The Rich Young Villain Dotes on His Wife Without Limits

I transmigrated into a book, becoming an extraordinarily beautiful background character.

Because my family owed money, the moment I woke up, I was forcibly sold to a rich bully as a concubine to pay the debt.

The rich bully was the eldest young master of the Grand Commandant’s household. His role in the book was the simp second male lead: giving the heroine money, connections, and resources, only to receive an “I only see you as a good older brother” card in the end.

I had no role at all.

But I was simply too beautiful. On our wedding night, once he saw me, he couldn’t move another step.

“Qingqing, are your hands cold? Let your xianggong warm them.”

Translator’s note: Xianggong and fujun both mean “husband,” and niangzi means “wife.” Liang Zhao gets a lot of use out of all three.

Smack! I gave him a resounding slap.

He said, “Qingqing, you hit me. Does your hand hurt? Let your xianggong rub it.”

I kicked him flying.

Forgot to mention: before transmigrating, I had practiced taekwondo for several years.

My name was Jiang Qing. I transmigrated because I stayed up late reading.

The original was a farming novel. Its heroine came from a farming family, then went into business and led her whole family to prosperity. Later, she happened to meet the crown prince. They fell in love, came to understand each other, and she ultimately became the mother of the realm.

But none of that had much to do with me.

Because as soon as I woke, the debt collectors came knocking.

The original owner of this body, also named Jiang Qing, was the daughter of tenant farmers on the Grand Commandant’s estate.

Unable to pay the rent, my parents received a suggestion from the household’s head steward. The old madam wanted to take a concubine for the eldest young master, and he thought I looked quite nice.

If they agreed, all future rent would be waived, and they would receive another hundred taels of silver in betrothal money.

That eldest young master, Liang Zhao, was a scoundrel who bullied men and oppressed women.

Already twenty, with no scholarly rank, he loafed around all day. Relying on his father’s position as Grand Commandant, he took the household servants through the streets looking for trouble. Even dogs despised him.

The original owner was a delicate young girl. Naturally, she refused. Unable to see a way out, she hanged herself from a southeast branch.

And so this blessing fell to me.

Actually, I wanted to escape. But my bargain-bin parents feared offending the Grand Commandant’s household and wanted that hundred-tael payment. They drugged my food, and I was carried unconscious to the estate.

When I woke, I was already in the bridal chamber.

As I blearily opened my eyes, I heard someone cursing.

“I said long ago that I’d marry no one but Lu Tao’er in this lifetime. The old lady still insists on making me take a concubine!”

“Carry her in if you like. If I touch a single finger of hers, I’ll write the two characters of Liang Zhao backward!”

Lu Tao’er was the heroine of this book.

According to the timeline, she should currently be growing vegetables with the spirit-spring water in her space and supplying organic produce to Liang Zhao’s restaurant.

I thought: the original Jiang Qing had hanged herself yesterday. There was no role for me afterward anyway.

I didn’t have the heroine’s golden finger, nor her talent for starting a business.

Since Liang Zhao was Lu Tao’er’s simp, surely it wasn’t too much for me to live off him for a while under the title of concubine?

So, just as I was about to get up, I lay flat again.

The drug hadn’t entirely worn off, and I was still groggy.

Vaguely, I seemed to hear an older woman coaxing him.

“Young Master! Don’t make things difficult for this old servant. The old madam said that today, even if we have to tie you up, we’re putting you in the bridal chamber.”

“She’s simply anxious for a grandchild. It’s only a concubine. Just take a look and give her some face, won’t you?”

“Head Steward Sun personally selected the girl from the tenant households. A respectable family, such a fresh, lovely face, and a gentle, agreeable temperament. Once you see her, perhaps you’ll take a liking…”

Liang Zhao sounded impatient.

“Nainiang, you know me…”

Translator’s note: Nainiang means “wet nurse.” This is Xu-mama, who shows up later; mama here means an older maidservant, not Mom.

Soon, the sound of doors opening and closing came from outside.

Liang Zhao had been shut inside the bridal chamber.

Since I was only being taken as a concubine, there had been no ceremony. A little sedan chair had carried me through a side entrance.

The chamber had at least been decorated: red everywhere, with tall red candles.

Against that intensely festive backdrop, I sprawled on the bed while Liang Zhao, forced into the room, stared at me. We looked at each other, and the scene became exceedingly awkward.

Realizing someone had suddenly appeared, I sprang up from the bed like a carp flipping upright.

Liang Zhao wore bright red wedding clothes. His features were handsome, his build tall and straight: the very picture of a rich, spoiled young noble.

When he saw me move, his beautiful peach-blossom eyes blinked. His gaze went fixed, his mouth fell slightly open, and he looked completely stupefied.

Oh. Too beautiful, was I?

Standing on the bed, I looked down at him with my hands on my hips and glared unhappily.

“What are you looking at?”

In the original, Liang Zhao treated the heroine very well, but everyone else much less so.

He often bullied innocent ordinary people.

If I really became his concubine, wouldn’t he torment me to death?

Absolutely not!

Hearing me, Liang Zhao finally reacted. His face immediately reddened.

“You… You’re the concubine my mother took for me?”

His voice was rather pleasant. But the way he stared straight at me was uncomfortable.

I knew this body was beautiful. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have been chosen and sent to him.

But how could he covet my beauty just because I was pretty?

Shameless!

I immediately protested.

“I’m not! I didn’t! Don’t talk nonsense!”

“I was drugged unconscious and carried into your house by force. I never wanted to be your concubine!”

“If you know what’s good for you, don’t touch me. Otherwise, I’ll report you to the authorities for abducting an innocent woman!”

Liang Zhao laughed and looked me over.

“You think you can enter and leave the Liang family’s gates whenever you please?”

“My father is the Grand Commandant. I know Great Zhou’s laws better than you.”

He moved closer.

“Tell this young master your name. How old are you?”

He looked just like some perverted middle-aged man coaxing a young girl.

Although this body was only sixteen, my mental age was already twenty-four. One look told me he was a massive perv!

So when his face came close, I raised my hand and slapped him hard.

“Stay away!”

Liang Zhao froze after the slap, then puffed out his cheek and gave a sinister laugh.

“You dare hit me?”

He caught my wrist and tried to pull me off the bed.

Seeing that, I kicked again, sending him flying to land seated on the floor.

Clutching his chest, he stared blankly, seemingly astonished by my combat power.

“You… You have some nerve, hitting me! I’m your fujun!”

I shot back immediately.

“Fujun my foot!”

“Didn’t you just say outside that if you touched one finger of mine, you’d write Liang Zhao backward?”

“I…”

Left speechless, Liang Zhao looked at me shyly.

“Can’t I change my mind?”

“I hadn’t seen you then. If I’d seen you earlier, I wouldn’t have said it…”

He straightened and tried to take my hand.

“You used quite a lot of force hitting me. Does your hand hurt? Shall I rub it?”

Wow. I hit him, and he asked whether my hand hurt.

That was terrifying.

Had he fallen in love with me at first sight?

In the original characterization, Liang Zhao had a love brain.

For someone he liked, he would give his heart and lungs, sparing nothing.

Thinking that over, I thoughtfully slapped the other half of his face, which hadn’t yet been hit.

A crisp smack rang out. Liang Zhao froze. Disbelief and grievance flashed through his eyes.

“Why did you hit me again?”

Me: “I’m a bit OCD. The marks on your two cheeks weren’t symmetrical.”

“See? I’m not gentle at all, and I hit people. I certainly won’t serve you properly in the future. Why don’t you just send me back?”

Unexpectedly, Liang Zhao sprang to his feet.

I thought I had angered him into hitting me and was ready to let him taste my tendon-splitting, bone-dislocating technique.

But instead of striking, he told me with righteous solemnity:

“Once you’ve entered my gates, you’re one of my people. How could I reject you just because your temperament isn’t good?”

“I like your straightforward nature! From now on, you’re in charge of my courtyard. Do whatever you want!”

Ah, this… Did this man have masochistic tendencies?

I remembered that in the original, he had fallen for Lu Tao’er after going to make trouble at her stall and having his head smashed with a carrying pole.

Did he simply like fierce women and being beaten by them?

Had I used the wrong method?

Realizing this, I hastily changed strategy. My body softened, and I slumped to one side, covered my face with a handkerchief, and filled my eyes with tears: weak and unable to care for myself.

“Fujun, don’t frighten this concubine… This concubine is scared… Ying ying ying!”

“This concubine didn’t mean it just now. I only heard that Fujun was terribly fierce and lost my head for a moment… This concubine knows she was wrong.”

I had thought it through. Liang Zhao liked Lu Tao’er first because she was a transmigrator with the heroine’s halo.

Second, her independence, strength, and unconventional behavior caught his attention.

If I was ordinary, meek, and uninteresting, he wouldn’t like me.

Unfortunately, I underestimated my looks.

I was simply too beautiful.

Seeing me cry, Liang Zhao panicked with distress and fumbled to wipe my tears with his sleeve.

“Niangzi, don’t cry. Did I frighten you?”

“Don’t worry. My reputation outside may be bad, but I never hit women.”

“You’re so beautiful. How could I bear to strike you? You slapped me twice and kicked me, and didn’t I let it go?”

He cupped my face and blew on it tenderly.

“Don’t cry, ah. Such pretty eyes won’t look good swollen.”

Ah! I was going to die!

He was actually a little gentle!

Apparently, weakness wasn’t going to work.

What if I tried jealousy and unreasonable tantrums?

A male chauvinist like Liang Zhao surely couldn’t tolerate that!

I knocked his hand away and glared.

“Don’t touch me!”

“I heard everything you said outside!”

“You said Lu Tao’er was the only person you wanted to marry in this life. What are you doing fawning over me now?”

“I, Jiang Qing, may be lowborn, but I have backbone. Rather than be your concubine and share a husband with another woman, I’d smash my head against a wall!”

“You can keep me only if you promise to marry me as your principal wife and cut all ties with Lu Tao’er. Otherwise, forget it!”

Now I was jealous, willful, threatening death, and unreasonable. Surely Liang Zhao would find me annoying.

Once he angrily threw me out, I would be free.

Unexpectedly, instead of getting angry, he hurried to embrace me.

“Niangzi, don’t be angry. However angry you are, you mustn’t hurt yourself.”

“I’ll speak to Mother about making you the principal wife tomorrow.”

“But Lu Tao’er does business with our restaurant. If we suddenly cut ties, we’ll lose a great deal of money…”

Oh-ho. There was my chance!

Hands on my hips, I shoved him.

“Which matters more, money or me? I think you just don’t want to break with Lu Tao’er. You want the best of both sides!”

Liang Zhao hesitated, gritted his teeth, and said, “All right, all right. Don’t be angry, niangzi. I’ll do whatever you want.”

“Tomorrow, I’ll tell Lu Tao’er we no longer need her vegetables.”

Holy shit. He actually agreed?

I had meant to make him throw me out!

I wanted to cry.

When he saw my tears streaming down, Liang Zhao grew more anxious.

“Niangzi, why are you crying again?”

Me: “You were so devoted to Lu Tao’er just now, yet one sentence from me is enough for you to cut her off.”

“You only desire me because I’m beautiful. When you see someone even prettier, you’ll treat me the same way at a word from her!”

While he stood stunned, I pushed him out of the inner room.

“Out! You liar! I don’t want to hear you!”

Then I slammed the door in his face.

Damn. That was close!

If I hadn’t known the original plot and his characterization, I’d almost have been moved.

After all, he could tolerate even this. In his place, I certainly couldn’t.

8.

That night, I slept inside and Liang Zhao slept outside.

We coexisted peacefully, neither bothering the other.

Unexpectedly, at the first gray light of dawn, a voice sounded beside my ear.

“Niangzi, niangzi, wake up.”

“Xu-mama will be bringing people to dress you and do your hair soon.”

My eyes flew open. Liang Zhao, who should have been sleeping in the outer room, was standing at my bedside, tugging at me.

Startled, I was wide awake at once.

“You… Weren’t you outside? How did you get in?”

He gave me a helpless look, his expression saying “what a silly little fool.”

“How could this door bolt stop me?”

“Yesterday, I only saw how tired you were and couldn’t bear to disturb you.”

“You can throw tantrums with me, but my old lady isn’t so easy-tempered.”

“When Xu-mama comes, just say I drove you out last night and you slept in the outer room. Understand?”

Was he afraid his mother would bully me, and helping me put on an act?

I eyed him suspiciously.

“Why would you do that?”

He looked at me shyly.

“You’re my niangzi. Naturally, I’ll protect you.”

“And don’t say anything about going back again.”

“Your parents have already used that hundred taels from selling you to arrange marriages for your brothers.”

“A family like that isn’t worth it.”

Hearing this, fury shot through me.

“What? I’ve only just married in, and they’re already arranging brides?”

Before, the family had been too poor to keep the cooking pot going. We couldn’t even eat our fill.

They had barely sold me as a concubine, and now they wanted a good life?

Their daughter had already been driven to hang herself before I transmigrated.

The person they sold was me ah!

Then that hundred taels should be mine too!

I grabbed Liang Zhao and looked at him with burning eyes.

“You say you’re my fujun, right? That you care about me?”

“Then if your niangzi is being bullied, will you stand up for me?”

As I spoke, I clutched his collar, bringing us rather close.

His face visibly reddened all the way to his ears. He stared, entranced.

Only after a moment did he respond.

“Yes! Of course!”

“Tell me who bullied you. I’ll take men over right now and break his dog legs!”

And so, early that morning, having married only yesterday, I took my new husband and more than a dozen fierce-looking servants back to my family to collect a debt.

9.

When collecting debts, earlier was better than later.

Liang Zhao and I hurried toward my family’s home in a carriage.

I feared that if we were late, they would spend the money.

That was a loss I refused to swallow.

Worried I would be hungry, Liang Zhao bought me two meat buns when we passed the market.

This body had lived a miserable life, never enjoying much comfort.

The moment I transmigrated, I was drugged, and with a bowl of wild-greens congee at that.

Now I had barely eaten for a full day and night.

When those two meat buns appeared, I couldn’t hold back.

In one bite, I wolfed down half a big meat bun.

After chewing twice, I noticed Liang Zhao watching me, and my cheeks heated.

He probably hadn’t seen a girl attack her food so fiercely.

But then I thought: wasn’t my beauty the reason he wouldn’t let me go?

Perhaps seeing my table manners would shatter the illusion, and he would no longer think me pretty.

So I glared fiercely.

“What are you looking at? Never seen someone eat?”

He immediately answered, “No, I was just thinking you’re so beautiful, niangzi. Even eating a meat bun, you’re beautiful…”

Then, as though remembering, he took out a flask and poured me water.

“Eat slowly. Don’t choke. Have some water to wash it down.”

His attitude was so good that I looked like I was making trouble out of nothing.

Though, admittedly, I was.

But he was actually quite kind to me. Constantly bullying him troubled my conscience a little.

I froze for a moment and choked.

Seeing my eyes widen and my fist hammer my chest, Liang Zhao reacted immediately.

He hurried over to pat my back and help me breathe.

“Niangzi, are you all right? Water, water…”

Then he tipped the cup to my mouth.

After drinking, it took quite a while to get that mouthful down. I gasped for a bit before realizing that half my body was leaning in his arms.

He supported me, his face full of concern, but his arm had wrapped around my waist.

I immediately felt ashamed of my earlier guilty conscience.

Catching the hand around my waist, I twisted hard.

“What are you doing? Can’t get enough of taking advantage?”

Liang Zhao coughed but didn’t cry out.

“What are you saying, niangzi? Am I the sort to exploit someone’s distress?”

His mouth denied it, but that smitten, rippling expression said he absolutely was!

10.

He looked happy. I couldn’t stand it!

I handed the bun back and withdrew into a corner of the carriage, refusing any further physical contact.

Seeing that, Liang Zhao pursed his lips but didn’t come over to bother me.

Yet however I looked at him, he seemed aggrieved.

“Niangzi…”

He called to me.

I turned away.

“Niangzi, pay attention to me.”

I simply closed my eyes.

The next second, his voice sounded right by my ear.

My eyes snapped open. Somehow, he had come close again and was staring directly at me.

Heat rose in waves across my face. I glared.

“What?”

But he took my hand and brought it toward his face.

“Niangzi, don’t stay silent.”

“When you don’t speak, my heart panics.”

“Why don’t you hit me?”

I had never heard such a request in my life.

Oh, or in my previous life.

Suspecting he wanted to take advantage, I immediately withdrew my hand.

“Let go! My slaps really hurt!”

“I know,” he said.

“If you don’t slap me, my heart hurts.”

“Niangzi, I keep feeling you want to leave me.”

Oh, you can drop the words “keep feeling.”

I did intend to recover that hundred taels from the Jiang family and run off with it.

When the Liang family took the original owner, they had followed the rules for a concubine of freeborn status. There was no deed selling her into servitude, and they hadn’t yet filed the paperwork with the authorities.

Once I got the money and flew far away, Liang Zhao would surely never find me!

But I certainly couldn’t say that to his face, or he might refuse to take me.

I merely gave him a coquettish little smack.

“So annoying! I’m not talking to you! Hmph!”

Then I turned my face away.

After several jolting hours, the carriage finally reached Jiang Village.

We arrived just as a matchmaker brought a young woman to meet my second brother.

11.

Seeing our carriage enter the village, the villagers happily hurried to my family to share the good news.

“Jiang family! Your married daughter is back with her new husband!”

Someone else tugged at her.

“What new husband? Jiang Qing went to be a concubine.”

The first person was puzzled.

“A concubine? That display doesn’t look like a concubine’s. It looks like a principal wife’s!”

With outsiders present, my parents, who cared deeply about face, hurried out to welcome us.

Somehow, Mother had obtained new clothes and was wearing a plain silver hairpin.

Father and my two brothers were dressed in new things from head to toe too.

Seeing me, Mother warmly took my hand.

“Qing’er, you’re back? Why today? Even a bride’s return visit should be on the third day, shouldn’t it?”

She had entirely forgotten how the original owner hanged herself the day before yesterday, and how yesterday they drugged me and sent me to the Grand Commandant’s household, selling their daughter for prosperity.

I withdrew my hand and surveyed the matchmaker and prospective bride.

With a cold laugh, I said, “Oh, arranging a match for my eldest brother?”

As though unable to hear my meaning, Mother introduced them.

“This is for your second brother. Your eldest brother already met his bride this morning.”

Liang Zhao came closer and laughed.

“Oh! So we’re late. This is already the second round.”

Both brothers looked gratefully at him.

“It’s all thanks to your marriage to our sister, Young Master Liang. Otherwise, neither of us could afford a wife.”

“As Qing’er’s older brothers, we’ll thicken our faces and call you brother-in-law.”

Before they finished, I stepped forward and gave each a resounding slap.

Then, under their shocked gazes, I raised my hand.

“Dage and Erge really do have thick faces. They’ve made Qing’er’s hand swell.”

Translator’s note: Dage means eldest or older brother; erge means second older brother.

It wasn’t actually swollen. Jiang Qing was a farm girl who did household chores and fieldwork all day. Though beautiful and naturally immune to tanning, she still had thin calluses on her hands.

But my words distressed Liang Zhao terribly.

He hurried to cradle my hand and blow on my palm.

“Aiya, niangzi, why trouble yourself with such rough work?”

“Just tell your fujun. I’ll do it for you.”

Then, as my brothers stared in bewilderment, he rewarded each with another ringing slap.

12.

At last, the Jiang family understood. I hadn’t come for a bridal visit. I had come to make trouble.

More shocking still, Liang Zhao was helping.

My parents bullied the weak and feared the strong. Now their faces crumpled.

“Young Master Liang, what are you doing?”

“Has our Qing’er failed to serve you properly or neglected you somehow?”

Liang Zhao glared, every inch the bully.

“What nonsense! My Qingqing is naturally wonderful!”

“The bad ones are you thieves!”

Calling them thieves left the entire family stunned.

Father asked anxiously, “Why would you say that, Young Master Liang?”

“This old man is frightened!”

Liang Zhao sneered.

“Tell me: your family’s so poor you don’t know where your next meal is coming from. Where did you get the silver to find wives for both sons?”

Father glanced at the matchmaker and the girl, unwilling to lose face.

Lowering his voice, he said, “We old people have some modest savings…”

“Bullshit!” Liang Zhao bellowed.

“You’ve owed rent for more than a day or two. If you had savings, why didn’t you pay?”

“Or have you become so bold that you dare deceive even the Grand Commandant’s household?”

Father panicked at that.

He forgot about saving face.

“Aiya, worthy son-in-law, we’re family. Why say such things and make outsiders laugh?”

“Since you know our circumstances so well, you should know that this is our daughter’s betrothal money…”

Liang Zhao seized his collar.

“Well said! If it’s your daughter’s betrothal money, why isn’t it in her hands?”

“My niangzi married into my family without so much as a pair of gold bracelets in her dowry!”

“Meanwhile, you’re wearing new clothes, meeting families, and preparing to bring home new brides.”

“And you have the face to do it!”

I froze. Liang Zhao’s combat strength was too great. No wonder he was the bully second male lead whom even dogs despised.

And he actually made excellent sense!

He was performing so brilliantly that there was hardly room left for me.

I pursed my lips and shrank beside him, looking wronged.

“Fujun, say no more… Who told Qing’er to be born a girl, with such a bitter, worthless fate…”

13.

Liang Zhao’s father was Grand Commandant, a principal first-rank official with a gold seal and purple ribbon, commanding the realm’s military power.

His father swaggered through court, and Liang Zhao followed his example, swaggering through the capital.

Even the sons of ordinary noble families dared not provoke him. Imperial princes addressed him as a brother.

Who would dare offend him?

The matchmaker wasn’t inexperienced. Seeing disaster descend on the Jiang family, she hurriedly took the girl away.

“Jiang family, I think I should discuss this match with her parents again.”

Before my parents could ask her to stay, she had vanished.

My second brother was aggrieved.

“Little sister, what are you doing?”

“I finally found a girl I liked. The matchmaker came all the way here, and you and Brother-in… Young Master Liang ruined it!”

“What exactly are your intentions?”

I laughed coldly inside. Naturally, they weren’t good intentions!

Looking utterly wronged, I said, “Your little sister married only yesterday, yet both my older brothers are already meeting prospective brides today.”

“I suppose I was inconsiderate, staying home a few extra years and not marrying until sixteen, delaying both your weddings.”

My words made their faces burn.

Without selling me, they couldn’t even have afforded wives, and no girl would have wanted to marry them.

Fortunately, my eldest brother knew how to hold a conversation. Seeing our manner, he understood this wouldn’t end peacefully.

Looking at me pleadingly, he asked, “Little sister, what exactly did you come back to do today?”

Of course I wouldn’t say.

“What are you saying, Dage? I didn’t come to do anything. I simply brought my husband home to see you.”

“Don’t mind me. After all, a married daughter is water thrown away.”

“I’m sure I have no share in your new clothes, new brides, and fine food…”

Liang Zhao looked at me tenderly.

“Don’t be sad, niangzi. I’ll see justice done for you.”

Father watched us uncertainly. After turning it over in his mind, he finally seemed to understand something.

“So Qing’er… thinks the dowry we prepared was too modest?”

14.

Pah! What “too modest”? There hadn’t been one at all, okay?

Father looked at my face, then at Liang Zhao’s attitude, and slapped his thigh.

“Yes! Young Master Liang is right. We ought to have a pair of dragon-and-phoenix gold bracelets made for our daughter’s dowry!”

Then, visibly forcing down the pain of parting with money, he looked at Liang Zhao.

“I wonder… how much would you consider appropriate?”

Oh-ho! My bargain-bin father was preparing to bleed.

Liang Zhao and I exchanged a look. He immediately had an idea.

“What do you think?”

Father gave an awkward smile.

“Gold is currently worth ten taels of silver per tael.”

“Including labor, twenty taels should be enough…”

Before he finished, Liang Zhao scoffed.

“Twenty taels?”

The Liang family also owned gold shops. Liang Zhao might have no learning or scholarly accomplishments, but he managed the family’s businesses and understood prices.

“Counting it all up, that’s a mere eight qian for two bracelets, thin as paper. How could they be worthy of my niangzi?”

“Since you asked, follow my specifications.”

“At my Xiangfeng House’s rates for its finest craftsmanship, make my niangzi a pair of dragon-and-phoenix bracelets from two taels and eight qian of gold. Materials and labor: sixty taels of silver.”

“Then provide forty taels of cash for her personal security!”

Translator’s note: Ten qian make one tael.

His abacus was clacking so loudly I could have heard it from outer space.

Father swayed and nearly fainted.

“A hundred taels?”

“Young Master Liang, are you trying to take back all the betrothal money?”

“Is our flower-like, jade-like daughter supposed to go to your family for free?”

Liang Zhao immediately looked displeased.

“When a daughter marries, shouldn’t her parents and brothers provide a dowry?”

“Besides, all of it is for your daughter. I won’t touch any of it. With my family’s status and power, would we covet your little bit of money?”

“Or does a married daughter cease to belong to your family?”

“Fine, then. From now on, niangzi can consider herself without such relatives. Put it in writing today, and don’t try to attach yourselves to us later!”

The Jiang family panicked.

“Please calm down, Young Master Liang. That isn’t what we mean.”

“Yes, we’re all family. How could we disown our kin?”

Mother even tried to tug his sleeve, but he shook her off.

“Then what do you mean?”

Father looked ready to cry.

“It isn’t that we don’t love our daughter. It’s just that we’ve already spent that hundred taels!”

“We bought rice and grain, got some clothes, and paid off some debts.”

“When her eldest brother met a girl this morning, we also paid five taels in betrothal money…”

His words enraged me.

Liang Zhao couldn’t be bothered to argue.

“Just tell me how much is left!”

Father signaled Mother with his eyes to fetch it.

Wiping her tears, she reluctantly went inside.

Presumably, she was taking it from the money jar beneath the bed.

I hurried after her.

Seeing me follow, Mother’s face darkened.

“Qing’er, do you hate your father and me?”

I smiled, pretending innocence.

“What are you saying, Niang? Qing’er doesn’t understand.”

Translator’s note: Niang is a traditional form of address for one’s mother.

“Aren’t we getting money to make gold bracelets for my dowry?”

“What sort of family are the Liangs? Since you and Father married me into it, surely you can’t let me lose face and be looked down on by my husband’s family?”

“You!”

She was so angry her eyes nearly rolled back. After finally steadying herself, she took the jar from beneath the bed and removed all the silver.

How did I know it was all of it?

I turned the jar upside down myself. Not a bit remained.

The silver was wrapped in a handkerchief and handed to Liang Zhao.

He glanced at it, weighed it in his hand, and his face immediately darkened.

“This is all? It’s not even enough for a pair of bracelets!”

Oh, they could spend that much?

Forty or fifty taels gone in just one day.

Did the Jiang family really not consider money from selling their daughter worth conserving?

Mother burst into loud sobs.

“Young Master Liang, all the money from your family is here!”

“The girl saw it with her own eyes. We wouldn’t dare deceive you.”

My eldest brother added, “Qing’er, Brother-in-law, you can’t take all of it.”

“I’m engaged to Xiugu from the next village. We’ve paid half the betrothal money already. If we break the engagement, I won’t get a wife, and we won’t get those five taels back either!”

Ah. I had originally meant to take a nice round sum and leave them a few bits of broken silver.

After hearing my dear bargain-bin eldest brother, I wanted to take every last bit even more!

16.

With concern all over my face, I asked, “How much more silver does the girl from the next village need, Dage?”

His eyes darted around.

“At least another ten… No, twenty taels?”

Hearing this, my little mouth drooped.

“Then we couldn’t even make one bracelet?”

That was all I said, but my eyes were already red. I looked as wronged as anyone could.

How could Liang Zhao tolerate that?

He immediately comforted me by declaring, “Bullshit! If you’re capable, earn your own money to marry a wife! What kind of ability is spending my niangzi’s betrothal money?”

“And you call yourself her eldest brother. I’m ashamed for you!”

Then he came straight over and took me away.

“Niangzi, let’s go!”

Me: “Ying ying ying!”

Weak and unable to care for myself, I let him lead me away and help me into the carriage, crying the whole way.

Only after the curtain fell and the carriage traveled away did I stop crying and cradle the handkerchief to count the silver.

“This ingot is so chubby. How cute!”

“Why is this one so tiny? But it’s beautifully small and delicate.”

“Aiya! Little piece of silver, why were you snipped into such tiny bits? It must have hurt. You’re safe with jiejie now. Jiejie will cherish you!”

Translator’s note: Jiejie means “older sister,” and meimei, which turns up later, means “younger sister.” Women use both for close friends too. Here she’s playing big sister to her silver.

I discovered that I was a huge money fanatic!

Looking at my hands full of silver, I couldn’t control myself.

I turned to Liang Zhao.

“Fujun, can we not use this silver for gold bracelets? My heart aches.”

He laughed until he rolled around in the carriage.

“Niangzi, how can you be so adorable?”

“I promised you gold bracelets, so naturally we’ll make them. We just won’t use your silver.”

Joy lit my eyes.

“You mean I get both the gold bracelets and the silver?”

Liang Zhao tried to embrace me.

“Your fujun may have no scholarly rank, but I own some businesses. Never mind one pair of bracelets, I could afford a new pair every day.”

“Our family has four or five gold shops in the capital alone. I’ll take you to choose some in a bit. Whatever you like, take it. Put it all on my account!”

Back at the Jiang house, when he was arguing for me, I had already thought he looked rather handsome.

Now, seeing him rich beyond all humanity, I was utterly bewitched.

I felt as though his whole body radiated golden light. I was willing to call him Daddy Moneybags!

But money fanatic or not, I wasn’t that easy.

So when he reached out, I slapped him again.

Liang Zhao: “Hiss! What a fierce temperament. But I like it!”

17.

Liang Zhao really did take me to his gold shop. I didn’t stand on ceremony and immediately packed up several jin of jewelry.

You heard right. Several jin.

Translator’s note: A jin is about half a kilo. Yes, she’s taking jewelry by weight.

The shopkeeper and assistants were stunned.

“Proprietor, this…”

Liang Zhao sat drinking tea with one leg crossed over the other. Seeing the shopkeeper wanted to speak, he put on an imposing air.

“If Madam likes it, why all this chatter?”

The shopkeeper wiped sweat from his forehead.

“Please forgive me for speaking, but… if Madam takes things at this rate, our shop won’t be able to open for business for a while.”

“You know Xiangfeng House’s craftsmanship. Each piece takes a long time…”

Apparently thinking he had a point, Liang Zhao told me, “Niangzi, this shop’s jewelry is old-fashioned. Take a little less.”

“I’ll bring you to the silk shop and the gem shop afterward for something fresh.”

Listen to him. When he shopped, he said “take,” not “buy”!

Every word sounded incomparably pleasant to me.

So I put down those jin of gold jewelry, chose only a pair of lace-style openwork dragon-and-phoenix gold bracelets, and followed him to other shops.

The Liang family really possessed sky-high wealth.

They owned an incredible number of shops.

I took a little from each. Half a day later, I had filled a carriage.

And though Liang Zhao was somewhat overbearing, he was truly excellent at business.

With a background like his, he wasn’t actually a wastrel. Love it, love it.

Most importantly, he spoke beautifully too.

Seeing me want this and that, he didn’t despise my lack of sophistication. Instead, he asked, “Niangzi, want more?”

Who… Who could withstand that?

I looked at him shyly.

“D-Don’t be too good to me! I don’t have much backbone!”

He paused, came close, and pinched my ear.

“Niangzi, so soft. So cute!”

Instinctively, I caught his finger and bent it.

Then I heard him scream like a pig being slaughtered.

I panicked.

“Fujun, are you all right? I didn’t mean it. I just get nervous…”

Though grimacing with pain, he still comforted me.

“It’s fine. Your fujun is sturdy. Hit me all you like.”

Why was he so good?

So shy!

18.

When we returned to the Liang estate, everyone was frantic.

Spotting us from afar, Xu-mama hurried over.

“Aiya, my young master!”

“You went out first thing this morning. Why are you only back now?”

“The old madam has waited all day for you and Jiang-yiniang to serve tea.”

“Mind how you speak when you see her!”

Translator’s note: Yiniang is the household title for a concubine. Yinainai, which comes up later, is a more respectful version used by outsiders and servants.

Then she looked me up and down and glared hard.

As though I were a fox spirit leading their young master astray.

Seeming to notice something, Liang Zhao caught the back of my collar and tossed me into the room.

“Niang! What sort of concubine did you find me? Disobedient and always crying. She sneaked back home, and I had to catch her myself.”

“Even a pile of jewelry wouldn’t appease her.”

“If she weren’t somewhat pretty, I would have whipped her long ago!”

What… What performance was this? I was baffled.

Old Madam Liang, who had intended to teach me a lesson, looked surprised.

Seeing me shrink beside him, full of grievance, she seemed to understand something and scolded him.

“I took a concubine to care for you, not for you to bully!”

Arrogantly, Liang Zhao listed my faults.

“A girl from a petty household, with no experience, no learning, and no charm. Far inferior to Lu Tao’er!”

“If you ask me, we should send her back!”

Hearing that, Old Madam Liang flew into a rage and slapped the table.

“Insolent!”

“With behavior like yours, it would be strange if the girl didn’t run!”

“I’m telling you, you’re keeping Jiang Qing whether you like it or not!”

“And don’t mention Lu Tao’er in front of me again. I won’t allow that sort of woman through our gates!”

She took my hand tenderly.

“Child, you’ve been wronged, marrying such a bastard.”

“But since you’re his now, settle down and live your life. Don’t run around again.”

“Niang knows you’re a good girl. He isn’t bad at heart, only spoiled.”

“Give him children soon and hold on to his heart.”

As she spoke, she slipped a vivid green jadeite bangle from her wrist and onto mine.

In the modern world, this thing would be worth over ten million. She was just giving it to me?

My eyes reddened, and I trembled with excitement.

“Old Madam, I…”

Old Madam Liang: “Why call me Old Madam? Call me Niang, like Zhao’er!”

Me: “Niang…”

19.

Old Madam Liang had many rules. Originally, my behavior today would have had me thrown out.

But after Liang Zhao’s intervention, seeing that he was dissatisfied with me and still hadn’t given up his designs on Lu Tao’er, she refused to let me leave.

And to capture his heart and stop him seeking out Lu Tao’er, she treated me extremely well.

All I could say was that the longest road Old Madam Liang had ever traveled was her son’s routine.

She now counted on me to give Liang Zhao a child and end his feelings for Lu Tao’er.

Little did she know her son had long since transferred his affections.

The moment we returned to our room, he embraced me and apologized.

“Niangzi, everything I said was to fool my mother.”

“What if she got angry and threw you out?”

“My heart is full of you. I can’t live without you!”

He was tall, so when I gave him a bear hug, my feet left the ground.

He even brought his face close and rubbed it against mine. I instantly turned red as a shrimp.

“You… Whatever you want to do, why tell me?”

“I… I’m not going to bother with you!”

He laughed.

“How can you not bother with me? I’m your fujun!”

“Tomorrow, I’ll tell that Lu Tao’er to stop bringing vegetables!”

I thought: that wouldn’t do.

Earlier, I had said it deliberately to make him dislike me. I didn’t actually want to cut off the heroine’s income!

I hurriedly said, “Fujun, don’t!”

“I’ve asked around. Lu Tao’er is her family’s eldest daughter and has a large household to support. It isn’t easy.”

“If we terminate our cooperation over such a small thing, won’t outsiders say you go back on your word?”

“But she is a woman, and your doing business with her inevitably invites gossip. How about… letting me deal with her?”

His eyes brightened.

“Really?”

I nodded.

“Mm-hmm!”

“Fujun, seeing you work so hard managing the businesses pains me.”

“Why not leave the restaurant to me? I can lighten your burden and also occupy my time…”

The beads of my abacus were practically flying into his face.

Yet he cheerfully agreed.

The next day, he took me to the restaurant.

When Xu-mama and Old Madam Liang asked where we were going, he fiercely scolded me.

“How can Liang Zhao’s woman not know business or accounts?”

“I’m taking her out to see the world. Niang, Nainiang, leave us be!”

Me: “Ying ying ying!”

Old Madam Liang was distressed.

“My poor child. Have someone stew two servings of tonics for the young master and Jiang-yiniang to drink when they return.”

20.

At Liang Zhao’s Huifeng Restaurant, I finally met the legendary Lu Tao’er.

She was about the original owner’s age, dressed as a farm girl, neat and capable.

Beside her was a handsome boy who looked only eleven or twelve.

I knew he was her younger brother, Lu Song, who would one day take first place in the imperial examinations and have his name on the golden list.

After checking the vegetables she brought, the shopkeeper led her over to collect payment.

Seeing me, Lu Tao’er paused.

The shopkeeper hastily prompted her.

“This is the concubine our proprietor just took. Hurry and pay your respects to Yinainai!”

“Yinainai… Liang Zhao took a concubine?”

The shopkeeper had heard about her and Liang Zhao. Fearing I would notice something, he hurried to cover it with a reprimand.

“What nonsense! Are our proprietor’s affairs yours to question?”

“Take your money and go!”

I smiled and motioned for him to calm down.

“It’s fine.”

Then I told Lu Tao’er, “So you’re Miss Lu. You really are capable and efficient. No wonder my husband can’t forget you.”

“Unlike me…”

I looked ready to burst into tears.

Lu Tao’er hurried to explain.

“Please don’t misunderstand, Yinainai. Young Master Liang and I are only business partners. It’s nothing like the rumors outside.”

I nodded.

“I know. Miss Lu looks like a respectable person.”

“I’ve seen your vegetables. They really are better than everyone else’s.”

“Winter is nearly here. Will you still be able to supply them?”

“My husband says I’m useless and don’t understand business. If this restaurant does badly, he’ll send me back to my family!”

“I’ll increase the price by thirty percent. From now on, could you bring everything here and stop supplying other restaurants?”

Her eyes immediately lit up.

“You mean you want exclusive rights to all my vegetables?”

I pressed my lips together and looked innocent.

“I don’t understand these things. I only think your vegetables taste better.”

“If people could eat them only at our restaurant, perhaps business would improve?”

Lu Tao’er’s vegetables were grown with spirit-spring water. Not only did they grow quickly and stay fresh, they were good for the body!

How could I not buy them all?

She was tempted. Her brother Lu Song also spoke.

“Yinainai, my sister caught some wild rabbits on the mountain last year. My mother and younger siblings fed them cut grass. Unexpectedly, they had litter after litter, and now there are nearly a thousand. Could you help us sell them?”

Aiya! They had already started a livestock farm?

I immediately said, “The weather is getting cold. Diners like something hot.”

“A pot of red-braised rabbit should be excellent. Miss Lu can bring ten first, and we’ll try.”

Lu Tao’er signed the exclusive vegetable supply agreement, received a large deposit, and sold me ten rabbits. Her eyes shone when she looked at me.

She stopped calling me Yinainai and called me Jiang-jiejie instead.

With her exclusive supply, the restaurant’s business really improved greatly.

To sell her thousand rabbits, she also contributed a series of recipes.

Roast rabbit, cold spicy rabbit, spicy rabbit heads…

Over the winter, another large sum of silver flowed in.

Seeing me busy with the restaurant every day and barely setting foot at home, Old Madam Liang grew dissatisfied.

“What family’s daughter-in-law runs outside every day? How would it sound if people heard?”

With tears in my eyes, like a meek little wife, I took the ledger to Liang Zhao to report.

“Fujun… Business has improved a little lately. Are you satisfied?”

He glanced at the takings. Seeing that they had tripled in my hands, a smile rose in his eyes.

But his voice was stern.

“Pleased with yourself over this little revenue? Useless!”

Watching him scold me, Old Madam Liang couldn’t bear it.

“Enough! The shopkeeper has already reported that Huifeng Restaurant’s takings have tripled under Qing’er.”

“She’s only just arrived. That’s already excellent.”

“Find fault with her again, and I’ll punish you!”

He snorted.

“Relying on my mother spoiling you! Get over here!”

I gave Old Madam Liang a grateful look and hurried after him.

As soon as we entered the room, he abruptly turned, changed his expression, and trapped me against the door.

“Niangzi, for your sake, I play the villain every day.”

“Everyone outside says I bully you. They call me… a scumbag.”

“My reputation is ruined for you. You owe me proper compensation!”

I looped my arms around his neck, rose on tiptoe, and leaned close, meeting his eyes.

“Aiya, how pitiful. Then what compensation does our little Zhaozhao want?”

He smiled, lifted me into his arms, and walked toward the inner room.

“Your punishment is… no sleeping tonight!”

Lu Tao’er earned some money selling vegetables and wanted to try another business.

She came to me about opening a pastry shop and asked whether she could sell the pastries in the Liang family’s restaurants.

I immediately knew she was about to make tea sweets.

They would become fashionable throughout the capital, eagerly bought by scholars, cultured gentlemen, and high officials. Even the emperor and palace ladies would love them.

Naturally, the one who brought them into the palace would be her canon pairing, the crown prince.

After tasting her samples, I agreed immediately.

“I remember the Liang family has a pastry shop in the east of the city. Business is only so-so.”

“Meimei, come look with me later. If you like it, open there. Consider it my capital investment.”

“But as before, your sweets mustn’t go to other restaurants. Supply us exclusively, all right?”

She gladly agreed, and we made another fortune.

Worthy of a farming-novel heroine, Lu Tao’er came up with fresh ideas from time to time.

Later, she opened ready-made clothing, jewelry, and rouge shops…

I invested in all of them and supported her wholeheartedly.

We grew closer and closer, becoming the best of friends.

Worried Liang Zhao treated me badly, she even said, “Jiejie, come with me. I certainly won’t let you suffer!”

Hearing that, Liang Zhao stormed in.

“Lu Tao’er, stop trying to abduct my niangzi!”

Her canon pairing, the crown prince, hurriedly hauled her off over his shoulder.

“Brother Liang, calm down. Tao’er is talking nonsense!”

I lay in Liang Zhao’s arms, utterly shy.

I discovered the heroine was a massive perv too.

She let me try all her clothes, jewelry, and newly developed cosmetics first.

She said I was too beautiful and wanted to snuggle with me!

Unfortunately, I was already snuggling with Liang Zhao and couldn’t snuggle with the heroine as well.

Because he simply gave too much.

We still needed to use his money to make more money and develop our commercial empire!

Later, Lu Tao’er and I worked wholeheartedly together, opening a heap of shops and earning a great deal.

So much money inevitably attracted attention. Envious people came to make trouble.

But I had Liang Zhao, and she had the crown prince. Trying to harm us? Not a chance!

Those petty villains and schemers were all defeated.

The crown prince’s identity gradually came to light. He took Lu Tao’er back to the palace and made her crown princess.

As for me, my child raised my status, and I was promoted to principal wife.

Lu Tao’er and I addressed each other as sisters, making Liang Zhao and the crown prince brothers-in-law, deserving support and important appointments.

First, the prince brought him into his service. Then, after he successfully handled several matters, he rose step by step and actually found his way into the Ministry of Revenue, one of the Six Ministries.

Later, when the crown prince became emperor, Liang Zhao rose to the lofty position of Minister of Revenue.

Liang Zhao’s father knew what was what. He thought it over: he commanded the military, his son controlled taxation, and his daughter-in-law was the empress’s sworn sister and an imperial merchant.

That was far too conspicuous. Fearing the emperor’s suspicion, and being old anyway, he relinquished his authority, retired, and went home to look after his grandson.

Naturally, the emperor was pleased with his sense of timing and entrusted Liang Zhao with even more.

And so I hugged the heroine Lu Tao’er’s thigh, while Liang Zhao hugged the male lead’s.

We husband and wife supplied money when money was needed and effort when effort was needed.

We helped them solve many difficult problems.

Delighted, the emperor granted Liang Zhao a noble title. Before I was even twenty, I received an imperial title as a noblewoman.

Old Madam Liang received honors too. She told everyone I was a good daughter-in-law who brought prosperity to the family, and that Liang Zhao had cultivated several lifetimes of blessings to marry me.

As for the two old Jiangs and my two brothers?

Naturally, Liang Zhao had people keep them away. Don’t come near us!

(The End)