Chapter 1231: Each harbors their own concerns, yet cherishes and protects! These two simple words are truly difficult to live up to—especially on this land. How rare it is for a man to offer a woman a lifetime of steadfast protection. %&*"; Is protection equivalent to loyalty? Not at all! Protection means more than simply sharing a lifelong journey together until the very end of life. It means, even in an ordinary life, providing one's beloved woman with complete fulfillment—spiritual, material, and physical—throughout every stage. In rural areas, the tradition of "following the chicken when married to a chicken, and the dog when married to a dog" still holds strong, which is certainly valid and has enabled countless couples to reach the end of their lives together. Yet what about the journey itself? The journey is often overlooked. But it is precisely this shared, hand-in-hand journey through life—this very process—that constitutes the most beautiful memories of a life spanning just a century. Life is rarely perfect—yet, despite that, who among men or women doesn't long for a flawless life, doesn't wish to leave this world carrying no regrets? Suddenly, upon hearing Lu Yun's words, Xiao Huan seemed to have glimpsed the entirety of her life span. Over the past twenty years, especially since she grew into her own person, she had endured enough scorn and ridicule from the villagers. She didn't want to leave this land—where she had found countless joys and endless sorrows—once again with regrets. She wanted to strive, to pursue the happiness she could find throughout her lifetime. No matter how relentlessly the world might press against her, at this moment, she already knew what she truly desired. "I want to marry you." "Little Huan slowly uttered these words, then gently pressed her blushing, warm cheeks against Lu Yun's chest, whispering, 'I want to be your wife—your wife for life. I want to be your woman for all my life.' Huh? Hearing Little Huan's heartfelt words, Lu Yun was taken aback. He couldn't remember having said anything in particular—how had he managed to win Little Huan's heart so effortlessly? He didn't doubt the sincerity of Little Huan's words, yet just a casual question from him had so easily led Little Huan to commit her entire lifetime of happiness to him. This… seemed a bit far-fetched. 'Little Huan, hey…' Lu Yun wanted to say something, but under the sheer sincerity and joy in Little Huan's voice, he found that no matter what he said at this moment, it felt like he was unintentionally extinguishing the very precious, fleeting happiness she was experiencing right now. Lu Yun felt a bit overwhelmed—actually, more than just overwhelmed. Xiao Huan smiled, calmed her thoughts, and looked at Lu Yun. "Little Yun, maybe I'm being overly sentimental? You'll eventually marry a girl who's far more beautiful than me—what I said earlier must have been quite awkward and embarrassing..." "Big Huan姐..." Lu Yun paused. Though his heart wasn't quite as stirred as Xiao Huan had imagined, he did feel that placing all his hopes on her was rather hasty. He hadn't yet settled on a clear path in life. He had promised himself he'd build a grand harem, but that vision depended on him achieving something meaningful in the future. What if, one day, he ended up achieving nothing at all? Suddenly, Lu Yun realized a serious issue: if he truly ended up unremarkable, drifting through life without any significant accomplishments, what would become of the women who loved him, and the ones he himself loved? Xiao Ying, Xiao Yu, Dan Dan, Shi Yu, Ning姐… Tie Xin Lan, Xiao Man姐—so many women and girls who have already given their hearts to him. How can he face them now? Since ancient times, emotional debts have always been the most difficult to repay. At this moment, Lu Yun realized that in order to build a harem, he must first possess the strength—rather than simply being favored by many young women. Before he had that strength, could he rely solely on his more vigorous and dynamic qualities, which were already stronger than those of ordinary people, to win over the women around him? That would not be a sustainable strategy. Moreover, among the girls of his own age, Lu Yun’s physical prowess was not the only thing that made them stay by his side. Indeed, beyond physical attraction, there were many other qualities that made them willingly remain with him. Yet, at this moment, Lu Yun himself had not yet discovered these qualities—yet he was already certain about the direction his life would take. Quietly, Lu Yun asked himself: what is my direction of effort? Undoubtedly, that was about to build a grand harem. Yet all this would require the very strength to fulfill one's own aspirations. To achieve this dream, one must strive relentlessly—no matter how much sweat one pours. Once a goal is set, Lu Yun becomes as stubborn as a donkey stuck in a rut, refusing to budge until he's head and shoulders bloody. Even if he sacrifices himself completely, he will press forward with unwavering determination for this greatest ambition in life. At this moment, amid such tender, intimate atmosphere, Lu Yun and Xiao Huan each found themselves lost in their own thoughts, each preoccupied with matters of paramount importance for their future. Gurg! The harmonious ambiance was instantly shattered by a soft gurgle from Lu Yun's stomach. Xiao Huan snapped back to reality, smiled gently at Lu Yun and said, "You must be hungry. Let's eat first—your distracted look suggests you were startled by me. Don't worry, I won't be clinging to you forever." "By the end of it all, a kind of bittersweet ache seemed to spread through my heart." "Hey, Xiao Huan, don't worry—how could I? With beautiful women throwing themselves at me, I'm already thrilled. What I'm really worried about is that if I truly agree, I might end up spoiling your life. You're at the very peak of a woman's prime years now. If, because of me, you become a 'spinster,' then, oh dear, I'd truly be headed straight to hell—down the eighteen levels of suffering!" "Go on, then! We're doing this very thing right now—what kind of Buddha are you even talking about? Don't you think the Buddha will be mad at you?" Xiao Huan said with a scolding tone, yet her face was full of determination, speaking not with words but with her expression, silently conveying her unwavering resolve to Lu Yun. Lu Yun nodded, then suddenly chuckled, saying, "What about the Buddha? Isn't the Buddha just born from a mother's womb?" "More you talk, less coherent it becomes. Let's just stop here. If you keep going, I'm sure you'll come up with even more things that offend the Buddha himself. You're not hungry, are you? Then I'll go cook you something right now. Once you've eaten and regained your strength, I'll have you ride up again." Saying this, Xiao Huan gestured for Lu Yun to get off her. "Sister Xiao Huan, please don't! When we started, didn't we already agree that my little brother would be fed first, and then I would eat? Now, let's have both of us eat together."