Unable to Sign the Contract
Mrs. Warren originally didn’t want to join, but when she saw that nearly every family in the village had signed up—including the Thompson family, who hated Lily Evans the most and even mortgaged their house—she reconsidered. With so many people involved, she figured Lily Evans wouldn’t dare cheat the whole village, so she regretted her decision and brought the deed over.
Mrs. Warren said, “Why are you so stingy? We’re all from the same village—why won’t you let my family get rich too?”
Lily Evans replied, “So what if I’m stingy? I help those who treat me well. If someone tries to hurt me, I’ll crush them!”
Mrs. Warren got anxious, her face flushed as she rolled up her sleeves and blocked Lily Evans’s way. “How can you be like this? Our families just had a quarrel—why hold a grudge? Why can others sign, but I can’t?”
Mrs. Warren’s loud voice immediately drew the attention of villagers who hadn’t gone far—they all craned their necks to watch the commotion.
Lily Evans took a step back. Mrs. Warren always spat when she talked, and Lily couldn’t stand that kind of spray.
“You can’t sign. First, your family offended mine, so I don’t want to help you get rich. Second, all the plots have already been divided—even if you sign, there’s nowhere left for you to sell vegetables.” Lily Evans took out the Greenfield City Map she’d drawn with the Village Chief and pointed it out to Mrs. Warren. “See all these sections on the map? Each has a name written on it—there’s no land left for your family!”
Mrs. Warren widened her eyes and saw that every plot really did have a name on it.
“Lily Evans, you can’t play favorites like this! We’re all neighbors—why do you give others land but not my family?” Mrs. Warren started making a scene. “I don’t care, you have to find me a plot and let me join!”
“Mrs. Warren, that’s not fair! How is Lily Evans playing favorites? Everyone in the village knows about the nasty thing your family did—your brother-in-law, Li Ergou, framed Lily Evans’s maid Belle. We all remember! When you were scheming, did you ever think about today?” The Village Chief couldn’t hold back and spoke up for justice.
Mrs. Warren threw a fit. “Village Chief, you must be getting something from Lily Evans, that’s why you’re siding with her! If Lily Evans really wanted to help my family get rich, she should be persuading me nicely!”
Lily Evans was stunned by Mrs. Warren’s twisted logic. “So you mean, when it comes to making money, I have to beg and coax you to join? Who do you think you are—with a face as big as a washbasin? Let me tell you, I started this, the vegetables are grown on my land, so I make the rules. Stop making a scene!”
Mrs. Warren shouted loudly, “Everyone heard that! Lily Evans is bullying me just because she has a few acres and made some money—now she doesn’t care about her neighbors! Look how she’s treating me!”
“Oh, give it a rest, Mrs. Warren! Stop embarrassing yourself and go home—I’m ashamed for you.” An aunt nearby spat at Mrs. Warren. “So Lily Evans is supposed to hand you her money and help you hold it too? Shameless! Get lost!”
Everyone burst into laughter, chasing Mrs. Warren back toward the village.
Mrs. Warren was squeezed in the middle of a crowd of aunts and young wives, stomping and glaring at Lily Evans. “You wretched thing, getting rich without me—heartless and cruel!”
Mrs. Warren was pushed back into the village by the crowd, spat once, tidied her clothes, and turned to see Mrs. Thompson squatting by the roadside, happily holding a contract.
Mrs. Warren and Mrs. Thompson were usually close. Mrs. Warren put on a friendly face. “Sister Thompson, you can’t read much—what’s got you so absorbed?”
As she spoke, Mrs. Warren reached out to snatch what Mrs. Thompson was holding, but Mrs. Thompson quickly hid it in her arms, her eyes darting. “Mind your own business!”
Mrs. Warren sidled up with a smile. “Sister Thompson, is that the contract with Lily Evans? I’m telling you, Lily Evans is ruthless and loves to trick people. You’d better go and return that contract!”
Mrs. Thompson jumped up, glaring at Mrs. Warren. “You think I don’t know what you’re up to? If I return it, you’ll sign right after! You think I’m stupid? I’m going to get rich, and I’m not taking you with me! Go ahead and be jealous!”