Chapter 3: Raising a Generation's Favorite Concubine?

Qin Tao's explosive revelation in front of everyone had ignited a massive wave of enthusiasm among the villagers of Li Family Village.

With a sudden "buzz," the villagers, who were already gossiping, erupted with intense energy. One by one, they began to vividly depict the details of the illicit affair between Father Li and Qin Tao.

Before Li Shiyue could utter a word, she heard her system—which had been silent for a while—suddenly speak up: "System loading complete. Binding host... Binding in progress... Binding successful.

Scanning... Task detected. Host, please complete the novice task as soon as possible."

After a two-second pause, the system continued: "Please check the system task panel and complete the task promptly to receive rewards."

Li Shiyue was in no mood to watch Father Li and Qin Tao's drama; her mind was entirely occupied by this unreliable system she had received after transmigrating.

Using her consciousness to open the system interface, Li Shiyue quickly clicked on the task panel marked with a red dot. Sure enough, a line of text appeared: "Assist the female supporting character, Qin Tao, in successfully rising to power to obtain one lucky draw opportunity."

Meanwhile, Father Li was currently in shock from Qin Tao's self-exposure. He first furrowed his brows, but seeing Qin Tao still sobbing with her head down, he feigned concern and stepped forward to comfort her. Right there, under the watchful eyes of the crowd, he reached out and wrapped his arm around a large part of Qin Tao's body.

Through this task, Li Shiyue gathered three pieces of information

First, the term "female supporting character" suggested she might have transmigrated into a book, meaning there must be a male and female protagonist. Of course, it was also possible that she herself was the protagonist.

Second, the system called it a "novice task." Conventionally, in games, there are usually three novice tasks; this "assisting Qin Tao's rise" was likely the first, with a second and third to follow. Additionally, the system only mentioned a reward for success, but said nothing about penalties for failure. If the penalty wasn't severe, it might be fine, but Li Shiyue had no desire to assist a villain.

Third, this was no legitimate system.

Why did she say that? In Li Shiyue's view, what legitimate system would ask a host to help a mistress climb the social ladder?

Sure enough, when Li Shiyue carefully checked the system interface again, she finally spotted a tiny line of text at the very bottom right corner: *The Cultivation of a Favored Concubine.*

What? A concubine? Cultivation?

What kind of trash is this!

"Unbind! Unbind! Unbind immediately! You trash system! Do you hear me? Unbind!"

Li Shiyue didn't get a response from the system. Instead, she first felt her mother's trembling hands, then saw her mother tucking her hands into her sleeves to hide the shaking caused by extreme anger.

After taking a deep breath, Mother Li shouted at Father Li, "Li Wangguang! Have you forgotten the words you said when you came to my house to propose marriage? Li Wangguang, how can you face me like this!"

Curled up in Father Li's embrace, Qin Tao listened to Mother Li's words with a smirk of triumph playing on her lips.

Father Li was now in a dilemma. His eyes were fixed on the grief-stricken and indignant Mother Li, filled with what looked like concern. Yet, he still held Qin Tao tightly in his arms, looking every bit the scoundrel who couldn't let go of anyone.

Watching Father Li, Li Shiyue knew exactly what he was thinking. A scoundrel is simply someone who wants to have it both ways. Father Li wanted a wife like Mother Li—literate, polite, and capable of managing the household—but he also wanted a lover like Qin Tao, who could flatter him and satisfy his desire to be the undisputed master of the house.

However, looking at the scene, Li Shiyue feared that neither Mother Li nor Qin Tao would ever be able to fully satisfy him.

"Sister Chunnang, it is all my fault. Last winter, Wangtian was drafted for labor. If it weren't for Brother Guangzi, the three of us would have starved to death long ago. Now that Wangtian is gone, I am just a weak woman with no way out. How can I survive in this world while raising a child? Waaaah, I really have no way out! Waaaah!"

As Qin Tao spoke, she began to weep again, presenting a perfect picture of a beautiful woman in distress.

While Li Shiyue was still screaming "trash system" in her mind, she suddenly heard a heavy *thud*. Qin Tao had actually dropped to her knees before Mother Li!

"Sister Chunnang, I beg you to give me a way to survive. I am already carrying Brother Guangzi's child," Qin Tao said through her tears, lifting a hand to stroke her abdomen. "I am willing to be a concubine. Please, give me and the child in my womb a chance to live!"

Then, Qin Tao began kowtowing to Mother Li!

This dramatic performance by Qin Tao was an eye-opener for Li Shiyue. She truly hadn't expected a scene straight out of a cliché, melodramatic novel to unfold so vividly before her eyes.

Li Shiyue looked anxiously at Mother Li, who was standing straight ahead. Mother Li was not "moved" by Qin Tao's display; she continued to stare at Father Li, her questioning gaze as sharp as a knife, forcing him to lower his head again.

Father Li's attitude was one of neither admitting nor refusing—he simply refused to step up and take responsibility. *Ha, I don't care what you women do!*

Father Li remained silent, glancing occasionally at the furious Mother Li and then down at Qin Tao, who was kowtowing on the ground.

However, the villagers of Li Family Village, holding torches and watching the spectacle, were in full swing. Their voices rose one higher than the next as they gossiped loudly.

"Hey, Wangtian and the others were taken away over half a year ago. Are they really all dead?"

"Who can say for sure? But the Village Chief hasn't mentioned anything about it."

"The Village Chief was killed by refugees; where is he going to tell you about it?"

"Sigh, we're about to become refugees ourselves; who has the heart to care about the men sent away for labor? Then again, Qin Tao had no choice but to find Wangguang."

A few gossiping men were chatting away when suddenly, a loud "Ouch! Ouch! It hurts! It hurts!" erupted.

Li Shiyue looked up to see a man being yanked by the ear by his wife, who was twisting it violently.

"No choice? Ha! I'll show you 'no choice'! I see you're looking at other people's wives just like that heartless Wangguang! Whether Wangtian is alive or dead is none of your business, yet you have the leisure to watch this drama! The kid has wet himself and you didn't even notice! I'll show you what 'no choice' really means!"

The wife's display of discipline was not as explosive or interesting as Father Li's affair being discovered by his son, but it was certainly entertaining.

One of the men who loved to stir up trouble shouted from the side, "Sister Lanhua, you've got quite a grip! Look how much it hurts Wangshui. Sister Lanhua, were you the one on top of Wangshui last night? Haha, haha!"

"Pah! You dog, Lao San! If you dare mock me, I'll go tell Third Auntie!"

As Li Shiyue watched the commotion, she saw Zhou Lanhua let go of Wangshui's ear, crouched down to pick up a small stone, and threw it straight at Lao San. She was truly a bold woman.

Suddenly, the electronic voice of the trash system finally responded in Li Shiyue's mind: "Warning!

If unbinding occurs, the host will lose her life and her soul will be shattered.

Does the host wish to unbind?"

Li Shiyue, who had been enjoying the spectacle, turned grim. She gritted her teeth and replied resentfully in her mind, "No unbinding."

"Please complete the novice task as soon as possible. Success will grant a lucky draw."