Switched Marriage: The Coddled Little Wife Chapter 1: She’s Not the Only One Who Came Back

"Chuxia, you need to follow your mother's advice. Within a ten-mile radius, Li Guangyuan is a highly desired young man. He is just as hardworking in the fields as you are. If you two join forces, your life together can only be prosperous. Your mother would never lead you astray."

"When the time comes, I will request a 300-yuan bride price for you. Don't worry, I will hold onto that money for you; it will serve as your support system in the years to come."

Lin Chuxia stared at the middle-aged woman before her, finally shaking off the initial shock. She had believed she perished in a vehicular accident, but she had remarkably returned to the year she was twenty—the year of her marriage.

Her parents were currently organizing her union with the man from her previous life, a farmer from the neighboring village named Li Guangyuan.

At the mention of his name, Lin Chuxia’s pulse quickened. She was on the verge of declining the proposal when a figure suddenly lunged forward, shouting, "I refuse to marry anyone named Qin! I want to marry Li Guangyuan instead."

It was her elder sister, Lin Jiayi.

Startled, Mother Lin replied, "What kind of fit are you throwing? Stop speaking such nonsense."

"I'm not being ridiculous, Mom. I won't marry into the Qin Family. I want to join the Li Family and marry Li Guangyuan. Let my younger sister wed Qin Yang."

Lin Chuxia narrowed her gaze. Had her older sister also been reborn?

Noticing her eldest daughter's eyes turning red with desperation, Mother Lin stood up and guided her to the side. "Child, I chose the Qin Family for you with great care. Qin Yang is a laborer. Even though he works elsewhere, he sends money home every month. Once you are wed, you can live with him and avoid the burden of caring for your in-laws..."

Lin Chuxia calmly observed the pair. Her mother’s habit of trying to deceive her never changed; in reality, it was nothing but cold indifference.

Suddenly, she raised her voice. "Yes, sister, Mom is right. I'll marry into the Li Family then. Since you've never done a day of fieldwork at home, how would you cope if you married into the Li Family?"

Lin Jiayi whipped her head around, her eyes bloodshot as she glared at Lin Chuxia. "Are you trying to compete with me?"

Lin Chuxia held up her hands innocently. "I am merely looking out for my elder sister's well-being."

Mother Lin agreed with Lin Chuxia’s logic. "Your sister makes a good point. I searched everywhere to find a match where you wouldn't have to work in the fields." After all, a husband's house was quite different from a father's.

Lin Jiayi retreated a step, her expression turning fierce. "If Mom and Dad don't agree to this, I'll just end my life."

Mother Lin had never seen such intensity from her eldest daughter. She quickly tried to soothe her. "There's no need for that. If you don't want to marry him, we won't force it. We'll look for another suitor tomorrow. We can skip the Qin Family; I promise we will find someone even better."

Lin Jiayi’s face, which had briefly softened, became frantic again. "I don't want anyone else! I only want to marry Li Guangyuan. If not, I'll die right in front of you all."

Terrified, Mother Lin didn't dare refuse. She quickly relented, "Alright, alright, you shall marry Li Guangyuan. I'll have the matchmaker speak to the Qin family to call off the engagement. What a shame, it was such an excellent proposal! Dad, maybe you should find a different matchmaker..."

Before Mother Lin could finish, Lin Jiayi grabbed her. "Mom, why make it so complicated? Little sister needs to get married too, right? Let her be the one to marry Qin Yang. You said it yourself—it's a great proposal. It would be a waste not to give it to her."

She now looked at Lin Chuxia with a calculating gaze, a total departure from her earlier panic.

Lin Chuxia met her eyes and finally knew the truth for certain.

Her elder sister had indeed been reborn. Her obsession with switching the marriage was likely because she had seen how successful Lin Chuxia's previous life had become.

In that past life, Li Guangyuan had eventually risen to become the CEO of a major listed corporation. The Li Family became incredibly wealthy, and Lin Chuxia had been the envied Mrs. Li. However...

Lin Chuxia looked down, a cold smirk touching her lips.

The arrangements were made swiftly. After lunch, the parents went out, and by nightfall, the matter was settled.

Mr. Lin got straight to the point. "Today, your mother and I finalized both of your marriages. Qin Yang returns next month, which is the perfect time to handle the wedding. His job requires his fiancée's documents, so I have already handed Chuxia’s papers over to the Qin Family. We also confirmed the date with the Li Family. Since there are only a few lucky days next month, we decided both weddings will happen on the same day. It saves us the trouble of hosting twice."

Lin Chuxia kept her head bowed in silence. She hadn't expected the plan to move so fast, proving just how much effort her mother put in for her older sister's sake.

Lin Jiadong, returning home from school, asked in confusion, "Wait, wasn't elder sister supposed to marry Brother Qin Yang? Why were second sister's papers given to them instead?"

Lin Jiayi was glowing with joy over the result. Irritated by her brother's interference, she kicked him. "The adults are talking. Why are you butting in?"

Mr. Lin felt a clear explanation was necessary to keep the peace within the household.

"We've thought this through. The Qin Family is certainly a prestigious match, but Jiayi’s temper isn't a good fit; they might feel cheated if we sent her. It’s better for her to marry the steady Li Guangyuan. Chuxia, you are hardworking and capable; you will thrive regardless of who you marry. By marrying into the Qin Family, you are heading toward a life of luxury."

Lin Jiadong couldn't help but chime in again, "Dad, aren't you worried elder sister will be the one to cheat the Li Family by marrying Guangyuan?"

As expected, he was kicked again.

Mother Lin shot a glare at her youngest son. "What are you saying? The Li Family are just humble farmers; what could she possibly take from them? Your father and I have spoken with both sides. For the second daughter, the Qin Family is providing a 300-yuan dowry. Jiayi's marriage to the Li Family will bring in eighty yuan. The Li Family has no reason to complain."

She then turned to Lin Chuxia. "Second daughter, don't worry. With your parents backing you, you have nothing to fear. Once you join the Qin Family, just focus on winning over your husband and you'll want for nothing. I will keep the dowry money safe for you; remember, that is your security."

Lin Chuxia narrowed her eyes slightly, maintaining her timid facade as she replied simply, "I understand. I will do as you and Dad say."

Once the discussion ended, the children were sent to bed, but Lin Jiayi lingered.

Seeing her eldest daughter's beaming face, Mother Lin reached out and tapped her forehead lightly.

"Are you happy now? I don't know what came over you; the Li Family is nowhere near as good as the Qin Family. Qin Yang has a stable government position and a monthly salary. If he moves up, you would have been an official's wife. What does Li Guangyuan have? He's just a peasant. Even the dowry was small; you'll likely face a hard life after the wedding."

Lin Jiayi hugged her mother's arm, acting cute. "Mom, I know you want the best for me. I wasn't being impulsive. I heard Qin Yang is hardly ever home. Even if he makes money, marrying him is basically like being a widow. Don't look down on Li Guangyuan just because he's farming now. It won't stay that way. He is talented. Just wait—he will definitely outshine Mr. Qin."

At the mention of Qin Yang, a flicker of bitterness crossed Lin Jiayi's eyes. Since her rebirth, she couldn't even stand to say his name.