Chapter 1

Chapter 1 Chun Niang of the Yu Household (Reader’s Note: This is a story about reforming a husband. The male lead is a wastrel in the early stages. He has little ability and is by no means an impressive figure, but under the female lead’s guidance, he will gradually grow and eventually become a qualified husband. The female lead is a very capable and remarkable person. The male lead is an incompetent wastrel, but he has an innocent heart. Readers who want a powerful, influential, and omnipotent male lead may want to move along, lest they encounter plot developments they dislike and become unhappy. This story is about the process of raising and shaping someone. There is little plot, with more focus on a peaceful, warm daily life. Writing is not easy. Thank you for reading, and I hope everyone enjoys it.) Yu Lingchun felt that she was probably the most useless transmigrator in the entire world. When other people transmigrated, they either harbored lofty ambitions to change the world or wailed and cried, seeking death. As for her, the very first thing she did after transmigrating was drink congee. Plain rice congee, boiled until thick, with a layer of rice oil floating on top. It was so fragrant that it could hook a person’s soul right out of their body. Leaning against the headboard, she drank it one mouthful at a time. After finishing, she licked her lips with lingering satisfaction and stared longingly at the empty bowl. “Third Miss, do you… want some more?” the round-faced maid crouching beside the bed asked cautiously. “Bring me another bowl.” Baizhi froze for a moment, then broke into a delighted smile and ran out. Her footsteps were so light and quick, as if she had just found a fortune. Yu Lingchun leaned against the pillow and let out a satisfied sigh. Her stomach felt warm, and her entire body felt as if she had been soaking in hot water. She was so comfortable that she wanted to close her eyes and take a nap. That was right—Yu Lingchun was a transmigrator. She had originally been a model young woman of the new era, born under the red flag and raised in the spring breeze. She had never imagined that after suddenly dying from overwork, she would transmigrate to an ancient era a thousand years in the past. The original owner was also named Yu Lingchun. Eighteen years old, she was the daughter of an official. Because she refused to marry the man her father had chosen for her, she had starved herself to death. Perhaps at first, it had been an act of protest. But after starving for three days in a row… she had genuinely starved to death. And so, this Yu Lingchun had replaced that Yu Lingchun. Starving herself, resisting the marriage, proving her principles through death— She was not the original owner. There was no reason for her to make life difficult for her own stomach. What hardship had she not endured in her previous life? When she was in her final year of high school, her grandmother had fallen ill. She attended classes during the day and washed dishes at night to save money for medical expenses. She had been so hungry that her stomach seemed to stick to her back, and even a bowl of instant noodles had tasted delicious. Later, she had studied medicine, completing a combined eight-year bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral program. She had been exhausted as if she were a dog, and the last meal she had eaten before suddenly dying had been an eight-yuan boxed meal from the cafeteria. After finally dying and being reborn, Yu Lingchun had come to deeply understand the importance of life. There was no way she would do something foolish like the original owner. In this life, no matter what, she was going to make up for everything she had failed to eat, drink, and enjoy in her previous life! “Third Miss, the congee is here!” Baizhi came running in with a bowl, followed by a young married woman. The woman looked to be in her early thirties and was extraordinarily beautiful, with an oval face and watery almond-shaped eyes. However, her eye sockets were red, as if she had just been crying. The moment she entered, she rushed to the bedside and grabbed Yu Lingchun’s hand. Her voice trembled as she said, “Chun Niang, you’ve finally come to your senses! Mother was worried sick!” Yu Lingchun looked at her hand, then at that tearful face, and sighed inwardly. This was the original owner’s mother, Madam Pei—gentle and weak, with her husband as the center of her world. She had little say in the Yu household. When the original owner had starved herself for three days, Madam Pei had been frantic outside the room, but she had not even dared to enter because Yu Changshan had forbidden her to. “Mother, don’t cry.” Yu Lingchun patted her hand. “I’m fine. I was just hungry.” Madam Pei froze, tears still clinging to her cheeks. For a moment, she did not know whether she ought to cry or laugh. “Hungry?” she repeated, as if she had not understood. “Mm, hungry.” Yu Lingchun took the bowl of congee from Baizhi and lowered her head to drink again. After two mouthfuls, she raised her head and looked at Madam Pei earnestly. “Mother, this congee is delicious. Could you have the kitchen make another bowl? I’d like some minced fish added.” Madam Pei: “……” She stared blankly at her daughter, feeling that something was not quite right. Three days ago, this girl had been seeking death and throwing herself into despair. How had she woken up from one sleep and become concerned only with food? “Chun Niang, you… you’re not upset anymore?” “Upset about what?” “It’s just… that marriage…” “Oh, that.” Yu Lingchun took a sip of congee and spoke in a carefree tone. “Then I’ll get married.” Madam Pei opened and closed her mouth, not knowing what to say. She had prepared a whole speech to persuade her daughter: “Your father is doing this for your own good,” and “The Earl’s household does have a high status,” and “Once you marry into it, things will gradually improve.” In the end, she had not needed a single word. “But Young Master He…” Madam Pei began hesitantly. “Everyone outside says he’s a wastrel…” “What’s wrong with being a wastrel?” Yu Lingchun set down her bowl and said seriously, “Being a wastrel means his family has money. He’s a rich second-generation heir! No, wait, he’s also the son of an official. He has money and power, so I’ll get to eat well, dress well, ride in a sedan chair whenever I go out, and have maids waiting on me when I return home. What could be better?” Madam Pei was utterly speechless. Seeing her dumbfounded expression, Yu Lingchun could not help laughing. She reached out and wiped the tears from Madam Pei’s face, her tone softening. “Mother, stop worrying. After starving for three days, I came to understand one thing.” “What thing?” “Being alive is better than anything else. As for whom I marry…” She paused, her eyes curving into a smile. “I’ll marry him first and think about the rest later. If things aren’t good, I’ll endure it. If I can’t endure it, I’ll find another way. In any case, I’m never going hungry again.” She did not want to die a second time. In ancient times, refusing to heed one’s parents’ wishes would most likely only lead to a faster death. Madam Pei stared at her blankly, suddenly feeling that her daughter seemed like a completely different person. There was a kind of… inexplicable lightness in her expression, as if something weighing her down had been lifted all at once. “All right, all right…” Madam Pei wiped away her tears. Though she was somewhat confused, she still broke into a smile. “Mother will have them make you fish congee. Whatever you want to eat, just say the word.” “Then I want Osmanthus Cake,” Yu Lingchun immediately replied, her eyes shining. “And Poria Cake, and Jujube Paste Pastry. Oh, right—do we have cherries? I want to eat cherries.” Cherries! She had never even eaten them in modern times. They were far too expensive. Now that she was at least the daughter of an official, surely she could afford to eat some? Madam Pei: “……” “You haven’t eaten anything for three days. Aren’t you afraid you’ll make yourself sick eating so much?” “Then just bring me a little of each. I’ll try them first.” Madam Pei shook her head, both exasperated and amused, then turned and instructed Baizhi to pass the message to the kitchen. When she turned back, she found that her daughter was already leaning against the pillow with her eyes half-closed and the corners of her mouth slightly raised, looking thoroughly satisfied. The spring sunlight from outside streamed through the window and fell across her face, dispersing the pallor there. As Madam Pei watched, the stone that had hung in her heart for three days finally settled to the ground. No matter what, her daughter was willing to eat again. That alone was a tremendous blessing.