Chapter 98

Transmigrated into a Cat 20 (Birth Mother is the Female Lead of a Daughter's Way Novel)

Twenty silver dollars is really not a small amount, enough for Luo Jia Ming to have fish and meat for a month; after all, the prison isn't his home, and they can't send him meals every day.

A Ming licked his gums; he still had a reward of three silver dollars.

Third Miss said, as long as he does well, he can still get another three silver dollars!

Six silver dollars can buy over two hundred catties of fine white rice; if it's brown rice, even more, enough to feed his whole family for three months of full meals.

A Ming knew these twenty silver dollars were just a test of his usefulness; as long as he showed enough ability, the following two hundred silver dollars would not be a problem.

This time Luo Jia Ming was imprisoned, and the Luo family naturally blamed him.

If it weren't for him finding out Mu Dan's whereabouts and privately telling Luo Jia Ming, which caused Luo Jia Ming to rush to Peace Brocade City to take revenge on Mu Dan, directly slashing her face, leading to his imprisonment.

If it weren't for the fact that the Luo family's elders currently have no mind to deal with him, A Ming knows his situation would be no better than last time.

A Ming had no regrets; when the masters fight, he can only choose a side, there's no way to please both.

He chose the Second Master he had always followed; even though the Second Master has lost power now, it's impossible for him to immediately turn to the Luo family elders. Most importantly, if he wanted to switch sides, the grandfather and grandmother wouldn't want to use him.

After all, he wasn't outstanding enough to make the grandfather and grandmother see him as a talent worth cherishing; moreover, as the head of a household, the elders never lack manpower around them.

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Holding the money, A Ming turned and went to order food at the famous restaurants in Peace Brocade City.

Of course, he didn't just buy for Luo Jia Ming; he also bought for those prison guards.

Although those prison guards are small fry, the present official is not as good as the present manager; buying them some little wine and dishes, rustling up a roasted chicken, makes them very easy to talk to.

A Ming has been around the big city for a long time, and it wasn't for nothing; to find Mu Dan, he has contacts with all sorts of people, and now he's using those connections.

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From cursing heaven and earth to kneeling and gnawing on moldy coarse wheat buns, it was only seven days.

Luo Jia Ming huddled in the corner, gnawing on steamed buns amidst the smell of feces and urine in the air; after seven days, the prison inmates' punches and kicks finally knocked the water out of his head, and he felt that in his whole life he had never been this clear-headed.

When the coarse, hard bun went down his throat, he strained to stretch his neck, feeling his throat pulled.

As he ate, he lowered his head, and a tear fell.

This steamed bun mixed with rice bran and wild vegetables told him that his parents really didn't care about him.

For the past thirty-odd years, he lived wantonly and unrestrained, reckless, because he knew he was the Luo family's sole root, and the Luo family cared about him; no matter what he did, they would never abandon him.

Until he became a eunuch, unable to continue the Luo family line, and the Luo family gained a true heir, he became worthless.

In a daze, Luo Jia Ming suddenly thought of his few daughters.

In his parents' eyes, are they just like him now—born into a wealthy family yet worthless?

Luo Jia Ming first experienced the situation of his few daughters—being ignored by relatives, belittled, and scolded.

Suddenly, a rat darted past his foot, and Luo Jia Ming shouted in fright.

The rats in the prison are just like the people there—none fear death; he personally saw someone earlier die in the prison, the corpse gnawed by rats into pits, even two fingers eaten away.

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Seeing his reaction, the other inmates in the prison laughed: 'Look at his appearance, just like a woman.'

People resent the rich only because ordinary people and wealthy families seldom interact; unlike now, a wealthy young master actually lives in the same prison as these lowly scoundrels.

These prisoners, who have no tomorrow after today, naturally don't worry about retaliation after release; they just go up and kick the young master.

Luo Jia Ming was beaten until he clutched his head and crouched down, his whole body aching and twitching.

He stared blankly, thinking, "So being hit and kicked really hurts this much? When he beat those daughters and Xu Shi earlier, did they feel this much pain too?"

Now Luo Jia Ming finally knows his place; he dares to be angry but not to speak.

It's only been seven days, and he's already been beaten into submission.

"Shut up!" a burly, hulking man turned around and roared in this direction.

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This burly man is a prison bully; because Luo Jia Ming is perceptive, he gave his clothes and food to this man, who then looked after this effeminate man a little.

Luo Jia Ming climbed up from the ground, cautiously approached, and whispered, "Thank you, Brother Zhuang."

Brother Zhuang frowned at him, having heard that Luo Jia Ming's family background was decent, but what's with his relatives? They didn't even come to grease the wheels, gave no money, so the police naturally locked him up with those troublesome inmates.

Regarding this, Luo Jia Ming almost burst into tears, gritting his teeth: "My parents gave birth to another one."

Brother Zhuang fell silent, thinking him quite pitiable; parents who are this biased are rare.

There are many wrongfully imprisoned people here; someone like Luo Jia Ming, sent in for slashing a woman's face, is nothing special—the point is, it's not a major crime, paying a bit should get him out, and his parents are so rich, yet they won't?

Of course, once Brother Zhuang learned it would take a hundred thousand silver dollars, he immediately changed his mind.

Better to just stay in prison; reducing the sentence costs that much money—it's not worth it.

Luo Jia Ming obediently stayed by Brother Zhuang's side, not daring to leave, lest he be beaten again.

Just as he day and night longed to leave this hellish place, a guard came in: "Luo Jia Ming, your family is looking for you."

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Last time his father came to see him, he scolded him until he was black and blue, and said the police demanded a hundred thousand dollars, which his family couldn't afford.

Luo Jia Ming naturally knew that a hundred thousand silver dollars couldn't be raised at home; even if they could, they'd have to sell one-third of the Luo family's shops.

He knows, but the problem is that he's the one suffering here; in prison he'd rather be dead, while his parents would rather die guarding their property.

That feeling of being abandoned by the whole world came again; before utter despair, Luo Jia Ming seemed to hear a heavenly voice.

"Did Xu Shi have you bring me food?" he looked toward the outside A Ming.

A Ming brought over several roasted chickens, and immediately several hands reached out to snatch them away. Luo Jia Ming shoved one roasted chicken and a jug of wine into Brother Zhuang's hands, then eagerly spoke to A Ming.

A Ming said, "Second Young Master, the lady has packed her luggage and wants to come to Pingjin City to find you, but the old lord and old lady stopped her; the lady worries about you excessively, her fever won't subside…"

Luo Jia Ming gripped the iron bars tightly with both hands, murmuring, "I knew it—no matter how I change, she won't abandon me… She's the only one in this world who will never forsake me."

"Second Young Master, have something to eat first." A Ming passed over a bowl of millet porridge.

For the poor prisoners in jail, roasted chicken and duck are the most delicious things, and the same goes for Luo Jia Ming, who hasn't eaten meat for several days, but the doctor said that millet porridge is still the most nourishing; previously Luo Jia Ming drank alcohol like water, harming his liver and stomach, so it's best to nourish himself with millet porridge for a while.

The prisoner in jail who was eating roast chicken glanced at the porridge in Luo Jia Ming's hand, inevitably feeling a bit embarrassed; they ate meat while he drank porridge, this kid was so foolish that it made them feel a twinge of guilt.

Next time I still won't hit him; of course scolding doesn't matter, he really is a bit foolish.

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Twenty silver yuan were quickly spent; A Ming returned to Pomegranate Flower Town, and upon hearing that Luo Jia Ming's situation was not bad, Xu Shi was overjoyed and tried to stuff all her money into A Ming's hand.

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San Ya took out forty silver yuan and gave it to A Ming, letting him continue to deal with things; of course, the reward money was also indispensable for him.

Xu Shi felt a bit embarrassed; she was someone who valued affection over material satisfaction, and she had never placed importance on wealth.

San Ya said sternly, 'Mother, you've spent too much of your dowry money.'

Xu Shi calculated and indeed had already spent more than half; earlier it was to find Mu Dan and He San Niang, now it's for her husband—money really doesn't last.

She assured, 'San Ya, don't worry; with Mother here, you won't go hungry.'

San Ya was speechless; her mother wouldn't naively think that not being hungry is enough, would she? She hadn't even considered that her older sister is of marriageable age and needs to prepare a dowry.

Xu Shi still truly thought that way: without a dowry there is genuine affection; why sully genuine affection with money?

San Ya's mouth twitched; she knew it was pointless to reason with these saintly love-brains—if you talk money, she calls you vulgar; if you talk life, she talks of wind, flowers, snow, and moon...

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San Ya decisively changed the subject: 'Mother, if the grandparents let our second branch move out penniless, Father couldn't endure a hard life; you can skip eating bird's nest, but you can't demand Father eat plain steamed buns every day—Father needs alcohol and meat with all three meals.'

Xu Shi was startled, quickly calculated the dowry silver, couldn't help but relax, and optimistically said, 'Mother's money is enough for our whole family to eat meat every day; don't worry too much.'

San Ya had to speak more clearly: 'If we leave Pomegranate Flower Town and live elsewhere, buying a big house—wouldn't this money be insufficient?'

Xu Shi was stunned; indeed, this money is fine in Pomegranate Flower Town, but if we go to a big city, we couldn't afford a large residence.

She needs to be more frugal.

San Ya knew she couldn't rely on her, and helplessly reminded, 'Mother, Father is still part of the Luo family; this money should come from the public funds.'

This mother is just stupid; the money she spent finding He San Niang came from her own pocket, and she didn't think she could claim it from public funds?

Xu Shi suddenly realized: 'Right, right, right—how did I not think of that? San Ya is still the smart one.'

Meanwhile, Luo Lao Ye was jumping up and down trying to get rid of Bureau Chief Song, while Luo Lao Tai Tai focused on raising the children; both assumed the other had sent someone to arrange and look after Luo Jia Ming, so neither bothered further.

The invaders lack the patience to fight to the death over a place like Pomegranate Flower Town, but it's hard to say about Luo River County with its smooth main road.

She asked doubtfully, 'How so?'

She knew there must be some problem, but shouldn't a son say that? As parents, how could we not love our own child? How could we wish for the child's death?

"Fang Deri bears a grudge against the Luo family, and Bureau Chief Song dotes on her; if this continues, the Luo family will surely not fare well. Even if the new police chief is corrupt, he has limits—he wouldn't open his mouth demanding a hundred thousand silver dollars."

Luo Lao Tai Tai wiped the drool from her son's mouth, 'That Jia Ming should be able to get out of jail soon! Father, have you settled the partition plan?'

Actually there still is, but for the Luo family, if they touch that hundred thousand, it will certainly hurt their muscles and bones; the prison disaster would be over and no one would die—it's truly unnecessary.

Life in jail is hard to endure, but fortunately A Ming brings delicacies every few days; not only the jailers, even the prisoners inside benefit, and his days have become much better than when he first arrived.

Holding her son, Luo Lao Tai Tai flared up: 'Xu Shi, explain clearly why the accounts office says you paid two hundred silver dollars… Jia Ming, you should properly discipline your wife—this is outrageous, she actually spent that much money!'

Even so, San Ya still didn't feel much better inside.

Luo Lao Ye gave a cold snort: 'Luo River County isn't like Pomegranate Flower Town, surrounded by mountains with narrow mountain paths and shallow waterways.' He said meaningfully, 'These days of war and chaos—places that are still peaceful now may not stay that way.'

Thus, Xu Shi inexplicably became the only true love in Luo Jia Ming's heart.

Luo Lao Ye thought his son would be happy to get out of jail and feel grateful to this hardworking old father, but the son showed no trace of filial affection toward his father; since he himself hadn't paid that hundred thousand, causing him to sit in jail for nearly two months, this boy indeed resented him.

Lying on thin straw, Luo Jia Ming pulled at his thick clothing; if the clothes weren't thick enough, he might have frozen and fallen ill.

Luo Jia Ming's icy heart began to warm; his gentle wife and lovely daughter—heaven still treated him kindly.

"Jia Ming, dispel the bad luck; everything will be fine from now on."

Before, he despised Xu Shi for not having Mu Dan's charm or He San Niang's allure, but after entering jail, only his wife secretly sent people to deliver clothes and food to him.

After leaving jail, he only did a quick wash-up, but got dirty again on the road back to Pomegranate Flower Town.

"No, Father should go eat first; Father must be hungry."

Luo Lao Tai Tai felt her heart about to break from being blamed by her second son.

"Father, I've had someone bring you water to wash."

Luo Lao Ye explained awkwardly: 'Jia Ming, that surnamed Song isn't a thing; I dealt with him for two months, spending fifty thousand silver dollars… originally it was supposed to be a hundred thousand… you know, our family doesn't have that kind of money.'

Luo Lao Ye's eyes gleamed: 'Do you really think it's a good thing for the surnamed Song to go to Luo River County?'

He turned over and lay down in the spot closest to Zhuang Ge.

After Zhuang Ge got drunk, he became a chatterbox, babbling on endlessly.

The Three-Colored Cat meowed.

Therefore she couldn't wait any longer to divide the household.

The second son had been away from home for nearly two months; she didn't know how quiet the house was, only feeling her mind untroubled and head painless, sleeping as soundly as could be.

Luo Lao Tai Tai exclaimed in shock: 'What's going on? Didn't Father have people send food and drink? Why did Xu Shi go to this trouble?'

Luo Lao Tai Tai turned over her son who couldn't turn himself; Luo Tianci giggled, drooling bubbles, making Luo Lao Tai Tai feel pity and affection.

Four daughters surrounded Luo Jia Ming, offering words of concern one after another, warming his heart that had suffered setbacks.

Several maids stood nearby, calling out 'Father'.

Luo Jia Ming quickly forced a smile: 'Sorry, I woke you! Zhuang Ge, my servant will bring roast duck and alcohol tomorrow; then we can have a drink together.'

Luo Jia Ming was furious, tears faintly visible in his eyes: 'Nobody came to see me, and no one sent me anything! Mother, you're truly ruthless, ignoring me completely—if it weren't for Xu Shi worrying about me and bribing the jailers with money, I would have been beaten to death… I realize now you all want me dead, to make way for this little brat!'

Everyone felt it made sense, and they had no grudges against the Luo family.

These two months, Luo Jia Ming hadn't cut his hair, shaved his beard, or taken a bath; he looked dirty and decadent, his eyes shadowed by his hair, gloomy and fierce, making Luo Lao Ye feel a chill inside.

"How come? Can't sleep?" a voice sounded in the darkness.

He now felt a longing unlike any before, wanting to go home to see his wife and daughter.

"Besides, you're worried about no one to carry on the family line? That's simple—find a live‑in son‑in‑law, keep an eye on him yourself, and you'll spare your daughter the suffering of marrying out."

Until an angry voice shattered his peaceful family life.

For these two hundred dollars, the Luo Family almost caused an uproar.

After another half month, after Luo Lao Ye handed over fifty thousand dollars, the standoff with Bureau Chief Song finally had a result.

"Boss Zhuang, I've quit drinking." Luo Jia Ming sighed, "Now I understand: even if my daughter is no good, she's still my own child; even if my brother is better, he's still competing with me for our parents and the family property."

A month had passed, and Luo Jia Ming tossed and turned, wondering how much longer he had to stay in jail.

Luo Lao Ye finally picked up the much‑thinned Luo Jia Ming from the police station.

"One emperor, one minister—looks like we also have to come up with this money." Someone suddenly said, and then no one felt sympathy for the Luo Family.

Luo Tianci was white and chubby, bundled up in clothes, and once he rolled over he couldn't roll back, like a little turtle.

Luo Lao Ye felt he should be pleased—this child had finally become sensible—but then he suddenly thought of Mu Dan.

He felt bitter; he and his old wife had ultimately lost this son.

Those who knew the details sympathized deeply, comforting Luo Lao Ye one after another; after all, they had already become enemies, so Bureau Chief Song leaving Pomegranate Flower Town was a good thing. But the Luo Family really seemed to have run into bad luck—no one knew what kind of person the next bureau chief would be, and for the sake of connections and safety they'd have to fork out another large sum, making everyone ache for the Luo Family.

Actually, the jail was like a good school—setting that aside, Luo Jia Ming's self‑centered arrogance had diminished a lot; his eyes no longer stared upward, and he learned to look down at the ground.

Clearly it was just about taking care of the Luo Family's household chores, refusing to let him do even a bit of work for fear that, through his daughter, he might meddle in the Luo Family's property.

Scum remains scum; it's not forgivable just because he pretends to reform.

The sturdy man grunted, turned over, and kept sleeping.

Mu Dan wasn't dead—she had merely been disfigured—and when he inadvertently saw her face, he almost vomited.

Luo Jia Ming didn't scold Xu Shi; instead he fixed a fierce stare on the baby in her arms and said, "Mother, Xu Shi bought clothes and food for me—how is it that you now want to leave all the family property to this little brat? I can't even spend two hundred dollars?"

Luo Lao Ye said this while analyzing the external situation in his mind—foreigners eyed them covetously, war would break out sooner or later, and he feared Pomegranate Flower Town might not stay peaceful; should he find a way to bury the family wealth? He only regretted that his family had few connections in the military.

Put that way, fifty thousand dollars for two months in jail, and ninety percent of people would choose to do the time.

The Luo Family really lost big—those fifty thousand dollars were wasted, and though they had backing, what could the Luo Family do to him?

Seeing the situation turn bad, Luo Lao Ye hurriedly said, "In short, we must unite; we can't let people keep fleecing us. The next bureau chief might not be as greedy as Song, but if he dares to ask the Luo Family for one hundred thousand dollars, he'll dare to ask other families for seventy or eighty thousand, and his appetite will only grow the more we feed him."

After finally satisfying Bureau Chief Song, another new bureau chief shows up, and we still have to come up with money to feed him.

Mu Dan had at least spent several years with the second son, yet this child actually took a knife and sliced her face again and again—this child's viciousness was truly extreme.

"All in all, Bureau Chief Song leaving Pomegranate Flower Town is a good thing." Luo Lao Tai Tai summed it up, occasionally glancing at the heavily clothed Luo Tianci struggling to turn over.

Bureau Chief Song was pleased with himself; he went from an obscure little town to Luohe County, and everyone knew he had been promoted.

Luo Jia Ming resented his parents' favoritism, regardless of his life or death; if his mother truly loved her as she claimed, she ought to inquire how he was faring in jail.

After explaining, Luo Lao Ye asked, "Jia Ming, you can understand, right?"

Whether in her previous life or this one, she would never forget the harm she had suffered.

In the first half of his life, Luo Jia Ming's eyes were always turned upward; he never looked down on anyone, and someone like Boss Zhuang he would have utterly despised—but after enduring great hardship, he finally learned humility.

After a few days of care, once Luo Jia Ming's spirits were restored, he wandered around his wife and daughter, no longer restless as before, constantly wanting to go out; he began to enjoy family life.

Luo Jia Ming said nothing, merely nodding, his face calm.

Luo Lao Ye couldn't help closing his eyes—mother unkind, son unfilial, this family had already fallen apart.

Luo Jia Ming chuckled, "Can't you handle looking after the kid? Aren't the nanny, granny, and servants enough?"

"Kid, drinking can kill you, you know?" Boss Zhuang's features were gruesome, his gaze hazy—clearly a man with a story. "I heard you despise your wife for giving birth to a daughter? You know, there are plenty of people in this world who don't even have a wife, kid—you should be content."

San Ya hugged the three‑colored cat and whispered, "What's going on? The scummy smell on my birth father seems to have faded a lot—could it be he went to jail to get an education?"

Luo Jia Ming's silence confirmed Luo Lao Ye's thought—this child could understand, but could not forgive.

A hill‑sized body let out a snore; at first Luo Jia Ming found the snoring noisy enough to prevent sleep, but now he's grown used to it—here, hardly any man doesn't snore.

Luo Lao Tai Tai really was reduced to tears by anger; she was busy every day looking after Luo Tianci, unable to keep up, and she truly believed her husband had ordered people to take care of him.

Whenever he thought of it, Luo Lao Ye felt a chill in his heart.

Luo Jia Ming stroked his daughters' heads, showing the first smile since returning home: "Father, go wash up first, then eat after you're done."

After returning to Pomegranate Flower Town, Xu Shi came forward with tears welling up, placing a brazier at the door for Luo Jia Ming to step over.

Luo Jia Ming lowered his head, noticed his hand trembling slightly, clenched his fists, and knew his excessive drinking was the cause.

He glared hatefully at Luo Tianci; even though the boy was a clueless infant, it still filled him with loathing.

The roast duck was delicious, the taste of the liquor unknown because Boss Zhuang drank it all himself, then he said emphatically, "Look at your hand—you used to soak in a liquor vat, didn't you?"

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