Chapter 676: Jacqueline Spann’s Unease

Jim Thorne mixed the potassium nitrate and charcoal powder, stirred it well, and poured it into a bamboo tube. Then, he rolled a piece of paper into a long, thin fuse and inserted it into the tube. And just like that, the homemade firework was ready.

"Let’s go find a place to set it off!"

Carrying the bamboo tube, Jim Thorne scouted around and went to the backyard where it was darker. Amanda Chapman and Tang Xiaonan followed eagerly, both wanting to see what the firework would look like, and failed to notice Gentry Chapman’s preoccupied air.

"Everyone, stand back!"

Once Tang Xiaonan and Amanda Chapman were a safe distance away, Jim Thorne propped the bamboo tube on a brick and lit the fuse. He stepped back himself as the fuse slowly burned. Tang Xiaonan held her breath. ’I was never this excited setting off high-end fireworks in my past life.’

The fuse was almost burnt out. Tang Xiaonan instinctively covered her ears tightly. Jim Thorne said, "It’s not loud. You’ll be fine."

But Tang Xiaonan refused to let go. ’What if it *is* loud, though?’

"FSSSHHHH..."

A stream of beautiful sparks shot out from the bamboo tube. While it lacked the brilliant colors of the high-end fireworks from the future, Tang Xiaonan felt that this simple bamboo-tube firework was the most beautiful display of all. ’I wouldn’t trade this for a hundred million.’

(P.S. I used to make my own homemade fireworks as a kid. Back then, there were many old houses in the countryside, and the toilets were also built outside, which allowed potassium nitrate to form. That, along with charcoal, are the raw materials for making gunpowder.)

"It’s so pretty!"

Amanda Chapman cried out happily, her sense of accomplishment swelling. ’After all, she was half-responsible for such a beautiful firework.’

The firework burned for a good while before slowly dying out. Still wanting more, Amanda Chapman said, "Jim, let’s make another one to set off tonight!"

"We’ll make another one in a few days. We scraped up all the white stuff, so we have to wait for more to form." Jim Thorne put away the bamboo tube. ’I’ll make another one for my little sister next time.’

Amanda Chapman was a little disappointed, but she soon went off happily to cook the pig feed.

Gentry Chapman, however, quietly slipped out the door. He wanted to go out and clear his head. Jim Thorne couldn’t be bothered with him; he grabbed a bucket and went out to catch loaches. His second brother had given him ten yuan and told him to catch a lot of them, saying they were for something important.

’Hmph, as if they aren’t for his future sister-in-law, Ellie Ashton. But for the sake of ten yuan, I’ll reluctantly help my brother out.’

「Three days later.」

Strangers arrived at Millstone Peak. Judging by their clothes and appearance, they seemed to be from over the mountains. There were two women, one in her fifties and the other in her forties. The older one was the mother of a mentally disabled man, and the other was a matchmaker. They had come to inspect Jacqueline Spann.

Jacqueline Spann had just returned from gathering pigweed when she saw two strange women in the house and immediately grew wary. For the past few days, her maternal grandmother had been coming over to visit, whispering with Phoenix Golding in a room. Their voices were very low, but Jacqueline had occasionally overheard her own name, which made her vaguely uneasy.

"Go make two cups of tea!"

Phoenix Golding called out, her expression surprisingly friendly, which only made Jacqueline Spann more vigilant. For days, Phoenix Golding had worn a sour expression and spoken to her harshly. ’When something is out of the ordinary, it means trouble is brewing.’

Jacqueline Spann made the tea and brought it out, placing it in front of the two women. The way the older woman was looking her over made Jacqueline very uncomfortable, as if she were inspecting a piece of merchandise, picking it apart for flaws.

"How old are you?" the disabled man’s mother asked.

"Ten."

Jacqueline Spann answered in a small voice and clearly saw the woman frown, her eyes filled with disdain.

"Go on, get back to your work."

Phoenix Golding glared at her. Jacqueline Spann couldn’t wait to leave, but out of the corner of her eye, she saw the older woman lean in and whisper something to the other one, even pointing in her direction. ’I’m sure they’re talking about me. What on earth are these two women really here for?’

After chopping the pigweed, Jacqueline Spann carried it to the stove to cook. The stoves at Millstone Peak were connected to the main hall, and Jacqueline could feel the older woman’s eyes constantly scrutinizing her.