Chapter 346: Chapter 346: Public Enemy of the Village
"Good, now that everyone’s here, let’s start the meeting. I’m sure you’ve all heard about my third brother’s family being reported for raising rabbits. Now, raising rabbits is technically against the regulations from the higher-ups, but our children have to eat meat, don’t they? It’s fine if we adults go without, but how can the children suffer?
Raising a few extra chickens or another pig—these are all minor things. Whenever the work group from the higher-ups comes to inspect, I wine and dine them. That’s why we’ve had peace for the last couple of years. As long as no one reports us, there won’t be any trouble. Besides, it’s not just us here in Millstone Peak. Rosillia Village, Xavier Village, and Aeridor Village are all doing it. How could the work group possibly investigate everyone!"
Preston Thorne briefly explained the situation, not forgetting to take some credit for himself. Just entertaining the work group over the years had cost him a significant amount of grain; he couldn’t have people thinking his job as village chief was so easy.
It was his duty to serve the villagers, but he also had to let them—especially the Golding family—know what he had accomplished. This was to stop the Goldings from constantly acting resentful, as if he had gained some huge advantage by becoming village chief.
"The chief is right! It’s not like Millstone Peak is raising that many; other villages are raising even more! If it weren’t for that damned snitch, why would the work group be targeting our village?!"
"Chief, who was the black-hearted bastard that reported us? Tell us who it is, and I’ll skin ’em alive!"
"Yeah, skin ’em alive! That traitorous dog, biting the hand that feeds! We’ll beat ’em to death!"
The villagers were filled with righteous indignation, all itching for a fight. Phoenix Golding was so frightened she lowered her head, cold sweat streaming down her back as her legs went soft. This was more terrifying than facing that brute, Phoebe Huxley.
’I have to run. If this mob really attacks me, what shred of dignity will I have left?’
Furthermore, Preston Thorne had only singled out her family by name, which made Phoenix Golding even more frantic. She felt certain that she’d been exposed. ’I have to run!’
While the crowd was in an uproar, Phoenix Golding slowly edged toward the side of the road. Luckily, she was standing near the intersection and could reach it in just a few steps. ’I’ll just get away for tonight and figure out the rest later.’ She had no desire to get beaten.
A glint flashed in Jacqueline Spann’s eyes, but she pretended not to notice. ’I don’t know anything, anyway. Phoenix Golding is probably a lost cause, but I can’t get dragged down with her. Getting exposed for reporting someone isn’t a huge deal—it won’t affect my political review. It will just make life in this village impossible from now on.’
"Phoenix Golding, where do you think you’re going?"
A sudden roar, like a clap of thunder, erupted. Phoenix Golding’s face went white with fear. Phoebe Huxley stood at the intersection, watching her with a sneer. Stout and built like an iron tower, Phoebe Huxley blocked half the road. There was no escape.
"I... I have to use the latrine!"
Phoenix Golding blurted out the first excuse she could think of and tried to force her way past, but Phoebe Huxley shoved her back with a single push. "Using the latrine on the main road? You want everyone to see your ass? You shameless hussy! Now stand there and don’t move!"
’With me here, this little vixen isn’t going anywhere. She’s going to stand right here and face the whole village’s judgment!’
Preston Thorne, who was standing up front, saw what was happening and yelled, "Aurelia, bring Phoenix Golding up here!"
"Right away!"
Phoebe Huxley’s large hand shot out, grabbing Phoenix Golding by the collar. Without a word, she started dragging her forward. The villagers parted to let them through, their expressions complicated. They weren’t idiots. Preston Thorne had mentioned Phoenix Golding by name again and again, which meant she was almost certainly the mole.
Besides, Phoenix Golding had been feuding bitterly with the Thorne family lately without gaining any ground. She was also known to be on good terms with the town’s leaders, so reporting them would have been a simple matter for her. It couldn’t have been anyone else.
The villagers stared in disgust as Phoenix Golding was dragged along the ground, including some of the men who usually found her attractive. A man can’t think of romance on an empty stomach. When they couldn’t even fill their bellies, who had time for flirtatious fancies? Phoenix Golding had brought the work group down on them, which was the same as cutting off their livelihood. Compared to a fleeting fantasy, their survival was what truly mattered. Her betrayal had made her the public enemy of the entire village.
