"That’s Felix Thorne shamelessly pestering my Phoenix! Hmph, back when he and Phoenix were an item, you, Phoebe Huxley, were still in Xavier Village slaughtering pigs. But my Phoenix looked down on him and hasn’t paid him any mind all these years. It’s Felix Thorne who’s been shamelessly and relentlessly harassing her! If you’re so capable, why don’t you control your own man? Can’t even keep a leash on him. Aren’t you ashamed of yourself?!"

Linden’s mother was no pushover. Her barrage of scorn and sarcasm left Phoebe Huxley gasping in anger. She rolled up her sleeves, ready for a fight, even though Linden’s mother was still a good ways off.

Raina grabbed her and cursed coldly, "Felix did date Phoenix Golding in the past, but my Byron could tell with one glance that she was a slutty tart. He knew if we let him marry her, she’d cheat on him and disgrace the entire family! That’s why we rejected the marriage. And it’s a good thing we didn’t get tied to a wretched family like yours. Phoenix Golding can’t even compare to my Aurelia’s little toe! I wouldn’t take that slutty tart as a daughter-in-law even if she came begging!"

The anger on Phoebe Huxley’s face subsided considerably, and she puffed out her chest with pride. ’This is the first time my mother-in-law has ever praised me in public!’

"You may not like her, but you can’t stop your son from doing so! If you’re so high and mighty, then stop Felix Thorne from thinking about my Phoenix!"

Linden’s mother finally charged over, bringing waves of a foul stench with her. The others all backed away, not wanting to get any of the manure on them.

Tang Xiaonan puffed out her cheeks. ’This is infuriating!’ she thought. ’I’ve never seen such a shameless family. Their daughter sleeps around, and they act like it’s something to be proud of! No wonder Phoenix Golding and Jacqueline Spann are both such tramps. They’re rotten to the core.’

"My daddy doesn’t like that vixen! He loves Grandma, he loves my mom, and he loves me!"

Tang Xiaonan shouted with her hands on her hips, and only then did everyone notice her. Raina said urgently, "What are you two doing here? Go home, quick! It stinks over here."

"She’s a bad person! I don’t want to go to that vixen’s class anymore! She can’t even pronounce things right," Tang Xiaonan squirmed indignantly. ’Going to Phoenix Golding’s class is a total waste of time. It’s been pure torture. I’d rather be learning a foreign language with Grandpa Tate.’

"What the hell do you know, you little brat? How dare you criticize the teacher! Think you’re so clever, do you? Fine, don’t go then! Plenty of other kids would love to take your place!" Linden’s mother snarled viciously.

Tang Xiaonan wasn’t afraid of her in the slightest. She retorted, "If the teacher is bad, I’m going to say so! Teacher Golding can’t read lots of words right. She pronounces ’island’ with the ’s’ sound, and ’colonel’ as ’co-lo-nel’! And she even reads ’subtle’ as ’sub-tle’! It’s all wrong!"

"You learn a few words and suddenly you think you’re so smart? Cut the crap! If you’re not going to her class, then get lost! My Phoenix doesn’t need a student like you!" Linden’s mother shrieked, jumping to her feet. If Phoebe Huxley hadn’t held her back, she would have torn the little brat’s mouth right off.

"I do too know! My big brothers taught me how to read, and their teachers don’t pronounce things like that! Teacher Golding is just plain wrong! What kind of lousy teacher is she? I wouldn’t go to her class now even if she begged me!"

Tang Xiaonan bounced on her feet, her voice growing even louder. She didn’t dare mention that it was Old Master Tate who had taught her, fearing that this shameless family might try to harm the old man.

The other villagers looked thoughtful. Howard Thorne and Patrick Thorne were both in middle school, so they certainly knew more. From that perspective, it seemed Phoenix Golding really was teaching things incorrectly. Still, none of the villagers could be certain, since they didn’t know the correct pronunciations either.

"I’m not going anymore either!" Amanda Chapman also jumped up and chimed in. "She’s never in class anyway! She’s probably off sleeping with some man!" ’Now that my cousin isn’t going,’ she thought, ’what’s the point of me going? I’d rather listen to Grandpa Tate tell stories.’

"What’s all this shouting about? Has everyone stopped working?"

The village chief came over, scowling. Behind him were Shane Thorne and Felix Thorne. They had been working in another area some distance away, which was why they had only just arrived.