The first big gift of the new year

If even the Princess said it was delicious, it was equivalent to having a 'Big V' certification or being labeled a 'National Banquet Dish' in the future.

With Gao Yuan's signal to start the feast, everyone picked up their chopsticks and began to eat heartily.

"This beef is sliced very thin; it only needs a few breaths in the pot to be ready. Any longer and it will get tough..."

"This mushroom chicken soup has been simmering for several hours; you should give it a try..."

Gao Yuan constantly shuttled between the tables, introducing the ways to eat various ingredients, looking every bit like a Restaurant Waiter.

Hearing everyone say it was delicious, a satisfied expression appeared on Gao Yuan's face. It seemed this wave of rewards was guaranteed.

The women had no idea about any of this; they only found Gao Yuan's behavior puzzling.

"Sister Zheng, why do you think Husband is so happy?"

"It's probably what he often calls a 'sense of achievement,' don't you think, Sister?"

Zhao Xiyao thought for a moment.

"Regardless of the reason, as long as he's happy. Honestly, if it weren't for the great upheaval in his family, he would still be that carefree and happy Third Young Master of the Grand Generals Residence."

"This is probably what they mean by 'the times create heroes.'"

Gao Yuan took a bite here and a drink there, and soon returned to the main table quite tipsy.

"Husband, you've worked hard. Please, sit down and eat."

Zheng Wan immediately and thoughtfully served him a piece of tripe, while Song Yao poured him a cup of wine.

Enjoying being fed by two beauties with special statuses, Gao Yuan suddenly understood why so many protagonists liked eating 'well-ripened dumplings.'

These older ones really know how to take care of people. Unlike Her Highness the Princess—beautiful as she may be, she isn't considerate!

Just as he was thinking this, a piece of beef suddenly appeared in his bowl.

"You've been busy all day; eat more meat."

Looking at the shy Zhao Xiyao, Gao Yuan felt the whole world turn sweet.

The New Year's Eve dinner was a delight for both Host and guests. Gao Yuan rarely drank to his heart's content and was eventually helped back to his own courtyard.

After bathing with the help of the maids, he lay on the bed and fell into a deep sleep, not even checking the system notifications.

In the middle of the night, Gao Yuan woke up thirsty. He fumbled his way up and gulped down a large pot of water.

Just as he lay back down on the bed, something felt wrong. How was there an extra person?

He sniffed and reached out to feel—fragrant and soft. He also checked himself and felt no abnormality behind him.

The beauty on the bed let out a soft moan and turned over. Only then did Gao Yuan see clearly by the moonlight.

"Holy crap, it's Zheng Wan. Did I just dizzily eat a bowl of 'big dumplings'?"

After a moment of daze, Gao Yuan wanted to slap his thigh in regret.

"What a loss! Alcohol really ruins things. I dizzily missed the chance to savor the 'dumplings' properly."

But looking at Zheng Wan's intact pajamas, Gao Yuan fell into thought.

"Did I not eat them? Even more of a loss. Oh well, if I didn't, I didn't. Sleep, sleep, sleep."

Lying back down, Gao Yuan soon began to snore while holding the beauty, completely failing to notice Zheng Wan's trembling eyelashes.

"Why isn't he touching me? Does he not like me? Right, after all, my beauty has faded, and I'm a 'second-bloom' flower. Sigh..."

Suddenly overcome with sorrow, the woman curled up in Gao Yuan's arms and actually began to sob.

Yet the man holding her from behind was still in a sweet dream, his snoring thunderous.

The more she thought, the sadder she became. This twenty-three-year-old mature woman actually cried until her whole body trembled.

Gao Yuan finally felt something was off. He woke up from his dream and was instantly alert when he felt the person in his arms trembling and sobbing.

He turned Zheng Wan's body around and looked at her tear-streaked, pretty face with heartache.

"What's wrong? What's wrong? Why are you suddenly crying? Are you homesick?"

Zheng Wan shook her head and said nothing.

This left Gao Yuan completely bewildered. Having been a 'single dog' for two lifetimes, how could he know how to coax a woman?

In a flurry of panic, he racked his brain and brought out every cheesy pick-up line he could think of.

Seeing him like this, Zheng Wan suddenly found him exceptionally adorable and laughed through her tears.

Seeing the beauty smile through her tears, Gao Yuan finally breathed a sigh of relief and pulled her into his arms.

"Why did you suddenly start crying?"

"Why won't you touch me? Do you despise me for being a second marriage, or are you worried about ethics and social norms...?"

Hearing this, Gao Yuan was speechless. So this was the reason after all.

He was at a loss for words, not knowing how to answer. He couldn't exactly tell Zheng Wan that he couldn't pass the censorship review before turning eighteen.

And he certainly couldn't tell her that her 'well-ripened widow dumpling' status had a maximum temptation buff.

After thinking for a while, he finally squeezed out a plausible reason.

"You should still remember that I've been practicing a secret technique recently, right?"

Zheng Wan looked up at Gao Yuan and nodded.

"I remember. Since then, you haven't been sick once, and your constitution has grown stronger and stronger."

"This secret technique has a restriction: one cannot consummate a marriage before the age of eighteen. Otherwise, not only will previous efforts go to waste, but it will also cause a backlash on the body."

Zheng Wan suddenly understood. She murmured while nestled in Gao Yuan's arms.

"I thought you didn't like me..."

"You are so gentle and virtuous, and your beauty is world-class. How could I not like you?"

Gao Yuan lay down and pulled the beauty tighter into his arms.

"Alright, stop overthinking and go to sleep."

"Mhm."

It must be said that 'men and women working together makes the work easy' is an absolute truth.

Sleeping while holding a fragrant and soft girl made the quality of sleep much better.

In the morning, when Gao Yuan was woken up by the family's overalls-wearing rooster, he felt refreshed.

Carefully setting down the beauty in his arms, Gao Yuan got up, did some simple washing, and went to exercise.

Recently, he had a feeling that a breakthrough in his abilities was right before him. With just a little more effort, he would level up soon.

Sure enough, hard work pays off. While he was enjoying Song Yao's service of wiping away his sweat after finishing his day's training, the system notification arrived.

"Congratulations, Host. Your Strength rating has increased from C+ to B-, Endurance from B- to B, and Saber Technique from D+ to C-."

"Because the Host's Strength rating has increased from C+ to B-, Endurance from B- to B, and Saber Technique from D+ to C-;"

"Congratulations, Host's overall evaluation has increased from C+ to B-."

"Host: Gao Yuan. Character Attributes: Feminine Appearance, Ruthless. Overall Evaluation: B-."

"Strength: B-, Agility: C+, Endurance: B, Riding: D, Intelligence: B+, Command: D, Internal Affairs: F, Charm: A+."

"Martial Arts: Saber Technique B-, Spear Technique D."

"Skills: Leaders Aura (F)."

"Items: S-Rank Random Warlord Experience Card x1, S-Rank Random Resource Bundle."

He didn't expect such a huge surprise on the first day of the New Year. Not only did his personal strength improve, but most importantly, there was that big bundle.

"The system is really awesome today. Love you, mwah!"

After the excitement, Gao Yuan couldn't wait to click the system interface and open the resource bundle.

"Host is opening the S-Rank Random Resource Bundle. Randomizing rewards..."

It was the classic lucky wheel again, but this time Gao Yuan saw three pointers, meaning he could obtain three sets of resources.

"Potatoes, potatoes! Corn is fine too. At the very least, give me some tomatoes or chili peppers!"

As the wheel began to spin, Gao Yuan started muttering prayers.

Soon, as the wheel stopped, the pointers rested on three different positions.

Then the lucky wheel disappeared, and three rewards appeared.

When Gao Yuan saw the names of these three rewards, he immediately started swearing.

"Dammit, why these? Where are my potatoes? My corn? My high-yield rice?"

The system's voice was not disturbed in the slightest, reciting the three rewards without emotion.

"Congratulations to the Host for obtaining Blueprint: High-turn Waterwheel, Blueprint: Curved-shaft Plow, and Rare Item: Population Card."