Chapter 1. Transmigrating into a Novel

“Forty-five taels is already the highest price. Cheng Songer, just say whether you’re selling this man or not!”

The sharp, grating voice of a middle-aged man rang in her ears, making Cheng Songer’s ears almost buzz.

She stiffly looked around. In front of her was an ancient-style embroidery building, with purple and pink curtains tied to the railings, swaying in the wind. Amidst the strong, choking scent of powder, she slowly raised her head and saw three characters written boldly on the building’s sign—

Yihong Building

Cheng Songer was stunned.

“I’m asking you a question! Why have you gone mute?!” The aging madam with a shrewd face poked her arm with her bright red-painted fingernails.

Cheng Songer shuddered and took half a step back. Her somewhat frozen brain began to work slightly.

She started to realize that she had transmigrated, and the original body she had transmigrated into was also called Cheng Songer.

“How about this, considering the man you’re selling is quite handsome, I’ll add five more taels of silver. Fifty taels, and not a bit more! Even our Yihong Building’s top courtesan only cost thirty taels when we bought her. You’re already in great luck!” The madam waved the pink handkerchief in her hand, her wrinkled eyes fixed intently on Cheng Qingzhi standing beside her.

She never expected that Cheng Songer, that good-for-nothing loafer, would have such a handsome and delicate man at home!

This was truly a rare find!

His fair face was like pure white silk just pulled from water, probably so delicate that even a light touch could leave a mark. A pair of clear, phoenix eyes with thick, distinct eyelashes, and especially a small teardrop mole at the outer corner of his eye, giving him a slightly coquettish air.

If it were just pure coquetry, that would be fine, but he had such an innocent face. The stark contrast made Cheng Qingzhi like a half-ripe cherry, exuding an alluring fragrance that attracted countless butterflies and bees. One bite would yield a mix of tartness and sweetness, with juices flowing.

The madam was overjoyed. For such a rare specimen, his first night could probably fetch a hundred taels of silver!

It’s just a pity that he’s a bit too thin, like a frail bamboo swaying in the desolate autumn wind. A little force could probably break him in two. He clearly looked like he had been chronically abused and mistreated.

At this moment, Cheng Qingzhi was standing next to Cheng Songer with downcast eyes.

Knowing he was about to be sold, his expression was sorrowful and desperate. Even the teardrop mole at the corner of his eye seemed to dim along with his dying heart.

The madam smiled. How many men being sold were truly willing?

After a few days of training, no matter how chaste and righteous he might be, he would have to obediently receive guests.

Seeing that Cheng Songer wasn’t speaking, the madam directly stuffed the fifty taels of silver into Cheng Songer’s hand.

Cheng Songer dumbly weighed the hefty sum in her hand.

She finally realized that she had unfortunately transmigrated into a novel.

Last night, she was lying in her dorm bed, idly flipping through a female-dominant novel to pass the time. Because the name of the female cannon fodder who harassed the male lead in the book was the same as hers, it left a deep impression on her.

As everyone knows, when you come across a protagonist or supporting character in a novel with the same name as you, you have to read and recite the entire text.

The original novel only briefly mentioned Cheng Songer in a few sentences.

First: Cheng Songer’s family used to be wealthy, but unfortunately, after her mother’s death, her stepfather and his mistress ran off with all the money, leaving behind Cheng Qingzhi, a stepbrother with no blood relation, who they didn’t have time to take along.

Second: After her stepfather ran off with the money, Cheng Songer gave up on life, idling away her days in the county town, either gambling or visiting brothels. She even directed her hatred for her stepfather towards Cheng Qingzhi, either beating or scolding him, and later even sold him for money.

After Cheng Qingzhi entered the brothel, he committed suicide that very night.

The original Cheng Songer then wandered around the town with the fifty taels of silver from selling him. A few days later, she encountered the male lead, harassed him, and was promptly dealt with by the female lead who arrived on the scene.

Ah— Cheng Songer’s emotions were complex for a moment.

“Fifty taels it is then.” The madam’s face bloomed with joy as she tugged at the deathly pale Cheng Qingzhi, heading towards the brothel.

“Ah, wait—” Seeing that Cheng Qingzhi was about to enter the den of vice, Cheng Songer, without time to feel sad, grabbed his wrist and blocked the madam’s path: “Who said I agreed?”

Cheng Songer was a notorious ruffian in Chengyang County town, involved in fighting, causing trouble, eating, drinking, whoring, and gambling. Moreover, she had never lost a fight.

As she showed a bit of her imposing manner, the madam didn’t dare to force the issue.

She pointed at the heavy money pouch in Cheng Songer’s hand and said in a sarcastic tone: “You’ve taken the money, but won’t sell the person? Cheng Songer, are you trying to get something for nothing?”

Cheng Songer looked at Cheng Qingzhi. He remained silent throughout, his eyes so dim they couldn’t find a trace of light. Though he was a living person, at this moment he seemed like a lifeless object, devoid of any vitality.

Cheng Songer had never made any life-or-death decisions in her life, but she knew that if she let Cheng Qingzhi enter the brothel now, he would die that night, unable to bear the humiliation. After death, his body would be carelessly wrapped in a mat and thrown into a mass grave, utterly desolate.

She directly stuffed the money pouch back into the madam’s hand: “Who said I accepted your money? Take it back, I’m not selling him!”

“You—” The madam was extremely surprised. Even Cheng Qingzhi, with his sorrowful expression, raised his head to look at her, his eyes flickering a few times.

“Cheng Songer, think carefully. These fifty taels of silver are enough for you to squander until next year. You’re so poor now you can barely make ends meet, with only two copper coins in your pocket. Even if you don’t sell your brother, can you and he survive this winter? I’m afraid you’ll both starve to death!” The madam waved her handkerchief mockingly.

Cheng Songer hated it most when people spoke sarcastically. She glared at the madam, forcefully pulled the frail Cheng Qingzhi to her side, and said coldly: “Our business is none of your concern. Brother, let’s go home!”

With that, she pulled Cheng Qingzhi’s hand and left without looking back.

The madam clutched her handkerchief tightly, gnashing her teeth as she watched Cheng Songer’s departing figure: “Such a good catch slipped away just like that, pah— Cheng Songer, I’d like to see how long an incompetent little hooligan like you can hold out!”

−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−

Cheng Songer held Cheng Qingzhi’s hand and walked on and on.

She had transmigrated into Cheng Songer’s body and naturally had the original’s memories. Their home wasn’t in Chengyang County town, but in Cheng Family Village, over ten miles away.

Once upon a time, Cheng Songer’s family was a well-known wealthy farmer in the village. After her stepfather ran off with the money, selling the fields, fish ponds, and even the newly bought shop in town, only a dilapidated old house remained.

Having transmigrated inexplicably, although Cheng Songer considered herself unlucky, she was also slightly relieved.

Both she and Cheng Qingzhi were small and ordinary characters in the original novel, without any scheming plots or complex relationships. As long as they lived carefully and avoided the male and female leads, they could live a peaceful life.

Just as Cheng Songer was thinking this, she suddenly felt the hand of the person behind her sink.

She turned around to see Cheng Qingzhi fallen on the ground.

Only then did she realize that she was now in a female-dominant world, where women’s physical strength far exceeded men’s, and even their stride was larger than men’s. Cheng Qingzhi had difficulty keeping up, and in a moment of carelessness, he had tripped.

“Are you alright?” Cheng Songer crouched down and asked with concern.

“…I’m fine.” Cheng Qingzhi slowly shook his head, his black hair slipping from his shoulders.

This was the first time Cheng Songer had heard Cheng Qingzhi speak. His voice sounded cold at first, but in reality, it hid his fear of her.

Cheng Songer moved closer. The warm setting sun cast a soft golden light on both of them.

Earlier, her attention had been focused on the madam. This was the first time she carefully observed Cheng Qingzhi. He was extremely handsome, definitely considered a young heartthrob in modern times. But upon closer inspection, there were faint fingerprints on his fair cheeks.

Cheng Songer’s gaze became complex as she looked downward.

A clear and vivid purple-red mark was visible on the exposed neck within his collar, as if someone had viciously strangled him with a rope.

Further down, his wrists were covered with marks from being whipped with thorny branches.

It could be said that every part of Cheng Qingzhi’s body, except for his face which was slightly better, had been severely tortured.

Cheng Songer’s eyes flickered. She had inherited everything from the original, naturally including the memories of abusing Cheng Qingzhi.

It was truly… unbearable to witness.

Not only did the original frequently beat and scold Cheng Qingzhi, but she was also skilled in mental control.

She was proficient in psychological manipulation techniques, constantly using the excuse of his father owing their family to control Cheng Qingzhi, making him endure inhuman torture. Even if he wanted to die, he had to do so with the original’s permission, selling himself for a good price before dying.

This was why Cheng Qingzhi endured endless torture without running away or seeking death.

Sigh—

Since she had already possessed the original’s body, Cheng Songer wanted to be kinder to this tortured young man.

“Did you twist your ankle?” she asked gently.

Cheng Qingzhi kept his head down the whole time, not daring to look at her. Cheng Songer’s attempt at a gentle voice only made him more fearful.

Cheng Songer sighed and reached for his ankle: “Let me take a look.”

Cheng Qingzhi’s phoenix eyes suddenly widened, filled with fear.

How could a man’s foot be casually examined by a woman?

Despite his fear, Cheng Qingzhi didn’t dare to pull his foot back, afraid of facing more abuse from the unpredictable Cheng Songer.

He watched helplessly as Cheng Songer grasped his ankle. As intense pain shot through him, Cheng Qingzhi’s eyes trembled, and he tightly closed them, bracing for the impending humiliation as tears rolled down his cheeks.

“You’re… bleeding. Why didn’t you say anything?” Cheng Songer lifted his clothes to find that his shoes had been worn through at some point. He had endured the ten-mile bumpy mountain road without a word, his feet raw and bloody, with blood seeping through his socks, flesh and blood stuck together.

“Look, your feet are all torn up.” There was a hint of reproach in her tone as she looked at Cheng Qingzhi.

But she saw Cheng Qingzhi’s lips trembling, his face pale and bloodless, tears streaming down the corners of his eyes.

Cheng Songer panicked. Why was he crying? Why was he crying?

She hadn’t done anything, had she?

Although her mind was full of questions, she knew men still needed comforting.

She carefully wiped the tears from the corners of his eyes with her sleeve, feeling somewhat at a loss: “Don’t cry. Was I too harsh just now? I’m sorry.”

Cheng Qingzhi’s eyelashes fluttered, a trace of confusion passing through his tear-filled eyes. Cheng Songer had never spoken to him in such a gentle tone before.

She had always despised him, disgusted by him, torturing him with the cruelest methods. Even her words were like blood-stained knives, wishing he would die immediately.

Let alone apologizing.

Cheng Songer would never apologize to him. She had once said that his very existence was a sin, that he should be like his father, the lowest and most despicable male prostitute in the gutter brothels, to repay his father’s debt to the Cheng family.

That’s why she had brought him to Yihong Building today.

Although he didn’t understand why Cheng Songer suddenly had a change of heart, he knew in his heart that whether in the brothel or in the Cheng family, there was no place for him in this world.

He had long wanted to die.

He had hidden a sharp razor blade in his sleeve, waiting only for Cheng Songer to sell him for silver, to clear the debt his father owed to the Cheng family, and then he would take his own life.

At this moment, Cheng Songer didn’t understand what Cheng Qingzhi was thinking. She felt that since she now occupied the original body, it would be better to lay some things out in the open.

She helped Cheng Qingzhi sit on a nearby large rock, half-crouching in front of him, looking up at his downcast, dim eyes.

“Brother, I know I’ve done many terrible things before, but after today’s events, I’ve decided to turn over a new leaf and start anew. I will definitely treat you well… Can we live a good life together from now on?”

Cheng Qingzhi was suddenly stunned, staring at her blankly.

Cheng Songer smiled slightly: “Why are you staring blankly? I’m asking you a question, is it okay?”

Cheng Qingzhi’s eyes flickered, words rolling difficultly in his throat, his voice thin and weak: “Okay.”

Little did she know how much helplessness and despair was contained in that ‘okay’.

Cheng Songer would never truly reform.

She would only find new ways to torture and humiliate him. This so-called reformation was probably just another new trick to toy with him for her amusement.

“That’s good, let’s go home then. I’ll carry you on my back.” At this moment, Cheng Songer still naively believed that Cheng Qingzhi trusted her.

She turned her back to him: “Get on.”

A slight surprise flashed in Cheng Qingzhi’s eyes. Even when Cheng Songer had pretended to be kind to him before, her tone had never been this good, let alone offering to carry him.

She had once made him kneel in a snow-filled courtyard wearing only thin clothes on a deep winter night, for an entire night. His legs had nearly been ruined.

Even that didn’t satisfy her. His frostbitten legs were red, swollen, and filled with pus. She found a thorn-covered branch from somewhere and viciously whipped his chilblained legs until the pus flowed out before she was satisfied.

That pain, as if his bones were being picked clean, still made him shudder when he thought about it.

He looked at the desolate scenery around him. Wild geese were flying south, winter was coming again. How would she torture him this time?

Seeing that Cheng Qingzhi hadn’t moved for a long time, Cheng Songer said, “Hurry up, the sun is about to set.”

The voice pulled Cheng Qingzhi back from his painful memories. Seeing her still holding his worn-out shoes, his heart suddenly clenched, and he carefully climbed onto her back.

Cheng Qingzhi was very thin and light, like a withered leaf. She could easily carry him, feeling that even if she walked another ten miles, she wouldn’t be tired.

She walked briskly towards Cheng Family Village, unaware that at this moment, Cheng Qingzhi on her back was so nervous that his palms were covered in sweat.

He was too afraid, afraid of any physical contact with the original body. Even a touch would trigger painful memories.

“Your shoes are too worn out. Tomorrow I’ll go to town to do some odd jobs. If I can earn some money, I’ll buy you a new pair of shoes. What style do you like?” Cheng Songer suddenly said as she carried Cheng Qingzhi.

The voice, light and almost floating, made Cheng Qingzhi’s body tremble.

Too gentle, too good. How could she suddenly become so kind? So good it didn’t even seem pretended.

After a brief moment of distraction, Cheng Qingzhi’s mind was in chaos.

…Her sudden kindness could only mean one thing: she was planning to torture him in even more cruel ways.

Cheng Qingzhi became so scared that his breathing unconsciously quickened.

Cheng Songer didn’t notice at all, and even shook him: “I’m asking you a question?”

“Any style is fine,” Cheng Qingzhi said hurriedly.

Cheng Songer smiled: “That’s true, we don’t have money now, so we can only make do with what we can get. When I earn more money in the future, I’ll definitely buy you the best.”

“…Mm.” Cheng Qingzhi clenched his fists tightly, his knuckles turning white.

The setting sun shone on the two people, each with their own thoughts, as their shadows grew longer and longer.