“Forget it, Big Yellow. You'll understand in the future. Anyway, you just need to know that I'm amazing.”
Lu Ming felt that no matter how much he said, action would be far more convincing to Big Yellow.
He then got out of bed, intending to see what else there was to eat in the house.
Although the bun from earlier had slightly alleviated his hunger, his internal organs were still crying out for more.
Lu Ming knew that after extreme starvation, he shouldn't overeat right away, but he should at least get half-full.
Weakly, Lu Ming searched every rice jar, flour jar, and water vat in the house...
In the end, he only found half a bowl of broken rice mixed with chaff.
Staring at the half bowl of broken rice, Lu Ming was utterly speechless. Was this “rising from the dirt” script a bit too bare-bones?
Then, he comforted himself. Poverty was only temporary. He was the protagonist, after all; the good times were yet to come.
“Here, Big Yellow, have some porridge first. In the future, your Brother Lu will treat you to the finest food and drinks...”
Lu Ming picked up a bowl and ladled out some of the cooked porridge for Big Yellow first.
Then, he filled a bowl for himself and began to drink.
“Slurp... slurp...”
“Smack... smack...”
After getting half-full, Lu Ming wiped his mouth, planning to clean himself up.
He wanted to go out and see what kind of world this was.
At the same time, he had to find a way to secure his next meal, or he'd end up starving again.
Looking at his reflection in the basin of water, Lu Ming nodded with satisfaction. As expected of a protagonist:
He was fifteen or sixteen years old, with a thin, fair face, sharp eyebrows, clear eyes, and a straight nose. He was handsome, yet possessed a touch of the ordinary.
He didn't look like a child who had grown up in poverty.
Especially his hands—they didn't look like they had ever done a day of hard labor.
Could he have some sort of complicated, dramatic backstory?
After tidying himself up, Lu Ming turned and called out to Big Yellow,
“Come on, Big Yellow. Let's go for a walk...”
Big Yellow, who was sunbathing, glanced up at Lu Ming. It stood up reluctantly and followed him.
This guy was more trouble than a dog could handle. It had better make sure he didn't get beaten to death out there.
“The evening breeze blows through Penghu Bay, drinking porridge every single day, without chopsticks, without a bowl...”
Humming his little tune, Lu Ming walked out of his desolate little courtyard.
“Have you heard? Young Master Chen, the son of our town's current richest man, married the fiancée of Young Master Lu, the son of the former richest man.”
“I heard. And he took in eight concubines at the same time...”
“???”
Just as Lu Ming reached the entrance of the alley, he heard a group of people discussing this mind-blowing gossip.
His eyes lit up, and he couldn't help but chime in,
“Isn't Young Master Chen afraid of dying from sexual exhaustion?”
“Of course not. Back in the day, his father took in eighteen concubines at once...”
A grey-robed old man stroked his beard as he replied.
Lu Ming's mouth fell open. Were the people in this world really that beastly?
The old man who had replied, along with the rest of the gossipers, noticed Lu Ming at that moment.
They looked at Lu Ming with strange expressions, suddenly falling silent. Some even looked a bit embarrassed.
Seeing everyone's gazes, Lu Ming was also puzzled. Why did they stop? He hadn't heard enough yet!
“Keep going!”
Hearing Lu Ming's urge, everyone's expressions grew even stranger.
Someone opened their mouth to speak but closed it again.
Just then, someone shouted, “Young Master Chen and his wife are coming.”
Upon hearing this, Lu Ming's interest was instantly piqued. He really wanted to see what this legendary Young Master Chen looked like.
Looking up, he saw a man and a woman walking over, accompanied by several servants.
Truth be told, they were a match made in heaven: the man was rat-faced and shifty-eyed, while the woman had sharp, harsh features.
The crowd looked at the approaching Young Master Chen and his party, then back at Lu Ming.
Their expressions became even more bizarre, and they subconsciously took a few steps back to distance themselves from Lu Ming.
“Lu Ming, I've gotten married...”
Young Master Chen, having walked up to him, boasted with a smug look on his face.
Lu Ming was stunned. This guy actually knew him?
Then it clicked. The original owner of this body must have also been named Lu Ming.
But how did the original owner of this body know the son of the richest man?
They clearly weren't in the same league.
Had the original owner also been wealthy once?
And what was the point of bragging to him about getting married?
To mock his single status? Or did he want a wedding gift?
Considering his situation at home, would a broken bowl suffice?
No, even a broken bowl was too good for him.
With that in mind, Lu Ming laughed, speaking against his true feelings,
“Haha... then congratulations, Young Master Chen.”
As soon as the words left his mouth, the surrounding onlookers stared at Lu Ming in utter shock.
Did having his fiancée stolen by someone else drive him insane?
Young Master Chen also stared at Lu Ming in surprise.
Seeing everyone's shock, Lu Ming was also a bit confused.
Had he said the wrong thing? Did people in this world not say “congratulations” for weddings? Did they say “my condolences” instead?
Then, Lu Ming raised his head again and spoke to Young Master Chen with a bright, cheerful smile:
“Then I wish you a happy wedding, and please accept my condolences...”
The onlookers exchanged glances. Now, that's more like it.
After all, his former fiancée had been taken by someone else, and the guy had even come to show off and mock him. How could he possibly offer sincere blessings?
“Lu Ming, you've gone too far. I am already married to Young Master Chen now...”
Just then, a sharp, shrill voice reached Lu Ming's ears.
He looked up and realized that the one speaking was none other than Young Master Chen's wife.
What was going on? Was this woman out of her mind?
The surrounding onlookers also looked at Lu Ming with pity.
Seeing Lu Ming's stunned expression, the woman grew even more smug.
She knew Lu Ming couldn't let her go. He used to be head over heels in love with her.
He had even threatened to go on a hunger strike and starve himself to death because she was marrying Young Master Chen.
Raising an eyebrow, she continued triumphantly,
“Even though we used to have an engagement, that's in the past. I've never liked you. The one I love is Young Master Chen...”
As she spoke, she leaned closer to Young Master Chen.
Lu Ming finally understood. He had been eating popcorn, only to realize the drama was about himself!
He was that unlucky bastard, Young Master Lu, the son of the former richest man!
Instantly, Lu Ming felt a pang of heartache. What on earth had happened to make him lose his status as the son of the richest man?
As for his predecessor's taste in women, Lu Ming was completely speechless.
What kind of garbage taste was this? To want to marry a woman like her...
However, this only confirmed his status as the protagonist. He was starting the story with a broken engagement!
Should he yell out the classic line now? “Thirty years in Henan, thirty years in Hebei!”
Don't ask why it wasn't Hedong and Hexi. If you must know, it's because the great river flows east!
Seeing Lu Ming fall silent, a smug smirk curled on the woman's lips.
“Lu Ming...”
Slap!
The moment she opened her mouth, Lu Ming couldn't hold back any longer. He raised his hand and slapped her across the face.
“Shut up! You look like a piece of cornbread that's been trampled by a donkey. Only a dog would want you...”
“Woof...”
As soon as Lu Ming finished speaking, Big Yellow beside him immediately protested.
Lu Ming realized his mistake. “Sorry, Big Yellow...”
Then, he added to the still-dazed woman, “Even a dog wouldn't want you.”
Lu Ming's slap didn't just leave the woman completely dazed.
Young Master Chen, who had been gloating just moments ago, was also completely dumbfounded.
Wait, did he just get insulted?
The surrounding onlookers also widened their eyes in shock.
They actually possessed some professional ethics as gossips, and usually wouldn't whisper right in front of the people involved—unless they absolutely couldn't help themselves.
“What's going on?”
“Didn't Young Master Lu love Miss Liu to death?”
“That slap must have really hurt.”
...
Even Big Yellow was a little surprised as it looked up at Lu Ming.
Didn't he love this woman before?
But this is much better...
Rate on N.U.
