Tang Xiaonan felt even more relieved. ’As long as she wants to change, that’s what matters. Honestly, in an environment this harsh, even the most delicate damsel could be forged into an Iron Lady. Rosalind Green will definitely turn into a Gideon Green.’

"Aunt Green, my mom is getting a piglet to raise. You should get one too, so you can butcher it for meat at the New Year."

Rosalind Green furrowed her brow. Her stomach turned instinctively at the thought—pig manure truly stank. But pork was also truly delicious. ’I can’t be so finicky anymore.’ 𝙛𝓻𝒆𝓮𝒘𝙚𝙗𝒏𝙤𝙫𝓮𝒍.𝓬𝒐𝙢

"Alright."

Rosalind Green nodded. Other families could butcher a pig for the New Year, but hers could only eat sweet potatoes. It was all her fault. This year, they would definitely have meat to eat for the New Year.

"You should also get a few chicks. They’ll lay eggs every day."

Rosalind Green agreed to it all. At worst, she could just raise fewer of them. Even one egg a day would be a blessing. Both Kenneth and Mr. Tate needed nutrition. If they could each have an egg every day, their health would surely improve a great deal.

Old Master Tate grew excited as well, chuckling as he said, "We could also raise a few ducks and geese. There’s a pond over by the hillside. When I take the ox out to graze, I can let the ducks out at the same time. And geese can guard the house!"

Rosalind Green’s confidence swelled. She could almost see a flock of chickens, ducks, and geese laying eggs one after another. She even felt a pang of regret. ’Why didn’t I think of raising them before? I’ve wasted four whole years for nothing.’

Meanwhile, Jim Thorne pulled Adrian Hawthorne aside to question him.

"Who did it?"

"Bowman Golding and his family. They wanted to steal my land to plant beans. Xiaonan spoke up for me and got hit." Adrian Hawthorne didn’t hide anything, explaining how Wade Golding had incited his family to seize the land.

Jim Thorne gritted his teeth and cursed, "That son of a bitch Wade Golding must have a death wish! I’m gonna wreck him!"

And then there was Bowman Golding, who had dared to slap Xiaonan. Even though Felix Thorne had already taught him a lesson, Jim Thorne wasn’t satisfied. He felt the punishment was too light. ’They should have broken both his hands.’

Adrian Hawthorne’s lips tightened. He had no intention of letting Wade Golding’s family off the hook either. He wouldn’t dare to act openly, but he could play dirty. ’This isn’t over.’ He leaned in and whispered a few words in Jim Thorne’s ear. Jim Thorne nodded. "Let’s do it. We’ll wait until Wade Golding is alone and corner him. Bowman Golding often visits his girlfriend, so we’ll ambush him on the road."

The two exchanged a look and nodded slightly. Their fledgling friendship was now ready to brave any storm.

That evening, Phoebe Huxley steamed a tender egg custard, but Tang Xiaonan only ate half. Her mouth was so swollen that every bite hurt, and her gums were swollen too. Half her face looked like a pig’s head. Her heart sank when she looked in the mirror. ’I’m too ugly to be seen by anyone!’ How could she possibly have an appetite?

"From now on, mind your own business! It’s not like they were stealing our family’s land, so why did you have to stick your neck out?!"

Phoebe Huxley was both heartbroken and furious. ’The little girl wants to stick up for others, but she doesn’t even know her own limits.’

"They were stealing Mr. Hawthorne’s land! If the land is gone, Grandpa Tate and Mr. Hawthorne will go hungry! I had to do something, and I’m not afraid of them!" Tang Xiaonan pouted. She wouldn’t meddle in anyone else’s business, but she had to get involved when it came to the Hawthorne family.

"Even so, you can’t just charge in recklessly. Look at your face, it’s swollen like a balloon." Phoebe Huxley shot her a look, feeling a little jealous inside.

’That little girl really cares about that Adrian Hawthorne kid. She’s always thinking about him, more than she ever thinks about me, her own mother.’

"I know."

Tang Xiaonan pressed her lips into a thin line, and a sharp pain shot through the corner of her mouth. She hated Bowman Golding to death. ’How could a man like that get a wife? That girl must be blind.’

Byron Thorne and Raina also came over when they heard the news. After asking what had happened and learning that it was Sherman Golding’s family who did it, Byron Thorne’s expression darkened. He decided he would go have a word with Jethro Golding about this.

But in truth, there was no need for Byron Thorne to pay them a visit. The news had already spread throughout the village: Sherman Golding’s family had tried to forcibly take the wasteland cleared by Adrian Hawthorne, had struck Tang Xiaonan, and had then been taught a lesson by Felix Thorne and his wife.