Otherworldly Space: A Tale of Love and Growth - Chapter 3

To Song Ci’s surprise, this world actually has three types of people: men, women, and ge’er (a term for a gender-neutral individual).

Ge’er are beings that exist between men and women, possessing the appearance of a man, the reproductive capabilities of a woman, and physical strength that lies somewhere in between. Logically speaking, such individuals who are neither fish nor fowl should be in an awkward position, but here, it is not the case. According to official data, the ratio of men, women, and ge’er in this world is approximately 5:2:3. Without ge’er, more than half of the men would struggle to find partners. Humanity would face countless wars over reproduction and women, leading to numerous human tragedies. It might even lead to a matriarchal society where a woman could have three husbands and four concubines.

Song Ci quickly reined in his runaway thoughts. He must have watched too many novels; it was a lingering effect.

To sum up, in this world, girls are treasures, and ge’er are not mere weeds.

Lin Xiaohé, whom he had just encountered, was a ge’er. No wonder he was so angry. Song Ci suddenly realized that he deserved the beating he had received. To involve such an innocent ge’er in an act of adultery, and the fact that he wasn’t killed on the spot was already lenient.

Moreover, he had touched the ge’er’s face and hugged his slender waist. Although it was not as bad as what the original body had done, it was still a form of hooliganism.

However, in this world, it was actually acceptable to engage in homosexual relationships openly.

Song Ci felt that his spring had arrived. Wasn’t Lin Xiaohé the partner that fate had given him?

Why else would he meet Lin Xiaohé first when he came to this world, and not someone else?

Indeed, Song Ci still had not given up on Lin Xiaohé. It was better to stick with what he knew than to bring home a stranger and try to build a relationship from scratch.

Song Ergou’s father had accumulated a substantial fortune through his decent carpentry skills, which allowed him to marry Song Ci’s mother.

Song Ci understood from this difference that he was no longer on Earth. That single blow was incredibly powerful; it not only knocked his soul out of his body but also sent him directly to another world. Fortunately, this place was not very different from ancient China. If he was careful, he believed he could pass himself off without arousing suspicion. Otherwise, he might as well hide in his space for the rest of his life.

People in this world could distinguish between ge’er and men through a mysterious sense, almost like an instinct. When a ge’er stood in front of you, you could instinctively tell whether they were a ge’er or a man, with very few mistakes. Therefore, scenarios like a ge’er marrying a prince or a princess marrying a woman were hard to play out here.

From the afternoon until evening, Song Ci lay on the grass, sorting through these chaotic memories—his own, Song Ergou’s, all mixed together in a very complicated way.

Song Ci hoped to remain himself and not confuse himself with Song Ergou, especially when he grew old. He wanted to be clear about who he was, so he was particularly meticulous in organizing his thoughts.

After Lin Xiaohé left, he did not go home directly. Song Ergou’s words made sense. With that appearance, he indeed dared not let others see him.

Lin Xiaohé was still somewhat unaware that his facial injuries had healed.

He found a secluded spot, gathered some pig fodder, compacted the fodder in his basket, and then went to dig for wild vegetables. His luck was not bad today; he found a dead tree with wood ear mushrooms and picked quite a few black fungus, which he could sell in the county town to supplement his family’s income.

Usually, after doing all this, Lin Xiaohé would head home.

But he still had some doubts and dared not appear in public, so he could only wait in the mountains until it got dark.

The shadow of the mountain kept changing shape as the sun moved, the setting sun sank in the west, birds returned to their nests, and wisps of cooking smoke rose gently.

It was time to go home, Song Ci thought.

Based on his memory, Song Ci chose a less-traveled path. Halfway through, he saw Lin Xiaohé walking ahead of him. The two were walking one after the other on the same path.

This familiar feeling made Song Ci feel somewhat uncomfortable.

It turned out that the original owner had actually followed and investigated Lin Xiaohé’s routine before making a move. Back then, Lin Xiaohé walked in front, and the original owner followed stealthily from behind. How similar the two were.

Now, Song Ci was also following Lin Xiaohé, maintaining a moderate distance. If Lin Xiaohé did not turn his head, he would not notice Song Ci.

Then, when Lin Xiaohé reached the foot of the mountain, Song Ci jumped out.

“Xiaohé, we meet again!”

It was fate, a sign of destiny, that allowed two people from different worlds to walk the same path one day.

Song Ci wanted to be poetic like those literary youths, but he was afraid of scaring the other person.

The saying “a thousand miles of marriage is connected by a single thread” actually makes sense.

Lin Xiaohé was startled and took a few steps back, looking at Song Ci warily, secretly guessing what Song Ergou wanted to do next.

Seeing Lin Xiaohé’s frightened reaction, Song Ci thought it was quite amusing. He took out four or five apples and two bunches of grapes from his space and stuffed them into Lin Xiaohé’s basket. He also put a piece of candy in Lin Xiaohé’s mouth and then left directly.

Lin Xiaohé unconsciously moved his tongue, and the sweet, milky flavor filled his throat. He looked at the bright and juicy fruits, shifted the weight of his now heavier basket, but ultimately couldn’t bear to throw them away.

He didn’t care what Song Ergou wanted; he didn’t want to have anything to do with this person anymore. But the fruits were indeed good.

“Xiaohé, why did you come back so late today, and what happened to your leg?” As soon as she saw her son return, Lin Xiaohé’s mother came forward. Her left eye had been twitching all day, and she had been worried that something might happen at home. Fortunately, both the head of the household and her son had returned safely.

“I’m fine. I just tripped while coming down the mountain. I’ll be okay after a night’s rest,” Lin Xiaohé said, feeling a bit guilty. He then raised his voice, trying to sound cheerful, “Mother, I found a kind of wild fruit in the mountains today. It’s very sweet, and I also have two bunches of wild grapes. You and Father should taste them later.”

Hearing about the fruits, Lin’s mother thought Lin Xiaohé had been climbing trees again and immediately started her nagging mode, “Xiaohé, I’ve told you so many times, you’re a ge’er. Don’t climb trees like a wild boy. Also, when walking, don’t rush. Look carefully where you’re stepping. If you fall, it’s only going to hurt yourself.”

“Mother, I remember,” Lin Xiaohé said helplessly, “but these fruits are rare, and I wanted Father and Mother to taste them.”

Although he didn’t want to admit it, Lin Xiaohé had to acknowledge that the fruits given by Song Ci indeed provided him with a good excuse. When Lin Xiaohé took out the fruits, his mother’s face lit up, and his gloomy mood improved a bit.

Lin’s mother had a fondness for sweet things. The Lin family was not well-off and had to save money to arrange for Lin Xiaohé to marry into the family. It was only during festivals and holidays that they would indulge in buying some sugar and pastries. Usually, when Lin Xiaohé went to the mountains, he would pick any wild fruits or dates he found and bring them back for his mother.

“These fruits look really good, not like they’re wild at all,” Lin’s mother praised.

“I searched the entire tree, and these are the only good ones I found. I brought them all back for you, Mother,” Lin Xiaohé quickly covered up, though he agreed with his mother’s words in his heart. These fruits were definitely not wild; they were probably stolen by Song Ergou from somewhere.

He wondered if taking these stolen goods made him an accomplice and if there would be any trouble later on. But seeing his mother so happy, he didn’t want to spoil her mood at this moment. If the owner came to claim them, well, he could just deny it and blame everything on Song Ergou, Lin Xiaohé gritted his teeth and thought. After all, Song Ergou’s reputation wasn’t good either; no one would believe him.

“Mother knows our Xiaohé is filial, but you must also take care of your own health. You can’t keep coming home late just for these things. It’s not safe for a young man like you to be out after dark,” Lin’s mother said.

“Okay, Mother, I’ll remember,” Lin Xiaohé replied.

“Well, the meal is getting cold. Are you two going to eat or not?” Lin’s father, sitting nearby, urged the two Ge’er in the family, his gaze towards his wife and son very gentle.

His wife was virtuous, and his son was filial. Apart from the difficulty in having children, he had no regrets in his life. He would have to think carefully about the candidate for the marriage arrangement.

Song Ci hesitated in front of the Song family’s door, wondering whether to go in. The old lady of the Song family was a major hurdle for him in this new world. Only if he passed this test with the old lady could he truly feel at ease. Otherwise, if someone discovered that he had reincarnated, although he had the space and wouldn’t be in mortal danger, he would have to live a life of hiding and avoiding people.

When Song Ci finally entered the house, he saw a bowl of cornmeal porridge, a bowl of wild vegetable soup, a small dish of pickles, and three corn buns on the dining table. Old Lady Song was sitting in front of the wild vegetable soup, looking towards the door. When she saw Song Ci return, a smile appeared in her eyes.

This was the scene Song Ci saw as soon as he entered the Song family’s home. The untouched food on the table clearly indicated that they were waiting for someone to come home for dinner. Although he knew these were prepared by Old Lady Song for her son, Song Ci couldn’t help but feel a softening in his heart and a sense of envy for the original Song Ergou.

No matter how Song Ergou behaved or whether he was successful, Old Lady Song always had him in her thoughts. She would prioritize his needs even at the expense of her own comfort, ensuring he had the best food, drink, and necessities.

Song Ci had never met his own biological mother and couldn’t know what kind of place he held in her heart. But the fact that she left him the inherited white jade pendant, which granted him the rare treasure of the space, suggested that she must have had some affection for him.

“Song Ergou, you’ve been out all day and still know how to come home. I thought you had died outside. Tell me, where have you been ghosting around?” As Song Ci was thinking about his mother, he was pulled back to reality by Old Lady Song’s loud shouting.

Her voice was really full of vigor.

The face, etched with the lines of life and hardship, instantly turned fierce. If Song Ci didn’t know Old Lady Song well, he would have thought she wanted to rush over and bite the unfilial son Song Ergou to death.

Fortunately, fortunately, Old Lady Song was just a paper tiger with a fierce exterior but a kind heart.

“I didn’t go anywhere, just wandered around the mountains and set a few traps. I’ll check in a couple of days. If I catch any game, it’ll be just right to bring back and nourish you, Mother.”

“When did you learn to set traps? Are you just trying to fool me again?” Old Lady Song looked at Song Ci suspiciously, not believing a word he said.

“My dear mother, I am your own son. If I can’t trust you, who can I trust?” Song Ci, knowing the original Song Ergou had no credibility, mimicked his manner and playfully put his arm around Old Lady Song’s, grinning and speaking in a playful tone.

Old Lady Song’s stern face finally showed a crack, “Speak properly. What kind of behavior is this? Hurry up and eat. If you don’t come home at mealtime in the future, I won’t save food for you.”

“I know you care about me, Mother. You’d never be able to bear not feeding me,” Song Ci quickly switched on his sweet-talking skills.

Old Lady Song, who was capable on her own, despised Song Ergou’s idleness but couldn’t do anything about it. Whenever Song Ergou spoke a few soft words and acted coquettishly, she would be at a loss and give up her scolding.

Song Ergou had always relied on this shameless spirit to coax quite a bit of money from Old Lady Song.

“Since you know I care about you, stop upsetting me. Break off with those bad friends of yours and find a proper job,” Old Lady Song, who deeply detested the ruffians who had corrupted her son, would scold them for half a day whenever she saw them, never considering that her son had problems from the start. In her heart, her son had been so well-behaved and obedient when he was young. If it weren’t for those people’s instigation, he wouldn’t have turned out like this. As long as he stayed away from them, he could become a good boy again.

“I’ll listen to you, Mother. I’ll never associate with them again,” Song Ci said, knowing that if Old Lady Song hadn’t mentioned it, he would have to cut ties with the original Song Ergou’s friends. Song Ergou’s actions towards Lin Xiaohé today were inseparable from their instigation.

Seeing him agree so quickly, Old Lady Song’s heart, which should have been relieved, was raised instead, “You’re not plotting something bad again, are you?”

“How could I? I just want to find a proper job and be filial to you. I don’t want to keep living like this,” Song Ci said, feeling a bit embarrassed.

“That’s the best way to think. For the next few days, you’ll come with me to work the fields. These past years, your second uncle’s family has been helping with the farm work. Once we’re done with our own chores, you’ll also go and help your second uncle for a few days. Relatives should have give-and-take for the relationship to last. Your second uncle’s family doesn’t expect you to do much; they just want to see your attitude and know that you’re truly repentant and can be trusted,” Old Lady Song said.

“What? Farm work?” Song Ci looked at Old Lady Song in disbelief. Why did he suddenly have to do farm work? As a neglected child of a wealthy family, he had never done such things.

Old Lady Song humphed, took a sip of the wild vegetable soup, and gave him a meaningful look. Indeed, it was still her son; his lazy and gluttonous nature hadn’t changed. Otherwise, she would have really thought that Song Ergou had changed for the better with such obedience.