Who Are You

Chapter 1

Strong girl Samantha

"Bang, bang, bang..." A round of hurried knocks on the door pulled Samantha from her deep sleep. Her eyebrows knitted together, the displeasure clearly visible on her furrowed forehead due to the disturbance.

She yanked the quilt over her head, intending to continue sleeping, when the knocking and a voice followed, "Sam, Samantha, wake up! Open the door!"

The person knocking seemed hell-bent on not leaving without getting her to open the door.

All the noise made it impossible for Samantha to go back to sleep. She shot up in her bed, ready to hurl abuses at the person, but her words came to an abrupt curve, "Damn it!"

She had remembered, she had gone back in time!

In her original time, she was a rich, beautiful, and modern girl, she had enough money to last a lifetime.

Her parents had initially married because of a business alliance. After both their parents died, they quickly divorced and married other spouses, leaving Samantha without any parental care.

Eventually, she lived alone. Save for the regular inflow of pocket money, her parents had also transferred the inheritance she received from her grandparents.

After graduating from college, Samantha had essentially given up on her family.

She didn't have any ambitions, she lived in the moment and didn't have plans for the future. Hence, she didn't work and spent her days binge-watching TV shows, reading novels, shopping, and traveling around the world.

Mysteriously, during a trip to her personal farm in the suburbs out of boredom, she slipped and fell into a ditch face-first. When she woke up, she had become the Samantha of the 1970s.

"Samantha, if you don't open up, I am barging in!" The person outside continued to holler with slightly faltering determination.

Clearly, they didn't dare to actually barge in.

Samantha rolled her eyes, halted her thoughts, ran her hand through her hair, and got up to open the door.

As soon as she opened the door, Samantha was met with a pair of furious eyes. Lazily, she asked, "What's up? Why are you disturbing my sleep so early in the morning?"

"Early morning?!" The man widened his eyes in disbelief.

Samantha glanced out the window at the already-risen sun.

"What do you want?."

"Young woman, that's no way to speak to your father!" the man ground his teeth in anger, it was all he could do not to slap her across the face.

Although he knew better. His daughter had a temper and if he got on her nerves, he wouldn't hear the last of it.

"If you weren't my father, you wouldn't be standing here right now." Samantha's eyes held deep meaning as she looked at him.

This was the original owner of her body's father, who had been held in check entirely by his very daughter.

Taking advantage of her physical strength, the original owner acted like an unbridled tyrant at home. Anyone who dared to go against her always bore the brunt of their actions.

Everyone in the house was scared of her.

After getting the memories of the original owner of her body, Samantha understood that the original owner couldn't be blamed for her behavior.

The original owner lost her mother when she was young. Her maternal grandparents were indifferent towards her, and even her father neglected her. Only three months after her mother's death, he brought a new woman into his home.

That woman even brought two children along, a pair of troublesome twins

People from outside didn't know this but Samantha was convinced that the kids were her father's biological children.

Now that they had become one family, Samantha, who was already neglected before, was now completely ignored.

At first, Samantha was helpless against the bullying, until one time when she was beaten up by the twins for two hours, and then left starving on the balcony for three days. When she was on the brink of death, she finally had an epiphany: better to live shamelessly than die honorably. From then on, if anyone treated her badly, she would return the favor twice.

Since then, the Greens began to live in chaos.

In the beginning, Samantha always ended up getting hurt, but as she grew up and became stronger, no one in the household was a match for her.

Frightened by her, they began to behave.

Samantha's father glanced at her, her face was changing expressionless. "...You've gone too far this time. You pushed Leticia into the river. She almost lost her life and is still in the hospital. My paycheck has not arrived yet. Can you give me some money? The hospital bill is still short."

As soon as he finished speaking, Samantha's father glared at her.

Samantha scoffed, "I have no money. Find someone else."

Having said that, she slammed the door shut.

Since Samantha was unwilling to give money, he could only leave while cursing.

Samantha sat on the bed and sneered. Did they think she would believe there was no money at home?

She sat on the bed, laughing coldly. Both she and Leticia fell into the river yesterday, however it was not a push, Leticia jumped in and deliberately pulled her in with her.

Leticia could swim and naturally, was not scared.

However, she was inexperienced and was overwhelmed by the strong currents. Thankfully, Samantha managed to take over in time and with great difficulty they both swam out of the river.

Looking at the river, she ignored Leticia, went home, poured herself a bowl of soup, and slept until the next day.

Rubbing her forehead, Samantha sighed.

In this decade of the 70s, marked by poverty and scarcity, how could she, who had been used to a luxurious life, cope?

Lying down for a while, she resigned herself to sitting up, prepared to go out to find something to eat. The next moment, her stomach grumbled and she disappeared from the room.

Looking around the unfamiliar surroundings, Samantha widened her eyes, belatedly realizing what had happened, she had gone into her personal time vault.

She excitedly observed her new environment.

This looked like the warehouse of her family's farm.

Samantha rushed over to push open the large door of the warehouse and sure enough, it was her family's warehouse.

And it was packed with grain.

This farm was owned by her, not only planted with rice and wheat, but there were also a lot of fruits and animals like pigs, sheep, cattle, and chickens. The warehouse was filled with rice and wheat that had been harvested during the year. The hulls from the grains were removed, and the wheat had been ground into flour.

There were about eighty thousand bags of rice and an approximately equal amount of wheat.

The farm was not large, just eighty hectares of land, and a season's yield was about this much.

Samantha also went to check the orchard and the animal pens by the side, all still intact, she excitedly surveyed her land.

Unlike the farm, the amount of land in her time vault had was not large, only about two hectares in front of the warehouse.

Nothing had been planted on it, and next to it was a well, reminding her of the mystical springs mentioned in novels.

Samantha quickly rushed over.

Reaching the edge of the well, the knowledge emerged in her mind. This was not a mystical spring that could rejuvenate one's body, but long-term consumption could strengthen the body, beautify, and rejuvenate the skin.

Better than nothing at all, one must learn to be content. Samantha left her time vault contentedly.

She opened the door, went out to wash her face, then searched the kitchen for something to eat.

The cabinet was locked, but she didn't mind. With a slight exertion, she unlocked the lock.

Physical strength was indeed an added advantage!

There wasn't much inside. Probably to prevent her from cooking, there was a loaf of bread, a jar of jam, peanut butter, five eggs, and a few condiments.

Samantha didn't mind, she quickly made herself a sandwich and some omelettes.

Before turning off the heat, she added a couple drops of sesame oil, releasing an instant aroma.

Samantha enjoyed her meal, savouring each bite.

Just after eating, she heard someone approaching.

The house was allocated by the factory that her father worked at, a two-bedroom, one-living room, apartment. The sound insulation was far from good.

Oh, aren't you supposed to be sick?" Samantha glared at the people who walked in, her gaze settling on Leticia.

Leticia was the same age as Samantha, she was also eighteen. She was doing a very good job of pretending to be weak and sickly.

Especially when she stood there with her pale face.

This only served to contrast further with Samantha, making her seem like the wicked older sister.

Upon hearing Samantha's words, Leticia flinched, "Sis... Sister, I... I know you didn't push me on purpose, I am not angry, I am not that sick either, I don't need to be hospitalized."

"Samantha, how much longer are you going to be a menace?" Her father shot her a look filled with disdain.

Her stepmother, Abigail also had a look of displeasure on her face.

Leticia's twin brother was no different, his eyes filled with hatred as he looked at Samantha, "Samantha, you've gone too far!

Samantha studied their faces calmly.

She didn't mind being the evil tyrant. It meant she didn't have to care about others, she could continue to protect herself.

"You..."

"Samantha, I never thought you would be this kind of person!" Samantha's words were cut off as soon as she started speaking.

She turned to look at the person who spoke.

A young man, about eighteen or nineteen, dressed in a white shirt and black pants. He had thick eyebrows and big eyes, quite handsome, but his eyes were filled with loathing. It was as if Samantha was a filthy piece of rag.

Samantha raised an eyebrow, "Who are you?"

"You..." Brandon frowned, surprised that Samantha pretended not to recognize him.

"Heh, Samantha, stop playing dumb, you know who I am." He sneered at Samantha.

Regardless of what she was up to, he was not interested.

Samantha looked surprised, she took a careful look at Brandon, recalling him from some corner of her memory.

The original owner didn't care about him, so he was obviously not important.

She scoffed, "Who you are is none of my business. This is my house, so beat it."

Brandon, "You are being unreasonable!"

"Brandon, I'm okay. My sister won't bully me. You should go home now. Your mother must be worried." Leticia spoke in a soft voice.

Brandon felt a pang of sympathy.

His gaze towards Samantha became even more hostile. Samantha glared back, did he think she would be intimidated by his big eyes?

"Leticia, you just rest up then, I'll come visit you another day." He spoke to Leticia in a tender voice.

Then he greeted Bowie, their father and the others before he left.

After the man left, a trace of darkness flashed in Leticia's eyes. She continued to put up an act, but Samantha didn't fall it.

She was playing with her slender fingers and her family became terrified.

She felt thrilled that they were all scared of her.

Her father hesitated before saying, "Samantha, this months' salary...won't be given to you for now, Leticia has spent a lot of money in the hospital, and our family..."

"Oh, what does that have to do with me?" Samantha put on an air of nonchalance.

This sight left them filled with frustration.

"It was you who pushed Leticia..."

"Really? Leticia, did I push you?" Samantha turned her head to look at Leticia, her gaze indifferent.

Leticia felt a little chill down her spine . How could this sister, who only knew how to use her fists, speak to her calmly?

Her eyelids drooped halfway, "Dad, it wasn't my sister who pushed me, it has nothing to do with her.

In a split second, Samantha suddenly stepped forward and grabbed Leticia's neck.

The three, who hadn't reacted yet, exclaimed: "!!"

Leticia: "!!"

"Hmm, I just love that look of terror in your eyes," Samantha smiled wickedly.

"Samantha, what are you doing?! Let go of Leticia now!"

"Samantha! Release my sister!"

"Samantha..."

Samantha remained unmoved, tightening her grip, "Leticia, would you like to talk about what happened?"

She tilted her head, acting extremely malicious.

Leticia didn't dare to fight, she felt that Samantha really wanted to strangle her, she started to panic, she didn't pretend anymore, "It was me, It was me who wanted to get her into trouble, I accidentally pulled her down into the river."

"Accidentally?"

"No, it was, it was on purpose." After saying this, Leticia's eyes reddened, and tears rolled down.

Samantha raised an eyebrow and withdrew her hand hatefully, "Did you hear that? What on earth happened? Still asking me for money, are you sick?"

She pondered for a moment. The reason her father asked her for money was probably because the original body was a bully, She was always extorting money from them every month.

Her father's monthly salary was only forty-eight dollars and five cents, and her stepmother only had twenty-eight.

Half of it was handed to Samantha, the stepmother also needed buy groceries for the home and the father still had to pay five dollars for other utilities every month, they were barely making ends meet.

But Samantha didn't believe that the house would be out of money.

The original body was extraordinarily strong but Lazy, She also had no idea how much savings her family had previously.

After receiving the memories, she realized that there should be quite a lot of savings. The original body's mother died when she was seven, due to an accident at her factory, the factory must have given out compensation.

However, her father, Bowie always denied this.

The original body had never seen the money and had no option but to let it be.

But now that Samantha had arrived, she had to get this money back no matter what. Leticia owed the original body her life, how could she not repay?

"Samantha, Leticia didn't mean it, please forgive her this time." Abigail quickly held Leticia who was slowly losing consciousness.

.

Bowie and Leticia's twin brother, Lucas, looked at Samantha, their hands clenched into fists.

No doubt, as soon as they got the chance, they would attack Samantha.

But they knew better than to be impulsive.

Samantha glanced at the four people leisurely, sneering, she swaggered into her room, put all valuable items and cash into her space, and left the house.

Only when the door was shut did the family of four breathe a sigh of relief, their eyes filled with resentment as they stared at the door.

Samantha left the house, briefly chatting with a neighbor she met on the road and walked out happily.

Bowie was a deputy director in a food factory in Baltimore. The original body's mother had sacrificed her life to protect the factory's property. In compensation, the factory had given the Greens a two-bedroom apartment and left a job vacancy for Samantha. As soon as she graduated from high school, she could start working immediately.

This was one of the reasons why Leticia wanted her out of the way at all cost.

The three Green siblings were all about the same age and were due to receive their graduation certificates the following week.

One of them had to go to the countryside.

Lucas had a good friend who got him a temporary job at a state-owned restaurant. Leticia was stuck with Samantha at home.

However, Leticia was quite manipulative, she was determined to use all the resources at her disposal to get Samantha out of the house. She applied for a job on Samantha's behalf in the countryside.

Samantha decided to return the favor, she took a bus to the rural district office. If her sister signed her up for a rural job, she could do the same for her. Ideally, they would all be dispatched to the same location. She eagerly burst into the district office, "Sir, my sister signed me up for the job in the countryside.

The officer on duty heedfully watched Samantha, "Young lady, once the registration is successful, there's no way to change it. You better..."

"Oh no, you've got it all wrong. It was I who asked my sister to sign me up. As a patriotic citizen, it's a privilege to give back to my society and what better way to do that than to work amongst the poor masses, I'm quite thrilled."

The registration officer gave a nod of approval, "A young woman with a heart for the people! That's quite impressive.

Noticing the stares of everyone there, Samantha began speaking passionately quoting philosophers. Everyone was staring at her in amazement.

After garnering enough attention, Samantha continued, "Sir my brother and sister are also eighteen and about to graduate from high school. They're also very passionate about community development. I'm here to register on their behalf."

"Really? All three of you are registering for community service?" The registration officer sounded surprised, "Miss, are you sure? Once registered, it cannot be changed."

It was not in the officers place to judge but youngsters weren't enthusiastic about volunteering for community service, most young adults would rather starve than volunteer to go to the countryside for community development.

Samantha with a self-righteous expression patted her chest, "Of course it's true. My siblings are excited about it, we know it's going to be worth it. Sir, sign them up. If the three of us are assigned to the same place, that would be great. We could look out for each other."

After leaving the District Office, Samantha wore a satisfied smile.

Since she was going to the countryside, they're all coming with her. It was going to be a Dog eat Dog, situation.

After wandering around the city, Samantha did not rush to the market, instead, she took stock of the original owners' saving.

What a little rich woman.

She was usually a spendthrift but still could save more than four hundred dollars. That's enough for her to buy things for the move to the countryside.

First, Samantha went to the departmental store and bought some toiletries and skin care products.

She also bought some soft fabrics and a tailoring kit.

If she was going to work hard in the countryside. She needed to make some work clothes, and also needed appropriate footwear. She received the notice that day, knowing that she was assigned to Grant county in the Nebraska and she had been given ten days notice. The winter there was long and cold. She needed to prepare thicker quilts and fluffy jackets.

After buying everything she needed, Samantha only had two cotton jackets.

She decided to make a trip to the black market.

As she walked out of the department store, she ran into some familiar faces.

"Samantha?" A girl about the same age as Samantha, wearing a blue and white floral dress, looked shy, yet her eyes showed arrogance.

"Mhm," Samantha responded lightly with a nasal tone, ready to side step her and leave when she was stopped by a few individuals. These individuals were relatives from her maternal side of the family. Cousins, to be exact, all children from her uncles and aunts who had always been at odds with her. Over the years, they showed no concern toward her, a mutual indifference.

"What's up?" she asked indifferently, not shifting her gaze from them.

"What did you buy? There's so much. Show us." They reached out to grab her bags, but Samantha swiftly grabbed their hands, "Hell no, that's not gonna happen."

"Shit!, Samantha, you let go!" Rebecca squealed in pain. The other three came up to them immediately, "Samantha, let go! What on earth are you doing? Rebecca is your cousin!"

"Cousin?" Samantha scoffed cynically. "I've never acknowledged her as my cousin before and I don't intend on doing so in the future either. If you're wise, you won't cross my path again." With a swift jerk, she easily swept Rebecca to the ground.

The indifference of the host body towards her relatives wasn't without a cause. At an early age, when she was bullied and subjugated, she sought help from her mother's family. But they left her out in the cold, neglected and alone.

Inside, the family lavished affection on each other, their joyous laughter piercing her heart. To make matters worse, Rebecca's mother treated her badly, she never allowed to eat with her cousins, making her eat their leftovers, she always made sure to remind Samantha that she wasn't part of their family.

Completely taken aback, she helplessly watched her Maternal Aunt, hoping for the intervention of her grandmother, who always witnessed the inhumane treatment. She was only met with cold, indifferent eyes that made her shudder.

She was always deprived of food for days and made to sleep on the bare floor. She was always looking sickly and dejected.

That made her decide to run away and since then, even if she was often starved and frequently beaten to a pulp, she never again stepped foot in the Carters house.

– the Carters ignored her as if she didn't exist.

Nearly ten years had passed. The Carters acted as strangers when they saw her outside, but her cousins had been sucking up to her for the past six months.

Samantha knew that it was all because of the job at her food factory.

The Carters had plenty of children, and there were looking for favors from her.

Fortunately, the original host did not value them, and Samantha also didn't care about them.

She looked down at Rebecca from her height, "I have a short temper and I don't have much self control. I'm letting you go today but don't say I didn't warn you."

Rebecca and the others looked at Samantha with doubt and fear.

They had heard about her physical strength; she was the resident macho man in her school, but they didn't expect she would be this strong.

Samantha glanced at them, turned around, and left.

But in her mind, she was thinking about her job; lots of people were interested, and it seemed profitable.

She rolled her eyes, waved all her thoughts away and then walked towards the residential building of the mechanical factory.

One of her classmates' father was the deputy director of the machinery factory and she speculated he would be interested in the job.

"Ma'am, could you show me the direction to the deputy director's house?" Samantha asked a lady on the road, passing her some candy she just bought from the department store.

The elderly lady, who was initially displeased, smiled sweetly, "You must be a relative of theirs. You're so pretty; go through here and take a lift to the third floor."

"Thank you, ma'am." Samantha gave a slight chuckle.

She looked very similar to the original body; She had a well-defined jawline with almond eyes, rosy cheeks, sparkling teeth, and twinkling eyes. When she laughed, it was as if there were stars in them.

It was one of the reasons Leticia was envious of her.

"Samantha?"

Only a few steps into the path that the old lady directed, she ran into an acquaintance.

"Why are you here? Did you come to see me?" Lily was somewhat puzzled. She and Samantha were classmates, but they weren't very close.

It was okay to say that Samantha didn't have any close friends in her class.

She had a cordial relationship with everyone.

"Mm, I have something to discuss with you; if you wouldn't mind, could we talk at your house?" Samantha gave a light laugh.

Despite being perplexed, Lily didn't refuse.

The two walked side by side, "By the way, I heard you volunteered for community service in the countryside; I thought you already had a job?"

"Who told you that?"

"A member of the cheerleading squad."

Samantha understood; Leticia was a cheerleader.

"That's the reason I came to see you" She pursed her lips slightly.

Lily looked deeply into her eyes, for some seconds, her mind was racing with questions. Seeing this, Samantha couldn't help laughing, "Don't worry. I'm not here to ask for your help. You know I must go to the countryside. Are you interested in my job? Or would you happen to know someone suitable for it?"

Countless people are vying for my position but I want to give it to who deserves it.

Samantha didn't plan to give her position to her for free; she wanted money in exchange for her job.

Upon getting over her surprise, Lily couldn't contain her joy and grabbed Samantha's hand, exclaiming, "Are you really planning to sell your job?"

"Absolutely, I'm all set to hit the countryside."

"That's wonderful! I want this job, you can't offer it to anyone else!" Lily was ecstatic as she spoke to Samantha.

Samantha's offer was very timely.

Just the other day, her parents were worried about her joblessness, but now there was no need for it anymore.

Although her father was the factory manager, Lily wasn't an only child. She had two elder brothers and an elder sister. One of her brothers went to the countryside last year, while her elder sister and brother were already employed.

If she remained unemployed, she would be forced to move to the countryside.

The assistant factory manager always had his eyes on her father, making it difficult for her father to intervene.

She had already resigned to going to the countryside.

"Well, it's possible, but..." Samantha glanced at Lily.

Lily immediately understood, "Don't worry. I'll be sure to pay the full price for the job."

Being very smart girls, they both smiled in agreement.

Half an hour later, Samantha came out from Bennett's house. She had sold her position at the factory (Which was an administrative position) for thirty-eight dollars a month.

Her position was very enticing.

The Bennets offered to pay nine hundred dollars in total with installments of thirty-eight dollars every month, and Samantha was pleased; she was also given five yards of pure cotton fabric.

They agreed to handle the paperwork the next day to avoid unforeseen complications.

Having received the cotton fabric from the Bennets, Samantha didn't venture into the black market anymore and decided to wait until she went back to the countryside. Along with the previous two jackets, she now had five yards of fabric in hand.

She walked back to her house.

"When she opened the door, she saw her family eating dinner. And the food looked delicious: grilled chicken and broccoli, some gravy, and cheese quiche.

With raised eyebrows, she watched all four of them looking like they'd seen a ghost; she laughed and asked, "Having dinner?"

Her father looked at her warily, fearing that she might cause some trouble again.

Abigail gave a fake amiable smile, "Samantha, have you eaten? Would like to join us?"

"Sure."

As soon as the words fell, seeing the four people look as if they had swallowed a bitter pill, Samantha, who initially had no intention of joining, suddenly became interested.

"Who says no to delicious food?"

She plopped down and took a plate, taking all that was left of the grilled chicken on her plate. That would have been enough for two more people.

Then she scooped up some gravy.

She didn't spare the cheese quiche either.

Lucas could no longer hold his patience, bellowing, "Samantha, do you think you're the only one eating?!"

"Oh, I thought you were all done eating" Samantha, with slow and calculated movements, took a huge bite from the chicken.

"You...!"

"Samantha, where are your table manners " Bowie took a deep breath, sure that his daughter would be the cause of his untimely death.

"What's wrong with the way I'm eating? Isn't this the way I'm supposed to eat? This was bought with my mom's pension, so I'll eat how I like" She kept her gaze fixed on her father, trying to read him.

His eyes were filled with shock, guilt, and anger.

"What are you talking about, didn't your mom's incident get you a job as compensation? Along with this allocated house."

"Oh, really?" Samantha did not argue with them.

She knew what she needed to do.

Following her outburst, the dining table fell into an eerie silence,

All four family members stared at Samantha as she ate with relish.

After a hearty meal and leaving a mess behind, Samantha contentedly returned to her room.

The original owner fought fiercely for it - a two-bedroom and one living room apartment. She occupied one room while her other siblings, Lucas and Leticia, lived in bunks in the partitioned area of the living room.

This made them resent her more.

However, Samantha thought that the original owner did nothing wrong. After all, it was the sacrifice of the original owner's mother that led them to acquire this two-bedroom apartment.

It was only right for her to occupy a room.

"Mom, look at her." Only when they heard the door close did Leticia talk.

"Alright now, why are you bothering your pretty little head over her? In a few days, she will..."

The voice grew softer towards the end, but Samantha didn't need to eavesdrop on their conversation to know what they meant. She snorted.

She imagined the look of shock on their faces in a few days and it made her smile.

After a very large meal, she wasn't sleepy so Samantha started cleaning up the original owner's stuff.

There were quite a few clothes in the wardrobe. There were three new pairs of underwear, several items were not so new, plus there were shirts and black pants. However, there were not many winter jackets, as Essex (the city they lived in) was located south, and the winters were not that cold. Thus, the jackets were not thick.

There were three pairs of sports shoes and two pairs of leather shoes.

In those days, having several pairs of shoes was a sign of wealth. She stored all these belongings in her space.

There were some candy and snacks in the room, they were some chocolate bars, some nougat, a few lollipops, a pack of shredded coconut, some packs of Oreos, a can of malted milk, and three cans of soda. She also put all these away.

The previous owner was obsessed with orderliness; it was little wonder she was able to maintain such a healthy lifestyle.

Samantha pinched her smooth cheek and rosy white skin, she was a girl of eighteen, fully grown, standing at about 5,5 feet, with a possibility of growing taller in the future.

She has fair skin, a beautiful face, and long legs, she was very delighted.

In her room, Samantha started eating an apple, the fruits in this era were sweeter and juicer.

The warehouse was filled with rice and flour, the trees in the orchard were producing healthy-looking fruits, and the animal farm was full of healthy livestock and birds.

This made Samantha very satisfied and happy

The next day, she woke up late. When she got up, there was already no one in the house.

Giving her the freedom to do what she wanted.

Samantha's eyes flickered. She locked the door first then got into action. The master bedroom of the house belonged to her father and Abigail and it was usually locked.

But that didn't stop Samantha.

Lock picking was the original host's specialty Samantha was merely benefiting from it.

Snooping Around

Samantha stepped into the room and immediately began searching.

The family claimed they were poor, but she knew they were lying.

When her mother first married into the family, she brought a substantial dowry. The caris' an odd bunch-despite treating their daughter with indifference, they still gave her a generous dowry when she married. Yet, after her mother passed away, leaving behind only her, they did nothing to help. Instead, they turned a blind eye and openly mistreated a young girl.

As she mulled over these thoughts, Samantha didn't slow down. Finally, she spotted a hidden compartment tucked away in the corner behind the bed.

Her eyes lit up. She crouched down, pried open the compartment, and pulled out a small box.

Inside, colorful bills were neatly stacked. At a glance, she estimated there was at least a couple thousand dollars.

She didn't bother to count them-she simply stuffed them into her pocket, making sure not to leave a single bill behind.

Having secured the money, she continued searching the room, checking every possible hiding place. Eventually, she discovered another secret compartment beneath the bed. It had been hollowed out and was filled to the brim.

Jackpot.

With a satisfied grin, she pulled out a stash of gold coins.

Without hesitation, she secured the coins, triple-checked the room to ensure she hadn't missed anything, and then restored everything to its original state before slipping away.

Back in her room, she locked the door behind her and retreated into her private space.

She felt no guilt about taking what was rightfully hers. If her instincts were correct, those gold coins had belonged to her mother.

After all, the bed itself had been part of her mother's dowry.

Her father probably hadn't even discovered the hidden stash yet.

Samantha sat down and counted the cash: $1,652.70-a mix of bills and loose change.

Tsk. She guessed more than half of it must have been the compensation money from her mother's estate.

Satisfied, she tucked the money away and drifted into a deep sleep.

When she woke up, it was already dark.

Glancing at her wristwatch, she realized it was past midnight.

The previous owner of this watch-the original host of this body-must have had good taste. It was a Plum brand watch, an expensive piece for someone her age.

Feeling hungry, she pulled a large meat bun from her storage space-one she had bought earlier that day from a local diner.

The unique thing about her storage? Time inside remained frozen. Anything she put in came out exactly the same.

She made a mental note to get a set of kitchenware for her storage space. That way, she could cook whenever she wanted.

Despite having been raised as a privileged young woman, Samantha was a homebody and a skilled cook.

The Next Morning

When Samantha left the house, she cleared out all the toast her stepmother had made-along with two poached eggs.

"Samantha! Those eggs were for me and mom!" Leticia shrieked, glaring at Samantha's retreating figure.

The only response was the sound of the door slamming shut.

Samantha smirked as she ate the eggs. Leticia was probably fuming right now.

Later that day, she finalized a job deal with Lily and her mother. Once she received the payment, she dusted herself off and took a leisurely stroll around town

Despite the scarcity of resources in this era, there was a certain charm to it. The air was fresh, and the streets had a nostalgic feel.

She was content-completely unaware that the Carters had come knocking on her door, inviting her to dinner.

The Greens, were taken aback.

Had the Carters suddenly remembered they had a granddaughter after nearly ten years?

When Samantha returned home that afternoon, her family said nothing about it.

They knew the Carters were scheming-most likely trying to get their hands on a portion of Samantha's job earnings.

So, the Greens continued to wait.

And Samantha, still oblivious, continued preparing for her move to the countryside

Three Days Before Departure

Samantha took the opportunity to store away some supplies-quilts, thick winter coats, and pants she had commissioned from a local tailor. Aside from that, she packed light

Upon returning home, she sensed something was of

"What's going on?" she asked a woman gossiping near the front door.

The woman, assuming it was someone else, didn't bother to look up and started talking excitedly.

"The Greens are so admirable! All three of their kids are volunteering to move to the countryside. We got the notice directly from the local office-everyone was shocked! What did they do to deserve this? They're making the rest of us look bad! I mean, really, don't you think-

She finally turned and locked eyes with Samantha, whose face was clean and youthful, her big brown eyes twinkling with mischief.

The woman immediately choked on her words.

The gathered onlookers also fell silent.

Samantha grinned. "Alright, ladies, you've had your fill of drama. Time to head home and cook dinner. Show's over. Disperse."

And just like that, the crowd scattered

As she turned away, a rolling pin came flying at her.

Samantha narrowed her eyes, casually reaching out and catching it midair with ease.

She blew a strand of hair from her forehead and smirked, her expression cocky. "Oh? Are we attempting domestic violence now?"

Her father's face turned red with anger. "Don't be ridiculous! I'm asking you-did you sign Leticia and Lucas up under their names?"

Behind him, Abigail and Leticia sobbed dramatically.

"Dad, what are you talking about? I don't have a clue," Samantha said innocently, twirling the rolling pin.

Then she turned and shut the door in their faces.

The entire family shivered.

"You... you... what are you up to, you ungrateful brat?!" Her father sputtered, looking around for something to defend himself with.

Abigail and Leticia cowered behind the men like frightened rabbits.

Samantha scoffed. "Cowards."

The four of them stiffened, their faces full of indignation.

Samantha raised an eyebrow. "Oh? You don't like that? Well, if you have a problem, step forward and say it to my face."

She twirled the rolling pin once more before flinging it past her father's ear, missing him by mere inches.

"AHHH!" Abigail and Leticia screamed, clutching each other in terror.

Her father turned pale. She was too fast-he hadn't even had time to process it.

Samantha remained calm, looking down at them with amusement. "If any of you think you can take me, be my guest."

With that, she turned and sauntered back to her room, her mood surprisingly light.

The Greens stood there in a mix of shock, fury, and helplessness.

They never expected that the once pitiful girl they could bully had turned into a fearsome devil.

With no way to fight back, Bowie and Abigail scrambled to undo Leticia and Lucas's placement orders.

Two days later, after exhausting all their options, they not only failed, but also ended up spending money on supplies for the trip.

By 5 a.m. on the third day, the train was ready to depart, carrying the volunteers to the countryside.

Out of options, Mr Green and Abigail gave Leticia and Lucas some pocket money, they also handed them their resettlement fees-$50 each, and sent her off.

Meanwhile, Samantha?

She collected her own placement fee, grabbed her suitcase and backpack, and boarded the train with ease-completely unfazed.

Bowie and Abigail reluctantly bade Leticia farewell.

The train rattled forward, its carriage crammed with people. The floor was cluttered with luggage, and various smells mingled together, causing Samantha to furrow her brows slightly.

But when she saw Leticia sitting across from her, her eyes red and puffy like a rabbit's, she suddenly felt much better.

If Leticia was miserable, Samantha was happy.

To make things even more amusing, Leticia was seated right next to Brandon-the guy with a rock for a brain. And Lucas was sitting diagonally across with one of his classmates.

"Hello! My name is Sasha. I'm heading to Grant County as part of the rural work program. Are you also going to the countryside?" The girl sitting next to Samantha pursed her lips into a friendly smile.

She had fair skin, though a few freckles dotted her cheeks. Still, they didn't take away from her clean and pleasant appearance.

"Yeah, my name is Samantha. I'm also assigned to Grant County."

"That's great! Maybe we'll end up in the same village." Sasha beamed, her eyes curving into crescents.

She then glanced at Brandon and Leticia.

Brandon, noticing that Samantha was looking out the window instead of paying attention to him, felt inexplicably annoyed. "My name is Brandon. I'm also going to grant County."

"My name is Leticia. I'm also being sent to the countryside in Grant County with my Sister..." Leticia hesitated, her voice timid as she looked at Samantha.

She had the expression of someone used to being bullied, nervously waiting for a response.

Before Samantha could say a word, Brandon frowned. "Samantha, can you stop bullying Leticia?"

Samantha: "???"

What the hell is this guy talking about?

Rolling her eyes, she decided to ignore him and shut off her awareness of the outside world, slipping into her private space instead.

If she had time for this nonsense, she might as well use it to farm.

The two vacant acres in her time vault had been bothering her for a while. She didn't know what to do with them, so she figured she'd plant some vegetables and rice.

Might as well make use of the empty land.

Meanwhile, Brandon sat there fuming as Samantha ignored everyone. Leticia quickly spoke softly to pacify him.

Sasha, watching the exchange, was utterly bewildered.

Inside her time vault, Samantha busied herself farming. By the time she finished, she was so exhausted that she fell asleep.

When she woke up, it was already dark outside.

The train ride would take three days and two nights. Stretching in her seat, she stood up under the pretense of using the bathroom but slipped back into her time vault instead.

She had prepared a hot meal earlier, so she ate until she was full, had a drink, and even washed her face before stepping out again.

When she returned to her seat, she gazed out the window, appreciating the pitch-black sky dotted with twinkling stars.

A rare moment of peace.

Her restless heart began to settle. As the saying went: "When in Rome, do as the Romans do."

Even back in the modern world, she hadn't had a loving family. Most of her wealth had been periodically donated, and she had even written a will ensuring that if anything happened to her, the rest of her money would go to charity.

Not that her self-serving parents would have been able to touch her assets anyway.

Well... maybe this was a chance for a fresh start.

Meanwhile, back at the Green family's house...

Abigail had taken the day off, muttering about buying cotton and fabric to make padded jackets and quilts to send to her children.

Winter in Nebraska was much colder than Essex.

"AH-!"

Bowie was eating breakfast when the sudden scream startled him so badly that he choked on his food. His face turned red as he frantically reached for a glass of water, gulping it down to soothe his burning throat.

He barely had time to catch his breath before Abigail burst into the room, her face pale with shock.

"Bowie, our money-it's gone! All of it is gone!"

Bowie's face twisted in disbelief. "What are you talking about?!"

"Oof, more than a thousand dollars-completely gone! Everything is gone!" Abigail wailed, nearly collapsing.

Bowie sprang to his feet and rushed into the bedroom. Sure enough, the lockbox where they kept their savings was lying open on the floor, its contents completely emptied. Under the bed, their neatly stacked belongings were now a mess.

For a moment, he felt dizzy, his vision going black.

Gritting his teeth, he growled, "Call the police."

"Call the police?! What for? It must have been that damned girl, Samantha! That ungrateful brat must've been eyeing our money for a long time! No, I need to get it back from her!"

That was nearly two thousand dollars! Abigail felt as though her soul was leaving her body.

Bowie scowled. "I said, call the police!"

At this point, where could they even find Samantha?

Eventually, they reported the theft, and the arrival of the police caused quite a stir in the residential complex.

After an investigation, the officers concluded that aside from Bowie and Abigail's own footprints, there were no signs of a third person entering the room. The lock was intact, meaning it hadn't been picked or broken into.

The implication was clear: it was an inside job.

Abigail didn't fully grasp the meaning, but Bowie did. And so, the case was left unresolved.

Still, a seed of suspicion was planted in Bowie's mind. He had always known that Abigail secretly sent money to her family.

But he hadn't expected her to be this greedy.

Coincidentally, two days later, word came from Abigail's hometown-her nephew had just gotten engaged and they needed her support financially.

A dangerous glint appeared in Bowie's eyes.

On the other hand, Abigail remained blissfully unaware, too busy planning how to send supplies to her children in the countryside.

Back on the train...

When lunchtime rolled around, Leticia took out her food container. Inside was a portion of rice, stir-fried cabbage with eggs, and a side of pickles.

A decent meal.

She nudged her container toward Brandon. " I can't finish all this. Let's share it."

Brandon only had a sandwich and a few pickles. His expression turned slightly embarrassed before he gratefully accepted the food, looking at Leticia with newfound affection.

Samantha raised an eyebrow.

So, he was that kind of guy.

After a moment, she recalled who Brandon was.

A classmate. Back in school, he had initially tried to cozy up to the original host, hoping to take advantage of her generosity. But when he realized she was fiercely protective of her money, he quickly shifted his attention to Leticia instead.

What a joke. And Leticia, thinking she had stolen Samantha's "man," had been flaunting it around like a trophy.

Pathetic.

With that thought, Samantha took out her own lunch: An Energy bar, two scones, muffins and chocolate milk.

Several people around her glanced in her direction.

In this era, not everyone could afford to eat so much food by themselves.

Samantha ignored them and ate quietly.

Brandon, expecting her to react, was fuming as she completely disregarded him.

Meanwhile, Leticia-who had just been sharing food moments ago-suddenly glared at Samantha with resentment.

Without even looking up, Samantha muttered, "Keep staring at me, and I'll gouge your eyes out."

Leticia flinched, her face turning stiff.

Sasha, sensing the tension, immediately shrank back.

"Geez, what's your problem?" Brandon snapped. "She only glanced at you a couple of times. Do you have to be so nasty?"

Samantha finished her last bite and finally looked up.

Across the aisle was a row of seats arranged in a three-by-three setup.

The man speaking sat on the edge. He wasn't particularly old and seemed like he was from a rural area too. However, his clean-cut appearance and well-fitted clothes suggested he came from a well-off family.

Samantha glanced at him. "Does your family live by the ocean?"

The man frowned. "What's that supposed to mean?" He had a feeling it wasn't a compliment.

"You sure do like sticking your nose in other people's business."

Laughter rippled through the bus, and the man's face darkened as he glared at Samantha. "You talk too much."

"Butting in," she shot back.

"You..."

"You what? Can't even string together a full sentence? If it doesn't concern you, stay out of it." Samantha smirked.

The man's face turned red with frustration. He took several deep breaths, trying to control his anger. When he looked at Leticia, who appeared on the verge of tears, a bitter feeling rose in his chest, like he had swallowed a fly.

He regretted interfering. Not worth the trouble.

Seeing him back down, Samantha let it go. She raised an eyebrow at Sasha, greeted her, and got up to use the restroom.

When she returned, the atmosphere had shifted.

Leticia and Brandon had stopped stirring up drama, but every so often, they'd shoot venomous glances in her direction.

Samantha took note. Some people never reflected on their own actions-only whether they felt slighted.

This entire trip to the countryside was proof of that. She was just giving them a taste of their own medicine. She wasn't any crueler than they were.

She closed her eyes and drifted off to sleep.

After three days and two nights, the train finally arrived in Nebraska. Their destination Grant county was a rural county outside Lincoln, in a small farming community called Red River. Samantha was assigned to Green Hill Farm within Red River.

She wasn't sure where the siblings were placed, but they were likely nearby.

Not that it mattered.

With a backpack slung over her shoulder and a suitcase in hand, Samantha looked much more relaxed than the others, who were bogged down by heavy luggage.

From the train station, they had to transfer to a bus that would take them to the town.

Samantha, always quick, claimed a seat by the window and pulled out an orange peel to sniff, hoping to counteract the nausea from the musty bus.

The others weren't so lucky. Most had to stand in the aisle, swaying with every bump in the road-like sausages hanging from a rack.

"Samantha, give your seat to Leticia," Brandon said, frowning at her as Leticia swayed slightly.

"Yes, Samantha, your sister looks like she's about to faint," the same man who had defended Leticia on the train chimed in.

He knew Leticia was manipulative, but he still disliked Samantha's sharp tongue more.

The older women on the bus joined in.

"Young lady, your sister doesn't look well. Be kind, let her sit."

"You're young and strong; you can stand."

"Yes, yes."

A chorus of agreement followed.

Leticia didn't say much. She just sat there, looking helpless, glancing nervously at Samantha.

The people who had traveled with them exchanged uneasy glances. Sasha wanted to speak up but was held back by a friend.

Samantha watched the performance with mild amusement. "Give up my seat? Sure... Not happening."

"Young lady, where's your kindness?"

Samantha's expression didn't change. "Kindness depends on the person. Should I be kind to someone who tried to drown me?"

A hush fell over the bus.

"Samantha, you're lying!" Leticia's face turned pale.

Lucas snapped, "If Leticia pushed you into the river, why was she the one in the hospital and not you?"

Samantha leaned against the window, inhaling the citrus scent of her orange peel. "Yelling instead of being polite, huh? Looks like you're just another stray my stepmother picked up. What a disgrace."

The bus fell silent.

The mention of a wicked stepmother struck a nerve with two other passengers who had suffered under their own stepmothers. Their expressions shifted.

Samantha continued, "When you have a stepmother, you get a stepfather too. I had no money for the hospital. Whether I survived was up to luck. But, lucky me-I pulled through."

"No, I didn't-" Leticia stammered.

"You don't need to be afraid, Leticia," Samantha said lightly. "I never reported it because I thought we should just move on as family. Otherwise, given your swimming skills, you'd have been the obvious culprit. But here you are, still trying to take what's mine-even a bus seat." She sighed, starting to rise from her seat.

Before she could stand, a woman in the back pressed her down. "Stay seated, Miss. Some people think they can take advantage of others by playing the victim, but we're not blind."

The bus went dead silent.

At this point, speaking up would only make them look foolish.

Besides, Leticia's act was too familiar-like something straight out of an evil stepmother's playbook.

Samantha smirked. Under the cover of the dim light, she shot Leticia a challenging glance.

Fighting fire with fire felt pretty good.

She turned to the young man who had spoken on her behalf. "Thanks, Henry."

Henry seemed briefly startled by her smile. Samantha actually kind of pretty, he thought.

"No problem," he said. "We're all in this together."

As they exchanged small talk, Leticia and her group seethed in silence.

Two hours later, they arrived in town. Several old farm trucks were already waiting at the station. Each had a hand-painted sign indicating its destination.

Samantha spotted the one for Green Hill Farm and saw that three people were already on board.

To her amusement, Henry was one of them.

The other two men were strangers, though she recognized one-Kyle, the guy who had butted into her argument on the train.

"Come on, hurry up!" The man sitting up front barked. He looked to be in his forties, wearing patched clothes but with an authoritative air.

Samantha figured he was the farm's team leader.

"Sorry for the wait," she said with a polite smile, climbing aboard.

The man gave her a once-over but said nothing, simply taking another drag from his cigarette.

After ten more minutes, the final three people arrived.

Samantha narrowed her eyes.

Leticia, Lucas, and Brandon.

Well, well. What a coincidence.

The three of them didn't look pleased to see her.

"Get in," the team leader ordered impatiently.

There were seven of them in total. None looked like they were built for hard labor.

Samantha leaned back, folding her arms with a smirk.

Life just got a lot more interesting.

Once everyone had gathered, the squad leader steered the wagon onto the dusty road, leaving town behind.

Samantha soon learned the name of the first guy who had arrived: Williams Kent, a city boy from Chicago.

No wonder he carried himself with such arrogance-kids from big cities always acted like they were a step above everyone else.

"Squad leader, how far is Green Hill from here?" Samantha had positioned herself up front, near where the squad leader held the reins. Taking advantage of the angle that blocked the others' view, she discreetly slipped a pack of Lucky Strikes into his hand.

The squad leader glanced at her, a bit surprised.

Seeing the clear, honest look in her eyes, he found himself liking her already. She had spunk. And the cigarettes? Well, that was just a nice bonus. Was this girl really part of his crew?

"If we keep at this pace, we'll get there in about two hours. It's a much longer walk, though sometimes a tractor passes through and gives folks a lift. But we don't make many trips into town-there's a general store at the commune that stocks most essentials," he explained, raising his voice so the other seven could hear.

Samantha chuckled. "Sounds like a trek."

The others watched as she chatted easily with the squad leader, even laughing now and then.

She seemed to be adjusting quickly-a sight that irritated Leticia.

Leticia huffed. She figured Samantha was just putting on a show. What good was it to suck up to some backwoods ranch hand?

After over two hours of jostling along the uneven road, Samantha's backside was numb. The expressions on the others' faces told her they weren't faring much better.

At last, they arrived at Green Hill, a small, rugged farming community tucked against rolling hills. The landscape was quiet and peaceful, but only if you ignored the barefoot kids running around the dirt roads and the locals wearing faded, patched-up clothes.

The youth dormitory was a cluster of weathered wooden cabins at the base of the hills, arranged around a small courtyard.

The wagon pulled up near the entrance, and the local foreman called out. Inside, the resident youth workers, who had been in the middle of making dinner, stepped out to see the newcomers.

"Alright, now that you're here, I won't waste time. If you have questions, talk to Timothy -he's in charge of the dorms," the foreman said, nodding toward an older young man standing nearby. Then, after giving Timothy a few more instructions, he headed off.

Timothy, who had been here six years, was about twenty-six, with a strong, square-jawed face that showed he'd done his share of hard labor.

"Welcome. The dorms are split-guys on the left, girls on the right. There's a shared dining area in the middle. Right now, we've got three men and four women, so you'll need to pick a room," he explained, before going into more details.

Space had already been tight before the seven newcomers arrived. Now, things were going to be even more cramped, which didn't just mean uncomfortable living conditions-it meant tension.

The older residents didn't look thrilled.

"As for food," Timothy continued, "harvest just wrapped up, but since you don't have any work credits yet, you'll have to borrow supplies from the farm. You can pay it back once you start earning your keep."

The newcomers, who had been feeling a little lost, now had at least some idea of how things worked.

Samantha hoisted her bag over her shoulder and walked toward the last cabin on the right. "Anyone already staying here?"

Timothy smirked. "Nope. If you take it, you'll have it to yourself."

The women's dorms had four cabins, three of which were slightly bigger and housed two or three people. Each had a shared cot or wooden bunk.

"Why does she get her own place?!" Lucas snapped, shooting Samantha a glare.

Brandon scoffed. "Yeah, some people just have to act special, don't they?"

Timothy's expression turned impatient. "I wasn't finished. That cabin is the smallest one, and it doesn't have a bed. If you want it, you'll have to build one yourself."

He pushed the door open, letting everyone take a look inside. Immediately, their expressions soured.

The room was barely big enough for a cot, let alone any other furniture. If you squeezed a cabinet in there, you'd barely have enough space to move.

Leticia wrinkled her nose at the sight, but her irritation at Samantha overrode her distaste. She put on a pitiful expression and murmured, "Samantha, my health isn't great, I-"

"If you're sick, go see a doctor. You're not dying," Samantha cut her off flatly.

She shot a sharp glance at Leticia's legs.

"And if you call me your sister one more time, do you really think I won't break your legs?"

The moment stretched in silence. Leticia's expression twisted briefly before she lowered her head, playing the victim.

The older youth workers, some of whom had seen their fair share of family drama, exchanged glances.

Samantha, unbothered, turned back to Timothy. "Alright, I'll take this one. I'll handle my own setup."

"Works for me," Timothy with a shrug.

Without another word, Samantha rolled up her sleeves and started cleaning.

The older workers leaned against the railing, eating their dinner while watching her move in and out, clearing dust and cobwebs. She worked quickly, her motions sure and practiced.

She was used to this.

When she was nearly done, she pulled out a small padlock from her suitcase, fastened it on the door, and walked off just as smoothly as she'd arrived.

One of the older women, Jessie, sniffed. "She doesn't seem like the type to blend in."

No one disagreed.

Meanwhile, Samantha had already made her way into the heart of the commune. Two pieces of candy were enough to bribe a local kid into giving her directions to the foreman's house.

Most homes in Green Hill were built from weathered timber, but the foreman's house was half-brick, with a proper front porch and a big yard.

"Excuse me, ma'am," Samantha greeted the woman in the yard with a warm smile. "I'm new here-name's Samantha."

The woman, Margaret, turned, surprised to see a young girl with bright eyes and a face that could charm the devil himself.

What a pretty little thing. The boys in the brigade were going to lose their minds.

Margaret hid a knowing smile. "Well, hello there, Samantha. What brings you by?"

Samantha stepped forward, casually handing her a small sack of brown sugar. "I was wondering who I should talk to about building a bed and a cabinet. I'm new here and don't know where to start."

Margaret handed her mixing bowl to her daughter-in-law and took Samantha's arm. "Come on, I'll introduce you to someone. You sure you don't want to bunk with the others?"

Samantha laughed, smoothly passing the brown sugar to Margaret's daughter-in-law while they walked. "I'd rather have my own space. I like the quiet."

Their voices trailed off as they disappeared down the road.

Margaret's daughter-in-law grinned as she weighed the brown sugar in her hands.

A few minutes later, they arrived at a small homestead. Margaret cupped her hands around her mouth and hollered, "Hey, Curtis! You home?"

At this hour, most folks were eating dinner.

Her voice carried through the yard, drawing the entire household outside.

Samantha suddenly felt like she was in the spotlight.

However, she could handle it.

Curtis Kane and his large family were taken aback when they saw Samantha. My goodness, this new city girl was stunning!

"Curtis, this is Samantha, the new volunteer from Baltimore," Margaret announced matter-of-factly. "She'd like to hire you to build a heated bed, a wardrobe, and a chest of drawers for her room at the lodge."

Samantha smiled. "Nice to meet you, Mr. Kane. I'd like to settle in as soon as possible, so I'll need you to get started this afternoon."

On their way over, Margaret had already mentioned that since these were large pieces and Samantha didn't have her own lumber, the cost would be a bit high. For everything-including the heated bed-it would come out to around $20.

Samantha decided to offer $20: $10 for the heated bed, $6 for the wardrobe (since it wasn't too large), $4 for the chest of drawers, and an extra $2 for labor. She wasn't strapped for cash, but she wasn't extravagant either. This was the kind of place where practicality mattered.

Curtis chuckled, wiping his hands on his overalls. "Alright, we can have the bed ready by this afternoon, and the wardrobe will take a couple of days. But we've got a chest of drawers already made-you can take that right away."

Samantha nodded. "Sounds good. I really appreciate it, Mr. Kane."

She thought for a moment. "By the way, I'll also need a stool, a wooden tub, and a small table for the heated bed."

She wanted to get everything in one go since she'd be living here for years.

"We've got all of that," Curtis assured her. "Tubs are easy to make, and we've got some ready-made ones in the shed. You can come take a look. Jason will bring everything over for you later."

Jason, Curtis's youngest son-probably 18 or 19-was tall and broad-shouldered. Hearing his name, he scratched his head and grinned.

"That works. Thanks, Jason. Mr. Kane, how much do you think all this will cost?"

Strictly speaking, cash transactions weren't common here, but bartering was. However, Samantha had arrived with just a suitcase, and taking out a bag of supplies out of nowhere wouldn't be realistic.

Curtis glanced at Margaret, who was smiling knowingly. He understood immediately-this girl had already won the favor of the foreman's wife.

After a moment, he said, "$15 should be enough."

Samantha frowned slightly. "That's too low."

She never liked taking advantage of others, nor did she let others take advantage of her.

"Make it $18."

Before Curtis could argue, Samantha reached into her bag and pulled out two handfuls of candy, handing them to the children playing in the yard.

"Here, some sweets for you all. Share with each other."

More than twenty candies filled their small hands.

Felicia, Curtis's youngest daughter, widened her eyes in shock. Her heart pounded-so much candy!

The kids hesitated, glancing at their grandfather. Curtis sighed, knowing there was no point arguing, and decided he'd make Samantha a bigger washbasin as a bonus. Then he nodded to the children. "Go on, take them."

The little ones beamed, clutching the treats carefully, as if holding a treasure.

With everything settled, Samantha and Margaret left the Kanes' house and parted ways.

On her way back to the lodge, Samantha passed by a group of boys roughhousing. She watched with amusement as they scuffled, clearly establishing some sort of pecking order. Once the dust settled and a winner emerged, she clapped her hands and continued on.

At the youth lodge, dinner was over, and everyone was lounging in the courtyard, cooling off.

The moment Samantha walked in, all eyes turned to her.

Leticia, who had been enjoying the attention just moments before, stiffened.

"Samantha, where were you just now?" Naomi asked, her eyes glinting with curiosity.

Samantha had already memorized the names of the others from their earlier introductions. She knew Naomi was the type to dig for information.

"I went for a walk," she replied smoothly, giving nothing away.

Naomi pursed her lips, unsatisfied, but before she could press further, the door swung open again.

Samantha turned at the noise-

And found herself staring into a pair of deep, striking eyes.

The man wore a blue work shirt and black jeans, his dark hair neatly trimmed just above his brows. His features were sharp, his posture effortless.

Well, well. What do we have here?

Samantha quirked an eyebrow internally but didn't let anything show.

She casually looked away, only to notice Naomi's expression had completely changed-her cheeks tinged pink.

"Tristan, you're back."

Her voice had taken on a sickly-sweet tone, making Samantha fight the urge to roll her eyes.

Tristan barely acknowledged her with a nod, heading straight for the water pump.

Behind him, Billy-another older volunteer-snorted. "Naomi, are you blind? Didn't you see me walk in too?"

Naomi's face darkened, embarrassed. She shot him a glare before storming off inside.

"Pfft..." Henry, another volunteer, barely stifled his laughter. Even the usually grumpy Lucas cracked a smirk.

It was true-nothing lightened the mood quite like someone else's misfortune.

"What's so funny?!" Naomi snapped, slamming the door behind her.

Billy, utterly unfazed, rolled his eyes dramatically. Then he turned to Samantha, his expression suddenly shifting to a friendly grin. "You're the new volunteer, right? I'm Billy. What's your name?"

His easy-going charm made it hard not to smile.

"Samantha."

"Tristan," the man at the water pump said suddenly.

Billy blinked in surprise. "Huh?"

Tristan didn't look at him. He simply gave Samantha a small nod before going back to washing his hands.

The other youth volunteers exchanged glances, sensing something unspoken in the air.

Before the tension could settle in, a voice called out from the entrance.

"Samantha, we've got your things."

Curtis and his two sons had arrived, carrying a stack of wooden furniture-everything she'd purchased.

The group watched in mild shock.

The older volunteers hadn't expected her to adjust so quickly, and the newer ones hadn't expected her to have already arranged so much for herself.

Billy crouched next to Tristan, nudging him with his elbow. "Hey, man, just now, you-"

"Are you bored?" Tristan shot him a look.

Billy clamped his mouth shut.

Meanwhile, Samantha busied herself with arranging her belongings. The heated bed in her room was being set up, but once the fire was prepped for the night, it wouldn't be usable. And she wasn't about to air out her bedding in the open.

But that was fine-she already had plans to sleep elsewhere tonight.

After two hours, the bed was finished. A single-person heated bed didn't take long to set up.

As soon as everything was moved in, she locked her door and left the lodge.

At the foreman's house, she grabbed her introduction letter and caught the last bus into town.

She'd stay at a motel for the night.

New volunteers were given a day off to settle in, and tomorrow was meant for stocking up on essentials.

The foreman only gave her a brief reminder before letting her go. He had long since stopped being surprised by the odd behavior of city kids.

If they weren't doing something unexpected, that would be unusual.

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.