Widow

Ling Xing opens his eyes to find himself transported to ancient times, becoming a “chong xi” bridegroom, married to a man on his deathbed. The wedding ceremony was conducted with his husband’s younger brother standing in as a proxy. Three days after the wedding, his husband passes away, and Ling Xing is transformed from a bridegroom into a widower. The original Ling Xing had fled famine and hardship, leaving him with no place to call home. Fortunately, the Shen family takes him in and allows him to live with them. The Shen family is poor, struggling to make ends meet, often going hungry and lacking adequate clothing. They subsist on a meager diet of porridge mixed with wheat bran, barely enough to fill their stomachs. Ling Xing, in his past life, was a food vlogger, skilled in recreating various cuisines and an excellent cook. To earn a living, he starts selling steamed buns, rice noodle rolls, and grilled skewers. His small food stall gradually grows into a two-story restaurant, becoming quite prosperous. As Ling Xing’s business thrives and his life improves, more and more people come forward to propose marriage. The matchmakers chatter incessantly, saying, “The Shen family, you shouldn’t stop Xing Ge’er from remarrying.” “In our Yu dynasty, there’s no rule that a married woman or ge’er must remain a widow for life.” “The one proposing marriage is a scholar!” Ling Xing is constantly pestered by these matchmakers, feeling overwhelmed. Fortunately, his brother-in-law, who had given up his life as a hunter to pursue studies, returns after completing his imperial exams. Under his cold gaze, the matchmakers quickly disperse. That night, Ling Xing is pinned down by a tall, shadowy figure. “If you are willing to remarry, I want to marry you,” the figure says. Ling Xing is stunned, exclaiming in disbelief, “Shen Hui, are you crazy? I’m your brother-in-law!” Shen Hui lowers his gaze and replies, “You were married to me, so what kind of brother-in-law are you?” Note: The title “chōng xǐ” refers to the traditional practice of marrying to ward off bad luck.