Chapter 02: The Su Family's Live-in Son-in-law

He woke up groggily and saw white mosquito netting, his head throbbing faintly. Not knowing what kind of environment he was in, he closed his eyes and thought for a long time before sighing softly.

Not dead.

So, was he being held under house arrest now?

He lifted the covers and sat up, probably unable to coordinate well with his body from being unconscious too long. Looking down, the style of clothing was bizarre, the fabric quality poor—and only when he stood on the room's floor did he discover more things that didn't coordinate.

Old-style house, old-style bed, tables and chairs—though the materials and craftsmanship were good, the entire room had antique furnishings. There were also nice-looking porcelain pieces, but any modern electronic devices were gone. What are you playing at, Tang Mingyuan? Thinking of that guy with glasses, he cursed internally, then...

This hand had changed too, his own hand... didn't look like his own.

He looked at both pale hands, then after a moment sat down at the table and chairs and undid his clothes. This body had no bullet holes—what kind of joke was this? He clearly remembered so many bullets shooting at him, from front and back. Had he undergone plastic surgery? No, this body wasn't even his. All the characteristics showed this sign, especially after he looked in the bronze mirror and saw that reflection, he could confirm this point even more.

What are you doing, Tang Mingyuan? He'd once been one of the world's most economically powerful people—to build from nothing to that level, naturally he wouldn't be defeated by small doubts. With modern technology's support, any possibility probably existed. Changed his body, large-scale thorough plastic surgery? What was the necessity? What was the purpose? To make him admit he was another person, then stop competing with him? That guy had always been indecisive. Doing something like this to save his own life wasn't impossible, but why arrange such a room?

His head was wrapped in bandages, still faintly painful as he pushed open the door. Bright sunlight shot in, making him instinctively raise his hand to shield himself—this was the second floor of a wooden building. Looking out from the doorway, below and far away were only courtyards and gardens arranged in rows, distributed buildings, Suzhou-Hangzhou style garden architecture, ponds and rocks, magnificently extending before his eyes.

No tall buildings, no visible modern features.

He took a breath, then exhaled—big production, Tang Mingyuan. How much money did you spend on this? He looked around a few times and turned to walk to one side when immediately a voice rang out: "Young Master, you..." Oh, extras.

His mood wasn't good right now, and he had no interest in entangling with these people. When that pretty girl walked over, he glanced at her and directly pointed with his finger. As the former ruler who single-handedly built that massive financial empire, once he truly showed that presence, just one look, one gesture made this maid-dressed woman immediately shiver and stand in place, stammering: "Young Master, you're awake..."

He walked past this maid, then after a few steps turned back and somewhat wearily picked up what seemed to be a robe for him from the maid's hands. After unfolding it, somewhat frustrated: "How do you wear this?" Thinking the maid seemed to speak a Jiangsu-Zhejiang dialect, he switched to dialect: "How do you wear this?"

"Y-Young Master, I'll help you..." The maid hurriedly began helping him put on the robe, her eyes looking at him doubtfully. Tsk, good acting... While dressing him, the maid also shouted downward: "Young Master is awake, Young Master is awake..." So more people began coming from various courtyards.

Wearing the robe, he separated from the maids and servants who came over, crossed the courtyard, and walked outside without looking back.

In the end... he was still stopped and brought back...

Ten days later, he sat in the corridor watching fireworks in the sky outside and sighed.

He did go out later, but the huge city had no trace of modernization. Any building, any person, the mountains and lakes outside all told him this was ancient times—it couldn't not be. Even if he exhausted his entire financial empire's power, he couldn't create such a seamless world. But with so many actors, it was impossible to be this perfect. This wasn't the Truman Show, and he wasn't Truman, confined in a studio since birth.

He roughly understood his current identity too. He was called Ning Yi, courtesy name Liheng¹, currently a live-in son-in-law² of the wealthy Su family in Jiangning³. This identity was somewhat disgraceful, but since he was one, there was no choice. And even as a live-in son-in-law, the situation these past few days looked quite complicated.

The Su family was one of Jiangning's famous wealthy merchants. The first branch⁴ head Su Boyong who currently controlled the Su family had no sons, only one daughter named Su Tan'er. He hadn't seen this wife of his yet—supposedly on their wedding day the Su family had a batch of fabric with problems, and Su Tan'er ran off to solve it. Simply put, it showed her disapproval of this marriage—she'd fled the wedding.

As for himself, that is Ning Yi, supposedly his grandfather's generation had a strong relationship with the current Su family patriarch. They agreed to an arranged marriage⁵, but who knew they'd all have sons, so the arranged marriage agreement passed down—but Ning Yi's family fell due to misfortune. By Ning Yi's time, both parents were dead. Though he'd read some books and was technically a scholar, his actual learning probably wasn't much. He was just honest, chosen by Old Master Su as a live-in son-in-law. Whether the original Ning Yi was willing or forced, he couldn't trace now. But it seemed many people were unwilling about his marrying in. On the wedding day, the bride ran off, though the wedding was required to continue anyway—then supposedly a wealthy young master also interested in Su Tan'er secretly hit him with a brick, making him unconscious for several days before waking.

These past few days he'd pretended to be confused from the brick hit and met many Su family members, seeing Old Master Su once too. The situation was complex, but to him, he saw through it at a glance. Old Master Su's health was good and he was the Su family's true power holder—they say the third generation watches eating, fourth watches wearing, fifth watches writing. Now the Su family with Su Tan'er and her brothers counted as wealthy to the fifth generation, but the situation was clearly mixed. The most capable with the most business talent was instead the daughter Su Tan'er.

If those first and second brothers were more capable, if Su Tan'er wasn't the first branch's daughter, if Su Tan'er had no business talent or interest, perhaps everything would be different. But now, Old Master Su clearly cultivated Su Tan'er as his successor. The reason for choosing a live-in son-in-law like himself might have some past generation friendship involved, but mainly, he probably saw the previous Ning Yi was honest enough, easily suppressed by others.

Because of this, his status as live-in son-in-law naturally displeased the other branches. These people had previously been keen on introducing matches for Su Tan'er, only hoping some wealthy young master would marry her away, making her water thrown out with no threat to this family. Who knew Old Master Su would grab an arranged marriage agreement and forcibly find a live-in son-in-law. He naturally became a thorn in others' eyes. Whether that night's brick was done by others was hard to say.

He thought of his previous life's matters.

Business secret wars, scheming and plotting—his whole life seemed spent on these things, until building a huge commercial empire, yet still guarding against internal strife. But in the end his own brother still set him up and killed him, and now seeing these matters again, he couldn't help finding it laughable. He really didn't want to touch these things again, especially such petty squabbles...

After clarifying what needed clarifying, save some money and leave, he thought. Though currently he had no concept of being a live-in son-in-law and didn't care about such titles, being constantly watched seemed somewhat annoying.

As for this world, he still couldn't quite figure it out.

Jiangning—the Song Dynasty called Nanjing this name, but this wasn't the Song Dynasty. What puzzled him most these days was the history problem. The history books' records of history seemed to always have discrepancies from the future world. The current dynasty was called Wu, with its capital at Lin'an⁶ like the Southern Song. Some historical details seemed to change around the Sui Dynasty, with major discrepancies by the Tang Dynasty. After the Tang Dynasty's warlord chaos, a pattern similar to the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms, then Wu. There were more famous people and transmitted poems, but also fewer. Like Li Bai, who wrote good poems and was called the Poetry Immortal, but died young in Chang'an during a sword competition. Du Fu became an official, but was beheaded by the emperor for bungling things due to being too pedantic—he'd found this with difficulty, just a small note in the history books.

What kind of thing was this? Quantum mechanics? Multiple universes?

Thinking this way, he couldn't help finding it miraculous.

The Wu Dynasty was similar to the Song Dynasty, quite prosperous, but might also be conquered by minorities like the Song Dynasty. Familiar history was completely chaotic. He was too lazy to think about these things. Now he needed to restrain everything, become familiar with the world then bolt from this big family, then... do some small business, travel around. More matters, deal with them when encountered.

While thinking these things, noisy sounds rose from the outside courtyard. Today was originally a festival and he'd just come from the front not long ago—now something must have happened again. After a while, that maid Xiao Chan he'd first seen after rebirth ran up, her round face red: "Young Master, Young Master, Young Miss has returned, Young Miss has returned."

His wife would return eventually, something he'd thought of early. She couldn't really flee the marriage and never return home just because her husband married in—this ten days to half month blank period was probably her warning to make him see the situation clearly. This young miss had a strong personality, and he had nothing to complain about. Xiao Chan came to call him, then pulled him down to the path from front courtyard to back courtyard, where he saw a group of people walking over from afar. The leading woman's figure in a red cloak was especially eye-catching in the crowd—that must be her.

Currently surrounding the woman were several brothers from the second and third branches, also Su family maids and managers. The leading woman had a tall, graceful figure, oval face, black hair tied with a ribbon hanging straight to her waist. Smiling and talking with people while handing her bright red cloak to a servant beside her. Walking closer and seeing Ning Yi and Xiao Chan, she first showed a flash of scrutiny, then curtsied slightly: "Husband."

This might or might not be their first meeting, but Su Tan'er's expression was completely natural, as if her leaving on the wedding day never happened. Like an old married couple of many years, she walked over and naturally took Ning Yi's arm, then smiled and turned to the others: "Second Brother, that white tiger skin you always wanted, Tan'er found it for you this time. You can't blame me anymore..."

One by one, Ning Yi watched with interest as the woman beside him spoke with these people, handling everything perfectly. Almost in casual words she made perfect hints, giving them all things to do. Only then did she turn to Ning Yi with a harmonious expression: "Husband, let's go back." Taking three maids, she walked with Ning Yi toward their original courtyard.

This woman was beautiful, completely the air of a gentle Jiangnan woman. Her earlier actions, though internally strong, perfectly blended this scroll-like, eyebrow-like air into her speech and actions. From a purely objective and professional angle, Ning Yi couldn't help but appreciate it somewhat. But when this attitude targeted him, he found it somewhat amusing.

Along the way were several seemingly intimate but actually distant greetings. Ning Yi naturally answered faintly as they returned to the courtyard, and when no outsiders were watching, Su Tan'er naturally let go: "Husband's injuries haven't healed. Rest well these days. If you need anything, just tell Chan'er..."

This courtyard had two small buildings total. The second floor opposite still had red happiness characters posted—the bridal chamber was probably Su Tan'er's original boudoir. Ning Yi had been living in the other building since waking, never going over there. At this moment after Su Tan'er finished speaking, she curtsied again, taking her maids back to her own room. Ning Yi also smiled and waved, as farewell. He understood in his heart—if he lived here in the future, this would probably be the arrangement for a long time.

Pretty good. I won't touch you, don't bother me either—if he could always be leisurely and not get involved in this family's scheming matters, it didn't matter whether he left or not. Ancient life, quite leisurely.

On the other side, Su Tan'er returned to her boudoir.

This was a room that couldn't be called particularly unconventional. At least relative to its owner's conduct and personality, this was a young lady's chamber normal from any angle. Red and green decorations, various small ornaments. Except for less needlework and more books—but these things were probably within normal range too.

The eighteen-year-old newlywed girl stood by the window for a while, undoing the hair ribbons binding her hair. She watched the man sitting watching fireworks on the opposite building for a while, sighed slightly, then closed the window: "Xing'er, come in. Juan'er, go have Chan'er come over."

After a while, when Chan'er entered the room, Xing'er was busily arranging small objects that had been moved to decorate as a bridal chamber according to Young Miss's instructions. Su Tan'er was wiping her face with a towel. When she moved the towel away, Xiao Chan quickly walked over, took the towel and put it back in the basin: "Young Miss."

"How has Young Master been these days?"

"Mm, Young Master's injury healed, but he seems very unfamiliar with many things. The doctor said it might be because of the head injury, he forgot some things."

"Forgot things?"

"Mm, the doctor said so." Xiao Chan nodded. "Young Master has been walking around these days too, and Xiao Chan had people follow him. I heard he doesn't go find anyone, just walks around looking everywhere in and outside the city, like... he really forgot many things."

"Let him be. Anything else?"

"Young Master runs these days."

"Runs?"

"Mm, he goes out before dawn, slowly running by the Qinhuai River⁷, says it's exercise. Also, in his room, he does strange things..." Xiao Chan pushed her hands forward and back, her little face full of confusion. "Lying on the ground, pushing himself up like this, also says it's exercise. This servant finds it very strange."

Imagining this action, the three master and servants in the room all had question marks on their faces. Then Su Tan'er shook her head: "Exercise... let him be. Anything else?"

"Nothing else. Young Master also met with Old Master, Master, First Young Master, Second Young Master these days, all very amiable... mm, Young Master is amiable to everyone, except... oh right..."

"What?"

"Chan'er doesn't know if it's an illusion. The day Young Master just woke up, when he walked out of the room, his eyes were so scary... no, not scary, just very... very..." The little maid looked up thinking of descriptive words. "Very dignified, about the same as Old Master... seems different too, but he just looked once, and Chan'er didn't even dare move. Maybe... maybe Chan'er saw wrong..."

The little girl's voice got smaller and smaller until Su Tan'er thought about it and laughed. When Grandfather said he wanted Ning Yi to marry in, she'd actually gone to see this person and even sent people to investigate. Grandfather chose him, firstly because of the previous generation's marriage arrangement, secondly because this person's personality really wasn't strong, she could easily suppress him. His family was penniless, and though called a scholar, he hadn't read much—didn't even have the general scholar's aloof air. What dignity could he have—probably an illusion. He was beaten, just got up, and his appearance scared Xiao Chan—but...

Recalling their meeting just now and the few exchanges, it seemed somewhat different from that person she'd seen before. When she came to take his arm and talk to him, she thought he'd be flustered and embarrassed for a while. Who knew he just came along calmly all the way.

"That's good too. He probably understands in his heart. This is fine—Grandfather already agreed, I can be like this... let it be like this." She sighed. "But you several must be respectful to Young Master. About me and Young Master, you're not allowed to gossip outside. No matter what, as long as he doesn't do anything damaging to the Su family, he's my husband, understand?"

Sometimes you imagine the future as infinitely beautiful, but in the end, you still have to accept fate. Especially women, particularly so. She was already much better than ordinary women. In this matter, temporarily just...

Accept fate...

(End of Chapter)

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1. Courtesy name: An additional formal name given to men at adulthood in traditional Chinese culture ↑
2. Live-in son-in-law: A man who marries into his wife's family and lives with them, often considered lower status ↑
3. Jiangning: Historical name for Nanjing ↑
4. First branch: In wealthy Chinese families, different branches descended from the patriarch managed separate parts of family business ↑
5. Arranged marriage: Here specifically a betrothal arranged before the children were born ↑
6. Lin'an: Historical name for Hangzhou, capital of the Southern Song Dynasty ↑
7. Qinhuai River: Famous river in Nanjing known for its entertainment district with painted boats and pleasure quarters ↑