Switched Marriage: The Coddled Little Wife Chapter 2 She needs a sanctuary, not a husband

In her former life, her mother had orchestrated what seemed like a prestigious match, leading her to marry into the Qin Family with high hopes. She soon discovered, however, that while they appeared as polished as golden eggs on the outside, they were as empty as donkey dung within.

Mr. Qin suffered from chronic illness, requiring years of constant medication and draining an untold fortune in medical bills.

The household was dominated by Mrs. Qin and the firstborn son, Qin Han; consequently, Lin Chuxia never saw a single cent of Qin Yang's earnings.

Qin Han wielded immense authority in the house, to the point where even Mrs. Qin deferred to his judgment.

Her husband, Qin Yang, was nothing more than a cold, robotic workaholic who lacked any sense of warmth or consideration. Their marriage remained unconsummated on the wedding night because he departed for work the very next morning.

He rarely managed to visit home more than twice a year. Throughout their long marriage, she never once witnessed him smile; every meeting was merely another encounter with his stiff, coffin-like expression.

Trapped in constant friction with her sister-in-law, she felt completely overlooked and suffered through endless degradation within those walls.

What kind of life was that? She lived essentially as a widow, and her entry into the Qin Family was less of a marriage and more of a descent into servitude.

The situation worsened six months later when they brought home the son of a colleague. Despite still being a virgin, she was forced to act as a stepmother, only to watch Qin Yang show more affection to that child than to their own flesh and blood.

That ungrateful child eventually provoked Qin Yang into divorcing her, a move that utterly ruined her social standing.

Meanwhile, Li Guangyuan—the man her family had once dismissed—proved to be a man of great vision. Shortly after his marriage, his business ventures began to flourish, growing larger with each passing year.

In that past life, she never achieved the status of an official’s wife, while Lin Chuxia’s sister ended up as a wealthy socialite, residing in a western-style villa, driving her own car, and donning the latest fashions—looking more prestigious than any official’s spouse.

Having been reborn, she refused to tread the same path or throw herself back into that pit of fire. It was time for Lin Jiayi to experience the life of a wealthy lady instead.

With those thoughts in mind, a sudden realization struck her. "Mom, you have to increase my dowry."

"Alright, you can take the full eighty yuan," Mother Lin replied, having no plans to withhold the dowry funds from her eldest daughter.

Lin Jiayi, however, remained unsatisfied. "Eighty isn't enough; I need two hundred." She was calculating the capital required for Li Guangyuan’s future business. Had she not known her mother was the type to only take and never give, she would have even tried to claim the three hundred yuan from the Qin Family.

Predictably, Mother Lin’s expression darkened. "Your younger brother is growing up, and I have to set aside funds for his future wedding."

"My brother is only fifteen. Give me the money now. By the time he's ready to marry, Guangyuan will likely be successful. We can provide the funds for his wedding then..."

Lying in her bed, Lin Chuxia could hear the muffled conversation through the thin walls of the old house, yet she felt a strange sense of tranquility.

She was well aware that Lin Jiayi’s life in the previous timeline had been miserable due to an absent husband, but for Chuxia, such an arrangement was ideal.

She desired a space of her own, not a husband.

As her fingers brushed the skin where her ring used to sit, she closed her eyes and allowed her consciousness to drift into a different realm.

Following her rebirth, she realized that the valuable antique ring she had purchased at an auction in her previous life had fused with her soul, granting her access to a private Space.

This Space was a perfect replica of the private villa she had owned in her past life, but the courtyard now featured an ancient stone well.

Lin Chuxia recalled reading novels about things like a Space Spiritual Spring. Earlier that afternoon, curiosity led her to test the well water; drinking it left her feeling revitalized and energetic, even after a day of strenuous labor.

Because of this miraculous advantage, she chose to move forward cautiously. Since she wasn't the only one who had been reborn, there was no telling what tricks Lin Jiayi might have up her sleeve.

.........

Once the marriage arrangements were finalized, the house became a whirlwind of activity.

Preparing a dowry in the countryside was usually a simple affair. Families with money might sew a few new cotton quilts or buy fabric for new outfits. Those with less would simply pack up the quilts they were already using, grab some old clothes, and call it a day.

The luxury of "three turns and one snap" was a dream reserved for wealthy city dwellers. In her former life, Lin Chuxia hadn't even dared to hope for such things.

She held onto one firm belief: depending on oneself is always better than relying on others. While others schemed to marry into wealth, she intended to become the source of wealth herself.

In her previous existence, she had achieved riches, but she was always known merely as Mrs. Li. In this life, she wanted the world to recognize the name Lin Chuxia.

A voice, both distant and familiar, echoed from outside the gate, "Chuxia, Chuxia..." A figure quickly hurried into the yard.

At the sight of the newcomer, warmth filled Lin Chuxia’s gaze—it was her loyal friend, Sun Lanlan.

The two had been inseparable since childhood. Most village children flocked to her older sister, who was pampered, well-dressed, and charismatic.

Only Sun Lanlan saw through the facade; she ignored the gossip, remained Chuxia’s best friend, and harbored a deep dislike for the elder sister.

Finding Lin Chuxia alone, Sun Lanlan skipped the pleasantries and got straight to the point.

"Why am I hearing that you're marrying into the Qin Family? Weren't you supposed to be matched with Li Guangyuan? How did this happen? Is Lin Jiayi up to her old tricks again?"

Although the Qins were better off than the Lis, the sudden swap made Sun Lanlan suspicious. She knew Lin Jiayi wasn't the type to do anyone a favor.

Lin Chuxia looked at her friend, whose eyebrows were raised as if she were ready to go to war on Chuxia's behalf. She couldn't suppress a light laugh.

Lanlan truly was a wonderful person.

In the previous life, Sun Lanlan had married a year after Chuxia. Their lives had seemed to mirror one another—except while Li Guangyuan’s abuse started after he became rich, Sun Lanlan’s husband began beating and berating her just days after the wedding.

Back then, domestic violence was treated as a private matter; many even believed that a woman earned her beatings. If she were a good wife, why would her husband hit her?

Having three older brothers, Sun Lanlan had been the darling of her family. Naturally, her brothers didn't take the abuse lightly.

Her husband was cunning; whenever he struck her and she threatened to leave, he would break down, weeping and kneeling for her forgiveness.

Sun Lanlan was soft-hearted, but after one particularly brutal beating left her covered in blood, she finally fled back to her parents.

Her brothers retaliated by teaching the man a physical lesson, forcing a promise from him to never touch her again before they let him go.

However, the moment Sun Lanlan stepped back into her husband's house, she was assaulted right at the door—a beating so severe it caused a miscarriage.

She lost a child she didn't even know she was carrying. To make it worse, her husband imprisoned her, cutting off all contact with her family.

In her total despair, Sun Lanlan had ended her pain with a bottle of pesticide.

Seeing Chuxia smiling now, Sun Lanlan’s scowl deepened. "You're laughing? This is your whole life we're talking about! If Lin Jiayi is behind this, I’ll take it to the Party Secretary myself to get you some justice."

Lin Chuxia reached out, took her hand, and pulled her down to sit on the bed. "There's no need for that. I am choosing to marry Qin Yang."

Sun Lanlan was speechless. "Have you even met him? Chuxia, think about this. Li Guangyuan seemed decent enough, and at least we’ve seen him. Qin Yang works in a different city, is barely ever home, and he’s much older than you. There must be a reason he’s still single at his age."

She was terrified that Lin Jiayi had discovered some dark secret about Qin Yang and had tricked Chuxia into taking her place.

"I haven't met him," Lin Chuxia replied calmly, "but I am perfectly willing to marry him."