army.

Soon, Ruo Hai’s shouts and the children’s wails of misery echoed throughout the courtyard.

He Xinghua heard this and couldn’t help but walk outside to take a look, then felt that this kind of family tradition, this kind of man, was truly commendable.