Chapter 1 - The Cannon Fodder Little Fulang [Quick Transmigration]

Translator's Note:

Hello, I hope you've all been doing well. I have always wanted to work on a Quick Transmigration novel, that's why I've picked this wonderful piece.

Here you go, and I wish you a good read.

And, as I said before, if you wish to read ahead, you can head over to my Patreon to get early access to all the translated chapters.

Arc 1: The Devoted* Little Fulang

 

[T/N: Devoted - 糟糠 (zāokāng) is an abbreviation for 糟糠妻. The term "糟糠妻" (zāokāng qī) literally translates to "wife of chaff and dregs" and refers to a loyal wife who has been with her husband through times of hardship and poverty. The phrase comes from an ancient Chinese idiom: "貧賤之交不可忘，糟糠之妻不下堂," which roughly means, "One should not forget friends made in poverty, nor should a wife who endured hardship be cast aside."

That's why I translated it to "Devoted", but it can also be translated to "Faithful", "Humble"...]

 

In a hazy, dreamlike space, Wu Bai gazed at his own hands—smooth and fair as soft tofu, a sight that left him blinking in astonishment.

 

Wasn't he over seventy? How could his skin be this flawless?

 

Once he recovered from his shock, memories of his final moments flooded back: his farewell promise with his husband, Xiao Zimo. They had agreed to meet again in the next life, closing their eyes in each other's embrace, hearts full of love.

 

So… was he now in the underworld*?

 

[T/N: "地府" (dìfǔ) is a term in Chinese mythology and traditional belief that refers to the "underworld" or the "netherworld," similar to the concept of the afterlife or the realm of the dead in other cultures. In Chinese folklore, 地府 is a place where the souls of the deceased go to be judged and experience various stages before they are reincarnated or reach a final resting place.

The concept of 地府 is often depicted as a complex, bureaucratic underworld managed by different deities and officials, with Yama (阎王, Yánwáng) as the ruler or judge of the dead. Souls in 地府 may face judgment based on their actions in life, and depending on the judgment, they might endure punishment, undergo purification, or be reborn into a new life.]

 

With that thought, Wu Bai anxiously looked around, hoping to find Xiao Zimo nearby. But all he saw was swirling gray mist, with no one else in sight—only a distant beam of white light, like a guiding beacon.

 

He took a few steps toward it, soon realizing that the light hovered over a floating book. On its cover, a few words shimmered faintly.

 

Wu Bai hesitated, wary of moving closer, and decided to wait where he stood. After all, he was in the underworld, and it wouldn't be wise to risk angering the realm's guardians by acting rashly. He had every hope of reuniting with his husband and growing old together in the next life!

 

Thinking of Xiao Zimo brought a soft, sweet smile to Wu Bai's face.

 

He had been born in a small village under the Great Wei Empire. As a ger*, he faced disdain due to the low status of gers at the time. His parents, who did not favor gers, treated him harshly. They would scold and beat him at the slightest offense and left him to handle every household chore.

 

[T/N: In Chinese danmei and historical fantasy genres, a "ger" (哥儿) is a unique character type representing males who can bear children, essentially blending characteristics of both men and women.

In these stories, ger are usually distinct from other men by specific physical markers, such as a "mole" on the body, and may possess a delicate or androgynous appearance. Socially, they are treated similarly to women in traditional roles, including marriage customs, household duties, and family expectations. They may face societal biases, with varying levels of respect or stigma attached to their status, depending on the setting of the story.

When ger marry, they're often referred to as "夫郎" (fulang), emphasizing their position as a "male wife" or spouse in the relationship.]

 

Even his marriage was decided without his consent; his family had married him off to someone to bring them good fortune*.

 

[T/N: "冲喜" (chōng xǐ) is a folk belief practiced in Asian countries such as China and India. The practice involves marrying a long-term sick person to someone else in order to use the "happy event" (marriage) to "drive away" bad luck, with the hope of improving the patient's health. The term literally means "to bring or drive good fortune."]

 

Married off for such a purpose, it was no different from being sold.

 

Back then, the Xiao family's young son was gravely ill, and Wu Bai's parents, eager for silver, had offered him as a marriage prospect. What would happen if the ritual failed? They couldn't care less—they only cared about the money in their hands.

 

When Wu Bai first heard his parents discussing this matter so nonchalantly, it felt like a bolt of lightning had struck him.

 

He spoke up in protest for the first time in his life, but it only earned him another brutal beating. If not for the fact that he had already been promised as a bride, he felt he might have been beaten to death.

 

Despair filled him as he was married into the Xiao family.

 

Luckily, fate showed him a rare kindness. His marriage did bring the luck they were awaiting; his husband's health gradually improved, and he even became more motivated to study, eventually passing the imperial exams and becoming a scholar. Wu Bai became a symbol of fortune in the village, no longer seen as the cursed son his parents had labeled him.

 

The villagers began inviting him to weddings, hoping his presence would bring luck to their own families.

 

Then his husband achieved top honors in the Imperial Examination and became the zhuangyuan*, making Wu Bai the top scholar's honored fulang.

 

[T/N: 状元 (zhuàng yuán) is the title given to the highest-ranking successful candidate in the Imperial Examination (科举, kējǔ) system, which was the main method for selecting government officials in imperial China.]

 

Step by step, his husband rose to the esteemed position of prime minister and secured a noble title for Wu Bai. He became the little ger everyone envied.

 

Thanks to his story, the prejudices against ger began to soften; people started to value them, and their standing gradually improved.

 

Reflecting on his life, Wu Bai felt deeply grateful. His husband had been a devoted partner, his in-laws treated him with kindness, and aside from the suffering he went through before his marriage, he had no regrets.

 

All he hoped for now was to reunite with his husband in the next life.

 

With that thought, Wu Bai's face glowed with anticipation.

 

Yet as time passed, no underworld guide came to receive him. He had no sense of how long he'd been waiting—only that it was long enough to test even his patience.

 

Finally, he decoded to approach that beam of light.

 

This time, he clearly saw the words on the cover: The General's Little Sweetheart on the Run with a Bun.

 

He read the title aloud, puzzled.

 

He knew what a General was; after all, he'd met a few while accompanying his husband.

 

Little Sweetheart*, though—could that mean a type of dessert?

 

[T/N: In modern Chinese, "小甜心" is a colloquial term that refers to a beloved or affectionate person, often used in a romantic or playful context. However, Wu Bai comes from ancient times, where the concept of using such casual, affectionate terms for someone would not be as common. Wu Bai guessed that 小甜心 (xiǎo tián xīn) referred to a dessert because of the word 甜 (tián), which means "sweet" in Chinese. In ancient Chinese culture, many sweet foods, especially small treats or pastries, are often associated with the word 甜 (sweet). The phrase 小甜心 could easily be interpreted as a "little sweet treat" or "sweet little snack".]

 

As for on the run with a bun*, it reminded him of the ball games played by the young noblemen from the capital, while running with a ball in their hands.

 

[T/N: In romance novels, the female protagonist becomes pregnant, but due to some misunderstanding, she leaves the male protagonist. Instead of staying to give birth to the child, she runs away with the little life inside her. This is what is referred to as "带球跑". The "bun" refers to her growing baby.]

 

But The General's Little Sweetheart on the Run with a Bun? That was peculiar. How could a dessert carry a bun to run? It had no legs! Could the general's dessert have gained a spirit*?

 

[T/N: In Chinese culture, it is believed that if an animal or inanimate object lives long enough, it can accumulate enough qi (vital energy) to transform into a more powerful being, sometimes acquiring a human-like consciousness. For example, a fox, snake, or tree could develop intelligence, magical abilities, and a human form after living hundreds or thousands of years.

The process of this transformation is called "成精" (chéng jīng), meaning "to become a spirit," "to gain a spirit," or "to become an immortal." The more powerful or ancient the entity, the stronger its spiritual abilities.]

 

Curious, Wu Bai reached out and opened the book, slowly flipping through its pages.

 

As he read, he soon realized that this wasn't a tale of a sentient dessert, but a tragic love story between a general and a noble-born ger.

 

It was about a ger from an official's family who accidentally shared a fleeting moment of passion with a general. Shortly after, the general went off to war and disappeared. When the ger was later discovered to be pregnant, his parents, not wanting him to suffer the pain of losing the child, arranged his marriage to a lesser official, a man they could easily control.

 

Five years later, the general returned and noticed the official's child bore an uncanny resemblance to himself.

 

After some investigation, the general discovered that the official's fulang was the same ger from that one night together. He even verified that the child's birthdate coincided with that encounter.

 

Furious that his son was calling another man "father," the general fabricated corruption charges against that official and reported him to the Supreme Court.

 

The official was soon imprisoned.

 

Seizing this opportunity, the general pressured the official to divorce that ger.

 

Naturally, the child followed the ger back to his family home.

Thanks to the general's influence and the ger's powerful family, they narrowly escaped any repercussions.

 

The official, however, was soon sentenced to death by beheading.

 

Half a month later, the general married the noble ger, officially acknowledging the child as his own and adding him to his family registry.

 

The townsfolk, unaware of the real story, praised the general's generosity, commending him for accepting his fulang's child from a previous marriage.

 

From then on, the general and his family lived in happiness.

 

Finishing the book, Wu Bai was speechless.

 

That noble ger and the official had, after all, been married. Yet in his husband's time of need, he hadn't tried to save him but had focused only on clearing his own ties and marrying the general.

 

And the child—such an ingrate! His foster father had barely passed away before he accepted the general as his true father.

 

A ruthless general, a heartless ger—Wu Bai couldn't understand how these characters could be the story's protagonists.

 

Shaking his head, he couldn't help but feel sorry for that unfortunate official.

 

Little did Wu Bai know that he himself would soon enter the world of this story.

 

After a sigh, Wu Bai closed the book, preparing to place it back.

 

But just as he closed the cover, a wave of dizziness overwhelmed him. His vision was flooded with a blinding light, forcing him to shut his eyes tightly.

 

After what felt like a long while, the discomfort faded, and he slowly opened his eyes.

 

To his astonishment, he was no longer in that ethereal, foggy space but in a room built of wooden planks and stone.

 

For a moment, he thought he'd returned to his pre-marriage days; his family's home had looked just like this.

 

But Wu Bai quickly dismissed the thought. His old room had been small and cluttered with various odds and ends, leaving barely any space but for a small bed tucked in the corner.

 

As he regained his senses, he took in his surroundings: a small round wooden table stood before him, with a clay teapot and several matching cups on top. In his hand, he was holding a piece of paper.

 

Looking down, Wu Bai saw it was a simple love poem, easy enough to grasp its meaning.

 

Just then, a sudden, intense pain shot through his head. Wu Bai clutched it in agony, and the poem slipped from his fingers, fluttering to the floor.

 

Wracked by pain, he stumbled, knocking over a stool that clattered loudly to the ground.

 

The noise brought a nearby conversation to an abrupt halt, followed by the sound of hurried farewells.

 

Then came a frantic knocking at his door. "Thud thud thud… thud thud thud…"

 

"Bai ger*, are you all right?"

 

[T/N: "Bai" is his given name. And since he is a ger, they'd address him as "Bai ger". He kept the same name from his previous life.]

 

"Bai ger, open up, please!"

 

"Eldest*, stop knocking; just kick the door open!"

 

[T/N: 老大 (lǎo dà) is a term commonly used in Chinese to refer to the eldest child in a family.]

 

"Yes, Mother*."

 

[T/N: 母父 (mǔ fù) is a term used by a child to refer to their ger parent.]

 

With a loud crash, a middle-aged fulang* burst through the door, followed by two young men and two young fulang.

 

[T/N: Fulang, in this novel, is a title referring specifically to married ger.]

 

The middle-aged fulang rushed to Wu Bai's side, his face full of concern as he saw Wu Bai drenched in sweat. "Bai ger, what happened?" he shouted in panic. "Go fetch Doctor Li immediately," he commanded the others.

 

"Yes, Mother," replied a kindly-looking young fulang, who quickly left.

 

The remaining family members all crowded around Wu Bai, their faces filled with worry.

 

After a moment of fretting, another young ger suggested, "Mother, we should move Bai ger to the bed."

 

"Yes, yes, come help me." The middle-aged fulang, recovering from his initial panic, began to lift Wu Bai.

 

Together, they gently placed him on the bed.

 

As he watched the veins bulging on Wu Bai's forehead and the sweat pouring down his face, the middle-aged fulang started pacing in agitation.

 

"Where's the doctor?"

 

"Right here—Doctor Li, follow me."

 

Hurried footsteps approached from outside, and two figures quickly entered: the young fulang who had gone to fetch help and Doctor Li, carrying a medical kit.

 

Since it was a humble farmhouse without partitions or unnecessary decor, Doctor Li immediately spotted Wu Bai lying on the bed.

 

Everyone stepped back from the bed, making space for Doctor Li to examine Wu Bai.

 

Though well past fifty, Doctor Li's movements were still swift and confident. He quickly stepped to the bedside, placing a wrist cushion under Wu Bai's hand, and began taking his pulse.

 

As he examined him, a peculiar expression flickered across his face. He found Wu Bai's body to be in excellent health, yet the pain on his face was unmistakable.

 

Closing his eyes to concentrate, Doctor Li felt his pulse again, and after a long pause, he rose and addressed the others. "Bai ger is physically fine; his physical distress was due to an emotional shock. I'll prescribe a calming tonic—brew it and have him drink it, and he should wake up soon."

 

Hearing this, everyone breathed a sigh of relief. "That's good to hear that it's nothing serious. Thank goodness."

 

"Eldest's fulang, escort Doctor Li out and bring back the medicine to brew," the middle-aged fulang directed.

 

"Yes, Mother*. Right away." The young fulang who had summoned Doctor Li nodded and led him to the door.

 

[T/N: The young fulang speaking here is the eldest son's fulang. He is addressing his mother-in-law simply as "Mother".]

 

The middle-aged fulang walked Doctor Li to the doorway as well. Watching him leave, he glanced at the sky outside, frowned slightly, then turned to the others. "All right, I'll stay with Bai ger. The rest of you go back to your tasks."

 

"Yes, Mother." The other three nodded obediently and dispersed.

 

The middle-aged fulang returned to his bedside, gazing at Wu Bai with deep affection.

 

Seeing Wu Bai in such pain, he wished he could bear it himself, yet he was powerless.

 

Fortunately, before long, Wu Bai's expression eased, and the middle-aged fulang finally relaxed a bit.

 

He reached out to check Wu Bai's forehead. Finding his temperature normal, he was about to withdraw his hand when he noticed that Wu Bai's collar was soaked with sweat.

 

Hurriedly, he changed Wu Bai into dry clothing.

 

Seeing Wu Bai looking much better, the middle-aged fulang carried the sweat-drenched clothes to their courtyard, drawing water to wash them.

 

He couldn't leave the clothes overnight, or they would smell. He had to finish washing and hang them before nightfall.

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