Rebirth of a Farming Wife

Chapter 562: Chapter 568: Unable to Change
 

“Stop talking so much, Zhao Fan must have sent quite a few pursuers to kill us. Let’s rest briefly then start moving again. Uncle Wen, you’ve been fleeing in such a panic that you definitely did not have time to prepare anything. You’ve been hunted down by Zhao Fan’s men along the way, and you must be both tired and hungry. I brought some dry food with me when I set out. Eat some to fill your stomachs for now, and once we reach a safer area, I’ll get some hot meals ready.” Han Yu said, instructing his subordinates to take out the dry food and water they brought and share it with everyone to replenish their strength on the spot.

After such a run, everyone was indeed exhausted. They had only been concerned with saving their lives on the road and had not had time to eat, let alone prepare food. All they managed to catch were some small animals, which were far from enough to fill their stomachs. Hearing Han Yu’s words, Liu Xiu nodded, “Xiu Qi has considered this well. Ever since our hurried retreat, we haven’t had a proper meal, and the numerous battles against the pursuers have really drained us. We’re tremendously hungry, and at this point, we can’t be picky—having any food at all is quite fortunate.”

Han Yu naturally knew this. When he was ostracized by the people in the military camp, he often encountered such situations while leading his subordinates on assignments—tired and hungry, one would be glad for any food at all, with no room to be choosy. His seemingly courteous words now also took Liu Xiu’s dignity into account. And during his journey here, he had been rushing on the road without taking proper meal breaks. When hungry, he had stopped to quickly eat a few pancakes before continuing on his way. Now his own stomach was empty as well.

Han Yu’s subordinates, very conscientiously, shared their food and water with the others. Han Yu took out two pancakes from his package, as well as a paper bag and a small jar. Though he was somewhat reluctant to part with them, he still shared the majority with Han Yu.

“Uncle Wen, try this. There’s not much to go around, so it’s just for us to eat,” Han Yu offered.

When Liu Xiu took the food from Han Yu, a pleasant aroma wafted to his nose, originating from the paper bag and triggering his appetite. Inside were the braised beef and pickles made by Su Wenyue,

Upon tasting it, Liu Xiu’s eyes brightened. He had long heard about Han Yu’s wife’s exceptional culinary skills, “Xiu Qi, these must be your wife’s handiwork. I’ve always heard that your younger sister-in-law is virtuous, having braved the cliff for you. She’s indeed a chaste and virtuous woman. Luckily, she’s a woman of fortune, surviving a great disaster. Having such a virtuous wife truly makes one envious.”

“My wife is indeed good to me. She accepted my status and followed me, taking care of our home and educating our children, managing everything at home so well that I have no worries at home. On the contrary, I have not always done well by her, allowing her to endure many grievances and hardships, even coming close to losing her life.”

It was rare for Han Yu to talk about his wife. In the past, whenever someone mentioned Su Wenyue outside, Han Yu would hide her away, not willing to say much. In his heart, his wife was his most cherished treasure, and he didn’t want others to discover and covet her good qualities.

Now that he had decided to keep his wife by his side permanently, Han Yu, even if he did not like it, changed his attitude. At the very least, he wanted to create a good image of her in everyone’s hearts, especially since Liu Xiu was the person he had chosen to follow. Han Yu also hoped that Su Wenyue would make a good impression on Liu Xiu. Even if it had no effect at the moment, it would eventually be useful.

“Knowing her value, everything she does is worth it. When the time comes and you achieve success and fame, providing her the honor she deserves won’t be a disservice to my younger sister-in-law’s deep affection and goodwill,” Liu Xiu said, observing Han Yu’s somewhat impassioned expression. His feelings weren’t as deep. Although he admired and was moved to some extent, in his eyes, women were more tools for utilization and alliances. It’s not that they had no emotional significance, but their weight was too light compared to the importance of the country and his ambitions. Hence, he felt that giving them corresponding status and honor was not a betrayal.

Han Yu disagreed with Liu Xiu’s statement. If he truly thought that way, it would be an insult to his wife. He shook his head, “Uncle Wen, your words are not right. My wife is not the kind of woman who only cares about power and status. If that were the case, she would not have married me to begin with, nor would she have silently given so much. The only way for me not to fail her is to repay her with the same dedication.”

“Xiu Qi, you are an extremely talented individual, and it is only right that you cherish your virtuous wife. However, placing too much emphasis on personal feelings is not beneficial. Those who accomplish great things do not get bogged down in trivial matters, nor should they be swayed by their personal emotions. Otherwise, being entangled in such emotions will hinder your progress. Truly not what you should be doing!”

Liu Xiu was now beginning to regard Han Yu as a confidant, and his thoughts had changed from the past. Previously, he had been eager to find Han Yu’s weaknesses in order to keep him firmly under control. Now, however, his thinking had shifted, realizing that since Han Yu was willing to be so loyal to him, he needed to consider how best to utilize such a subordinate. And at some points, if necessary, to prevent Han Yu from being controlled by others due to his weaknesses, he was prepared to let go of anyone who might hold Han Yu back.

Thinking this, a cold light briefly flickered in Liu Xiu’s eyes. The failures and betrayals he had experienced had clearly made him grow a lot, shedding his earlier soft-heartedness and becoming more ruthless. Anyone who stood in the way of his great ambitions could be sacrificed or eliminated.

Han Yu naturally noticed the changes in Liu Xiu and understood the reasons behind his transformation. In some ways, he was pleased to see it; Liu Xiu needed such a transformation to clear the path to the position he sought. However, Han Yu would not let Liu Xiu direct this ruthlessness towards him.

“Uncle Wen, let’s get to the point. I’m a straightforward man, so I’ll speak openly,” Han Yu began.

“Xiu Qi, you and I are like brothers. Speak freely,” Liu Xiu responded.

“Alright, then I’ll be frank. Regarding the matter of my wife, I do not wish for anyone to question or drive a wedge between us, including you, Uncle Wen. I respect you as my lord, and I will certainly serve you with all my heart and without any second thoughts. The only exception is on the matter of my wife. I also hope that you, Uncle Wen, can be more tolerant, refraining from any injurious actions towards my wife. I won’t hide it from you; in this lifetime, I really did fall for her. My wife is my sore spot, the untouchable place. If anybody crosses that line, I don’t know what I might do.”

“Xiu Qi, you…,” Liu Xiu didn’t expect Han Yu to speak so openly.

“Uncle Wen, there’s no need to persuade me. Since I’ve fully realized my own feelings, this cannot change. Fortunately, I’m not overly ambitious. My greatest wish in this life isn’t more than to fight and make my mark on the battlefield. So, even if it involves more personal emotions, it doesn’t really matter.”