Chapter 1: Borrowing a Corpse to Return to Life—What a Curse!

“Dad, wake up~”
“Yueyue, don’t cry. Your dad is fine.”
“A-Hua just left, and A-Chen got into trouble again. What a curse.”
“It’s better if he’s dead. Always out there causing trouble, never taking care of the family. What’s the difference between being alive and dead?”
“Old man, what nonsense are you talking? Tsk, tsk, tsk...”
...

Su Chen slowly opened his eyes to find four or five people in the dim room staring at him expectantly.

He was stunned for a moment, feeling the real texture of the quilt under his hand, frowning: Is this... possession?

He clearly remembered that in order to suppress thousands of ghost kings, he had set a formation with his sect disciples and ultimately perished alongside the ghost kings.

Before he could think further, a wave of memories flooded his mind.

This body was also named Su Chen, with the same birthdate as himself. Being the youngest son in the family, he was spoiled since childhood.

Even though he married at twenty, he never settled down. All the housework was done by his wife while he wandered outside all day, either gambling or fishing.

His parents, seeing this, urged Xu Jiahua to have children, believing that once he had kids, a man’s heart would be tied to home.

He had five children in total.

Half a month ago, Xu Jiahua died in childbirth, leaving behind a needy infant.

Of course, the original owner hardly grieved—after the funeral, he continued wandering around every day, completely neglecting the children.

Last night, he stumbled and fell at the door in the dark and only just woke up now.

After recalling all this, Su Chen muttered three words: What a curse!

What a despicable scoundrel is this?

Looking around the room, everyone was pale and thin, wearing thin clothes despite the harsh winter.

Su Chen silently cursed the original owner, meeting the hopeful gazes of those around him but unsure how to respond.

He was not the original Su Chen after all.

“Daddy, you’re awake? That’s wonderful!” The little girl exclaimed, crawling over excitedly.

“Wah~” The baby, woken by the noise, suddenly burst into tears.

Everyone scrambled to change diapers and call the doctor.

Soon, only the little girl, about three or four years old, and Su Chen remained, their eyes locked.

This was the original owner’s third daughter, Yueyue.

Su Chen slowly sat up, his gaze falling on Yueyue’s feet.

Bare, without even socks.

Her pants were long enough to cover part of her ankles but were clearly too big, not only letting in cold air but also thin.

Looking around the room, aside from the wooden plank bed and a small dresser, the walls were covered with old newspapers, the floor was hard earth, a wooden chamber pot in the corner emitted a foul smell, and an old spittoon sat beside the bed...

Su Chen’s original world was one where ghostly energy had resurged, but it also had tall buildings, modern weapons, and contemporary furniture. This place was...

Primitive... and poor!

After a moment’s hesitation, Su Chen looked back at Yueyue. “Where are your older brother and sister?”

The little girl shrank in on herself. “Sister is washing clothes, brother is with the baby sleeping in grandma’s room.”

Sleeping?

Su Chen was skeptical for a moment but soon understood.

No one was really sleeping; they probably had no clothes and had to hide under the covers to keep warm.

He rose and went to the next room, seeing two heads poking out from under the quilt on a wooden bed, their bare shoulders visible.

“A-Chen, why are you up? It’s so cold outside. Hurry, lie back down.”

The voice was that of Su Chen’s mother, Liu Chunhua.

Liu Chunhua had eight children—three sons and five daughters—with Su Chen the youngest. His older siblings had all started families, but these days, every household was struggling. Only the third sister, who married a butcher, occasionally returned to give Liu Chunhua some money, which she then gave to Su Chen.

Exactly!

The reason the original owner had ended up in such a state was because of Liu Chunhua’s indulgence.

Over the years since starting his own family, the original owner had accumulated gambling debts every year. When the New Year came, creditors would come knocking, but Liu Chunhua always stood as guarantor, figuring out how to pay it off.

Thinking of this, Su Chen looked at Liu Chunhua’s worn cloth shoes with a heavy heart.

The village barefoot doctor came to thoroughly examine Su Chen and, hearing he was fine, Liu Chunhua smiled broadly and hurried to cook him a steamed egg custard.

“A-Chen, don’t mind your dad. He’s just stubborn. Before you woke up, he was so worried. Now that you’re awake, he just nags. Don’t get angry, son. Eat this egg, then get a good sleep. When you wake up, you’ll feel better...”

Liu Chunhua was about to say she would give him some money to go out and play, but then thought about the little grandson who needed porridge and fell silent.

Seeing this, Su Chen smiled. “Mom, it’s okay. Now that I’m awake, I’ll stay and play with Yueyue.”

Liu Chunhua smiled back, “Alright, alright~”

“Now, eat quickly.”

Su Chen wasn’t really craving the custard, but he was genuinely hungry.

Just as he picked up the spoon, he felt a burning gaze.

Turning, he saw Yueyue staring at him eagerly, swallowing hard.

Seeing him look, Yueyue quickly turned her head away.

Liu Chunhua shot Yueyue a stern look and smiled at Su Chen, “Yueyue is still little and doesn’t need such good food. You eat it yourself. I’ll make another bowl later when I have time.”

When Su Chen nodded and took a spoonful, Liu Chunhua finally relaxed and smiled broadly.

“Grandma, where’s the drying rack?”

A clear voice came from outside.

Liu Chunhua’s face darkened as she muttered curses and stepped out.

“What are you shouting about? Can’t you see? Still just eating all day, no energy at all...”

Su Chen swallowed the custard, sighed, and turned to pull Yueyue closer.

“Come, Yueyue, taste this for Daddy. Is it too salty?”

The little girl’s eyes immediately lit up.

She took a big bite, her eyes curving in satisfaction.

When asked if it was salty, she shook her head vigorously, “Not salty, sweet.”

Su Chen laughed.

It had soy sauce in it—how could it be sweet?

This child...

He sighed again, set the bowl on the dresser, and began to search around.

After a while, he found only ten yuan.

Not trusting it, Su Chen calculated again with his fingers and felt disheartened.

It wasn’t just poor—they were utterly destitute.

According to the original owner’s memories, ten yuan could barely buy five pounds of pork, not enough to do much.

He had to earn money!

When the eldest daughter, Honghong, came in dressed lightly, her small hands and face red from the cold, Su Chen coaxed her to finish the remaining custard before tidying the room.

After Xu Jiahua’s death, per custom, her closer-fitting clothes had been burned. The few remaining old clothes were taken by Liu Chunhua, who said she would alter them to fit the children. Thus, the dresser now held only thin summer clothes for Su Chen and the children, arranged neatly in a single shallow layer.

After dusting off a wooden box under the bed, Su Chen met Honghong’s worried gaze.

“What’s wrong?”

Honghong pressed her lips together. “Dad, are you going to work far away too?”

“Why do you ask that?”

“Daddy A-Sheng left two years ago and hasn’t come back.”

After speaking, Honghong lowered her head, her reddened hands twisting nervously. “Grandma said the south is dangerous; maybe he’s already gone.”

She was worried about him!

A warm feeling surged within Su Chen’s heart.

What kind of man was the original owner?

Such a scoundrel, yet so many cared for him.

Thinking this, Su Chen reached out and gently patted Honghong’s head.

“Don’t worry, Dad isn’t going far away.”

“Really?” Honghong’s face lit up with joy.

Su Chen smiled and nodded.

“But Dad has to go to the city tomorrow.”

Honghong blinked, then stared blankly, finally letting out a soft, “...Ah?”