Sigh! Come to think of it, ever since I got injured, I really haven’t washed my face. I stood up, walked over to the washbasin, and bent down to take a look. Damn! Is that really me in the water’s reflection? When did I become this handsome? Even saying I’m drop-dead gorgeous would only describe half of my looks! If I took this pretty boy face back to my own world and entered the film industry, it’d be hard not to become a star! Even if I just managed to leave these forgotten mountains and went to the city to be a kept man for some rich lady, I bet I could live quite comfortably.

“George, since your body has recovered, it’s time to work. Go! Take that pile of firewood and chop it with the axe.” Ashley’s father happened to see me daydreaming as he passed by my room and immediately shouted at the top of his lungs.

Damn! I’ve only been recovered for two days and you’re already making me work? Old man, do you really take me for your family’s hired hand? It’s not like I ate more than a few meals of your barely edible food!

But no matter what I think, the work still has to be done. Just looking at that mountain of logs gave me a headache. With this rusty iron axe in my hand, how many years would it take to finish chopping all that? Luckily, the old man didn’t say anything like “no food until you’re done,” or I’d really think I’d landed in some old landlord’s house from the last century.

Chop! Boom!

As I brought the axe down, the upright log split cleanly in two, and the axe in my hand sank deep into the ground, making quite a loud noise.

“What was that!? What was that!?” The old man, who had just turned into the front yard, heard the noise I made, and came running into the yard with his hoe, looking around and shouting. Several neighbors nearby were also drawn over by the commotion.

‘When did I get so strong? Or is this axe some kind of legendary weapon?’ I stared dumbly at the long-handled axe in my hand, frozen in place.

“Wow~~~~~” “Such strength~!” Once everyone saw what had happened, they all started exclaiming in admiration, making this little rascal who’d never been praised before feel quite proud.

Hmph, hearing their words, I yanked the axe out of the ground with all my might, slung it over my shoulder, puffed out my chest, and imagined that if I went to the city with this strong body, I’d have plenty of beauties falling for me. The sunlight shining from the side made me look even more imposing.

Seeing how mighty I looked, everyone started casting envious glances at my current landlord, the old man. Quite a few even started congratulating him in advance. “Martin, you’re so lucky! You’ve picked up such a great son-in-law…” “Yeah, yeah…” “Congratulations, Martin!”

Hearing everyone say that, I suddenly remembered—this is the Forgotten Mountains. Looking at the way I am now, there’s no way I’m getting out of here. All those dreams of being a hero or chasing city girls are out of reach. Sigh! Looks like I’m destined to be a farmer, cuddling my wife and kids by the warm stove.

“I say! Why not just have George Washington marry the girl today!” “Yeah, yeah!” “!·#￥%……”

Hearing the neighbors all chattering at once, I nearly fainted on the spot. What the heck? They’re actually talking about marrying me off~~. These isolated farmers really are something else. They only asked me once how I got here, and I fooled them with a string of lies just a few days ago. Now they’re already planning to marry off this grown man.

Looking at these excited people, what could I say? After all, the little sister is quite pretty, and since this is the Forgotten Mountains, if I tried to run away from the wedding, I’d probably end up as a midnight snack for some magical beast.

Marriage, for a young man from 21st-century Earth like me, was always just a fantasy. And now, in the blink of an eye, I’ve actually become someone’s live-in son-in-law.

Uncle Martin sat happily in the seat of honor, looking like he’d laugh his jaw off tonight. The simple little courtyard was decorated with lanterns and streamers, chickens flying, dogs barking, cats and dogs fighting everywhere.

And me~~~ at this moment, I was dressed in a wedding gown, wearing a phoenix crown, with a big red veil over my head, standing outside the door like a blushing bride. Sigh! So depressing! But what can I do? I’m the one marrying into the family.

Chapter 3: Visitors from the Village

Late at night, the lively wedding finally quieted down. I sat quietly on the bed in the bridal chamber, waiting for the girl to arrive. If it weren’t for the passionate moment to come tonight, I’d probably have been snoring away by now.

Creak~~~~~.

The old, poorly maintained wooden door was slowly pushed open, and a wave of strong alcohol smell hit me in the face. Even with the red veil over my head, I was nearly knocked out by the fumes.

“Hehe… young man~~, come on! Give big sis here a smile…” Ashley, wearing the groom’s red robe and holding a ceramic wine bottle, lifted my red veil and looked at me with an even more roguish expression than mine.

Looking at this drunken girl in front of me, I finally understood how scary people can get when they’re drunk. This usually gentle, kind, and dignified girl, after a bit of booze, actually became even wilder than the bad girls from my world.