Chapter 1, The Tragedy of Crossing Over

Upon hearing this news, I first cursed the negligence and mistakes of the Ox-Head and Horse-Face, and then immediately pressured the judge to allow me to return to life, so that I could continue to enjoy my life filled with brightness and flowers. However, when misfortune strikes, even drinking a sip of cold water can feel like a toothache. The Ox-Head and Horse-Face, who had hurriedly pulled me from the hospital, rushed me back to the hospital, while the esteemed town mayor and secretary, in order to prevent an investigation into the cause of my death, impatiently moved my intact body into a luxurious government vehicle, then pushed it off a cliff, doused the completely wrecked car with gasoline, and set it ablaze to destroy the body and erase all traces. They reported it as a car accident resulting in death.

There was no way out; under the pressure of authority, I had no choice but to nod in agreement. However, after carefully examining that list, I frowned. Among the candidates provided, those from the Qing Dynasty, dragging their pig tails, accounted for more than half. The thought of having to shave off my elegant and flowing hair was nothing short of a fate worse than death! Therefore, I immediately eliminated all those individuals and focused my attention on the young gentlemen of the Ming Dynasty. Yet, I had hardly ever heard of these names; who knows whether their families were rich or poor, whether their wives were beautiful or ugly? Thus, I hesitated to make a decision, unwilling to gamble my future on such uncertainty. Therefore, I immediately eliminated all those individuals and focused my attention on the young gentlemen of the Ming Dynasty. Yet, I had hardly ever heard of these names; who knows whether their families were rich or poor, whether their wives were beautiful or ugly? Thus, I hesitated to make a decision, unwilling to gamble my future on such uncertainty.

Young Master Zhang began to hate himself for the first time, wondering why he had not studied history properly. As a result, he could not help but look up to the sky and sigh, "Only when the time comes to use what one has learned does one regret having learned too little! The ancients were indeed right, it is no deception."

Beneath the calm surface of the water lies a turbulent undercurrent. Young Master Zhang appears to be sleeping soundly and sweetly in bed, but what no one knows is that at this very moment, within Young Master Zhang's dreams, a fierce struggle for control over his body is already in full swing

It is understandable that young people who have just started working cannot be considered "battle-tested"; occasional work mistakes can be forgiven and understood. However, the problem is that my attempt to rescue the situation ultimately failed, and I tragically became the third outstanding worker in the town to die in the line of duty within a year. The first two were a male and a female cadre, who, while discussing work candidly in a sealed car, unfortunately succumbed to carbon monoxide poisoning from the vehicle's exhaust, both perishing together. Tragically, I became the third outstanding worker in the town to die in the line of duty within a year. The first two were a male and a female cadre, who, while discussing work candidly in a sealed car, unfortunately succumbed to carbon monoxide poisoning from the vehicle's exhaust, both perishing together.

After much unnecessary talk, let us return to the main point. Just as Zhang Haogu and I were locked in a stalemate over the control of his body, two strange cries suddenly echoed from below. The bull-headed and horse-faced figures emerged from the ground, their faces flushed and necks thick from drinking. With a swift motion, a large iron chain was thrown, ensnaring the neck of Young Master Zhang Haogu, and in an instant, he was dragged out of his body. As for me, I eagerly dove into Zhang Haogu's body, officially taking over this young, healthy, and somewhat handsome physique.

I will not leave; this body belongs to me

Life is full of unexpected fortunes and misfortunes, and the heavens can bring unforeseen storms. One evening, just over three months into my job, I accompanied the secretary and the town mayor to the most luxurious restaurant in the town to inspect food hygiene. We planned to eat and drink well before continuing to work overtime—specifically, to check the work quality of employees in special industries at the local foot massage establishment. However, the enthusiasm of the seven or eight of us was too high; after playing cards, we consumed half a case of Maotai and five bottles of Wuliangye. I ended up suffering from alcohol poisoning and was sent to the hospital. We planned to eat and drink well before continuing to work overtime—specifically, to check the work quality of employees in special industries at the local foot massage establishment. However, the enthusiasm of the seven or eight of us was too high; after playing cards, we consumed half a case of Maotai and five bottles of Wuliangye. I ended up suffering from alcohol poisoning and was sent to the hospital

The sequence of events is as follows: I am actually a recent university graduate. Although I did not learn much at a less prestigious university, my parents sought connections through relatives, and ultimately, I managed to enter the ranks of the upright and incorruptible civil servants, being assigned to a position in a town government. With support from above, it can be said that a bright future has already beckoned to me with its alluring hand

"No problem, no problem." I smiled broadly, unable to close my mouth, as I surveyed Zhang Haogu's luxurious yet rustic bedroom. Perhaps the horse-faced man was quite pleased with my response, as he grabbed a handful of something from the top of Young Master Zhang's head, pulled out a glowing orb, and stuffed it into my forehead, shaking his head as he said: "I'll give you a bit of care; this is Zhang Haogu's original memory, and I'm giving it to you as well, so that when you borrow a corpse and return to life, no one will notice any flaws."

Just as I was sighing and bidding farewell to the past, the judge suddenly told me with great embarrassment—actually, it was not me that the Ox-Head and Horse-Face were after, but my esteemed town mayor! And as for me, I still have a full seventy years of life left!

The Ox-Head and Horse-Face are drunk, and Granny Meng is preparing to give them a hangover remedy. She will be here shortly. Granny Meng is concerned that I might miss the time for reincarnation, so she asked me to come first. If you don't believe it, you can let me take over your body for a while, and later you can ask the Ox-Head and Horse-Face yourself

"Done, how could I forget that!" Young Master Zhang Haogu, who is now Zhang Da Shaoye, struck his head in frustration, regretting his lack of foresight. This is because Young Master Zhang suddenly realized that he is currently in the year 1625 AD, the twenty-second day of the first month of the fifth year of the Tianqi era of the Ming Dynasty! In other words, in two or three years, Gao Yingxiang will lead the first peasant uprising, followed by Li Zicheng, Zhang Xianzhong, and a host of other notable figures who will also rise up in rebellion, specifically targeting landlord families like that of Young Master Zhang to commit murder and arson! In other words, in two or three years, Gao Yingxiang will lead the first peasant uprising, followed by Li Zicheng, Zhang Xianzhong, and a host of other notable figures who will also rise up in rebellion, specifically targeting landlord families like that of Young Master Zhang to commit murder and arson! Even if Young Master Zhang manages to escape this calamity, in another twenty years or so, the Manchu Eight Banners will invade the Central Plains under the leadership of some traitorous Wu, similarly committing murder and arson against wealthy households. Even if Young Master Zhang is fortunate enough to evade this disaster, he will ultimately have to live the latter half of his life with a pig's tail dragged behind his head.

"Alright, it's done, we are leaving now," said Niutou, while dragging the loudly crying Zhang Haogu and burping from the alcohol. "Seventy years later, when the other brothers come to catch you, you better keep your mouth shut and not let this matter slip out."

Farewell, my glorious future. Farewell, my dear parents; please do not spoil my younger brother as you have spoiled me. Farewell, my future wife whom I have yet to meet, and my children whom I have yet to create. Farewell, my beloved Xiaoli—last time I pushed you for the money I owe, I can only repay it in the next life. ... Farewell, esteemed mayor; you must remember that young people's stomachs have not endured the trials that yours have. Do not force young people to drink again next time ... ... Huh. ... ... I will sleep with your wife and your daughter studying abroad! So it turns out I am dying for you! Farewell, esteemed mayor; you must remember that young people's stomachs have not endured the trials that yours have. Do not force young people to drink again next time ... ... Huh. ... ... I will sleep with your wife and your daughter studying abroad! So it turns out I am dying for you!

There is no way around it; this young master Zhang Haogu, whose surname is Zhang, is indeed not to be trifled with. His family may lack in other areas, but they are certainly wealthy! In the city of Linqing and the nearby counties, among the vast fields, eight and a half out of every ten mu belong to his family! Along the Grand Canal, of the grain shops, salt shops, and shipping companies, seventeen out of twenty are operated by his family! His father, Zhang Laocai, is a ninth-generation only son, and after marrying eleven concubines, he finally had this one son, whom he naturally cherishes like a treasure. Tell me, with such a young master, which short-sighted maid or servant would dare to wake him up? What necessity does he have to rise so early?

Give it to me

It was late, and no matter how much I shouted and yelled, there was no response from the ground. It was evident that the Ox-Head and Horse-Face had already taken the original Zhang Haogu, Young Master Zhang, to report back...

I will continue to engage with your wives and your daughters who are studying abroad

No, I will not go out!" Zhang Haogu struggled even more desperately, insisting that I should not drag his soul consciousness out of his body. He shouted in greater anger and grief: "It is your own business if you die unjustly, and it is also your death if the Ox-Head and Horse-Face have mistakenly captured your soul. Why should I give my body to you?"

It is evident that it is better to be a decent person

At this point, I found myself in a dilemma, unable to move forward or backward, and the judge had no solution, leaving me utterly helpless. Fortunately, the wrongfully apprehended messengers, fearing I might expose this matter to the King of Hell, suggested an idea to the judge. To prevent the King of Hell from discovering discrepancies in the accounts during his audit, they advised the judge to send me back to ancient times to find a young man on the verge of death, allowing me to use his body to return to life and enjoy the remaining seventy years of existence. The judge, showing a complete disregard for democratic principles and human rights, made the decision without consulting me! He then casually handed me a list to choose from and threatened that if I did not agree to this plan, I would be sent to the path of beasts—after all, I had hardly done anything good in my previous life.

Thank you, thank you. I nodded and agreed, watching as the Ox-Head and Horse-Face dragged the original Zhang Haogu, Young Master Zhang, into the ground. However, just at the moment they completely disappeared, I suddenly remembered something important and quickly shouted: "Wait! No! I just thought of a major issue, I don't want this body anymore!"

Ha ha, from now on, I am the young master Zhang Haogu, Zhang!

Since ancient times, it has been said that winter brings fatigue, autumn brings weariness, and summer induces drowsiness, while spring in March is a time of deep slumber. The ancients certainly did not deceive me; this statement is absolutely correct. The sun has already risen high in the sky, yet in a lavish yet rustic mansion in Linqing City, Dongchang Prefecture, Shandong Province, a young man in his twenties is still sprawled on his bed, soundly asleep. Apart from the increasingly loud snores escaping his lips, he occasionally mutters a few words in his dreams, mentioning the names of several renowned courtesans from the Yuanyang Tower in Linqing City, sleeping blissfully. Although there are many maids and servants bustling about outside the room, not a single one dares to make a sound. They move about stealthily as if they were thieves, not even daring to breathe loudly, for fear of waking this extraordinarily privileged young master, and incurring a scolding or even a beating from him, his father, or his mother.

Good things often come with difficulties, and my journey of borrowing a corpse to return to life has encountered another mishap. The gluttonous Ox-Head and Horse-Face arrived over three hundred years ago and ran into a few old friends. They quickly gathered together to indulge in drinking and feasting, resulting in a state of drunkenness that nearly caused me to miss the optimal moment for my resurrection. Fortunately, Granny Meng, being kind-hearted, pointed me in the right direction, advising me to first seek trouble with Zhang Haogu, while she devised a way to wake up Ox-Head and Horse-Face.

"Fart! You think I, Young Master Zhang, am a fool just because you said so? Where are the judges of the underworld? Where are the Ox-Head and Horse-Face? Call them here, I want to ask them."

In a moment of excitement, I did not think much and immediately pointed to the name of Zhang Haogu, saying, "It's him, I don't want anyone else!"

Just when I was in a difficult situation, I suddenly saw a name that was quite familiar—Zhang Haogu.

... ...

... ...

"Zhang Haogu, get out now!" I pulled Zhang Haogu's hair, desperately dragging him out of his body, crying out in anguish, "The judge of the underworld has declared that from now on, your body belongs to me! Repay my seventy years of life!"

Zhang Haogu? Is he the one whose family is so poor that they are left with nothing but money, whose luck is absurdly good, who stumbled into second place in the imperial examination, and who eventually rose three ranks? It turns out this guy is not a fictional character! If I could borrow his luck, wouldn't I be counting money until my hands cramp and chasing women until I get a stroke?

The judge is a straightforward person. Seeing that I had made up my mind, he did not say anything further and immediately assigned the Ox-Head and Horse-Face to send me back over three hundred years, allowing me to borrow the body of Zhang Haogu to return to life. This fellow had committed quite a few wrongdoings and deserved to face retribution. Although he still had a few days left before his unexpected death, capturing him a day or two earlier would definitely not raise any objections.

The Judge said, you have lived a life of immorality, committing numerous wrongdoings, and your time on earth has come to an end! The Judge also mentioned that your body is still in good condition, and it would be a waste to let it perish like this; it would be better to use it to compensate for my own lifespan!