Shi Yuan is the child husband of Fang Yunheng, a poor scholar from Lingshui Village. Their life is decent enough, until Shi Yuan starts having strange, disjointed dreams.
In one dream, Fang Yunheng's mother is bitten by a venomous snake on the mountain and is left hovering between life and death. After waking up, Shi Yuan stops her from going up the mountain. Sure enough, he later hears that someone found a five-paced viper on the mountain's lower slope.
He dreams that Fang Yunheng's father goes into business with someone and loses all his savings after being swindled, so he sneaks off to town to fetch Fang Yunheng from the academy.
Fang Yunheng looks into the matter himself and discovers that the man is a habitual swindler. He promptly has him tied up and reported to the authorities.
Then Shi Yuan dreams that Fang Yunheng's older brother runs into bandits on the road, and his younger sister is bullied by local thugs...
Fang Yunheng's gaze toward Shi Yuan slowly changes. Shi Yuan shrinks back and doesn't dare say a word.
He knows Fang Yunheng is an excellent scholar and will surely marry another woman someday. He only hopes that, in return for helping the Fang family avoid disaster, they'll find him a decent marriage of his own.
*
Fang Yunheng passes the provincial examination, and Shi Yuan is delighted. He packs his things, ready to make room for the Fang family's future daughter-in-law.
He's only halfway through talking to Fang Yunheng when he sees his brows knit and his gaze darken. "How could I hand my lucky husband over to someone else?"
That night, Shi Yuan dreams that Fang Yunheng pins him to the bed and has his way with him for three days and three nights.
Shi Yuan glances at Fang Yunheng, who has him held tightly in his arms. Wah, this is terrifying!
Reading guide:
1. Sweet, sweet, sweet. Rustic village life in the first half, with a little court politics later on.
2. The top only said that because he was provoked. In reality, he's already completely wrapped around the bottom's finger.
3. The bottom has a little golden finger, and yes, it's his dreams.
Theme: Enjoy every day
