Xu Zifan transmigrated at the time when Lin Ruoshan proposed the marriage exchange. Xu's parents were furious, and Old Master Lin was also so angry that he fell ill. Meanwhile, the original owner of this body was bedridden due to a cold and was very weak, even having difficulty walking and needing someone to help him.
Changsheng emerged from the spatial dimension, shrunk into the shape of a small snake, and lay on Xu Zifan's chest. Looking up at him worriedly, it said, "Master, you should drink some spiritual spring water quickly. That Lin Ruoshan has gone too far! I'm going to deal with her!"
Xu Zifan smiled and tapped its little head. "No rush. She hasn't tasted enough sweetness yet. Let her get carried away and then lose everything, and she'll suffer a fate worse than death. Don't worry about her, let's take it slow."
[Shaohua: Changsheng, calm down. The host has her own plans. Don't do anything behind the host's back.]
Changsheng wagged its little tail and said, "I know, I always listen to my master."
Xu Zifan patted Changsheng, "Go into the space, but don't let anyone find out. I'll find a chance to bring you out. Remember, you must never reveal yourself. There are no dragons in this world."
"Okay!" Changsheng darted into the space in a flash. It didn't mind being a little snake at all; it was just happy to be with its master.
Xu Zifan drank a cup of spiritual spring water, sat up cross-legged, closed his eyes, and circulated the Chaos Technique to regulate his meridians.
The original owner of this body had been ill for too long and could not recover easily; he needed a rare and extraordinary opportunity. However, this did not prevent him from curing his body. He only needed to feign illness and did not actually have to endure the torment of the disease.
Controlling one's pulse is effortless for someone with spiritual power.
He had just finished clearing his meridians when Shaohua reminded him: [Host, your mother has finished brewing the medicine and is about to bring it over.]
Xu Zifan saw his mother on the virtual screen. He crawled back into bed, and his mother quietly opened the door and came in. Seeing that he had opened his eyes, she smiled lovingly and said, "Zifan, you're awake? How are you feeling? Are you feeling better?"
"Much better." Xu Zifan propped himself up in bed. His mother quickly put down the medicine bowl and came over to help him, carefully placing a pillow behind his back. She also checked the temperature of his hands and touched his forehead.
"It's not cold anymore, and it doesn't burn. You're getting better." Xu's mother breathed a sigh of relief and handed him the medicine. "Here, drink it while it's hot. I specially asked the doctor to change the prescription so it's not so bitter. Try it."
Xu Zifan drank it all down under her gaze, actually emptying it into the trash can in his spatial dimension. He patted the bedside and smiled at his mother, "Mother, you've been working hard all day, sit down and rest for a while. Mother, you don't look like you slept well, are you still angry about the marriage with the Lin family?"
Xu's mother's face darkened for a moment, then returned to normal. Sitting by the bed, she took his hand and said with concern, "Don't think about these things. Just focus on getting better. Your father and I will handle these matters. The Lin family thinks they can bully us just because they've risen to power? That's impossible. Your father and I have been in town for so many years, we still have some connections. If the Lin family dares to do one thing, we dare to do another. They think they can just change their mind about marriage like that?"
Xu Zifan chuckled and said, "Mother, you see, marriage is about bringing someone into our family. Of course, we should marry someone who is willing and has a good temperament. Lin Ruoshan doesn't like this marriage, so it would be boring for me to marry her. We should choose our family members carefully."
Madam Xu frowned thoughtfully. "You're right. If a girl is even slightly unwilling, she won't treat you well after marriage. This Lin Ruoshan probably inherited her parents' temperament; she's all about money. It's better if she doesn't go. I'll break off the engagement with the Lin family later."
She tucked the blanket around Xu Zifan and laughed, "Alright, it's nothing serious, don't worry about it. I'll air out the bedding for you and change it tonight."
As she spoke, Xu's mother got up, opened the cupboard, and took out another quilt. Every three to five days, she would change her son's quilt with the sun-dried ones, saying that they would be more comfortable for him to sleep in. Her clothes and utensils were also kept clean and tidy.
When it comes to taking care of people, it's safe to say no one is more attentive than her.
Xu Zifan smiled unconsciously as he watched her busy figure. He had no parents, so he cherished his father's and mother's love all the more. Seeing his mother like this, he could understand why the original owner was so unwilling, so eager for his parents to enjoy their old age, and so hateful towards Lin Ruoshan.
Such family love, if it cannot be repaid, would surely be a great regret. If someone were to harm such good parents, how could a son not feel hatred?
He wasn't in a hurry to deal with someone like Lin Ruoshan; in the end, he was determined to make her regret ever being born.
Xu's mother took the quilts outside to air them out. Xu Zifan then heard Shao Hua's reminder: [Host, Grandpa Lin took Lin Ruonan to the fabric shop. They and your father closed the shop and went home.]
Xu Zifan hummed in agreement, picked up the long robe lying on the bedside table, and put it on, preparing to receive his guest.
After he upgraded Shaohua, its scanning range was no longer limited to 500 meters, but expanded to 2 kilometers. Moreover, the scanned images could be extracted to make real videos, eliminating the need for on-site recording with a camera, which was much more convenient.
With a town the size of Shuixi, Shaohua could monitor everything he wanted to know, giving him greater control over the evolving situation.
When Xu's mother returned after airing the quilts, she was taken aback. "Zifan, what are you doing up here?"
Xu Zifan stretched his arms and legs. "I think the weather's nice, so I'd like to go out for some fresh air. Mom, don't bother with your work. Let's sit under the grape trellis and have some sweet soup, so we don't get heatstroke."
"Okay, good." Seeing that he was in good spirits, Xu's mother smiled and stepped forward to support him.
He went to the yard with me.
The Xu family's courtyard wasn't large, but it was very tastefully arranged. There was a large grape trellis, under which sat two rattan chairs and a small table. Beside the courtyard was a well, with buckets and basins neatly arranged against the wall. On the other side of the courtyard, a line was strung up to dry clothes and quilts, not obstructing the open space in the middle. All the clutter had been moved into the side rooms, making the place look neat, clean, and comfortable.
The mother and son chatted idly over their sweet soup, and Xu's mother's agitated heart calmed down. She turned to look at her refined son and smiled. So what if the engagement was called off? As long as her son was alright, nothing else mattered. Getting angry with that kind of family would only make her miserable.
As the two were talking, Xu's father gently opened the door, smiled when he saw them, and said, "Zifan, you're not asleep? You look quite energetic right now."
Xu Zifan stood up. "Father." He then looked behind his father and cupped his hands in greeting. "Grandpa Lin, Miss Lin."
Xu's mother hurriedly reached out to help him, afraid that he would get tired, but she looked at Old Master Lin with a displeased expression, "Husband, why did you bring them home?"
The smile on Xu's father's face faded. "Uncle Lin said he has something important to discuss." He looked at Xu Zifan with concern. "Zifan, you should go back to your room first." He was afraid that Xu Zifan would feel upset after hearing this and that it would harm his health.
Xu Zifan didn't refuse. He nodded and smiled at Grandpa Lin and Lin Ruonan before returning to his room.
Seeing how poor his health was, Old Master Lin sighed inwardly. His son and daughter-in-law were adamant this time, saying that Lin Ruoshan might become a widow after marrying into the family, and they couldn't accept the marriage. They were somewhat resentful of his decision to arrange the engagement back then.
But he had asked them beforehand. Didn't they all know that Xu Zifan was in poor health? It's just that no one expected Xu Zifan's condition to suddenly worsen. But since it's about repaying a debt of gratitude, all these things should be considered. Once the engagement is made, one can't go back on one's word, otherwise wouldn't one become a treacherous and disloyal person?
Grandpa Lin coughed. He had just recovered a bit from his illness. Thinking of how Lin Fu and Lin Ruoshan were so adamant about not giving in, and then of how Lin Ruonan had taken the initiative to tell him she was willing to marry him, his heart felt even heavier. He couldn't tell whether he felt more guilty towards the Xu family or more heartbroken for his eldest granddaughter.
He wiped his old face and said bluntly, "My dear nephew, it is I who have wronged you. I cannot control that unfilial son. His proposal to change the marriage is too absurd. I am too ashamed to face you again. I have let you down."
Old Master Lin's eyes welled up with tears. He had served as the village head his entire life, never showing favoritism. Yet, he had raised such children and grandchildren. He felt utterly ashamed before his savior.
Seeing this, Xu's father's anger subsided considerably, and he said stiffly, "Uncle Lin, if your purpose in coming today is to apologize, then there's no need for that. I will settle this score with Lin Fu myself."
Xu's mother came out of the house, glanced at Lin Ruonan, wondering why Old Master Lin had brought her here, and felt that it was inappropriate to say these things in front of a child.
She frowned, sat down next to Xu's father, and said, "Uncle Lin, since Lin Fu has backed out of this marriage, my Xu family doesn't necessarily want to be related to the Lin family. Let's just call it quits. However, I can't swallow this insult. We need to explain the rights and wrongs to everyone, otherwise people will think that something has happened to our Zifan."
What angered her most was that the Lin family had to cause trouble at this time. Xu Zifan was bedridden and so weak; what if something happened to him? Besides, if the marriage changed at this time, outsiders would surely speculate. How could she be willing to let her son take the blame?
Lin Ruonan, who had been sitting with her head down, suddenly raised her head and said in a gentle and apologetic tone, "Uncle Xu, Aunt Xu, may I say a few words to Brother Xu? Don't worry, I won't make him angry."
The little girl had clear eyes and a sincere attitude, so Xu's mother's words of refusal were swallowed.
Seeing this, Old Master Lin sighed and said, "Niece-in-law, let the child go. She has no bad intentions and will definitely not say anything she shouldn't. You can rest assured."
Xu's mother looked at Lin Ruonan again. She had always had a good impression of the girl. Thinking that if the doors and windows were opened, she could pull the girl away if she saw anything wrong in the yard, she hesitated but agreed.
Lin Ruonan entered Xu Zifan's room and moved a small stool to sit by the window at a distance.
She looked at Xu Zifan sitting on the edge of the bed and said in a low voice, "Brother Xu, I'm sorry, the Lin family was in the wrong this time."
She pursed her lips, mustered her courage, and said, "Brother Xu, I've come to discuss something with you. Could you marry me? I know we didn't know each other before, and you might not want to associate with the Lin family anymore, but such a rift between the two families could easily cause gossip and rumors. Outsiders might speculate and say hurtful things. We can be a fake couple. After we get married, I won't associate with the Lin family anymore. I will take good care of you and be filial to Uncle Xu and Aunt Xu. If you find a girl you like in the future, we can get a divorce. That way, you won't lose anything. Brother Xu, can you agree?"
Xu Zifan looked at her and asked, "Why did you do this?"
Lin Ruonan paused for a moment before saying, "I want to leave that home and don't want to be married off to someone else by my stepmother. I like Uncle Xu and Aunt Xu, and I like the Xu family. I am also truly grateful to Uncle Xu for saving my grandfather and want to do something for him. This is my best opportunity and my only reason."
Lin Ruonan looked at Xu Zifan sincerely and told him her truest thoughts without reservation. The Xu family all had good personalities, which was indeed the best opportunity for her, but she wouldn't lie. She spoke her mind frankly and left the decision to Xu Zifan.
They can be a real couple or a fake couple; Xu Zifan can marry her or reject her, and she will accept either way.
Xu's mother wants to annul the engagement and settle scores; Lin Ruoshan's reputation will suffer, and Lin Ruonan's reputation will also be affected.
She was affected. Xu Zifan admired her boldness in fighting for herself without resorting to scheming.
Xu Zifan stood up and smiled gently, "Alright, let's go out and talk to my parents. Don't worry, Miss Lin, my parents will like you."
Lin Ruonan was taken aback for a moment, then felt relieved and showed her first smile since entering the room.