Chapter 14

The Original Host's Experience

Those people sheltered her, and in turn, were cared for by the original host. Their affection was real.

With them around, even when bullied by Lin Qingqing and others, the original host never took it to heart.

However, fate loves to play tricks—it closed one door for the original host but opened another.

Though the high fever left her struggling with emotions and learning, she grew fearless, with a temper no one could predict. She fought back against those who bullied or upset her, and her life gradually improved. No longer slaving away for the Lins, she lived well alongside those elderly folks—until, one by one, they passed away, leaving her to fend for herself, growing wild in the mountains. That was, until the Lins forced her into marriage...

"It was those people who taught me how to fight back against the Lins," the original host wasn’t stupid—just fierce. Nan Nan spoke up for her, "Only this way could I protect myself and avoid being strong-armed by the Lin matriarch over some 'life-saving favor.'"

From her words, Lu Hang pieced together the story and concluded that his little wife was far more than people assumed.

She wasn’t just sharp—she’d been taught by the best. After all, those who had been sent down were no ordinary people. If they bothered to teach her, Lin Nannan must’ve learned a thing or two.

"I learned from them on and off for over a decade, and they taught me everything they knew. You think there’s anything I *can’t* do?" she declared proudly.

Lu Hang clenched his jaw, unconvinced and far less optimistic.

"Nan Nan, those people were knowledgeable and taught you much, but in the end, they couldn’t change crop yields. Relying solely on farming won’t give us a good life." Hell, we might not even scrape by.

Seeing his disbelief, Lin Nannan wasn’t angry. Given how things were, his doubts made sense.

Poor seeds, outdated tools, backbreaking work for little return, and unscientific farming methods—such results were hardly surprising. Honestly, she wasn’t even sure if the seeds she brought would sprout. But she still wanted to try.

She knew his lack of confidence stemmed from his condition. She believed that even if farming failed, she could support them—she just didn’t know how to convince him.

Studying Lu Hang’s worried expression, she knew no words would convince a man who’d given up. So she shrugged and said, "You won’t go hungry, at least. We’ll figure things out as we go."

"Sister-in-law, are you ready? We’re leaving," Lu Yuan’s voice called from the courtyard just as Lu Hang was about to speak again.

"Coming!" Lin Nannan replied before looking down at Lu Hang, reiterating firmly, "I won’t divorce you. You stew on it all you want—I’m heading to the fields now."

With that, she dashed off, leaving Lu Hang torn between laughter and frustration.

Watching her disappear from sight, he realized his usually calm emotions had been profoundly shaken...

...

Meanwhile, Lin Nannan, bouncing through the fields like she didn’t have a care, had no idea how much turmoil she’d stirred in Lu Hang, who had been teetering on despair. All she cared about was getting those seeds in the ground.

The news of Lin Qingqing and Lin Nannan’s marriage swap had spread openly—the Lus made no effort to hide it, and neither did the Lins. By now, the entire village knew Lin Nannan had become the Lu family’s daughter-in-law and was treated like family. Folks didn’t know whether to pity Lu Hang for marrying a "simpleton" or Nan Nan for her bad luck.