Seeing several people lunging toward her, Jiang An’an picked up a sharp stone from the ground and pressed it against her neck.  

“Stay back! I told you I didn’t engage in any promiscuity—someone followed me up the mountain and tried to assault me!”  

The villagers froze when they saw Jiang An’an threatening to take her own life.  

“Uncle Wang, Auntie Zhang, you’ve watched me grow up—do I seem like the kind of person who would do such a thing?!”  

Jiang An’an spoke through gritted teeth.  

At this point, playing the emotional card was her only option.  

Fortunately, the original owner of this body had always been a meek, obedient, and well-behaved girl. After hearing her words, some of the villagers began to reconsider.  

That’s right. Jiang An’an had always been the most decent girl in the village. Logically, she wouldn’t be the type to engage in promiscuous behavior.  

Several villagers turned to look at Zhao Chunmei.  

Zhao Chunmei tried hard to hide her panic. Staring at Jiang An’an, she felt uncertain—this girl had never been so articulate before. Even when their family’s work points were unfairly halved, Jiang An’an hadn’t dared to argue back. So why now…  

But she couldn’t let Jiang An’an go. If she did, her younger brother would be in danger!  

“Then do you have any proof that you were followed and nearly assaulted? If you don’t, you’ll have to face the pig cage punishment. The country has its laws, and the village has its rules. If everyone could just claim they were ‘followed and assaulted’ to excuse promiscuity, wouldn’t our village descend into chaos?”  

Zhao Chunmei was determined to push Jiang An’an—even if she didn’t force her into the pig cage, driving her to suicide would suffice.  

As long as Jiang An’an died, no one would ever uncover what her brother had done.  

Besides, based on her understanding of Jiang An’an, this girl had strong self-respect. With a few more harsh words, she might actually kill herself, and then everything would be resolved.  

But unfortunately, the Jiang An’an standing before her now was no longer the one she knew.  

Did they really expect her to die on her first day after transmigrating? Not a chance.  

Seizing the moment while Zhao Chunmei was off guard, Jiang An’an rushed forward. The stone that had been at her own neck was now pressed against Zhao Chunmei’s.  

“Y-You… What are you doing?!”  

By the time Zhao Chunmei realized what was happening, Jiang An’an already had her in a chokehold. Panicked, she didn’t dare move, afraid the sharp stone would cut her.  

“I’m not doing anything. I just want to clear my name! Auntie, we’re supposed to be future mother- and daughter-in-law. Not only are you refusing to help me find the man who followed and tried to assault me, but you’re also pushing me to die. Isn’t that going too far?”  

Every word was deliberate, her tone icy and unfamiliar.  

Zhao Chunmei shuddered—this Jiang An’an felt like a completely different person from the one she knew!  

“Y-You… calm down first.”  

“Calm down? I can’t! Someone followed me, nearly ruined my chastity, and now you’re trying to force me to die. How am I supposed to calm down? Unless you help me prove my innocence and find out who followed me, we’re dying together!”  

Jiang An’an had figured it out—the only way to survive was to tie her fate to the village chief’s wife.  

Zhao Chunmei’s legs trembled as she listened. She never expected Jiang An’an to be so ruthless—ruthless enough to drag her down to death with her!

But now, there was no other choice. If she didn’t agree, she really might die here. She knew all too well—when a quiet person snapped, they were the most dangerous. If she pushed Jiang An’an too far, her life would be over.  

“Fine! I agree! Let me go!” she hissed, her voice trembling with desperation.  

Seeing this, Jiang An’an turned to the surrounding villagers. “Uncles, aunties, you all heard it—Auntie Zhao promised to help clear my name. You’ll bear witness for me!”  

The villagers hesitated, unsure what to say.  

Zhao Chunmei, frantic, shouted, “Just agree already!”  

She could feel the sharp stone pressing deeper into her neck.  

Hearing the village chief’s wife’s order, the villagers quickly nodded. “We’ll bear witness, we will!”  

Only then did Jiang An’an release Zhao Chunmei.  

Zhao Chunmei’s legs had long gone weak. The moment she was freed, she collapsed to the ground, and the villagers hurried to pull her up.  

Since it was already late, clearing Jiang An’an’s name would have to wait until the next day. Everyone began descending the mountain. Zhao Chunmei, too afraid to walk near Jiang An’an—terrified she might snap and take her hostage again—rushed ahead.  

Before she even reached home, Zhao Chunmei spotted her younger brother, Zhao Eryan, hiding nearby.  

“Sis, how did it go? Is Jiang An’an already dead from the pig cage?” he asked nervously.  

Zhao Chunmei glared at him, furious. “No! I must’ve been cursed in a past life to have a brother like you. Why did you have to stalk her? She’s your nephew’s future wife! And now, Jiang An’an—who knows what’s gotten into her—went crazy today, demanding I prove her innocence or she’d drag me to my death!”  

Zhao Eryan’s lips trembled. “W-What does that mean? Sis, if her name is cleared, I’m done for!”  

Panicking, he grabbed Zhao Chunmei’s arm. “Sis, you have to help me! If you don’t, I’m dead! I’m the only man in our family—if I’m gone, our bloodline ends!”  

Zhao Chunmei was beyond annoyed. “Do you think I don’t know that? If you’d just kept your hands to yourself and left Jiang An’an alone, none of this would’ve happened!”  

“But I didn’t even do anything in the end! She was saved! I just… lost control for a moment…” Zhao Eryan muttered. He’d even been kicked by that man.  

Now Zhao Chunmei grew anxious. “Jiang An’an might not recognize you, but what about the man who saved her? Was he from our village? Does he know you? If he speaks up, you’re finished!”  

Zhao Eryan thought for a moment, then shook his head. “I don’t know him. He didn’t look like he was from around here…”  

Zhao Chunmei let out a relieved breath. Since that man hadn’t been seen on the mountain afterward, he must’ve just been passing by—saved Jiang An’an and left.  

But the real problem was, even if that man didn’t show up, Jiang An’an was still here!  

After a long silence, she glanced at Zhao Eryan. “Stay hidden at home for now. Don’t come back to Sihe Village. I’ll handle Jiang An’an—I won’t let anything happen to you.”  

“Thank you, sis! I’ll go now!” Grateful, Zhao Eryan turned and fled.  

Watching her brother disappear, Zhao Chunmei smirked coldly. Just you wait, Jiang An’an.