Chapter 4

Jack White rubbed his hands nervously, tugging at Clara White’s sleeve with a troubled expression. "Mom, calm down. We’re family. As her uncle, I couldn’t just let her starve. At least I managed to put her through high school—I did right by my late brother and his wife. She’s just a kid—should we really hold a grudge against her?"

He turned to Luna White with a practiced look of paternal concern. "Luna, I know you’re upset about failing the college entrance exam. But I really can’t afford to send you back for another year. We barely scrape by on what these fields bring in, and your cousins are at the age where they need to get married. Everything costs money..."

His words sounded noble, and the villagers watching nodded in approval. Everyone knew Jack was the most honest man in the village.

Seizing the moment, Clara lunged forward and pinched Luna’s arm hard.

"Listen to this, everyone! We raised this ungrateful brat, fed her, clothed her, and just because we won’t pay for more schooling, she holds a grudge! Yesterday, I gave her a couple of slaps—what parent doesn’t discipline their child? And what does she do? Today she runs off to the clinic for medicine, trying to make us look like monsters in front of the whole village!"

Tears streamed down Clara’s face as she played the victim perfectly.

The villagers’ expressions toward Luna shifted instantly. Who would’ve thought this quiet girl had such a spiteful heart?

"Don’t take it to heart, Auntie. She’s still young and foolish."

"Jack’s got it hard enough raising his own three kids, let alone his niece..."

"Luna, your grandma only hit you because she cares..."

Jack waved his hands humbly. "Enough, everyone. She’s still my niece. I’d sell everything I own before I let her suffer."

Another round of praise rose from the crowd.

Then Luna let out a cold laugh, her eyes red when she lifted her head.

"So that’s how it is... Uncle, I misunderstood you." Her voice trembled. "All this time, I thought my schooling was paid for by Ethan and Iris. Every time Ethan came home, he said he sent Grandma fifteen dollars a month from his military pay. Iris and Maya each saved two dollars from their in-laws’ households to contribute. They said no matter how hard it was, they’d make sure I got an education..."

Her words exploded like a bomb in the crowd.

Clara’s face drained of color. Jack broke out in a cold sweat. They never expected her to know about the money!

The women who had just defended them now looked disgusted. In the countryside, a soldier’s income was substantial—nineteen dollars a month added up to over two hundred a year!

And yet, Luna’s life had been one of relentless labor: chopping firewood before dawn, washing clothes and cooking after school, working like an ox during harvests... The villagers weren’t blind.

Luna wiped her tears. "I’ll go ask Iris where that money really went."

The crowd erupted in murmurs. Someone whispered, "No wonder the Whites built a new house and bought a bicycle these past two years..."

Clara’s legs gave out, and she nearly collapsed to the ground.