Chapter One: Father

Since your brother sent you here, you have devoted yourself day and night for the past half month, serving with utmost sincerity! The elder sister noticed that Jinbao's face had regained some color, yet she still did not relent, "However, since we share the same surname and are of the same clan, it is inappropriate for me to accept you as a servant based solely on a few words from your brother and a death contract! Moreover, if it were not for the fact that I revealed my wealth when giving your brother the gift money, how would I have invited this unwarranted disaster?"

Jinbao's face turned completely pale. He suddenly knelt down with a thud, his voice trembling with tears as he said: "Father, please let me stay. If I go back, there will truly be no way for me to live! I can start a fire, boil water, chop wood, clean, serve tea... I can do the work of several people by myself! When my brother sent me here, he said that selling me would mean one less burden at home; otherwise, he would break my arms and legs and sell me to outsiders who specifically collect children to beg. Father, I beg you, please let me stay!"

Wang Fulian let out a big sigh of relief, but his mind was completely confused. Wasn't he calling himself 'father' all the time? How did it turn into being a servant?

Jinbao is still young, having just desperately cried out for shelter, and at this moment, the traces of tears on his face have not yet dried. In response to this question, his face turned bright red, and after a long pause, he finally spoke in a low voice: "My brother and I were not born of the same mother"

Although he did not speak, his elder sister, sitting on the edge of the bed, noticed his gaze. Following his line of sight, her delicate face suddenly turned pale, and she called out, "Jinbao, come here!"

Dear younger brother, you have entered school this time, and you had to accept the invitation from your classmates. But why did you first send the tenant back and then flaunt your wealth in front of others? In the end, you hired two ruffian bearers, which resulted in this injury! Father is away on business and is ill, and Mother is worried that you might be delayed by the examination, so she hurried over. With the two elders absent, I have married, and it is not easy to return. The younger sisters are still small, and this time, thanks to Uncle's efforts in seeking a doctor for you...

Wang Fulian listened to the incessant chatter, feeling overwhelmed and unsure of how to respond, deeply conflicted about his current situation. At that moment, out of the corner of his eye, he suddenly caught sight of the boy in the corner, and recalling the abrupt call of "father" earlier, he couldn't help but feel puzzled.

Elder sister! What use is there for that quack? The moment he opens his mouth, he says that my brother won't last long, and even if he does, he will be a living dead. How many flattering words did uncle have to offer before he was willing to prescribe anything! He dares to charge such a high consultation fee, demanding five coins of silver at once. He has taken so much money, yet my brother still hasn't awakened. If he dares to come back for a consultation, just watch me beat him to death!

Brother is awake

Jinbao's face grew increasingly pale; he stood there stiffly for quite a while before stammering, "Auntie, is it because I did not take good care of Father?"

Eldest sister furrowed her brows, but before she could take any action, Second Sister dashed forward in a swift motion, suddenly pinching Wang Fulin's right cheek with two fingers and twisting it about half a turn. A cry of pain escaped his lips, and under the gaze of the crowd, Wang Fulin grimaced in agony, his features seemingly contorted together, and his eyes widened in surprise.

Which scoundrel dares to use such a clichéd trick to deceive him

This sharp-eyed little girl! Wang Fulian was startled and quickly closed his eyes again, pretending to be unconscious

Wait, he vaguely remembers the intense accident from before; even if he didn't die, he would have been severely injured. How could he be here?

Seeing the little fellow spring up like a rabbit, and then standing there in an orderly manner, Wang Fulian felt as if he were the big bad wolf luring a little white rabbit. However, he had no choice but to patiently ask: "Do you know about the situation at my home?"

With my parents gone, I am the head of the family; you must listen to me

Who is this calling?

Finding a way to send the three sisters away, at this moment, half-sitting on the bed, holding that neatly written contract for selling a male companion, Wang Fulin could only feel his temples throbbing. After today's series of encounters, he had already confirmed that he had arrived in another world, possessing a new identity. Yet, how could it be so coincidental that one of the parties named in the contract was also called Wang Fulin! Was it fate that guided him here?

The elder sister shot a glare at her two younger sisters before finally sitting down on the edge of the bed. Noticing that Wang Fulian had a dazed expression and was inexplicably avoiding her gaze, she let out a sigh.

What is truly frustrating is that he has no memory of this identity whatsoever, not even knowing what era it is now

Marriage Contract This is to certify that in Qianqiu Li, Songming Mountain, She County, Huizhou Prefecture, Wang Qiu, has a younger brother, Wang Jinbao, who is only 8 years old. Due to the family's poverty and the hardships of hunger and cold, the couple has discussed and entrusted a relative to arrange a match, allowing their clan uncle, Wang Fulian, to adopt him as a义男 (义子). On that day, they received a gift of 8 taels of silver, which has been fully settled. It is agreed that he will be raised to adulthood and will follow the customs of marriage, serving the family for life.

Father

As soon as he closed his eyes, the room was thrown into chaos once again. The three women who had been overjoyed in front of the bed were momentarily stunned, and then they became anxious.

Let him stay

Brother

How did I faint again as soon as I woke up

Being called "father" by someone is one thing, but now there are also "aunt," "second aunt," and "third aunt"? What is the situation here

"Isn't my method effective?" Erniang raised her eyebrows with a sense of pride, but was met with a reproachful gaze from her elder sister. Realizing that she had gone a bit too far, she sheepishly lowered her head, but then defiantly looked at her younger sister, "In the past, when Ge woke up late in winter, the younger sister would put ice cubes in his bed..."

Shall we invite that doctor from last time to take a look again

Fortunately, with his parents away, he only has to deal with the three sisters; otherwise, he wouldn't know what to do at all. However, even after passing the first hurdle, if he cannot think of a way from the little one who calls him "dad," he might have to pretend to have amnesia when he returns.

This is a voluntary agreement with no overlap, unknown origins, or other issues, nor any profit, discounts, or coercion. From now on, this is the responsibility of the principal, and the deceased shall not return to the grave. Day and night, one must diligently attend to their duties, and must not dare to be lazy or evade responsibility. Should there be any negligence, the principal has the right to impose punishment. If there are unforeseen circumstances regarding the feng shui, it is a matter of fate and has nothing to do with the principal. The marriage certificate is respectfully established, along with the male's fingerprint, and shall be handed over to the principal for safekeeping.

If he has truly become this woman's younger brother now, at such a young age, how could he possibly have such a big son

Wang Fulian was too lazy to think about this title, and pointed at Jin Bao, saying irritably: "Don't kneel on the ground for no reason; a man's knees are worth gold. Get up and speak!"

Younger brother

So dazzling

Wang Fulian looked around in confusion, and the next moment, he clearly saw a boy of about eight or nine years old, with delicate features, leaning over the edge of the bed. They stared at each other for a while, and then the boy, both surprised and delighted, shouted, "Father is really awake, Father is awake!"

Wang Fulian had never even been married in his previous life, and now, being knelt before by a half-grown child, calling him "father" repeatedly, was an experience unlike any other. With his parents passing away early, he had to struggle alone, and after finally achieving some success, he unfortunately encountered an accident. Upon waking, it felt as if he had suddenly entered a dream, arriving in such a strange time and space. At this moment, he felt the vastness of the world, yet he was utterly alone. Looking at the tearful little one before him, he unexpectedly felt a sense of shared suffering.

With the two shouts, a crowd quickly gathered in front of him. There were three women, dressed in vibrant, retro clothing, with intricate hairstyles and beautiful faces, yet he had never seen any of them before. Following this, he saw the boy who called him "father" respectfully bow to the three women, and then he addressed them: "Eldest Madam, Second Madam, Third Madam"

This time, realizing that it was actually calling him, Wang Fulian was stunned and furious, his anger boiling over.

Jinbao bit his lip tightly and remained silent, while his elder sister continued to wear a cold expression: "I will send someone to take you back in a moment"

It is all the fault of those two damned bearers, who robbed and harmed people halfway; the authorities have yet to catch them! Fortunately, my uncle happened to take this route from Huizhou City to Songming Mountain and heard my brother's cries for help

Jinbao was aware that Wang Fulian was merely echoing his own words. He lowered his head and said earnestly: "My brother once told me that our family has over 100 mu of land and three tenant families. My father is the only son in the family, and at the age of 14, he has already passed the county, prefectural, and provincial examinations, and has just entered school as a student. Aside from those few examinations when he entered school, my father usually does not go to the county town, dedicating himself to diligent study at home. Although he ranked last in this provincial examination, he is still a scholar! Our family has three sisters, the eldest, second, and third sisters. The old gentleman above has been trading salt from Lianghuai to Huguang and has not returned for several years. This time, he fell ill while away, and the old matron who manages the household at home personally went to take care of him."

Taking a deep breath, Wang Fulian looked at the boy who stepped forward as instructed with a complex expression. Although the boy stood straight, he appeared to be filled with anxiety.

"Father is not that kind of person!" Jin Bao hurriedly knelt down, completely unaware of the way Wang Fu Lin's face twitched upon hearing the word 'father.' "After my brother took me to see father, he only said a few words, and father immediately agreed to give eight taels of silver to buy me. He was kind and amiable towards me. Moreover, father is a scholar who has entered the academy, and once he passes the imperial examination and becomes a jinshi, he is sure to become a high-ranking official and accomplish great things. Even if he scolds or beats me, it must be because I have made a mistake."

Second sister, keep your voice down. Fortunately, mother is not here. If she hears you say something again, she will definitely punish you by making you kneel in the courtyard

The words "marriage contract" that appeared twice, once before and once after, were exceptionally glaring. Wang Fulian pondered how, in this day and age, a contract of servitude was written as a marriage contract, and even referred to as "raising a male servant". Was he acquiring a servant or raising a son? He temporarily tossed aside this thin sheet that severed the life of a living person onto the bedside and asked Jin Bao: "When I bought you, it was an impulsive decision, and later I was injured; I can hardly remember the details. Since your name is Jin Bao, it stands to reason that your parents must have cherished you like a treasure. Why did your brother so ruthlessly sell you?"

Wang Fulian felt a tingling sensation on his scalp. In a moment of desperation, he simply closed his eyes and pretended to faint.

This brief statement is sufficient to answer all questions. Wang Fulian did not wish to pry into the trivial private matters of others, but after a moment of contemplation, he asked again: "Although your elder brother is unkind, why do you willingly follow me? Are you not afraid of being scolded morning and night, toiling like a beast of burden?"

Just now, I heard a voice saying "Father is awake," and now I hear another voice saying "Brother is awake." The eldest sister and the second sister-in-law simultaneously turned their gaze towards Wang Fulian, who lay on the bed. Seeing him with his eyes tightly closed, resembling a corpse, the eldest sister cast a suspicious glance at the youngest sister, who had just spoken. The youngest sister immediately mumbled, "I just saw Brother's eyes open a crack..."

The incessant chattering reached his ears, and upon hearing those titles, Wang Fulian finally regained a semblance of composure

He quietly opened his eyes a crack and carefully scrutinized the three people crowded at the foot of the bed. The eldest woman, appearing to be around seventeen or eighteen years old, wore a silver-red blouse and a light pink skirt. Her bright black eyes exuded an imposing presence even without anger, embodying the demeanor of an older sister. The woman who was shouting and cursing the quack doctor was dressed in a jade-colored outfit, approximately twelve or thirteen years old, with her hands on her hips, her willow-like brows furrowed, and a fierce expression on her face. The last little girl, still in her childhood, had sparkling eyes that coincidentally met his furtive glance.

Previously, Wang Fulian had also heard hints from his elder sister regarding other information. However, this scholar's ranking is something he is hearing for the first time; it turns out that Wang Xiaoxiu, the scholar, was fortunate enough to secure the last position!

Faced with the disapproving gazes of her elder sister and second sister, the younger sister was cheerfully observing Jin Bao, while Wang Fu Lin felt a twinge of guilt but was unwilling to change his words. Besides pity, he had other concerns.

Wang Fulian instinctively squinted his eyes, trying to adjust to the stark contrast from darkness to light. However, before he could clearly see his surroundings, a voice reached his ears

He rubbed his temples and glanced at Jinbao, who stood before him with an air of utmost obedience. He understood that Jinbao's call of "father" was indeed not unfounded. The contract, written in black and white, was clear: his brother had sold the person for eight taels of silver, with the nominal title of adopted son. After a brief moment of distraction, he continued to read further down this section.