Mrs Thompson Steals the Trap

Mrs. Thompson immediately put on a fake smile, her mind already on catching game for dinner. "Ah Lily, we're all neighbors here—why talk about compensation? Why ten silver taels?"

Lily Evans sneered, "If I hadn't cleared my name, I'd probably be at the bottom of the pond by now!"

Mrs. Thompson grinned slyly, "But you're fine, aren't you? No harm done! Lily, be fair—don't take advantage of your neighbors. We're all from the same village, we should help each other, not trick each other!"

The villagers couldn't stand it anymore and started scolding Mrs. Thompson for being shameless.

Mrs. Thompson was thick-skinned, unfazed by the villagers’ words. She refused to pay, grabbed the trap, and hurried down the mountain, vanishing in a flash as if afraid someone would snatch it from her.

"So shameless! Ptui!" May Parker spat at Mrs. Thompson’s retreating figure.

"Let it go." Lily Evans smiled and tried to calm her, seeing May Parker angrier than herself.

Lily Evans knew what Mrs. Thompson was like and never expected her to pay ten taels. She just wanted to teach her a lesson—show her that Lily wasn’t someone to be bullied.

With the matter settled, the crowd realized there was no more drama to watch and began heading down the mountain.

No one noticed Helen Parker quietly slipping down a side path, chasing after Mrs. Thompson.

Helen Parker had suffered at the hands of Lily Evans and Lucky a few days ago, even losing a wooden bucket and getting chewed out by her mother-in-law. She hated Lily with a passion. When she heard the latest rumors about Lily, she was thrilled, hoping to watch Lily’s downfall. But she arrived late—Lily had already cleared her name with the trap.

Helen Parker saw Lily come out unscathed and was disappointed. She eyed the wild rabbit Lily had caught, but Mrs. Thompson had already snatched the trap. Helen wanted to catch a rabbit for her son Lucky, so she hurried after Mrs. Thompson.

Mrs. Thompson clutched her precious trap, convinced she’d be feasting on game soon, and scampered away like a happy child.

Some villagers spotted Mrs. Thompson and called out teasingly, "Why are you running so fast, Mrs. Thompson? Is your husband chasing you again?"

Mrs. Thompson spat at them, "What do you know? Soon my family will be eating meat every day—you’ll be jealous!"

The villager burst out laughing. Mrs. Thompson’s husband, Jack Thompson, was notorious for his bad temper, drinking, gambling, and laziness. When he lost at cards or got drunk, he’d beat his wife. They could barely afford rice, let alone meat.

"Don’t look down on me!" Mrs. Thompson said proudly, stroking the trap she’d snatched, already planning to catch rabbits every day on the mountain.

Mrs. Thompson was daydreaming when someone tapped her on the shoulder. She turned to see Helen Parker snatch the trap from her arms and dash off.

"Why are you stealing my stuff? Stop right there!" Mrs. Thompson panicked—this was her ticket to eating meat, she couldn’t lose it!

Helen Parker ignored her and ran faster, but Mrs. Thompson was no pushover—she chased after Helen, shouting and cursing.

"Ouch, my back!" Helen Parker tumbled to the ground like a clumsy puppy, the trap scattering everywhere.

Some villagers saw the commotion and laughed, "What’s going on now?"

Mrs. Thompson, red-faced and flustered, grabbed Helen Parker’s hair and shouted, "Who are you calling a thief? You’re the one stealing in broad daylight! You’re the real thief!"

The villagers burst into laughter. This was better than a play at the temple—everyone watched, entertained.