"Fourth Granduncle, Sixth Granduncle, I’m not lying. Teacher Golding doesn’t even have a lesson plan book. There are six periods a day, but she only teaches two of them—one for Language Arts and one for Math. She just disappears for the other classes. And when classmates bring good food, she says we need to ’care for our classmates’ and makes them give it to her son, Ulysses Spann. If we don’t, she makes us stand outside as punishment."

Tang Xiao’nan held nothing back in her accusations. The villagers might not care if she was a bad teacher, but if it involved food, she’d see if they could remain so calm.

’Hmph. Before her uncle can catch Phoenix Golding red-handed, I’ll land a small blow on the woman first. If one time isn’t enough, I’ll do it two or three more times. I refuse to believe the people of Millstone Peak will continue to adore this venomous viper with a sweet tongue.’

The Village Chief’s brows furrowed. He turned to Miles Golding and the others and asked, "Is this true?"

The three children nodded honestly. They didn’t dare lie in front of the Village Chief. Besides, everything Tang Xiao’nan said was true. Ulysses Spann had eaten all their good food, and they were quite upset about it.

"My grandma packed me some sausage, and Ulysses Spann ate more than half of it," Maeve Golding complained with a pout.

"Ulysses Spann also ate half of the fried egg I brought," Jackie Golding chimed in, not to be outdone. He was keeping a running tally and was sick to death of Ulysses Spann.

Miles Golding glanced timidly at his friends and said quietly, "I... I didn’t. Ulysses Spann said my food was pig slop. He wouldn’t eat it even if I gave it to him for free."

The Village Chief’s face darkened. Miles Golding’s grandparents were in poor health and needed medicine year-round. His family wasn’t well-off, so he definitely couldn’t bring good meals to school. But for Ulysses Spann to say something like that was just too much.

"Does Teacher Golding know about this?" the Village Chief demanded.

"She knows. Teacher Golding says classmates have to care for each other. She says if we don’t listen to the teacher, we’re not good children and have to go stand outside. Tang Xiao’nan didn’t listen, so she had to stand outside," Maeve Golding said loudly. She shot a glance at Tang Xiao’nan, her eyes a little smug. ’I’ve never been made to stand outside. Fatty Tang is so disgraceful.’

Tang Xiao’nan’s lip trembled. She held out her hand pitifully. "Ulysses Spann tried to snatch my meat, and I didn’t let him. That’s why Teacher Golding made me stand outside as punishment. She even broke my hand! It hurts so much."

Phoebe Huxley’s temper flared. She hollered at the Village Chief, "Fourth Uncle, you heard that, right? How is that bitch fit to be a teacher? I can’t trust my Tang Xiao’nan and Amanda to learn from a bitch like her! She’ll corrupt my girls!"

’Her mom was so awesome!’ Tang Xiao’nan silently gave her a thumbs-up. ’As expected, no matter the situation, a scrappy mom is more reliable than a bureaucratic dad!’

The Village Chief was getting a headache. "Alright, alright, stop making a scene," he scolded irritably. "I have a handle on this matter. From now on, watch where you’re going, especially when you’re carrying night soil."

"When you’re working, you can’t always watch your feet. It’s not like I did it on purpose. It was heaven itself that found that family so disgusting that it made me take that fall..."

Phoebe Huxley grumbled defiantly, but a harsh glare from Felix Thorne made her quiet down. She headed home with Raina, a very smug look on her face. ’I’ve finally gotten some payback today. That old bitch probably won’t have an appetite for a week.’

"Fourth, Sixth, come over to my place for dinner in a bit," Byron Thorne said with a hearty laugh. "Frederick brought over some cured ham last time. Tonight, we’ll steam it with bamboo shoots and salted pork. We can have a couple of drinks."

The Village Chief’s and Shane Thorne’s eyes lit up, and they nodded vigorously. Cured ham was a real delicacy, something money couldn’t always buy. They were in for a treat tonight.

The sky was growing dark. The villagers had finished their work and were heading home, and the older students were also out of school. As soon as Jacqueline Spann got home, she grabbed a bamboo basket and went up the mountain to cut grass. She also had to gather some firewood. As she passed her maternal grandmother’s house, a foul stench wafted out. Several messy, manure-stained footprints were by the door, and from inside the house came the sound of her maternal grandmother’s cursing.