Ch 3: The Regent’s Farmer Husband

Jiang Ji asked urgently, “System, is the livestream on yet?”

【My designation is No. 2977. You may address me by that.】

“Yeah, yeah, whatever—just start it already! I need to make money—no, I mean rice and pork!”

【Stream activated. As long as your eyes are open, the broadcast runs automatically. Close your eyes for more than three seconds to pause; for more than one minute to end the stream. When daily viewership reaches 100,000 views, independent broadcast control will unlock.】

Jiang Ji: “Wait—if I blink, won’t the picture freeze?”

【Blinking is too brief to affect the feed.】

“Oh… what’s this ‘independent control’ thing?”

【It allows you to start or end a broadcast at will.】

“Got it.”

A translucent screen appeared before his eyes—the livestream interface. The feed showed exactly what he was seeing: the dirt floor of the courtyard. No more system overlay.

He glanced at the viewer count: 0.

Huh? He’d been live for minutes already—why was no one watching?

After poking around, he smacked his forehead—the stream didn’t even have a title yet, just a random string of numbers.

He needed a name that would grab attention, something that made people click instantly.

After rubbing his chin in thought, he finally settled on one.

He changed the title to: 【Young Master Jiang Livestreams Ancient Life!】

Satisfied, he submitted it and sat on the doorstep, waiting for viewers.

One minute. Two minutes…

Ten minutes passed—still zero viewers.

Jiang Ji frowned. Why no audience?

Maybe the title wasn’t flashy enough?

“System, system—can we buy a spot on the front-page recommendations?”

【A front-page slot costs 1,000 points.】

Points were earned from viewership—100 views equaled 1 point, and 1 point could be exchanged for 1 jin of rice.

Right now he had 0 points. No points meant no promotion, no promotion meant no viewers, and no viewers meant no points.

A perfect dead loop.

“Can I, uh… get an advance?”

【This system does not extend credit.】

Jiang Ji’s eyes widened. “Even banks give loans!”

【This system does not extend credit. Please earn points through your own effort.】

Jiang Ji: …

Without promotion, a new streamer was buried somewhere in a digital back-corner. To get noticed, he’d have to take a more extreme approach.

First step: a more eye-catching title—bait them in first, figure out the rest later.

The last one wasn’t strong enough. He paced the yard, frowning in thought.

Five minutes later, inspiration struck.

He retitled the stream: 【Help! I Time-Traveled to Ancient Times—Send Food!】

“So shameless—begging for food outright. If CEO Jiang saw this, he’d die of rage,” he muttered.

No sooner had he finished speaking—Viewer Count: 1.

Jiang Ji: !

Someone joined!

He quickly cleared his throat. “Good afternoon, my friend! Welcome to my stream!”

The moment he spoke—Viewer Count: 0.

Jiang Ji: ?

What the—why’d they leave?!

He stared, bewildered. So the title worked, but why had they clicked off so fast?

Maybe the content? Or the angle—he’d been pointing at the ground the whole time.

Just then, another viewer entered.

No time to think—he had to keep this one!

“Brother, help! I’ve time-traveled to ancient times!” Jiang Ji dashed out of the courtyard, turning back to show his shabby thatched hut. “See this dump? I’m broke! We’re eating bran and weeds! Can you bring more people to watch the stream?”

A single question mark floated across the chat.

Jiang Ji quickly said, “You don’t believe me, right? It’s true! I’ll show you my home.”

As he walked, he kept glancing at the transparent screen showing the stream. The viewer count was still 1 — that same person hadn’t left.

He hadn’t planned any fancy content, so he decided to just be genuine. “I crossed over this morning,” he explained. “My big villa turned into a thatched hut in an instant — scared me half to death. I thought I was dreaming.”

【Came here for the title, but gotta say, bro, your set’s pretty realistic. Finding a place this run-down must’ve taken effort.】

Jiang Ji saw the message on the screen. The text was too long and cut off halfway, so he checked the comments below and read it fully.

“Brother, I swear I’m not lying. These aren’t props — we really live here. Come on, I’ll show you my mother.”

He walked to the kitchen and called out at the door, “Mother.”

Zhao Ru was doing embroidery and looked up. “What is it?”

Jiang Ji stepped closer, glanced at the cloth in her hands, and asked, “Mother, what are you embroidering?”

“Lotuses.”

Zhao Ru was almost finished. On the fabric, green lotus leaves spread out gracefully; beside them, two blossoms — one budding, one in full bloom — with a dragonfly resting on a petal. The image was vivid and lifelike.

“Mother, that’s really beautiful,” Jiang Ji said sincerely.

“You child,” Zhao Ru smiled, clearly pleased by his praise.

【Even hired an actress, huh? Not bad acting either.】

Jiang Ji: …

He walked out of the kitchen to explain. “That’s my actual mother — the mother of this body! Not an actress. I’ve got younger siblings too — come on, I’ll show you! They’re right outside.”

【Alright, I’ll bite.】

“There, see? Pulling weeds.” Jiang Ji pointed at the chive patch. “One sister, two brothers — the twins.”

“Jiang Nan! Jiang Bei!” he called out.

“Brother! You’re not resting?” Jiang Nan looked up from the field. “You should go lie down, or your head won’t heal.”

“Can’t sleep,” Jiang Ji replied.

【What’s wrong with your head?】

Jiang Ji walked a bit farther away and lowered his voice. “…The original owner died. I think I took over his body. When I arrived, I’d hit my head — there’s still a big lump back there.”

【Oh, nice story. Show us your head then.】

“Can’t do that, brother. You know how I’m streaming?”

【How?】

“Everything you’re seeing — it’s through my eyes. My eyes are the camera, so I can’t show my own head. Makes sense now?”

【Yeah right, keep talking.】

At that moment, another viewer entered the stream.

【What’s this? Why’s the camera shaking so much?】

【He says he time-traveled to ancient times and we’re seeing what his eyes see — no camera, no gear.】

【What’s that supposed to mean? His eyes are cameras? Stop joking.】

【See? I’m not the only one who doesn’t buy it.】

A third viewer joined, and Jiang Ji brightened.

He waved his hands in front of his face. “Come on, don’t doubt me! Look — both hands right here!”

【Probably strapped the camera to your head.】

“Ah, I told you, you won’t believe me anyway.” Jiang Ji glanced at the live screen. The view really didn’t look like a normal stream.

He thought for a moment. “Right — if this were a phone or a real camera, the screen would be square, right? Now look closely — what shape is the picture you’re seeing?”

【…】
【Huh?】

“What is it? Tell me — I’m curious too. What shape does it look like to you?” he asked, pretending ignorance.

【It’s curved… sometimes turns into a circle.】
【Did you cover the lens with paper or something?】

“Haven’t even seen any paper since I got here. Does the picture change? Then I’ve got no idea why — but whatever you’re seeing is what I’m actually seeing.”

【Turns round when it focuses.】
【Wait… are you really in ancient times?】

Maybe the odd visuals convinced them a bit, because their tone changed. Jiang Ji, feeling encouraged, said eagerly, “Of course! Look at those farmhouses in the distance. You think I could build a whole village of thatched huts just for a stream?”

【How can you prove it? Maybe you’re filming in a historical movie set.】
【Yeah, studios have tons of those old-style buildings.】

“That’s easy,” Jiang Ji said. “I’ll take you for a look! This isn’t the only village like this — it’s the same everywhere. You can name a direction; even a film set has its limits, right?”

【Alright, let’s go.】

“Hold on, brothers, I’ve got one condition.”

【Say it.】

“If I prove I’m really in ancient times, each of you has to bring at least ten new viewers, deal?”

【If you’re actually in ancient times, forget ten — I’ll bring fifty.】
【Same here.】

“Good! Fifty each, deal!” Jiang Ji said excitedly. Then he turned to shout toward the field, “Xia’er, I’m going out for a bit! Tell Mother I’ll be back before dark!”

Jiang Xia stood up, looking worried. “Brother, your head’s still not healed — where are you going?”

“It’s fine, don’t worry. I’ll just walk nearby.”

【What’s wrong with his head?】
【He said he hit it hard, the original guy died, and he took over the body.】
【…Writing a novel, are we?】

Jiang Ji walked toward the edge of the village, chatting with his few viewers as he went.

“It’s true. Our village is called Shanqian Village — about eighty families. See? Every house has people in it. You think I could hire this many extras?”

【Why’s it so rural then? Your production team running out of budget?】

Another viewer entered. Jiang Ji perked up instantly. “Welcome, my friend! This isn’t a film set — this is real life in ancient times!”

【?】

【He said he’s going to prove he’s really in ancient times.】

【For real? Not just a film set?】

【We’ll see soon enough.】

“Exactly, you’ll see soon enough.” Jiang Ji had already reached the entrance of the village. “Alright, brothers, left or right? If we go left, we’ll pass three more villages and reach the main road that leads to the town. To the right—well, I’ve no idea where that goes. The body’s original owner only ever went seven or eight villages that way.”

【Left】
【Right】
【I want to see what the town looks like】

“Majority rules—so today, left. Tomorrow, we’ll go right.”

Jiang Ji started down the left path, chatting as he walked about how he’d crossed over.

A new viewer joined halfway through, completely confused. The first viewer who’d entered kindly explained the whole situation again.

【You can’t seriously believe this. It’s just a gimmick for the stream.】
【I know. That’s why I’m watching—to see how he’s going to end this act.】

After about ten minutes, Jiang Ji reached another village. He walked around, showing the viewers the scene.

“See? Every house has people living in it. The fields are full of workers too. If they were all actors, imagine how much that would cost!”

Then he suddenly stopped mid-sentence, eyes brightening. “Brothers, you can understand me, right? You’re from China? Could one of you contact my father for me? His name’s Jiang Jianguo, chairman of Boyuan Group in Jing City. His number is 139XXXXXXXX. Please tell him his son Jiang Ji—‘Ji’ as in ‘lonely’—is streaming right now. Have him come watch! He’ll reward you for sure!”

【China? Never heard of it. We’re from the Aibor Alliance.】
【Our phone numbers don’t even use that kind of format.】
【Wait, what? You’re not from our country?】
【??】

Jiang Ji was stunned. “You… you’re from what country? I’ve never heard of that! My planet was called Blue Star. What’s yours?”

【Planet Aibor】
【What’s Blue Star? Never heard of it】
【Our main planet’s called Aibor, and our secondary one’s Melair】

Jiang Ji: !

Completely dumbfounded. “What the—! You’re not even from the same planet? Or the same era?!”

【!】
【Now that’s taking the story too far】
【Different planets? Wow, your imagination’s something else】

“Wait, let me ask the system.”

Right in front of the viewers, he prepared to question it. What was it called again? Something-2…?

Whatever. He called out, “Xiao Er! Xiao Er!”

No reply.

“System! System!”

【My designation is 2977.】

“Right, 2977! Tell me—these viewers, aren’t they from my original world?”

【Viewers are randomly selected.】

“Randomly selected? They’re saying they’re from Planet Aibor. Where is that?”

【Planet Aibor is a distant civilization in the universe, far from your original home planet. Its technological level is slightly more advanced than your own.】

“There really is a Planet Aibor?” Jiang Ji’s hope of contacting his father shattered. “Then how can they understand me? And how can I read their messages?”

【Automatic translation by the system.】

Jiang Ji: Got it.

【What’s he mumbling about now?】
【He says he crossed over and bound to some kind of livestream system.】
【So many layers to the story—time travel, ancient setting, system, now aliens? The streamer’s definitely writing fiction.】

Dejected, Jiang Ji explained to the viewers what he’d just learned from 2977.

【You’re really committed to the role.】
【Haha, no lie—I actually want to see how he ends this now.】
【This script’s getting wild.】

Jiang Ji sighed. “Alright, let’s keep walking. Come on, brothers—help me out, spread the word! Get more people in here. Only seven viewers right now; a crowd makes things fun!”

【Prove you’re really in ancient times first, then I’ll bring people.】

“Deal. Let’s keep going.”

As he passed through the second village, he showed them around again.

“Now tell me, with all these thatched houses and all these people, you really think they’re all actors? Look—they’re farming! Working! If this were a movie set, wouldn’t there be modern stuff somewhere?”

He gestured around. “See any modern clothes? Any cars? Phones? Cameramen? I’ve walked this far and haven’t seen a single person out of place. If this were a film lot, that’d be impossible.”

【…】
【Holy crap, there really aren’t any modern people.】
【Could it actually be ancient times?】
【No way, that’s impossible.】

Suddenly, Jiang Ji felt an urgent need to pee. He spotted an older man nearby and hurried over.

“Uncle, excuse me—where’s the toilet?”

The man looked confused. “What?”

“Uh—outhouse! Where’s the outhouse?”

“There.” The man pointed.

“Thanks, Uncle.” Jiang Ji ran toward it. “Brothers, I need to take a quick bathroom break—pause—yue!”

The moment he opened the door, the stench hit him so hard he gagged and stumbled back.

“Holy crap, that’s disgusting!”

【Dude, I’m eating right now—could you not point the camera in there?!】
【He said his eyes are the camera. You want him to take them out or what?】
【Ugh, that’s nasty.】
【Wait, that’s an actual pit latrine?!】
【I remember those from my grandma’s village when I was little—haven’t seen one in years.】

Jiang Ji didn’t care what they were saying—he really had to pee, but the smell was unbearable. No way was he going in there.

He found another outhouse. Same thing. Then another. Still just as awful.

【Streamer, please, just go behind the trees!】

【Can you pause the feed? I seriously can’t handle this anymore.】

Jiang Ji was desperate too. He glanced around—nothing but those reeking outhouses everywhere. If he went in, he’d probably pass out from the fumes.

So he turned and sprinted toward the grove nearby.

“I’m closing my eyes for three seconds to pause the stream—don’t leave, okay? I’m about to explode here!”

Three seconds later, the screen froze—but didn’t go black.

【Whoa, it really paused?】
【New here—why isn’t the image moving?】
【Streamer’s taking a leak.】
【Outdoors?】
【Bro, good thing you joined late. You missed the gross part.】
【What happened?】
【Don’t ask. Just… watch the replay later if you dare.】

After a short while, the picture moved again.

“Alright, all done! You guys still here?” Jiang Ji came out of the grove completely relaxed. “Man, ancient times are brutal. Even taking a piss is a whole ordeal.”

【What, the forest wasn’t good enough for you?】
【Honestly, I’d take a grove over those pit toilets too.】

Chatting as he walked, Jiang Ji reached the main road. “To the right’s the way to town. Left leads to another town, pretty far though. Which way do you want me to go?”

【Left】【Right】
【Left! The unexpected direction makes it feel more real.】

Left it was.

He started walking down the left-hand path.

Then 2977’s voice chimed in suddenly.

【Congratulations, host. Viewership has reached 10. First system task complete. Reward: one jin of rice. Viewer reward item unlocked: Rice.】

Jiang Ji: !

He immediately opened the system panel—sure enough, the task was marked complete.

“2977, if I click to claim the reward, will the rice appear right away?”

【Yes.】

“Will it come in something, like a bag?”

【Yes.】

Jiang Ji’s eyes lit up. “Brothers and sisters! You don’t believe I’ve got a system? Well, here’s your proof!”

【How are you gonna prove it?】
【Show us then.】

“I just finished the first mission—reward’s a jin of rice. Look! My hands are empty, right? In a second I’ll tap to claim the reward, and the rice will appear out of nowhere!”

【Haha, what is this now—teleporting props?】
【I don’t buy it. Go on, show us.】

Jiang Ji crouched down. “Don’t blink! Watch closely—”

He was trembling with excitement. He waved both hands in front of him to show they were empty, then tapped the invisible interface to claim the reward.

In the next instant, a small cloth pouch appeared in his left hand.

【!】
【Holy crap!】
【Did I just hallucinate?】
【Oh my god, it really appeared!】

Jiang Ji’s eyes lit up. He untied the pouch—inside was pure, white rice.

Finally—no more bran cakes!

“See that? It’s rice! Real rice!” he laughed triumphantly. “You saw it just now—it appeared out of thin air, didn’t it?”

【You seriously have a system?】
【This is insane.】
【Did someone throw that to you? I didn’t even blink, didn’t see anyone.】
【Can anyone explain this scientifically?!】

“It’s real!” Jiang Ji tied the bag shut and held it up proudly. “And there’s more—the first reward item is now unlocked. Come on, brothers, let’s go!”

【There really is a donation item.】
【Wait, why is the donation item… rice?】

“Ah, probably because the system saw how poor we are,” Jiang Ji said. “We can barely eat, so both the rewards and donations are rice—the thing we need most.”

【Huh, it’s cheap—ten cents a piece.】
【Alright then, take some.】

“Thanks for the donation, my good man! After walking this far, I’ve earned it! Keep ‘em coming, brothers!”

He kept walking while talking. “You don’t know what I ate at noon—bran cakes! You know what that is? The husk left after milling rice, pressed into cakes.”

“They still mill rice by hand here, not like those smooth modern machines. It’s coarse, dry—man, it choked me till I teared up… absolutely disgusting!”

【Congratulations, host. Viewership has reached 100. Second system task complete. Reward: one jin of pork. Viewer reward item unlocked: Peanuts.】

He had only been rambling for a bit when the viewer count jumped from 10 to 102—and it was still climbing fast.

Jiang Ji: !

Pork—secured!

🌾🌾🌾🌾🌾