Chapter 352: Chapter 352: Seeing Through Jacqueline Spann’s Mind
"The village chief knows what he’s doing."
Adrian Hawthorne spoke with certainty. Preston Thorne was no fool. Phoenix Golding wasn’t just any villager; she had an official teaching position now. He couldn’t let the villagers beat someone to death, otherwise he’d have no way to answer to his superiors.
But Phoenix Golding had incurred public wrath this time, and the villagers needed to vent their anger. Besides, Preston Thorne also wanted to give the Golding family a warning, which was why he had deliberately called a public meeting, fanned the villagers’ emotions, and decided to teach Phoenix a lesson.
Tang Xiaonan felt relieved. She stood on her tiptoes, trying to see what was happening with Jacqueline Spann, but she was too short. All she could see was a dense crowd of heads. Even jumping didn’t help. Adrian Hawthorne couldn’t help but smile, lifting her up. "What are you trying to see?"
"I’m looking for Jacqueline Spann. It looks like she’s trying to get to the front," Tang Xiaonan said, having spotted her. She was still about ten meters away from Phoenix Golding.
Vernon Spann was actually closer, but he seemed reluctant, dragging his feet. He was a grown man; if he really wanted to get to the front, he would have been there long ago.
Adrian Hawthorne saw her too, and he knew exactly what Jacqueline Spann was thinking. ’She just wants to put on a show of filial piety for the villagers. To prove that even though Phoenix Golding has done so many terrible things, she, as her daughter, will still do her duty.’
He also knew exactly why she was doing it: she wanted to go to college.
’Phoenix Golding was the Spann family’s main source of income. The work points that good-for-nothing Vernon Spann earned were barely enough to feed himself. If something were to happen to Phoenix, Jacqueline wouldn’t even have enough to eat, let alone go to school. Even finishing junior high would be a problem, to say nothing of getting into college.’
’Besides, getting into college required a political review, and the village committee had to provide the crucial paperwork for it. Now that Phoenix Golding had offended the entire village, it wasn’t out of the question that they would block Jacqueline’s review in the future. You had to give Jacqueline credit for trying so hard to save her reputation, but it was a little too late.’
The corners of Adrian Hawthorne’s mouth curled up in a scornful smile. ’All of Jacqueline Spann’s elaborate schemes have come to nothing. Man proposes, God disposes!’
Having enjoyed the show long enough, Preston Thorne finally stepped forward and shouted for Phoebe Huxley and the others to stop.
Phoenix Golding lay on the ground, covered in cuts and bruises. Her hair was a mess, her clothes were in disarray, and she looked like she’d been run over by dozens of tanks. She was barely breathing. Linden Golding’s family had also pushed their way to the front. Seeing her daughter’s tragic state, Linden’s mother cried out and tried to rush forward, but her husband, Silas Golding, held her back.
Silas Golding shot her a warning look. ’Phoenix has angered the whole village this time; there have to be consequences. Does this old woman not see the situation? She wants to get involved with our daughter? Is she trying to get our whole family killed?’
Linden’s mother’s heart sank. She looked at her son, only to see Linden Golding’s expression was just as cold. Her daughter-in-law was even worse, practically gloating. Linden’s mother was angry, afraid, and chilled to the heart. But she didn’t dare to defy them. All she could do was ache for her daughter from the crowd, powerless to do anything.
Adrian Hawthorne gestured for Jim Thorne to come over. Although Jim was thoroughly unimpressed with being beckoned like he was Dollar, he came over anyway. "What do you want?" he asked gruffly.
"Go and..."
Adrian Hawthorne whispered a few words in his ear. Jim Thorne didn’t quite get it. "Why do I have to block that little slut?"
"Just go block her for now. I’ll explain later."
Jim Thorne didn’t press further. After working with Adrian Hawthorne to sell movie stills for a while, he had finally accepted the truth: the guy was smarter than him and had way more wicked ideas.
Jacqueline Spann was almost at the front. Just another ten steps or so and she’d be there. A flicker of joy went through her as she shoved the people around her aside, trying to get there faster. She was worried that brainless Phoenix Golding would expose her.
