The people of Wellwater Village loved their gossip. It was rare enough for a married woman to stay overnight at her parent’s home, let alone spend several days there, especially during the busy farming season when the in-laws’ farmwork couldn’t be ignored. Yet here was Elizabeth, staying with her family for days with Whitaker Scarlett, and Whitaker Chris had never shown up. People speculated: Had the couple fought? Was their marriage falling apart?
Elizabeth had always been the type to endure in silence, never daring to fight back. For her to act so boldly now, there had to be someone supporting her.
Unlike the harsh and spiteful gossip of Larkspur Village, the people of Wellwater Village weren’t so mean-spirited. For one, William wasn’t the type to be easily bullied, and Elizabeth was a local, so the villagers had her back. Secondly, Scarlett’s small trading business was thriving—selling eggs, eels, and more. Many villagers sold their goods to her.
Scarlett was fair with her prices and never pretended she wasn’t making a profit. Everyone knew she worked hard for every penny.
On top of that, Scarlett was helpful and thoughtful. If someone needed something from Greenfield County, they only had to ask, and Scarlett would bring it back. Kids loved her, too—she always had treats like candy or sunflower seeds for them. The children eagerly caught eels to sell to Scarlett, not just for the $0.80 she offered but for the joy of her small rewards. Scarlett was so well-liked by the kids that anyone daring to speak ill of her would face a storm of tantrums.
“Your Scarlett is amazing!”
“She’s always running around collecting eggs. She must be making good money with all her trips between the village and the county!”
“Jealous? Even if your daughter tried, she couldn’t handle the work. Your son couldn’t either!”
“She’s such a good kid. When the child is so capable, the mother’s life gets easier.”
Such comments made Elizabeth smile.
The villagers might envy Scarlett’s success a little, but there wasn’t much malice in their words. Elizabeth, feeling hopeful for the first time in years, didn’t mind the hard work. Life in her brother’s home was entirely different from her time with the Whitaker family. There, her sisters-in-law despised her, her mother-in-law loathed her, and her husband blamed her for everything. Elizabeth had bent over backward to please them, but in life, backing down doesn’t earn respect—it only invites further bullying until there’s no way out.
The villagers couldn’t help but notice the change in Elizabeth. In just a few days, her complexion had improved significantly.
Her skin was still darkened by years of farm work, but the heavy look of misery had lifted. Her face, once dull and sallow, now glowed with a healthy hue. Elizabeth’s features, long overlooked, were striking when free from worry.
Scarlett had inherited her height from the Whitaker family, but her good looks were undoubtedly from Elizabeth’s side.
Good food and a lightened heart made a big difference. By 1983’s rural standards, Elizabeth and her family were living well compared to others. Even in just a few days, her cheeks had filled out slightly.
The cheerful ringing of a bicycle bell broke through the chatter. Scarlett had returned.
With a sweet, honeyed tone, she greeted everyone at the drying field, leaving smiles in her wake before turning to Elizabeth.
“Mom, I’ll go home and start the rice cooking first, then return to help you.”
Elizabeth, ever protective of Scarlett, waved her off. “No need to come back here. Your uncle and the others will finish soon. Stay home, cook dinner, and keep an eye on Michael.”
Today was Michael’s first day at the village school. Rural areas didn’t have preschools, so children began directly in first grade. At six years old, Michael was already considered fortunate to attend school. Many children, even well past six, stayed home, playing and helping with chores. The school was a luxury not everyone could afford. Even when they did start, many didn’t finish elementary school. By middle school, the number dropped further, and in 1983, having a high school graduate in the family was a mark of prestige.
Scarlett herself had only completed middle school, which was already respectable.
It was no wonder Whitaker Rosalie, having passed the university entrance exam, was regarded as a treasure. She had jumped from rural life to a city household, eating commercial grain, and was destined to become a state official upon graduation.
Michael had spent the whole day showing it off with his brand-new school bag. His classmates flocked around him during breaks, eager to touch the bag.
Ten dollars for a school bag?
For the people of Wellwater Village, that was a small fortune—enough to pay for two terms of school fees.
“Scarlett, I missed you so much!”
Like a little firecracker, Michael ran over and clung to Scarlett’s leg, refusing to let go. Scarlett had bought him candy, books, and that prized school bag. For Michael, life had never been better. Scarlett was the most important person in his life—far above even his parents.
