The Happy Farmer Wanderer-Chapter 724: You Are My Husband_1

Jing Yan’s appearance, though not quite causing an uproar, did put Li Qing under enormous pressure.

He, with Zi Ling following closely behind, took Jing Yan to Tian Yue’e’s house.

After much thought, Li Qing still felt it more convenient to settle Jing Yan at Tian Yue’e’s place.

However, to avoid any unpleasant incidents, as Li Qing walked, he discreetly contacted Tian Yue’e with his cell phone, cautioning her that this woman’s identity was somewhat grand and everything must be handled carefully, though he didn’t go into detail.

He worried that if he divulged Jing Yan’s identity outright, it might scare Tian Yue’e into silence.

"Husband, I notice that you and others sometimes take out this small device; what is its purpose?" Jing Yan floated lightly to Li Qing’s side.

Her sudden approach startled Li Qing as he was replying to Tian Yue’e’s message. He quickly switched apps and said with a forced smile, "Ah, this gadget originally served mainly for communication with others. Over time, it evolved to have many other functions, such as watching videos, playing games, and even for learning."

"Look, these are videos sent by others. We can see the diverse world through them." Li Qing showed her a video.

Jing Yan, with great curiosity, took the phone, "This thing is truly fascinating. Are they living people?"

"Of course they are. Dead people couldn’t perform all sorts of things for us on here." Li Qing said, laughing, but then his expression suddenly became strange, "What... what did you just call me?"

"Husband, is there a problem?" Jing Yan said indifferently, focusing on the video on Li Qing’s phone, "I am not a courtesan, hence I should remain faithful from now on. Consider everything before this waking moment as my past life."

"Do you feel I am too forward in calling you husband?" Jing Yan suddenly looked up and asked.

Li Qing shook his head emphatically, "No, not at all, it’s just that happiness has come so... unexpectedly. It feels like I’m dreaming."

It really felt like a dream.

If Jing Yan knew about the many other women in his life, she wouldn’t resort to killing to silence them, right?

At the thought, Li Qing broke out in a cold sweat. He felt it was necessary to bring up this matter in advance because if an issue did arise later, it would be too late for regrets.

Gathering courage, he carefully asked, "Yan’er, there’s something I feel I should be honest about."

"You have other women, don’t you?" Jing Yan looked up at Li Qing, her ancient eyes shining brightly, as if all the filth of the world couldn’t hide from her gaze.

Facing her, Li Qing’s heart started racing uncontrollably, almost choking him.

He nervously swallowed and nodded lightly, "Indeed."

Jing Yan’s delicate, moist lips parted slightly as she chuckled, "I know."

"I’ve accessed some of Zi Ling’s memories. She was quite incensed with your philandering ways, surrounded by beauties, and held some bias against you because of it. To me, it’s nothing out of the ordinary. Only men of no talent keep just one wife their whole lives. Those with any capability often have multiple wives and countless concubines."

This comment instantly displeased Zi Ling who mumbled gloomily, "Predecessor, aren’t your words a bit one-sided? It’s not necessarily only weak and incapable men who have only one wife. Maybe he is devoted to a single person?"

"If that’s the case, his wife is no true match for him," Jing Yan said with a faint smile. "In the past, aside from supporting her husband and teaching her children, a legitimate wife ought to look for gentle and attractive women to become her husband’s concubines. Men often only notice a woman’s appearance, overlooking her character."

"In most noble households, it’s the legitimate wife who proactively handles this. Should she obstruct it, she can be divorced. There are even imperial laws to govern this."

After speaking, she sighed in self-deprecation, "Compared to my era, women almost have an equal standing with men nowadays. It is a good thing, yet also worrisome."

Li Qing felt suddenly enlightened; the status of women then and now didn’t concern him in the least.

As long as Jing Yan had no qualms about the other women, that was all that mattered.

Yet, Zi Ling’s face fell, "What kind of backward rule is that? It oppress women too much."

"The eras we live in are different; somethings exist for their own reasons," Jing Yan said softly. "The peace you enjoy now is a gift; a single war could revert everything to the past."

"How could that be? I can fight fiercely. Qingzi couldn’t even win against me," Zi Ling argued, unconvinced.

"Women are naturally weaker in strength than men," Jing Yan explained calmly, "We cultivators are exceptional. But among commonfolk, even in your flourishing era, war ultimately comes down to human conflict, and women will then depend on men."

"And due to the disparity in status, they might have to cross their own boundaries. What rights could they talk about then? None. We have to abide by men’s rules. Under those circumstances, wouldn’t it be like our era all over again? Of course, it’d be different, but largely the same."

Zi Ling tilted her head, suddenly silent.

She could imagine that scenario; when societal order collapses, what would rules and rights mean then?

Feeling relieved, Li Qing had no opinions on the side, seeing such discussions as speculative and meaningless.

Why argue vehemently over such conjectures? What’s the use?

Right, Zi Ling was likely such a person, on the verge of turning red with anger.

But her views couldn’t outshine Jing Yan’s strong reasoning; if order crumbled, not just status, even life itself would be at stake.

"Husband, I think it’s time I meet your primary wife. Could you arrange it?" Jing Yan suddenly said.

Li Qing’s mind shrank instantly, stammering for a long while before saying, "About that... There isn’t such a distinction as primary or secondary wives nowadays. My situation is also, well, a tad complex. Perhaps we could meet my sister-in-law instead?"