Transmigration to be Beloved Husband in Ancient Times [HIATUS until Feb 2022]

This place was called Lijingxia village. It consists of two surnames Li and Jing. Jing people were refugees from the North around 80 years ago. They came and naturalized with people from Li village, hence the change of the village's name. Lijingxia village located near the mountain, there was a large river flowing from the west. The land was good for planting rice. Most of the villagers had rice fields, if they didn't they could rent the rice field from the government.

 

Father Jing had 40 mu of lands. Every year, he could get 20 taels from selling the crops. It was twice the annual income of most of the villagers, so the Jing family was considered rich in Lijingxia village. Uncle Jing, Father Jing's younger brother, had 30 mu of lands. He had a good relationship with Father Jing and was respected in the village as well.

 

Father Jing had six children. The eldest son Jing Shan (26), Second son Jing Chen (24), Third son Jing Chang (24), Fourth son Jing Hao (20), Fifth son Jing Fang (17) and the youngest daughter Jing Jie (14). The similar age between Jing Chen and Jing Chang not because they were twins, but because they had different mother. Jing Chen's mother who died at childbirth was a concubine. This was also part of the reason why Mother Jing hated Jing Chen so much.

 

The only person in Jing Family who didn't show any hate to Jing Chen was Jing Shan. Jing Shan helped Jing Chen several times. But Jing Shan was very busy, he was the main strength in the family beside Father Jing and the original owner, so he was working in the field all day. Jing Hao was working in the field too, but he was lazy and incompetent. Jing Chang worked as a craftsman, he only helped in the field when he didn't have any work. Jing Fang was a scholar and the family's favourite. He never worked at all.

 

After resting for two weeks, Jing Chen's body began to regain its strength. His head and back injury were healed under the wife's care. He could stay up longer and he finally could speak although his voice was very hoarse. But his movements were sluggish since this body hadn't moved for months. Jing Chen already went through all of the original owner memories and decided to live his life as Jing Chen of the Jing family. He vowed to wash away the grief and regret of the original owner. He also vowed to make this wicked family regretted all the things they did to the original owner!

 

 

Xue Yu shocked. Jing Cheng understood why. The original owner never let Xue Yu touch his study materials, that was the only thing that the original owner forbid Xue Yu for. Studying in ancient times was a luxury. Especially for farmers. Books, inks and papers were expensive. Moreover, the original owner didn't have support from his family, like his youngest brother Jing Fang.

 

There was a purse made of paper inside the book, similar to an envelope in modern times. There were 2 taels inside. 2 taels equivalent to 2000 wen. A chicken was 30 wen, an egg was 3 wen, a catty of pork was 20 wen and a catty of brown rice was 6 wen. It was already a big money for Xue Yu. He wanted to say something, but he kept quiet.

 

Jing Chen gave the money to Xue Yu, "Xiao Yu, use this money to buy food for you and the children. Don't cook at home, we can't let Mother find out! Go to auntie Zhang, give her this money to buy and prepare food for half a month. She can take 30 wen per day as her wage. Take the children to her house every day to eat."

 

Auntie Zhang was a widow who lived near the mountain. His husband was a hunter, Jing Chen often borrowed bow, arrows, and rope when hunting from her. She was the one who alarmed the villager when the original Jing Chen fall from a cliff in the mountain.

 

Xue Yu eyes' light up. Even if they had to live in a mountain cave, it was better than staying here! He didn't need to give all the food he got from the mountain to Jing family anymore, maybe he could sell some to save money to build a humble house.

 

"...Chen-ge, can, can Xiao Wen follow us when we separate?"

 

Xue Wen was Xue Yu's younger brother, he was a ger and only 9 years old. Xue Yu's mother had him late, Xue Yu was 14 years old when Xue Wen was born. Xue Yu was willing to accept 2 taels as bride price as long as Jing family allowed his little brother to live with him. Naturally Jing family didn't refuse. They thought they got another servant.

 

The usual bride price was 15 taels for a woman, and 8 for ger. The Jing family was very satisfied when they didn't have to spend a lot of money for Jing Chen's wedding!

 

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Here are some notes:

 

- 1mu = about 0.0667 ha. 15mu = 1 ha

- Usually all the villagers have same surnames (they were not from same family). Li village = all surnames Li, Wang village = all surnames Wang

- 1 catty = 1 pound = 500gr. Actually around 600gr in real ancient times.

- 1 tael = 1000 wen. Tael is made of silver. Wen is copper coin. 

- Paper Purse = It was something similar to Red Pocket for Chinese New Year

- Xiao = Little, young. Added in front of name to show you were close. Almost similar to -chan or -kun in Japanese? Please correct me if its wrong.

- Chen-ge = Brother Chen. Xue Yu actually should call Jing Chen 'Lao Gong (husband, informal)'. Some people called 'Lao Gong' only in bed/when they were alone because it was embarassing & intimate. Zhangfu = Husband, formal.

- Son is very valuable in ancient times. If you didn't have son, you tried until you have one :/ The mother-in-law won't care much about you if you only gave birth to daughters. So the first thing you should do when you married was give birth to a son, so your husband's family didn't look down on you *sighs