The Village Girl Who Jinxes Her Husband Is Filthy Rich Chapter 4 - Survival is the First Principle

"Lin Yuelan, you jinx, let me loose! Let me go!" The young boy held within Lin Xinlan’s grasp stomped his feet frantically, his face and ears flushed vivid red. He struggled with desperate, panicked shouts.

According to his companions, Lin Yuelan had transformed into a ghost, and he was terrified of the supernatural.

Though Lin Xinlan had survived five years in the apocalypse, she had been a mere white-collar worker before the end of the world. Her favorite pastime was devouring webnovels, particularly those exploring themes of reincarnation and transmigration.

She vividly recalled the agony of choosing to self-destruct during the apocalypse; the memory remained sharp. Consequently, she was certain that she had perished.

Yet, here she was, still breathing. The only logical conclusion was transmigration. Once she organized her thoughts, Lin Xinlan accepted this reality with chilling calmness.

Her priority now was uncovering this host’s identity and discovering why everyone labeled her a jinx.

With one hand, Lin Xinlan hoisted the boy—who stood half a head taller than her—and delivered a heavy pat to his shoulder. She spoke in a sharp, authoritative tone, "Quiet! Why are you screaming? If you dare call me a jinx again, I will strike you. Do you want to see if I mean it?"

Er Gou Zi gazed at the fierce, rejuvenated Lin Yuelan, his face draining of color until it was as pale as parchment—though his dark skin masked the pallor somewhat.

Terrified that this spirit might actually follow through, Er Gou Zi immediately fell silent. His frantic eyes and trembling expression made a corner of Lin Xinlan’s mouth twitch uncontrollably. It seems he truly believes I am a ghost.

After all, even before the apocalypse, superstition remained strong, especially in this bygone era.

Adopting a threatening posture, Lin Xinlan warned coldly, "I am letting you down now, but you are forbidden from running away. Do you understand? Or else..."

Unbeknownst to Lin Xinlan, she currently occupied the body of an eight-year-old child. Her sallow, gaunt features failed to convey any real intimidation; had an outsider been watching, they likely would have found her attempt at dominance adorable.

However, Er Gou Zi was the only witness, and he was so paralyzed with fear that he had nearly curled into a ball, entirely incapable of appreciating the contrast. He bobbed his head repeatedly. "Okay."

Lin Xinlan exhaled, her relief palpable. Being trapped in such a frail, thin vessel, she lacked the strength to keep holding onto a boy larger and sturdier than herself.

She had only managed to lift him earlier due to the instincts honed during five years of the apocalypse, where failing to counter an attack with double one's strength meant certain death.

As soon as his feet touched the earth, Er Gou Zi bolted in a panic.

Lin Xinlan had anticipated his flight. Frankly, she had only been intimidating the brat; she had overheard the other children blaming Er Gou Zi for kicking her host to death, after all.

Ignoring the retreating boy, Lin Xinlan inspected her own attire. She wore a black linen gown that hung far too loose, dragging past her ankles—clearly not the owner's original garment. Furthermore, the fabric was covered in crude patches likely applied by her host.

Adding to the mess were streaks of grime and tiny footprints.

A sudden, intense itch washed over her, as if ants were crawling beneath her skin. She desperately craved a wash.

She scanned her surroundings, noting nothing but paddy fields, small vegetable patches, and winding, narrow dirt trails.

Lin Xinlan frowned slightly. Is there really no river nearby?

Abruptly, her ears pricked up, and her face brightened with delight.

She could hear the faint, rhythmic sound of running water located barely a hundred meters away.

Lin Xinlan moved toward the sound. She longed to run, but her physical state was dire; the original host was severely malnourished. Lacking any cultivation vitality, she felt utterly hollow, and even a few steps left her gasping.

She had no choice but to slow her pace, clutching her chest as she labored forward.

Although the distance was short, the trek took her twenty agonizing minutes, leaving her brow slick with sweat.

Nevertheless, upon catching sight of the crystal-clear, deep river, Lin Xinlan was overcome with joy.

This was a truly pristine, unpolluted river—a sight reminiscent of her grandmother’s countryside village from her earliest youth.

Long ago, greedy developers and chemical factories had systematically poisoned the waters, turning the rivers of her era into black, lifeless sludge. The crystal-clear streams of her childhood had vanished under a tide of industrial waste.

And then, after the apocalypse, even the natural world had mutated. A blood-red rain had rendered all water sources on Earth toxic. Consuming it risked mutation into a zombie, and the tainted rain only made wild creatures more hostile.

Now that she had transmigrated into this pure, safe, and ancient era, Lin Xinlan resolved to cherish these simple blessings. She had to survive well. That was her only path.

With careful excitement, Lin Xinlan approached the riverbank.

...

"Where is she?" A group of villagers, brandishing hoes, sickles, and wooden clubs, gathered at the very spot where she had stood moments prior. They searched the area aggressively, as if hunting for a confrontation.

"Xiao Ying, Er Gou Zi, didn't you both claim that the jinx, Lin Yuelan, had returned as a spectral ghost? Where is the girl now?" a bearded man with a ferocious scowl demanded, his voice booming.