Chapter One: Becoming a Son-in-law

The thirty-sixth year of Great Qian, Yanggu County.

Inside a dim, low-roofed shack, the matchmaker pressed an embroidered handkerchief to her nose and said, “Though you’re a scholar, you’re but a penniless examination candidate. To marry into the Wang family is already reaching above your station. Besides, the Wangs are even willing to pay off your late father’s debts. Such good fortune is like lighting a lamp in broad daylight…”

“Madam Wang, I agree to this. Tell the Wang family to make preparations,” Su Yang replied, wearing coarse cloth and bearing a refined air. Helplessness flashed across his face. To become a son-in-law by marriage—what greater humiliation for a scholar? Had it been any other man of letters, he might have died of shame. Fortunately, Su Yang was not of this world but a quasi-immortal who had transmigrated here.

He had been in this world for over three months and had learned a little about the Wang family. Though they were prominent in Yanggu County, their eldest daughter was lame and rumored to be hideous, scaring away many suitors. Several months prior, the family head had been killed by bandits, leaving the household without a male heir. Greedy relatives sought to seize the estate, so marrying a son-in-law was a strategy to preserve the family fortune.

“Indeed, you scholars know how to adapt,” the matchmaker said approvingly. “Once you marry into the Wang family, you’ll eat well and live comfortably. What’s so bad about that? I’ll go inform them right away.” Joy lit her plump face as she hurried off to the Wang residence, her swaying figure betraying the charms that had allowed this widow to find shelter in many a man’s home.

After closing the door, Su Yang sighed and a panel appeared in his mind:

Name: Su Yang (Quasi-Immortal)
Incense Points: 0
Realm: None
Technique: Incense Division
Lifespan: 19 days
Family Progress: Step One—Become engaged to a woman. Upon success, gain 10 Incense Points!
Daily Tip: Incense Points can be refined into lifespan, supplement techniques, and enhance your realm…

Since his arrival, Su Yang had struggled to advance. Though he was a scholar, his deceased father left behind a two hundred tael gambling debt. What respectable family would marry their daughter into such ruin? Had he not only nineteen days left to live, he would never have agreed to this arrangement.

Yet, now that he had, he decided to make the best of it. He would strive to build his own family, have children, and bring his lineage to prosperity. The more Incense Points he earned, the longer he could live—millions, billions of years—was that not immortality?

The panel’s daily tips varied, but Su Yang had summarized a few:

Daily Tip: 1 Incense Point can be refined into ten days of lifespan.
Daily Tip: The greater your descendants’ achievements, the more Incense Points you gain each day.
Daily Tip: Incense can temper the soul to forge a divine status and live as long as heaven and earth.

These reminders constantly spurred him on—to earn more Incense, to sire more offspring. Compared to those transmigrators whose journeys began with enforced celibacy in the name of cultivation, he considered himself fortunate. As for marrying into the Wang family, it mattered little; with strength, he could turn the tables. Power was true authority.

Moreover, the Wang family boasted many maids, providing ample opportunity to father children and strengthen himself quickly. With their wealth and his own looks and talent, he could easily win further favors beyond the household.

Su Yang brimmed with hope for the future. Marrying into the Wang family was not such a bad choice after all. As for the supposedly ugly, lame eldest daughter—she likely could not consummate a marriage, which suited him perfectly.

After Su Yang accepted, the matchmaker returned to the Wang house, collected a sum of silver, and brought several servants back with her. Due to the peculiar circumstances, the engagement would take place the next day, the wedding the day after, and today was spent preparing the venue. The Wang family would send the betrothal gift—two hundred taels—the following day.

With a scroll in hand, Su Yang watched the busy servants and endured their mocking, contemptuous glances. He sighed deeply. Compared to their lot, his own fate was not so dire.

At the Wang residence—

The late Master Wang was the second son of his generation. After his death, his widow Liu Wenxiang, still in her thirties and graceful as a blooming crabapple, managed the household.

The eldest daughter, Wang Chunxiao, sat in a wheelchair, dignified and poised, her tranquil eyes and graceful figure defying rumors of ugliness.

The younger daughter, Wang Xiahua, stood tall and slender in a green dress, her delicate face still showing a trace of childishness—a budding beauty.

“Chunxiao, I’m sorry you must endure this,” Liu Wenxiang said, her eyes full of pity.

“Mother, every daughter must marry someday. Besides, my intended is a scholar. For someone like me, this is the best fate I could hope for. After all, I am disabled,” Wang Chunxiao replied serenely.

“Mother, if it comes to it, we can gather our valuables and leave Yanggu County. I won’t let my sister fall into a pit of fire,” Wang Xiahua chimed in, holding her sister’s arm.

“Alas, three women alone, unfamiliar with a new place and carrying wealth—wouldn’t we just be prey for local wolves and tigers?” Liu Wenxiang shook her head. “And what if we meet bandits on the road?”

“But mother, don’t we have Zhang Hu, our martial instructor? He’ll protect us.”

“Xiahua, people’s hearts are hard to read. Within Yanggu Zhang Hu is our protector; outside, he could be a bandit himself. We are only truly safe here in Yanggu. Do you understand?”

Wang Chunxiao patted her sister’s head and continued, “Mother, send out the invitations and arrange the banquet quickly. With a man in the household, Uncle’s family won’t press us so hard.”

The Wang household bustled with preparation. Red lanterns and banners adorned the entrance, servants donned festive attire, and firecrackers crackled, alerting the neighbors.

Their business, the Jiangnan Restaurant, closed for the occasion as cooks and staff came to help. Neighbors, hearing of the impending marriage, gossiped:

“The Wang women are truly bold. With a son-in-law, the main branch can’t reclaim their property.”

“Who is this new son-in-law, anyway?”

“I saw some Wang family servants and the matchmaker heading to Scholar Su’s house.”

“Well, it seems the Wang girl has landed a catch—the toad has won the swan!”

“It doesn’t matter; in the dark of the bridal chamber, all faces look the same…”

“Nonsense! The Wang girl is a cripple—she’ll be like a dead fish!”

Laughter erupted. Behind closed doors, Su Yang’s decision to marry into the Wang family was scorned to the core.

The next morning—

Outside Su Yang’s thatched hut, villagers crowded to gawk and hurl insults.

The Wang family arrived with the betrothal gifts. With no male head, Liu Wenxiang steeled herself and came in person. If her daughter could endure such a fate, what was public exposure to her?

“Son-in-law, the Wang family is here. How can you show your face now? Don’t you know the rules?” Zhang Hu, the Wang family’s martial instructor, stepped forward, his bell-like eyes full of hostility, tinged with jealousy and malice. He was about to seize Su Yang and shove him inside.

“Zhang Hu, what are you doing?” Liu Wenxiang stopped him at once. Had he dragged Su Yang inside like a chicken, it would have shamed not only Su Yang but the entire Wang family.

This Zhang Hu seemed ill-intentioned. Su Yang was sure he bore Zhang Hu no grudge—indeed, they had never even met. Yet the man sought to humiliate him publicly. With his frail frame, Su Yang would have had no choice but to submit.

Liu Wenxiang appraised Su Yang. Finding his features handsome and his bearing elegant, she felt a trace of relief. At least he was presentable; her daughter would not suffer too great a loss.

Unfortunately, he was just spineless.