“Bitch, you won’t die a good death!”
Jiang Nuan lowered her head. Lu Rou’s face was deathly pale, her eyes bloodshot as she glared viciously at her.
Without hesitation, Jiang Nuan kicked her away.
Lu Rou flew several meters like a rag doll.
A glint flashed through Jiang Nuan’s eyes as she once again marveled at how miraculous the spirit spring water was—she truly possessed immense strength now.
“Rou Rou!” Old Madam Lu ignored the pain in her wrist and rushed toward her daughter, crying out.
Lu Rou spat out a mouthful of blood and fainted again.
Doctor Zhang was at his wits’ end.
He had just dragged her back from death’s door, and now she was trying to kill herself again.
Looking at the disheveled mother and daughter, Jiang Nuan let out a cold laugh and turned to leave.
Lu Lin had been observing the situation outside the whole time.
When he saw Jiang Nuan walking back, he hurriedly withdrew his gaze.
As she entered the room, the man pretended to glance at her casually.
Jiang Nuan smiled at him and sat beside the bed with a steaming bowl of gnocchi-like noodle lumps in tomato soup.
Seeing how gaunt he looked—completely different from when he had first been brought back—she silently cursed Old Madam Lu for being inhuman.
Even something as simple as holding a bowl was probably difficult for Lu Lin in his current condition.
Jiang Nuan stirred the noodles with a spoon, scooped up a spoonful, and held it to his lips. “Eat.”
The rich aroma rose with the steam.
Afraid people would suspect something if Lu Lin died too quickly, Old Madam Lu had only been throwing him one wild vegetable dumpling a day to barely keep him alive.
After more than a month of near-starvation, the scent of real food made his stomach rumble loudly.
Lu Lin’s Adam’s apple bobbed as he swallowed, his face burning with embarrassment under Jiang Nuan’s gaze.
Sensing his awkwardness, Jiang Nuan softened her voice and changed the subject. “Hurry and eat. The brigade leader will be back soon. I still have to go divorce Lu Daqiang.”
At the word “divorce,” it was as if a switch had been flipped inside him. He glanced out the window—everyone in the courtyard was focused on the dying Lu Rou.
Jiang Nuan followed his gaze and reassured him gently, “Don’t worry. Even if someone sees me feeding you, no one will say anything. You’re weak right now. It’s only right that I take care of you.”
His dark eyes shifted as he looked at her gentle expression. It felt as though warmth had been poured straight into his heart.
When he finally opened his mouth, Jiang Nuan’s eyes lit up, and she quickly moved the spoon closer.
The tomato-soaked noodles slid into his mouth—soft but not mushy.
The center was still slightly springy and warm, coated in fragrant bits of egg.
Each bite blended softness and savory richness; when he swallowed, even his throat felt warm.
Lu Lin had never eaten such delicious noodles before.
He glanced at Jiang Nuan, then quickly lowered his lashes to hide the moisture gathering in his eyes.
Soon, the bowl was empty.
Seeing how heartily he ate, Jiang Nuan smiled in relief.
Just as she set the bowl down, the brigade leader’s voice sounded from outside.
She stood up quickly. “I need to go. Rest well. When I come back, I have something very important to tell you.”
Very important?
Confusion flickered through the man’s eyes.
Jiang Nuan thought of what she was about to do and coughed awkwardly. “Um… I’m going.”
Watching her hurried retreat, recalling her strange expression just now, Lu Lin was left full of question marks.
Outside, Old Madam Lu was grunting as she dragged out the broken flatbed cart, preparing to fix it and take her daughter to the hospital.
Lu Daqiang, afraid that if someone died Old Madam Lu wouldn’t let him off, was helping at the side.
The brigade leader handed Jiang Nuan the divorce introduction letter.
Since separate household registration books hadn’t yet been implemented, everyone’s hukou was still collectively managed by the commune.
With this introduction letter and their marriage certificate, they could go directly to the commune’s civil affairs office to process the divorce.
After thanking the brigade leader, Jiang Nuan grabbed Lu Daqiang by the collar and hauled him away.
Seeing them leave the courtyard, the Jiang family hurried after them.
Before Jiang Jianguo could speak, Jiang Nuan kicked him flying.
Her expression icy, she swept her gaze over her furious birth family. “If anyone dares to say one more word, I’ll cripple you. Try me if you don’t believe it.”
She flexed her wrist, making it crack.
No one dared utter another sound.
Seeing that even her natal family couldn’t control her, Old Madam Lu wailed in despair.
“Jiang Nuan, you wretched woman, you’ll die horribly! If you take Daqiang away, who’ll fix my cart?! Heaven, open your eyes! She’s trying to force my daughter and me to our deaths!”
Jiang Nuan suddenly turned around.
Old Madam Lu’s crying stopped abruptly; the curse stuck in her throat as she trembled like a sieve.
Jiang Nuan sneered. “Instead of wasting your breath cursing, you’d better think about saving your precious daughter. It would be such a pity for someone so young to die.”
Lu Daqiang shivered and obediently followed behind her, not daring to let out even a fart.
Only after Jiang Nuan left did Old Madam Lu dare reveal her resentment.
Clutching her injured wrist, she cried while fixing the cart, glancing at her daughter who was on the brink of death.
From Lotus Flower Village to the commune would take two hours at a brisk pace.
Thanks to the spirit spring water, Jiang Nuan walked as if carried by the wind.
But it was misery for Lu Daqiang.
He had lazed around his whole life. When working in the fields, he’d cry exhaustion after just two swings of the hoe—his stamina worse than a child’s.
Now he had to walk such a long distance—and keep up with Jiang Nuan. If he fell behind, she would slap him.
And she always aimed for the face.
After who knew how many slaps, they finally—finally—arrived at the commune.
Without waiting for Jiang Nuan to speak, Lu Daqiang, his face swollen like a pig’s head, wailed loudly:
“I… I want a divorce!!”
He panted heavily, staring at the calm-looking woman in terror.
Where did this fat pig get so much strength?
One slap could send him flying.
On the way here, he’d been sent flying at least forty-nine times.
“What are you standing there for?! Hurry up and process our divorce! If you delay any longer, this wret—she’ll beat me to death!”
Seeing Jiang Nuan’s expression darken, he hurriedly swallowed the word “wretch” and shouted at the staff member.
The clerk was startled by his swollen face and looked at them with a complicated expression.
He had seen plenty of women beaten by men, crying and begging for divorce.
This was the first time he’d seen a man beaten this badly by a woman, begging to be divorced.
Jiang Nuan took out the introduction letter and their marriage certificate—like an award certificate—and smiled politely. “Comrade, please help us process the divorce.”
The staff member suppressed his curiosity. He looked at Jiang Nuan’s bulky figure, then at Lu Daqiang’s pig-like face.
In his mind unfolded a dramatic story of a fierce, overweight wife abusing her husband daily until he could no longer endure it.
His expression turned serious as he asked routinely, “What is the reason for the divorce?”
He looked at Lu Daqiang sympathetically. “Comrade, don’t be afraid. You can tell us if you’ve suffered any grievances.”
Lu Daqiang opened his mouth but found himself unable to speak.
What could he say?
That he had an affair with his stepsister and was caught red-handed by his wife?
He would rather die than admit something so humiliating!
“There’s nothing major, Comrade.”
Jiang Nuan’s expression turned sorrowful.
“It’s just that he got involved with his own sister. Unfortunately for them, I caught them in the act.”
The staff member’s eyes widened instantly.