Chapter 1: Transmigrated into the Book

Chapter 1: Transmigrated into a Book

"Bow to heaven and earth!"

"Bow to the ancestors!"

"Bride and groom bow to each other!"

During the mutual bow, the bride's counterpart was not the groom, but a spirited rooster.

"The ceremony is complete! Escort the bride to the bridal chamber!"

In a daze, Lin Zhijin heard these words, then stumbled along, someone holding her arm.

"Watch your step, Ninth Concubine." The matchmaker guided Lin Zhijin, reminding her softly.

Ninth Concubine?

Who?

"Ninth Concubine, we've arrived at the bridal chamber. You're to stay here with Master Chen tonight. Whatever you do, don't lift your veil yourself. The master said that if Master Chen doesn't wake tonight, you must wait until seven in the morning to lift it." The matchmaker gave her careful instructions, then left with the two other servants.

Lin Zhijin shook her head, trying to clear her mind. Today was the department dinner, and she'd had a few extra drinks because she was in a bad mood. Was she so drunk she was hearing things? Or were her colleagues playing a prank on her?

She pulled off the veil and looked around. The room had an old-fashioned look, with "double happiness" characters pasted on the door and windows, and phoenix candles burning. She looked down at herself, wearing a bright red wedding dress...

Lin Zhijin jumped to her feet, then turned and saw an old man lying on the bed, his face pale and breathing faint. Everything went black, and she instinctively grabbed the bedpost and collapsed onto the edge of the bed.

It was like a thunderbolt in her mind, and another person's memories flashed through her head like a movie.

Lin Pandi, a 17-year-old girl from Xiaokeng Village, Anping Township, Nancheng. She was the third of five siblings—two older sisters (Lin Zhaodi and Lin Niandi), a younger sister (Lin Laidi), and a youngest brother named Lin Yaozu.

Just from the names, it was obvious how much the Lin family favored boys over girls. So, for Yaozu's sake, the Lin daughters were sold off like livestock once they came of age.

Lin Pandi had been sold by her parents to the dying Master Chen as a "chongxi" bride to ward off death. The old man was sixty-eight, a whole fifty-one years older than Lin Pandi.

A seventeen-year-old girl, of course, wouldn't want to marry an old man older than her grandfather.

She'd cried and thrown a fit, but in the end, her mother tearfully begged her, and she put on the wedding dress the Chen family had sent and got into the bridal sedan in despair.

Somehow, during the ceremony, Lin Zhijin had become Lin Pandi.

So she'd transmigrated?

And as a "chongxi" concubine?

She'd heard the matchmaker call her Ninth Concubine, right?

Lin Zhijin opened her eyes, adjusted to a more comfortable position, and stared blankly at the phoenix candles on the table.

Today was her thirtieth birthday, actually. Her mother had died when she was little, and her father had quickly remarried. As the saying goes, "With a stepmother, you get a stepfather," especially once they had their own child—Lin Zhijin became the odd one out in the family.

Still, her father had a decent income and was big on appearances, so he'd put her through college. After she graduated, he never supported her again, but he never asked her for money either.

Lin Zhijin worked hard. After five years, she'd bought a small apartment in the provincial capital and a modest car that cost over a hundred thousand. Life was pretty good, all things considered. But on her thirtieth birthday, no one remembered her birthday. She couldn't help feeling down and had a few too many drinks—and then she opened her eyes and became Lin Pandi.

Going from thirty to seventeen, thirteen years younger. Maybe she'd come out ahead?

Ahead, my foot! The house and car she'd scrimped and saved for, and the HR manager position she'd fought so hard to earn—all gone just like that. Just thinking about it was heartbreaking.

After moping for a while, Lin Zhijin accepted reality. She'd transmigrated, and it wasn't like she could just kill herself. Better to live than die, as the saying goes.

If she was going to survive, she needed to figure out her situation.

Nancheng, Anping Township? They were even from the same area—same dialect, same food culture. At least she wouldn't have to worry about blowing her cover.

Wait—Lin Zhijin sat bolt upright.

Lin Pandi, from Xiaokeng Village, Anping Township, Nancheng, the "chongxi" marriage, and the names of her family in the original body's memories...

Wasn't this the novel she'd read last night?

So she hadn't just transmigrated—she'd transmigrated into a novel?

Lin Zhijin quickly ran through the plot in her mind. Lin Pandi wasn't the protagonist, not even a supporting character. She was just cannon fodder early on. If she hadn't just finished the novel last night, she'd never have remembered this minor character.

In the original story, there were two suitable girls for the "chongxi" marriage to Master Chen: one was Lin Pandi (the original body), and the other was the female lead, Lin Xiaoya.

Lin Xiaoya wasn't ugly, but when the Chen family came to pick, she deliberately smeared her face with dirt, so the Chens chose the prettier one, the original body. Because of this, the female lead's parents scolded her. But the female lead was the female lead—soon enough, she met the male lead, they found work in the city together, settled in the city, and lived a life with a few bumps but overall happiness.

As for Lin Pandi, after the "chongxi" marriage, Master Chen's condition did improve. But then a chambermaid drugged him, hoping to get pregnant and become a concubine. The original novel didn't detail the specifics, but the one who slept with Master Chen was Lin Pandi.

Master Chen was already at death's door. A few days later, he passed away. The chambermaid was beaten to death. Since Lin Pandi had shared a bed with Master Chen, the Chen family had to confirm whether she was pregnant before deciding what to do with her.

Unexpectedly, Lin Pandi really was pregnant—she was carrying Master Chen's posthumous child. But in the end, she died in childbirth, and the child didn't make it either.

Recalling the plot, Lin Zhijin felt sick to her stomach. What the hell? Set up? A posthumous child? And dying in childbirth?

She looked at Master Chen on the bed—barely breathing, with sparse white hair, a gaunt face, and skin and bones. Sleep with him?!

Lin Zhijin felt a wave of nausea and quickly looked away so she wouldn't actually throw up.

Then again, with Master Chen at death's door, even if he were drugged, could he really consummate? Could he even manage to stand at attention?

"Cough, cough..."

Hearing Master Chen's cough, Lin Zhijin quickly put the veil back on and sat primly on the edge of the bed.

"Master? Are you awake?" Old Madam Li pushed the door open, followed by a young maid. She glanced at Lin Zhijin sitting there obediently and a hint of satisfaction flickered in her eyes. "Master, you really are awake! Looks like the 'chongxi' marriage really worked."

"Cough... uh... water..." Master Chen cleared his throat and said with effort.

"Xiaocui, hurry up and pour a cup of water." Old Madam Li told the maid, then looked at Lin Zhijin again. "Master, this is Ninth Concubine Lin. Since you're awake, would you like to lift the bride's veil?"

Master Chen drank half a cup of warm water that Xiaocui handed him, rested for a moment, then looked at the bride sitting still. He took the ceremonial scale from Old Madam Li's hands and, trembling, lifted the red veil—revealing a delicate, pretty young woman.

"Mm, not bad. A bit thin, but once you're in the Chen family, I'll make sure you eat well." Master Chen nodded with satisfaction.

Hearing this, Old Madam Li smiled even wider. With the master this pleased, the reward money would be generous.

Lin Zhijin pretended to be shy, keeping her head down as if she didn't dare meet Master Chen's eyes.

Master Chen waved his hand. "You may leave. Xiaojiu can attend to me here."

Xiaojiu? Oh, so she was the Xiaojiu mentioned earlier.

By the time Lin Zhijin realized this, Old Madam Li had already left with Xiaocui. She mentally screamed, "Don't go!" She really didn't want to be alone with this old man.

"Little Nine, come here." Master Chen patted the spot beside him.

Going by the original body's memories, it was now 1951, and the country would be liberated no later than '51, so Nancheng would definitely be liberated this year. Once the People's Liberation Army soldiers arrived, they'd liberate her, an oppressed citizen.

Which month was Nancheng liberated?

Lin Zhijin pursed her lips. She only remembered it was this year; the exact time just wouldn't come to mind. Was it April or May?

No matter. It was mid-February now, so at most just over two months. She just had to hold out for those two months.

Lin Zhijin cast a shy glance at Master Chen. With his condition, could he really force himself on her? She wasn't consummating the marriage out of concern for his health, so from now on, she just had to play the timid concubine who cared about her husband's well-being. Once the PLA soldiers arrived, she'd regain her freedom as a hardworking citizen and become an ordinary person with a good background.

"Master, are you still thirsty? Would you like some water?" Lin Zhijin took a step closer to Master Chen, dodging his outstretched hand, and pretended to care for him by pulling up his blanket.

"No need. I'm sore from lying down. Massage your master's legs." Master Chen squinted, sizing up Lin Zhijin. Her skin was fair but rough—a country girl, no wonder. "Starting tomorrow, I'll have someone take good care of you."

Lin Zhijin quickly moved to the foot of the bed, putting as much distance as possible between herself and this lecherous old man.

"Thank you, Master. I'll do as you say." He who adapts survives, and no pain, no gain. For a better future, Lin Zhijin obediently massaged Master Chen's legs, treating it as a caregiver gig. With Master Chen's wealth, the pay wouldn't be bad, right?

She recalled what the matchmaker had told the original body: the Chen family was a powerful clan, owning half of Nancheng's land and having officials in the family. According to the matchmaker, becoming Master Chen's concubine was a blessing Lin Pandi had earned from past lives.

"Good, that's enough. Stop massaging and come lie beside your master." Under the lamplight, the more he looked, the more beautiful she seemed. Though this Lin woman wasn't plump enough, there was a certain beauty in her slimness. Too bad age had caught up with him and left him lacking in vigor, but having the beauty lie beside him was still a delight.

Lin Zhijin's heart skipped a beat. Oh no, this old coot wasn't going to try something, was he?

She nodded first, then grabbed her growling stomach and said 'shyly,' "Sorry, I... I didn't mean to."

Damn, she'd pinched herself too hard—her thigh was definitely bruised. Lin Zhijin carefully rubbed the spot while pretending to wipe away tears in fear.

"Hungry? Oh, don't cry, it's nothing serious." Master Chen tugged the rope by the bed, and a bell rang. Li Pozi entered with Xiaocui.

"Master." Li Pozi called out respectfully.

"The Ninth Concubine's hungry. Have someone make a bowl of shredded chicken noodles." Master Chen waved his hand. Seeing Lin Zhijin still tearful, and being a sucker for pretty women, he had Li Pozi fetch a pair of gold filigree bracelets set with gems from the cabinet. "Don't be scared. Here, play with these. Since you're my concubine now, as long as you serve me well, you'll be well rewarded."

Lin Zhijin took the bracelets with a delicate, timid air and whispered, "Thank you, Master."

Oh my god, gold bracelets! This weight—close to a pound, right? And the filigree craftsmanship—were those rubies set on them? So beautiful. They were hers now, weren't they?

Lin Zhijin glanced at Master Chen. Well, high risk, high reward. This was her pay for caregiving and emotional damage—of course, she wouldn't return them. She'd save them up; this was the capital for a better life ahead.

She ate the noodles slowly, had Xiaocui help undo her hair and remove her makeup, and by then, Master Chen had already succumbed to sleep.

A faint smile tugged at Lin Zhijin's lips. She'd decided: for the next two months, she'd lie low in the Chen household, treating it as a caregiver gig. Even factoring in the emotional damage compensation, the payoff wasn't bad. As for the wedding night, she'd let the chamber maid handle it. Then she'd find out who had schemed against the original body and avenge her if she could.

Keep her head down and bide her time, and when liberation came, she'd throw herself into the arms of the motherland. The Chens, the Lins—they could all step aside.

Author's note:

Hey folks, Chapter One has been heavily revised—two versions, two storylines. Which one do you prefer? Next up: "After Becoming a Factory Girl, I Fled Overnight"—please add it to your collection, mwah (づ￣3￣)づ╭❤～ Blurb: Waking up, urban white-collar worker Lin Weiwei becomes Lin Weiwei in 2006... At that time, Lin Weiwei had just graduated middle school and was forced by her parents to follow her cousin into factory work. She'd dyed her hair blonde and was entangled with a male blonde... Looking at the non-mainstream reflection in the mirror, then at the twelve-person dormitory, recalling the daily screw-tightening in the original's memories, Lin Weiwei shuddered, packed up, and fled overnight...