Yingchun Gets a Golden Finger [Dream of the Red Chamber]

☆Synopsis☆

After fighting for her life in the apocalypse for thirteen years, Gu Xiao died at the hands of her own younger sister.

Before closing her eyes, she watched her sister frantically pawing at her ring and calmly delivered her last words:

"The ring isn't actually my spatial artifact. I lied to you before. Annoying, right?"

When she opened her eyes again, she was in the Transmigration Department employees' lounge.

Thinking that with the transmigration points she'd earned over thirteen lifetimes, she could finally take a little vacation, Gu Xiao happily made her request: to be a pampered heiress with no worries about food or clothes.

Then the System let out a "Meow!" and she became Yingchun in the world of Dream of the Red Chamber.

That's right, the second wood block, who wanted no trouble, was dull and weak, and was sold by her own father to an abusive husband before being tortured to death!

Fortunately, the System cat came along too, bringing three bonus life-saving items.

Fine. Since she's here, she may as well make the best of it.

What's so special about playing a good hand well?

Gu Xiao had spent several lifetimes doing missions without ever being dealt a good hand, but she'd never believed in fate!

☆Please Read Before Starting☆

1. The story is told from Yingchun's perspective. Most of the original Dream of the Red Chamber characters are NPCs. The female lead is no saint, and she won't save a collapsing empire or deliver everyone from suffering. The female lead (and the author) simply isn't capable of that.

2. The female lead has a System and will use it often, following the motto, "Only a fool passes up a good deal." If that bothers you, this may not be the story for you. Yingchun's background is a dead end, and even with a System, she can't easily win this game.

3. This story comes from my love for the women of Dream of the Red Chamber and my lingering regrets for them. I'll do my best, but you can't please everyone. Characters have different points of view, and readers have different likes and dislikes. If it's not for you, don't force yourself to read. Those who stay, please keep the discussion civil.

4. There are original elements, and the story isn't for everyone. Characters may be significantly out of character. If you dislike that, please don't read.

5. I'll try to update daily. There may occasionally be double updates on weekends, but I can't guarantee it. Working life is hard, so please understand o(╥﹏╥)o

Upcoming Dream of the Red Chamber stories:

☆1. "Everyone Around Me Is a Backstabber" (You Erjie):

After an operation that lasted more than ten hours, You Jing was just about to go home and sleep for three days straight when she was stabbed to death by a patient's agitated family member with a small surgical knife.

When she opened her eyes again, she was the breathtaking beauty You Erjie, famous both in and out of the book for her tragic death in the world of Dream of the Red Chamber.

You Jing sighed.

In her previous life, she was a typical science-minded woman from a place where you could find a hundred girls with her looks on any street. She had no experience at all with how to live the life of a peerless beauty.

"Why are you still looking at that little knife? Hurry up and get ready. Someone from the Jia household is here to take us off to a better life!"

You Jing, now the new You Erjie, felt a pang in her heart, and nearly dropped what she was holding.

She picked up the one surgical knife that had come with her from the modern world to Dream of the Red Chamber, touched her chest, and asked with feigned calm, "What better life? Which Jia household? Who's here?"

"You silly girl. You were sick with a cold for two days, and now you've lost your wits? Of course it's the Ningguo Mansion! We're lucky your good older sister remembered us and sent me to bring you two sisters along to help." Old Madam You looked contentedly at You Erjie's pale, sickly face, which had lost none of its beauty, gave her a few more instructions, then hurried out.

"Sister, do you think we really have to go?" You Erjie looked at Third Sister, still arranging her hair before the mirror, then remembered how Old Madam You had just looked at her, as if sizing up merchandise to sell to the highest bidder.

"We're almost out of money, and Mother has already accepted the travel money from the Jia family. How can we not go?" Third Sister You said casually. "Don't overthink it. With our looks, do you really think we can't handle a few Jia men?"

☆2. "No More PUA: I'll Start With Myself" (Xia Jingui):

Modern-day agent A Qi transmigrates into the world of Dream of the Red Chamber, becoming part of the Xia family, the capital's most famous family of osmanthus growers.

In this life, she's Xia Jingui, the only child in three generations, with a huge family fortune and no father or brothers to rely on.

She's born into wealth but has no one to turn to, apart from a weak-willed mother and a crowd of relatives waiting to take everything after she dies.

The Xia Jingui in the book has two distinct phases in life:

Before marriage, she's pampered and well-read. After marriage, she becomes a completely different person, known as the fiercest shrew in Dream of the Red Chamber.

Idiot.

That was A Qi's most fair assessment of the original Xia Jingui.

She didn't look into the family before marrying in. Only after the wedding did she discover that the Xue family was in decline and broke, that Xue Pan was a womanizer with no moral limits, and that her dowry had already fallen into the hands of him and his mother. After struggling for ages, she got nothing for her efforts except a ruined reputation and a death by poisoning.

"What a waste of a pretty face, and all those books you read."

A Qi tossed aside her makeup box and scoffed.

Having been reborn, she decided to cherish her life and enjoy her freedom. Staying single and child-free was the safest choice.

Unfortunately, there were always people who couldn't keep their mouths shut...

An aunt from the clan tried to comfort her: "You and your mother are just too difficult to marry off. Who would dare take you on?"

An old friend of the Jia family paid a visit: "A man like Master Xue is a rare catch. You won't find another once this opportunity passes..."

Matchmakers took turns badgering her: "You're not getting any younger. Without someone to help you, how long can you keep the family business going?"

A Qi dug at her ears, not even bothering to roll her eyes. "First they undermine your confidence, then they sweet-talk you. That basic carrot-and-stick PUA routine won't control me."

They can dream on!

☆3. "A Divorced Woman's Wonderful New Life" (Wang Xifeng):

After finally passing the civil service exam, He Xiaoxiao planned to sleep for three days straight. Who could have guessed she'd wake up as Wang Xifeng, who had miscarried and was near death in the Jia household of Dream of the Red Chamber?

Dozens of masters throughout the household expected her to serve them carefully.

Hundreds of affairs, big and small, inside and out, waited for her decisions every day.

After pretending to be dead for three days, the newly appointed Second Mistress Lian finally came around.

Life is a play, and it all comes down to acting.

She might not get to choose which troupe she performs with, but she can at least choose her own role!

Wang Xifeng, who was "obeyed once, ordered twice, and abandoned the third time"? Whoever wants that role can have it.

All she wants is to run away with her daughter and be a happy single mother. Of course, being rich and powerful would be best, but even a modest fortune would do.

Jia Lian chases women? Let him go have his fun! As long as he doesn't bring home a disease, she doesn't care.

Second Sister You is trying to take her place? Bring her into the household right away! If she wants to get pregnant and have a child to secure her position, let her.

Everyone in the Jia household was waiting to see how she would make a scene. They never expected Wang Xifeng to take Second Sister You in and nurse her back to health until she gave birth to a healthy baby boy. Everyone in the household thought she'd changed her ways.

Before long, the name "Compassionate and Virtuous Wang Xifeng" was on everyone's lips.

Just as Second Sister You was holding her son and feeling triumphant, Wang Xifeng quietly told Ping'er to send out two letters.

The next day, Wang Xifeng, childless and ill, asked to leave of her own accord.

Old Madam Jia and the others tried to persuade her to stay, but to no avail. They had no choice but to let the ailing Wang Xifeng return home with her daughter.

Only gradually did the people in the Jia household realize that, at some point, the whole world had changed.

"Second Mistress... are you really not sorry, Miss?" Ping'er asked Wang Xifeng one day, many years later.

"Sorry about what? Keeping the child and leaving the father, or walking away from that gilded pit of wealth?" Wang Xifeng replied with a cool smile. By then, she had become a first-rank titled lady.

☆3. "The Little Rich Widow of the Red Chamber" (Li Wan):

In the third month of spring, all things came back to life, and Li Wan, the widowed eldest daughter-in-law of the Duke of Rong's household, finally recovered after being ill for more than a month.

But everyone in the household said that her personality had changed completely after she recovered. She no longer even bothered to discipline the son she had once valued above her own life.

Everyone in the Jia household found it strange. Some, whose hearts were kind and sensitive, would sigh with sympathy whenever they heard the words "Eldest Sister-in-Law."

Where no one could see her, the unfortunate Li Wan was quietly making a fortune plan for after she transmigrated into a book.

That's right, she transmigrated into a book.

In her previous life, she was the eldest daughter in a family from one of the most sexist parts of a certain province. She devoted her whole life to her three younger brothers and died alone by the roadside, with no one coming to help.

This time, she was going to live for herself, make money for herself, and enjoy life for once.

Her conveniently acquired son is obedient and well-behaved? Only when other people are watching. He dares to bare his teeth at her? Sorry, I'm not the loving mother who thinks you're her whole world.

Her sisters-in-law and their families show her respect and affection? It's all for show. They're secretly plotting to seize her dowry and business? Every last one of them will pay back double what they took!

As for the Jia household soon being confiscated, that really is a problem.

When the nest is destroyed, no egg remains intact.

If she wants to hold on to this wealth and enjoy life for a long, long time, she needs to figure out how to leave the Jia household as soon as possible.

What? You want her to save people?

Don't be ridiculous. She's supposed to be a disillusioned little widow, like a dried-up tree. What could she possibly do to save an entire household?

She can only save a few close friends and relatives she likes, that's all.

After all, her abilities are limited. She's just a little rich woman with more gold and silver than she can spend, and a smart, obedient child by her side.

☆All upcoming stories have outlines. Which one I write first will depend on popularity and how the ideas develop, so feel free to add the ones you like to your reading list!

Theme: My fate is mine to decide, not Heaven's.