Duke of Zhenguan

The ninth year of the Wude era, the eighth day of the twelfth lunar month.

The Guanzhong Plain is swept by howling winds and heavy snow.

In the icy and snowy landscape, eight rivers, including the Wei River, Jing River, and Feng River, resemble eight giant black dragons, guarding Chang'an, the pearl of the Central Plains.

At the entrance of Tiechi Lane in Yanshoufang, west of the city, a plain white funeral banner flutters gently in the cold wind above the dilapidated gate of a mud-walled thatched courtyard.

A simple mourning tent was set up in the narrow courtyard. Lin Chuan, dressed in coarse hemp mourning clothes and wearing a hemp hat, knelt beside the thin wooden coffin, his hands and feet almost numb from the cold.

But he still had to endure the dizziness and keep bowing to the relatives and friends who came to pay their respects.

Behind him, kneeling, was a thin, haggard woman and a little girl of about ten years old.

They are Lin Chuan's mother, Li, and his younger sister, Lin Erya.

This is the third day of Lin Chuan's journey.

Ten days ago, the original owner, who was only fifteen years old, and his father both contracted a cold. Three days ago, the father and son died.

As the weeping Li was preparing to change her son into clean clothes, Lin Chuan, who had died in a car accident a thousand years later, was reborn in her body.

Having taken over the original owner's body, it was only natural for him to wear mourning clothes for the original owner's father.

Only two days later, Lin Chuan, who had to force himself to keep vigil, began to feel palpitations. He knew very well that if he didn't rest and recuperate, his new body, which was already weak from catching a cold, would soon collapse again.

But filial piety is paramount, so even Li, who loved him the most, could only wipe away her tears while using the little bit of lard left in the house to cook him some hot porridge to nourish his body, without ever mentioning that he should go and rest.

There's nothing as sophisticated as a cheat code, nor the golden finger that's standard for transmigrators.

He could only drag his weakened body through it, hoping that God would take pity on him one more time and let him pull through.

Just then, a furious shout suddenly came from outside the courtyard:

"Zhou Laosi! What are you doing here? Get out!"

"Hey, Lin Lao Jiu, what are you doing? I was quite familiar with Lin Lao San, and now that he's gone, of course I have to come and pay my respects!"

"Damn it! Do you think I don't know what kind of wicked ideas are brewing in your belly?"

"Lin Lao Jiu, I'm trying to talk to you nicely, so please watch your mouth! Otherwise, the brothers behind me won't be as easy to talk to as I am!"

"Ha, Zhou Laosi, do you think the Lin family has no one to rely on?"

"..."

The conversation outside the courtyard reached Lin Chuan's ears clearly, and he heard Li Shi behind him suddenly cover her mouth and sob.

Lin Chuan sighed, turned to look at Li Shi, and said softly:

"Mother, I'm going out to take a look."

Mrs. Li looked at her son with concern:

"Big Brother..."

"It's alright, I'll go out and take a look!"

Lin Chuan struggled to his feet and strode towards the door.

A dozen or so people are facing off outside the door.

One group, dressed in thin coarse linen clothes and straw sandals, were all emaciated and pale; the other group, dressed in long linen robes and padded jackets, were all ruddy-faced and healthy.

Upon seeing Lin Chuan emerge, Lin Jiuqian, standing at the forefront, his thin face filled with concern, said softly:

"Eldest brother, go back. Your Ninth Uncle promises you, I will absolutely not let these people disturb your brother's spirit today!"

Looking at Lin Jiu's face, pale from the cold wind, Lin Chuan felt a surge of warmth in his icy chest and said softly:

"This is a family matter, how can I just stand by and watch? I'll handle it myself, and Uncle Jiu can just stand by and give me some support!"

After saying that, he walked up to Thursday and asked calmly:

"Uncle Zhou, when Father asked you for money, it was for a month. Counting the days, there's still about half a month left, right?"

Thursday was tall and sturdy, with a thick beard covering half his face. He looked at Lin Chuan, who was only half a head shorter than him, with surprise upon hearing this.

He had met Lin Chuan twice, and his impression of him was that he was a tall but timid and cowardly boy. Could it be that he had misjudged him?

After looking Lin Chuan up and down, he smiled and said:

"Didn't I just tell Lin Laojiu that your father is gone? I brought the brothers to pay our respects!"

Lin Chuan nodded and said:

"I appreciate Uncle Zhou's kindness, but my home is small, and I'm afraid I might neglect him. There's no need for a memorial service!"

"That's interesting!"

Thursday suddenly chuckled and said:

"Speaking of which, you were able to save your life thanks to me lending money to your father to buy medicine. I am your family's benefactor. Now that I have come to pay my respects to your father, young brother, instead of offering you good wine and tea, you won't even let me in the door!"

Is this how your Lin family treats its benefactors?

"Uncle Zhou is joking. Father borrowed money from Uncle Zhou, and the IOU clearly states that there are nine outs and thirteen returns."

Aye borrowed ten strings of cash from Uncle Zhou. If he borrowed it for a month, the principal and interest would amount to more than fourteen strings of cash. Uncle Zhou was in this business, and he lent the money to Aye for the interest.

With an interest of five strings of cash a month, is there any business in the world that can make more money?

"If we're talking about favors, shouldn't it be Uncle Zhou who owes the Lin family a favor?" Lin Chuan countered.

On Thursday, he was momentarily speechless. After a pause, he said to Lin Chuan with a forced smile:

"I've brought my brothers here, firstly to pay our respects, and secondly to help you out, little brother. Your father owes me fifteen strings of cash, which he paid off with his house!"

I heard that your mother even went outside the city to buy a burial plot for your father and arranged your father's funeral. Your family must have been emptied out, right?

"It's freezing cold outside, and I can't bear to kick your whole family out. How about I give you your little girl as collateral? Not only will the debt be settled, but I'll also have someone send you some grain. What do you say?"

Lin Chuan suddenly realized that he was after Er Ya.

Seeing Lin Chuan remain silent on Thursday, he assumed Lin Chuan was interested and said with a smile:

"Young man, I'm truly doing this for your own good!"

Lin Chuan stared at Zhou Si for a long time, then shook his head:

"Er Ya is my own sister, how can she be used to pay off a debt? I will repay the fifteen strings of cash I owe Uncle Zhou in full. Uncle Zhou, will you come over then?"

Thursday's face instantly darkened. He gave Lin Chuan a cold look, then turned and stormed off.

Watching Zhou Si and his group disappear into the distance, Lin Chuan, whose whole body was frozen stiff, sighed. An orphan and a widow, and in debt to loan sharks—it was truly a disastrous start.

The group returned to the courtyard in silence, and Lin Jiu softly comforted them:

"Don't worry, eldest brother. We'll talk about the money after your father's funeral. I'll ask the twelfth brother and the others for help, and we'll be able to pay it back..."

Lin Chuan did not refuse Lin Jiu's kindness and nodded:

"Thank you, Uncle Jiu!"

"We're family, no need to be so polite!" Lin Jiu waved his hand.

Winter days are short, and as night was about to fall, the relatives and friends who came to help politely declined Li's invitation to stay and left one after another.

After nightfall, only Lin Chuan and his family of three remained in the small courtyard.

The mother and her two children sat around the fire, each taking small bites of a bowl of thin porridge.

After taking a couple of bites, Li lost her appetite and sighed softly:

"It's all my fault. Your ninth uncle and the others not only helped with everything, but also brought firewood and food, yet I sent them back hungry..."

Lin Chuan paused, then softly advised:

"Mother, eat quickly. You must take care of yourself, or how will you repay the debt of gratitude you owe us?"