"Village Chief, look! That wretched Phoebe Huxley dumped manure all over me! She did it on purpose! Instead of taking the main road, she just had to take this narrow path. She’s using public property to settle a personal score! Aren’t you going to do something about it?!"

Linden’s mother immediately rushed over to the village chief to complain, completely oblivious to the stench rolling off of her. The chief, Preston Thorne, wrinkled his nose and hastily backed away. Shane Thorne went even further, clamping a hand over his nose and keeping his distance, a look of utter disgust on his face.

"I took a shortcut so I could get more work done. Less time on the road means I can carry more loads of manure. I always give it my all when I’m working for the commune, unlike you, you old bitch, who’s always slacking off and just looking for ways to take advantage of everyone." Phoebe Huxley wasn’t the least bit intimidated. ’The chief is a Thorne, and he’s on good terms with Byron Thorne,’ she thought. ’What the hell is there to be afraid of?’

Linden’s mother was about to fire back a retort when Preston Thorne roared, "Both of you, shut your mouths! Stop fighting over something so trivial! Phoebe Huxley, be more careful with your work from now on. You wasted a whole load of manure. I’m docking your work points for today."

Phoebe Huxley, indignant, opened her mouth to argue, but she snapped it shut when Felix Thorne shot her a fierce glare. She settled for sullenly glaring at Linden’s mother. ’This isn’t over.’

Preston Thorne then turned to Linden’s mother and snapped, "You’re not some pampered city girl. What’s the big fuss over a little manure? Every grain of rice and every vegetable we eat is grown with it. If you’re dirty, just go wash it off. You think making a scene like this looks good? You’re not setting a very good example for an elder!"

Linden’s mother trembled with rage. ’This is blatant favoritism! Damn it, if you’re not so disgusted, why are you standing so far away from me?’

Phoebe Huxley had been fuming, but when she saw Linden’s mother’s face turn green with rage, a wave of satisfaction washed over her. ’Let them dock the work points. It’s no big deal. If I can anger this old bitch to death, it’ll be more than worth it.’

"Alright, that’s enough! Hurry on home and get washed up! Linden’s wife, take your mother-in-law home!" Preston Thorne yelled into the crowd.

A woman in her thirties reluctantly emerged. She was Linden’s mother’s daughter-in-law, and the two of them did not get along at all. In fact, she had been hiding in the crowd enjoying the show, secretly hoping Phoebe Huxley would give the wretched old woman another thrashing.

"Where the hell were you? You just stood there and watched while I was being bullied? You useless thing, you just watched!"

Linden’s mother unleashed all her fury on her daughter-in-law and even tried to hit her. Linden’s wife jumped back, protesting, "I was working over there! I didn’t know someone dumped manure on you."

"Are you deaf or mute? You were clearly enjoying watching me be made a fool of! You black-hearted wench! Stop dodging and get over here and help me!"

Linden’s mother kept cursing, but her strength was failing her. She had run too frantically earlier, and the unbearable stench and filth covering her—not to mention the strange taste in her mouth—was making her feel like she was about to collapse.

Preston Thorne had seen enough. He chided, "What are you, eighty years old? You can’t even walk a few steps without help?"

Then he yelled at the gawking villagers, "Get back to work, all of you! Or I’ll dock your points!"

The words were barely out of his mouth before the villagers scattered, each scurrying back to their tasks.

Linden’s mother’s face was dark as she shot a glance at Phoebe Huxley, her eyes filled with venom. Tanya Thorne noticed, and her heart skipped a beat.

’That old woman must be plotting something nasty,’ she thought. ’We’ll have to be careful.’

Linden’s mother and her daughter-in-law headed home, leaving a trail of filthy footprints behind them. Phoebe Huxley tried to slip away too, but Preston Thorne called her out. "If you pull another stunt like this, I’ll dock your work points for half a year!"

’That niece-in-law of mine definitely did it on purpose; I’m not a fool,’ he thought. ’She’s always causing trouble for me. It’s getting out of hand.’