Chapter 3: Sweetness Turns to Bitterness, Both Kindness and Calamity - Ah? The Wives I Abandoned Turned Out to Be Real

Chapter 3: Sweetness Turns to Bitterness, Both Kindness and Calamity "Madam, this is the caramelized sweet potatoes made by Steward Su." Inside the room of the general’s wife. A plate of golden-hued, fragrant caramelized sweet potatoes sat enticingly on the table. Huang Qingwan gazed at the dish in front of her, momentarily lost in thought. Beside her, Chun Zhu urged gently. "Madam, do eat quickly, or the caramelized sweet potatoes won't be able to have threads if they cool down." Huang Qingwan did not respond immediately. Instead, she asked. "Did he ever say he could make Cuí Liǔ Yīng Tí (Willow Warbler Singing)?" Chun Zhu shook her head at this point. "No, I haven't seen Steward Su mention it even once." Huang Qingwan seemed a bit absent-minded. "Is that so..." She sighed softly. Then, with ivory-carved chopsticks, she picked a piece of sweet potato and placed it in her petite mouth. Soft, glutinous, and sweet caramelized sweet potatoes. In this moment. Bitterness enveloped her. ... Because it was the Second Miss's birthday, everyone had been busy until midnight before they could rest. Returning to his own room and lying in bed, Su Mo exhaled a long breath. The work was utterly exhausting. Were it not for the complete fatigue relief he experienced each time after running his simulation, Su Mo, as a modern person, doubted whether he could endure such labor. After washing his feet, Su Mo felt a surge of excitement. Finally, he could continue his simulation again. This little game was essentially his only enjoyment in this world devoid of phones or computers. Summoning the game “Lines of Sentiment,” a light screen appeared before him. On the screen was a single line of large text. [Start Simulation?] "Start!" [Randomly selecting birthplace.] [Your simulation birthplace this time is Hangzhou Province.] [Randomly selecting romance character.] [Your randomly bound romance character this time is "Bai Suzhen."] Seeing the name Bai Suzhen, Su Mo's mind went blank for a moment. Bai Suzhen. What does it mean? Are mythical figures now involved? Could this world be not just the ancient realm of a few martial experts but instead a mythical world inhabited by deities and demons? If that’s the case... With his frail stature, wouldn't he be utterly drained by a fox spirit? This... how could this be possible! A mythical world, what kind of joke is heaven playing on him? In those other novels, the protagonist would possess innate treasures or an unbeatable system for help. And here he only has a mini-game as his golden finger? Su Mo found it somewhat hard to accept. Yet the name "Bai Suzhen" was clearly and unmistakably written on the screen. Bai Suzhen, who is she? She’s a thousand-year-old serpent demon, in the very vicinity of Hangzhou — this had to be the Legend of the White Snake! Could it be... He’s crossed into the world of the Legend of the White Snake? Shivers! The more Su Mo thought about it, the more anxious he became. After all, those fox spirits and demons love robust, handsome young men like him the most. He’d better not find one trying to drain his vital energy while he sleeps! Eventually, Su Mo steadied his nerves. He had frightened himself a bit, remembering that "Lines of Sentiment" was merely a simulation game. Even if he ran across Qi Xiannü (Seven Fairies), he wouldn't be surprised. With this in mind, Su Mo continued playing the game calmly. Regardless of the situation, the simulation needed to proceed. [Randomly selecting identity.] [Your randomly selected identity this time is the legitimate son of the governor of Hangzhou.] ... [Randomly selecting talents.] Watching the talents being randomized, Su Mo felt quite excited. Talents are categorized into five levels: White, Green, Blue, Purple, and Gold. The stronger the talent randomly drawn, the better the simulation experience. For instance, last time when he started the simulation as himself, he drew the green-level Chef talent [God of Food]. This talent allowed him to evade various crises in the simulation. While Su Mo was contemplating, a golden light suddenly shone before him. [Your randomly drawn talent is "Reincarnation of Arhat."] [Reincarnation of Arhat: You are inherently gifted in Buddhist studies, mastering Buddhist techniques without obstacles.] ... Reincarnation of Arhat? Su Mo felt delighted; it was his first time drawing a gold-level talent. He wondered what kind of starting point this golden talent would bring him. ... [You were born as the legitimate son of Su Donglai, the governor of Hangzhou.] [The elderly governor, Su Donglai, had you late in life, named you Su Mo, and pampered you dearly, allowing you to pass your childhood joyously, doing as you pleased.] [When you turned eight, an old monk named Fa Hai sought out your father, proclaiming you as the reincarnation of an Arhat, destined with a Buddhist fate. The monk hoped you could become a secular disciple of Jinshan Temple, not affecting future marriage or civil service examinations.] At this moment, in Su Mo's vision, an image of Fa Hai appeared. Fa Hai had a kind expression, wore a clean gray monk’s robe, and held a nine-ringed staff. Seeing it was Fa Hai, Su Mo could now fully confirm. This simulation involved the Legend of the White Snake. He wondered how beautiful Bai Suzhen was and how she compared to the general’s wife. After all, this general’s wife was the most beautiful female character he had encountered in his previous simulations. Sadly, everything was virtual — look but not touch. ... [Being the governor, Su Donglai respects Elder Fa Hai but doesn’t wish to decide for you; instead, he asks your opinion.] [What do you choose?] [Option 1: Tell your father you also love Buddhist studies, wish to join Jinshan Temple, and appear innocent and endearing to make Fa Hai fond of you.] [Option 2: Walk away and play with your schoolmates.] [Option 3: Pretend to agree, allow Fa Hai to stay overnight and, during dinner, mix his meal with croton seeds, expressing you have no desire to become a monk!] ... Reviewing the three options, Su Mo thought carefully. Since he was the reincarnation of an Arhat, he had no need to consider Fa Hai’s feelings. He should opt for something mischievous and entertaining! Thus. Su Mo instantly picked the third option. ... [You pretended to accept Fa Hai's proposal and convinced your father, Su Donglai, to let Elder Fa Hai stay overnight so you could later accompany him to Jinshan Temple.] [Your mother began crying upon hearing the news, unwilling to see you leave as you’re their only child.] [Your father started to reassure your mother, and Fa Hai decided to stay at the mansion overnight.] [That evening, you took some croton seed powder from the family pharmacy and added it to the dish prepared for Fa Hai.] [Unaware, Fa Hai drank his vegetable congee, only to suffer unbearable stomach pain an hour later, spending the night in distress.] [The next day, in front of your parents, you mocked Fa Hai as an old bald donkey; claiming he used a façade of Buddhist cultivation to make you his disciple, when in reality, he only wanted a servant.] [Your mother was pleased to know you didn’t intend to leave.] [Your father, Su Donglai, was surprised by your actions and quickly apologized to Fa Hai.] [He promised to bring you up the mountain during the Dragon Boat Festival to atone.] [Unable to endure, Fa Hai had no choice but to abandon his attempt to accept you as his disciple.] [Upon returning, he knelt for a long duration before the Buddha.] [Confused about why you, as the Arhat reincarnation, behaved so rebelliously.] (End of Chapter)