Chapter 675: Making Fireworks

"What have you been doing? It’s taken you forever to get this little bit done. Work faster and don’t be so slow. Grandma doesn’t like sluggish people."

Amanda Chapman was exasperated with him. She was well aware of how their grandmother, Raina, felt about her brother, but she didn’t blame her. After all, it was her brother’s own fault for not being more capable. He couldn’t do anything right and was hopelessly tongue-tied. No one would like someone like that.

Gentry Chapman nodded, feeling even more ashamed. He really wanted to do a good job, but he always messed it up. ’If only I were as capable as my cousin and sister,’ he thought.

"Gentry, did something happen?" Tang Xiaonan asked with concern, noticing that he didn’t look well and seemed to have something on his mind.

In truth, she felt that while Gentry Chapman was a bit quiet and slow, he was a sensible kid. It was just that Amanda Chapman was so capable that she made Gentry seem all the more unlikable by comparison.

Gentry Chapman hesitated for a moment before repeating what he’d overheard Phoenix Golding and her daughter saying. He was a little worried about Jacqueline Spann. "Are they planning to send Jacqueline away?"

"Why are you sticking your nose in this? It’s none of our business even if Jacqueline Spann drops dead. Stay away from that family, you hear me?" Amanda Chapman snapped. The very mention of Jacqueline’s name made her blood boil. ’That whole family is rotten.’

Gentry Chapman looked awkward. He actually felt his sister was being too hard on Jacqueline Spann. ’Even though Phoenix Golding did something wrong, you can’t blame the child for it.’

However, he didn’t dare to argue back, though he disagreed in his heart.

Tang Xiaonan, however, caught the true meaning of the words. The mention of a "bride price" and "an auspicious date" clearly meant they were planning to marry her off. But Jacqueline Spann was only ten. Phoenix Golding was being far too hasty, and what’s more, she was marrying her daughter to a violent simpleton. ’That family is selfish and cruel to the extreme.’

"You idiot! ’Sending someone away’ doesn’t involve a bride price. It obviously means they’re marrying her off! That bitch Phoenix Golding is going to marry her daughter to a fool!"

Jim Thorne smacked Gentry Chapman on the head in disgust. This cousin of his was truly dense; how could he not understand something so obvious? His mood, however, was excellent. That little bitch Jacqueline Spann was finally getting what she deserved. She was about to become a fool’s wife!

Amanda Chapman’s eyes lit up. "Jacqueline Spann is marrying a fool? Finally, some justice! Jim, hurry up and make the fireworks. Let’s set some off to celebrate!"

Jim Thorne grinned. He loved hearing his cousin say that. ’They’re both my aunt’s children,’ he thought, ’but my male cousin is dumb as a post. Maybe when my aunt was pregnant with him, she bumped her stomach against a wall and knocked him silly.’

Gentry Chapman didn’t look happy. He was worried for Jacqueline Spann. ’How could such a nice girl have such a vicious mother? She’s even more wicked than Snow White’s stepmother.’

’Jacqueline definitely won’t want to marry a fool. She’s going to cry.’ Gentry Chapman didn’t understand marriage, but he knew marrying a fool wasn’t a good thing. A classmate of his had an older brother who was a fool—he needed to be fed and even drooled. He had also married a girl from the countryside. Gentry had heard from his classmate that his sister-in-law cried every day. He couldn’t help but picture Jacqueline in her place and felt deeply sorry for her.

’I have to do something for this poor girl.’

"Gentry, come help make the fireworks!"

Tang Xiaonan called out to Gentry Chapman. She didn’t feel any sympathy for Jacqueline Spann either. Although her situation was indeed tragic, it was a case of the wicked being tormented by the wicked. The person Jacqueline should hate was Phoenix Golding.

Gentry Chapman’s mind wasn’t on making fireworks at all, and he nearly spilled the potassium nitrate powder. Jim Thorne got so angry he smacked him on the back of the head. "Get out of the way!"

Tang Xiaonan frowned slightly. ’Something isn’t right with Gentry.’