Jacqueline Spann was digging Chinese motherwort at the foot of the hill. These days, she came to the mountains every day to collect medicinal herbs. Clayton Xavier had taught her how to identify herbs and how to process them, but she hadn’t learned much—only recognizing some simple ones. She would take them home, wash and dry them, then sell them to the collection station.

Although it didn’t earn much money, she had no other way to make a living, so she could only save penny by penny, hoping small amounts would eventually add up.

She had overheard the conversation between Little Nan and Amanda Chapman, and knew they were raising six rabbits. Jacqueline didn’t take it to heart; now that policies had relaxed, many villagers raised extra poultry and livestock. As long as nobody reported it, there wouldn’t be any trouble. The authorities were turning a blind eye to such things.

Not wanting to greet Little Nan, she remained silent, hunching over as she dug for herbs.

"Cousin, I’m going to Grandpa Tate’s to turn in my homework."

"Go ahead, I’ll come find you in a bit."

"Open your mouth, cousin."

"Oh... where did you get White Rabbit candy? This is precious stuff—you should eat it yourself."

Amanda had a rich, milky sweetness filling her mouth. She wanted to spit it out and return it to Little Nan—such expensive candy was too precious to waste. She would have been satisfied with just fruit candy. But Little Nan stopped her. "Mr. Hawthorne gave it to me. I have more, cousin. You enjoy it."

Little Nan skipped off to find Old Master Tate, while Amanda happily licked the milk candy and returned to weeding, working even faster now. Eating such precious candy made her feel obligated to work harder—anything less would be disrespectful to the treat in her mouth.

Jacqueline’s expression darkened. Adrian Hawthorne must be earning quite a bit of money to afford White Rabbit candy, and to give it to that brat Little Nan. Meanwhile, she toiled digging medicinal herbs every day and couldn’t even earn ten cents.

Looking down at her rough hands with their thick knuckles, calluses, and several scratches from thorns, she realized hers were the ugliest hands in her family of four. Even Vernon Spann’s hands were whiter and softer than hers.

Why should she suffer like this?

Why should a fool like Little Nan receive all the love and attention?

Adrian Hawthorne bought her White Rabbit candy, and Grandpa Tate spent time teaching her foreign languages every day. She herself wanted to learn but couldn’t. Just now, she had gone to ask the old man to teach her English, but he had ruthlessly refused. The way he looked at her wasn’t as gentle as before—instead, there was disgust in his eyes.

Jacqueline was sensitive enough to feel it. The old man despised her. He used to like her, but now he suddenly disliked her—definitely because of the Thorne family.

Because her family was at odds with the Thornes, Grandpa Tate and Adrian Hawthorne had distanced themselves from her. Hmph, they were all opportunists. She used to think they were different, but she’d been wrong.

Lost in thought, Jacqueline felt a sharp pain in her hand that made her cry out. Her finger had been pricked and a bright red droplet of blood appeared. Feeling both pain and injustice, an inexplicable frustration welled up inside her. She threw down the herbs and crouched, silently fuming.

Amanda heard the commotion below and walked to the edge of the slope, spotting her. "What are you sneaking around for?" she asked unhappily.

"This mountain doesn’t belong to your family. If you can come here, so can I. I was here before you were," Jacqueline snapped.

"Then why didn’t you say anything? You were deliberately eavesdropping on me and Little Nan. Hmph, you’re up to no good." Amanda refused to back down. She had a sharp tongue. Her grandmother had said this whole family was trouble.

"Are you mentally ill? Whether I speak up or not is none of your business."

Jacqueline rolled her eyes, grabbed her sickle, and went elsewhere. She didn’t want to argue with Amanda, who puffed her cheeks, spat in Jacqueline’s direction as she walked away, then continued pulling weeds.