Chapter 686: Jacqueline Spann is Sent Away

Linden’s mother acted quickly. Within a few days, the people from the mountains arrived. However, they had lowered the bride price; they felt Jacqueline Spann was tainted by misfortune and would only offer eighty yuan.

"Eighty it is, then. She belongs to your family now. Whether she lives or dies is your business; it has nothing to do with us anymore."

Linden’s mother was agreeable. She would have gladly handed her over for free.

She had Linden Golding fetch Jacqueline Spann. The moment Jacqueline entered, she saw the woman who had come to look her over before—the fool’s mother. Jacqueline tried to bolt, but Linden’s mother grabbed her, yanked her back, and slapped her viciously.

"Grandpa, Uncle, Aunt, I’m begging you! Please don’t sell me! I won’t be a burden; I can support myself! Please don’t sell me..."

Jacqueline Spann shrieked, hoping Silas Golding and Linden Golding would have a shred of compassion.

Although Silas Golding and his son couldn’t bear it, their hearts hardened when they recalled Phoenix Golding’s tragic death and the possibility that Jacqueline had been responsible. They didn’t dare keep such a jinx in their home.

Jacqueline Spann’s heart grew cold. No one was going to help her. Linden’s mother then clamped a hand over her mouth, muffling her screams.

"Knock her out. That’ll stop her from screaming later."

Linden’s mother’s expression was cold, but inwardly she felt a thrill of satisfaction. ’Finally getting rid of this little monster.’ Jacqueline Spann cried in despair. ’Can I really not escape this horrible fate?’

As dusk fell and the roads emptied, Linden Golding left the village, carrying the unconscious Jacqueline Spann on his back. A tractor was parked at the village entrance. He tossed her onto the back of it, his expression conflicted. He hardened his heart and looked away. ’If she really is the one who caused my sister’s death, then I guess this is revenge for her.’

"Let’s go!"

Linden’s mother settled the remaining sixty yuan and urged the fool’s mother to leave quickly before anything could go wrong. The tractor sputtered to life and gradually vanished into the darkness. Linden’s mother gave the money to her son and then headed back to the village on her own.

Jacqueline Spann wasn’t seen in the village for the next several days. Whenever anyone asked, Linden’s mother would say blandly, "We couldn’t afford to keep her, so we found her a good family to go live a better life with."

Of course, the villagers didn’t believe her. ’Since when is Linden’s mother that kind?’ They figured Jacqueline had likely been sent into the mountains to be a child bride for some simpleton. Though they felt the Golding family was being cruel, it was a private family matter, so they couldn’t interfere.

Tang Xiaonan breathed a sigh of relief. ’They finally got rid of that venomous snake. Does this mean Jacqueline Spann’s story is over?’

’She’s been sent to the mountains, she has a simpleton for a husband, and a wicked mother-in-law. Even if Jacqueline grew wings, she couldn’t escape now, right? The best fate she can hope for in this life is probably having a son with that fool and living the rest of her days as an ordinary farmer’s wife, working from sunrise to sunset.’

Tang Xiaonan’s mood brightened considerably. ’Without Jacqueline Spann around, *I’m* the main character of this world now!’

But she had forgotten: how could the author’s darling "daughter" possibly get a game over so early on?

More than a month passed in the blink of an eye since Jacqueline Spann’s departure. The year 1978 gave way to 1979, and with it came even better news: the government had finally issued a directive encouraging private enterprise. Adrian Hawthorne and his partners no longer had to operate in the shadows.

The villagers began stocking up on supplies for the New Year. One day they would go into town to buy festive couplets, a few days later they’d purchase candies and pastries, and then they’d get some fish and meat. No matter how tight money was, everyone had to celebrate the New Year in proper style.

This year, however, buying fabric was much more convenient. The cloth sold by Adrian Hawthorne was both inexpensive and attractive, and he could even have it made into new clothes that were every bit as good as those bought in Tristone. People from neighboring villages even came to buy his wares. The Hawthorne residence was bustling with activity every day. Rosalind Green was in charge of helping customers, and she could now chat cheerfully with strangers and handle transactions without any trouble.