Chapter 179 The very next morning - Ah? The Wives I Abandoned Turned Out to Be Real

Chapter 179 The very next morning, you discreetly took a piece of cured lamb to Miaoshan, only allowing her to leave after you witnessed her finish the entire piece with your own eyes. Nourished by the goat meat, both you and Miaoshan visibly grew more robust. After consuming the humanoid grass root, your health improved with each passing day, and you even gained the strength comparable to an adult. Noticing your transformation, your father began enlisting your help with the family's farming chores. You did not refuse, but rather requested that after finishing the farm work each day, you be allowed to visit the back mountains of Sujia Village. Your father, delighted by your assistance, paid little mind to your request. With your newfound strength, the traps you set became increasingly sophisticated. Previously, you had encountered wild boars in the mountains, but your simple traps were ineffective, often unable to even catch a rabbit. Thus, you began digging pits in concealed spots, lining the bottoms with sharp, upward-pointing branches. Should a wild boar fall in, it would be instantly impaled by these spikes. Filled with hope, you dug three large pits in different locations. These pits were situated in remote areas, so you didn't worry about accidentally harming innocent people. For three days, your traps yielded nothing until Miaoshan pointed out the bait was insufficient—what was meant to capture small rabbits wouldn't be nearly enough to lure wild boars. Upon realizing this oversight, you endured hunger for three days, finally managing to gather three steamed cornbreads and two corn cakes, which you placed over one of the traps. This time, the trap worked surprisingly well, and by the next day, you had caught a large wild boar. Wary of others in the village following your example, you waited until nightfall to bring it home. Your parents were astounded when you dragged the wild boar's carcass back, clueless as to how you managed such a feat. With the lamb still not completely consumed, your parents saw your success as a blessing from above. Owing to a neighbor's leg injury and Miaoshan's family's ongoing struggles, your parents, reluctant to share the lamb earlier, decided to have you deliver a boar's hind leg to her family. You were delighted and immediately took the massive leg to Miaoshan's home late at night. Miaoshan's mother was surprised by the sight of such a large piece of meat and unsure of your intentions until you explained your catch's origins. Upon learning it was trapped, Miaoshan's mother gladly accepted, her regard for you growing fonder. In her eyes, if Miaoshan were to marry you in the future, she wouldn't be wrong in choosing a good family. As days went by, your health and strength continued to improve, allowing you to capture more wildlife. Your father used the money from selling animal hides to rebuild the family home, changing it from a thatched to a wooden house. Thanks to you, your family had become one of the wealthier households in Sujia Village. However, due to your rampant hunting, the number of animals in the mountains dwindled. By the time you turned fifteen, animals were nearly extinct, and despite your skills, there were none left to hunt. Nevertheless, thanks to your hunting, your father managed to expand your family's land from two acres to twenty, making you moderately well-off farmers. With Miaoshan's adoptive father bedridden and depressed, he eventually passed away one night, leaving Miaoshan and her mother to fend for themselves. You frequently watched over Miaoshan, and thanks to your strength, those intent on exploiting the situation couldn't act. Following her adoptive father's seventh-day memorial, Miaoshan's mother proposed sending Miaoshan to your family as a child bride. You were familiar with the concept of a child bride, understanding it to be Miaoshan's mother's way of entrusting Miaoshan to your family, unable as she was to care for her, until both of you reached the lawful marriage age in the Song Dynasty. Though only ten, Miaoshan was a budding beauty, with hints of future magnificence. Your parents welcomed Miaoshan's mother's suggestion without hesitation, and soon you and Miaoshan were married, making her your child bride. You then took on the farm work for Miaoshan's family's three acres of land. Now with the strength of ten men, you managed both your family's twenty acres and Miaoshan's three acres efficiently, and life steadily improved. By the time you both reached the lawful marriage age, you moved in together. Concerned Miaoshan might not endure, you defied your parents, opting to simply hold her in sleep for a year. Though Miaoshan was initially naive, her mother imparted knowledge of marital duties, leading her to gradually understand her role. In your heart, seeing Miaoshan's delicate, enchanting form filled you with excitement. Life continued like this for about a year before you could no longer resist consummating your marriage with your legal wife, Miaoshan. On witnessing this scene, Miaoshan's legs tensed, her eyes widened in shock... Remarkably, it seemed your robust health was a factor, as Miaoshan was discovered pregnant only two months later. Both families rejoiced, and you were thrilled at the prospect of fatherhood. To ensure ample nutrition for Miaoshan, you began searching far and wide for foods beneficial for pregnant women. Miaoshan's belly grew day by day. Ten months later, you brought in a midwife ahead of time, awaiting Miaoshan’s labor. After two hours, a newborn cry echoed through the room. The midwife joyously informed you of the safe delivery of a healthy baby boy, with both mother and child well. Overjoyed, you rushed into the room to see Miaoshan and the baby. Though Miaoshan's face was pale, her expressive eyes shone brightly. Gazing at the child she had just borne you, happiness filled your heart. "Miaoshan, we finally have our child." "As for his name, how about calling him Su Donglai?" "This was a name suggested by a fortune teller I consulted—our first son will be named Su Donglai, and our first daughter, Su Xuemei." Miaoshan was pleased with your choice. Despite her lack of formal education, even she could sense the depth in the names. Following this, you diligently cared for Miaoshan through her three-month postpartum recovery, during which your child thrived. Yet, only five months after Donglai's birth, Miaoshan was pregnant again. Your mother scolded you, warning of the toll on Miaoshan's body from successive pregnancies. Baffled, you argued innocence, having taken precautions to prevent conception. Nevertheless, Miaoshan didn't blame you; on the contrary, her health seemed improved, with no typical pregnancy symptoms. You were delighted by this, and after finishing your farm work each day, you worked in nearby towns. Two hours of labor fetched enough for a pound of pork or a hefty fish. With a brood of chickens supplying ample eggs, Miaoshan's diet lacked nothing. Another ten months passed, and Miaoshan bore a daughter, whom you named Xuemei, following the fortune teller's instructions. Wary of another pregnancy, you refrained from intimacy. When Xuemei was two and Donglai three, Miaoshan soon found herself with child once more. By the time you reached thirty, Miaoshan had given birth to seven children—five sons and two daughters, despite your efforts to limit them. Were it not for your restraint, the number could have been ten. The large family you had fathered quickly drew attention. Thirty li from Sujia Village stood a mountain temple named Qingshan View, once known for granting blessings of children after a mere three or four prayers. Recently, however, the temple's efficacy seemed to wane, and its incense offerings dwindled. Hearing of your fame, the temple's abbot approached you, proposing you work at Qingshan View as a volunteer, offering you a tael of silver a day. Chapter 179 With now seven children to your name, life has become a more pressing struggle. The old saying goes, "half-grown sons can eat their fathers out of house and home," and you feel the truth of it more than ever. The burden of providing for seven children has significantly increased your living expenses. Thus, when offered such generous terms by the abbot of Qingshan Temple, promising nearly thirty taels of silver a month, you quickly accepted, planning to visit home just once a month. Upon hearing the news, Miaoshan instinctively felt something was amiss, holding you back with concern. "My dear husband, where do opportunities like this fall from the sky? Nearly thirty taels a month? That's more than our family's yearly income!" You reassured Miaoshan, comforting her anxieties. "Don't worry, my love. With this money, we can afford to send our children to private school. Imagine them becoming scholars—a great honor for the family." Persuaded by your assurances, Miaoshan ceased her objection. That evening, you both spent a meaningful final night together before your departure. Despite being a mother of seven, Miaoshan's body had not suffered from years of nursing; instead, she seemed even more voluptuous and firm. Everywhere you looked, she seemed to possess the ideal proportions, making it increasingly difficult for you to tear yourself away. After a night of warmth, you entrusted Miaoshan and the children to your mother-in-law's care and set off alone for Qingshan Temple. Upon your arrival, the abbot quickly arranged accommodations for you and ensured his disciples treated you well. After three days of good food and drink, he explained the situation regarding the temple's famed fertility miracles. Women visited Qingshan with hopes for children, often alone, paying handsomely for offerings. Those deemed sincere were taken to the courtyard, where the abbot personally aided them in conception. In his younger years, the abbot managed well enough, but with age he could no longer fulfill these duties. His disciples, lacking the necessary vigor, were equally incapable. Thus, upon hearing of your reputation, the abbot spared no expense in bringing you to the temple, hoping you could take on this responsibility. Though initially resistant to the idea, the thought of your seven hungry children waiting at home compelled you to agree. For the following days, you were treated to lavish meals of fish, meat, and tonics brewed from potent herbs like epimedium, goji, medicinal rhizomes, and deer antler. These supplements left you feverish and flushed, but nonetheless resigned you to your tasks at the temple. Though the women visiting the temple never matched Miaoshan's beauty, you focused on the financial rewards, each day earning a tael of silver. After a month, you returned home with dark circles under your eyes and a weary body, but the sight of the beautiful Miaoshan immediately lifted your spirits. Proudly, you handed over thirty taels of silver. Seeing the fruit of your labor, Miaoshan was overjoyed and announced her intention to send your eldest two sons to private school, though fees were ten taels per child each year. You agreed without hesitation, for ten taels were but ten days' work for you. Following three blissful days with Miaoshan, you returned to Qingshan Temple, resuming your grueling daily duties. Thanks to you, the temple's renown grew exponentially, drawing people from all over Ruzhou County and its neighboring regions, all seeking fertility blessings. Perhaps it was the humanoid grass root you consumed as a child, but your endurance was extraordinary, and not until five years later did you begin feeling fatigued. Subsequently, you bid farewell to the abbot and returned home. In those five years, you successfully aided over ten thousand women in their desires for children. With the earnings, you significantly expanded your family’s land holdings, now reaching two hundred acres. Returning home, Miaoshan had just given birth to your eleventh child, as her belly rarely rested in these past years. Gazing at the increasingly mature and beautiful Miaoshan, you felt like the luckiest person alive. However, following the birth of your eleventh child, Miaoshan confided in you. She dreamt of the Buddha instructing her to seek her biological parents so that she might achieve enlightenment after this life. (End of Chapter)