Chapter 1: Reborn as a Good-for-Nothing?

“Did you hear? The Lin family’s live-in son-in-law spent his wedding night at a brothel, calling for five or six girls!”

“No way! He didn’t stay with his wife on his wedding night and went to a brothel instead? The Lin family’s young lady must be hideous!”

“Her looks aren’t the point—the real question is, can he even handle that many on his own?”

“You don’t understand. The elders always say, if you can’t thread the needle, just wet the thread with your mouth!”

“Tch, no need to be jealous. If even you know about it, do you think the Lin family doesn’t? Word is, that rascal got a solid beating last night and was thrown out of the Lin household!”

…

Zhao Kai woke in a daze, his mind utterly blank.

He found himself in a small, foul-smelling room, barely twenty square meters in size. There wasn’t a single appliance in sight; even the heat came from an old-fashioned kang bed-stove. The place was a mess.

“Where… where am I?” Zhao Kai frowned, finally noticing a woman lying on the floor, dressed in a phoenix coronet and red wedding robes, quietly weeping by herself.

He stared in astonishment, only to realize he was wearing the ceremonial robe of a ninth-rank official from ancient times.

If memory served, it was traditional for grooms to wear such attire on their wedding night.

Judging by the woman’s clothes as well…

Cold sweat broke out on Zhao Kai’s forehead.

Could it be… had he been targeted by a female ghost?

Otherwise, how could he have ended up in this place, dressed so bizarrely?

“Miss…” Zhao Kai mustered his courage and gently tapped the woman’s shoulder.

She stopped sobbing and turned her head. “Husband… you’re awake? Did I disturb your sleep?”

Zhao Kai was dumbstruck.

With just a glance, he felt as if his previous life had been lived in vain.

Her delicate brows were gently furrowed, and the bruises and sorrow on her refined face made her extraordinary beauty seem all the more fragile and heart-rending.

This… this is a ghost?

If she were truly a ghost, men everywhere would be lining up to let her drain their energy!

“You called me husb—” Zhao Kai started to ask, but before he could finish, a stabbing pain shot through his head.

A flood of memories that weren’t his own surged into his mind.

Great Wei Kingdom, Jinghong County.

Zhao Kai, twenty-one years old.

Last night, he married Miss Lin Fei’er of the Lin family. Yet, instead of consummating the marriage, he ran off to a brothel and solicited several women.

He was caught by the Lin family, beaten, and expelled from the household.

And Lin Fei’er, having married Zhao Kai, was thrown out as well—following the old belief of "married to the chicken, follow the chicken."

At this thought, Zhao Kai’s brow knitted tightly.

“I… I’ve transmigrated?”

I used to be the CEO of a publicly listed company, earning tens of millions a year!

Damn it, I’ve transmigrated?

And into the body of such a useless man?

“Transmigrated? What do you mean, husband?” Lin Fei’er stepped forward, concern written on her face. “Is your head hurting? Should I fetch a physician?”

“No… it’s nothing.” Zhao Kai looked at Lin Fei’er with a hint of pity. “Are your injuries alright?”

“I… I’m fine.” At his words, Lin Fei’er took two steps back, looking at him with fear.

Zhao Kai was taken aback, then forced a bitter smile.

What an idiot the original man was! To lay a hand on such a virtuous wife!

“I’m the reason you were thrown out of the Lin family. Why do you still stay with me?” Zhao Kai asked.

Lin Fei’er raised her head, answering earnestly, “We’ve already bowed to Heaven and Earth. From now on, I am yours. Wherever you go, I will follow.”

“You…” Zhao Kai pointed at her, half exasperated.

Startled, Lin Fei’er instinctively shielded her head. “Husband… please, don’t hit me again.”

Sigh…

Zhao Kai couldn’t help but sigh.

It takes two hands to clap. Her current state of misery was in part due to her timid nature.

All this talk of being his after bowing to Heaven and Earth—what a joke!

The Lin family used this as an excuse to throw her out, and he’d gone along with it.

But she had no idea! The whole thing was a plot between the original Zhao Kai and the Lin family!

The master and mistress of the Lin household had died in an accident years ago. Only Lin Zhenting, the adopted son, and Lin Fei’er remained.

But the key was, Lin Zhenting was only adopted, and according to the late Lin master’s will, he had no right to inherit the family estate!

So Lin Zhenting schemed to marry off Lin Fei’er, colluded with Zhao Kai to get her expelled, and thus monopolize the inheritance!

Lin Fei’er knew nothing of this.

“I… I’ll go buy you some ointment for your injuries,” Zhao Kai said, turning to leave. “It was wrong of me to hit you before. I… I was drunk.”

He could hardly believe this excuse himself.

But judging by Lin Fei’er’s expression, she believed it.

Such is the tragedy of the times.

Feudal values destroy lives!

In these times, wives always believed in their husbands without question.

Had this happened in his former world, would Lin Zhenting dare throw Lin Fei’er out? Would a husband dare to hit his wife?

What a joke—he’d be lucky if his wife didn’t beat him instead!

Still, Zhao Kai didn’t reveal the truth. One blow after another—if Lin Fei’er learned everything, she might not be able to take it.

From this day forward, Lin Fei’er was his woman!

He would make sure she had a good life!

As Zhao Kai walked out, Lin Fei’er stood there in a daze.

This man… seems different than before.

How could he wake up and suddenly change for the better?

Just as Zhao Kai stepped out, he suddenly doubled back. “Uh… I, I have no money.”

He was nearly driven mad!

The original had colluded with Lin Zhenting, and Lin Zhenting had promised him five hundred taels as a reward, but that scoundrel hadn’t given him a single coin.

He’d searched his pockets when he went out, and didn’t even find half a copper!

When had he, in his previous life, ever been so broke?

A trace of disappointment flashed in Lin Fei’er’s eyes.

So… his kindness just now was all for show, just to ask for money.

Suppressing a heavy sigh, Lin Fei’er took out a small box. “Husband, we have no money left. I brought nothing when I was thrown out, but you can pawn these.”

“It should be worth several hundred taels.”

Zhao Kai was stunned—he could hear the reluctance in her voice.

“What’s in this box?” he asked, frowning.

Lin Fei’er forced a bitter smile. “It was my mother’s keepsake.”

“If it’s a keepsake, how could we sell it?” Zhao Kai shook his head. “Forget it, I’ll find another way.”

“No… these are just objects. We’re husband and wife; we have to prioritize the living,” Lin Fei’er replied earnestly.

“No, I can’t agree to that!” Zhao Kai refused firmly. “I’ve wronged you enough. If I even touch your mother’s things, what kind of man would I be?”

Then he added with a smile, “Don’t worry, where there’s a will, there’s a way. From now on, I’ll work hard—not only will I provide for you, I’ll give you a life even the Su family could envy!”