“First bow to Heaven and Earth!”
“Second bow to the elders!”
“Husband and wife, bow to each other!”
But when it came time for the husband and wife to bow to each other, standing opposite the bride was not the groom, but a large rooster with bright, spirited eyes.
“The ceremony is complete. Send the bride to the bridal chamber!”
In her daze, Lin Zhijin heard those words. Then, with her feet feeling unsteady, she was supported by someone as she walked.
“Ninth Concubine, watch your step.” The wedding matron supported Lin Zhijin and reminded her softly.
Ninth Concubine?
Who?
“Ninth Concubine, we’ve arrived at the bridal chamber. You’ll stay here and keep watch over Master Chen tonight. You absolutely must not lift the veil yourself. The master said that if Master doesn’t wake up tonight, you must wait until the Chen hour tomorrow morning before lifting it.” After carefully giving her instructions, the wedding matron left with the other two servants.
Lin Zhijin stared blankly for a moment. Her department had gone out for a meal today, and because she had been in a bad mood, she had drunk a couple more glasses than usual. Had she gotten so drunk that she was hallucinating? Or were her colleagues playing some kind of game?
She yanked off the veil and looked around.
It was an antique-looking room. Double Happiness characters were pasted on the doors and windows, and there were dragon-and-phoenix wedding candles. Then she looked down at the bright red wedding dress she was wearing…
Lin Zhijin shot to her feet.
Turning her head, she saw an old man lying on the bed, his face deathly pale and his breathing faint.
Her vision immediately went dark, and instinctively, she grabbed the bedpost before collapsing onto the edge of the bed.
It was as though there was a loud boom in her head. Memories belonging to another person began flashing through her mind like scenes from a movie.
Lin Pandi, female, seventeen years old, from Xiaokeng Village, Anping Township, Nancheng. There were five siblings in the Lin family, and she was the third child. Above her were her two older sisters, Lin Zhaodi and Lin Niandi. Below her was a younger sister named Lin Laidi, while the youngest, a boy, was named Lin Yaozu.
Just from their names, anyone could tell how much the Lin family favored sons over daughters. For the sake of Yaozu, once the Lin daughters reached the appropriate age, they would be sold off as though they were goods weighed by the jin.
Lin Pandi had been sold by her parents to the dying Master Chen for a chongxi marriage (a traditional marriage arranged for a sick or dying person). The old man was sixty-eight this year, a full fifty-one years older than Lin Pandi.
She was only seventeen. Naturally, she was unwilling to marry an old man who was even older than her grandfather.
She had cried and made a fuss, but in the end, after her mother begged her bitterly, she put on the wedding dress sent by the Chen family and climbed into the bridal sedan chair in despair.
For some unknown reason, during the wedding ceremony, Lin Zhijin had become Lin Pandi.
So, she had transmigrated?
And she had transmigrated into a concubine married off for chongxi?
If she remembered correctly, hadn’t that wedding matron just called her the Ninth Concubine?
Lin Zhijin opened her eyes, shifted into a more comfortable position, and stared blankly at the dragon-and-phoenix candles on the table in front of her.
Actually, today was also her thirtieth birthday.
Her mother had passed away when she was very young, and her father soon married another woman. As the old saying went, once there was a stepmother, there would also be a stepfather. Especially after the two of them had their own child, Lin Zhijin became the unnecessary one in the family.
Still, her father earned a decent income and cared about appearances, so he paid for her education through university. After she graduated, he stopped taking care of her altogether. Fortunately, he never asked her for money either.
Lin Zhijin had worked very hard. After working for five years, she bought a small apartment in the provincial capital and a car worth a little over a hundred thousand yuan for commuting. All in all, her life had been fairly decent.
It was just that on her thirtieth birthday, not a single person remembered it. Inevitably, she felt down and couldn’t resist drinking a couple more glasses.
Then, when she opened her eyes, she had become Lin Pandi.
Thirty years old had turned into seventeen. She had become a full thirteen years younger.
It almost seemed like she had profited!
Profited, my ass!
The house and car she had scrimped and saved to buy, and the position of Human Resources Manager she had finally managed to get promoted to—now all of it was gone.
Just thinking about it made her heart ache.
After feeling melancholy for quite a while, Lin Zhijin accepted reality.
She had already transmigrated. What else could she do, kill herself?
A miserable life was still better than a good death.
Since she was going to live, she had to figure out her current situation.
Nancheng, Anping Township?
They were even from the same hometown. They spoke the same dialect and shared the same food culture, so at least she didn’t have to worry about exposing herself.
Wait.
Lin Zhijin abruptly sat upright.
Lin Pandi, Xiaokeng Village in Anping Township, Nancheng, a chongxi marriage, and the names of the family members in the original owner’s memories…
Wasn’t this from a novel she had read last night?
So she hadn’t simply transmigrated.
She had transmigrated into a book?
Lin Zhijin hurriedly recalled the plot.
The original owner wasn’t the protagonist. She wasn’t even a supporting character. She was merely cannon fodder who appeared in the early part of the story.
If Lin Zhijin hadn’t just finished reading the novel last night, there was absolutely no way she would have remembered such a minor character.
In the original novel, there were two girls suitable for marrying Master Chen for chongxi. One was the original owner, Lin Pandi, and the other was the female lead, Lin Xiaoya.
Actually, Lin Xiaoya wasn’t ugly. But when the Chen residence came to choose someone, she deliberately smeared her face black, so the Chen family chose the prettier original owner instead.
Because of this, the female lead was even scolded by her parents.
But the female lead was the female lead. Before long, she met the male lead, and the two of them found jobs in the city together and became city residents. Their lives had a few minor bumps along the way, but they still lived happily and contentedly.
As for the original owner, after she married Master Chen for chongxi, Master Chen’s condition really did improve.
However, one of his bedchamber maids drugged him because she wanted to become pregnant and gain the status of a concubine.
The original novel never described exactly what happened. In any case, the one who ended up sleeping with Master Chen was the original owner.
Master Chen was already at the end of his strength. A few days after that, he died.
The bedchamber maid was beaten to death. Since the original owner had slept with Master Chen, the Chen family had to determine whether she was pregnant before deciding what to do with her.
Unexpectedly, the original owner really was pregnant.
She was carrying Master Chen’s posthumous child.
Unfortunately, she ultimately died from difficult labor, and the child did not survive either.
After recalling the plot, Lin Zhijin felt terrible all over.
What the hell was this?
Schemed against?
A posthumous child?
And then dying in childbirth?
Lin Zhijin looked toward Master Chen, who was lying on the bed breathing out more than he was breathing in.
His white hair was thin, his face withered, and he was nothing but skin and bones.
Sleep with him?
A wave of nausea rose in Lin Zhijin’s stomach, and she immediately turned her head away before she really vomited.
Then again, with Master Chen already on the verge of death like this, even if he were drugged, could he really consummate the marriage?
Could he even get it up?
“Cough, cough…”
Hearing Master Chen cough, Lin Zhijin hurriedly put the veil back over her head and sat properly at the edge of the bed.
“Master? Are you awake?” Old Woman Li pushed open the door and came inside. Behind her followed a young maid.
She glanced at Lin Zhijin, who was sitting there obediently, and a trace of satisfaction flashed through her eyes.
“Master, you really woke up? It seems the chongxi really worked.”
“Cough… Mm… Hngh… water…” Master Chen cleared his throat before speaking with difficulty.
“Xiaocui, hurry and pour a cup of water.” After instructing the maid, Old Woman Li glanced at Lin Zhijin again. “Master, this is the Ninth Concubine, Madam Lin. Since you’ve woken up, why don’t you lift the bride’s red veil yourself?”
With Xiaocui’s help, Master Chen drank half a cup of warm water.
After resting for quite a while, he finally looked toward the bride sitting there without moving.
He took the ceremonial wedding scale from Old Woman Li’s hand and, trembling, lifted the red veil.
What appeared before him was a delicate little beauty with picturesque features.
“Mm, not bad. A little thin, but now that you’ve entered the Chen family, Master will naturally fatten you up until you’re fair and plump.” Master Chen nodded in satisfaction.
Hearing this, the smile on Old Woman Li’s face grew even wider.
Since Master was so satisfied, the reward money probably wouldn’t be small.
Lin Zhijin deliberately lowered her head shyly, looking as though she didn’t dare look at Master Chen.
Master Chen waved his hand. “You can all leave. Little Nine can serve me here.”
Little Nine?
Oh.
She was Little Nine.
By the time Lin Zhijin reacted, Old Woman Li had already left with Xiaocui.
In her heart, Lin Zhijin dramatically stretched out an Er Kang hand.
Don’t go!
She really didn’t want to serve this old man.
“Little Nine, come here.” Master Chen patted the space beside him.
According to the original owner’s memories, it was currently 1951.
Huaguo would be liberated by 1951 at the latest, so Nancheng would definitely be liberated sometime this year. Once the People’s Liberation Army arrived, they would be able to liberate an oppressed member of the people like her.
What month was Nancheng liberated again?
Lin Zhijin pursed her lips.
She only remembered that it was this year. No matter how hard she tried, she couldn’t remember the exact date.
Was it April or May?
It didn’t matter.
It was only mid-February now, so at most, there were just a little over two months to go.
She only needed to endure these two months.
Lin Zhijin deliberately gave Master Chen a shy glance.
With his condition, could he possibly force himself on her?
If they didn’t consummate the marriage, it would be because she was worried about his health.
So from now on, all she had to do was properly play the timid little concubine who cared about Master’s health.
Once the People’s Liberation Army arrived, a member of the suffering masses like her would regain her freedom and become an ordinary citizen with a good class background.
“Master, are you still thirsty? Would you like some water?” Lin Zhijin moved one step closer to Master Chen, avoided the hand he reached toward her, and pretended to be concerned as she pulled his quilt up for him.
“No need. My whole body aches from lying down. Massage Master’s legs.” Master Chen narrowed his eyes and looked Lin Zhijin up and down.
Her skin was fairly fair, just a little rough.
She was a country girl, after all. It was understandable.
“Starting tomorrow, I’ll have people take good care of you and nourish you properly.”
Lin Zhijin hurriedly sat at the foot of the bed.
The farther away she was from this lecherous old man, the better.
“Thank you, Master. I’ll listen to whatever Master says.”
A wise person knew when to yield to circumstances. Only after enduring the bitterest hardships could one rise above others.
For the sake of a better future, Lin Zhijin obediently massaged Master Chen’s legs.
She would just treat it as working as a caregiver.
With Master Chen’s wealth, the pay shouldn’t be low, right?
She couldn’t help recalling what the wedding matron had told the original owner.
The Chen family was a wealthy and powerful clan. Half the farmland in Nancheng was under the Chen family’s name, and there were even government officials in the family.
According to the wedding matron, being able to become Master Chen’s concubine was a blessing Lin Pandi must have earned through accumulated virtue in her previous life.
“Not bad. That’s enough. Stop massaging and lie down beside Master.”
A beauty beneath the lamplight only became more beautiful the longer one looked.
Although Madam Lin wasn’t fair and plump enough, there was also a kind of beauty in her slenderness.
It was a pity that he was already old. The spirit was willing, but the flesh was weak.
Still, having a little beauty lying beside him was also a pleasure.
Lin Zhijin’s heart thumped.
No way.
This old geezer still wanted to put his hands on her?
She first nodded, then covered her rumbling stomach and said “shyly,” “I’m sorry. I… I didn’t mean to.”
Oh my god, she pinched herself too hard.
Her thigh was definitely going to bruise.
Lin Zhijin carefully rubbed the spot she had pinched while pretending to wipe away frightened tears.
“You’re hungry? Oh, don’t cry. It’s nothing serious.” Master Chen tugged on the cord beside the bed.
A bell rang, and soon Old Woman Li came in with Xiaocui.
“Master,” Old Woman Li called respectfully.
“The Ninth Concubine 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 considering that she was a newly taken concubine and he had always been tender toward beautiful women, he told Old Woman Li to retrieve a pair of “Golden Luan Filling the Sleeves” filigree gold bracelets from the cabinet.
“Don’t be afraid. Take these and play with them. Since you’ve become my concubine, as long as you serve me well in the future, you won’t lack benefits.”
Lin Zhijin accepted the bracelets delicately and timidly before saying softly, “Thank you, Master.”
Oh my god.
Gold bracelets!
With this weight, weren’t they almost a jin?
And they were made with filigree craftsmanship.
Were those rubies on them?
They were so beautiful.
Since he had given them to her, they were hers now, right?
Lin Zhijin secretly glanced at Master Chen.
Sure enough, high risk meant high returns.
This was her caregiver fee and compensation for emotional distress.
Of course she didn’t need to give them back.
She would save them up. This was all capital for living a good life in the future.
After slowly finishing the noodles, she had Xiaocui help take down her hair and remove her makeup.
Master Chen had long since reached his limit and fallen asleep.
The corners of Lin Zhijin’s lips curled up slightly.
She had decided.
For the next two months, she would first lay low in the Chen family and treat it as working as a caregiver.
Even including compensation for emotional distress, the returns weren’t bad.
As for consummating the marriage, she could let the bedchamber maid do it herself.
Then she would find out who had schemed against the original owner. If she could help the original owner get revenge, she would.
Stockpile grain, bide one’s time before proclaiming oneself king.
Once liberation came, she would go cling tightly to Motherland’s thigh.
The Chen family, the Lin family—every last one of them could move aside.
AUTHOR’S NOTE:
Babies, Chapter 1 has undergone major revisions. The two versions have two different storylines. Which version do you prefer? Next Novel: After Becoming a Factory Girl, I Packed My Bucket and Ran Away Overnight. Please add it to your favorites, muah muah (づ￣3￣)づ╭??～ Synopsis: When she woke up, urban white-collar worker Lin Weiwei had become the Lin Weiwei of 2006… At this time, the Lin Weiwei of 2006 had just graduated from junior high school and was forced by her parents to follow her older female cousin into a factory to work. She had dyed her hair yellow and was ambiguously involved with another yellow-haired boy… Looking at the non-mainstream style reflected in the mirror, then at the twelve-person dormitory room with shared bunk beds, and recalling the original owner’s memories of tightening screws every day, Lin Weiwei shuddered, packed her things, picked up her bucket, and ran away overnight…