Chapter 3 In the Dark

By the time Samantha arrived in town, it was already dark. If it weren't summertime, she would've been completely blind in the night.

She quickly located the motel, pulled out her identification papers, and managed to secure a room. As soon as she locked the door behind her, she disappeared into her time vault.

Inside, it was as bright as daylight.

Near the storage area, her two acres land was flourishing with sprouting vegetables and grains. It wasn't that Samantha lacked common sense-her time vault didn't require traditional farming methods. Everything grew with minimal effort.

She poured herself a glass of fresh spring water, grabbed a large meat sandwich, and lazily strolled toward the orchard, plucking a ripe apple from a tree. Everything produced in her time vault was top quality.

Juicy and crisp, the apple burst with flavor.

Samantha's eyes squinted in pleasure as she took a bite. Then, her thoughts drifted to the original owner of this body.

If they had switched places, the original owner would probably be living the good life in the 21st century. With her stubborn personality and the property under her name, wouldn't she be thriving?

The thought of her ungrateful father and stepmother made Samantha chuckle.

Having such an annoying little troublemaker pestering them now? Serves them right.

After finishing her apple, Samantha got to work organizing the things she planned to bring back the next day. She had made quite a few purchases from the local department store: two heavy quilts, one weighing thirteen pounds and the other seventeen, along with three thick cotton jackets, two lighter ones, two pairs of warm pants, two wool sweaters, and two pairs of wool pants.

She wasn't one to skimp on necessities. If she needed something, she'd even check the underground market.

She also had basic living supplies: a thermos, an enamel washbasin, a sturdy metal rice cooker, and a military-style water canteen. The original owner had already acquired these, and Samantha didn't mind using them. After all, it was still the same body-why waste resources?

She had also packed away the summer clothes left behind by the original owner. They were still in good shape, so there was no reason to discard them.

For food, she selected some treats-candy and biscuits-to keep out in the open. A little distraction never hurt.

Before she knew it, she had stacked up a massive pile of supplies in front of her.

Her lips twitched slightly, but she didn't take anything out. With such a large package, no one would be surprised if she pulled out extra supplies later.

Taking stock of her assets, she counted over $420 left behind by the original owner, an additional $900 from selling off some old items, and the $1,650 she had collected from her stepfather's hidden stash. That totaled nearly $2,970. After her recent purchases, she still had around $2,900 left.

In this era, that was a small fortune. There was no need to rush into risky deals on the underground market. She'd take her time and get familiar with the place first.

She also had a stack of promissory notes, mostly taken from her stepfather. Some were nearing their due dates, so she planned to cash them in soon. The others could wait.

After a quiet night, Samantha checked the time and finally stepped out of her time vault.

Outside the motel, she took her time strolling through town, familiarizing herself with the layout.

By noon, she found herself at the local diner, carrying a lunchbox.

The daily specials were written on a chalkboard near the counter. Samantha ordered a serving of lamb chops, bagels and chicken salad.

She had already gotten used to the portion sizes in this town, but the first time she saw them, she had been completely shocked. The portions were massive.

"Samantha?"

As she enjoyed her meal, a familiar voice called out.

She looked up to see Billy, Tristan, and Leticia approaching.

Judging by their expressions, they had an agenda.

Samantha wasn't perturbed. She shot them a challenging glance, watching as Leticia's face turned red with frustration.

Billy and Tristan, on the other hand, burst into laughter.

They hadn't expected Samantha to be this bold.

Billy wasted no time ordering his food and plopping down across from her. Tristan sat beside her, calm and composed.

"...There's an open seat over there," Samantha pointed out, slightly exasperated.

"Friends should sit together," Billy declared, waving off her protest.

He shot a glance at Leticia, who was glaring at Samantha from across the room, before leaning in and lowering his voice.

"You weren't at the meeting last night," he said. "Leticia put on quite the show trying to smear your name."

"Oh?" Samantha raised an eyebrow. "And why are you telling me this?"

She threw another glance at Leticia, whose confidence wavered under her gaze. Satisfied, Samantha turned back to her meal.

"Because I like you," Billy said matter-of-factly. "That Leticia is nothing but trouble."

"Aren't you afraid I'm the troublemaker here?" Samantha asked, amused.

Billy grinned. "Doesn't matter. If I like you, I like everything about you."

Samantha: "......"

Tristan gave Billy a brief glance but said nothing. Billy, however, immediately zipped his lips in response, as if reading Tristan's silent warning.

Samantha couldn't help but laugh. These two were definitely interesting.

Meanwhile, Billy and Tristan watched in shock as Samantha finished an entire plate of lamb chops, three large bagels, and a bowl of chicken salad.

Tristan chuckled and slid his untouched meal toward her. "Still hungry?"

Good Lord, his voice was smooth-like a gentle breeze rolling across the hills.

Samantha blinked. "No need, I'm full."

Billy, however, was still in disbelief. "Samantha, how do you eat so much...?"

Samantha smirked. "You'll find out later."

After finishing her meal, she bid them goodbye and left. She still had errands to run-the post office and the general store. The general store, however, turned into a small battlefield, with older ladies pushing and shoving to get their hands on scarce goods.

By the time she finally got out, she was a little worse for wear.

Checking her watch, she made her way toward the oxcart station-carrying an enormous package that she had discreetly pulled from her time vault.

How big was it? From behind, only her legs were visible. Her shadow looked like some giant beast with two feet.

The young men near the oxcart: "!!!"

Billy and Tristan, who had followed behind: "...!!!"

Completely unfazed, Samantha carried the oversized package to the cart and set it down effortlessly.

Dusting off her hands, she stood there as if she hadn't just moved something that should've required at least two people to lift.

The silence was deafening.

"...Samantha, that thing's huge," the driver, Roy, said hesitantly. "I don't know if my ox can handle it."

"Plus, we still have other passengers waiting."

Two elderly women, already seated on the cart, craned their necks to peek at the package.

"Samantha, what's in there?" one of them asked.

"You must be from the city. Your folks probably gave you everything they owned before sending you off."

Their eyes gleamed with curiosity, hands itching to pry into her belongings.

Samantha beamed. "Everything they owned? My dad and stepmother just felt guilty about me, so they used to send me some money every month. I saved up and bought all this myself."

Now that was an interesting statement-one open to interpretation.

Why would her father and stepmother feel guilty?

There had to be a juicy story behind it.

11

The trio led by Leticia, a step behind, was nearly seething with rage.

Lucas, at his breaking point, snapped, "Samantha, our family gives you twenty dollars every month! How have we wronged you? Why are you slandering my mother behind her back?"

His words carried a malicious undertone, subtly implying that Samantha had quite a bit of money. Anyone paying attention could easily pick up on the hint-was someone desperate enough to take a risk for it?

Samantha immediately caught his insinuation, but she only smirked. "Isn't that just compensation? After all, I nearly died from your attacks."

If she dared to flaunt her wealth, she definitely had the means to protect it.

Coming from the carefree 21st century, there was no reason to swallow her pride in this era. Besides, the original owner of this body had been a known fighter, quick to throw punches at the slightest provocation. Honestly, Samantha rather enjoyed that.

"Don't go making baseless accusations! When did we ever attack you?" Lucas denied fiercely.

Leticia, standing primly beside him, chuckled softly. "Sister... Samantha, I understand that you hold resentment against my mother, but she and Bowie only got together later on. Their marriage was mainly for your benefit. After all, Bowie was a single man-it wouldn't have been easy for him to raise a child alone. They did everything for your sake. Otherwise, why would they cave to your demands and give you twenty dollars every month?"

Who in their right mind would give a child twenty dollars monthly? It wasn't like they had money to throw around.

At Leticia's words, the onlookers began to look at Samantha differently.

But Samantha remained completely unfazed, watching Leticia's little performance with amusement.

Oh, she'd make sure to return the favor tenfold soon enough.

Leticia, unaware of Samantha's intentions, suddenly felt uneasy. Something about the way Samantha was staring at her made her heart race with panic. But she gritted her teeth and pressed on, determined to play the role of the innocent stepsister.

"Samantha, you can't just twist the truth because you're angry at my mother. All these years, our family has put you first. Even Bowie gave up his job to provide for you..."

Scandalous!

The two older women sitting in the ox cart gasped, looking at Samantha with judgmental eyes. A father giving up his career for his daughter? That was unheard of!

"Samantha, you should be ashamed."

A flicker of triumph crossed Leticia's face at their reactions. She lowered her gaze, her delicate expression exuding just the right amount of wounded innocence.

"Samantha..." she started again, her voice soft.

"Are you done?" Samantha suddenly sneered, her sharp gaze locking onto Leticia.

"You're right-I do hold a grudge against your mother."

Hearing this, Leticia nearly clapped in victory. But in the next second, doubt crept in. This wasn't like the Samantha she had dealt with before.

Something was wrong.

Her heart pounded, and sure enough, the next words out of Samantha's mouth struck like a thunderclap.

"Why do I hold a grudge against her? Well, you two aren't just leeches-you're the result of an affair."

Her voice was sickly sweet, but every syllable was a dagger stabbing into Leticia and Lucas.

Their faces drained of color, turning as pale as ghosts before twisting into a grimace of shock and fury.

"You're lying!" Lucas shouted.

"Samantha, this is slander! How could you be so cruel?" Leticia's voice wavered.

"Cruel?" Samantha chuckled. "If you don't believe me, why don't you write home and ask? Let's see what they have to say."

Her expression was eerily calm, yet her words carried an undeniable weight.

The onlookers were stunned.

Illegitimate children? An extramarital affair? Such disgraceful conduct!

Gasps and murmurs spread through the crowd as everyone's eyes darted between Leticia and Lucas, their expressions ranging from shock to disgust.

Even Brandon, who had been standing near them, took two careful steps back, not wanting to get caught in the fallout.

Samantha smiled brightly, then turned to an old man sitting nearby, lazily smoking his pipe.

"Sir, are you still waiting for someone? If not, how about giving me a lift? I'll give you five dollars in return."

The old man's eyes lit up. He immediately sat up straight, tapped his smoking pipe against the cart, and put it away.

"No more waiting! Hop on, young lady."

Five dollars? What a deal!

"By the way, which town are you heading to?"

"Green Hill farm."

"Oh, that's just the next town over! Sure, I'll take you there." The old man grinned, appreciating Samantha's generosity.

"Thank you, sir." Samantha smiled, casually picking up her enormous bundle and tossing it onto the ox cart like it was nothing.

The bystanders: "!!!"

People were both amused and slightly unsettled by her carefree attitude.

Billy, watching from the side, quickly caught on to the situation. He raised a hand and called out, "Miss Revolutionary Green, mind if Tristan and I hitch a ride? Just the two of us."

Tristan stood there, one hand in his pocket, holding a small parcel in the other. He glanced at Samantha and added, "I'll pay half of the fare."

"Now that sounds like a good deal." Samantha lifted an eyebrow. "Hop on."

The three of them climbed into the cart, and the old man drove off, leaving behind an awkward silence.

Everyone's eyes fell on Leticia and Lucas, their expressions unreadable.

Leticia, noticing Brandon's gaze, felt both humiliated and furious.

Lucas, seemingly oblivious to the shift in atmosphere, turned to his sister and whined, "Sis, I need to write a letter to Mom and ask her about this!"

Leticia nearly choked.

But in the end, she couldn't stop him.

And so, a telegram was sent.

What followed was a disaster.

Back home, the revelation of Bowie and Abigail's affair caused an uproar. In a time when personal conduct was under heavy scrutiny, the scandal was severe.

Both Bowie and Abigail lost face in the community, and the fallout even affected the Carters. Furious that they had lost control over Samantha, they turned their anger on Bowie and Abigail.

But that was a problem for later.

For now, Billy was sizing up Samantha, still struggling to believe that someone so petite could carry such an enormous package.

Meanwhile, Samantha was having a lively conversation with the old man.

"Young lady, you've got the right attitude. If someone bullies you, you bully them right back!" the old man said with a hearty chuckle.

Samantha smirked. "Don't you think I was too harsh?"

The old man waved her off. "Harsh? There's an old saying-an unkind father leads to an unfilial child."

Billy blinked. "Isn't that saying about corrupt rich folks?"

Samantha laughed. "You've got a point, old man. If a father is unkind, the child has no reason to be obedient."

She stretched her arms behind her head, looking relaxed. "Ever since my mom passed, I've been like a neglected little plant, left to wilt in the dirt."

Billy, struggling to hold in his laughter, turned red.

By the time they arrived, Samantha had nearly forgotten about the bumpy ride-until she stepped off the cart and nearly toppled over, her legs numb.

How embarrassing!

But with extraordinary balance, she steadied herself, plastering a bright smile on her face.

As long as she wasn't embarrassed, no one else had to be.

Billy almost choked trying to suppress his laughter.

Ignoring him, Samantha handed three dollars to the old man, politely declined Tristan's offer to help, and picked up her massive bundle.

As she walked toward the camp, gasps echoed through the area.

"Whoa! Who is that?! Carrying something that big?"

In no time, the entire brigade was buzzing with the news-

The newcomer, Samantha Green, was unbelievably strong!

12

A little later, after the people who had gone into town returned, word had spread everywhere-Leticia and Lucas were illegitimate children, and they had bullied Samantha at home.

The two of them sat huddled at the communal youth housing, seething with anger but unable to voice their frustration. They didn't have the courage to face the pointing fingers and hushed whispers around them.

Meanwhile, Samantha hummed a folk tune as she tidied up her things.

When the other young people returned, they started discussing food and work assignments. Although these matters had mostly been settled the night before, Samantha hadn't been present, so they went over everything with her again.

Samantha remained calm as she said, "I want to eat separately from those two. No need to cause tension in the group. I'll cook on my own."

Leticia and Lucas nearly choked with anger.

Leticia's eyes reddened as she pleaded, "Samantha, we... we're not trying to take advantage of you."

Was she implying that Samantha was afraid of being taken advantage of? Or was she trying to suggest that the other villagers might take advantage of her?

"Well, who knows?" Samantha replied with a meaningful glance. "After all, you've done it before."

"Samantha, you're misunderstanding me! I-"

"Enough! Don't talk to me in that fake, pitiful tone, or I'll make sure your head ends up looking like a dog's. And you know I will."

Leticia's face went pale, and she didn't dare to say another word. Lucas, having already been put in his place before, was afraid Samantha might actually beat them in front of everyone. That would be even more humiliating.

But Brandon, still unaware of just how ruthless Samantha could be, frowned at her. "Samantha, this isn't your house. No one's going to spoil you here. If you want to act like a pampered princess, maybe you shouldn't have come to the countryside."

Samantha narrowed her eyes at him.

"Is this guy serious? Judging by his tone, he actually thinks I came all the way out here for him."

Looking closer, she saw an expression in Brandon's eyes that clearly read: No matter what you do for me, I'll never care about you.

She was utterly disgusted.

Straightening up, she shot him a cold glare. "You'd better put all those ridiculous thoughts out of your head. And who's acting spoiled? My family has been dirt-poor farmers for three generations-unlike yours."

Brandon's grandmother had been the daughter of a wealthy industrialist. By any definition, he came from privilege.

Brandon hadn't expected Samantha to be so blunt. His face flushed with anger. "Samantha, watch your mouth. What's wrong with my family? I didn't realize you were this kind of person. Can't you be more considerate, like Leticia?"

Samantha: "???" Oh, hell no.

She inhaled deeply. Then exhaled. Then decided that there was absolutely no reason to hold back.

For some reason, as Samantha stepped toward him, Brandon suddenly felt a surge of panic.

"Brandon, be caref-" Leticia started to warn him.

Before she could finish, Brandon went flying like a kite with a snapped string, landing hard on the ground.

Silence.

Everyone stood frozen, staring in disbelief.

"Samantha!!" Brandon clutched his face, looking at her with shock and rage.

"I already told you to stop running your mouth," Samantha said, rolling her ankle as if warming up for more. "Next time, don't test me. Unless you want the full treatment."

She lifted her gaze to the others, who still hadn't recovered from the shock. "I'll be cooking separately. I-"

"I agree!" Timothy blurted out.

He was still shaken. This girl was not to be messed with. She was strong, decisive, and had no problem throwing punches. If they all ate together, who knew what kind of trouble might arise? Better to keep the peace.

The team leader gave his approval, and Samantha grinned.

Her smile was a stark contrast to her earlier violence-her bright eyes and perfect teeth made her look like she had stepped out of a painting.

No one else argued. They just silently accepted the decision.

Tristan smirked slightly as he looked at Timothy. "Billy and I would like to eat separately too."

Timothy hesitated. He didn't want to approve this. Tristan and Billy were from the city and came from well-off families. They'd had plenty of advantages before, and now they wanted to separate even more?

"That's right. Tristan and I have big appetites. We wouldn't want to burden everyone else," Billy added with a grin.

With the conversation going in this direction, what could Timothy say?

In the end, everyone decided to eat separately. Leticia and her group initially wanted to split off as well, but after realizing they had no food of their own yet, they hesitated. They'd have to wait until they received their supply rations from home.

Timothy handed Samantha a bundle. "By the way, this is the food ration from the team leader-twenty pounds of grain per person. You'll have to pay it back after the fall harvest."

Inside were ten pounds of cornmeal and ten pounds of sorghum flour.

Samantha wasn't lacking food, but she didn't refuse. Coarse grains were useful. "Got it. Thanks."

"There's one more thing. If we're all cooking separately, about the firewood..."

Normally, everyone gathered firewood together for the communal kitchen. Water wasn't an issue since there was a well in the courtyard.

"I'll gather my own," Samantha replied simply. She had no intention of relying on anyone else. Yesterday, when Curtis helped set up her room, she'd specifically asked for a small outdoor stove. Now, she just needed an iron pot.

Timothy nodded. "Alright, then everything's settled."

Despite the earlier drama, Samantha seemed unaffected. She returned to her room and finished setting up.

She couldn't sleep on the heated brick bed just yet, so she made a makeshift cot by balancing a wooden board across two stools.

For dinner, she didn't skimp. She still had cooked food in storage-Boiled eggs and boiled broccoli, plus two meat buns. Quite a feast, considering the circumstances.

The night passed without incident.

The next morning, the bell for work rang at dawn. Samantha woke groggily but quickly pulled herself together, fixing her hair and washing up with her enamel basin, tumbler, and toothbrush.

Outside, most of the experienced workers were already up. Among the newcomers, only Kyle was awake. He was brushing his teeth when he saw Samantha-and immediately took a step back.

Samantha ignored him.

She quickly finished getting ready, grabbed a meat bun for breakfast, filled her water bottle, and dashed out the door.

Billy and Tristan blinked in confusion as a gust of wind rushed past them.

"... Was that really necessary?" Billy muttered.

Samantha didn't care. She had read too many old stories to know how this worked. If she was late, someone would mess with her-stealing her tools, giving her the worst job, something like that.

She didn't know if she was the protagonist or just some side character destined to get screwed over. But either way, she wasn't about to let someone else set her up.

Better to stay one step ahead.

Funny how, to everyone else, she was the troublemaker.

13

"Samantha, you're here early, aren't you?" Margaret, the team leader's wife, said in surprise when she spotted Samantha in the crowd.

The city girls usually took a while to adjust, but Samantha seemed to be adapting quickly.

At that moment, everyone's thoughts drifted to Samantha's stepmother.

Life with a stepmother could be tough. Perhaps Samantha had been used to hardship for a long time, which explained her strength.

Samantha wiped away an imaginary bead of sweat from her forehead, suddenly feeling the weight of everyone's sympathetic gazes.

Perplexing.

Still, being on the receiving end of sympathy wasn't so bad. She grinned, flashing a dazzling smile that made many of the young men's eyes widen.

Even some of the older men blushed.

Samantha...

People in this town were surprisingly innocent.

Before any disapproving looks could be cast her way, she quickly lowered her head and stood obediently in line.

When Tristan arrived, he saw her standing there, looking so quiet and well-behaved. His gaze darkened slightly.

He stood a few people away, listening as the team leader launched into a passionate speech about work and dedication.

Half an hour later, it was time to distribute tools.

It was late June 1974, just a few days after the summer harvest. While things weren't as hectic, weeding the corn and potato fields was still an important task.

When Samantha's turn came, she noticed the girl handing out tools had two thick black braids. Without thinking much of it, she smiled and reached out.

But Francesca, the girl in charge, gave her a long, hard look before passing over a sickle.

A sickle with a dangerously sharp blade.

Samantha... Well, she was definitely being targeted.

Still, she remained cheerful, showing no hint of anger. "Comrade, there are plenty of tools left."

"You're strong. You can handle this one," Francesca said with a smirk. "If not, you can always pull the weeds out by hand."

"Sure," Samantha replied, taking the sickle and walking away under Francesca's triumphant gaze.

But then, she suddenly stopped.

"Captain, I'd like to report something!" Her voice was clear and crisp, carrying across the yard like a drop of water in a silent well.

Francesca's smug expression froze.

She turned back, staring at Samantha in panic.

"Samantha, what do you need to report?" The captain immediately became serious. In times like these, reports weren't taken lightly.

"It's-"

"Samantha, I think I gave you the wrong sickle just now!" Francesca abruptly cut her off, grabbing a different one from the pile. She quickly swapped them out. "Here, this is the right one."

Her expression stiffened. "Samantha, let's get to work. The captain and the others have a meeting to attend. Let's not waste their time."

Samantha took the new sickle, a small smirk playing on her lips.

"Alright, Team Leader, Secretary, I'll be going now." She waved goodbye with a satisfied smile before turning to leave.

She knew Francesca would gossip about her behind her back, but so what? If Francesca had the guts, she should say it to her face.

The team leader and secretary, meanwhile, were well aware of Francesca's personality. They didn't push for details, but the team leader muttered under his breath, "That girl needs to be put in her place."

Francesca's father, the secretary, frowned as he turned to his daughter. "We'll talk about this at home."

Across the field, workers had begun calling dibs on Samantha.

"Samantha should join our group!"

"No way, we need her!"

"We don't have enough girls on our side. It only makes sense for Samantha to come with us."

Everyone was trying to recruit her, knowing that she was strong and would be an asset.

Samantha remained quiet, secretly amused. Whoever got stuck with her would regret it soon enough.

Work was simple-what you put in was what you got. Strong workers usually earned ten labor points, with some even pushing for twelve. Women typically earned eight, or even as low as six if they weren't particularly efficient.

Samantha had no intention of working herself to exhaustion.

She'd never done physical labor in either of her lives, and she had no plans to start now.

In the end, she was placed in a group with Jennifer, a woman with a sturdy build.

"Samantha, just call me Jennifer," the woman said, eyeing her up and down.

Samantha's skin was so smooth it looked like a freshly peeled egg.

"Alright, Jennifer," Samantha said obediently, showing no signs of her actual strength.

"Our job today is weeding the potato field. Since you're new, just follow along and learn from the others."

"Got it. I'll learn from the aunts," Samantha replied sweetly.

Her polite and respectful attitude immediately softened the older women's opinions of her.

But that positive impression didn't last long.

Samantha was quick to pick up the technique, but the moment she figured it out, she started slacking.

"Samantha, you look pretty strong. Why don't you pick up the pace?" Jennifer frowned, watching as Samantha lagged behind.

She was starting to regret being assigned to work with her.

"I might be strong, but this is still exhausting," Samantha sighed. "Look, Jennifer, my hands are already chafed!"

She held out her fair palms, showing the reddening areas where blisters were beginning to form.

The older women exchanged glances.

City girls were so delicate.

"But don't worry! I'll keep working hard. I'll earn my keep!" Samantha withdrew her hands, looking determined.

Her positive attitude was convincing... but something about it felt off.

Still, they had no complaints.

And so, Samantha worked at her own pace, always sticking close to the older women.

They quickly realized what she was doing.

She was slacking off-strategically.

Finally, the lunch bell rang. Before anyone could react, Samantha took off like a wild horse breaking free from its reins.

Jennifer rolled her eyes.

She understood now.

Samantha wasn't lazy-she was just smart about conserving energy.

But there was nothing to say. In the end, she did her share of work.

The brigade had one basic rule: the educated volunteers needed to earn at least five labor points a day. Anything less, and they'd be considered freeloaders.

Jennifer had hoped to get some extra help, but her plan had completely backfired.

Meanwhile, Samantha sprinted back to the youth commune like a fugitive on the run.

Since no one else was back yet, she quickly pulled out her cooking supplies.

She scooped two bowls of rice into the steamer, making enough for lunch, dinner, and breakfast.

Then she grabbed three eggs-two for frying, one for boiling-and a large cabbage, which she would stir-fry with slices of lamb.

The lamb had been a hassle to buy from the supply and marketing cooperative.

She had plenty of animals in her time vault -pigs, sheep, chickens, ducks, and fish-but she couldn't bear to slaughter a pig just yet.

The chickens, ducks, and fish? Maybe later.

For now, she still had two pounds of meat coupons, which would last a few meals.

In no time, the fragrant aroma of stir-fried eggs with green onions and cabbage with lamb chops filled the air.

By the time she carried the dishes into the dining hall, the other volunteers had just returned.

Their exhaustion vanished the moment they caught a whiff of her meal.

Their eyes lit up.

Samantha...

What was this rich young lady up to now?

14

As Samantha stealthily stored the excess rice in her time vault, she scooped a big bowl into a clay dish. Just as she was about to step into her room, she spotted Leticia looking as wilted as dry grass.

With a mischievous grin, Samantha deliberately waved the fragrant stir-fried vegetables under Leticia's nose before strutting into her room and shutting the door behind her.

Leticia's face flushed with anger.

"Look at her, acting all high and mighty," Naomi muttered, pursing her lips.

Kiara, sitting beside her, quickly tugged on her sleeve. "Keep your voice down. Why provoke her?"

Naomi thought of how Samantha had kicked Brandon clear across the yard with a single blow and immediately clamped her mouth shut.

By the time the other volunteers had finished cooking, Samantha had already eaten, washed her dishes, and lay down for a nap. The day's labor had been exhausting, and her hands stung. She retrieved a tube of Snowflake cream from her space, carefully rubbing it onto her hands before dabbing some onto her face. Satisfied, she drifted into sleep.

An hour later, she forced herself awake, patting her face before heading outside to wash up.

"There's still an hour before we have to go back to work," a voice said.

Samantha looked up to see Tristan approaching.

She blinked, momentarily dazzled by his striking features. "I know," she said, splashing water on her face. "I cooked earlier, so I figured I'd use the extra time to gather firewood."

"Do you know where to go for that?" he asked.

"Up in the mountains behind us."

"I'll go with you. It wouldn't be good if you wandered too far your first time."

Samantha considered for a moment before nodding. "Thanks, then."

Though she was strong, facing wild animals was an entirely different matter. It was better to be cautious.

"Safety first," she said lightly.

A hint of a smile flickered in Tristan's eyes. "Let's go." He grabbed a basket and gestured for her to follow.

Back at Green hills farms, Billy paced inside the dorm, waiting for Tristan. He frowned. Didn't they agree to cook together?

The foot of Shadow Mountain wasn't far; within minutes, they had arrived. Taking a small path to avoid the main trail, they soon passed a shabby wooden house. Samantha eyed it curiously.

"Is that the cowshed?" she asked.

Tristan nodded. "Yeah. A few older folks live there. Best not to come around when they're free."

Samantha smirked. "Got it."

Tristan glanced at her but didn't say anything more.

They walked further before he stopped. "This is far enough. Last year, someone ran into a wild boar beyond here."

Samantha was about to ask more when-

Thud!

A sudden crash startled her. She turned her head in surprise. "Huh? Tristan, look!"

Tristan followed her gaze, his lips twitching.

A gray rabbit lay sprawled on the ground, dazed.

Samantha grinned, eyes twinkling. "Finders, keepers."

Tristan chuckled. "Looks like you're pretty lucky."

"Guess so," she said cheerfully, scooping up the rabbit.

"We should make the most of it. Billy and I will bring some Vegetables other things. Let's have a good meal tonight."

Samantha raised a brow at his straightforwardness but found it refreshing. There was no point in being overly polite-things were fair and square.

Within half an hour, they had gathered enough firewood. Tristan took over carrying it, along with the rabbit, without a word.

Samantha narrowed her eyes slightly. Was he always this considerate to girls, or was she just special?

When they returned, a few people washing their faces at the well looked up in surprise.

"Wow, you two went out to gather firewood and didn't even call me?" Billy complained.

Tristan shot him a look. "Since you're so eager, tomorrow's firewood duty is all yours."

Billy's face fell.

The others wanted to comment, but it was nearly time to return to work. Samantha and Tristan ignored the speculative glances thrown their way.

That afternoon, Samantha found an old straw hat in the supply shed, likely left behind by a previous worker. She wasn't picky-it covered her face perfectly.

"Sam-uh, Miss Green, you're still not done with your task?"

The sudden voice startled her. She turned to see a young man, around eighteen or nineteen, his face flushed-whether from shyness or sunburn, she wasn't sure.

"I'm not in a rush. There's still time," she said nonchalantly, stretching the work out as long as she could.

"If you're tired, I can help-" His face turned even redder as he struggled to finish his sentence.

Samantha blinked.

Was this... was he hitting on her?

"No need, I can handle it," she replied with a teasing tone. In the collective, a man helping a woman with chores usually meant something.

"James! Your mother sent you to work, so why are you hanging around the Volunteer from the city?"

An older woman's voice cut through the air.

James stammered, "I-I..."

"What are you mumbling for? Just because I'm a little behind doesn't mean you need to start slacking off!"

Jennifer, hands on her hips, appeared out of nowhere.

James scratched his head awkwardly before scurrying off, avoiding Samantha's gaze.

The older woman scoffed. "Jennifer, don't tell me you brought the girl here just so your good-for-nothing son could find a wife?"

Jennifer's face darkened. "What nonsense are you spouting? My son's already interested in her-keep your filthy mouth shut."

A sharp-eyed elderly woman snorted. "The city girl is pretty, sure, but she's got such a tiny backside. You really think she can bear sons?"

Samantha's mouth twitched beneath her hat.

Seriously? Who was checking out her backside?

Jennifer's face turned livid. "Mildred, your brain is full of crap! My son likes her, end of story. Keep your nosy comments to yourself!"

Samantha blinked innocently, exasperated by the chaos she hadn't even caused.

Rolling her eyes at Jennifer, she turned back to cutting grass.

"Jennifer, you're the one talking nonsense! I saw James flirting with Samantha with my own two eyes!" Mildred huffed.

Rural women bickering was never a pretty sight-loud, dramatic, and ruthless. Samantha sighed, watching the chaos unfold like a spectator at a street brawl.

"What's all this noise?"

A stern voice rang out, and the scorekeeper marched over, his face like thunder. "Another argument, and I'll dock half a day's work points from both of you!"

That shut them up fast.

But Jennifer, still fuming, decided to take it out on Samantha instead.

With every chance she got, she "accidentally" bumped her large backside into Samantha.

Samantha was speechless.

This morning, these women were fighting over a man. Now they were fighting over... her?

Women were really unpredictable.