In the memories of the original host, there was no such person as Huang Shitao. Lin Ning didn’t know him, but for Chen Caohua to direct him to rob her? That was interesting.

“Tell me everything about you and Chen Caohua. Leave out a single word, and I’ll stab you!” Lin Ning threatened.

Huang Shitao shuddered and recounted his story with Chen Caohua. Oh, so he was the man who had eloped with Chen Caohua in her previous life!

When Lin Ning heard that the two had lived as a couple elsewhere, she asked, “Does the Feng family know about this?”

“No, they don’t. Chen Caohua told me not to say anything. She said it would count as destroying a military marriage, and I’d end up in prison!”

“Hah! Chen Caohua tricked you. Don’t you see? She and I have a grudge. She deliberately sent you after me to kill two birds with one stone.”

Chen Caohua had indeed planned to kill Lin Ning through someone else’s hand. However, she hadn’t expected Lin Ning to be so strong, and the one who ended up beaten was Huang Shitao instead.

When Huang Shitao pieced everything together, his face darkened like the bottom of a pot. “That damned woman! I’m going to settle this with her!”

And just like that, Lin Ning and Huang Shitao went to the Feng residence together. Lin Ning led the way, kicking open the door with a loud bang. “Chen Caohua, get out here right now!”

Hearing Lin Ning’s voice, Chen Caohua trembled. She peeked out the window and saw Lin Ning coming in with Huang Shitao, his face covered in blood. Panic hit her like a wave. That useless Huang Shitao! How could he fail to beat Lin Ning and instead get beaten himself?

She hid inside, refusing to come out. Only Ge Jinhua and Feng Fugui emerged from the house, their expressions sour upon seeing Lin Ning.

“What are you doing here?” Ge Jinhua snapped.

“You think I want to be here? Look at the mess your daughter-in-law caused!” Lin Ning shoved Huang Shitao forward. “Talk!”

Still seething from his failed robbery and beating, Huang Shitao directed all his anger at Chen Caohua. He yelled, “Caohua! We were a couple! Even if just for a day, how could you betray me like this?”

Chen Caohua was livid and terrified. This fool! How dare he air their dirty laundry in public!

Ge Jinhua’s eyes narrowed. “Well, well, Chen Caohua! I always suspected you ran off with some man, and now your lover’s come knocking at our door! Stop hiding in there and come out!”

She stormed into the house, grabbed Chen Caohua by the hair, and dragged her outside. “Explain yourself!”

Chen Caohua glared venomously at Lin Ning and Huang Shitao, refusing to admit anything. “Mom, they’re framing me! I didn’t do anything!”

Her expression was so innocent that it even swayed Ge Jinhua. “You really didn’t do it?”

“No, Mom, they’re making things up!”

Huang Shitao was furious. “Chen Caohua, you have a birthmark on your thigh. That’s not something I could just make up!”

Chen Caohua’s face turned deathly pale. She was doomed.

Ge Jinhua slapped her across the face.

“You filthy wench! So you did run off with another man and then came back to lie to us!”

Chen Caohua felt the ground slipping beneath her feet. Was she going to repeat her miserable fate from her past life? No! She refused to be forced into prostitution by Huang Shitao or to live in poverty again!

She clung to Ge Jinhua’s leg, bursting into tears. “Mom, I’m sorry! There’s something I’ve been too ashamed to tell you. Huang Shitao tried to assault me. I fought him off, but he tore my clothes. That’s how he saw the birthmark. Mom, I’m still innocent. Please believe me!”

Recalling her tragic experiences from her past life, Chen Caohua cried pitifully, looking every bit like a victim.

Ge Jinhua hesitated. A man like Huang Shitao forcing himself on Chen Caohua wasn’t entirely out of the question.

Seeing how the tide was turning, Huang Shitao shouted, “Don’t listen to her lies! She came willingly! I never forced her!”

Chen Caohua turned and slapped him twice. “Say another word, and I’ll send you to the police station!”

Their eyes met, and Huang Shitao flinched. This woman had grown ruthless. He wanted to retreat, but Lin Ning’s sharp gaze stopped him in his tracks. Trapped between two fierce women, he felt utterly helpless.

In the blink of an eye, Chen Caohua had flipped the narrative. She went from being an adulterous runaway to a virtuous woman oppressed by her in-laws, duped by a fellow townsman, and fiercely protective of her chastity.

Lin Ning couldn’t help but marvel. No wonder, in her previous life, the original host could never win against Chen Caohua. This woman’s ability to adapt and manipulate was extraordinary.

As the balance tipped in Chen Caohua’s favor, Lin Ning spoke. “Huang Shitao, why did you target me in the first place?”

Huang Shitao remembered the second half of the story. “It was all Chen Caohua! She told me Lin Ning had money and told me to rob her. She even suggested I kidnap Lin Ning to make her my wife. It was all her idea!”

Lin Ning asked, “Chen Caohua, I’ve done nothing to you. Why would you go out of your way to harm me?”

Chen Caohua slapped Huang Shitao again. “When did I ever meet you? What does your robbery have to do with me? Don’t push your crimes onto me!”

Huang Shitao was livid. “You witch! Denying everything now and even hitting me? I’ll fight you!”

The two started brawling, and Ge Jinhua quickly joined in. Having already been beaten by Lin Ning, Huang Shitao was now pummeled by the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law duo until he collapsed, unable to move.

Chen Caohua smirked. As long as she refused to admit anything, there was no evidence to pin the blame on her.

Lin Ning sneered. If Chen Caohua wanted to play dirty, so could she. To deal with shameless people, one had to outdo their shamelessness.

She grabbed Huang Shitao and dragged him to the street. “Yell! Shout out everything Chen Caohua did!”

Terrified of Lin Ning’s fists, Huang Shitao reluctantly shouted, “Chen Caohua had an affair with me! She has a birthmark on her thigh! She told me to rob Lin Ning!”

Each statement was more shocking than the last. Curious neighbors gathered, asking, “What’s going on? Who did Chen Caohua have an affair with?”

Panicked, Chen Caohua rushed to cover Huang Shitao’s mouth. “Stop talking!”

“I’ll say it all! Chen Caohua and I lived as husband and wife-“

Before he could finish, a figure appeared across the street, carrying luggage. The man looked weathered and tired. Hearing Huang Shitao’s words, he frowned and approached quickly.

When he saw who was involved, he dropped his luggage and rushed forward, delivering a sharp blow to Huang Shitao’s neck, knocking him out cold.

Chen Caohua froze when she saw the man’s face. “Tianqi, why are you back?”