Changes in cultural norms within the fanfic's world can also be part of it. Maybe there's a shift in how society views a certain group, not because of a curse but due to the influence of a new ideology brought in by a traveling character. This can lead to all sorts of interesting developments in the story, like new laws being made or old traditions being questioned.
Sure. One example could be a change in the setting. Instead of a cursed land, the fanfic could have a land that is changing due to some natural phenomenon like a strange weather pattern that affects everything from the crops to the people's mood.
A change in the power dynamics could be another example. Not by a curse, but perhaps through political intrigue or the discovery of new skills among the characters. For example, a character who was thought to be powerless suddenly discovers they have the ability to control minds, which shakes up the power balance in the story.
Chapter 228, "Younger Brother is the Number One Hater?!", is the clearest early answer because it turns Jiang Li's situation into a concrete plot event. The chapter turns that into something concrete by moving from Huo Ziyang had not stepped out of the house for a whole week.
Chapter 389, "Slaughter Pig Platter", is the clearest early answer because it turns Xu Huiqiu's situation into a concrete plot event.
Chapter 502, "Let Shaobai Follow Along", is the clearest early answer because it turns Gu Qiang's situation into a concrete plot event. The chapter turns that into something concrete by moving from Earlier today, almost everyone related to the Gu Family had received...
Chapter 557, "Where Did This Rotten Fish Come From, It's Disgusting", is the clearest early answer because it turns Bai Lu's situation into a concrete plot event. The chapter turns that into something concrete by moving from The triple broth was almost done, Jiang Li dusted her hands off and...
Chapter 737, "Shu Yan in Trouble!", is the clearest early answer because it turns Tianyu's situation into a concrete plot event.
Chapter 534, "This Grand Era is as You Wish", is the clearest early answer because it turns Gu Yu's situation into a concrete plot event. The chapter turns that into something concrete by moving from Pei Ye swiftly tossed all those people far away.
Chapter 533, "Sister Li, When Did You Become a Clamp?!", is the clearest early answer because it turns Zheng Xun's situation into a concrete plot event. It opens with The sycophant had gone crazy too. and closes on Although at the time he said it was a gift from the young master of....
Chapter 622, "Actually Tie Her Up?!", is the clearest early answer because it turns Jiang Cheng's situation into a concrete plot event. It opens with Watching the uncommon expression on the man's face, Su Yinwan was... and closes on Su Yinwan, pale-faced, struggled fiercely, but the vines were....
Chapter 247, "Madam, Your 2000 Kilograms of Sweet Potatoes, Please Check and Accept", is the clearest early answer because it turns Jiang Li's situation into a concrete plot event.