Xu Huaixian had no idea what was happening outside. He sat by the table, planning to rest for a moment before seeking out Chen Liejiu to clarify things.
Unexpectedly, the door swung open from the outside.
A little girl, barely a meter tall, walked in with two cute buns tied atop her head. She was neatly dressed, with a round face and an air of childish charm.
She carried a bowl of medicine, which she unceremoniously plopped in front of Xu Huaixian. "The medicine from Doctor Sun. It's expensive. Drink it before it gets cold and loses potency."
Xu Huaixian glanced at her. "And you are?"
The girl gave him a strange look, then straightened up with the air of a boss. "I go by no other name—Chen Baozhu, the third of the Chen family."
Quite the little tough act, Xu Huaixian thought, suppressing a cough. He smiled. "Miss Chen the Third, where is your elder brother?"
Miss Chen the Third?!
Chen Baozhu's face instantly flushed red.
No one—no one—had ever addressed her so formally before. It made her feel like a proper young lady.
But she knew she wasn't. Most villagers called her "Chen Sanwa," while the slightly more polite ones referred to her as "Little Sister" or "Youngest Sister."
"I'm no 'Miss Chen the Third,'" she said, her tone softening as she studied Xu Huaixian. "You can call me Chen Xiaomei or Chen Yaomei. My brother went out. He told me to keep an eye on you."
So he's having me watched? Xu Huaixian raised a brow. "Afraid I'll run away?"
Chen Xiaomei gave his emaciated frame a once-over, her expression dripping with disdain. As if you could.
"No," she shook her head. "He's afraid you'll try to kill yourself again."
She couldn't fathom why a grown man would be so desperate to die that he'd make a public spectacle of it. The memory of Xu Huaixian's river plunge made her expression twist with bewilderment.
Xu Huaixian's own face stiffened with embarrassment.
His inherited memories were fragmented, and the suicide attempt had been a rash, impulsive act by the original host. But in a backwater village like Xinghua, where entertainment was scarce, a man throwing himself into a river was undoubtedly front-page news—complete with a "breaking" tag if there had been social media.
Humiliation on a grand scale.
"Alright, alright, it's in the past," Chen Xiaomei said, noticing his discomfort. She quickly changed the subject, pushing the medicine bowl toward him again. "Just drink the medicine. It's really expensive."
She'd seen her brother pay for it—a whole qian of silver per dose! And he'd bought five doses upfront, plus the consultation fee. Nearly seven or eight qian in total!
This wasn't medicine—it was her brother's blood and sweat in liquid form!
Xu Huaixian eyed the murky concoction, its surface dotted with unidentable specks, and suppressed a shudder. It wasn't that he refused to drink it—he just had no idea how clean it was.
But the girl had urged him twice now. Third time's the charm, and he did need to negotiate with her brother…
After a brief internal struggle, he relented. Dirty or not, down the hatch.
He picked up the bowl, closed his eyes, and drained it in one go.
Chen Xiaomei nodded in approval. At least he's obedient.
The bitter sludge hit his stomach like a tidal wave, its acrid tendrils clawing up his throat and searing his skull. He barely managed to press his sleeve to his lips in time to keep from retching.
"Such a delicate flower," Chen Xiaomei teased, sliding the plate of candied fruit toward him. "Here, take this to wash it down."
Fresh from the ordeal of the black brew, Xu Huaixian now faced the dull, dusty-looking candied fruit with equal reluctance.
"Ah—"
Before he could overthink it, Chen Xiaomei popped a piece into his mouth.
He took a tentative bite. Sweet.
"Don't worry, I'm not trying to poison you," she said, watching his tense expression ease into a faint smile. "I'd much rather send you back the moment you're well."
Xu Huaixian chewed slowly. "Why?"
"You're too high-maintenance," she admitted bluntly. "We can't afford you. My brother works too hard for his money!"
Amused, Xu Huaixian prodded, "You know about hard work at your age?"
"Of course!" She puffed out her chest, counting on stubby fingers. "Spring planting, autumn harvest, escorting caravans, debt collecting—my brother barely makes ten taels a year!"
And keeping you could cost that much in a month—maybe more!
Doctor Sun had said he needed ginseng and bird's nest—luxuries beyond their means!
"Well, I am quite the luxury," Xu Huaixian mused, missing her subtext. The Xu family had pawned him off for ten taels, while Chen Liejiu—the village's "wealthy" man—earned less than that annually.
I'm worth more than I thought. The realization was oddly satisfying.
He chuckled, then gave her a reassurance. "And you can rest easy—I won't try to die again, and I won't cling to your family. Once your brother returns, I'll settle things with him and leave on my own."
Chen Xiaomei's eyes lit up. "Really? Really? Really?!"
"Really," Xu Huaixian nodded. "A gentleman's word is unbreakable."
She didn't understand the proverb, but she trusted him.
So the moment her brother returned, she bounded over. "Big Brother! Big Brother! That Xu guy says he needs to talk to you!"
Chen Liejiu, who had just stepped through the gate with a cloth pouch in hand, frowned. "What does he want?"
Last he checked, the man had been suicidal and desperate to avoid him.
Chen Xiaomei averted her eyes. "Dunno."
Unnoticed, Chen Liejiu shrugged—he had business with Xu Huaixian anyway. He headed straight for the sickroom, pouch in hand.
Inside, Xu Huaixian had waited long enough.
Though frail, he wasn't bedridden. In this era devoid of phones or TV, idle waiting was torture.
He wasn't worried about finding Chen Liejiu. Words like domineering, bully, and ruffian painted a clear image—a Water Margin-style Lu Zhishen figure, standing out among the village's meek farmers. Plus, he could always ask for directions.
Just as he rose, the door swung open.
A man strode in—tall, lean, and effortlessly striking. His high ponytail swayed with each step, and his crimson mamian skirt accentuated his lithe frame.
But it was his face that stole Xu Huaixian's breath.
Pale skin, sharp features, and a striking vermilion mark between his brows—the telltale sign of a ger. His eyes, bright and lively, gleamed like polished jade under the red fabric's glow.
Xu Huaixian's pulse quickened.
In the modern world, he'd seen countless handsome men. But this kind of untamed, unapologetic beauty was rare. The drab room suddenly felt three shades brighter.
Chen Liejiu tossed the cloth pouch onto the table with a metallic clink.
Xu Huaixian snapped out of his daze. "You are…?"
Chen Liejiu arched a brow. "I go by no other name—Chen Liejiu."
Xu Huaixian's smile froze.
…Definitely siblings. Even their introductions are identical.
Why hadn't the original host's memories included Chen Liejiu's appearance? He'd been picturing a Lu Zhishen lookalike all this time! Now, faced with this radiant beauty, he felt like a fool.
Had I known my "wife" was this stunning, I'd never have refused.
Imagine—a young, gorgeous, wealthy woman forcing you to be her husband. Who in their right mind would say no?
"Why are you staring?" Chen Liejiu rubbed his face, thinking something had stuck to it.
Xu Huaixian averted his gaze. "Nothing."
Composure. You've seen plenty of beauties. Don't act like a starstruck bumpkin.
"Alright." Chen Liejiu shrugged and poured tea for them both. "My sister said you wanted to talk?"
"Yes." Xu Huaixian gathered his thoughts. "Jumping into the river was a moment of madness. I've come to my senses now."
He sat across from Chen Liejiu. "I assume you didn't actually kidnap me to be your husband—you just wanted to scare my uncle's family. So, when can I go home?"
"You can't." Chen Liejiu slid a teacup toward him. "I just came from your place. Your uncle's family has taken over your house."
Xu Huaixian's hand paused mid-reach.
Chen Liejiu studied his reaction before continuing. "They said a married man is like spilled water—you belong to me in life and death now."
In other words: Stay put. Don't even think about going back.
Xu Huaixian nearly facepalmed.
The uncle's excuse for pawning him off had been a ten-tael "debt" from his parents' funeral—conveniently matching what they owed Chen Liejiu. Father's debts, son's burden.
He'd planned to negotiate terms for his release. But now, his own home was gone.
"I didn't kidnap you to be my husband," Chen Liejiu admitted. "That day was just… a misunderstanding."
Seeing Xu Huaixian's calm demeanor, he explained:
The Xu family had owed him ten taels for three years. No matter how many times he'd extended the deadline, they'd always pleaded poverty.
That day, spotting a scholar (Xu Huaixian) leaving the Xu household, he'd assumed he was one of them. In a fit of rage, he'd had Xu Huaixian seized, threatening to take him as a husband unless the debt was repaid.
Scholars are prized. Surely they'd pay to keep theirs.
Instead, Xu Huaixian's cousin had said, "Take him. Consider the debt his dowry."
Only after Xu Huaixian's suicide attempt did Chen Liejiu realize his mistake:
The Xu family had split years ago. The uncle had forced the original host's parents out, resentful of the sickly child's expenses.
Now, with the parents dead, the uncle had not only seized their property—he'd sold Xu Huaixian to settle his own debt.
Xu Huaixian massaged his temples. No wonder the original host lost hope.
"My fault," Chen Liejiu said bluntly. "I own that."
But the damage was done. Even if he released Xu Huaixian now, the man's reputation was ruined. And with no home to return to…
"Here's the deal." Chen Liejiu pushed the cloth pouch forward. "This is everything I have. Marry me. My home becomes yours. My earnings are yours. You call the shots. No interference."
"Or," he added, "if you refuse, I'll compensate you and send you back."
After that, you're on your own.
He could help Xu Huaixian reclaim his property—but as an outsider, he had no standing to meddle in family affairs.
As for the marriage offer?
One, it salvaged Xu Huaixian's reputation. As long as he remained Chen Liejiu's husband, the blame would stay on the uncle. Refusing would paint Xu Huaixian as the heartless one.
Two, Chen Liejiu's heat cycle was approaching. If he didn't find a man soon, he'd have to take drastic measures.
He wasn't fussy—but with a ready-made candidate (fatherless, homeless, and willing to be a live-in husband), why look further?
Xu Huaixian stared at the pouch of silver and coins.
…Was that a proposal?
On one side: a stunning spouse and financial security.
On the other: a bitter struggle to reclaim his stolen home.
The choice was obvious.