CDJMM – Volume 3 – The Male Lead Who Transmigrated Into a “Virtuous Wife Literature” Novel (Part 1)

_{Author’s Note: Due to a previous operational error, the blank Chapter 96 became a pre-written chapter, which couldn’t be deleted, so I’ve added an extra chapter here. It’s just a random idea from my brain, and I’ll finish it in one go. I might expand on it later if I have the chance?}

Le Jing was awakened by a woman crying.

Still half–conscious, he heard a woman’s shrill wail: “It’s all Yue-niang’s fault! Her life is too hard—she cursed my son to death!”

A sharp, venomous voice followed: “You calamity star! Money-losing scourge! I never should’ve accepted you into the family to ward off my son’s bad luck! My poor son! Why don’t you go die, you wretched thing!”

“Ah! Mother, please spare Yue-niang, please—hic—hic—hic…”

Amid the chaotic sounds of scuffling and screaming, Le Jing opened his eyes and immediately coughed violently, as if his lungs were tearing apart.

“F—Feng’er?!”

“Sheng’er?!”

The tear-streaked young girl and the white-haired old woman instantly stopped fighting and rushed toward the bed with joy.

“Sheng’er, you’re awake?! Heaven bless us!”

“Husband, how are you feeling now?”

“Doctor! Doctor! Quickly, fetch the doctor to examine Sheng’er!”

After a round of frantic chaos, the doctor came, prescribed medicine, and instructed that Le Jing must rest quietly.

Only after lying in bed did Le Jing finally have time to check the background of this new identity.

And this time’s identity was… truly embarrassing.

The era was an alternate-history Republic of China.

His current name: Bai Wangsheng, 14 years old.

The only son of the richest family in Nancheng. Above him were four older sisters: Pan-di, Zhao-di, Yin-di, and Lai-di.

His father died when he was young. Thanks to his cunning and capable mother, the Bai family’s massive business barely survived.

The two people crying over him just now were his newly-married wife and his mother.

His mother, Madam Huang, had given birth to him at forty-three. Naturally, she treated him like her precious jewel. Unfortunately, Bai Wangsheng was born frail and sickly. Doctors said he wouldn’t live past twenty.

Seeing her son grow weaker by the day, Madam Huang desperately sought solutions. She consulted a fortune-teller, calculated his horoscope, and when he was ten, she married him a wife five years older to bring him good luck and ward off misfortune.

This child bride—the Zhou family’s daughter, courtesy name Yue-niang—was a poor little white-lotus girl sold by her gambler father to the Bai family. From that moment on, she began her tragic life as the “virtuous wife” female lead of one of those oppressive domestic-drama novels.

After reviewing everything, Le Jing sighed and immediately made a decision:

Every woman in this household—any and all of them—must go to school!

The nation was in turmoil, the mountains and rivers broken. Who had time to play oppressive domestic drama?

For the rise of China—go study!

Two months later, Le Jing finally recovered enough to walk.

That very night, Yue-niang crawled naked into his bed, blushing as she said that Mother wanted them to consummate their marriage so they could continue the Bai bloodline.

Le Jing: “…”

Only then did he recall that the original host had been too sickly to share a room with her; since Yue-niang married in, the two had never consummated the marriage.

He pushed Yue-niang away and sat up. Meeting her fearful gaze, he said coldly:

“Yue-niang, tomorrow I’m sending you to school. If you can’t get into a university, don’t even think about entering the Bai family’s gates again! If you want to remain the Bai family’s young madam, then you’ll have to earn a doctorate.”

Yue-niang: “???”

The next day, Yue-niang tearfully complained to Madam Huang:

“I’m already married—how can I go out and show my face in public or interact with strange men?”

Madam Huang frowned disapprovingly at Le Jing. “Sheng’er, a woman’s virtue lies in not having talent. Yue-niang has married into our family—bearing you a son early is her proper duty.”

Le Jing calmly coughed up a mouthful of blood.

Under Madam Huang’s horrified gaze, he said earnestly:

“Mother, I’ve developed a terrible illness… If Yue-niang doesn’t attend school, I’ll start coughing blood. Every day she doesn’t study, my heart aches—and when it aches, I cough blood—and if this continues, I’ll cough myself to death.”

Madam Huang was terrified. “There’s such a strange illness?!”

She hurriedly wiped the blood from his lips, trembling. “My baby, whatever you want, Mother will agree! If it’s just school—let her go! Just don’t hurt yourself again, alright?”

And thus—

Zhou Yue-niang, age 19, married into the Bai family for four years, was sent to the Nancheng Girls’ School and became a proud… elementary school student.

Yue-niang was only the beginning.

Next, Le Jing set his sights on the original host’s four older sisters.

Eldest sister Bai Pan-di, 27: Three years ago, she was divorced for being childless and tearfully returned to her maiden home. Her heart had died; she now spent her days burning incense, chanting sutras, and sweeping the family’s Buddha hall.

Le Jing looked at the woman kneeling before the Buddha statue and called softly, “Eldest Sister.”

She jumped in fright, hurriedly standing up with flustered hands. “Little brother, what do you need?”

His gaze paused briefly on her prematurely gray hair before he asked lightly:

“I want to know—what are your plans for the future? Are you planning to pray to Buddha your whole life, or remarry?”

Her expression turned even more bitter. She lowered her head and whispered, “I… can’t have children. What man would want me?”

Le Jing nodded knowingly. “I have a way to cure your infertility.”

Bai Pan-di trembled and snapped her head up. Her eyes shone with desperate hope. “What way?!”

Le Jing declared confidently:

“Go to school!”

He continued with utter seriousness:

“Reading the sages’ teachings drives out evil and cures all illness. You’ll definitely be able to have a son!”

Bai Pan-di stared—

And then she believed it.

“The teacher said books contain gold houses, fields, beauties… I didn’t know they could cure illness too!”

Her face lit up. “Books are truly wonderful! Fine—I’ll attend school!”

“…But Mother…”

Le Jing remained calm. “As long as I approve, Mother won’t object.”

Bai Pan-di burst into tears of joy. “That’s wonderful! My illness can be cured!”

The next day, Bai Pan-di was stuffed into an adult literacy class.

With Eldest Sister sent off, Le Jing went to find the second sister.

Second sister Bai Zhao-di, age 23: Married at 16 to the eldest young master of the Wang family—a once-prestigious family fallen into ruin. They relied on the Bai family’s money to survive, yet still looked down on merchants.

Sister Zhao-di lived a life worse than death: A harsh mother-in-law, a bullying sister-in-law, and a husband who gambled, drank, visited brothels, and beat her whenever he got drunk.

Their mother believed that “a married daughter is spilled water,” so she never supported her daughter. Bai Zhao-di could only endure humiliation in silence.

Le Jing arrived at the Wang family estate with over a dozen hired toughs. Without even knocking, he ordered:

“Break the door.”

The thugs swarmed forward.

A few kicks each—

BANG

The wooden door collapsed instantly.

With the thugs clearing the path, Le Jing strode in. Before he walked far, he ran into the Wang family’s old servant rushing over.

The servant stared at the intimidating group, stunned. “You… you’re the Bai family young master? What are you doing… How could you…”

Le Jing ignored him and ordered the two lackeys, “Go bring my second sister out.”

Before long, the Wang residence erupted into waves of curses. Bai Zhaodi, holding her child’s hand, was dragged out in panic by the lackeys, followed by a foul-mouthed old woman and a sharp-tongued young lady.

“Who are you people! How dare you come to my Wang family and snatch someone away! Is there no law left in this world! Do you even know what kind of family we are? Are your dog eyes blind?”

Le Jing smiled pleasantly and replied, “Oh my, old lady, you’re still holding onto almanacs from centuries ago. If not for our Bai family supporting you all these years, you would’ve been so poor you’d have to pawn your pants by now. What status do you think you still have? A joke—nothing more.”

Old Lady Wang stared wide-eyed in disbelief. “You’re… Bai Wangsheng?”

Le Jing lifted his chin and said bluntly, “My second sister is divorcing her husband. From now on, don’t even dream of getting a single coin from our Bai family.”

Old Lady Wang spat, arms akimbo. “Pah! As if we care about your family’s pathetic money!”

Le Jing nodded. “You said it yourself.”

He waved a hand. “Go bring back all the dowry my second sister brought here. Short even a single coin, and punch Young Master Wang once.”

Old Lady Wang and the young Miss Wang cursed non-stop, but an arm can’t twist a thigh. The dead-drunk, snoring Young Master Wang was dragged out of bed like a dead dog and dumped in the courtyard.

A moment later, a few lackeys carried out several half-empty chests. “Young master, half the dowry is missing.”

Le Jing pointed his chin toward Young Master Wang lying on the ground and said lightly, “Go beat him half to death.”

The lackeys immediately began punching and kicking the man on the ground.

The man, still dazed, curled up and shielded his head, slurring as he cried, “Don’t hit me! Don’t hit me! If you want money, take it from my family—my wife has money!”

Bai Zhaodi watched her husband’s swollen pig-like face, her expression growing more and more complicated.

“Come, Second Sister, come home with me.” Le Jing grabbed her hand and turned to leave.

It took more than ten seconds before the Wang family members reacted.

Old Lady Wang nearly fainted from anger. The young Miss Wang was quick on her feet; she chased them to the gate and shouted, “Bai Wangsheng, stop right there! In broad daylight, how dare you beat our young master and kidnap our Wang family’s daughter-in-law!”

“She is the second young lady of the Bai family. What does she have to do with your Wang family?” Le Jing retorted. “Your brother beat my sister. As her younger brother, is it wrong for me to stand up for her?”

By now, Bai Zhaodi finally came back to her senses. She stammered anxiously, “Sh-sheng’er, what are you doing? How can this be? Mother will never agree…”

Le Jing looked at his terrified second sister with a half-smile. “And so what if she knows?” he said calmly. “When has Mother ever gone against my wishes?”

Bai Zhaodi fell silent.

Miss Wang raised her voice. “Since Bai Zhaodi entered our Wang family, she is our person! Serving us like a cow or a horse is only right. Only we can divorce her—there is no logic where she gets to divorce us! You hit my brother! I’m calling the police to arrest you!”

Le Jing arched a brow and gave a mocking smile. “Everything you’re wearing and using right now comes from my sister’s dowry. Your whole family’s food, drink, and expenses are all paid with Bai family money. And you want to lecture me on logic? When you abused my sister and stole her dowry, were you following the logic of ungrateful wolves?”

“As for calling the police, go ahead.” He sneered. “Let’s see whether the police arrest you or me.”

The crowd watching the spectacle began whispering and pointing at Miss Wang. Their expressions toward her slowly changed.

Her face turned as dark as pig liver. She stomped her foot, covered her face, and ran away.

Bai Zhaodi, holding her daughter’s hand, followed her younger brother home in a daze, everything feeling unreal.

“Mother, does this mean we never have to go back again?”

Looking into her daughter’s bright eyes, Bai Zhaodi suddenly remembered something. “But what about Nannan? Her surname is Wang. The Wang family won’t give up!”

“Then let her take the Bai surname,” Le Jing said calmly. “Once we’re home, we’ll add her to the Bai family genealogy.”

“As for that declining Wang family—if they dare make trouble, Mother would skin them alive.”

Bai Zhaodi stared at her frail younger brother. She had never been close to him, and she didn’t understand why he was suddenly helping her.

“Why… why are you helping me?”

The young man turned back and answered righteously, “No matter how hard life is, we don’t let the children suffer. No matter how poor we are, we don’t skimp on education. Besides, our family isn’t even poor. Tomorrow, you’re going to school with your daughter.”

Bai Zhaodi: ???

Le Jing patted the little girl’s head and spoke kindly, “Our Nannan must study hard for the rise of our nation. You’ll grow up to be a scientist, okay?”

Nannan nodded enthusiastically. “Okay!”

The next day, after sending her daughter to primary school, Bai Zhaodi became a student in Eldest Sister Bai’s literacy class.

Next came Third Sister, Bai Yindi. She was eighteen this year. She was born just when the Qing Dynasty ended—lucky timing.

At that time, it had become popular for families to send their girls to school. Madam Huang wanted her daughter to have a good reputation for marriage, so she let her study for a few years. Thankfully, this meant Le Jing didn’t need to send her to a literacy class too.

Earlier that year, Madam Huang arranged a marriage for Third Sister. She withdrew her from the girls’ school and kept her at home to prepare for marriage, scheduled for the end of the year.

When Le Jing visited her, the young lady was shouting about going on a hunger strike in protest, swearing never to compromise with an arranged marriage.

Le Jing immediately said, “Sure. I’ll have Mother call off the engagement tomorrow.”

Bai Yindi widened her eyes in shock. “Are you feverish?”

Le Jing answered earnestly, “No. I mean it. A heroine like you shouldn’t be confined to living rooms and kitchens. You should make your own future!”

Bai Yindi was overjoyed. She didn’t even care why her little brother was suddenly a different person. She excitedly slapped his shoulder and said sweetly, “Good brother, then my future is in your hands! You must convince Mother!”

“What are your plans, Third Sister?” Whether she wanted to keep studying or go work, he could arrange it.

After hesitating, Bai Yindi looked around sneakily, then whispered in his ear like sharing a top-secret message, “Little brother… have you heard of Marx?”

Le Jing: …

He looked at her with a complicated expression. He had underestimated this sister.

“Third Sister… Are you planning to go to Yan’an and join the revolution?”

Her eyes instantly lit up. She hugged her brother excitedly. “Good brother, I knew you’d understand me!”

Le Jing: “…Alright then. Go. I’ll convince Mother.”

“Thank you, little brother.” She let go of him, the fire of idealism burning in her young face. “From today on, pretend I’m dead. I will never drag the Bai family down!”

Le Jing shook his head with a rueful smile. “Third Sister, one day the Bai family might rely on you instead.”

The next day, Third Sister packed her travel funds and set off for Yan’an.

The original host’s last sister, Bai Laidi, was sixteen. She was still attending the girls’ school but already had a fiancé and was expected to marry once she came of age.

Naturally, Le Jing planned to cancel that engagement too.

Upon hearing the news, Bai Laidi burst into tears.

She cried and screamed, “I don’t want to break off the engagement! I don’t want to be an abandoned woman! My classmates will laugh at me!”

Le Jing said coldly, “Then I’ll send you abroad to study! Once you get into Harvard, you can marry whoever you want. I won’t stop you!”

Bai Laidi: ???

After swiftly dealing with the life plans of all five Bai women like a storm sweeping fallen leaves, Le Jing still couldn’t relax.

Because now he faced the toughest obstacle of all—Madam Huang.

But he had already devised a way to deal with her.

Three months later, after the eldest and second sisters graduated from the literacy class, Le Jing lay on a hospital bed, breathing weakly as he said to Madam Huang, “Mother, Fourth Sister said… this illness can’t be cured in China. Only foreign doctors can treat it. Please take me abroad for treatment?”

Madam Huang was so anxious she nearly cried. “But… but the household can’t run without me!”

“Sell everything we can. What we can’t sell, let Third Sister handle,” Le Jing said weakly. “Eldest Sister and Second Sister will come too. We’ll live peacefully abroad as a family.”

Madam Huang hesitated, but Le Jing immediately looked at her with wounded eyes. “Mother… is money more important than my life?”

That struck home. She made her decision instantly. “Alright! We’ll leave the country! The situation in China is getting more chaotic anyway—we’ll go abroad and wait it out.”

Le Jing had already planned it out. Once abroad, he would send Madam Huang to university. Eldest and Second Sister too—they needed exposure to Western liberal ideas. They didn’t need high levels of knowledge, but they had to learn to be strong and independent women.

And he wasn’t lying. With current domestic medical conditions, the original host’s health truly couldn’t be cured.

He needed to go abroad to heal.

Why heal?

To return to China.

Return to do what?

To join the Communists and join the revolution, of course.