Chapter 83: Transmigrated into a Cat 4 (Mother Is the Female Lead of a Virtuous-Wife Novel)

Transmigrated into a Cat 4 (Mother Is the Female Lead of a Virtuous-Wife Novel)

As soon as Luo Lao Tai Tai's face darkened, Xu Shi instinctively weakened, like a put-upon young daughter-in-law.

She wrung her handkerchief and whispered, "I-I, as a daughter-in-law, don't know anyone..."

Because Luo Lao Tai Tai thought women who often went out were undisciplined, Xu Shi, as a daughter-in-law, rarely went out, so she hardly knew anyone.

Among those maids, there must be some who want to climb onto the dragon and attach to the phoenix.

But Luo Lao Tai Tai is really stingy; she wants only maids who can work, and she rejects all flirtatious little vixens, so the maids in the Luo household are all like Chun Hua—simple and sturdy—not the type Luo Jia Ming likes.

Luo Lao Tai Tai heard this and gave Xu Shi a harsh glare, saying, "I knew it—I couldn't count on you!"

Before Xu Shi could feel any secret joy, she heard Luo Lao Tai Tai continue, "I've already sent someone to the countryside to buy a few pretty-looking girls; of course, on the surface they're just here to help around the house, as long as you don't interfere... Men are like that: if you press their heads down they won't eat, but if you refuse to give, they'll instead sneak a bite."

Xu Shi's heart felt as if it were on fire, but she truly couldn't guarantee that her next pregnancy would bear a son.

She felt terrible inside, but she loved her husband; if a concubine bore a son, she would surely treat him as her own.

Luo Lao Tai Tai, well versed in the carrot-and-stick approach, softened her expression and spoke kindly to her daughter-in-law: "Those women are merely tools for bearing children; once the child is born, I'll give it to you to raise, and raising it from childhood will make it almost no different from your own."

Luo Lao Tai Tai looks down on today's young ladies, corrupted by newspapers and new-style schools, babbling about free love and women's liberation. By comparison, the daughter-in-law is not bad; although she always gives birth to daughters, at least she knows the Three Obediences and Four Virtues, taking her husband as heaven.

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He swatted away with a paw the stray cat that wanted to follow him to snuggle and bask in the sun.

So dirty, how long has it been since a bath? He doesn't want to play with these unclean strays.

The stray cat meowed pitifully: "Boss, what's wrong with you? Didn't you just give me dried fish yesterday? I came especially to groom you—I want to repay you!"

Jiang He the cat gave it a haughty, cold glance and bared its teeth.

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Two cats on the roof meowed back and forth without end.

Luo Lao Tai Tai got a headache from the noise, looked up, and complained dissatisfiedly: "San Ya's cat is utterly useless—it won't even catch mice! It's just a freeloader, and those maids actually buy it dried fish!"

Huang Ma smiled: "Madam, the cat is still young; when it grows up it will naturally catch mice."

She is the Luo family's dowry maid; she and the old lady have shared decades of wind and rain, so when speaking to the old lady she need not be nervous like others.

Luo Lao Tai Tai huffed: "Wait until it grows a bit; if it still doesn't catch mice, I'll kick it out to save grain for the household."

In short, besides her husband and son, no one should expect to eat a single grain of Luo family rice for free.

Jiang He the cat, perched on the roof, meowed twice unhappily.

You like mice, huh? With a single command he could send all the town's mice to the Luo household—see if that scares the old lady to death.

The three-colored cat left Luo Lao Tai Tai's courtyard and headed toward the side courtyard.

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San Ya held an oil-paper parcel; the faint aroma made the three-colored cat meow repeatedly, a soft, tender sound that made San Ya smile, her eyes crinkling.

San Ya pinched a fish tail and placed it near the three-colored cat's mouth: "The dried fish my eldest sister made is really tasty."

Jiang He the cat ate without lifting its head, occasionally cooing sweetly at San Ya twice, obviously pleased with the dried fish.

San Ya squatted there, cupping her cheeks with both hands, and whispered her feelings to the cat.

"I don't know why I don't want to get close to Mother these days; when I see her I feel both drawn to her and wanting to flee." San Ya unconsciously popped the cat's dried fish treat into her own mouth—a delicacy for the cat, but too fishy for humans—yet she had no awareness of that at the moment.

The three-colored cat also stopped eating, sat down beside her, and gazed at San Ya with a solemn feline face.

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"And my father—I don't know why, but I dislike him." San Ya chewed the dried fish in her mouth and murmured, "I always feel he'll cause me to lose many relatives; I'm strongly opposed to him..."

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San Ya seemed to startle, turning her head in all directions: "Strange, is it just an illusion?"

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San Ya looked around once, saw no one, and thought she had misheard.

She continued: "He's my father; if he could improve, that would be best."

She didn't want anyone to kill her father; her mother loves him so much that if he died, she might collapse completely.

Even if her father were no good, a household with a man is different from one without; he's like a broken umbrella—though it can't block wind or rain, at least it stands there, giving the family a central support.

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Indeed, the Luo family's four girls are still young; they need a father to shelter them from wind and rain, and having him now is more valuable than if he were dead.

If Luo Jia Ming died now, the four girls would become orphans, and Xu Shi is incapable of standing on her own; with the realm in turmoil outside, Pomegranate Flower Town could never resist invaders' steps—sooner or later the realm will fall, and even a decadent Luo Jia Ming is better than none.

At that moment, Da Ya came over, waving to her sister: "San Ya, what are you doing here? Mother called us over."

San Ya gave an "oh," brushed the fishy smell from her little hands, and followed her elder sister away.

When the two sisters arrived, Er Ya was already in Xu Shi's room, sitting on a small stool embroidering a butterfly.

That butterfly fluttered up from the flowers, lifelike; the flower itself was so realistic it seemed one could smell its fragrance.

That girl, who appears dull and simple to outsiders, has skillful hands that can produce astonishing works; the four seasons' flowers are in her eyes, and the splendid landscapes of rivers and mountains are in her heart.

San Ya bounced over, exclaiming, "Wow, Er Ya, you're amazing!"

Er Ya smiled, pursing her lips; usually lacking confidence, her eyes now sparkled, and in this regard she finally regained some confidence.

"San Ya, you should study hard too," Xu Shi admonished: "Your eldest sister excels at cooking, your second sister at embroidery; you need your own strengths, or how will you ever become a virtuous wife and good mother?"

San Ya had no desire to be a virtuous wife and good mother; she disliked cooking and embroidery, saying, "I don't want to learn these things for a man."

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Xu Shi disagreed; San Ya is still young and doesn't understand the sweetness and heartache of loving a man, but once she realizes, she'll regret not having striven in her youth to become better, and will anxiously fear she's not worthy of the one she loves.

Just like her, she will always regret not having worked hard as a girl to become a talented woman; hearing that the peony of Joyful Red House can play the pipa superbly, she wonders why she never thought to learn the pipa in her youth.

Today Xu Shi summoned her three daughters, intending to have them learn something.

Da Ya and Er Ya are all right, but San Ya simply refuses to be disciplined.

Only saw San Ya pouting her lips, struggling with needle and thread, crying out in pain now and then; a glance showed she had again stuck the needle into her fingertip.

Both elder sisters felt sorry for her; Er Ya quietly moved closer to her younger sister, hoping to sneak in and help her sew a stitch or two.

She was inarticulate and didn't know how to tell her mother, but actually it didn't matter if San Ya couldn't embroider; worst case, whenever San Ya needed anything later, this sister would embroider it for her.

At last San Ya couldn't bear it any longer: 'Mother, when I grow up I'll become a great beauty; even if I can't do anything, people will want to marry me just for this face.'

She really couldn't stand embroidery; it was too hard, her hands were about to be turned into a honeycomb from all the pricks.

Xu Shi, of course, also felt sorry for her; thinking of her husband in everything doesn't mean she doesn't love her daughters.

She spoke earnestly: 'San Ya, I don't expect you to be as handy as your second sister with needlework, but at least you should know how to mend clothes; and as a woman, you ought to know how to make undergarments.'

Er Ya also comforted her: 'This is much simpler than embroidery; San Ya will surely be able to learn it.'

San Ya felt desperate; she thought everything was difficult, and it would be easier to sew needles on pigskin—she believed she ought to be good at that.

Strange, why would she think she was good at sewing pigskin?

No, it seems she's even better at sewing human skin.

Unconsciously, San Ya pulled the needle and sewed a dense, neat line.

Da Ya exclaimed delightedly: 'San Ya, look, you still can do it—this line is so neat!'

San Ya wore a wooden expression: 'No, I think I can't! I'm better at sewing human skin, but does anyone need her to sew human skin?'

Finally San Ya gave up needlework, turned to her elder sister and said: 'Elder sister, I want to learn cooking from you!' Perhaps learning to cook would be simpler than embroidery.

Da Ya naturally agreed to teach her younger sister, secretly thinking perhaps San Ya's talent lay in cooking, so let her try learning it first.

Thus, San Ya was assigned to tend the fire, starting with fire‑keeping.

Luo Lao Tai Tai liked to work people to the bone; even if the cook was overwhelmed, she firmly refused to hire help, instead putting her granddaughter to work.

Da Ya started from tending the fire and eventually mastered excellent cooking skills.

But San Ya didn't want to tend fire; she wanted to chop vegetables, feeling that a knife—especially a sharp, small willow‑leaf‑shaped blade—felt especially intimate, and she thought she could use such a knife to peel tomato skins.

In the end San Ya was driven out of the kitchen because she had burned a large pot.

The cook had no choice but to ask someone to come fix the pot.

Xu Shi had wanted to scold her, but then didn't, because Luo Lao Ye had gone out to collect debts and Luo Jia Ming had pocketed some money and gone off to enjoy himself.

To Luo Jia Ming, the gentle and considerate Xu Shi was certainly good—like a cup of clear tea, quenching and pleasant.

But he loved Mu Dan more; that was like fiery, pungent liquor—one sip and you're hooked.

Xu Shi began to cry again; her nature was gentle and she wouldn't scold anyone, so Chun Hua scolded on her behalf, but Chun Hua, uneducated, could only repeatedly curse fox spirits and demons.

The three daughters also took turns persuading Xu Shi, to no avail; she remained sorrowful, tears falling onto Si Ya's face as she lamented: 'It must be because I can't bear a son, making Jia Ming suffer so much that he doesn't want to stay home—why can't I give birth to a son?'

On the bed, Si Ya gurgled while drinking milk, patted her face with her little hand, wondering how the milk had ended up on her cheek.

Fortunately he still had a bit of reason, knowing the courtesan would surely be even more beautiful; he was determined to see the courtesan Mu Dan today.

But next, her mother would surely have no time to look after her; she would at least cry for ten days or half a month, so she wouldn't have to tend the fire. Yet for some unknown reason, San Ya wasn't happy.

'Yo, sir, rare guest—first time coming to Joyful Red House, may I ask your esteemed surname?' the madam smiled at the obvious leader, a callow youth, like a blooming chrysanthemum.

'Indeed, it's too stifling.' Jiang He the cat couldn't help but scratch its paws; the men are scum, the women are trash, and its paws are itching.

The TV's ratings had risen, but the critics came like a flood.

'That's truly terrifying; all the ladies in my building are delicate girls, sir, you must protect us.'

Thus Luo Tianci finally showed Xu Shi a pleasant expression.

Later, the two elders of the Luo family died; Luo Jia Ming was inept at business, selling off the shops one by one, their fortunes plummeting, and Mu Dan also grew old, making it impossible for her to again attach herself to a wealthy man for a good life.

Several young ladies walked down, swaying gracefully.

Never again do I want to meet a mother like her.

Why not come at night? Naturally, because he had finally managed to become an official with authority, he wanted to show off his power and also use that official clout to freeload—getting something for nothing, which everyone likes.

When she just now didn't hear that pimple‑faced man say he wanted the courtesan to attend him? Definitely an excuse! And moreover, an excuse for freeloading.

However today, a short man clad in a police uniform, his face covered in pimples, burst into Joyful Red House accompanied by two men in the same uniform, demanding that the courtesan Mu Dan receive him.

From his childhood onward, the Luo family deliberately cultivated connections that would benefit his future; the marriages of his two sisters were chosen precisely for his sake.

The baby, not understanding, cooed and babbled, wanting to lick the water off its face.

Later, Luo Jia Ming also died, dragged down by his only son.

His grandson, grown up, listened to his tales of the old society, felt deeply moved, wrote a book and even adapted it into a TV series titled *The Way of Motherhood*, praising Xu Shi's greatness.

Those present suddenly realized it was nepotism; no wonder this kid could don an official's robe—his scrawny frame hardly looks like official material.

Fang Dequan, because of his pimple‑covered face, had never won the favor of beauties; after becoming an official's son, the plump fellow next door shyly twisted his water‑bucket waist and called him 'Brother Dequan'.

San Ya felt she never wanted to marry again; men are terrifying—after just a few years they tire of one woman and take a liking to another.

Fang Dequan, having just donned the official's robe, didn't want to idle chatter with that wrinkled‑faced madam; he only wanted to go see the courtesan.

Xu Shi knew she loved her husband to such a degree that she would not hesitate to sacrifice her daughters, just so his lineage could continue; she loved him to the point of being willing to sacrifice herself.

A wretch who gives his own sister away as a concubine also has the nerve to call himself a proper imperial son‑in‑law?!

Speak of how loving she and her husband were when they first married.

The madam silently cursed Fang Dequan's troublesomeness; this newly‑official‑robed melon baby, if she didn't want everything to annoy her enough to cover Joyful Red House, she would have kicked out such a raw melon baby long ago.

Frankly, he truly can't stand this kind of holy‑mother with water‑logged brains.

However, Luo Tianci couldn't change his ways—until his leg was broken, and his unswerving birth mother washed clothes to support him and took care of him.

Jiang He the cat nodded silently, knowing the little girl was right.

He also wanted to see just how beautiful the woman kept by the richest man of Pomegranate Flower Town, Luo Family's second master, really was.

Xu Shi, feeling she had finally reaped reward after hardship, was deeply moved, believing her son still had hope; she earnestly begged him to behave, to quit his vices of eating, drinking, whoring and gambling.

She felt completely at ease letting him run about, because as long as Xu Shi was present, her son would never starve.

Everyone says the Luo sisters have suffered eight generations of bloody misfortune, which is why they were reborn as Luo family daughters—none of them have a good ending, and all the men in this story are loathsome scum.

On her deathbed, Xu Shi grabbed Luo Tianci's hand and said, "Tianci, the graves of your several sisters..."

This time, Xu Shi instead urged Luo Lao Tai Tai to quickly bring a handsome country girl into the mansion; she would rather her husband take several more pure concubines than have him in his old age go after Mu Dan.

The third daughter was born the finest, even more beautiful than the son-flower.

At this moment, seeing three rare beauties all at once, his soul almost flew away.

San Ya was quite annoyed by this, and she also went to the Three-Colored Cat to pour out her heart: "My mother cries all day, over and over recounting how she and Father first met."

After Mu Dan entered the household, she found Xu Shi had little fighting spirit, and quickly won over Luo Jia Ming's heart, living more freely than the main wife; she even had her son occasionally step on Xu Shi's feet, and she was quite pleased.

The madam also had her calculations: Mu Dan is already in her early twenties, and in a few years she won't be fresh anymore, so now is the time to sell her for a good price. Of course a buy-one-get-one-free is impossible; counting the child in Mu Dan's belly, the Luo family must pay double the bride-price.

Luo Tianci wiped his tears and said, "Mother, I will go sweep, I will definitely go sweep."

The madam took a close look, realized these officials couldn't be offended, and hurriedly greeted them.

The famous brothel madam in the capital and the madam of Joyful Red House were sisters in their youth; now they took a fancy to San Ya, and Mu Dan, keeping it secret from the Luo family, drugged San Ya and sold her.

One day in the future, after Mu Dan became pregnant and entered the mansion, Xu Shi not only refrained from causing trouble but eagerly attended to her as she gave birth to the Luo family's only male heir—Luo Tianci.

Saying that, the system felt pity for its host for a second.

At that time, Xu Shi cried until her heart and lungs broke, and Luo Jia Ming also scolded Mu Dan.

In the second half of his life, he lived honestly, neither good nor bad.

Luo Tianci reformed, and even had a son; the Luo family finally had a lineage, she felt her life was not wasted, worthy of the Luo ancestors.

So, people like her had better not have another life.

However, having Mu Dan accompany drinks is impossible; she has already been taken in by the Luo family's second master, and it's said they'll bring her into the mansion once she becomes pregnant.

In the future, Luo Tianci will become a full-blown vice of eating, drinking, whoring, and gambling; this mother of his is indispensable.

Because Luo Tianci is the Luo family's sole heir, Luo Jia Ming's son, Xu Shi not only toils herself to support them mother and son, but also demands her daughters work like oxen and horses for the brother.

But Mu Dan doesn't care; as long as she has her son, they can only verbally scold a few times, anyway the money from selling San Ya is in her hands, she just wants to live happily.

Until her deathbed, she finally realized that if there were a next life, upon meeting Jia Ming again she would still sacrifice everything just to please him.

To say she's bad, she's not so bad as to deserve being killed with one blow; to say she's not bad, several of her daughters were ruined by her with no good ending, really hard to evaluate her.

Luo Tianci truly reformed in the new society, because he personally witnessed that those who used to eat, drink, whore, and gamble with him all died miserably.

"Sir Fang, your bureau chief hasn't come for several days—what's he been busy with?" the madam hinted obliquely.

Does she not know that her current man and the bureau chief are equals? She still remembers that last time the bureau chief and Luo Jia Ming drank together, they were arm-in-arm, almost wanting to become sworn brothers.

In the future, the families that Da Ya and Er Ya marry into will all be beneficial to Luo Tianci's future.

"My mother says as long as I give birth to a younger brother, Father will change his heart." Saying this, San Ya's eyes narrowed sharply, completely unlike a child, icy and indifferent: "I think having a younger brother is the hell for me and my sisters."

San Ya is about to be driven to have no temper by her mother.

An ugly man of unknown origin also wants to see her?

Peony is gorgeous, rose is alluring, peach blossom is pure; all are rare beauties in Pomegranate Flower Town.

Because of years of toil, Xu Shi's body broke down early, but she is content.

The Luo family's estate was also squandered by Luo Tianci; seeing her son unrepentant even in death, Mu Dan took her private savings and fled.

Xu Shi, however, burst into tears, murmuring: "The devotee wishes her soul and spirit to scatter, praying that her several daughters may be reborn well, and never again..."

The pockmarked man puffed out his chest, striving to make his uniform shine more.

But it's okay, this old man has money, the Luo family's business is bleak, Luo Tianci cannot endure hardship, so she tacitly agreed to exchange her second daughter for a large dowry.

Fang Dequan beamed: "It's nothing much; recently he took my sister as a concubine, and they're loving each other."

"Fang Dequan, the office... oh, the police bureau received a tip-off saying you're harboring criminals!"

At this time, the world has changed; the newborn nation is like a rising sun; if old society's bad habits are not changed, the common people can teach you how to be a person.

The system saw the Three-Colored Cat raise its claws, and hurriedly said: "Host, just bear with it! Actually the points are still quite many; I just checked the backend, Xu Shi's request was accepted by the main god space, two tasks merged into one, no loss no loss!"

Luo Tianci offended the higher-ups, was thrown in jail; Si Ya was sent by Luo Jia Ming to the invaders before they could rescue his son.

Si Ya also didn't end up well.

The madam, well-versed, loudly shouted: "Peony, rose, peach blossom, come down to see the honored guests." She called out, "Tell the honored guests which people have stayed overnight in our building, be careful there might be criminals hidden among them."

During the day, Joyful Red House generally does not receive guests.

From then on, the treatment of the Luo family's four sisters declined; everyone revolved around Luo Tianci, and several half-sisters turned into blood mud to nourish the Luo family's sole root.

The second daughter's husband is even worse, an old man.

Xu Shi knows the eldest daughter's husband is not good, but the eldest son-in-law benefits the Luo family and Luo Tianci; he can help Luo Tianci enter an aristocratic school and receive better education, so the eldest daughter must marry even if she doesn't want to.

Mu Dan wore a look of impatience.

Probably in the dark, she also unwilling to admit that she would lose to a woman of the dust.

Luo Tianci finally reformed; if he didn't reform he'd have no capital to squander further, as a good-for-nothing in the new nation he couldn't survive, so he honestly married and had children.

At that time Luo Tianci was furious; his mother actually still hid private money! His mother wasn't even half as good to him as a stepmother! At least Xu Shi's money was all spent on him.

At this point Mu Dan finally discovered Xu Shi's goodness.

"Good heavens, there are actually criminals?" the madam exaggeratedly opened her mouth wide, though inside she didn't take it seriously.

Jiang He cat finally wasn't so angry; Xu Shi willing to have her soul and spirit scatter, the price must be considerable.

Si Ya is hot-tempered; she and the invaders perished together; just then the troops arrived at Pomegranate Flower Town, Si Ya became a hero, yet this brought good fame to Luo Jia Ming's family.

The system floated aside, sighing: "So this task has few willing takers, especially the female taskers who curse and worry, fearing that once they accept the task they can't help but go on a killing spree."

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