Collateral for the Family Heir

Mrs. Warren's face fell instantly. "What's wrong with my thatched cottage? A shabby house is worth a fortune!"

"Fine, then you just guard your 'fortune' of a shabby house!" Lily Evans waved impatiently. "Doggie Lee's wife, with the way you act, you offend me and still think you can get rich off me? No way! I won't sell my vegetables to you no matter what! Go on, step aside and don't block others from making money."

So Mrs. Warren was immediately shoved aside by the villagers behind her.

"Our village is so poor, what’s a broken house worth? If we’re putting it up as collateral for Lily, I trust her."

"Exactly! Even the Village Chief put up his house as collateral. I trust the Chief."

"We're all from the same village. Lily lives right here, she can't run off. We're all neighbors, why think so badly of her?"

The villagers whispered among themselves. Some quick-thinking ones rushed home to grab their property deeds, while others hesitated and stayed put to watch.

In no time, a crowd of villagers wanting to register their collateral and sign contracts gathered around Lily. She and the Village Chief were busy handling the paperwork.

Mrs. Warren glared furiously at the eager villagers signing contracts, stomping her feet and cursing, "Bunch of idiots! If your houses get swindled, don't come crying!"

With that, she dragged Doggie Lee home.

Lila Green and Tofu Beauty didn't leave. They stood nearby, clutching their bellies and watching.

Tofu Beauty was deeply troubled: "Oh dear, now we have to put up collateral. I have no house and no money, what can I possibly offer as collateral?"

Lila Green was worried too. She knew this was a golden opportunity to make money, but she just didn't have any collateral.

Tofu Beauty sighed beside her, wishing she owned a house.

Suddenly, Tofu Beauty's eyes lit up and she hurried back home.

Lila Green, clutching her belly, couldn't even spare a glance for Tofu Beauty.

Watching more and more villagers sign up, Lila Green was getting anxious. Greenfield City only had so much space, and it was being divided up fast. If she didn't join now, she might miss her chance.

She looked down, touched her belly, gritted her teeth, and squeezed through the crowd to the very front.

Lily was surprised to see Lila Green. Their families hadn’t spoken in ages—why was she here?

"Lily, I want to join too. You said you want to help everyone get rich, so you have to be fair and treat us all the same. You wouldn’t let a family feud keep me out, would you?" Lila Green stared straight at Lily, making her point crystal clear.

Lily thought to herself, Lila Green really isn’t easy to deal with. Still, Lily wasn’t about to play saint—anyone who’d wronged her in the past wasn’t getting rich off her!

"My business, my rules. Make your family rich? Not interested!" Lily said, staring straight at Lila Green.

Lila Green was a little discouraged by the blunt refusal, but soon her determination returned. She leaned in close to Lily and whispered, "Don’t you hate the Evans Family? I can help you put them in their place! Lily, if you let me join, I’ll put my unborn child up as collateral!"

"Wait, you want to put your belly up as collateral?" Lily was stunned. She’d never heard of anyone offering their belly as collateral before!

"The baby in my belly is the Evans Family’s most prized great-grandchild. Isn’t that good enough collateral?" Lila Green went all in. "Lily, if you agree, I’ll put my unborn child up as collateral—just let me join!"

Lily was about to flat-out refuse, but when she glanced at Lila Green’s belly, she suddenly changed her mind.

The baby in Lila Green’s belly was the Evans Family’s precious great-grandchild. If Grandma Evans or Helen Parker found out that the child was being put up as collateral to become Lily’s household servant before it was even born, their faces would be priceless.

"That’s not just up to you. Even if I agree, what if the Evans Family comes knocking?" Lily asked.

Lila Green patted her chest and said, "Don’t worry! If I’m bold enough to offer, I’m bold enough to handle it. I won’t let the Evans Family give you any trouble over this."