Chapter 2: Wedding for Fortune

Chapter 2: A Wedding to Ward Off Bad Luck

The seventh year of the Republic of China (1918)...

Wait, that would be 1918, right?

What does this mean? Did the heavens think his life was too smooth and decide to send him to meet his great-grandmother?

The answer was too outrageous, and Ji Qingzhou felt as if he had been struck by lightning, momentarily dizzy and disoriented.

Still refusing to give up, he fished out his phone from his pocket, trying to prove through calls and the internet that this was all just a prank.

But the "no signal" icon on the screen became the final straw that shattered his hope.

Tossing the phone onto the bed, his body went limp, and he collapsed into the sofa.

Why? He was just a tourist!

He wasn't some orphan with no ties; he had a harmonious family and a promising future ahead. Why him?

He had just slept for a night, so how did he end up time-traveling?

Is time-traveling really that easy?

If he slept again, could he go back?

This thought crossed Ji Qingzhou's mind, but when he turned to look at the messy bed, he shook his head helplessly.

This wasn't just a matter of sleeping.

If his guess was correct, the moment he entered this room yesterday, he had already time-traveled. Otherwise, the sudden overwhelming drowsiness last night would be hard to explain.

"So I can only blame my bad luck for opening the door to another time during a thunderstorm."

Ji Qingzhou closed his eyes and curled his lips in a self-mocking smile, even feeling a bit amused when he mentioned the "door to another time."

Only now did he have to face the reality and tell himself to calm down and deal with the predicament before him.

He opened his eyes and looked toward the door, intending to ask the aunt who had given him such a shock who she thought he was, only to find that she had already disappeared.

Probably scared by his erratic behavior, she had gone to consult with the so-called young master or madam.

As expected, not long after, footsteps could be heard coming up the stairs from the corridor.

From a distance, the footsteps weren't loud, but the distinct 'click-clack' of high heels was particularly clear.

Ji Qingzhou leaned back on the sofa for a while but eventually couldn't sit still and stood up.

He thought to himself that no matter who was coming, he couldn't act as recklessly as he had just done.

The prerequisite for finding a way back was to ensure his safety first and integrate into this era, rather than being treated as a madman and sent to a mental asylum.

Looking on the bright side, at least the start wasn't too terrible since the aunt's attitude toward him hadn't been bad...

After calming down, Ji Qingzhou quickly sorted out the current situation.

Since he could live in such a refined Western-style house over a hundred years ago, the 'Mr. Ji' he was impersonating, who looked similar to him, was probably doing quite well.

He just didn't know where the original 'Mr. Ji' had gone.

He had a hunch about this, suspecting that the other person had likely swapped places with him and ended up in the modern era.

"You’re living it up, while I’m stuck in a mess..."

Grumbling under his breath, Ji Qingzhou quickly scanned the tables, chairs, and cabinets, finding the room tidy but devoid of anything that could quickly clue him in on the identity of that 'Mr. Ji.'

Looks like that guy hasn’t been here long...

Before he could take a closer look, footsteps were already at the door.

Ji Qingzhou froze, his eyes darting to the door, and spotted three people outside, including the woman from before.

The other two, a man and a woman, were strangers to him.

The woman, in her forties, exuded elegance, dressed in luxurious attire—wearing a white embroidered short jacket with wide sleeves, topped with a long blue silk brocade vest, her hair adorned with ornate pearl hairpins, the very picture of a wealthy lady from a bygone era.

The man wore a suit, every inch the business elite, his hair slicked back with gel, gleaming, highlighting his sharp features, though he looked no more than twenty-seven or twenty-eight years old.

The two, blending Chinese and Western styles, were probably the 'Madam' and 'Eldest Young Master' the woman had mentioned.

"Aunt Sun, you may go tend to your duties now."

After studying Ji Qingzhou for a moment, the elegant lady, her Mandarin tinged with a Cantonese accent, spoke.

Then, she smiled gently at Ji Qingzhou: "Do you mind if I come in to chat?"

"Not at all, please come in," Ji Qingzhou replied with a smile.

Noting their serious demeanor, he gestured for them to sit on the sofa by the window, thinking the woman seemed friendly enough—maybe he could pry some information out of her.

But no sooner had the thought crossed his mind than the lady’s expression shifted, her smile vanishing.

"Aunt Sun filled me in on what happened earlier," she said, her tone slow but firm, laced with displeasure.

"Playing dumb won’t get you anywhere, Ji Yunqing."

Ji Yunqing? Is that the full name of Mr. Ji?

Ji Qingzhou slightly raised an eyebrow, then smiled: "It’s all a misunderstanding—I was groggy when I woke up and didn’t grasp what was going on."

"Whether you’re genuinely confused or just faking it, yesterday Yu Chuan stood in for his brother and went through the wedding ceremony with you. If you back out now, you’ll only make another enemy."

"Think it over—even a lowly bank manager named Lu could ruin you in the capital. If you cross our Xie family, you might have to flee the country."

Although the lady's Mandarin had an accent, her words were clear and not difficult to understand.

But Ji Qingzhou, forcing a smile, stared blankly for a full thirty seconds, utterly lost.

Leaving aside other things, what does it mean to stand in for his brother and complete the wedding ceremony with him?

In the Republic of China, can men marry men?

Or is Ji Yunqing actually a woman?

Ji Qingzhou was full of questions, not knowing how to react for a moment.

The man opposite, probably thinking he was struggling, put on a sincere expression and advised:

"I understand your feelings. A marriage between two men is indeed absurd, but this is just a temporary measure. Since you agreed to this, backing out now isn't what a gentleman would do."

So you're really marrying a man!

Ji Yunqing, I never thought you'd do something like this—marrying a man just to escape your enemies!

This is a real dilemma for him.

Although Ji Qingzhou considers himself open-minded, having dated both men and women while studying and working abroad, marrying a stranger out of nowhere is beyond his psychological comfort zone.

Moreover, from what they said, the brother had to stand in for the groom at the wedding, which suggests the younger brother is likely bedridden and has health issues.

No way, this marriage has to be annulled!

But being under their roof, he couldn't refuse too blatantly, so he tentatively asked, "Don't you find this ridiculous?"

"It's completely absurd. If it weren't for the old lady's insistence, I wouldn't have hidden it from Yuan Yuan and set up such a shameful marriage for him!" Shen Nanqi, the lady, sighed, her eyes showing vulnerability and helplessness.

Then she pulled herself together and said to Ji Qingzhou, "Don't worry, my son's injuries have a chance of recovery. Once his eye disease is cured and he's in good health, not only will we let you go, but we'll also give you money to handle your issues with Beijing's elite.

"And after you marry my son, you won't need to do anything extra, just look after his daily needs. We will treat you as part of the Xie family. Isn't that good enough for you?"

Hearing this, Ji Qingzhou finally understood that Ji Yunqing marrying into a wealthy family was actually to bring good fortune to a sick person.

He didn't know the criteria for such a person, but since they had to choose a man, the conditions must be very stringent.

So, unless someone better comes along, they won't let him go.

Alright then, a real man knows when to give and when to take...

Maybe the shock of time travel was too much, but after weighing the options, Ji Qingzhou actually convinced himself to accept this situation.

It's just marriage, not the end of the world.

In this turbulent era, having a rich husband is better than nothing, right?

Besides, this husband is both injured and has eye disease; even if he's got a temper, he probably couldn't take me on.

After comforting himself, Ji Qingzhou forced a smile and said, "Since I've agreed to this, I won't back out."

"It's good that you see it this way," Jie Yuchuan didn't expose him, stood up, smoothed out the wrinkles on his clothes, and sighed in relief.

He actually knew this wasn't quite right, and once his younger brother found out, he would surely throw a fit, but neither he nor his parents could go against their grandmother's insistence.

Since things have come to this, and someone had to be found to bring good fortune to his brother, at least Ji Yunqing has excellent looks. Although his status is low and he's caused trouble in Beijing, someone with weaknesses and needs is easier to control.

"If you've made up your mind, then hurry up and pack. If it weren't for your antics, we might have already left the city by now."

Shen Nanqi also stood up as she spoke.

Ji Qingzhou's expression tightened, "Leave the city? Where to?"

"Where do you think? The wedding isn't being held in Shanghai, nor at the old mansion in Taohuawu, but in this newly built small Western-style house, all to avoid attention. Now that it's done, naturally, we're returning to Shanghai."

Shen Nanqi's tone sounded casual, but her eyes were quite calm, "Besides, Yuan Yuan is returning today, perhaps the ship has already docked. As his wife now, you must come back with us.

"But be careful, in Shanghai, your identity will be my cousin's nephew. Don't let it slip, as a man marrying is not exactly honorable."

This kind of misfortune, even if she didn't remind him, Ji Qingzhou had no interest in telling others.

So in response to Madam Xie's many demands, he just smiled slightly, "A secret affair, got it."

·

To say he was packing, there wasn't much to pack.

Since he moved in, his luggage hadn't even been unpacked.

However, after the Xie family members left, Ji Qingzhou found a suitcase left by Ji Yunqing in the wardrobe of the room.

There were no valuables inside, just some change of clothing and toiletries, which were useless to him.

Despite their uselessness, Ji Qingzhou still took it with him.

He clung to the hope that one day he might return and give the suitcase back to its rightful owner.

After ten minutes of tidying up and washing, Ji Qingzhou went downstairs with a sling bag on his back, lugging a suitcase and the small one.

With the master gone, the servants downstairs were bustling with activity. Ji Qingzhou couldn't even catch someone to ask about breakfast, so he had to go and put the luggage away first.

Just as he was helping the coachman hoist the luggage onto the open carriage, he heard Madam Xie's voice coming from behind.

"That's a nice-looking suitcase, where did you buy it?"

He instinctively turned around and saw Madam Xie descending the entrance steps, a small handbag in her left hand and her skirt lifted with her right.

The hem of her cheongsam jacket was too long, almost covering her feet, making it impossible to descend without lifting it.

"A friend got it from overseas."

"What brand? I'll get a friend to bring me one sometime."

"Even if I told you, your friends wouldn't be able to find it. It's from a small, unknown manufacturer."

In this era, wheeled suitcases didn’t exist yet, so Ji Qingzhou couldn’t name a brand and had to brush it off.

His attitude was casual, but Shen Nanqi didn’t bother to press further. She slightly raised her chin and said, "Pick your own ride."

"That one?" Ji Qingzhou glanced toward a rickshaw parked under the shade of the camphor tree.

"What else? The roads in Suzhou are too narrow for cars."

Shen Nanqi looked him up and down, then stepped closer. "I meant to ask earlier—why are you dressed so strangely? Don’t you have other clothes?"

"No, I forgot to bring them."

"You’ll get laughed at in Shanghai if you dress like this. At least get a long robe. And your hair—it’s so long it’s covering your eyes. Why not tie it up?"

Before Ji Qingzhou could come up with an excuse, Shen Nanqi added, "You do look better than yesterday, at least. Once we get back to Shanghai, we’ll have to clean you up properly."

"Alright," Ji Qingzhou agreed readily.

Seeing that Madam Xie was in a good mood, he couldn’t help but ask the question that had been lingering in his mind: "Is there any breakfast?"

Shen Nanqi chuckled at this. "You little rascal, why didn’t you say you were hungry earlier?"

With that, she asked Aunt Sun to bring over some pastries and tea.

"You got up too late. Breakfast has already been cleared away, and there’s no time to make more. If we wait any longer, the train will leave."

"It’s fine, I’ll take whatever’s there."

Ji Qingzhou took the food box handed to him by Aunt Sun, thinking to himself that this "mother-in-law" he had ended up with was actually quite considerate towards him.

He couldn't tell if it was for her own reputation or just her naturally amiable nature.

After eating a few pieces of cake with olive tea to fill his stomach, and waiting for Jie Yuchuan to finish using the restroom, the three of them boarded the rickshaw hired by the Jie family. Under the watchful eyes of the servants, they passed by the front of the Guoxue Study Hall and started moving along the bumpy, stone-paved road.

The rickshaw in Suzhou had a bell on the pedal, which jingled as it ran, sounding very lively. However, Ji Qingzhou, who was riding a rickshaw for the first time, felt quite uncomfortable seeing the bent back of the rickshaw driver in front.

It would be best to have a taxi, he thought to himself, but after glancing at the crowded and narrow roads around, he knew it was just a pipe dream.

Sitting alone in the rickshaw, with no one to talk to, Ji Qingzhou didn't want to make the rickshaw driver pant heavily while trying to talk to him, so he quietly observed the buildings and local customs along the way.

The journey was silent, and the jingling of the rickshaw bell made him uneasy.

It wasn't until they arrived at the train station that Ji Qingzhou regained his interest, curious about the century-old train that he was about to board.

They had purchased first-class tickets, which included a private compartment.

The compartment was far more luxurious than he had expected, with spacious and comfortable seats, plush velvet cushions, and even a carpet underfoot.

Once seated, Jie Yuchuan asked the attendant for a newspaper to pass the time.

Ji Qingzhou originally wanted to read the newspaper as well, but seeing that Madam Xie seemed quite bored, he struck up a conversation with her, hoping to glean some information.

Extracting information wasn't easy, but thanks to Madam Xie's talkative nature, he managed to glean some useful information from her during their chat.

It was about Ji Yunqing.

He had previously speculated about this person's identity but never expected that the other party was actually a Beijing Opera performer, quite famous in the capital area. However, he had somehow crossed someone and nearly paid with his life.

Around the end of last year, to escape danger, Ji Yunqing fled to Shanghai, but he still couldn't evade the harassment from his pursuers. He was forced to give up his performances in Shanghai, and even making a living became a problem.

Likely seeking protection, he had no choice but to agree to this absurd marriage.

This put Ji Qingzhou on edge.

The era was already chaotic, and the identity he had assumed had brought trouble. It seemed that the wisest choice at the moment was to hold onto the Xie family for support.

...

The train rattled on, and after about two hours, it arrived at Shanghai Railway Station.

The station was near the International Settlement, on the boundary road between North Zhejiang Road and North Henan Road, which was later known as the Old North Station.

Ji Qingzhou was quite interested in the railway station at this time, as he had visited the railway museum back in his school days.

Unfortunately, he didn’t have time to take a closer look. As soon as he left the station, he was taken by the Xie family into a small Ford and quickly driven into the settlement.

While Suzhou still retained its ancient charm with white walls, black tiles, small bridges, and flowing water, the Shanghai settlement was already beginning to resemble a modern city.

Under the golden sunlight, the streets were alive with cars, carriages, trams, bicycles, and rickshaws crisscrossing, and the noisy sounds of people, bells, and engines continuously poured into the ears.

Ji Qingzhou leaned back in the passenger seat, squinting at the slowly moving street scene outside.

He felt like an editor, quietly watching scenes rewind before his eyes, his thoughts wandering aimlessly.

Just yesterday morning, he was overlooking the city's beautiful scenery from a high-rise apartment, but now he had changed his perspective, like a wanderer who had been away from home for decades returning to his hometown, melancholically noting the differences between the present and his memories.

Shanghai in 1918, the largest metropolis in the Far East in the eyes of Westerners.

A modern city, a fashion capital, filled with all kinds of contradictory elements...

What kind of life would he start here?