Gao Wu: A centenarian old man, many children and good fortune! Chapter 023

Cultivating the “Emperor-tier Tai Chi Skill” was important, but it required persistent effort, not something that could be achieved overnight.

The most direct and fastest way to improve his strength was undoubtedly… to continue expanding his family and extending his bloodline!

For every child he had, his strength, spirit, and comprehension would receive a hundredfold amplification feedback! This efficiency was more than a hundred times faster than his own arduous cultivation!

Of course, having children wasn’t just his business. His wife’s physical and emotional well-being were crucial.

Especially since Li Xiuying was currently pregnant with their second child, her emotions were already prone to fluctuations.

This was why Xiao Yan hoped her family would come and accompany her.

However, one evening, before Li Xiuying’s parents and younger brother arrived, the bedroom lights were soft.

Xiao Yan had just finished his daily cultivation and was preparing to rest. Li Xiuying was already lying in bed, covered by a soft blanket, but her eyes were clear, evidently not sleepy, and she seemed to have been waiting for him.

Seeing Xiao Yan walk over and prepare to get into bed, Li Xiuying gently took his hand.

“Husband…” Her voice was exceptionally clear in the quiet bedroom, with a hint of an imperceptible tremor.

“Hmm? What’s wrong? Not sleeping yet?” Xiao Yan sat beside her, holding her slightly cool hand.

Li Xiuying turned sideways, her cheeks flushed in the soft light. She bit her lip, seemingly summoning great courage, before whispering, “Husband… that day… when General Zhao and his wives came, I saw his two wives getting along very well… I… I’ve been thinking…”

She took a deep breath, looked up, her gaze a mix of shyness and seriousness, and looked at Xiao Yan: “You are a General now, your status is different. And… I, I am pregnant with a baby now, and for a long time in the future, I might… might not be able to take good care of you… I, I don’t want you to… be uncomfortable.”

Xiao Yan’s heart stirred. He listened quietly, without interrupting her.

Li Xiuying continued, her voice lower, but her words were very clear: “So… I, I’ve been… asking around these past few days. The Alliance has some recommended channels for General-level partners… I contacted the official personnel, and they… they recommended a few candidates to me…”

As she spoke, she took out a small, softly glowing personal information terminal from under her pillow and nervously handed it to Xiao Yan: “Their… their conditions are all much better than mine were back then. They are all… all ‘quasi-warriors’ who have already stepped halfway into the warrior threshold. Although they are almost thirty years old, their martial arts potential is basically fixed, and it’s hard for them to make significant improvements, but because they have experienced life leaps, their physical condition is similar to… to ordinary girls in their teens and twenties.”

“Their family backgrounds are clean, and their temperaments have also been assessed. They are all relatively gentle and polite, and… and they have clearly expressed their willingness to… to marry a hero like you and contribute to the Alliance’s bloodline continuation…” Li Xiuying’s face grew redder as she spoke, almost burying her head in the quilt, “I… I was thinking, I’d help you find one first… You, you take a look, what do you think?”

Xiao Yan looked at the information terminal his wife handed him, then at her shy, uneasy, yet exceptionally serious expression. A complex and inexpressible emotion welled up in his heart.

Surprise, unexpectedness, gratitude… and a hint of an indescribable… smooth feeling.

He did have such thoughts, but he never expected his wife to not only propose it herself but even screen the candidates for him!

Moreover, the conditions of these “quasi-warriors” were indeed much better than ordinary people, and the potential of the offspring they bore would theoretically be higher!

This… was simply finding a pillow when one was sleepy!

He didn’t look at the information terminal. Instead, he reached out and gently pulled his wife into his arms, feeling her body tremble slightly from nervousness.

“Xiuying…” His voice was low and gentle, with a hint of an imperceptible smile, “You’ve gone to so much trouble for these matters.”

He didn’t directly answer whether it was good or not. Instead, he asked, “Then do you think… any of them are suitable?”

Li Xiuying paused in his embrace, seemingly not expecting him to ask that. She quietly “hmm”-ed: “Yes… there are one or two. I looked at their profiles and introductions, and I feel… I feel they’re not bad… Their personalities are relatively gentle, and they should… should be easy to get along with…”

Listening to her shy and slightly uncertain words, Xiao Yan had already made up his mind.

Since his wife had already taken this step herself, and even painstakingly screened the candidates, why shouldn’t he fulfill her “virtuousness” and also satisfy his own wishes?

He gently patted his wife’s back, his tone carrying complete trust and an undeniable air of a “head of the household,” and said straightforwardly: “Okay, since you think they’re good, then I’ll leave this matter to you. Whichever one you choose, that’s the one.”

“Ah?” Li Xiuying suddenly looked up, somewhat disbelievingly at Xiao Yan, “Me… me to decide?”

“Mm.” Xiao Yan nodded, looking at her eyes widened in surprise, a smile playing on his lips, “You are the mistress of this house. For matters like this, it’s naturally up to you. I trust your judgment.”

Hearing Xiao Yan so straightforwardly hand over the decision-making power to her, and so firmly affirm her status, Li Xiuying’s nervousness and slight grievance instantly vanished, replaced by a huge sense of satisfaction from being trusted and valued, as well as… a subtle sense of power in managing family affairs.

Her cheeks were even redder, but her eyes sparkled, with a hint of shyness and joy.

She nodded heavily, her voice as thin as a mosquito’s buzz, but full of determination: “Okay!”

…

Xiao Yan truly didn’t expect Li Xiuying’s execution power to be so strong.

He had thought that his wife’s words last night were more of a statement, and that if it were to be truly implemented, it would at least have to wait until she had completely adapted mentally, or after her parents arrived and they discussed it.

As it turned out, early the next morning, Li Xiuying sat down in front of him with that personal information terminal, looking serious, and pointed to one of the women’s profiles, saying, “Husband, I’ve looked through it carefully, and I think this one… Chen Yuyao, is the most suitable.”

Xiao Yan took the terminal and glanced at it.

The woman in the photo was twenty-seven or twenty-eight years old, with a delicate and dignified appearance. There was a hint of martial prowess in her brows, but her eyes were gentle. The data showed that she was a seventh-grade quasi-warrior, from an ordinary family, with both parents being Alliance grassroots civil servants. Her personality assessment was “gentle, polite, and resilient.” She was indeed a good choice.

“If you think she’s good, that’s fine.” Xiao Yan once again handed the decision-making power to his wife.

“Mm!” Li Xiuying nodded vigorously, then took a deep breath and said, “Then… I’ve already confirmed with the official side, and I’ve also had an initial discussion with the Chen family. They… they have no objections. I… I’ve arranged for her to come to our house this afternoon, for you to… to meet her?” Her voice trailed off at the end, her eyes seeking his confirmation.

Xiao Yan looked at his wife’s proactive yet slightly cautious demeanor, finding it amusing. He immediately made the decision: “Okay, let’s meet this afternoon then.”

Upon receiving his affirmation, Li Xiuying immediately became busy, as if she had received an important task. Although the manor had servants to manage it, she personally inspected the living room’s arrangement and even specially changed into a more dignified and appropriate dress, as if she were the mistress of the house welcoming her upcoming “new sister.”

…

At two o’clock in the afternoon, the doorbell rang punctually.

The servant led a young woman, dressed in a simple, well-fitting training suit and looking somewhat reserved, into the living room.

It was Chen Yuyao.

She had clearly dressed up carefully, her hair neatly combed, and light makeup on her face, which could not conceal her delicate features. However, there was obvious nervousness and unease in her eyes.

“General Xiao… Madam Xiao.” Chen Yuyao respectfully bowed to Xiao Yan and Li Xiuying, who were sitting on the sofa, her voice trembling slightly.

“Miss Chen, please sit.” Li Xiuying smiled and stood up, actively inviting her to sit down, her posture composed, as if she were receiving an ordinary visitor.

Xiao Yan, meanwhile, sat in the main seat, his gaze calmly assessing the woman before him.

Chen Yuyao cautiously sat on the edge of the sofa, her back straight, her hands nervously placed on her knees, not daring to look up.

A brief silence fell over the living room, and a subtle atmosphere permeated the air.

All three were observing each other.

Xiao Yan observed Chen Yuyao’s demeanor and aura. Hmm, she indeed had the foundation of a quasi-warrior. Her aura was relatively pure, not tainted with any evil energy. Although her eyes were nervous, they were clear and clean, without too many distracting thoughts. She seemed like a diligent and honest girl.

Li Xiuying, from the perspective of the mistress of the house, carefully examined Chen Yuyao’s appearance, clothing, and her slightly awkward and uneasy expression. She secretly nodded to herself. This girl indeed seemed gentle, not like someone who would become arrogant with favor or engage in jealousy. She should… be easy to get along with.

And Chen Yuyao, meanwhile, secretly used the corner of her eye to quickly glance at the legendary General Xiao Yan and Li Xiuying beside him. General Xiao… seemed younger and more imposing than in the profile photos. His calm gaze seemed to penetrate everything, making her heart race. And Madam Xiao… although she was pregnant, her face was beautiful, and her demeanor was gentle. Her gaze towards her was also kind, seemingly… not as hostile towards her, the “newcomer,” as she had feared before coming.

Li Xiuying took the initiative to ask some questions about Chen Yuyao’s family, cultivation, and hobbies.

Chen Yuyao answered each question nervously and honestly, her voice soft but her words clear.

Xiao Yan occasionally interjected a word or two, his tone gentle, but each question seemed to carry an invisible pressure, making Chen Yuyao even more nervous.

The entire meeting lasted about an hour.

At the end, Chen Yuyao stood up and bowed respectfully again to bid farewell. When she left, her cheeks were still flushed, and her steps were somewhat unsteady. Her heart was in turmoil, and she had no idea if she had passed this hurdle.

After seeing Chen Yuyao off, only Xiao Yan and Li Xiuying remained in the living room.

Li Xiuying immediately turned to Xiao Yan, her eyes filled with anticipation and inquiry: “Husband, do… do you think she’s okay? Are you satisfied?”

Xiao Yan looked at his wife’s sparkling eyes, as if waiting for praise, and couldn’t help but chuckle. He reached out and ruffled her hair, his tone doting: “I said, for matters like this, everything is up to you. If you think she’s good, then she’s good.”

Upon hearing this, Li Xiuying’s face instantly broke into a bright smile, and her previous nervousness and uncertainty vanished! She nodded vigorously, her tone filled with the certainty of a mistress: “Mm! Then it’s this sister! I think she’s gentle and easy to get along with!”

Although her actual age was a few years younger than Chen Yuyao’s, at this moment, she had completely adopted the role of “older sister” and “mistress,” naturally considering herself the lady of the house.

And so, the matter of Xiao Yan marrying Chen Yuyao was officially settled, under Li Xiuying’s personal “interview” and final decision.