Chapter 82: Becoming a Cat 3 (Mother is a Daoist Female Lead)

Transmigrated into a Cat 3 (Mother is a Daoist Female Lead)

They spent a night in the pitch‑black ancestral hall; even though a Three‑Colored Cat brushed their heads, the kitchen maid slipped them sweet water, the three little girls still fell ill.

Da Ya was fine; as the eldest daughter, Xu Shi had not been that eager for a son back then, and she was well cared for in her youth for a long time, so her health was still good.

When Er Ya and San Ya were born, Xu Shi was in a bad mood and unwell, and the servants took care of them.

The two little girls were weaker than Da Ya; after kneeling in the ancestral hall all night, they quickly fell ill, and the sickness came on fiercely.

Pomegranate Flower Town is a small town; although the Luo Family is called the richest household, they actually have few servants—only a dozen or so.

Ten of them are errand boys and guards; the kitchen maid and maids who stay in the inner residence have endless chores each day. Luo Lao Tai Tai and her pampered granddaughter, though not beaten, must do all the extra work, contrary to outsiders' belief that they are a spoiled rich girl who has everything handed to her.

They often cooked, boiled water, washed dishes; Xu Shi, with a motherly heart, would work alongside them when healthy, and when ill she would lie in bed silently shedding tears for her husband.

Sometimes Da Ya and Er Ya also envy the rich daughters of Pomegranate Flower Town.

They can wear new dresses bought from the capital, need not do any work, and spend their days at home learning music, chess, calligraphy, painting, feminine etiquette, sipping tea and reading—days long and leisurely.

Whenever that happens, Chun Hua scares them: "Those missuses have bound feet! The bound feet are only a little larger than the hands, they can't even walk. Some girls who have just bound their feet scream in agony for several nights, run a high fever nonstop, and may even die…"

Da Ya and Er Ya turn pale with fear and no longer dare to envy.

They think their Natural Feet are fine, allowing them to run freely, and when going to worship they can climb long mountain paths on their own.

Luo Lao Tai Tai herself has bound feet, but she favors sons over daughters and dislikes raising a costly burden; if bound feet make field work difficult, then it's a waste.

When Luo Jia Ming was a child, he saw his mother's foot‑binding cloth, sniffed it curiously, and thereafter admired his father greatly.

How could his father love such deformed, foul‑smelling feet, calling his mother's a pair of irresistibly charming feet?

Because the childhood memory was so vivid, when Luo Jia Ming grew up and looked at girls, if they had bound feet he rejected them no matter how beautiful, and eventually chose Xu Shi, who had Natural Feet.

Xu Shi, because her husband disliked it, did not bind her daughters' feet; she sometimes feels a pang of conflict, thinking foot‑binding‑free girls are hard to marry, just as she once was—good families refused her because she lacked bound feet.

If her daughters later cannot marry, they will resent her…

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No, no, there are always men who want to marry a girl with Natural Feet, just like her husband.

When she was dismissed as worthless by a matchmaker because she lacked bound feet, husband Luo Jia Ming swooped in like a hero, defending her and saying Natural Feet are the most beautiful.

Xu Shi instantly felt justified again. Indeed, Natural Feet are the most beautiful! As long as a girl is educated, can cook, embroider, study and manage household affairs, she will surely marry.

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Er Ya has her own room; next door Da Ya lives together with the younger San Ya, making it convenient to look after the younger sister.

In the Luo Family's inner residence, besides a dowry matriarch beside the elderly lady, there are two little maids attending, and only Chun Hua is by Xu Shi's side.

Chun Hua was purchased by Xu Shi at age five; initially she only tended the kitchen fire, but after the missus was born she came to serve the missus.

The three missuses of the Luo Family were almost raised by Chun Hua, and for them Chun Hua is even more careful than Xu Shi.

Da Ya lies on the bed, saying weakly, "Chun Hua, my head hurts…"

Her face is flushed bright red, her cheeks creased, looking very fragile.

"The missus has a fever," Chun Hua says, placing a damp handkerchief on her forehead, then turning to change San Ya's handkerchief on the opposite bed.

Da Ya tries to sit up to see San Ya, but her whole body is weak and she feels dizzy.

She croaks, "Is San Ya also feverish? Is she okay?"

Chun Hua quickly pushes her back onto the bed, "Stay lying down, missus; I'll watch over you both."

Chun Hua has a dark, broad, flat face, not striking in looks, but she is very capable; otherwise Xu Shi wouldn't have so much time to lament.

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On the opposite bed, San Ya murmurs, her eyes tightly shut, tears continuously flowing, clearly having a nightmare.

Chun Hua quickly lifts the child, her large palm gently patting her back, "Don't cry, Chun Hua is here."

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In the dream, Chun Hua's lips are white, she is as thin as a skin‑and‑bone, her face full of sorrow, "Third missus, the lady's words are wrong; a woman may bear a son, but that doesn't guarantee happiness."

Even though she bore a son, her husband still favored that flirtatious widow; even a son cannot bind his heart. Poor child, losing his mother at such a young age.

San Ya cries out, eyes still closed, clutching Chun Hua's neck tightly, "Chun Hua, don't die."

Chun Hua is at a loss, neither laughing nor crying, not knowing what the third missus dreamed.

She kindly pats the little maid's back, cooing, "Alright, alright, I won't die; I'll stay by the missus's side until you all get married."

Da Ya lies there, hearing Chun Hua's words, half‑dazed, thinking that Chun Hua is ten this year? In these years she must consider marriage, otherwise if she gets older she won't be able to marry…

Just as she's thinking, San Ya's sudden shout snaps her awareness awake.

This time San Ya cries, "Big sister, don't die!"

Da Ya jumps up in fright, the handkerchief on her forehead flies off.

She and the looking‑over Chun Hua exchange a glance, "What kind of dream was that? How so inauspicious?"

At that moment, they hear San Ya sobbing loudly, like a child who has endured endless grievances, wailing.

San Ya sees her big sister dead; the big sister was raised by her mother to be gentle and capable, understanding, and she thought women couldn't be jealous, so the husband should take a second wife, which she agreed to, but in the end an ambitious concubine poisoned her to death.

The man was heart‑broken, saying the one he loved was only her, vowing revenge by killing the little concubine.

But what good is that? Her big sister is already dead; the man only cried a few times, earned the reputation of a devoted man, then married a genteel lady, and the couple lived happily.

The world says he's a good man, and that her big sister had a short fate, lacking blessings.

Turns out a man's feelings are so light and thin, letting go so easily.

Chun Hua thinks San Ya is delirious from illness, quickly takes a handkerchief to wipe her face while coaxing.

Yet the little maid in her arms struggles fiercely, even crying terribly.

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Chun Hua is both startled and scared, almost unable to hold the struggling little maid, "Third missus, could she be possessed?"

Da Ya was also terrified, and if their mother knew that San Ya fell ill because she had knelt to the ancestors and returned, she would surely scold them for being pretentious, for disrespecting the ancestors, and the like.

In the dream, San Ya was weeping to the point of heartbreak before a corpse riddled with injuries.

An old man whose face could not be seen said with righteous indignation: "Your father and mother accepted so many betrothal gifts from me; they say whether his daughter lives or dies they won't care. Your second sister is nominally married, but in fact she was bought by my family. I will treat her however I wish."

San Ya said fiercely, "Beast! I'm going to report this to the authorities!"

The old man laughed heartily: "Report, report! See if the magistrate will care about you. If you have reason but no money, don't even step inside. Understand the rules or not!"

In San Ya's desperation, Xu Shi stumbled over.

She wept over Er Ya's corpse, hugging San Ya and saying, "San Ya, this is destiny! It's your second sister's misfortune; let's go back. We can't report to the authorities. If we do, your father… your father will lose face."

San Ya could hardly believe these were her mother's words.

Could it be that her second sister's life is still less important than her father's face?

San Ya went back to confront her father, asking why he married his daughter to a domestic‑abuser, a man who had even beaten three wives to death.

Her father erupted in anger: "I chose a rich man for your second sister; she's stupid and can't think on her feet, so she deserves to be beaten! You damned girl, you have rebelled against Heaven; a young lady so unfilial dares to question your father!"

San Ya didn't understand how the world could be like this, why life had become so terrifying.

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Seeing San Ya keep crying and calling out, yet unable to be awakened, Da Ya and Chun Hua grew extremely anxious.

Chun Hua gritted her teeth, hugged San Ya and rushed out the door, telling someone to find a doctor.

Over there, Luo Lao Tai Tai, who had just fallen asleep, was woken up by a commotion, slapping the bed in anger, and shouted, "Go get a doctor for them!"

After the maid went down, she kept raving, "Damned Xu Shi, have I forgotten my granddaughter? How could a mother forget her own child?!"

The mother, who understood a thing or two, had already released her daughter from the ancestral hall, and yet she still wanted to ask for my consent?

The old doctor was quickly summoned, and busily treated the three maidens.

The two older ones were relatively fine; the youngest, however, was overly thoughtful—what could a child that young possibly have to worry about?

The old doctor was puzzled, thinking perhaps his judgment was wrong.

A Three-Colored Cat perched at the window, its feline face solemnly staring at San Ya.

Sure enough, it was still too early; perhaps the memory should be sealed.

A white sphere invisible to ordinary people floated beside the Three-Colored Cat, muttering, "I told you reincarnation isn't all‑powerful, and foreseeing the future isn't a blessing either."

The Three-Colored Cat defended the little girl: "She's young, her mind hasn't fully developed, not enough storage."

When she grows a bit older, she'll be able to receive memories from her past life.

The old doctor, while tidying up, saw the cat perched by the window and couldn't help but stroke his beard.

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San Ya was held in her mother's arms; if it were before, she would surely cry plaintively, clutching her mother's clothing, lamenting how much she missed her mother, and complaining that her mother had neglected her for such a long time.

Until a piece of news slammed into her.

She disregarded that she was still in confinement and insisted on going to see the three daughters.

Luo Jia Ming, seeing his daughter's cheerful demeanor, didn't tell her that he wasn't going out now because the old man hadn't left to settle accounts and collect rent, and he couldn't get money from the steward either.

Xu Shi also found it odd, "San Ya, what's wrong with you?" Usually this child chatters incessantly like a little sparrow; why is she silent now?

Because a postpartum woman must not be exposed to drafts, the doors and windows were sealed shut, and a woman in confinement cannot bathe; she still smelled of the child's milk, making people feel nauseous.

Yet this time, she felt as if it wasn't a big deal.

It seems the Luo Family's cat is quite spiritual; knowing its master was ill, it stayed on the windowsill guarding.

Luo Jia Ming also thought of this, clicked his tongue, and said, "Pick out some rouge and face powder for Xu Shi."

The exhausted Luo Lao Ye finally saw his son return, and, furious, hurled an inkstone at him.

Who can blame him? His father now has only one son; there's no choice to be made!

Luo Jia Ming didn't want to come back, but the old master had him dragged over.

A Ming's face was somewhat stiff.

Mrs. Huang shook her head silently, having heard that Xu Shi had studied, and wondered why she was becoming more and more pedantic.

Luo Jia Ming dodged the inkstone attack, nonchalantly saying, "Father, don't blame me for Xu Shi not bearing a son; it's not that I don't want a son!"

"What, you don't want to?" Luo Lao Tai Tai's slanted eyes stared at her, "A woman's jealousy is a seven‑fold transgression, she should…"

So, during the days spent at home, whenever he had time, Luo Jia Ming would say a few sweet words outside Xu Shi's window, coaxing her into a dizzy haze.

Luo Jia Ming glanced casually at the three daughters, realizing he hadn't been home for long, yet the three little maidens had suddenly grown so much.

Even if he had no money, Mu Dan would probably still be happy to host him, but the old maid certainly wouldn't be pleased.

Luo Lao Tai Tai's face hardened: "Jia Ming loves prettiness, and you know that. Chun Hua is big and sturdy; it's no wonder Jia Ming wouldn't like her!"

Upon hearing Da Ya and Chun Hua talk about their illnesses, San Ya wore a bewildered expression.

"Mother, I… I am naturally willing, it's just Jia Ming…" Xu Shi stammered, "The daughter‑in‑law once considered making Chun Hua smile, but Jia Ming didn't want to…"

Luo Jia Ming had no interest in the little girl's video, gave it a symbolic glance and let Chun Hua take it back.

Thinking that way, he felt not having a son wasn't a big deal; if he did have a son, the whole family's focus would be on that son, and then who would pay attention to him?

The servant A Ming beside them said, "Second Master, the three misses were all ill earlier."

Look, his father succeeded so well, and now he's become a useless person? Tsk tsk tsk, he still thinks he's not useless enough; he indulges in food, drink, gambling—at least he excels at one thing.

When father is present, Auntie scolds mother and father always interjects a few words; if father's absent, mother, being scolded, dares not retort and just keeps crying.

Who would think she's so fragile; even a stern look from her husband makes her cry, tearing her healthy body into a frail state.

The little girl's video is indeed quite pretty, but he wants a son even more; even if the son is ugly, he still wants one.

Mrs. Huang could no longer stand it and reminded, "Madam, during confinement you must not bathe or expose yourself to drafts!" Fearing Xu Shi hadn't taken it to heart, she emphasized forcefully, "You still need to bear a son; how can you give birth if you don't take proper care?"

Chun Hua was rescued by her; she obeys everything, has a big backside, and if she could bear a son, she would certainly consider it already achieved.

If it weren't for having to nurse Si Ya, reminding her she's still in confinement, she would truly wish to be with her husband, enjoying romantic evenings together.

When she gave birth to Er Ya, her mother mentioned it once; she almost cried herself blind, but fortunately the match her parents suggested, Luo Jia Ming didn't like, so no concubine was taken.

Luo Lao Tai Tai is a woman who came from the old society; she doesn't believe in the modern trend of registering divorces in the newspaper, saying that a woman wants to divorce a man? What nonsense! Only a man can dismiss a woman; a woman dismissing a man is a reversal of yin and yang and will incur heavenly punishment!

Just as she was puzzled, Madam Huang, who attended Luo Lao Tai Tai, came over.

Give him a young widow, he wouldn't be so averse; he loves women who are mature and graceful.

"Luo Jia Ming, look at Si Ya; she's really beautiful, surely the prettiest among the sisters."

Luo Lao Ye, furious, shouted: "Since you treat Joyful Red House as home, you need not return! I'm telling you, I will never allow you to take a concubine; a woman from a brothel, don't even think about it!"

Chun Hua, seeing this, quickly recited a Buddhist chant, then instructed San Ya: "Don't ever lose this Peace Talisman."

In fact she was very happy today; after completing her confinement, she bathed herself spotless, not fearing thoughts of her husband; she missed him terribly and couldn't wait to be with him.

Luo Jia Ming saw it but was completely indifferent; he used to care, before his elder brother died. Until he learned that, to prevent his brothers from quarreling, his father had actually planned to cripple him.

Xu Shi had no son, which disappointed him; he contemplated whether to take Mu Dan as a concubine, but of course now it was absolutely impossible—his parents are old‑fashioned and look down on women from the world of prostitution.

This wasn't the first time Xu Shi faced Luo Jia Ming's desire to take a concubine.

A gift taken casually from Joyful Red House? Is it Mu Dan's bellyband, or rouge and powder, or a seductive fragrance that arouses men?

Come to think of it, Xu Shi is also very beautiful, even prettier than Mu Dan, but she is always weeping.

"Sure."

With her husband and sensible daughters by her side, Xu Shi's confinement was fairly comfortable; she silently prayed that days would forever remain like this.

The system, upon seeing this, was too lazy to say anything.

"Amitabha, may the Buddha protect us."

Luo Jia Ming never stays at home long; a few days is fine, but once it drags on he becomes bored and starts to ponder.

"Madam, Second Master has returned."

Madam Huang, who attended the mother‑in‑law, represented her; Xu Shi dared not cause trouble, so she obediently lay back on the bed, waiting for her husband to return.

Madam Huang could only sigh for the elderly lady; back then Second Master insisted on marrying Xu Shi. Although the old lady disapproved of Xu Shi's pair of Natural Feet, she thought that Natural Feet meant more walking, good health, and thus easier childbirth.

Thinking of this, Luo Jia Ming felt it necessary to be kinder to Xu Shi, after all she is a fool whose heart and eyes are only on him.

Da Ya and Er Ya, upon seeing her, were extremely anxious and hurried to have their mother return to her room to rest; they knew that improper confinement could leave lasting illness.

This was Chun Hua's special request to him, to remind him in front of Second Master that a father cannot fail to check on his sick daughter.

The host simply loves children; after such an ordeal, although the wish‑maker didn't receive the memories, the brain was jolted, leaving a faint imprint that made her mind more mature and better able to handle sudden situations and crises.

Luo Jia Ming was indifferent: "I'm not a doctor; going there wouldn't help." Though he said that, after a moment he ordered, "Go fetch the gifts I brought back and give them to the three little girls, and give them a share as well."

"To let Luo Jia Ming take a concubine?" Xu Shi's heart sank instantly.

Especially San Ya, who not long ago only babbled for food and play, now looks at him quietly as if she were a little adult.

She missed her husband terribly; it had been over half a month since she saw him, all because of the fox spirit of Joyful Red House!

She set San Ya down, fumbling with her clothes, touching her hair, "Luo Jia Ming is back? I—I've not bathed for seven or eight days, these clothes smell of milk… I need to take a bath…"

At first she thought it was a novelty; being loved by a woman like this, any husband would be pleased. Yet over time it became dull; Mu Dan is still more interesting, even when bold she exudes endless charm.

Upon hearing that her three daughters were ill, Xu Shi's motherly heart was about to break.

Without money it's hard to go out; better wait a bit longer.

San Ya patted her chest, smiling sweetly, "I'll keep it safe, it won't be lost."

Sure enough, San Ya quickly recovered completely, no longer possessed.

Da Ya instantly became delighted.

Chun Hua placed the Peace Talisman she had secretly obtained from a temple around San Ya's neck.

Luo Lao Ye trembled with anger.

He wanted her to say that Xu Shi should not always think of men, but focus on nurturing her own body.

"Father, could you stay at home a bit longer?" Da Ya pleaded.

If Chun Hua were more meticulous and shrewd, she would notice that San Ya now speaks more coherently than before; her eyes remain clear, yet occasionally flash a cleverness children lack.

Luo Jia Ming, not wanting to go in, stood beneath the window and told his wife, "Take good care of your health; after you finish confinement, I'll come see you again."

When father is at home, mother's mood improves and she no longer cries; doctors have said a woman in confinement must not cry, yet her mother can't help it.

When Luo Lao Tai Tai gets angry, Xu Shi becomes weak.

Luo Jia Ming couldn't help feeling smug; he liked seeing his father get angry at him yet feel helpless.

Xu Shi in the room heard it and almost burst into tears; she realized that Luo Jia Ming held her in his heart.

Then, she heard this bad news.

"When I'm ill I have nightmares? Dreamed that Chun Hua, the eldest sister and second sister all died?" she murmured, "Did I really dream? I can't remember."

If Mu Dan were pregnant with a son, it would be different; her parents would surely agree to let Mu Dan into the house.

What does having many daughters matter? The Luo family can afford it; with many births, a son will eventually appear. Men are unreliable; a son is one's true support.

She covered her chest, her face bewildered, what's happening? Why, she clearly loved her mother the most.

He still has feelings for Xu Shi, a delicate woman who looks up to him like the heavens, completely opposite to the bold Mu Dan; after a long time together he might find her cloying, yet when apart he feels he can't do without her—truly pitiful and endearing.

Xu Shi immediately set aside her mental doubts, feeling both surprised and delighted.

Luo Jia Ming, a shameless man, grinned and said, "Father, the women you set for me—either an ugly girl with a big butt like Chun Hua, or a foot‑bound little girl—I really have no appetite for them."

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