The late autumn wind blew through the cracks of the wooden window frames, carrying with it a biting chill that seeped into the bones. Inside the side courtyard of the County Magistrate's manor, the atmosphere was even colder than the weather outside.
Lin Chen sat on the edge of the hard wooden bed, staring at his pale, slender hands. They were the hands of a scholar who had never done a day of hard labor, but the mind controlling them was far from scholarly. It was a mind worn tired by decades of 996 office grind in a modern metropolis, now shockingly alert and adrift in a time centuries past.
He was Lin Chen, yet not *this* Lin Chen. He was a middle-aged man reborn into the body of a disgraced live-in son-in-law in the Great Qian Dynasty.
"A-Yao, bring the hot water quickly! The Eldest Young Master and Second Young Master are back from the academy, don't make them wait!"
A sharp voice of a maid pierced the silence from the main courtyard. It was followed by the rustling of skirts and the heavy footsteps of servants rushing to serve the 'important' members of the household.
Lin Chen closed his eyes, the memories of his predecessor settling like sediment in a disturbed pond. This body's father had been a scholar, a close friend of the current County Magistrate, Su Zheng. They had sworn an oath of brotherhood. When Lin Chen's parents died, Magistrate Su, out of loyalty and pity, had brought the orphaned Lin Chen into his home and married him to his daughter, Su Wan.
But pity did not equal respect.
In this world, status was everything. The Imperial Examinations were the only ladder out of poverty for commoners, but that ladder was made of gold. It required money for teachers, books, travel, and bribes. Lin Chen had tried to climb it but failed repeatedly. In the eyes of the Su family, he was a leech—a mouth that ate their food, wore their clothes, and contributed nothing but shame.
Outside the window, two figures walked past, their shadows stretching long across the paper screen.
"Brother-in-law, you've secured the contract for the silk shipment to the Prefecture? That is impressive," a young man's voice said, filled with admiration.
"It was nothing. A bit of networking and capital. Unlike some people in this house who only know how to read books they can't understand," a deeper, smoother voice replied, dripping with disdain. It was Wang Da, the eldest son-in-law, a successful merchant who had married Su Wan's elder sister.
"Careful, Brother Wang. Lin Chen might hear you," another voice chimed in—this was Zhou Li, the second son-in-law, a scholar who had passed the county level exams.
"Him? Even if he hears, what can he do? Cry to the Magistrate? Father-in-law is too soft. If it were me, I would have thrown such a useless man out long ago to beg on the streets."
Laughter faded into the distance.
Lin Chen let out a long, slow breath. He stood up and walked to the mirror. The reflection showed a handsome but pale face, thin shoulders, and eyes that held a deep, weary sorrow. But behind that sorrow now burned a steady flame.
"System," he whispered, testing the air.
A faint blue holographic screen flickered into existence, visible only to him.
**[Ranch System Activated]**
**[Host Status: Healthy (Weak Constitution)]**
**[Current Funds: 12 Taels of Silver (Private Savings)]**
**[Tasks: None]**
**[Inventory: Empty]**
The system was his only lifeline. It didn't give him infinite money or magical pills. It gave him knowledge—knowledge of grass cultivation, cattle breeding, and the harsh, rewarding lifestyle of the ranch. It was a tool, but the work would have to be his own.
The door creaked open.
Lin Chen didn't turn around immediately. He knew who it was.
A woman stood at the threshold. She wore a pale blue dress embroidered with faint white lotuses, her hair pinned up with a simple silver hairpin. She was beautiful, with sharp brows and eyes that seemed to hold a perpetual layer of frost. This was Su Wan, his wife.
She looked at him with a complex expression—mostly cold, with a hint of suppressed frustration.
"The dining hall is serving dinner. My father asks that you attend," she said, her voice crisp and indifferent.
"I'll be there shortly," Lin Chen replied softly.
Su Wan didn't leave. She hesitated, her grip tightening on the doorframe. "Wang Da brought a jar of 'Drunken Immortal' wine from the capital. It cost twenty taels. Father is in a good mood. Do not... do not speak out of turn tonight. Do not mention your plans to take the winter exams again. We do not have the money to waste on the fees, and everyone knows you will not pass."
Her words were harsh, but Lin Chen heard the underlying practicality. She wasn't cruel by nature; she was just pragmatic. In a household of vipers, she was trying to maintain order, even if it meant trampling on his dignity.
"I understand," Lin Chen said, turning to look at her. "I won't be taking the exams."
Su Wan paused, surprised. "You're giving up? Finally?" There was a trace of relief in her eyes, but also a spark of disappointment. Giving up meant he accepted his fate as a failure.
"No," Lin Chen said, his voice calm but firm. "I have found a new path. I will leave the manor tomorrow."
Su Wan's eyes widened. "Leave? Where will you go? You have no house, no land. The Su family provides your roof and meals. If you leave, do you think the world outside is kind to a weak scholar?"
"I am going back to my ancestral village. My father left me a few acres of wasteland there. I intend to farm it."
Su Wan stared at him as if he had grown two heads. "Farming? You? Lin Chen, you cannot even tell the difference between wheat and leeks. You will starve within a month."
"I have learned a few things," Lin Chen lied smoothly. "And my brother will go with me."
"Lin Mu?" Su Wan frowned. "He is talented. The tutor says he has a chance at the Tongsheng level exams next year. If you take him to the countryside to play in the mud, you will ruin his future. He is the only hope of your Lin family."
"I am taking him *for* his future," Lin Chen said, stepping past her and into the courtyard. "The Imperial Exams require money, Madam Su. Money I do not have, and money this household is reluctant to spare for a 'useless' branch. If I stay, he will eventually be looked down upon just like me. I will go and earn that money."
He walked away, leaving Su Wan standing in the doorway, the evening wind tugging at her sleeves. She watched his retreating back, noting for the first time that his spine seemed straighter than usual.
***
The dinner table was a battlefield of silent smiles and sharp words.
The main hall was brightly lit. At the head of the table sat Magistrate Su Zheng, a man in his fifties with a kind, round face and a short beard. Next to him sat his wife, Madam Liu, a woman who radiated authority and disapproval.
On the right sat the daughters and their husbands. Eldest daughter Su Yu, plump and arrogant; her husband Wang Da, flashing a gold ring on his thumb. Second daughter Su Hong, quiet but sharp; her husband Zhou Li, holding a fan despite the cold.
Lin Chen sat at the very end of the table, a position designated for the lowest status. Next to him sat a young boy of about twelve, eating with his head down. This was Lin Mu, Lin Chen's younger brother.
"Come, come, taste this lamb," Magistrate Su said warmly, gesturing for the servants. "It was sent from the northern prefectures. The meat is tender."
The family ate noisily. Wang Da poured wine for the Magistrate, flattering him endlessly. "Father-in-law, with your governance, our county has become a hub for trade. My business has never been better. Here, I have prepared a gift for the family." He clapped his hands, and servants brought in bolts of fine silk and boxes of expensive tea.
"Well done, Wang Da," Madam Liu praised, her face beaming. "You bring prosperity to our home. Unlike others who only know how to use chopsticks to fill their bellies." Her gaze flickered toward Lin Chen.
Lin Chen remained silent, eating his plain rice.
Lin Mu gripped his chopsticks tightly, his young face flushing red. He opened his mouth to speak, but Lin Chen placed a hand on his leg, shaking his head slightly.
"Father," Lin Chen said, his voice cutting through the chatter.
The table went silent. Usually, Lin Chen only spoke when spoken to.
Magistrate Su looked up, his expression kind but tired. "Ah, Chen'er. Is something the matter?"
"I wish to discuss something with you," Lin Chen said, standing up and bowing respectfully. "I wish to take Lin Mu and return to my father's old village in the West Mountains. I want to cultivate the land left to me."
The silence that followed was heavy.
Then, a snort came from Wang Da. "Cultivate land? Have you finally lost your mind? You, a scholar, pushing a plow?"
"It is better than eating idle rice," Lin Chen replied calmly.
Madam Liu slammed her teacup down. "Preposterous! The West Mountains are barren. It is a place of bandits and wild beasts. And you want to take Lin Mu? The boy is on the verge of greatness! You want to drag him into poverty? Su Zheng, control your good-for-nothing son-in-law!"
Magistrate Su raised his hand to silence his wife. He looked at Lin Chen with deep scrutiny. "Chen'er, the Imperial Exams are difficult, but farming is no easier. If you leave, you lose the protection of the manor. If you fail in the fields, you will have nowhere to return."
"I know, Father," Lin Chen said, using the intimate term for the first time in years. "But I have studied the geography of the West Mountains. The land is wild, but it has potential. I want to raise livestock. Sheep, goats... perhaps cattle. I want to build something of my own, so that I can support Lin Mu's studies without feeling the shame of dependency."
He looked around the table, his gaze steady. "I ask for one year. If I succeed, I will repay the kindness of this house. If I fail, I will resign myself to fate and never trouble the family again."
Magistrate Su sighed. He remembered his old friend, Lin Chen's father. He saw the same stubborn glint in Lin Chen's eyes that his father once had. Perhaps it was time to let the bird fly, even if it might crash.
"Very well," Magistrate Su said. "I will provide you with a cart and some supplies. But the money... I cannot give you much from the public funds, and your mother-in-law controls the household accounts."
"I have my own savings," Lin Chen said. "Twelve taels. It is enough to start."
"Twelve taels?" Wang Da laughed out loud. "That barely buys a decent horse! You think you can build a ranch with twelve taels? You are dreaming!"
Lin Chen turned to him, a faint smile on his lips. "Dreams are the seeds of reality, Brother Wang. Watch and see."
***
The next morning, before the sun had fully risen, Lin Chen and Lin Mu stood at the back gate of the manor.
Lin Mu looked worried. He was tall for his age, thin, with bright eyes that held the spark of intelligence. "Brother... are we really doing this? We are leaving the warm beds and good food. The village... our house there has collapsed. It is just ruins."
Lin Chen adjusted the backpack on his shoulders. He looked at the boy. "Mu'er, do you trust me?"
"I do," Lin Mu said immediately. "You are my brother. But..."
"Then listen," Lin Chen said, ruffling the boy's hair. "In that manor, you will grow up to be a servant in spirit. They will feed you, but they will break your pride. I cannot let that happen. I have a plan. I have... a way to make the land work. You focus on your books. I will focus on the mud. And together, we will climb out of this."
He looked up as a shadow fell over them.
It was Su Wan. She was dressed in traveling clothes, holding a small pouch. She stood there, the morning mist swirling around her.
"You forgot this," she said coldly, tossing the pouch to him.
Lin Chen caught it. It was heavy. He opened it to see five taels of silver.
"This is..."
"My private dowry money," Su Wan said, her face averted. "Do not misunderstand. I do not expect you to succeed. But if you starve to death, it reflects poorly on the Su family's reputation. Consider it... a severance fee. Or an investment. If by some miracle you actually make money, you will return it."
Lin Chen looked at her, surprised by the gesture. "Thank you, Wan'er."
She flinched slightly at the nickname. "Go. Before my mother wakes up and changes her mind."
Lin Chen nodded. He turned, pulling the cart that held their meager belongings: two old quilts, a box of books for Lin Mu, a rusty cooking pot, and some farming tools.
"Let's go, Mu'er."
The two brothers walked down the dirt path, leaving the city gates behind. The road to the West Mountains was long and rugged.
As they walked, the system pinged in Lin Chen's mind.
**[Mission Unlocked: Establish the Ranch]**
**[Objective: Clear 5 mu of wasteland and acquire 10 head of sheep/goats.]**
**[Reward: Basic Veterinary Knowledge Pack, Grass Seed Variety Pack (Ryegrass/Fescue).]**
Lin Chen smiled. It was a long road ahead, but for the first time in two lifetimes, he felt the thrill of a challenge.
***
**The Journey and the Wasteland**
It took three days of walking to reach the West Mountain region. The further they went from the county seat, the poorer the people looked. The roads turned from paved stone to dirt, then to mud.
They passed through small hamlets where the villagers wore rough hemp clothes, their faces darkened by the sun. These were the common people of the Great Qian Dynasty—people with no rights, no voices, and only the land to rely on.
"Brother, look," Lin Mu pointed.
In the distance, nestled between two large hills, was a patch of wild, overgrown land. A dilapidated wooden fence, half-rotten, surrounded a field of weeds and thorns. In the center stood a house—or what was left of one. The roof had caved in, and the walls were covered in moss.
This was the Lin family's ancestral land.
"Home," Lin Chen said, taking a deep breath of the fresh, wild air.
They walked down the slope. A nearby villiver, an old man with a hoe, stopped to stare at the well-dressed (though dirty) strangers.
"Hey! Who are you?" the old man shouted. "This is the Lin ghost house! No one lives here!"
Lin Chen walked up to him and bowed. "Elder, I am Lin Chen. This is my brother, Lin Mu. This land belonged to my father. We have returned to farm it."
The old man squinted, his eyes widening in recognition. "Lin? Ah, the Scholar Lin who left decades ago? You are his son? Boy, you must be crazy! This land is cursed! The soil is hard as iron, and the wolves come down from the mountain at night. You will die here."
"We will live," Lin Chen said firmly. "Elder, is there a place to buy sheep in the village?"
The old man spat on the ground. "Sheep? We barely have enough rice for ourselves. Old Man Zhang at the foot of the hill has a few goats. He might sell them if you have silver."
"Thank you."
Lin Chen turned to the ruins of his home. "Mu'er, put down your bag. We have work to do."
Lin Mu looked at the ruins, then at his brother. "Brother, where do we sleep?"
Lin Chen looked at the clear blue sky. "Tonight, under the stars. Tomorrow, we build a shelter. We start by clearing the weeds. The grass here... it's all wrong."
He knelt and pulled a strand of wild grass. It was tough, dry, and fibrous. Useless for cattle.
**[System Analysis: Local Grass Species - Low Nutritional Value. Recommended Action: Clear and Re-seed with Ryegrass/Clover mix for soil nitrogen fixation.]**
"First, we fix the soil," Lin Chen muttered. "Then, we get the animals."
He took off his scholar's robe, wearing only his inner shirt. He picked up the rusty sickle from the cart.
"Mu'er, bring the water."
"Okay, Brother!"
The sun beat down on them. The sound of the sickle cutting through the tough weeds was the only sound in the valley.
Far away, on the main road, a man sitting on a large cart filled with goods watched them from a distance. He was dressed in coarse clothes, but his eyes were sharp, and a long scar ran down his arm. He was Zhao Hu, a former soldier turned merchant guard. He looked at the thin scholar swinging a scythe in the wilderness and shook his head.
"Another city boy playing farmer," he muttered, signaling the driver to move on. "He won't last a week."
But Lin Chen didn't care about the doubters. He swung the sickle, sweat dripping from his brow. This was his land. And he was going to turn it into the greatest ranch this empire had ever seen.