Chapter 666: The Scumbag Comes to the Door

Brian Chapman agreed with his father. With their older son still at home, Phoebe Thorne was bound to return. ’A child is what keeps a woman tethered, after all!’

Mr. Chapman smiled, gratified. "That’s the spirit. Go to the Huxleys’ place and tell them I sent you to borrow twenty yuan. Once you’ve had a full meal, go and get Phoebe."

"You think Mr. Huxley will lend it to me?" Brian Chapman asked doubtfully.

These days, neighbors and relatives went out of their way to avoid him, not even bothering with a simple greeting.

"He will. Just tell him I sent you," Mr. Chapman said with a sigh.

Brian Chapman forced himself to get his act together and went to borrow the money. To his surprise, while Mr. Huxley was clearly displeased, he still lent him the twenty yuan. However, the moment Brian stepped out, the Huxleys shut the door, making it clear he was unwelcome.

They also made it clear this was the last time. If he came to borrow money again, they would drop all pretenses.

Brian Chapman didn’t quite understand. ’Maybe Dad has some dirt on Mr. Huxley,’ he mused. Whatever the reason, getting the money was what mattered. Brian went to buy rice and vegetables, and at last, he was able to eat a hot meal.

Phoebe Thorne, however, was leading a vibrant life with her child. She was fiercely independent by nature and knew that many villagers were gossiping behind her back, waiting for her to fail. They just didn’t dare say anything to her face, out of respect for her parents and brothers.

So, she threw all her energy into her work on the sewing machine. Winter garments paid one yuan and fifty cents apiece. The fastest worker, Juliana Rhodes, could make six in a day. When Phoebe Thorne first started, she wasn’t very skilled and could only manage three or four pieces. Now, she was on par with Juliana, netting nine yuan a day. Phoebe was full of drive and brimming with confidence for the future.

She now gave her parents twenty yuan a month for living expenses. Though her parents refused the money, Phoebe Thorne insisted on paying her share. Her brothers and sisters-in-law were understanding, but she couldn’t just be shameless and live off them.

The living expenses were non-negotiable. Besides, Phoebe Thorne already had a plan. As soon as she saved up enough money, she would buy a house in town. She couldn’t stay with her parents forever. Fortunately, her two older sisters-in-law didn’t live with them, but once Goldie Thorne married, it would be inappropriate for her to remain in her family home. It was better to plan ahead.

"Phoebe, Allister is awake."

Rosalind Green had gone into the room to check and came out to tell Phoebe Thorne to nurse the baby. Fortunately, Allister was an especially easy baby. He would sleep right after being fed and would play by himself in his cradle when he woke up. Perhaps he sensed that his mother needed to earn money to support them, because little Allister never cried or made a fuss. He was incredibly well-behaved.

Phoebe Thorne went to nurse her younger son. After playing with him for a little while, she placed him back in his cradle and returned to her work, not allowing herself even a moment’s rest.

"Auntie, I want to take Allister out to play on my back."

Tang Xiaonan came in, intending to take little Allister out for a stroll. Amanda Chapman had to wash the whole family’s clothes, cut weeds for the pigs and cook their feed, plus attend school and do her homework. She was too busy to look after her little brother, which meant Tang Xiaonan was the only one in the family with time on her hands.

"There’s no way you can carry him. Don’t you dare drop Allister."

Phoebe Huxley chided. It would be awful if she dropped him; her own daughter sometimes still needed to be carried on someone’s back.

"I can carry him, I promise! I’ll show you if you don’t believe me."

By pleading and putting on her cutest face, Tang Xiaonan finally got Phoebe Huxley to relent. Phoebe Thorne, on the other hand, wasn’t worried at all. She helped Tang Xiaonan secure the baby with a carrier strap. Tang Xiaonan gripped the strap tightly and walked with the utmost care, terrified of dropping little Allister.

"Just play nearby, and don’t go up on the mountain," Phoebe Huxley warned.

Tang Xiaonan hollered back in agreement. She didn’t dare go to the mountain anyway. If she were to fall, it would be one thing for her to get hurt, but it would be a terrible sin to injure little Allister. She wandered around the immediate area with Allister on her back, talking to the little guy. Even though Allister could only coo and babble in response, the two had a wonderful time together. Before she knew it, they had reached the foot of the mountain.

"AH! AH! AH!"

Allister suddenly cried out. Tang Xiaonan followed his gaze, and her face instantly darkened. It was that scumbag, Brian Chapman.