“First bow to Heaven and Earth!”
“Second bow to the elders!”
“Husband and wife bow to each other!”
When the bride and groom were supposed to bow to each other, the bride found that the person facing her was not the groom, but a large rooster with bright, alert eyes.
“The ceremony is complete. Take the bride to the bridal chamber!”
In a daze, Lin Zhijin heard those words, then felt her feet go unsteady as someone helped her walk forward.
“Ninth Madam, please watch your step,” the matchmaker reminded Lin Zhijin softly as she supported her.
Ninth Madam?
Who?
“Ninth Madam, we have arrived at the bridal chamber. You will stay here with Master Chen tonight. Whatever you do, do not lift your veil yourself. The master said that if Master Chen does not wake up tonight, you must wait until tomorrow at the hour of Chen before lifting it.”
After giving her these careful instructions, the matchmaker left with the other two servants.
Lin Zhijin shook her head, trying to clear it. Her department had held a dinner gathering today, and because she had been in a bad mood, she had drunk two glasses more than usual. Was she drunk enough to be hearing things? Or were her colleagues playing some kind of game?
She reached up and pulled off her veil.
Lin Zhijin looked around. The room was filled with an old fashioned atmosphere, the doors and windows were decorated with the character for double happiness, and dragon and phoenix candles were burning. Then she looked down at the bright red wedding dress she was wearing.
Lin Zhijin shot to her feet.
When she turned her head, she saw an old man lying on the bed. His face was deathly pale, his breathing was weak, and he looked as though he could die at any moment. Her vision immediately went dark, and she instinctively grabbed the bedpost before collapsing onto the edge of the bed.
It was as if she heard a loud boom.
Another person’s memories suddenly flashed through her mind like scenes from a movie.
Lin Pandie, female, seventeen years old, from Xiaokeng Village in Anping Township, Nan City. There were five siblings in her family, and she was the third child. She had two older sisters, Lin Zhaodi and Lin Niandi, one younger sister, Lin Laidi, and the youngest was her little brother, Lin Yaozu.
Anyone could tell from their names how strongly the Lin family favored boys over girls. For the sake of Yaozu, whenever the Lin family’s daughters reached the proper age, they would be weighed and sold like goods.
Lin Pandie had been sold by her parents to bring good fortune to Master Chen, who was on the verge of death. The old man was sixty eight years old, a full fifty one years older than Lin Pandie.
Of course, a seventeen year old girl was unwilling to marry an old man who was even older than her grandfather.
She had cried and resisted, but in the end, after her mother’s desperate pleas, she put on the wedding dress sent by the Chen family and climbed into the bridal sedan in despair.
For some unknown reason, during the wedding ceremony, Lin Zhijin had somehow become Lin Pandie.
So she had entered another world?
And not only had she entered another world, she had become a concubine brought in to bring good fortune to a dying man?
If she remembered correctly, the matchmaker had just called her Ninth Madam, right?
Lin Zhijin opened her eyes, adjusted herself into a more comfortable position, and stared blankly at the dragon and phoenix candles on the table in front of her.
In fact, today was also her thirtieth birthday. Her mother had died when she was very young, and her father had quickly married another woman. As the old saying goes, a stepmother meant a stepfather, and especially after her father and his new wife had a child, Lin Zhijin had become the unnecessary person in the family.
Her father had a decent income and cared about his reputation, so he had at least supported her through university. After she graduated, however, he stopped caring about her entirely. Fortunately, he never asked her for money either.
Lin Zhijin had worked very hard. After five years, she had bought a small apartment in the provincial capital and a modest car that had cost a little over one hundred thousand yuan. Her life had been going reasonably well.
It was just that on her thirtieth birthday, no one remembered her birthday at all, so she inevitably felt depressed and ended up drinking two extra glasses of alcohol.
Then, the moment she opened her eyes, she had become Lin Pandie.
Going from thirty years old to seventeen meant she was thirteen years younger. It almost seemed like she had come out ahead!
Ahead, my foot.
The house and car she had painstakingly saved for, along with the position she had finally earned as the manager of the human resources department, were all gone now. Just thinking about it made her heart ache.
After feeling miserable for a while, Lin Zhijin accepted reality. Since she had already crossed over, what else could she do? Better to live miserably than die miserably.
If she wanted to survive, she first had to figure out her current situation.
Nan City, Anping Township?
They were from the same hometown after all. They spoke the same dialect and shared the same food culture, so she did not have to worry about giving herself away.
Wait.
Lin Zhijin suddenly sat upright.
Lin Pandie, Xiaokeng Village in Anping Township, Nan City, brought good fortune to a dying man, and the names of the original body’s family members…
Wasn’t this the novel she had read last night?
So she had not simply crossed into another world.
She had entered a book!
Lin Zhijin hurriedly recalled the plot. The original body was not the protagonist, nor was she even a supporting character. She was merely a cannon fodder character who appeared in the early part of the story. If Lin Zhijin had not just finished reading the novel the night before, she would never have remembered such a minor character.
In the original story, there were two girls suitable for bringing good fortune to Master Chen. One was the original body, Lin Pandie, and the other was the female protagonist, Lin Xiaoya.
Lin Xiaoya was actually not ugly. However, when the Chen family went to choose a girl, she deliberately smeared dirt on her face. As a result, the Chen family chose the prettier Lin Pandie instead.
Because of this, the female protagonist was scolded by her parents. But she was the female protagonist, after all. It was not long before she met the male protagonist. Together, they found jobs in the city and became city residents. Their lives had some minor difficulties, but they were still happy and fulfilled.
As for the original body, after she was married off to bring good fortune to Master Chen, his condition really did improve.
Then one of his personal maids secretly drugged him, hoping to become pregnant with his child and be promoted to the position of concubine. The original novel did not describe exactly what happened. In any case, it was the original body who slept with Master Chen.
Master Chen had already been barely holding on. After that incident, he died a few days later. The personal maid was beaten to death, while the Chen family waited to determine whether the original body had become pregnant before deciding what to do with her, since she had already slept with Master Chen.
Unexpectedly, the original body really did become pregnant and gave birth to a posthumous child for Master Chen.
Unfortunately, she eventually died in childbirth, and the child did not survive either.
After recalling the entire plot, Lin Zhijin felt utterly horrified.
What kind of nonsense was this?
Being framed?
A posthumous child?
Dying in childbirth?
Lin Zhijin looked toward Master Chen on the bed.
His hair was sparse and white, his face was withered, and his body was thin enough to resemble a skeleton.
Sleep with him?
Lin Zhijin felt another wave of nausea and immediately turned her head away in case she really threw up.
Then again, considering Master Chen’s current condition, even if someone drugged him, could he really consummate the marriage?
Could he even get it up?
“Cough, cough…”
When Lin Zhijin heard Master Chen coughing, she hurriedly put her veil back on and sat properly on the edge of the bed.
“Master? Have you woken up?”
Li Pozi pushed the door open and entered. A young maid followed behind her.
Li Pozi glanced at Lin Zhijin, who was sitting there obediently, and a hint of satisfaction flashed through her eyes.
“Master, you really woke up? It seems bringing good fortune really worked.”
“Cough… yes, yes… water…”
Master Chen cleared his throat before speaking with difficulty.
“Xiaocui, quickly bring a cup of water.”
After ordering the maid around, Li Pozi glanced at Lin Zhijin again.
“Master, this is Ninth Madam Lin. Since you have woken up, why don’t you lift the bride’s red veil yourself?”
Master Chen drank half a cup of warm water with Xiaocui’s help. After resting for quite a while, he finally looked toward the bride sitting motionless nearby.
He took the ceremonial scale from Li Pozi’s hand and tremblingly lifted the red veil.
Then he saw a beautiful young woman with features as delicate as a painting.
“Not bad. A little thin, but now that you have entered the Chen family, Master will naturally make sure you become fair and plump.”
Master Chen nodded in satisfaction.
Hearing this, the smile on Li Pozi’s face grew even wider. Since Master Chen was so pleased, the reward money would surely be generous.
Lin Zhijin deliberately lowered her head shyly, pretending she did not dare look at Master Chen.
Master Chen waved his hand.
“You two may leave. Little Ninth can serve me here.”
Little Ninth?
Oh, that was her.
By the time Lin Zhijin realized this, Li Pozi had already taken Xiaocui and left.
In her heart, Lin Zhijin desperately reached out with an Erkang style plea.
Do not leave!
She really did not want to serve this old man.
According to the original body’s memories, it was now 1951. China would be fully liberated in 1951 at the latest, so Nan City would definitely be liberated this year. Once the People’s Liberation Army arrived, the oppressed people would be liberated, including her.
What month had Nan City been liberated?
Lin Zhijin pressed her lips together. She only remembered that it had happened this year, but she could not remember the exact date no matter how hard she tried.
April or May?
It did not matter.
It was only the middle of February now. At most, she had to endure for another two months or so.
She just had to make it through these two months.
Lin Zhijin deliberately gave Master Chen a shy glance.
With him in this condition, could he really force himself on her?
If they did not consummate the marriage because everyone was worried about his health, then all she needed to do was play the part of a timid concubine who cared deeply about Master Chen’s health.
Once the People’s Liberation Army arrived, she would be able to regain her freedom and become an ordinary citizen with a clean social background.
“Master, are you still thirsty? Would you like some water?”
Lin Zhijin moved one step closer to Master Chen, dodged his reaching hand, and pretended to be concerned as she pulled his quilt higher.
“No. Lying here makes my whole body uncomfortable. Massage my legs.”
Master Chen narrowed his eyes and looked Lin Zhijin up and down.
Her skin was quite fair, though she was a little rough. She was a country girl, after all. No wonder.
“From tomorrow onward, have someone take good care of you and help you improve your appearance.”
Lin Zhijin quickly sat down at the foot of the bed, keeping herself as far away from this lecherous old man as possible.
“Thank you, Master. I will do whatever you say.”
A wise person knew how to adapt to circumstances. Those who endured hardship would eventually rise above others.
For the sake of a better future, Lin Zhijin obediently massaged Master Chen’s legs. She could just think of herself as a caregiver.
Considering Master Chen’s wealth, the salary probably would not be bad, right?
She could not help remembering what the matchmaker had told the original body.
The Chen family was a wealthy clan, and half the farmland in Nan City belonged to the Chen family. There were even officials in the family. According to the matchmaker, becoming Master Chen’s concubine was a blessing that Lin Pandie had earned through the good deeds of her previous life.
“Not bad. That’s enough. Stop massaging and lie down beside the Master.”
Under the lamplight, a beautiful woman looked even more beautiful.
The more Master Chen looked at her, the more attractive she became. Although Lin had not yet become fair and plump, there was a beauty in her delicate thinness.
It was a pity that he was already old. His heart might still have the desire, but his body no longer had the strength.
Still, having such a pretty young woman lie beside him would be a pleasant thing.
Lin Zhijin’s heart sank.
No way.
Was this old man really planning to make a move on her?
She nodded first, then covered her growling stomach and said shyly, “I’m sorry. I… I didn’t mean to.”
Good heavens.
She had pinched herself too hard. Her thigh was definitely going to bruise.
Lin Zhijin carefully rubbed the spot where she had pinched herself while pretending to be frightened and wiping away her tears.
“Are you hungry? Oh, don’t cry. It’s nothing serious.”
Master Chen pulled the rope beside the bed.
A bell rang, and Li Pozi entered with Xiaocui.
“Master.”
Li Pozi greeted him respectfully.
“Ninth Madam is hungry. Have someone make her a bowl of shredded chicken noodles.”
Master Chen waved his hand. Seeing that Lin Zhijin still had tears hanging from her eyes, and knowing that she was his newly acquired concubine, he was especially fond of beautiful women, so he had Li Pozi take a pair of gold bracelets from the cabinet.
The bracelets were called Golden Phoenix Sleeves Floral Filigree Gold Bracelets.
“Don’t be afraid. Take them and play with them. Since you have become my concubine, as long as you serve me well, you will not lack benefits in the future.”
Lin Zhijin accepted the bracelets timidly and whispered, “Thank you, Master.”
My goodness.
They were gold bracelets!
Judging by the weight, each one was almost half a kilogram.
They were even made with delicate filigree work, and those red stones on top looked like rubies.
They were beautiful.
He had given them to her, so they were hers now, right?
Lin Zhijin glanced at Master Chen.
Sure enough, high risk meant high reward.
This was her caregiver’s fee and compensation for emotional distress. Of course she did not have to return them.
She would save them up.
These would be her capital for building a better life in the future.
After slowly finishing her noodles, Lin Zhijin had Xiaocui help her take down her hair and remove her makeup.
Master Chen had already fallen asleep because he could not stay awake any longer.
The corners of Lin Zhijin’s lips curved slightly.
She had made up her mind.
For the next two months, she would stay in the Chen family and keep a low profile. She could just treat herself as a caregiver. Even after adding the compensation for emotional distress, the return was not bad.
As for consummating the marriage, the personal maid could do it herself.
Then she would find out who had schemed against the original body. If she could help the original body get revenge, she would do so.
Build up resources before seeking power.
Once liberation came, she would go straight to the embrace of the motherland.
As for the Chen family, the Lin family, and the personal maid, all of them could stand aside.