Chapter 124: Your Body Belongs to Me

Gu Xiaoyao took the wine, thanked her, and quickly headed home with it.

Seeing that there was still wine to be had, the men were so excited they nearly cheered. After a long day of hard labor, there was nothing better than good food and drink to lift their spirits.

"Chengjin’s wife, you really didn't need to go to all this trouble. We meant what we said—a simple meal would have been more than enough."

"That’s right. You could have taken these two rabbits to town and sold them. Live rabbits fetch a much higher price. Still, you’re something else—how is it that we can never manage to catch them alive?"

Every one of these men wished they had the skill to hunt wild game and earn a bit of extra money before the New Year, but they simply lacked the knack for it. They set traps on the mountain, but the game was far too clever and rarely fell for them. Unless they were incredibly lucky, catching a hare or a pheasant was a rarity; most of the time, it wasn't even worth hoping for.

"You have all done me such a great favor; it is only right that I treat you to good wine and food. It is the least I can do to show my appreciation."

She had checked on the fields earlier and learned that these men had truly put their hearts and souls into the work. Much of her land had already been cleared, and they had progressed further than the rest of the village. Gu Xiaoyao was no longer worried about them falling behind.

"Haha, Chengjin’s wife is a straightforward woman. If you ever need help with anything in the future, don't hesitate to ask us."

Hearing this, the men beamed, lifting their brows and offering their pledges in high spirits.

Once the roasted rabbits were ready, Chu Chengjin stood up and placed them into a woven bamboo basket. Gu Xiaoyao took it, set it on the table, and picked up a small knife to carve the meat. With just a few swift, practiced motions of her hand, the rabbits were expertly dismantled.

"That’s quite a skill you have with a knife..."

Watching her, the men felt a slight chill run down their spines, but they chuckled and offered compliments nonetheless. Since they were all neighbors, there was no need for excessive formality. Once the dishes were served and the hosts were seated, everyone began pouring their own drinks and digging in.

They enjoyed the feast thoroughly. Though they held back on the wine—knowing they had to work again tomorrow—the atmosphere was lively. Chu Qingbai and his brother, however, ate like starving ghosts, their mouths slick with grease, and they downed several cups of wine between them.

"You shouldn't be drinking; your health hasn't fully recovered yet. If you drink now, you might suffer a relapse. I’ll finish this cup for you."

Seeing the men carelessly urging Chu Chengjin to drink, Gu Xiaoyao stepped in, taking the cup from his hand and downing the contents herself. The men realized their mistake; Chu Chengjin’s health had always been delicate, and too much wine would surely do him no good.

"My lady, I can still handle a little wine. You, however, should be careful—you’re already blushing."

Chu Chengjin noticed the faint flush on her cheeks and knew the drink must have a strong kick; Dahua’s father was never one to skimp on the ingredients when he brewed his wine.

"No, what if it hurts your body? Your body belongs to me; if you get hurt, I won't be happy."

Gu Xiaoyao had not touched alcohol in a long time. In the apocalypse, only the high-ranking ability users ever got their hands on it. As a lone wanderer, she had seen plenty of bottles, but she had rarely tasted what was inside. It seemed this body of hers did not have a high tolerance for spirits either. Still, drinking was like any other task—one became accustomed to it with practice—and before long, she had finished several more cups.

When the meal finally came to an end, the men began to rise and slowly disperse.