A few days later, the business with Sherman Golding’s family was gradually forgotten. The village had moved on to other hot topics; no one dwelled on a single incident for long. There was more than enough gossip to go around each day. Even without the internet or celebrities, the villagers’ social lives were far from dull, filled with animated daily chatter.

But Jim Thorne and Adrian Hawthorne hadn’t forgotten. They still had a score to settle.

They had deliberately waited a few days to settle the score, wanting Wade Golding and his brother to let their guard down. Of course, this wasn’t Jim Thorne’s idea. With his explosive temper, he had been itching to go to the Golding’s house and settle things that very day. It was Adrian Hawthorne who had talked him down.

Night fell again. The weather was getting warmer, and a gentle breeze rustled through the evening air. Villagers were out gossiping again, with the occasional mosquito buzzing over their heads. Jim Thorne and Adrian Hawthorne set out together, on their way to settle the score with Wade Golding.

Wade Golding and a group of teenage boys were out in the paddies, catching swamp eels. The eels were fat this time of year, and there were plenty of loaches as well. They could catch a whole bucket in a single night. Steamed eel and stir-fried dried loach were both delicious.

"Wade Golding, someone’s over there looking for you," a boy said as he approached, his eyes shifting nervously.

"Who is it?"

Wade Golding, oblivious to the impending danger, was still happily catching eels.

"You’ll know when you get there."

The messenger boy nudged Wade Golding out of the way and got to work catching eels himself. Village boys were all experts at this; with a single glance, they could spot an eel’s burrow and tell if a big one was inside. They had sharp eyes and quick hands, catching one nearly every time they tried.

Wade Golding washed his hands and walked dubiously toward the edge of the paddy. He’d only taken a few steps when a hand clamped over his mouth, and he was dragged away against his will. His captors were Jim Thorne and Adrian Hawthorne. Meanwhile, the messenger boy, a piece of candy in his mouth, was now energetically catching eels. He had a few more pieces in his pocket—enough to last him for days.

Jim Thorne dragged Wade Golding to a deserted spot far from the village. There wasn’t another soul in sight; he could scream his lungs out and no one would hear him. Wade Golding’s legs went weak with fear. With a woeful expression, he looked at them and stammered, "I... I thought this was over?"

’Why is this never-ending?’

"My parents might have let it go, but I haven’t!"

Jim Thorne sneered and unleashed a torrent of blows, each punch landing hard on Wade Golding. Adrian Hawthorne, meanwhile, yanked a handful of grass from the ground, stuffed it into Wade’s mouth, and stood by, watching with cold eyes.

Wade Golding was completely unable to resist. Though he was taller than Jim Thorne, he was all show and no go. He lacked Jim’s strength and agility, and he was overpowered in moments, left to take the beating like a human punching bag.

Once he’d vented his anger, Jim Thorne finally let up. After all, this loser wasn’t the one who had directly attacked the girl; a minor punishment would do. He gave the pathetic, crumpled form of Wade Golding on the ground one last kick and barked, "Watch yourself next time, you got it? If you dare to bully anyone from the Hawthorne family again, I’ll fucking end you!"

Wade Golding shook his head frantically. He wouldn’t dare provoke the Hawthorne family again even if he had a hundred times the courage. ’Who the hell knew how the Thornes had suddenly gotten so close to the Hawthornes? Jim Thorne used to be the one who beat up Adrian Hawthorne the most viciously, but now he was acting like his bodyguard.’

Adrian Hawthorne pulled the grass from Wade Golding’s mouth. Wade spat a few times, his mouth filled with the bitter, astringent taste of grass juice. It was disgusting.

"I ask, you answer. Don’t you dare hide anything, or I’ll castrate you. You’ll spend the rest of your life as a eunuch."

Adrian Hawthorne gave a sudden smile, his toe pointing toward Wade Golding’s crotch. A chill shot through Wade. He instinctively covered his family jewels, shaking his head frantically before nodding. "I’ll talk... I’ll tell you everything! What do you want to know?"

’He hadn’t even found a wife yet! He didn’t even know what it was like to be with a woman. There was no way he could become a eunuch.’