Chapter 1: Time Travel

"Why is my life so miserable!"

"I just went to catch a cricket, how did it end up like this!"

"Oh heavens, how did I become a farmer! I don't know how to farm!"

"Boohoohoo... I can never again compare my luxurious clothes with others, compare the mightiness of my crickets, or compare the beauty of jade pendants. What's the point of living anymore! But I don't want to die either!"

......

Zhou Qing was half-awake, disturbed by the low, despairing cries.

Feeling irritated, she reached out and prepared to grab something to throw at the source of the noise. But as she touched it, she suddenly jolted awake.

The texture didn't feel right.

Her new mattress was supposed to be soft and comfortable, why did it feel so hard?

When she opened her eyes, she was startled to see several baskets hanging from the ceiling beam, and she quickly got up.

"What the heck is this place!" she blurted out, her eyes scanning around.

It was a small room with simple furnishings, the only piece of furniture on the floor was a low stool with a dent from prolonged use.

She was lying on a kang.^[1]

Against the wall of the kang was a row of dark brown cabinets, peeling and worn.

In front of the cabinet, there sat a man who looked to be around thirty or forty years old, with many patches on his clothes.

Tears streaked down his face.

Zhou Qing...

"Were you crying just now?"

The man heard her voice, hiccupped, but didn't speak. His eyes stared straight at Zhou Qing, filled with caution and unease.

Zhou Qing looked at the man, taking in her surroundings, her mind slowly piecing things together.

She had transmigrated!

This was Qingyang Village, and the original owner was Zhou Qing, the second son's daughter of the Zhou family in Qingyang Village.

Memories about the original owner flooded Zhou Qing's mind, and she furrowed her brows.

Wait, isn't this man supposed to be the original owner's father?

Then just now...

Recalling the man's sobbing voice from earlier, Zhou Qing's lips twitched, looking at him strangely. "You're not Zhou Huaishan."

Zhou Huaishan hiccupped again. Just half a moment ago, he woke up to find himself in a strange place.

Strange memories filled his mind.

He was a profligate lord of the Marquis Rongyang's household, who had spent his life in luxury. Now, he suddenly became a farmer.

This farmer's name was also Zhou Huaishan.

This sudden change in life caught him off guard, and in panic, he burst into tears.

He hadn't expected to be exposed now.

Staring at her in horror, he was about to speak when he remembered the strength she showed when she quickly got up earlier and what she said.

Hiccupping, Zhou Huaishan said, "You're not Zhou Qing either."

Zhou Qing...

Zhou Huaishan...

Neither of them was the original owner, and they both exposed each other.

They stared at each other for a long time before starting to introduce themselves.

Zhou Qing had transmigrated from modern times, she had been a sales manager at a listed company, and had died from overwork.

Zhou Huaishan was a marquis from a dynasty, who knew nothing but eating, drinking, and playing. He had died while catching crickets, probably from heatstroke, and collapsed in a grass.

After the introductions, Zhou Huaishan felt even more despair.

"What are we going to do? I'm a dandy,^[2] I don't know how to do anything!" he looked at Zhou Qing with eyes full of dependence and hope.

Zhou Qing...

With just the two of them, once they stepped out, their identities would be instantly exposed.

Ancient people believed in all sorts of possessions and superstitions, who knows, they might end up being burned at the stake.

She could handle it, after all, the original owner didn't do any farm work.

But Zhou Huaishan was different. He had to work in the fields.

She didn't know him well, even if he were mistaken for a demon and burned, she probably wouldn't bat an eye.

But the original owner's mother had died early, and if Zhou Huaishan died, the second branch would be left with just her. Given the current situation of the Zhou family, with her having no skills and being of marriageable age with a family in need of money...

So, Zhou Huaishan couldn't die.

Taking a deep breath, Zhou Qing felt a bit stifled.

There was only one way to prevent Zhou Huaishan's identity from being exposed.

"Why don't you go study then? If you go to the academy, you won't have to work in the fields. No one will find out that you're not the original owner. Once you pass the imperial exams, you can become an official and live the life you used to."

The more she thought about it, the more she felt that sending him to school was a good idea.

Scholars were respected, and she would benefit from that too.

If Zhou Huaishan really achieved something, she would become the daughter of an official and could live the same life he used to.

One should always have dreams.

Zhou Huaishan immediately waved his hand at the idea of studying.

"Me? Study? Don't joke around. If I could study, I wouldn't be a wastrel!"

Zhou Qing...

"Then you farm."

Zhou Huaishan...

"Alright, I'll study."

Zhou Qing...

Zhou Huaishan...

The two stared at each other again, and after a while, Zhou Huaishan said, "You should know the situation at home, right?"

Zhou Qing nodded.

He continued, "Even if we decide that I should study, the family won't agree."

The Zhou family had three sons, and currently, the old couple along with the second and third sons supported the first son.

The first son, Zhou Huaishan's older brother, was a scholar, who never worked in the fields. He taught in the village school, but never contributed his earnings to the family.

His son, Zhou Yuan, was studying at Liyang Academy in town, with the entire family's funds covering his expenses.

The third son's Zhou Huailin, was like Zhou Huaishan, working hard in the fields every day to support the family, the only difference was that Zhou Huaishan had studied a bit and could read.

"Besides, I'm not young anymore."

He looked at Zhou Qing anxiously, waiting for her to make a decision.

After all, he was a wastrel, relying on others to make decisions.

Zhou Qing thought for a moment, with her limited intelligence, she couldn't come up with a better idea, so she said, "For the next few days, you'll lie on the kang and rest your legs. I'll handle things, and then you can go study. If anyone comes to check on you, don't talk, just close your eyes and pretend to sleep."

When Zhou Huaishan was working in the fields, he was accidentally hit by a cow and injured his leg.

When they transmigrated, Zhou Huaishan was resting his legs on the kang, while Zhou Qing, exhausted from working outside, had fallen asleep on the kang.

Normally, she wouldn't sleep there, as she was of marriageable age and couldn't share a bed with her father.

Upon hearing this, he immediately lay down on the kang, "Sure, I can do that. I promise anyone who sees me will think I'm sick!"

After all, as a wastrel, he had learned to feign illness from a young age to avoid studying!

He had a talent for it!

Zhou Qing...

He's really something!

Looking at him lying down hurriedly, she was about to say something when she heard a voice from outside.

"What time is it, why isn't the dinner ready yet? Your uncle will be back from teaching soon, hurry up and make dinner."

Zhou Qing's grandmother, Sun, came in with a stern face, spitting towards her.

"At such a young age, you're lazy to the bones. Hurry up and make dinner. Also,  since your father can't work in the fields, you shouldn't be wandering around all the time. Tomorrow, follow your third uncle to the fields."

Zhou Qing didn't say anything, jumped off the kang, put on her shoes, and walked towards the kitchen.

Sun cursed as she followed her out.

From beginning to end, she didn't even glance at Zhou Huaishan.

Zhou Huaishan, who was pretending to be sick, breathed a sigh of relief.

My life is really hard!  

_____

Footnotes:

[1] Kang is a traditional Chinese heated brick bed.

[2] In Chinese, the term "纨绔" (wánkù) carries the meaning of a "dandy" or a "fop" who leads a luxurious and idle lifestyle. This term is associated with inpiduals who are wealthy, but lack purpose or responsibility, often indulging in frivolous activities.

Kudos to those who translate novels. Translating novel is not easy. Why did I do this to myself? Well, I can't resist this story because it's so funny. Read the manhua so you know what I mean.  

But, what do you think of this chapter? I couldn't find any translated novel for this one. 

This is not a novel illustrations. Source from manhua.

Anyway, if you find any errors, please let me know. I don't have time to proofread.